Chap. 15. Several Corollaries Flowing from the Proposition

IT shews us that it is not in Vain to serve God. The Wicked who know not God, think him an hard-master, and say as they, Job 21:15. What profit should we have if we pray to him? But the Text shews us that God records all the Services of his People, a Book of Remembrance was written before him. Gods writing in a Book is, 1. An honor to the Saints the Romans wrote the names of their Senators in a Book, and in token of Honor they were called Patres conscripti: so Gods Book of Remembrance shews his high esteem of his People and their services, he writes them down. 2. Gods writing in a Book denotes the special favor God bears to his People; he Registers them and their services with an intent to Crown them. Tamerlain wrote down all the Memorable deeds of his Soldiers, whom he afterwards preferred to places of dignity. Gods service is most eligible; let us make Ioshua's Choice, Josh. 24:15. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. If we should desert Gods service, whither shall we go? when Christ asked his Disciples will ye also go away? says Peter, Lord to whom shall we go? John 6:68. As if he had said, if we leave you, we do not know where to mend our selves. Let us adhere to God, he has his Book of Memorials to record our Allegiance. We may be losers for him, we shall not be losers by him.

See from hence that as God does Register the good works of his People, so he has a Book of Remembrance to write down the sins of the wicked, Isaiah. 30:8. Go, write it before them in a Table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, for ever, that this is a Rebellious People, that will not hear the Law of the Lord. Mens sins are written in the book of Conscience, and the Book of Gods Omnisciency. They think because God does not speak to them by his loud Judgements, therefore God does not know their sins; but though God does not speak, he writes, Jeremiah 17:1. The sin of Iudah is written with a Pen of Iron and the Point of a Diamond. God scores down every act of Oppression, Bribery, Uncleanness, Hosea 7:2. They consider not in their Heart, that I remember all their wickedness. King Belshazzer was carousing and drinking wine in bowls, and praising his Gods of Gold and Silver; but while he was sinning, God was writing, Daniel 5:6. In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand, and wrote upon the Plaister of the Wall of the Kings Palace, and the King saw part of the hand that wrote: then the Kings countenance was changed. We read of Gods Book, Revelation 20:12. The books were opened: and his Bag, Job 14:17. My transgression is sealed up in a bag. It seems to allude to Law-Courts where there are Indictments against such Malefactours sealed up in a Bag, and are produced at the assizes. When God shall open his black book wherein mens Names are written, and his bag wherein their sins are written: then their Hearts will tremble, and their knees smite one against another. Every Lye a sinner tells, every Oath he Swears, every drunken bout, God writes it down in his book of Remembrance; and woe to him if the book be not crossed with the Blood of Christ.

3. See the Mercifulness of God to his Children, who blots their sins out of his book of Remembrance, and writes their good deeds in his book of Remembrance, Isaiah. 43:25. I, even I am he that blotteth out your Transgressions: 'tis a Metaphor borrow'd from a Creditor, who takes his pen and blots out the debt owing him; so says God, I will blot out your Transgressions. Or as the Hebrew carries it, I am blotting them out.

God in forgiving sin passes an act of Oblivion, Jeremiah 31:34. I will remember your sins no more. God will not upbraid his People with their former offences. We never read after Peter repented, that Christ upbraided him with his denial of him. O the Heavenly indulgence and kindness of God to his People! he remembers every thing but their sins. He writes down their good Thoughts and speeches in a Merciful book of Remembrance; but their sins are as if they had never been, they are carried into the Land of Oblivion.

If God records our services, then let us record his Mercies, let us have our Book of Remembrance. A Christian should keep two books always by him; one to write his sins in, that he may be humble; the other to write his Mercies in, that he may be thankful. David had his book of Remembrance, 1 Chron. 16:4. He appointed certain of the Levites to record, and thank, and praise the Lord God of Israel. We should keep a Register-book of Gods Mercies, though I think it is hard to get a book big enough to hold them. At such a time we were in straits, and God supplied us; at such a time under sadness of Spirit, and God dropped in the Oyl of gladness, at such a time near death, and God Miraculously restored us. If God be mindful of what we do for him, shall not we be mindful of what he does for us? Gods mercies, like Jewels, are too good to be lost: get a Book of Remembrance.

It is Comfort to the Godly. 1. In case of friends forgetting them. Ioseph did Pharaoh's Butler a kindness, yet did not the chief Butler remember Ioseph; but forgat him. Genesis 40:23. 'Tis too usual to remember Injuries, and forget Friends; but God has a Book of Remembrance, where he writes down all his old friends. Near Relations may sometimes be forgetful: the tender Mother may forget her infant, Isaiah. 49:15. Can a Woman forget her sucking child? yea she may, but I will not forget you: a Mother may sooner be unnatural than God forgetful. Christ our High-priest has the Names of the Saints written upon his Breast-plate, and all their good deeds written in his Book of Memorials. Let this be as Bezar stone to revive the Hearts of Gods people; though friends may blot you out of their Mind, yet God will not blot you out of his Book.

2. This is a consolation to the Godly, the Lord keeps a Book of Remembrance for this end, that he may at the last day make a public and solemn mention of all the good which his Saints have done. God will open his Book of Records, and say as, Matthew 25:35. I was an hundred, and ye gave me meat; thirsty, and ye gave me drink, etc. God will make known all the memorable and pious actions of his People before men and Angels: he will say, here are they who have prayed, and wept for Sin; here are they who have been Advocates for my Truth; here are they who have laid to Heart my dishonours, and have mourned for what they could not reform. These are my renowned ones, my Hephzibahs in whom my Soul delights. What a Glorious thing will this be, to have God divulge the Encomium of his Saints! when Alexander saw the Sepulcher of Achilles, he cryed out O happy Achilles who hadst Homer to set forth your praise! what an honor will it be to have the Names and worthy deeds of the Saints mentioned, and God himself to be the Herauld to proclaim their praises!