Secondly, Let us carry it obediently: Whoso offereth me praise, 1Glorifieth me, It is some glory indeed to God, and you have done well Noble Senators, that you have set apart a day to praise God for this victory, wherein your resolutions have bin like that of David, I will not offer to God that which cost me nothing: 2You have not turned God off with a day that was his own before; (though it be a Sabbath days work to celebrate his praise for any Mercy or Deliverance, being all the fruits of that grand Redemption which that day doth remember. But you have sequestered a special day for a special Mercy, and you have done well in it, the Lord be blessed, and the Lord bless you for it: but yet let me tell you from this Text, This is not all, nay this is the least part of that which God expects at your hands, and at all our hands; the main piece of praise, is the Ordering of your conversations aright; there is so much thankfulness in our hearts, as there is holiness and self-denial in our Conversations. Without this, 3as our Fastings are but the holding down of the head like a bulrush for a day, so our thanksgivings are but the holding up of the head like a Reed for a day and we are found guilty of that mockery Bernard speaks of, to give our Sacrifices to God, but Our selves to the Devil. I remember, Augustin, comparing the profane Heathen, and vile Christian together, makes only this difference between them; The Heathen talketh against the faith, but the Jewd Christian lives against the faith, &c. A poor difference, wherein if ⟨p. 32⟩either have the better, it is the Heathen without doubt: Let me invert it a little thus; The wretched Cavaliers, they swear against Christ; The unholy Parliament-Protestant lives against Christ; they blaspheme Christ in their mouths, these blaspheme Christ in their lives: And tell me Christians, which dishonours God most, their verbal, or our real blasphemies? and what do you think? were it not better God should be dishonoured by a people that profess open enmity and war against Christ and his Government, then by a people that makes such profession of love to both? 4You only have I known of all the Nations of the earth. therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities. Surely, our secret abominations, are more hateful to God then their open wickednesses, which they commit in the face of the Sun:
Secondly, Let us carry it obediently: Whoso offereth me praise, 1Glorifieth me, It is some glory indeed to God, and you have done well Noble Senators, that you have set apart a day to praise God for this victorie, wherein your resolutions have bin like that of David, I will not offer to God that which cost me nothing: 2You have not turned God off with a day that was his own before; (though it be a Sabbath dayes work to celebrate his praise for any Mercy or Deliverance, being all the fruits of that grand Redemption which that day doth remember. But you have sequestred a speciall day for a speciall Mercy, and you have done well in it, the Lord be blessed, and the Lord blesse you for it: but yet let me tell you from this Text, This is not all, nay this is the least part of that which God expects at your hands, and at all our hands; the main piece of praise, is the Ordering of your conversations aright; there is so much thankfulnesse in our hearts, as there is holinesse and selfdeniall in our Conversations. Without this, 3as our Fastings are but the holding down of the head like a bulrush for a day, so our thanksgivings are but the holding up of the head like a Reed for a day and wee are found guilty of that mockery Bennard speaks of, to give our Sacrifices to God, but Our selves to the Devill. I remember, Augustin, comparing the prophane Heathen, and vile Christian together, makes onely this difference between them; The Heatthen talketh against the faith, but the Iewd Christian lives against the faith, &c. A poor difference, wherein if ⟨p. 32⟩either have the better, it is the Heathen without doubt: Let me invert it a little thus; The wretched Cavalieres, they swear against Christ; The unholy Parliament-Protestant lives against Christ; they blaspheme Christ in their mouthes, these blaspheme Christ in their lives: And tell mee Christians, which dishonours God most, their verball, or our reall blasphemies? and what do you think? were it not better God should be dishonoured by a people that professe open enmity and warre against Christ and his Government, then by a people that makes such profession of love to both? 4You onely have I known of all the Nations of the earth. therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities. Surely, our secret abominations, are more hatefull to God then their open wickednesses, which they commit in the face of the Sun:
- 1Psal. 50. last.
- 22 Sam. 24.24.
- 3Isa. 58.5. Quasi sua offerent Deo, seipsos. Diabolo. Bern. Infidelis disputat contra fidem Improbus Christianus vivit contra fidem, &c.
- 4Amos 3.2.
