calleth Christ the cheefe Shepheard e 1. Pet. 54 2 Sometimes also Kings and Princes are compared to Sheapheards whereby their care and vigilancy for the good of their people and subiects are expressed so Asaph speaking of Dauid saith He chose Dauid his seruant and tooke him from the Sheep-fold euen from behinde the Evves great vvith young brought hee him to feede his people in Iacob and his inheritance in Israel f Ps 78. 70. So the Prophet Esay prophecying of that notable deliuerance of Gods people out of captiuitie to assure them thereof he nameth the person by whom it should be more than an hundred yeeres before he was borne in this manner he saith to Cyrus Thou art my Shepheard g Esay 44. 28. By which title the Lord giueth all Kings and Princes of the earth to vnderstand that it is their dutie discharge it aswell as they wil to prouide faithfully for the good of the soules and bodies of their people to guide them by counsaile and to defend them by power 3 Thirdly and most cōmonly good ministers of the word are compared to good Shepheards and therby the great diligence and care that they ought to haue to feed the flocke committed to their charge with the green wholesome pasture of Gods vvord and to goe before them in all holy example of life are shadowed out so the Lord promiseth I vvill bring you pastors according to mine heart vvhich shall feede you vvith knovvledge and vnderstanding h Iere. 3. 15 And again I vvill bring them to their folds and they shall growe and increase and I will set vp Shepheards ouer them which shall feede them neither shall any of them be lacking i Iere. 23. 4 Vnder this metaphor Christ gaue Symon Peter his charge Peter louest thou me feed my lambes c. k Ioh. 21. 15. And S. Peter accordingly all ministers feed the flocke of God which dependeth vppon you c. l 1. Pet. 5. 2 4 Fourthly lastly the ignorance idlenes couetousnesse and dissolute prophanes of bad ministers or as the Church calleth them companions m Can. 1. 6 are notably shadowed out by comparing them to idle greedie and carelesse Shepheards and these Sheapheards cannot vnderstand for they all looke to their ovvne vvaies euerie one for his aduantage and for his owne purpose n Esay 56. 11. Againe the Shepheards are become beasts and haue not sought the Lord therefore haue they none vnderstanding and all the flockes of their pastures are scattered o Ie. 10. 21 but most notably largely is their idlenesse and seueritie taxed by the Prophet Exechiel in these vvords vvoe be to the Shepheards of Israell that feed themselues yea eating the fat killing them that are fed and cloathing themselues with the wooll but yee feede not the sheepe the weake haue yee not strengthned the sicke haue yee not healed neither haue yee bound vp the broken nor brought againe that which was driuen away neither haue yee sought that which was lost but with crueltie and rigour haue ye ruled them and they vvere scattered without a Shepheard and when they were dispersed they vvere deuoured of all the beastes of the field p Ezech. 34 2 3 4 5. But because in this place it is most plaine that by Shepheard the Prophet vnderstandeth the Lord of that we will only speake and passe by the rest which metaphor will be much the more sweet and profitable if we breake it open by considering the duties of a good Shepheard wherby the mercies of God towards his people are notably resembled and also the nature and duties of sheepe Illustration whereby are shadowed out those good thinges which either are or ought to be in all Gods people againe First The qualities of a good Shepheard a good Shepheard doth know his sheepe and to that end will giue them his marke that if any of them goe astray he may seek them againe and bring them home to the Sheep-fold So Christ Iesus the good Shepheard knovveth his sheepe and calleth them by their names q Ioh. 10. 3. 14. and as the Apostle sayth the foundation of God remaineth sure and is sealed with this seale the Lord knoweth who are his r 2. Tim. 2. 19. Yea this great Shepheard hath a Booke wherein all the names of his elect sheepe are written called the Booke of life ſ Exod. 32. 32. Phil. 4. 3. Reu. 3. 5. 20. 12. 21. 27. yea the Lord marketh his in their foreheads with the seale of the liuing God t Reu. 7. 3. which as the Apostle saith is the holy spirit of promise u Eph. 1. 13. which doth shew it selfe by the fruits therof in the outward behauiour profession and conuersation c. 2 Secondly a good Shepheard will haue care to feed his sheepe not in rotten soyle and wasting grasse but in good wholsome green pastures for thereon is he called Pastor a Pascendo So Christ is that good Sheapheard who feedeth euerie liuing thing w Ps 145. 16. Hee fed his people in the wildernesse 40. yeeres with mannah and feathered fowles from heauen x Exo. 16. 13. and with waters out of the stonie rocke y Exo. 17. 6 And Moses miraculously for 40. daies during which time he neither did eate bread nor drinke water z Exo. 34. 28. All men with naturall foode causing the raine to fall and Sunne to shine both on iust and iniust a Mat. 5. 45 but specially hee feedeth the soules of his chosen sheep in the green pastures that grow on the mountaines of Israell b Ezec. 34. 14. with the bread of life Christ Iesus himselfe in his word and Sacraments his glorious Gospell being our heauenly food his spirit and life our coelestiall drinke for we may not maruell that in diuers sences Christ Iesus should be the Shepheard that feedeth c Ioh. 10. 14 the dore whereby wee enter d Ioh. 10. 9 and the foode wherewith our soules are fedde and fatted vp vnto eternall life e Ioh. 6. 35. 3 A good Shepheard knowing both the straying nature of his sheep and also their timerousnesse weaknesse and simplicitie either to flie from resist or defend themselues from their manifold cruell and subtill enemies will haue great care to keepe them together and defend them as Iacob declaring his fidelitie to Laban in keeping his flocke said thus This twentie yeares I haue beene with thee thine Ewes and Goates haue not cast their young and the Rams of thy flocke haue I not eaten whatsoeuer was torne of beastes I brought it not vnto thee but made it good my selfe of mine hand didst thou require it were it stollen by day or stollen by night I was in the day consumed with heate and with frost in the night and my sleepe departed from mine eies c. f Ge. 31. 38. 39 40. So Christ Iesus being a most faithfull Shepheard hath great
singing and playing vpon their Timbrels viols and other instruments thankefully recording as followeth Saule hath slaine his thousand Dauid his ten thousands d 1. Sa. 18. 7. Hannah when God had taken away her reprochfull barrennesse and made her honorably fruitfull she sung said e 1. Sam. 2 1. Mine heart reioyceth in the Lord mine horne is exalted in the Lord. When God had looked vpon the humilitie of the blessed Virgine and made her the glorious vessell of Christ his conception shee gaue glorie vnto God in a song and said My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour f Luk. 1. 46 So Zacharie after the birth of Iohn Baptist his Sonne when his mouth was opened and tongue loosed he spake and praised God prophecying and saying Blessed bee the lord God of Israel because he hath visited and redeemed his people g Lu. 1. 68 Old Father Simeon embracing the babe Christ with his armes according to the promise of the holy ghost thankefully breaketh out into this sweet swan-like song Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word h Lu. 2. 28. And not onely haue these and many others the Saints of God in their prosperitie and flourishing estate hauing receiued many good things offered in their songs a sacrifice of praise Euen the fruits of their lips cōfessing his name i Heb. 13. 15. But also in their aduersitie dolefull conditions haue they poured out their soules in songs vnto God for though S. Iames seeme to oppose prayer and singing as so diametrally contrarie that no man can pray singing nor sing praying where he sayeth Is any amongst you afflicted let him pray is any merrie let him sing k Ia. 5. 13. Yet surely it is most euident that the Apostle therein requireth first that in afflictions when we are in distresse and extreame anguish we flye vnto God by prayer and of him onely seeke release and comfort and when we are in prosperitie and enioy the blessings of God at our wils that then we giue thanks and praise vnto God in our afflictions praying and not despairing blaspheming and seeking vnlawfull meanes of deliuerance with the wicked and in our prosperitie singing songes of praise and not vain light and foolish ballads as the worldlings doe and herein consisteth the opposition and not in the former for as in prosperity it is lawfull in feruent praier to mourne sigh sob and lament so also in aduersitie lamentably and sorrowfully to sing as the Apostle councelleth saying My brethren count it exceeding ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations l Iames 1. 2 So the Apostles being beaten and scourged went out of the Councell reioycing m Act. 5. 41. and being sore beaten cast into the inner prison and their feete made fast in the stocks yet at midnight they prayed sung Psalmes vnto God n Act. 16. 25. Dauid sung many psalmes and played thereunto with sundrie instruments and yet oftentimes vnder a sweet sound had a wofull and heauie heart as when he lamented the deaths of Saul and Ionathan o 2. S◠1. And elsewhere complaineth of the want of the feeling and assurance of Gods fauour and remission of sinnes and most earnestly intreateth to haue those graces renewed again p Psa 4. 6. 51. 120. And who findeth not great vse of singing both in prosperitie and aduersitie In prosperitie by singing of Psalmes our zeale is quickned fervencie in prayer increased and our earnestnesse to perfourme all laudable seruice vnto God notably stirred vp wherevnto the example of Elisha may bee referred who yeelding to the request of Iehoshaphat called for a minstrell who by his songs to Gods glorie stirred vp the Prophets heart to prophecie q 2. Kin. 3. 15. Also in aduersitie by singing of some holy and godly Psalme our heauie and pensiue hearts are refreshed for this cause the holy Prophet Dauid in the sorrow and heauinesse of his heart would rebuke his soule saying Why art thou so heauie oh my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me r Ps 42. 5. And would stirre vp himselfe and his instrument to play and sing some ioyfull song awake my tongue awake violl and harpe I my selfe will awake right early ſ Ps 57. 8. But I wil passe ouer these things and come to intreat only of the Psalmes of Dauid whose penners were many Arguments diuers and vses manifold First Penners for the penners as I sayd they were many as Asaphe t Ps 50. 73. 74. 75. 76. 78. c. for so some godly learned will rather that he was a writer than onely a singer to whom they were committed and the rather because elsewhere it may bee gathered that he made some psalmes u 2. Cron. 29. 30. Some also were penned by Moses v Psa 90. But most of them by Dauid that princely Prophet and sweet singer of Israel and thereuppon called the Psalmes of Dauid but whosoeuer was the penner they are all to be receiued with the like reuerent estimation they being all led by one and the selfe same spirit so that the holy Ghost may well be said to be Author of the whole Booke for these holy men of God did speake and write as they were mooued by the holy Ghost x 2. Pet. 1. 21. and specially Dauid witnesseth of himselfe that the spirit of the Lord spake by him and that his word was in his tongue z 2. Sa. 23. 2. And therefore S. Peter alleaging the testimony of Dauid vseth this maner of preface Thus hath the holy Ghost spoken by the mouth of Dauid concerning Iudas who was guide vnto then that tooke Iesus a Act. 1. 16 Secondly Argument for the argument of this Book as I sayd it is diuers some containe confession of sinnes and humiliation before the Lord with earnest and heartie prayer vnto God both for repentance and remission of sinnes b Ps 25. 51 Some are wholly spent in commendation of Gods law with many intermixt praiers for strength to obserue the same c Ps 119. Some describe the wonderfull power wisedome majesty and prouidence of God shinning in the creation and preseruation of all the world for which all creatures are exhorted to praise the name of the Lord d Psa 8. 18. 104. 147. Some are penned for a preparation to stir vp the people with feare and reuerence to present themselues before the Lord in their holy conuocations and assemblies as the Psalme which beginneth thus Oh come let vs sing vnto the Lord e Psa 95. Some of them lay open the miseries of Gods people in their captituitie and how hardly they were vsed of their enemies f Psa 137. Some of them containe particuler praiers for supply of some particuler wants either of bodie or soule g Ps 6. 86. Some containe prayers of the whole Church for the
men doe of a flower whilest it is newly gathered but afterwards it is throwne in the window corner M. Dearing in his Preface to his Catechisme and regarded no more this vanitie a learned and zealous Diuine long since lamented and surely it still encreaseth and getteth ground whereby many of Gods seruants most dysirous euery way that God hath enabled them to doe good to his Church are mightily discouraged from labouring in this kind disgrace pouertie contempt and iniurie being all the thankes which many receyue for their paines that if there were not other farre greater consideration whereby these former are deuoured and darkened as the light of a Candle by the Sunne at noone day O Lord how many excellent bookes are there which had perished amongst the Mothes and Wormes and neuer seene the light of the Sunne First it is the greatest comfort that many a poore soule hath next vnto preaching Gods sanctified ordinance that at leisure-times they may read or heare some plaine exposition or Sermon penned to their capacitie and wherein many take ixceeding comfort delight and profit There are many who for their age sickenesse soulnesse of weather or other vrgent occasions cannot alwayes heare the word where and when they would who yet hauing some godly mens labours may by the reading of the Scriptures and them in some measure supplie the want of better meanes and increase in themselues the knowledge feare and loue of God Againe though there be mo books godly and learnedly written then well read or vsed yet shall the Church of God so long as it remaineth on earth stand in need of new Tractates Comments Sermons and Catechismes as new reasons illustrations and methodes are inuented as new doubts controuersies errours or heresies do arise and as men do diuersly bend themselues to the studying and handling of particular heads of doctrine and parts of the word of God Non omnia possumus omnes Again all is not expected at one mans hands one may sleepe where another waketh two eies see more then one Plus oculi quā oculus one may be darke and concise where another is large and plain yea in a word as in diuerse speakers so in diuers writers handling the same doctrine in generall we shall see the admirable varietie of spirituall gifts each one differing from other both in method and maner matter argument whereby we may bee stirred vp to prayse the great bountie of God and also his wisedome towards his Church that whome one booke sauoureth not he may yet like the taste of another the doctrine of godlines beeing as a large field wherein manie thousands may labour and yet all haue elbow roome and like a great fountaine or Well whereout euery man may draw his Bucket-full and yet neuer see bottome Lastly some men through some respect of kindred friendship acquaintance or others may bee drawne to reade some booke whereas they would not haue regarded any other though farre to be preferred on the same argument The consideration whereof hauing the publike profite of many and the eternall glorie of God as the propounded scope and end of all my labours before mine eies togither with the importunate perswasion of my deare and Christian friendes in the Lord haue drawne mee into the violent current of this time to cast my mite into the Lords treasurie in publishing these my poore trauelles At nunc etiam cilius vereor quā henc which long since had come abroad if I could haue beene sooner thereunto perswaded I haue not altered any thing of the matter which was deliuered or of the method which I obserued therein onely I haue added the testimonies of certaine godly and reuerend men whose wordes and sentences in teaching I reported in our owne naturall mothers tongue but concealed both names and places and the rather I now set them downe because many either simple deceiued or maliciously froward condemne all such for meerely ignorant and vnlearned whose Sermons are not stuffed full with sentences of a strange and vnknowne language alas who knoweth not that any man but merely qualified with gifts and taking any commendable paines in his study may plentifully alledge the testimonies of mē if they saw the same warrantable or profitable and not rather hurtful to the edification of the Church of God But I haue placed them in the margent as also the testimonies of Scripture because I would not haue the simple reader any way interrupted he may at his pleasure hauing only the matter make a pawse for the examination of any thing auerred by the testimonies alledged As for the matter to commend it I need not for if it be the pure * Ps 12. 6. Reu. 3. 18. Psa 19. 10. word of GOD as I perswade my selfe it is then it is more precious than fined gold sweeter than honie and cleerer than the light if it bee as comfortable in reading as those who haue enforced me to publish it as they said found it in preaching I doubt not but God thereby shall bee glorified his Saints comforted and my soule reioyced in the day of the Lord Iesus but as for the manner the stile may seem harsh and vnpleasant handling a Shepheards song after a Shepheardly and rude manner for as your Worships know my maner is not at any time to studie for words but for matter which so I deliuer in such words as I may be vnderstood of the simplest hearer I care for no more mine only desire being to instruct Gods people with the plaine euidencie of the spirit and of power And therefore as in the deliuering so also in the penning and setting downe thereof I haue neither vsed curiositie of words eloquence of speech gloousnesse of stile nor of obscuritie and darkenesse of matter to declare a deepe profoundnesse but haue endeauoured in all simplicitie of spirit sinceritie of heart plainesse of phrase and sensible maner to deliuer the only truth to the Saints of god It is the first thing of mine that euer passed the Presse and therefore great reason that I should dedicate it to the first friends that euer I had in this Countrey who first wonne mine affection by courtesie and since many waies confirmed it by desert it was long since planted and being plentifully watered Amor verus non nouit finem it still groweth and shall till in the next life it be perfected Vnder your roofe I found a happie rest when I left your brothers house a Gentleman truely religious M r. vvoodward of Buckingham-shire and worshipfull by whose louing Sonnes meanes I was first drawne into these Southerne parts by your Christian example and religious exercises in your familie I was awakened forth of that spirituall slumber into which I fell so soone as I left the Vniuersitie M r. Perkins and the ordinarie hearing of a most zealous man of God who spent himselfe as the lampe to giue light to the Church whose soule is now at
rest with God and who first turned my feet towards Gods Kingdome Your Worships were my first encouragement to the study of Diuinitie and that with no small hindrance to your childrens proceeding in learning whom I taught by your meanes did I first enter into this office and was called vnto this place where I do now exercise and from you and yours haue I receiued manifold encouragements in my ministrie the Lord register them in his Booke that they may be remembred and come in your good accounts at the glorious day of his sonne and be requited seauen-fold into your bosomes wherefore hauing none other thing that I may not be vnthankfull In gratum si dixeris omnia dixeric which of all other sinnes euen amongst the heathen hath euer been reputed most vile odious whatsoeuer respects others haue onely to avoide the note of ingratitude doe I prefume to dedicate to your Worships these first fruits of my labours in this kind that as you heard the first Sermon that euer I preached your Sonne was the first child that euer I baptised your daughter the first that euer I maried so you would vouchsafe to patronize these few Sermons being the first that euer I published let then this poore Infant which knoweth not whither to flie but vnto you as you haue giuen coÌ„fort vnto his Father find some shadow vnder your roofe till the stormes of virulent tongues bee ouerpast Accept of this small testimonie of my great good will according to your wonted curtesie and surely if I shall heare that it is fauourably entertained of you and curteously accepted of the brethren I shall not onely greatly reioyce but also shall hereby be stirred vp and pricked forward to the publishing hereafter of other things with more time better aduice exacter diligence mature deliberation and sounder iudgement Non in principiis perficta quaeruntur sed de paruis principiis ad ea quae perfecta sunt perueniture Ambros thorough the grace of God increasing his guifts in me The Lord for his mercies sake graunt that these my first labours may bee accepted of the Saints and tend to the glorie of God And I hartely beseech the Lord God of all grace the Fountaine of all goodnesse and giuer of all spirituall blessings both for your selues your sonnes daughters brethren sisters and kinsfolks and your whole religious Stocke and Familie and specially for that reuerent religious Matron your deere mother whom God hath many waies honoured and after many great storms sweetly refreshed to her euerlasting consolation in Christ to endue all your foules with heauenly knowledge faith zeale and loue to God his truth and Saints and bestowed great worldly blessings of wealth wisedome and reputatation so it would please him to preferue and keepe you all in pure Religion perfect peace feruent loue vnfayned faith reuerent feare and true holynesse all the daies of your liues that the course of this miserable wretchednesse finished you may receiue the happie fruit of the glorious Gospell with all the Saints and bee crowned with immortall glorie in his purchased Kingdome wherevnto he speedily bring vs for his mercies sake in Christ Amen From Wye in Kent the last of September 1603. Your Worships in all Christian dutie to commaund THOMAS IACKSON TO THE GODLIE DISposed Reader and specially to his Countreymen Kinsfolkes and friends in Lancashire GRace mercie and peace with increase of all godlinesse and pietie from God the Father of all mercie thorough the inualluable merites of Iesus Christ our onely all-sufficient Redeemer by the working of the most mightie and liuely spirit the elects comforter for euer be multiplyed Amen Although it hath pleased God who hath the starres euen all the Angels or Ministers of the Churches in his right hand a Reu 1. 16 to fixe me in these Southerne parts to giue light vnto his people b Mat 5. 14 and not suffer me according to my hearts desire to fasten the cords of my remoouing Tabernacle among est you yet no distance of place or continuance of time can alienate or estrange mine affections from you S. Paule wished himselfe accursed and seperate from Christ for the good of them that were his kinsfolkes according to the flesh c Rom. 9. 3. And surely my heart were harder that flint if I should not haue speciall affection to my natiue soyle where I haue so many louing brethren and a sister deere kinsfolkes and faithfull friends yea my heartie desire and prayer vnto God is that you may come to the knowledge of the trueth and be saued d Ro. 10. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 7 2. Pet. 3. 9 that as nature hath bound vs together wee my also be tyed in a straiter and neerer bond of Religion being borne againe after a spirituall birth e Gal. 4. 19. Iam. 1. 18. 1. Pet. 1. 28 Iohn 1. 13. speaking all the language of Canaan f Esay 19. 18 For your sakes therefore deere Countreymen kinsfolkes and friends and specially so many as loue the Lord Iesus Christ and his Gospell dwelling in Bromley Colne Mersden or thereabouts haue I specially beene drawne to the penning of these few Lectures and to you do I commend them as all equitie and reason would that I should returne the first fruits of my labours thither from whence I came and where I had my first being and bringing vp accept therefore at my hands this poore mite as a token and pledge of one that loueth you vnfainedly in the Lord that whereas by the far distance of place and the great charge committed vnto me to bee attended vppon I am letted from coÌ„ming vnto you in regard of bodily presence that I might be comforted together with you thorough our mutuall faith both yours and mine g â—o 1. 12. Yet by this means the same might be in some measure supplyed on my behalfe I hope you will acknowlede it as a flower of your owne Garden that with greater delight you may smell vnto it and the fruit of your owne field and euen in that respect more willingly eat of it cheerefully digest it to the increase of that stature and strength whereunto you haue alreadie attained in Christ Oh what a ioy it was the last time that I was amongest you to obserue euen a generall and most blessed change that whereas heretofore nothing but blind and superstitious deuotion raigned men generally being like old vessels which could not bee seasoned from retayning the sent of their first liquor whereof many dregs remained that so they might be fit to receiue the pure liquor of the Gospell h Mat. 9. 17. Nay alas where were they that should haue seasoned them the word of God being much more precious than in the daies of Elie i 1. Sa. 3. 1. scarce one Sermon within many miles once a yeere to bee heard Now it hath pleased God to send vnto you many most godly and learned Preachers Againe in the people what a
confusion of the enemies thereof h Psa 83. In a word many of them are historicall as briefly laying open Gods dealing towards his people their enemies both in Egypt in the wildernesse and in the land of Canaan i Psal 78. 105. 106. c. most of them propheticall and all of theÌ„ didacticall full of instructioÌ„ both as concerning our faith in the maine grounds and Articles of Religion concerning our obedience whether of pietie towards god as hearing reading praying and praising or of loue towards our neighbour whether we regard the inward affections or outward actions Thirdly Vses lastly the vses of this Booke are manifold for all the holy Scriptures are written for our learning that wee through patience and comfort thereof might haue hope k Rom. 15 4. and as elsewhere he saith the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teach to conuince to correct instruct in righteousnesse l 2. Tim. 3. 16. Yet hath this Booke of the Psalmes a certaine singular and excellent difference from the rest of the Scriptures for which the Apostle requireth and there hath alwaies been ioyned together a dayly exercise of the word Psalmes saying Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you in all wisedome teaching and admonishing your owne selues in psalmes and hymnes and spiritual songs m Coloss 3. 16 And surely no maruel that it should be esteemed at so great price for it is as a Christians store-house and treasurie of all good things it recordeth the memorable histories of things past prophecieth and foretelleth things to come vnfoldeth hiddeÌ„ mysteries vnder pleasant and familiar Allegories herein vertue is coÌ„mended vice condemned and most wholesome rules and lawes of a Christian life prescribed if any man be pressed with the burtheÌ„ of sinnes scorched in conscience with the flashes of hel thorough the kindling of Gods wrath if possessed with feare of warres famine or death if loadned with sicknesse want and penurie heere is a soueraigne salue for euery maladie heere may the king learne what he is and how he ought to gouerne his people religiously and heere may subiects learne to obey their Rulers peaceably the rich man may learne the vanitie of all things and the true vse of his riches and heere may the poore man learne contentation with his estate the heauie hearted shall hence learne where true comfort is to be found he that is tempted to euill the remedie and he that is merrie the true ioy the measure thereof yea hence may the godly man reape great encouragement being assured that he shall find true peace at the last and heere may the wicked ones find discoragement and speedily turne vnto God knowing that howsoeuer for a while he may flourish like the greene bay-tree yet hath god set him but in a slipperie place and he shall sodenly perish come to a fearefull end Doubtlesse no man will denie but the Greeke Latine poems of Homer Hesiode Pindarus and others deserue great praise and want not their singuler vse yet for any to preferre or equall them with this Booke were intollerable dotage and contumelie for therein nothing is to be found concerming the good pleasure of God towards his elect in Christ they acknowledge not his diuinitie nor esteeme of his benefits without which we are no better than vessels of wrath and firebrands of hell they intreat not of faith or iustification before God wherein a Christians comfort chiefely consisteth indeed of the duties of the second table and honest manners they speake much but for the first table it is farre aboue their reach and therfore therein they are altogether mute and silent or grosly erre and bewray their ignorance much time they spend the greatest part of their verses in decyphering and deploring the manifold miseries and calamities whereunto this life is subiect but the remedie hereof they know not howsoeuer therefore there are some things profitable to bee found in them and their writings being garnished with eloquency of words and sentences running in a pleasant tune may much delight and affect the reader yet vnto these psalmes onely must we giue eare and attention as vnto the voice of God as Dauid himselfe hath said Hodie si vocem domini audiueritis To day if you will heare the voice of God harden not your hearts n Ps 95. 7. Vt memphiticos vales audiret Ad Architum Tarentinum Pythagoras that great Philosopher he went into Egypt to heare the poetrie at Memphis Plato he left Athens where he taught with admiration and for wisedome knowledge and eloquence exceeded all others went into Italie to heare that noble Philosopher Architas at Tarentum Apollonius with verie great hazard labour and cost went to the furthest parts of India to heare that great Philosopher Hierarchas Vt Hierarcham in Throno sedentem aureo sitting in his golden chaire and discoursing of the motions of the heauens position scituation and aspect of the planets and starres if these men spared not to bestow such great labor cost neither feared to expose theÌ„selues to such great dangers by sea and land onely to attaine to a further measure of knowledge philosophicall wherin though they placed their Summum bonum or chiefest felicitie yet he that knew much Hoc vnum scio quod nihilscio confessed this one thing I know that of Christ I know nothing how shall they rise vp at the day of iudgement condemn vs if hauing such excellent meanes of knowledge of saluation and euen at our dores we doe contemne them Wherefore to conclude if Alexander the great so highly esteemed of Homers Poëms Soâ—raet that amongst the Babilonish spoils there being offered vnto him a most precious casket wherein the great King Darius layd his chiefe treasures he onely laid Homers books therin as his cheefest treasure Praecipu◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How much more highly ought we to esteeme of this Booke whereof the holy Ghost himselfe is the Author so full of doctrines for instruction consolatioÌ„ and to lay it vp not in any chest of Cypresse or other made with hands and garnished with gold and precious stones but in the very closet of our hearts as the Apostle counsaileth Be not drunken with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the spirit speakinge to your selues in psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your hearts o Eph. 5. 18 And thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the treasure in generall let me now proceed to open vnfold this invaluable pearle which I haue chosen forth of the same and more particularly to handle this psalme which I purpose by gods gracious assistance and your Christian patience to speake of It seemeth by the title or inscription Title that this Psalme was penned by King Dauid himselfe Argument Which Psalme because it is