Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the…

When it is applied to men, it intends the Catechising or instructing them in that which they should follow; so it is used, Prov. 22.6. Train, &c. when used for other things, it intends the appointing them to their first use, and the Service we designed ⟨p. 8⟩them for; and it seems the Israelites, when they Built an House, did solemnly consecrate it to the Service of God, engaging that he should be Served in it, and it should be kept pure from Idolatry and Debauchery: though with what Ceremonies they did it, or whether with any at all, the Scripture is silent, Deut. 20.5. But likely they did it with Prayer, in which they obliged themselves to God, that if he would continue them in their Dwellings, he should be faithfully Served therein; and if this course were used, instead of riotous, or at best but civil House-warmings, it would savour more of Christianity. We may see an instance of Davids Dedication of his house, in Psal. 101. whether this in the Psalm before us, were when he first built it, or after it had been defiled by Absaloms brutishness, is disputed. Others suppose that it intends only a Psalm composed to the Tune of the Song used in the dedicating of Houses: and the rather, because there is not any thing particularly mentioned of his house in the Psalm. However, as to the matter of the Psalm, it seems to be excellently accommodated to Davids return to his house, after the Rebellion ⟨p. 9⟩of Absalom was quieted. The Psalm is a Psalm of Praise or Thanksgiving: in it,

When it is applied to men, it intends the Catechising or instructing them in that which they should follow; so it is used, Prov. 22.6. Train, &c. when used for other things, it intends the appointing them to their first use, and the Service we designed ⟨p. 8⟩them for; and it seems the Israelites, when they Built an House, did solemnly consecrate it to the Service of God, engaging that he should be Served in it, and it should be kept pure from Idolatry and Debauchery: though with what Ceremonies they did it, or whether with any at all, the Scripture is silent,