A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

2. On this Ground and Reason, God is said then first to be known by any name, when those to whom he reveals himself, do in an especial manner rest on that name by faith, and have that accomplished towards them which that name imports signifies or declares. And therefore God did not under the Old Testament reveal himself to any by the name of the Father of Jesus Christ, or the Son incarnate, because the Grace of it unto ⟨p. 197⟩them was not to be accomplished, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us, should not be made perfect; they were not entrusted with the full Revelation of God, by all his blessed names. Neither doth God call us to trust in any name of his however declared, or revealed, unless he gives it us in an especial manner, by way of Covenant to rest upon. So he speaks, Exod. 6. 3. I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and to Jacob ([Greek or Hebrew]) in the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known unto them. It is certain that both these names of God Elshaddai and Jehovah, were known among his people before. In the first mention we have of Abraham's addressing himself unto the Worship of God, he makes use of the name Jehovah, Gen. 12. 7. He built an Altar unto Jehovah; and so afterwards not only doth Moses make use of that Name in the Repetition of the Story, but it was also of frequent use amongst them. Whence then is it said, that God appeared unto them by the name of Elshaddai, but not by the name of Jehovah? The Reason is because that was the name which God gave himself in the solemn confirmation of the Covenant with Abraham, Gen. 17. 1. [Greek or Hebrew] I am Elshaddai, God Almighty, God All-sufficient. And when Isaac would pray for the blessing of the Covenant on Jacob, he makes use of that name, Gen. 28. 3. God Almighty bless thee. He invocates that name of God which was engaged in the Covenant made with his Father Abraham, and himself. That therefore we may with full Assurance rest on the name of God, it is not only necessary that God reveal that name to be his, but also that he give it out unto us for that end and purpose, that we might know him thereby, and place our trust and confidence in him according unto what that name of his imports. And this was the case where ever he revealed himself unto any in a peculiar manner, by an especial Name. So he did unto Jacob,