VER. 14.
THEY have forgotten their Maker, but I'le remem∣ber them saith God.
When men think least of God,*then is Gods time to come upon them for their sins, when they are in the greatest security of all: whereas if you would remember your sins God might for∣get them, or if you would remember God your sins should not be remembred, but you forgetting God, your sins are remembred. It is an abominable thing for us to for∣get God by whom we had our memory, by whom we are remembred, we should never have been thought of if God had not given us what we have, and therefore for us not to think of God it is a vile sin. Now God is forgotten when he is not honored, minded as our confidence, help, refuge, our only good, when he is not obeyed; if we do but re∣member sin, we cannot but honor him. How many forget what manifestations once they had of God? they are pas∣sed by from them, and other things take up their thoughts; Oh! what an appearing was there of God to many of your souls heretofore, and what conference between God and your souls? what lustre of Gods Spirit upon you? and you thought you should never forget those things; but now other things are in your hearts,* Oh! such men and women have cause to fear that they are under much wrath that they should forget their Maker. God challen∣ges remembrance under this title:*Remember thy Creator in Page 127 the daies of thy youth. There's no creature but the rational creature that can reflect upon the cause of their being, the first cause, and therefore God would not lose the honor from this creature; Indeed the Ox knows his owner, and the Ass his Masters crib, the beasts can take notice of those that bring them good things; but to reflect upon the cause of their first being, (I say) that's proper to the rational creature, and therefore it is an honor that God expects from you, and will not lose it.
The word here Creator, their Maker, it is not now meant for Gods giving them their being, but Gods advancing and blessing of them so as to bring them to that happy condition that now they were in, They have forgotten their Maker,* Oh they have forgotten that God that hath ad∣vanced them. So I find the words used in 1 Sam. 12. 6. The Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron; but the words in the Original are, the Lord that made Moses and Aaron: that is, when God call'd them to the publick work, God made them. Indeed for a man to be call'd to publick ser∣vice is a great honor that God puts upon a man, God makes a man then;* as many times we use that Phrase our selves, if a man be raised to any preferment we say, such a man is made for ever. Oh that man which God casts his favor upon, and delights to use in publick service, that man is a made-man; But they have forgotten the Lord that made them.
That's the Note from hence.*It's Gods favor that makes a man. You have an excellent Scripture for this in Isa. 43. 7. I have created him (saith God) for my glory,*I have formed him, yea I have made him. Here's these three words toge∣ther. God doth not satisfie himself in this, I have given him his being, or all that he hath, but he makes use of of these three several words to signifie how all our good comes from God; I do not know such an expression we have in Scripture, I have brought him out of nothing, then secondly I have formed him, I have put beauty and Page 128 glory upon him, yea and thirdly I have made him, I have raised him to the height of all; God hath created us all, but hath he formed us? We are to look at Gods forming as well as at his creation, how God forms and fashions us un∣to his own will.
