Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v5

Chep i6 'eft Ëxpofition Upon the Báokof I O B. Verf. r9 Ás.lt iioff ofgrate or favour in God to receive an appeal frottf tSa1t, f itis'aï5 à'amot only ofgrace, but ofcourage-in máìti, tomalsdan appeal toGod. It is an all ofgrace, as it is`a part of the worflíip of God, but it is an all of courage, or as I may call it, a daring work, as it is a puttingour felves under the juflice of God , yea an implicit imprecating of the venge- anceof God, in cafe we fpeak untrue : Thus to appeal or fwear, is a daring work, and fuch as no man durit do (if he knew what he did) but in a good caufe. It is a fearful thing thus to fall into the handsof the living God. Some have ven- tured upon falle oathes, and appeals to God, only forfear of men. Such fay commonly , They had rather truft Godwith theirfoules (by fwearing falfely) thenman with their eftates, lives, or liberties by confejngthe truth. Which is not only as ifa min ílould flee from a Lyon, and a Bear thould meet, but infinitely more than ifa man forfear of the bitingof a Whip- pet or of the flinging ofa Bee, fhould willingly offer himfelf to the mouth ofa Lyon, and to the flingofa Serpent. To fwear is not only to let our naked breafis before the Canons mouth, but with our own mouthes to give fire te it, if we utter falthood. Foúrthly, Obferve. It is thejoy andcomfort of anUpright heart, that there is a God in heaven who knows bis heart,and beams witnefs ofall his ways, It is the terrour ofwicked men to think that there is a wit- nefs in Heaven, and a record on high. Hypocrites may pre tend they rejoyce, that God is their witnefs, but its only a joy of the tongue, and from the teeth outwards, or to ferve their turn : but an upright heart rejoyceth indeedat this, he rifeth every morning, and walks all the day long, and at night lies down and refis upon this thought, God is my record, God is my witneft, he bath fearchcdme, andknown me, heknowethymy down fitting andmy uprifing, he understands my thoughts, afarof; be compaffeth mypath, andmy lying down, and is acquainted with all my wayes. In themidit ofall the clamours, tnifapprehenfi ons and mifguidings ofmen, it is an aboundant refrething and confolation to the Saints, that there fits one in heaven, who as he knows them fully, fo he judgeth all men rightly, and will render to every man according tohis works. Laftly,

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