An Exposition of the Last Psalme | Page 8

two, namely the works of creation and redemption. [df]The worke of creation is attributed in the Masse of the matter to God the Father, in the disposition of the forme to God the Sonne, in the preseruation of both to God the holy Ghost. So likewise that of redemption, in election vnto God the Father, in the consummation vnto God the Sonne, in the application vnto the holy Ghost, all which are very noble acts, and God is to be praised in them according to his excellent greatnesse. The worke of creation is so mightie, that none could bring it to passe but the Father almightie: that God should haue nothing but nothing, whereof, wherewith, whereby to build this high, huge, goodly, faire frame; is a principle which nature cannot teach, and Philosophie will not beleeue. The worke of redemption is of farre greater might and mercy, for the making of the world was (if I may so speke) onely lip-labour vnto God, _he spake the word and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast_, Psalm. 33. 9. but Christ in redeeming the world said many words, and did many wonders, and suffered also many wounds. It is true that the least ake of his least finger is _infiniti meriti, sed non definiti meriti_, that is of an infinite merit, yet not that determined ransome for the sinnes of the whole world. It cost him more to redeeme soules, [dg]he dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification, hee suffered for vs and that death, and that a violent death, and of all violent deaths the most accursed death on the Crosse.
[Sidenote df: _Aduancement of learning lib. 2. pag. 116._]
[Sidenote dg: _Rom. 4. 25._]
The worke of sanctification is a noble act also, for euery man if you rightly consider his making is a wonder, I am saith our [dh]Prophet fearfully and wonderfully made: but a good man if you consider his new making is a wonderfull wonder, as [di]Paul speakes a spectacle to men and Angels, as the vulgar Latine runnes in the 68. Psalme, at the last verse, mirabilis deus in sanctis, O God wonderfull art thou in thy Saints.
[Sidenote dh: _Psalm. 139. 13._]
[Sidenote di: _1. Cor. 4. 9._]
But Dauid [dk]here meaneth especially the valiant acts of God in gouerning & garding his people from their enemies, [dl]O come hither and behold the workes of God, how wonderfull hee is in his doing toward the Children of men, he turned the sea into drye land so that his people went on foot thorough the middest of the sea, the [dm]waters were a wall vnto them on the right hand and on their left; but the waues of the Sea returned and couered the chariots and horsemen euen all the hoast of Pharaoh that pursued them. Almighty God raigned hailstones out of heauen vpon the cursed Amorites at Bethoran, and they were more ([dn]saith the text) that dyed with the haile, then they whom the Children of Israell slew with the sword. And when Duke Iosua prayed, _Sunne stay thou in Gibeon, & thou Moone in the valey of Aialon_: the Sunne abode and the Moone stood still vntill the people auenged themselues vpon their enemies. When Zenacherib and his innumerous hoast came to fight against Hezekiah King of Iuda, Gods Angell in one night slew an hundred eighty and fiue thousand Assyrians. 2. Kings 19.
[Sidenote dk: _Placid. Parmen and the english Com. dedicated to M. Herlakinden._]
[Sidenote dl: _Psalm. 66. 4._]
[Sidenote dm: _Exod. 14. 29._]
[Sidenote dn: _Iosua 10._]
And vndoubtedly (beloued) there is no nation vnder the cope of Heauen hath had greater occasion to praise God in this kind then England, the preseruation of the most illustrious princesse the Lady Elizabeth vnder the fiery triall of her vnkind sister Queene Marie was a noble act, and the seminary of much happinesse vnto this kingdome for many yeares after, and so much the more noble because Philip King of Spaine hath often confessed that he spared her life (when wildy Winchester and bloodie Bonner had brought her into the snare) not out of any pietie or pittie, but onely out of policie. Her exaltation to the Crowne was another noble act, so noble that some [do]Popish Prelats in their enuie burst a sunder and dyed for very griefe of heart. Well might that good Lady sing and say with the blessed Virgine, _He that is mightie hath magnified me, and holy is his name, he hath put downe the mightie from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meeke_: her flourishing in health, wealth, and godlinesse, more then 44. yeares (in despite of all her foes abroad, at home, schismaticall, hereticall, open, intestine) was another _noble act_: for after once the Bull of Pope Pius Quintus