The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

or forcedly, as he squeezeth confessions from them of his Justice and strength when they are under the rod or upon the wrack, Exod. 9.27. And this is no thank to the Will of man, but to the power of God who like the Huntsman useth the rage of the dogs to his own end, and maketh the wrath of man to praise him, Psal. 7•.10. or at best they praise him but notionally, and by hear-say, as one born blind may commend the Sun, or a stranger the Country he never saw. How far short must these come, when no creature can do God right, or limb out his vast perfections in their several dimensions! surely these must do him wrong, and blot his name with the ⟨p. 41⟩most curious pencil of their most studied praises; but this people shall show forth my praise. Alexander would have none draw his picture but Apelles, or cut his statue but • ysippus, because none else had art enough to do it well. Certain it is, none have skill and wisdom to show forth God's praise, but that people which he formed for that purpose: This people which have felt the weight of their sins, and smarted with wounds in their souls; this people, which have sometime been terrified under the apprehension of my unspeakable fury, and the expectation of the unquenchable fire; this people, that have seen their corruptions in their colours, suffered divine terrors, given themselves over for dead, damned creatures, and then were by bottomless mercy drawn out of the depth of misery, translated out of death and darkness into the Kingdom of light and life; this people which I have purchased with the blood of my Son, beautified with the graces of my Spirit, interested in rich promises, entitled to the heavenly possession; this people which have been carried like the Ambassadors of the King of Babylon into the temple, 2 King 20.12. and seen all the richness and glory thereof, the pleasures and comforts therein, tasting me to be gracious, sitting under my shadow with great delight, solacing their souls with the means of grace, and rejoicing in hope of eternal glory; this ⟨p. 42⟩people shall praise the greatness of my power, the manifoldness of my Wisdom, the sweetness of my Love, the sureness of my Word, the riches of my Mercy, the freeness of my Grace, the beauty of my Image, the preciousness of my Christ, and all this upon their own knowledge and experience.