Mount Tabor. Or Private exercises of a penitent sinner Serving for a daily practice of the life of faith, reduced to speciall heads comprehending the chiefe comforts and refreshings of true Christians: also certain occasionall observations and meditations profitably applyed. Written in the time of a voluntary retrait from secular affaires. By R.W. Esquire. Published in the yeare of his age 75. Anno Dom. 1639. The contents of the booke are prefixed.

32. Vpon one word attributed to God thrice, in three verses together in one Chapter.

IN the last Chapter of Ionah, it is said (verse 6.) that the Lord God prepared a Gourd, (verse 7.) that the Lord prepared a worm, (vers. 8) and the Lord prepared a vehe∣ment east-winde: three workes of Gods omnipotent power, as it were of three new creations; from thence to draw a most demonstrative argu∣ment, for convincing the Prophets erronious zeale, and to manifest the glories of his owne infinite mercies above all his workes.

O most glorious Lord God, did the Prophet know indeed (verse 2.) that thou art a gracious God and mercifull, slow to anger and of great kindnesse? and should hee now bee

angry because thou wert slow to an∣ger? and would he needs die of the sullens, because thou wouldest not destroy one hundred and twentie thousand infants, when their pa∣rents repented? what strange pas∣sions are these in a Prophet? had he forgotten so soone his owne case, when so late before, for his rebel∣lious flying from thee and thy word, he was justly, even by his own confes∣sion thrownover board into the sea, and yet of thine infinite mercy by a miraculous deliverance was after three daies and three nights together lying in the deep, brought in life and safety to dry land againe? was hee glad and thankfull then for thy mer∣cies in sparing of one rebell, and hath he now so little pitie upon so ma∣ny thousand innocents?

O blessed Lord God, how tran∣scendent are thy thoughts (Esa. 558▪) above ours, and how contrary are our wayes unto thine? Thine end in this Prophets employment was for the Ninivites conversion, not for their destruction: And when by thy bles∣sed summons of prevention, thou didst upon their repentance save them; greater was thy glory there∣by and the successe more pleasing to thy Majestie, then it would have beene by their impenitencie and de∣struction: let these two examples of thy mercie, upon the fugitive Pro∣phet and the repentant Ninivites teach us, to put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercies, for blessed are all they that put their trust in thee, (Psalme 2.12. and 34.8.) O Lord strengthen us by thy grace, to depend upon thee and thy goodnesse, both in life and death, through Iesus Christ our Saviour, Redeemer, and Mediator, Amen. And againe O Lord God, didst thou here immedi∣ately

prepare, both the refreshing Gourd, and the smiting worme, and fainting heat, for thine owne gracious end with the Prophet; and doth any matter of comfort or affliction b••fall any of thy ••hildren, but by the hand of thine al governing providence? who in thine unsearchable wisdome know∣est what is best for them, and in thine unchangeable mercy disposest there∣of accordingly? O then (blessed Lord) give us grace withall meeknesse to humble our selves under thy mighty hand, in all the occurrents of this mor∣tall life; and in all our troubles to depend and rest upon thy mercies, for that blessed issue, which thou in thy boundlesse goodnesse shalt produce for thine owne glory, in our finall peace and salvation, Amen.