A55752:1277
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To help us now to do this, is to remove that which hinders it. You shall see what hindered Hezekiah, His ⟨p. 416⟩heart was lifted up: he did not render according to the mercies received from the Lord; for his heart was lifted up. In this there are three things.
To help us now to do this, is to remove that which hinders it. You shall see what hindred Hezekiah, His ⟨p. 416⟩heart was lifted up: he did not render according to the mercies received from the Lord; for his heart was lifted up. In this there are three things.
First, his heart was lifted up to other things to mind them, and it was not lift up to the Lord to think of him, and to serve him. So that there was forgetfulness in him; that is one thing intended, when a man shall lift up his heart to other things, to mind other things, to do other things his heart forgets the Lord. Therefore the Lord when he would have his mercies remembered, he appoints something to keep them in mind. He hath appointed the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, do this in remembrance of me. The passover was appointed to be taught to their Children, that when they should ask them what they did mean by such a thing? they should tell them that the Lord had delivered them out of the land of Egypt. Forgetfulness is the cause of unthankfulness: therefore to remember the mercies of the Lord is one thing that helps us to be thankful, that is, to observe the passages of his providence towards us, and about us. Therefore we must exercise faith in his providence, that is, labour to see God through every mercy. Those that want this eye of faith it is impossible for them to be thankful. If we had the eye of faith the creatures would be as a glass to help us to see God better. When Esau was kind to Jacob, he saw the face of God in Esau, I have seen thy face as the face of God, saith he, that is, he saw the face of God through Esau's face. It is not the creature, it is not thy friend that brings thee comfort. But as we say of a messenger that brings good tidings, it is not the messenger that comforts the heart, but the good tidings that he brings: this is to lift up the heart to the Lord, & the contrary is to lift up the heart to vanity.