Thus Noah, after his deliverance from the flood, built an Altar, on which to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, that a• his ⟨p. 4⟩family by the Ark was preserved from perishing, so the memory of so great a mercy might in like manner by the Altar be preserved too, Gen. 8.20. So Abraham after a weary journey being comforted with Gods gracious appearing and manifestation of himself unto him, built an Altar, and called on the Name of the Lord, Gen. 12.7. and after another journey out of Egypt, was not forgetful to return unto that place again, Gen. 13.4. Gods presence drawing forth his praises, as the return of the Sun in a spring and summer, causeth the earth to thrust forth her fruits and flowers, that they may as it were meet, & do homage to the fountain of their beauty. If Hezekiah may be delivered from death, Isa. 38.20. If David from guilt, Psal. 51.14. they promise to sing aloud of so great mercy, and to take others into the consort, I will teach transgressors thy way, and we will sing upon the stringed instruments. Guilt stops the mouth, and makes it speechless, Matth. 22.12. that it cannot answer for one of a thousand sins, nor acknowledge one of a thousand mercies. When Jacob begged Gods blessing on him in his journey, he vowed a vow of obedience and thankfulness to the Lord, seconding Gods promises of mercy, with his promises of praise, and answering all the parts thereof, If God will be with me, and keep me, I will be his, and he shall be mine. If he single out me and my seed, to set us up as marks for his Angels to descend unto with protection and mercy, and will indeed give this Land to us, and return me unto my fathers house; then this stone which I have set up for a pillar & monument, ⟨p. 5⟩shall be Gods house, for me and my seed to praise him in; and accordingly we find he built an Altar there, and changed the name of that place, calling it the House of God, and God, the God of Bethel. And lastly, if God indeed will not leave nor forsake me, but will give so rich a land as this unto me, I will surely return a homage back, and of his own, I will give the tenth unto him again. So punctual is this holy man to restipulate for each distinct promise a distinct praise, and to take the quality of his vows from the quality of Gods mercies, Gen. 28. v. 20.22. compared with v. 13.15. Gen. 35.6.7.14▪ 15.
Thus Noah, after his deliverance from the flood, built an Altar, on which to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, that a• his ⟨p. 4⟩family by the Ark was preserved from perishing, so the memory of so great a mercy might in like manner by the Altar be preserved too, Gen. 8.20. So Abraham after a weary journey being comforted with Gods gracious appearing and manifestation of himself unto him, built an Altar, and called on the Name of the Lord, Gen. 12.7. and after another journey out of Egypt, was not forgetfull to returne unto that place againe, Gen. 13.4. Gods presence drawing forth his praises, as the returne of the Sun in a spring and summer, causeth the earth to thrust forth her fruits and flowers, that they may as it were meet, & do homage to the fountain of their beauty. If Hezekiah may be delivered from death, Isa. 38.20. If David from guilt, Psal. 51.14. they promise to sing aloud of so great mercy, and to take others into the consort, I will teach transgressours thy way, and we will sing upon the stringed instruments. Guilt stops the mouth, and makes it speechlesse, Matth. 22.12. that it cannot answer for one of a thousand sins, nor acknowledge one of a thousand mercies. When Iacob begged Gods blessing on him in his journy, he vowed a vow of obedience and thankfulnesse to the Lord, seconding Gods promises of mercy, with his promises of praise, and answering all the parts thereof, If God will be with me, and keep me, I will be his, and he shall be mine. If he single out me and my seed, to set us up as marks for his Angels to descend unto with protection and mercy, and will indeed give this Land to us, and returne me unto my fathers house; then this stone which I have set up for a pillar & monument, ⟨p. 5⟩shall be Gods house, for me and my seed to praise him in; and accordingly we finde he built an Altar there, and changed the name of that place, calling it the House of God, and God, the God of Bethel. And lastly, if God indeed will not leave nor forsake me, but will give so rich a land as this unto me, I will surely return a homage back, and of his own, I will give the tenth unto him againe. So punctuall is this holy man to restipulate for each distinct promise a distinct praise, and to take the quality of his vows from the quality of Gods mercies,
