Chap. 22. e.--fn Expoftion upon the Bookof ± OB. Vert: 2I. 209 neftly remember themat (=climes. So his people in their pros portion doe earneftly remember the Lord, they minde him often, they would minde him aiwayes, they like to retaineGod (which the natural man liketh not, Rom. r.2E.) in their knowledge,or to acknowledge God ; They have not fome flitting tranfient thoughts and acknowledgementsof God (as a carnali man may have) but they fix and retaine God in their thoughts & acknow. ledgements, they think ofGod, what he is in his nature, they think what God is in all his perfeetions, they meditate of all his glory, ofhis juftice, ofhis mercy,ofhis faithfuinefs;of his power, ofhis truth,ofhis unchangeablenefs of his all 'ufficier:cy,they ac- quaint themfelveswithGod in all thefe : for indeed we are never acquainted with God,till we come to a diftinet knowledge of him in all thefe partsofhis glory, which yet are all but one and the fame glorious God.Toknow only in generali that there is a God, is not to acquaint our felves with God ; our acquaintance with him confifts in a fpirituall and fiduciall knowledge ofall his re - vealed perfeetions, fo farce as it is poflib!e or lawfull for man to .. fearch and know. To be acquainted with any man, notes more than a generali knowledge ofhim,howmuchmore to be acquain ted with God. Secondly, We acquaint our felves withGod,not only when we ftudy his nature, or what he is, but when we ftudy his works, or what he bathdone,God is visible in his works. That his name is near, hts wondrous works declare (P1.75.1.)We may acquaint our fivesmuch with God in the works ofCreation, but more in the works ofProvidence,in thofe we may molt legibly read his name,' that is, his greatness and power, asalío hisgoodoeís and mercy.- Thirdly, We a, quaint our felves withGod in the ftudy or 'his word ; therehe hash made a full discovery ofhimfelfe and of his will ; O hone Ilove the Lase ( faith David) my meditation is in it night andday. The word of God is the demonftrationoftheho- linesof G: & There he bath set forth kirnfelfe, how Hi, how pure, and how gracious he is. Theword is a glafsin which God is feene, therefore acquaint the felfe with the wore ofGod, and thou ihalt b; acqu nted withGod;reading andheating the word of God is our going to God for Couniell, as we acquaint out felves with a man when we goe to him, and aske his advice and counfell in any matter, or eonfult his books ; fo every timewe a thee
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