They shall offer no Wine offerings; neither shall they be pleasing unto him; they shall not be sweet to him, whatsoever their offerings be. Now that they offer to the Lord, God will take no delight in them, they will be but sour things unto the palate of God, the offerings of the Saints in Gods way they do cheer the very heart of God; And hence is the reason of that phrase that we have,1 That Wine doth cheer the heart of God and man, it cheered Gods heart to have offerings offered in a holy manner to him, the greatest joy that God hath in the world is in the offerings of the Saints, which should be the greatest encouragement to them; men by their Wine and good Cheer may make themselves merry, may make their friends merry, but by their holy offerings they do cheer the heart of God, they are as sweet-meats to God, all the Wine and delightful things in the world they are as sweet (I say) to God, as all the Wine and delightful things in the world are for men. Thou hast a cup of Wine for thy friend to cheer him, but hast thou a cup of Wine for God to cheer his heart? that is a gracious holy offering unto God: Surely that which is most sweet to the Soul of God should be most sweet to our souls:2 You would wonder to hear a man say that he takes as much delight, and he can recreate himself as much in reading, in praying, in hearing Sermons, in holy conference as you can do in all your good cheer, in playing and drinking of Wine in bowls; you think that men are mad to say, that they have as much pleasure in those things, as playing at Cards, and merriment, and music, and good cheer: you call upon them to play at Cards with you, or be merry, you say to them, why should you be dumpish ⟨p. 165⟩and never be merry? they tell you again, That they can be as merry and as cheerful in hearing the Word, and praying, and reading, as you in all your playing, and all that that you account delightful. You say to them, That they have no recreation. They tell you, That those things that are your burdens, are their recreation; you think it strange. Why should you wonder? Surely that that sweetens and joys the heart of God, that must needs be the rejoicing of the hearts of those that have the Spirit of God in them; you have joy and mirth in such and such things; these are sweet to you, yea, but do these things rejoice God, are they sweet to God?
They shall offer no Wine offerings; neither shall they be pleasing unto him; they shall not be sweet to him, whatsoever their offerings be. Now that they offer to the Lord, God will take no delight in them, they will be but sowre things unto the palate of God, the offerings of the Saints in Gods way they do cheer the very heart of God; And hence is the reason of that phrase that we have,1 That Wine doth cheer the heart of God and man, it cheer'd Gods heart to have offerings offered in a holy manner to him, the greatest joy that God hath in the world is in the offerings of the Saints, which should be the greatest encouragement to them; men by their Wine and good Cheer may make themselves merry, may make their friends merry, but by their holy offerings they do cheer the heart of God, they are as sweet-meats to God, all the Wine and delightful things in the world they are as sweet (I say) to God, as all the Wine and delightful things in the world are for men. Thou hast a cup of Wine for thy friend to cheer him, but hast thou a cup of Wine for God to cheer his heart? that is a gracious holy offering unto God: Surely that which is most sweet to the Soul of God should be most sweet to our souls:2 You would wonder to hear a man say that he takes as much delight, and he can recreate himself as much in reading, in praying, in hearing Sermons, in holy conference as you can do in all your good cheer, in playing and drinking of Wine in bowls; you think that men are mad to say, that they have as much pleasure in those things, as playing at Cards, and merriment, and musick, and good cheer: you call upon them to play at Cards with you, or be merry, you say to them, why should you be dumpish ⟨p. 165⟩and never be merry? they tell you again, That they can be as merry and as cheerful in hearing the Word, and praying, and reading, as you in all your playing, and all that that you account delightful. You say to them, That they have no recreation. They tell you, That those things that are your burdens, are their recreation; you think it strange. Why should you wonder? Surely that that sweetens and joyes the heart of God, that must needs be the rejoycing of the hearts of those that have the Spirit of God in them; you have joy and mirth in such and such things; these are sweet to you, yea, but do these things rejoyce God, are they sweet to God?
- 1Judg. 9. 13 enlightened▪Iudg. 9. 13 enlightned▪
- 2Duties of Religion, a Saints recreation.
