Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life, in and after a time of great mortality, by a wasting plague (anno 1665) answered in XIII directions / by Tho. Doolitel.

DIRECTION XIII.

* 1.1HAth God spared you in time of so great Mortality; Then give thankes to God, and the Praises that are due unto him for so great Preservation: Every Person should be very thankful unto God, that hath kept him alive; and every Family should sound forth his Praises: You spent time extraordinary, in seeking God by Prayer, in your Closet, in your Family, that he would preserve you; and, hath God done so, in answer to your Prayers? and, will you not spend some time extraordinary in,

and with your own Family in thankful acknow∣ledgments of Gods love unto you, and his care over you? Oh set some time apart, every Family whom God hath preserved, or so many that are left in every Family, in solemn praisings of God for his signal preservation vouchsafed unto you. In the time of your trouble, you called upon God, he hath delivered you, and now you should glorifie him, Psal. 50.15. and God is glorified by you when you offer praises to him, Ver. 23.

In the pressing you to the practice of this Di∣rection, I shall do three things:

• 1. How, or with what, must those that are preserved from death in time of Plague give thanks to God, or glorifie God for this mer∣cy?
• 2. With what Arguments should the people of God that are spared press themselves to give praises to God?
• 3. What course must such take to get a thank∣ful heart for so great a mercy?

SECT. I.

* 1.2HOw, or with what, must those that are pre∣••erved give thanks to God?

This must be done three waies:

1. You must praise God with your tongues: Your lips must shew forth his praises, Psal. 51.15. Your tongue must sing aloud of Gods righteous∣ness and mercy. For this end God hath preserved you, Psal. 30.11. Thou hast turned for me my

mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sack∣cloath, and girded me with gladness. Ver. 12. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent: O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. By [glory] David means his tongue: The Tongue is the glory of a man, it being his priviledge above all Creatures, with the tongue to form articulate words, having distinction of sound, for the communicating of the conceptions of his mind unto others. Thus we should praise God by speaking of his excellencies and per∣fections of his nature, of his works and waies, of his dealings with us, of the danger he hath delivered us from, of the good he hath given to us, of the salvation he hath wrought for us.

2.* 1.3You must praise God with your heart as well as with your tongue; for as prayer for mer∣cy with the tongue, without the heart will not be profitable to us, so praises with the tongue for mercy received, without the heart, will not be acceptable unto God. To praise God with the heart, is the very heart of our praises. Thus David, that before called upon his tongue to bless God, doth also elsewhere call upon his soul to do it, Psal. 103.1. Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. God blesseth us, by giving good things unto us, Eph. 1.3. We bless God, when we do thankfully acknowledge the good things we receive from God. You must then stir up your soul, and all that is within you unto this great work of praise for so great Pre∣servation.

3. * 1.4You must praise God in your lives, and by

your works and conversations; You must not on∣ly speak Gods praises, but you must live to his praise; you must do it with life, and in and by your life. Life is the mercy I call upon you to praise God for, and you must do it by your life. You may praise God with your lips, and not with your hearts, but if you do indeed praise God with your heart, you will also do it by your life. If you will give thanks indeed, you must live thanks. The best thanks-giving is thanks-doing. Thus if you would be thankful for the life of your children, shew it by your religious care in their holy Education; That God might not say of you, I spared such a mans Children in time of Plague, and afterwards he brought them up to dishonour me, and to sin against me; if you would be thankful for your own life, then lay it out in holy walking with God.

SECT. II.

* 1.5WIth what Arguments should the people of God urge their own hearts thus in tongue, in heart and life, to praise and glorifie God for his preserving of them? Work your heart hereunto with these following Arguments. Consider,

1. Should not you thus praise God for your preservation from danger by the Plague, Who did make this one of your Arguments to prevail with God by prayer in time of danger to preserve you? Did not you reason thus with God in time of sickness?

Lord lengthen out the life of thy servant,* 1.6 O Lord deliver my soul, O save me for thy mercies sake, for in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks? What profit is there in my bloud, when I go down into the pit?* 1.7 Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? The grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee:* 1.8 They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living he shall praise thee. Were not these your pleadings at the throne of grace? And did not you promise to God, and purpose in your heart, that if God would spare you, you would celebrate his praises? And shall not there be a correspondence betwixt your actions when you were in fears, and your actions, when your great danger (by the Plague) is over?

2. Should not you thus praise God for your preservation, Who have such examples for your practice, recorded in the Scripture. When Hezekiah had been sick and was recovered he sang forth the praises of the Lord, Isa. 38.19, 20. When David had been in danger of death and was de∣livered, he deliberates with himself what he should return and render to the Lord, Psal. 116.12, 13 &c. What shall I render to the Lord, for all his benefits towards me? I will take the cup of Sal∣vation, and will call upon the name of the Lord. Ver. 17. I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanks-giving — For your imitation consider Davids practice, (1.) He propounds a case of consci∣ence. Since I was brought low and the Lord hath helped me; since the sorrows of death have compassed me about, and God hath delivered me,

what shall I render? What must I do? What re∣turn must I make? And he presseth himself to this by four forcible Arguments, in these words, for all his benefits towards me. He considered,

First, Benefits received. Kindnesses call for ac∣knowledgments; favours are obliging. We must give thanks in, and for afflictions, much more when we are delivered. I deserved judgments, but benefits have been my receipt.

Secondly, The Author of them, [His] bene∣fits; The kindnesses of men should not be for∣gotten, much less the benefits of God. Your life is a benefit, and God is the Author of it.

Thirdly, The Number of them; [All] his benefits; they were many, not a few. Three things are innumerable:

• Gods mercies to us,
• Our sins against God,
• The evils that good men suffer,

Psal. 40.5, 12.

Fourthly, The Person to whom they were given: For all his benefits to [me.] Hath God indeed given such mercy to me? Hath God continued life to me, so vile, so unworthy, Oh what shall I render? (2.) He resolves this case propoun∣ded; I will take the Cup of salvation; I will offer the sacrifice of praise. God hath taken from you (for the present) the Cup of death, which was to so many a Cup of trembling;* 1.9 he hath removed your Cup of affliction, and instead thereof hath given you a Cup of Consolation, and a cup running over with variety of mercies, and will not you take the Cup of Salvation,* 1.10 and offer the Sacrifice of

praise? Do you see David (in the like case) so diligent and inquisitive what to render, and so peremptory and resolute, to offer praise to God, and will not you go and do likewise?

3. Is not this the noblest work you can engage in, to praise God, and to celebrate with thankfulness the greatness of his mercy and goodness? It is the work of Angels to be praising God; and when you take your flight into heaven, and are perfectly removed from sin, sorrow, suffering, temptation, wants, you shall do nothing else but love, and praise, and admire God? And will you not in the mean while accustome your self to that work on earth, which shall be your imploy∣ment in heaven? And will you not take occasion hereunto, by so great a mercy as God at such a time as this hath vouchsafed you?

4. Is not God most worthy of your highest and your heartiest praises? You were not worthy of Gods mercies, you were not worthy of life, but God is worthy of the best of your praises, were they as perfect as the Hallelujahs of the Saints in hea∣ven. God indeed is above all praise, Neh. 9.5. But yet he is pleased with his peoples praising of him.

5. Will you praise the efficacy of your Antidotes, and the skill of your able Physitian, by whose help you have been (under God) preserved: And will you not be much more in praising of God, for your safety, when without his blessing all had been ineffectual? Will you praise the Instrument and means, and say, I had an able Doctor, and not the principal cause of your preservation, and say, I had a good God.

6. Will not you praise God for his mercy to∣wards you, no, not for your life, when this is all that God requireth at your hands, that you should be th••nkful for your life, and thankfully improve it for his glory? You cannot make a requital, but God expecteth some return; you cannot make a retaltation, but God looketh for some retribution: And will not you think an alms ill bestowed up∣on that beggar, that will not give you thanks? And will not life be continued to the aggravation of your sin, if you are not thankful for it?

7. Is not this a duty that will well become you? A Christian doth then act most like a Christian when he is praising God, in tongue, in heart, and life, Psal. 33.1, 2. and 147.1. Praise is comely for the upright. Three things are very comely, To weep as a Sinner, to walk as a Saint, to rejoyce as a Son.

8. Will not you give to God the glory of his preserving providence, when if you do not, (that are Gods people) none else will? The wicked that are spared, they will not, they cannot praise God; they will dishonour him, they will speak to Gods dishonour, and act to Gods dishonour, so that if you do not praise God for his sparing so many alive, none else will: And shall God be with∣out all thankful acknowledgments of his remem∣bring mercy, in the midst of judgment? God forbid: That amongst all the thousands that are spared, there should be none found, making some thankful return to God. This number will be but small; amongst the Ten Lepers that were cleansed there was but one found thankful. If you

would not have God to lose the glory of his pro∣vidence, then you must be the men that must ho∣nour him for it. Many wicked men were not found praying to be preserved, much less will they be found praising, when they are preserved.

9. Have you more cause to bless God for life than others have, and yet will not you do it? Your life is more sweet and comfortable to you, than the lives of wicked men are, or can be, forasmuch as you have those comforts with life, and that Com∣munion with God in life, that wicked men have not: They live only a natural life, and have only the sweetness of natural life, but you with this life have also the comforts of an higher life, and yet will not you bless God for it? They are de∣livered from the Grave for a while, but not from the wrath of God too; from the Grave, but not from the danger of hell too, but so are you: And have you so much cause to bless God for life, and will you want an heart to bless him?

10. Is this the most effectual way to have life continued to you, and yet will not you do it? To have life continued will be, to be thankful for it; else God (finding you unthankful) when the Plague is over, might commission death by some other distemper, to take that from you, which you would not be thankful for.

11. Is not life the sweetest of all earthly mercies, and more to be prized, and yet will not you be thank∣full to God for it that hath so signally continued it unto you? Skin for skin, and all that a man hath

he will give for his life: And yet will not you give thanks to God for life? What earthly thing will you be thankful for, ••nd what mercy upon earth will you make returns to God for, if not for life?

12. Do you finde unthankful Men placed a∣mongst the greatest rank of sinners, and yet will you be unthankful? Unthankful Persons are numbred among Blasphemers, Covetous, Disobedient to Parents, such as are without Natural affection; false Accusers, Despisers of those that are good, &c. 2 Tim. 3.2, 3, 4. and, will you yet be un∣thankful, and that for your Life? Thus, by these considerations you should press your heart to give Praises to God for this so great Preservation.

SECTION III.

III. * 1.11WHat is the course that those that remain, after this Judgment, should take, to be thankful to God, and to render Prai∣ses to him for the Preservation of themselves, and those of their Relations continued to them?

Take these Rules.

1. If you would render Thankes to God in Tongue, in He••rt and L••fe, for this Mercy, then get a right judgment of the worth and great∣ness of the Mercy, that you, and some of yours are continued after this Visitation. Those that do not prize a Mercy, will never be thankful for it: What a Mercy is life to you, that are not

yet assured of the love of God? What a Mercy is life to you, that are not yet certain of the Salvation of your Soules? or, if you are sure of Heaven, yet is life to you a great Mercy; that you have time to do the Works that God hath appointed you to do. Consider also what a Mer∣cy it is to have your Children continued, that you may yet Instruct them, and Pray for them; that you may see Christ formed in them before you or they do die.

2. If you would be thankful for life, and have an heart to render Praises to the Lord, for your own, and your Relations; consider, how un∣comfortable your Life had been, had God continued you, and taken away your neerest Relations; and, how uncomfortable your Life would have been, had God continued them onely, and taken you away from them: You may consider while you live, the Discomforts of your Relations, and the sor∣row of their hearts, if God had removed you by death; What an uncomfortable Widow would your Wife (now) have been? what uncom∣fortable Orphans would your Children [now] have been! You have enough before you, and amongst you, that are sad Instances of this: Oh, consider this, and it will be a meanes to make you thankful, and to give to God the Glory of your Preservation.

3. Retain in your memory the greatness of this Mercy, when you have apprehended how great it is; a forgetfull person will be an unthankful per∣son: When David would have his Soul to bless God for his Mercy, he layes a charge upon him∣self

not to forget the Benefits he had received, Psal. 103.2. Bless the Lord, oh my Soul, and forget not all his benefits: Record Gods Mercy to you herein, and get it imprinted on the Table of your heart: forgetfulness is a great hinde∣rance to every duty; as, some Men forget their sins, and they will not be humbled for them: Some Men forget Gods Mercies, and they will not be thankful for them: some forget both, and are neither penitent nor thankful. So, to remem∣ber some things, and forget others, is very inju∣rious to Mens Soules; as, Some remember Gods Mercy, and forget their sins: and these presume. Some remember their sins, and forget Gods Mercy: and these despaire. But, it is best to remember both our sins and Gods Mercy: the one will make us humble, and the other thank∣full.

4. Let the Relations that God hath continued unto you, have a roome in your heart and affection, according to the measure that God commands: He that hath Children spared, and hath not suta∣ble affections for them, will not, cannot be thankful unto God for the continuance of their lives, and so Husbands and Wives: but, then you must love them, and your own life, but ac∣cording to the measure that God allowes: For, to love any of these, your Relations, or your Life immoderately, will not be to be thankful for them, but to abuse them, and make Idols of them: Let your own Life and your Relations have their allowance of your love, but no ••re.

5. Pray to God for a Praising Thankful heart for this Mercy. God gives us all our Mercies, and God must give us a Thankful heart for these Mercies, else we cannot give to God the glory of them: When you were in your danger you were afraid, least God should deny you life, when you Prayed unto him for it: but, are you as afraid, least you should not have an heart thankfully to improve it, when he hath granted it unto you? You Prayed for life, now Pray to God to make you thankful, and thankfully to improve it:

6. Labour to keep your Graces lively and vi∣gorous: To Praise God is a lively Work, and a dull heart cannot do it: You must love God for his Mercy, if you would Praise him for his Mer∣cy: You must delight in God, if you would Praise him: the more lively your graces are, the more sweet and comfortable your Life will be; and, the more comfort you have in life, the more your heart will be engaged to give God the glory of it: and so shall you be found amongst those few that do endeavour to live in some measure answerably to so great a Mercy, as Pre∣servation from the grave, in a time of Plague.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Since you live after this Plague, give thanks to God.
• * 1.2

  3 Wayes you must Pra••se God with your Tongue.
• * 1.3

  Heart.
• * 1.4

  Life.
• * 1.5

  12 Argu∣ments to thankful∣ness for life.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 6.4, 5.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 30.9.
• * 1.8

  Isa. 3••.18, 19.
• * 1.9

  Mat. 20.22, 23. Jer. 16.7.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 16.5.
• * 1.11

  6 Helpes to thank∣fulness for life.