A90266:45
Eben-ezer a memorial of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition…Eben-ezer a memoriall of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition…
Eben-ezer a memorial of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition on the first ten verses of the third chapter of the prophecy of Habakkuk in two sermons. The first preached at Colchester before his Excellency on a day of thanksgiving for the surrender thereof. The other at Rumford unto the committee who were imprisoned by the enemy Sep. 28. a day set apart unto thanksgiving for their deliverance. / By John Owen pastor of the church of God which is at Coggeshall.Eben-ezer a memoriall of the deliverance of Essex, county, and committee, being an exposition on the first ten verses of the third chapter of the prophesie of Habakkuk in two sermons. The first preached at Colchester before his Excellency on a day of thanksgiving for the surrender thereof. The other at Rumford unto the committee who were imprisoned by the enemy Sep. 28. a day set apart unto thanksgiving for their deliverance. / By John Ovven pastor of the church of God which is at Coggeshall.
London: printed by W. Wilson, 1648
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Labour to have your hearts right tuned for songs on Sigionoth sweetly to answer all Gods dispensations in their choice variety. That instrument will make no music, that hath but some strings 1in tune. If when God strikes with mercy upon the string of joy and gladness, we Answer pleasantly, but when he touches upon that of gsorrow and humiliation, we suit it not, we are broken Instruments that make no melody unto God. We must know how to receive good and evil at his hand. He hath made every thing beautiful in its time, Eccles. 3. 11. every thing in that whole variety which his wisdom hath produced. A well tuned heart must have all its strings, all its Affections, ready to answer every touch of Gods finger: to improve Judgements and mercies both at the same time. Sweet harmony ariseth out of some discords. When a soul is in a frame to rejoice with thankful Obedience for Mercy received, and to be humbled with soul-searching amending Repentance, for Judgements inflicted at the same time, then it sings a song on Sigionoth, then it is fit for the days wherein we live. Indeed both Mercies and Judgements aim at the same end, and should be received with the same equal temper of mind. A flint is broken between a hammer and a pillow: an Offender is humbled between a prison and a pardon: a hard heart may be mollified, and a proud spirit humbled between those two. In such a season the several Rivulets of our Affections flow naturally in the same stream. When hath a gracious soul the soundest joys, but when it hath the deepest sorrows! habent & gaudia vulnus. When hath it the humblest meltings but when it hath the most ravishing Joys! Our Afflictions, which are naturally at the widest distance, may all swim in the same spiritual channel-Rivulets rising from several heads, are carried in one stream to the Ocean. As a mixture of several colours make a beautiful complexion for the body, so a mixture of divers Affections under Gods various dispensations, gives a comely frame unto the soul. Labour then to Answer every call, every speaking providence of God, in its right kind, according to the intention thereof: and the Lord reveal his mind unto us that so we may do. Having passed the Title, let us look a little on those parts of the 3prayer it self that follow.