nothing to be found in their life and conuersation of the thing whereof they babble Hee then was exercised in the word of God and that not onely for his owne particular vse but to th ende also to instruct his neighbours and to communicate to them the matter which he had heard and learned Now we see the summe and effect of this first verse He protesteth that he hath loued the word of God that not after a common manner but with a vehement zeale in such sort as that it hath beene his whole purpose and drift as when we haue liking of any one thing we cannot holde from talking thereof continually to be thinking of it As we shall see a miserable couetous man neuer but hunting after his wealth occupied about his lands possessions marchandise cattle must make prouisiō for this and that In like sort also is it with the whoremonger and the glutton and accordingly as euery mans desire leadeth him so must the tongue speake euery one apply him self wholy to that Se wherefore Dauid addeth that he was continually exercised in the word of God meaning thereby to shew howe greatly he hath loued it as he hath in deede said And nowe we see what thexample is which is here set down before vs for Dauid speaketh not this for himself but telleth vs what we ought to be if we will haue God to instruct vs and too haue him to make vs partakers of his truth wherein consisteth our whole felicitie and welfare for if wee wax colde make no accōpt of the word of God we are not worthy that he should giue vs the least taste thereof And for this cause we must not marueile much though so small a number at this daye haue profited in the scripture Although euery man desireth to be praised and esteemed amongest men to bee very able and sufficient yet for all that wee see what ignoraunce is in the greater number And therefore it is good reason that God should shut the gate vpon vs so that we might not haue so much as the least entraunce into his woorde And why so For where is the loue and desire that Dauid here maketh mention of Nowe when we shall know such a vice to be within vs we ought by and by to seeke to amende it and beseeche God to put this coldnesse from out of our heartes and that it would please him to enflame vs in such sort as that wee might learne to preferre his worde before all our fleshly desires that we be no more so much giuen to all these vayne follies of the world but that we may looke vnto the principal thing Let vs now come to that which followeth He sayeth Thou through thy commaundementes hast made mee wiser then mine enemies teachers and auncientes He setteth down here three sortes of people with whom he compareth him selfe and saith that God hath bestowed this grace vpon him to surpasse them all Now here Dauid sheweth vnto vs what profit shall redounde vnto vs when as we shal reade the word of God after his example to wit that we shall get thereby such wisedome as shall defende vs from our enemies to be better learned then our teachers and those which otherwise should haue byn in stead of our instructours To be short that all the men of the world shal not haue that which wee shall finde there and that all the wisedome which is in al the creatures of God deserueth not to bee egall and comparable too it Loe here in effect that which he meaneth Now we ought alwaies to cal to minde that which we haue already touched When as Dauid here setteth downe him selfe in the first ranke and sayeth that hee hath surpassed his enemies teachers and those which were the moste wyse and of greatest vnderstanding that this is not too attribute anye thing vntoo him selfe and to his owne persone but to the ende that God might be glorified in him and that we might knowe what profit shall redound vnto vs by the word of God when as we shal giue our selues vnto it We see then that Dauid had no regarde to him self but meaneth rather to giue vs occasion to glorifie God And besides his purpose is to stirre vs vp to the loue as we haue already touched which hee had to the word of God knowing the same to be so profitable for vs. For what is the cause that wee are so very negligent as in deede wee are in giuing our selues to the study of the holy scripture that we thinke it to be euen labour and time lost if we onely spend but one houre of the day therein What is the cause of such contempt Verely bicause we know not the profit that might come vnto vs thereby for if we were thus persuaded that all our wisedome is and consisteth in the worde of GOD and that without it we are like vnto miserable beastes so that Satan hath caught and holdeth vs fast bound in his grinnes and snares and that we cannot erre in all the whole course of our life if we know this and againe that it is sufficient that God hath taught vs and so haue thereby such a cleare light as that will neuer faile vs that we be fenced against all the ambushes of Satan and against all the villanies and deceiptes of the world if then we were thus throughly persuaded that the worde of God were sufficient against all this it is most certaine that wee should be a great deale more in loue without all comparison with the studie thereof then now we are And therefore let vs well recorde this lesson which is here set downe vnto vs by Dauid to wit that in the first place wee shall be wyser then all our enemies if that wee haue the woorde of God alwayes remayning with vs. Nowe when he sayeth that hee was made wyser and had more vnderstanding then his enemies hee meaneth that hee had so excellēt a knowledge as that God would not suffer him to fall into the ambushes priuie engines which the vngodly had layde for him suddenly to bee entrapped caught by their subtill traines and pollicies Loe already a wonderfull profit which we receiue by the worde of God that although wee be encompassed with the wicked which seeke nothing but our destruction when as wee doe thinke that we should perishe euery minute of an houre yet that we shall bee guarded from all whatsoeuer that they may any way attempt and priuily laye in wayte against vs so that we be instructed in the worde of God Lo say I an inestimable treasure but we must cōsider who they be that are our enemies For we haue not onely to do with men which seeke our hurt dishonour or that which might grieue vs as touching this present life but wee haue Satan and all his fauourers and mainteiners which are deadly enemies too our soules who seeke nothing els but our destruction yea not onely as concerning the worlde
hoggeshead wil be empty but when as the woorde of God hath serued to quicken vs it still remaineth sound and whole without diminishing any whit at al. So then let vs learne after the example of Dauid too make estimation of the vertue and power which God hath giuen to his worde and neuer forget it Nowe hee addeth by and by after I am thine saue me for I haue sought thy commandements The vngodly layde wayte for me to destroye me but I will consider thy testimonies After that Dauid had made such protestation hee committeth him selfe to GOD euen declaring that hee hath sought his commaundementes And so hee speaketh not only of the time past but remaineth alwaies cōstant in this purpose Now we haue here to cōsider of three points the one is the request which Dauid maketh to God O saue me The second is the reason why he desireth God to saue him Bicause saith he I am thine And afterward he sheweth how he is gods that is for I saieth he haue sought thy commandements And thus we see in the first place how God offereth him selfe vnto vs and that hee desireth nothing els but to holde vs in his protection to haue care of our saluation yea so that we come vnto him after the example of Dauid And I beseeche you what priuiledge is this that we haue such libertie to come vnto God and to commit our selues into his handes whether we wake or sleepe whether wee labour either in the towne or in the fieldes that God is as it were a watchman ouer vs to keepe vs Yea and that he hath not care ouer our soules to keepe them from the ambushes of Satan but also that his fatherly prouidence and loue extendeth it selfe euen to our bodies When God thē I say giueth vs the libertie that we may make such request vnto him I pray you tell me is not this an inestimable priuiledge But we neuer a whit thinke of this as may well be seene by our slackenesse and wearinesse in prayer to God at this daye And yet for all that it is not without cause that Dauid setteth downe here this request but to the end that we should knowe that in praying to God he will graunt vs the grace to commēd our selues wholy vnto him no more also should wee haue too top great a care ouer our life for we being assured of his loue should bee contented with all the rest whatsoeuer And thus much for the first point Now for the second we are rightly to consider that if we will haue God to be our warrant and to be vnder his protection we must needes be his and may say truly as Dauid here doth It is very true that God keepeth his creatures who are not worthy thereof as hee also causeth the Sunne to shine as well vppon the good is on the bad and that it is of his owne goodnesse and mercie that the wicked doe liue but yet to their vtter destruction And when it is here said to be kept by God it is such a keeping and preseruation as that the issue thereof is both good and healthfull And this is not done saue onely to such as are truely the possession and inheritance of God and his true housholde seruantes and children Will we haue God then to receiue vs into his protection and to be our protector Wil we haue him to take care and charge both of our soules and bodies Let vs first be his And howe shall we be his Forsooth we must come to the third point to wit to seeke his testimonies Loe then how God will take vs for his possession for hee euen then alloweth vs for his children when as wee put our whole trust in him seing that he hath so familiarly called and bidden vs and hath certified vs by his word that he will neuer forsake vs. If then we so seeke the testimonies of God and sticke vnto them with a sure faith let vs neuer doubt but that he wil allowe vs for his houshold meiny and children And then we may well say with Dauid saue me O Lord. See I say in what maner we ought to come vnto God if we will be sure to haue him to protect vs. Now Dauid addeth The vngodly haue laid wayte for me to destroy me but I wil consider thy testimonies Whereby he doth vs to wit that although God is stedfastly purposed to be the protector of the faithfull yet that they are not without a great number of griefes and troubles subiect to many sorrowes and bee maruelously encrapped and thereby thinke that they can not chose but to fall into the snares of the vngodly And besides the subtelties of Satan are great and againe all the vngodly which serue Satan and are lead by his spirite cease not to inuent subtelties and deceiptes to entrappe the childrē of God by lying in wayte for them Dauid his meaning then here is to declare vnto vs that although God preserueth vs it is not therefore to be said that we are without molestations and temptations But what So it is that the woorde of God ought to suffise vs as he faieth I will consider thy testimonies As if he should haue saide O Lorde I haue made this my buckler and fortresse which is that thou hast promised to be my sauiour and hereupon haue not forced for all the treasons that all the vngodly can conspire against mee It is very true that they haue layde a platforme to betray me yea and it seemeth that I am already within their clawes and teeth ready to be deuoured but thy testimonies O Lorde haue so strengthened me as that I haue not fainted Let vs learne then to fight in this sort against all the subtelties of Satan and malices of men and notwithstanding that they shall goe about to destroye vs yet let vs fasten our eyes vpon the worde of God attende vpon it and therein perseuer vnto the end Nowe for cōclusion Dauid addeth I haue seene an ende of all perfection but thy commaundement is exceeding broade or large The word then which Dauid vseth signifieth sometimes perfection and sometimes accomplishment bicause that the things which are come to a perfection haue an ende Now he saith in summe that when he hath throughly considered of all things that there is nothing in this worlde which hath not an end and that is not consumed by continuance but that the word of God is plentiful that is it extendeth it selfe vnto all the creatures of God and ouer all whatsoeuer wee are able to see See here a sentence very like vnto that which we haue seene in the first verse Dauid then by this conclusion confirmeth the saying which before hee held to wit that the word of God is euerlasting Although that we here see maruelous alteratiōs that we se the world tossed with so tempestuous whirlewindes as that there is nother end nor measure of thē yet shal we haue in the midst of al those troubles an euerlasting
can be more and is much subiect to the temptations of Satan and of the flesh And on the other side ouer and besides that there is neither iudgement nor wisedome in yongmen in so much that they are so stirred vp with heate as that their boiling affections breake out Yet in steade of hauing some modestie to take in good part the admonitions which might be giuen them they will be the more loftie and stubborne which might take better occasion to be more grieued in beeing reprehended or rebuked And that this is true we see at this day howe all things are out of order This is sure that the true vertue which should be in youth is modestie and that the younger sorte ought to knowe that since they are not furnished with wisdome and discretion as the elder sorte are they ought to heare them and not to be giuen ouer to their owne will and wit This is the moste principall wisedome that ought to bee in young men But what they are at this day past all shame By this we may see that the worlde is euen as it were vtterly desperate and that we are growen to the fulnesse of all mischiefe and iniquitie For wee shall see these beastly and gracelesse boyes and wenches which scarsely are able too wype their owne noses as we say yea and that might yet be vnder the rod ten yeeres like peeuish wretches as they are that when so euer they shal be spoken vnto wil make no reckoning of whatsouer is said but poute and mowe at it counterfaiting the very Apes and Monkeyes as dayly wee may see And when we see such extreame pride in this people what shall wee say but that Satan hath euen possessed them and that they will shewe themselues as in deede they are to weere without all amendment So then this point is so much the more to be wel considered of when as hee saith Wherwithall shall a young man addresse his way by taking heede thereto according to thy worde True it is that a great many which haue neede heere to be tolde this geere care not for filling of their eares with any such matter they haue knowledge inough too keepe them selues from the Church For they haue the thing which they desire when they may be at the Tauerne playing and Dauncing But what It is certaine that this doctrine will not leaue them vncondemned when as God cryeth vnto them as hee witnesseth by Solomon Prou. 1.20.21 22.23 where he bringeth in Wisedome saying I haue cryed out and put foorth my voyce in the streetes I haue bidden both great small to the end that men might heare mee and none hath vouchsafed too receiue me ne yet to giue me lodging When God declareth vnto vs that our life shall be well ordered if wee keepe his word surely as many as flye from this doctrine and admonition shall render an account at the last day because God hath called them And also because they haue not only bin deafe but also haue added this mischiefe to flye from the admonitions which Gods word admonished them off to bring them againe into the way of saluation from whiche they were strayed It is especially sayd Tea by taking heede thereto according to thy worde Dauid his meaning is heere to expresse vnto vs that we may make our selues beleeue that we haue wisedome and discretion inough But yet it shall profire vs no whit at all without we will bee gouerned and ruled by God according to that which hath beene before saide Nowe it followeth With my whole hearte haue I sought thee let mee not wander from thy Commaundementes Dauid heere maketh a notable confession which is not common to all men That hee bath sought God with his whole heart For although we haue a desire to goe to God yet it is so feeble as is lamentable seeing we are with drawn with so many vanities by reason the world hath such dominion ouer vs and yet ought not to retire our selues frō any good deuotion whē as we haue had a through feeling therof There are very few of vs that are able to say with the prophet Dauid that we haue sought God with our whole hart to wit with such integritie and purenesse that we haue not turned away from that marke as from the most principall thing of our saluation It is very true that Dauid had not yet any such perfection but that hee slacked in the fight against the prickings of the fleshe and went back Saint Paule also confesseth that hee went too God as it were halting that he did not that good which hee woulde desired Rom. 7.19.20 but that he was encompassed with his naturall vices to doe the euill which he condemned Dauid was not without such temptations but how soeuer it was it is most certaine that the principall matter wherto he bent himself was to serue God Now as I haue before said we are all farr from this example For as many of vs as at this day are best affected may be letted and hindered by a number of vices vaine cares of this world with lusts desires of the flesh that if we should remoue our foote euery day too goe one pace forward it were much and yet it may come so to passe often times that we would drawe back againe to the place from whence we came And yet notwithstanding Dauid after hee had protested that he sought God with his whole hearte besought God that he would not suffer him to decline from his Commaundementes Heereby let vs see what great neede we haue to call vpon God too the ende he may holde vs with a mightie stronge hand Yea and although hee hath already mightely put too his helping hand and we also knowe that he hath bestowed vppon vs great and manifolde graces yet is not this all But there are so many vices and imperfections in our nature and wee so feeble and weake as that we haue very greate neede dayly to pray vnto him yea and that more and more that hee will not suffer vs to decline from his Commaundementes For although Dauid protested that hee sought God with all his heart neuer thelesse hee addeth yet suffer mee not O Lorde too goe wronge from thy Commaundementes What shall we doe then Let vs also learne to walke carefully for since hee is the God which giueth vs that good minde to wil and that also giueth vs the power too performe and all of his meere fauour and grace wee ought sayth Saint Paule to walke in feare and to keepe good watch too the ende that Satan taketh not vs vnprouided Phil. 2.12 and that he enter not within vs. And loe what is the cause that wee haue seene some men which haue made a greate shewe of holinesse for a time and haue seemed too bee more like Angels then men which at length haue growne too outrage and haue so greatly exceeded their boundes as that GOD euen forsooke them like desperate
hee sayeth O Lorde open myne eyes that I may see the woonderous thinges of thy Lawe Wherefore vseth hee this woorde woonderous It is as if he would haue saue saide Although the world taketh the lawe of God to be but a light thing and seemeth to be giuen but as it were for simple soules yong children Yet for al that there seemeth such a wisedom to bee in it as that it surmounteth all the wisedome of the worlde and that therein lye hidde wonderfull secrets Asmuch is saide of the Gospell and that not without great cause And in very deede that which at this daye is most plainely declared in the Gospell was before conteined in the lawe onely these were darker shadowes then they are which were since the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ And yet notwithstanding there is no chaung or alteration in this wisedome as God also is not mutable Ephes 3.10 1. Pet. 1.12 It is not then without cause that all the holy scripture is called wisedome and that the Angels of heauen theÌ„selues do woÌ„der thereat If then the Angels be astoyned at the secrets conteined in the holy scripture I beseeche you tell mee what reuerence deserueth it to haue among vs mortall men For we are but poore wormes vpon earth creeping here belowe If there be comparison made betwixt vs and the Angels what shall it be See howe the Angels are wonderfully rauished to see the wisedome of the word of God and yet we make no accompt of it but esteeme of it as a base and childish thing The more therefore ought wee throughly to marke this saying of Dauid that the doctrine of the lawe is not as wee take it to bee to wit a thing of small valure or a common and ordinarie doctrine but a wonderfull wisedome wherein are such secrets as ought to rauish vs with admiration bicause they farre surpasse our wit and reason But what is the cause that we so lightly esteeme of the lawe of God that is to say his whole word Herein the common prouerbe is verified when we saye A foole regardeth nothing Which prouerbe we declare to be rightly verified in vs For many of vs make no estimation of the holy scripture it seemeth to vs that that which we reade there is too to coÌ„mon and this is the reason bicause we know not what it is â—â—e yet the great and abundant treasure hidde therein But such as haue once knowen what the Maiestie of God is which hee sheweth and declareth him selfe to be there and do see whether it is that God calleth and allureth them and do also vnderstand and knowe the large and sweete promises offered vnto them therein such I say will say with Dauid O Lorde thy law is wonderfull And so consequently will desire that their eyes might be lightened confessing them selues to be blind vntill such time as God hath ayded them with his holy spirite Now it followeth I am a stranger vpon earth hyde not thy commandementes from me When Dauid did put to this verse he ment to confirme the matter which before he touched that is to say that he desired not simply to liue as if his life had beene deare and precious vnto him without any other respect but he had a further meaning For he saith by a by after I am a stranger in the world therefore hyde not thy commandements from me They which make their continuall nest here according to their owne fansie and thinke to make their heauen in this world these men I say haue nothing to do with the commandementes of God for their saluation For they are safe enough if they may eate and drinke to be glutted that they may take their pleasures and delightes that they may be honoured that they may be in estimation and credit loe here is all that they desire or wysh to haue Yea forsooth For they looke no further but to this corruptible and transitorie life These men I saye are not greatly troubled ne yet haue any care of the commaundementes of God but when as they shal be taken from them all shall be one to them When as the couetous man the whoremonger the dronkarde the ambitious person shall heare no preaching of the word at all neither any talke of God ne yet of Christianitie nor of life euerlasting He in the meane time ceaseth not to pursue his owne waye Yea and it is to them a lothsome and vnpleasant kinde of speach to heare God spoken of but had rather haue no mention in the whole worlde made of him And therefore it is not without cause why Dauid requireth not to haue the coÌ„mandements of God taken from him this is his reason to wit bicause he is a stranger on the earth As if he should haue sayd O Lord if I had none other consideration but of this present life I should be euen accursed and it had beene better my mother had beene deliuered of me as of a dead body and that I had beene an hundred times plunged in hell And why so For we are here in this world but as pilgrims and wayfaring men and we passe to a more excellent life as to that also wherein we repose our whole trust Seeing then O Lord that I am a stranger in the world let not thy commandementes be taken away from me Nowe in this part is conteined a very profitable doctrine and exhortation for vs for we knowe how cold wee are where in deede we ought to haue an ardent desire to be taught the worde of God and to be more and more confirmed therein And I beseeche you how carelesse are we But what is the cause hereof No doubt of it we must alwayes euen searche and looke into the depth and bottom of this corruption and mischiefe for when we see any vice in our selues we ought to enquire from whence the cause proceedeth to the ende we might finde remedy for the same Now the reason is bicause we are blynde and do suppose our abode should bee here still vpon earth and euery man imagineth him selfe to haue here euerlasting life Wherefore when we are thus giuen to the world thinke our selues to haue here an euerlasting enheritance loe this is the cause of our thus conteÌ„ning of God and his word or rather that we care no whit at all for the seeking out of the doctrine of our saluation What must we then do Forsooth wee must looke a great deale further then to the world if we will come vnto God and be exercised in this study wherof meÌ„tion is here made and to say with Dauid O Lord bicause we are strangers in this world to wit that we are to passe here only that nothing can be shorter then our life is here let not thy commandements be taken away from vs. On thother side Dauid his meaning here is to signifie vnto vs that he was but as a poore pilgrime and wandring man without he were conducted and guided by the worde of
which I haue seene with mine eyes When I haue seene that thou chastisedst the proude I haue beene by and by humbled thereby so much discipline haue I receiued by it see then nowe why I do beseeche thee that I might be more carefully and diligently instructed in thy law If now it was behooueful for Dauid who was already so well instructed in the law to be thus aided for the drawing of him selfe to God to wit that hee seeth the vnbeleeuers punished and God to laye his hand vpon them I beseeche you tell me had not we neede of such instruction also of a great deale more And so as oftentimes as we shal plainely see God to send his chastisements into the world to punishe sinne we ought greatly to consider thereof and to vnderstande that it commeth not by aduenture or chaunce as we commonly saye And when GOD so striketh the proude and disobedient let vs consider that he meaneth not to punish their persons and bodies onely but to teache vs to haue a greater regarde to our selues that wee might bee humbled to the ende the like fall not vppon vs. For God doeth vs great pleasure when hee punisheth others thereby to teache vs to take heede as also it is great wisedome for a man to beware by the harme of an other according to the olde prouer be And so also meaneth God Let vs then consider of the fauour and grace which he sheweth vnto vs when as he setteth foorth his iudgementes before vs it is to aduertise vs of our faultes to the end we should the better walke in his feare to obey him yea and that he punisheth others for our amendement as I haue already sayd And especially he addeth Cursed are they that erre from thy commaundementes or that goe wrong By this hee farther declareth and expresseth that which wee haue already shewed to witte howe hee hath beene taught to walke according to the will of God by the punishmentes which lighted vpon the proud and disobedieÌ„t And here he maketh this generall conclusion That all they which erre from the commaundemen of God are accursed Whereupon we are to gather first of all that the particular iudgementes of God ought not to serue vs for one deede alone but that we should apply it for a generall instruction all the dayes of our life As how When as we see God punish one persone O wee must not stay our selues vpon such an act to say that God punisheth but one person which deserueth it but wee must conclude and say according to that saying of S. Paul There is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2. 11. Now when he hath punished such a fault we must then say that this fault displeaseth him in as many as do committe it As in an other place he sheweth Sithens that God so grieuously punished the children of Israel for Idolatrie we must conclude that he vtterly abhorreth Idolatrie As greatly also abhorreth he Lechery murmuring disobedient persons and horrible wicked couetousnes And all this saith S. Paul should serue vs for an Image or paterne 1. Cor. 7. ver 7.8.9.10 to the end that when we see the like come to passe we should remember vs of that which is conteined within the holy scripture and applie it wholy to our own vse and profite And thus much as touching the first point which we haue here to note to wit that if God punisheth a man we must gather out of it a generall instruction and conclude that all they which go wrong from the commaudementes of God are accursed Now we haue to touch the second point which is also notable that is we must not tarrie vntill such time as God scourgeth vs but beeing aduertised by that which hee hath shewed vs a farre of wee might preuent the punishmentes and corrections which might light vpon vs in the end And this is it which wee must gather vnto our selues in generall of that which hath beene spoken That all they which erre from the commaundementes of God are accursed Moreouer let vs also in the third place learne that all the happinesse which we imagine when wee are farre from God is nothing but accursed and that in the ende the sentence of our Lord Iesus must be accomplished Luk. 6. â— 25. Cursed are ye which laughe for ye shall weepe and your laughter shall be turned into gnasshing of teeth Let vs then vnderstand that whiles the poore worlde maketh it selfe mery and that it seemeth to be come euen to the full aboundane of the wisâ—hes and desires and that it hath obteined the chiefe felicitie that it is euen then vnder the greatest and chiefest curse And why so For all they which stray from God are accursed bicause that hee is the fountaine of all goodnes and without him there is nothing but all miserie True it is that for a time hee suffereth the infidels and vnbeleeuers to make them selues mery that we might thinke them to be the happiest people in the worlde but what of that It will all returne to their greater confusion It followeth soone after Remooue from me shame and contempte for I haue kept thy testimonies Here Dauid commenceth a newe suice vnto God to wit that he would hold him in his innocencie and puritie And it is not without cause that he so doeth for we see that they which serue God with their whole heart are contemned and despised yea they are most shamefully slaundered For we see euen at this daye that he which walketh simply he shall by and by be called an hypocrite All they which would serue God are thus cried out vpon O these hypocrites O these mortified See here how the puritie simplicitie of the faith full is despised naught set by For the deuil possesseth the contemners of God in such sort as that they vomit out their blasphemies not onely against those whome they purpose to oppose them selues but euen against God him selfe But this mischiefe and corruption is not of a dayes hatching and therefore wee are throughly to consider the saying which Dauid here setteth downe O turne from me rebuke to wit suffer mee not O Lorde to be lightly esteemed of men bicause I haue kept thy testimonies Wee see then that the summe of this verse is this That Dauid desireth GOD to vpholde and mainteine his puritie Now the cause is incontinently added For princes also did sit vnder the shadowe of Iustice and speake against me Nowe this was a great temptation to Dauid that hee was not onely mocked and scorned at the Tauernes and Innes beeing there blasoned by dissolute Iesters and Scoffers and talked of in the streetes and market places but euen in the place of Iustice which ought to bee holy it could not therefore bee chosen but that they also woulde vtterly defame and slaunder him and condemne him to be as it were a most wicked and cursed man When Dauid then did see that he was thus vniustly intreated
followe the doctrine heerein conteyned Nowe returneth hee to the firste Argument which we haue already touched to wit according to the woord of God Wherein we see that all the assurance and certaintie which we ought to haue in our prayers to God is to looke vnto that which hee hath promised vs. For they which trust vnto themselues and think there is sufficient in them why God should heare them it is most sure that they shal neuer open their mouthes to desire any thing of God or if they doe it shall be all but meere hypocrisie As in Popery where wee are not taught the promises of God True it is that they wil babble much mumble ouer a number of Pater Nosters with a mixture of Aues yea and will also direct their Pater-noster to the Puppet of S. Agatha or some other Saint as if it were too God Nowe this is nothing else but beastly to profane the name of God And therefore I haue sayde that the principalest poynt that we ought to vse in praying vnto God is to lay before him his promises saying O Lord God it is true that we rightly deserue to be reiected of thee but seeing thou inuitest and callest vs shall wee goe from thee Is it not meete that we should doe thee this honour as to giue credite vnto thy worde and to holde it for stedfast and sure Sithens then it is so that we haue thy promises we may boldely trust vnto them considering that they are true and because wee cannot but haue them graunted vnto vs we onely rest and stay our selues vpon them Loe heere the meaning of Dauid in this verse Nowe hee goeth on and sayth Take from me the way of lying and graunt mee gratiously thy Lawe Heere he acknowledgeth that although hee were already exercysed in the lawe of God and in his knowledge and that although he were a Prophet to teach others neuerthelesse that he was yet subiect to a number of wicked thoughtes and imaginations which might alwayes wickedly leade him from the right way except God had helde him with his mightie and strong hande And this is a poynte which we ought heere rightly to note For wee see howe men greatly abuse them selues When any of vs shall haue had a good beginning we straight wayes thinke that wee are at the highest we neuer bethinke vs too pray any more to God when as he hath shewed vs that fauour too serue our turnes but if we haue doone any small deede wee by and by lift vp our sayles and woonder at our great vertues To be shorte wee thinke straightway that the Deuill can winne no more of vs. This foolish arrogancie causeth God to let vs goe astray so that wee fall mightily yea that wee breake bothe armes and legges and are in greate hazarde of breaking our neckes I speake not now of our naturall body but of the soule Let vs looke vpon Dauid him selfe For he it is that hath made proofe heereof It came too passe that he villanously and wickedly erred when as hee toke Bethsabe the wife of his subiect Vry to play the whoremonger with her 1. Sam. 1◠that hee was the cause of so execrable a murder yea that of many for he did asmuch as in him lay to haue the whole army of the Lorde and all the people of Israell to bee vtterly ouerthrowne Loe then too too great negligence and securitie in Dauid and see also wherefore hee sayth Alas my good God I beseech thee so to guide me that I may forsake the way of lyings This is the whole summe that Dauid although he exceedingly profited in the lawe and word of God acknowledged that he was subiect and apt to be carryed away and abused that the deuill might sundry wayes beguile and deceaue him that hee might bee seduced through many temptations allured by the lustes of the fleshe and oftentimes fall were it not that God did take from him the way of lying Loe heere a poynte which we ought thorowly too mark O Lord saith he take from me the way of lying It is spoken to this ende that euery of vs might knowe our owne wante to wit that we should enter into our selues and meditate after this manner Goe to now I am as a poore wretched and so fraile a creature as is possible my faith so very weake and the lustes of my fleshe so stronge as that they might haue sudenly oppressed me Alas my God sithens I am so weake and feeble I must needs be assisted by thee and by thy power and might And againe howe many are our enemyes which molest and greeue vs howe mightie and strong is the Deuil How great and infinite are the meanes wherewith he assayleth vs and when hee shall assayle vs with his Dartes and arrowes it is impossible for vs too escape them we shall become then like vnto the Lambe in the throte of the Lyon Whē we shall thus haue vnderstood these our wantes and needes then may we say with Dauid O Larde take from me the way of lying Nowe he sheweth the remedy when he sayth Cause me to make much of thy Lawe or graunt me thy grace that I may keepe thy law For the word which Dauid vseth importeth meere fauour and free gift As if the should haue said it commeth of thy meere fauour and grace that thou giuest me thy lawe See heere the remedy which our lord and Sauiour vseth when he would withdraw vs from the law of lying to wit that we should keepe his truth For the truth of God is sufficiently able to encounter al the subtelties and slye practizes of Satan to withstande al temptations and to vanquishe and ouercome al the lustes of our flesh The trueth of God then wil suffice against al this And this is it whiche Saint Paule speaketh of Ephe. 6.10.11 12 c. that when we shal be str doctrine of the Gospel that then we shal haue wherwithall too bee Iusty and strong and become valiant Champions too fight vnder thensigne of our Lord Iesus Christ and triumphe ouer al our enimies So then wil we bee farre from hypocrisie wil we be deliuered from lying from al the subtelties of Satan and from al the deceits of the world Let vs beseeche God then to graunt vs his law and to doo vs that good that we might be instructed therein as wee are heere taught by the example of Dauid Now after al this he maketh his protestation That he hath chosen the way of trueth and hath cleauen vnto the testimonies of God that he hath folowed his iudgements and heerevpon he beseecheth him not too bee confounded Heere now we see that when we beseech God to giue vs his law to deliuer vs from temptations to suffer vs not too be deceiued neither by Satan nor the world that we doe it with such a true desire as Dauid sheweth vs heere in this place For there are many which may say with their mouth O Lord I
would gladly resist all temtations But what They compound with the Deuil conspire with him too set them selues against God flatter them selues in all their iniquities and desire wholy to giue themselues to all wickednes Are not heere I beseech you faire and proper petitions which we make with the mouth when as the hart bendeth it selfe altogither to mischiefe and iniquitie Is not this I pray you to mock God what other thing else is it Let vs then learne to say with Dauid O Lord I haue chosen the way of trueth and haue sticken to thy testimonies When he sayth that hee hath chosen the way of trueth hee meaneth that he desined nothing else but to follow that which was right and good as God had shewed it vnto him When he saith that he cleaued to the testimonyes of God he declareth what trueth that is whereof he made mention For men many times imagine vnto them selues certaine fantasie in their heads and think the same to be the best most sure foūdation in the world and that there is no other reason trueth nor wisdome but that which they haue conceiued in their owne braine Let vs now beware of that and assure our selues that trueth selfe is inclosed within the word of God that that is it which we must seeke And not to haue vs thinke that to bee the trueth which wee in our owne fantasies doe iudge too bee good but euen then haue wee chosen the way of trueth when as we shall sticke to the testimonies of God when we shall vnderstand and knowe that it is hee onely which may leade vs straight and that we haue doone this honour unto his woorde to be ruled thereby all the dayes of our life Loe howe we shoulde followe the way of trueth Nowe when Dauid hath made all these protestations hee desireth that hee may bee confounded As if hee shoulde haue sayde My GOD since that it is so that I desire to obey thee suffer me not now to bee confounded that I be not scorned and supposed to bee as a vacabonde and without a guide Loe heere a place which ought dilygently to be marked For I beseech you when we shall bee desirous to cleaue vnto God and his word when wee shall haue preferred the same before all our Iustes and pleasures yea aboue all whatsoeuer shall seeme good and right in our owne eyes if wee shall then I say bee put to confusion and shame what shall become of vs when we shall laye the raine of the bridle in the necke of all our desires and take from God all his authoritie Deserue we not to bee vtterly confounded No doubt we doe So then let vs way the firste parte of this doctrine that wee muste not let our tongues walke against God For he knoweth how to bee right well auenged thereof How many doe we see at this day too become after this manner so beastly as that it is shame to see their brutishnesse and what is the cause They haue cast of the yoke of God they haue not vouchsafed to do him that honor as to bee gouerned by him It is meete then that they be confounded in the open sight of the worlde that they may be pointed at that euen young Children may perceaue their beastlynesse and are very well woorthy so to be serued And so least wee fall into such shame let vs pray with Dauid that it woulde please God to make vs so too stick vnto him and his woord as we neuer be confounded Nowe too conclude with these eight verses aparte Dauid sayth I will runne the way of thy Comaundements when thou shalt inlarge mine hearte When he sayth That when God hath set his hearte at libertie hee will runne it is too shewe vnto vs that when our heartes are inclosed and fast shutte vp that wee are not able so much as too remoue one of our fingers to well dooing vntill such time as GOD gladdeth vs and sheweth vs a mery countenaunce Nowe Dauid in this firste place declareth vnto vs that wee are able to doe nothing except God stirreth vs vpp thereto And although he hath already solicited admonished vs yet that is not all We should cry out and Alas poure out some sighes and grones But because God will be serued with a cheerefull minde and not with an euill will so long as we are fast shut vp we cannot once stirre out of the place to goe on forwarde in the way of saluation And how can we then runne When as he shall haue set our heart at libertie to wit that he shal haue so disposed ordered vs as that we should freely bend our selues sully wholy yeeld our affections vnto him For otherwise we hauing our harts fast shut vp shal alwaies become the bondslaues of sin It is very true hat while we are in this world we neuer run so fast ne yet so perfectly as is required yea wee shall many times go as it were halting where in deede we should make hast But thus it is with vs that whensoeuer he shall gouern vs with his spirit and that we shall be vnder the conduct of our head Captaine Iesus Christ we may say with Dauid that we doe not onely walke in his commaundements but that we also runne in them Yea so that our affection bee not hypocritical and that our zeale be also feruent to addict ourselues vnto our good God since he hath placed vs in the world to this end to obey him and too glorifie his holy name And according to this doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good God in acknowledging our sinnes beseeching him that it would please him to make vs to feele our sinnes and iniquities more and more that it would also please him to make vs so to remember them that we may learne to acknowledge how necessary it is for vs to be more more encreased confirmed in his graces which he bestoweth vpon vs to the end that in allowing esteeming of his benefites as it becommeth vs we may render vnto him our humble and hearty thankes beseeching him also to continue vs in such sort in his holy vocation as that we may be glorified in the latter day in hauing fought a good fight and that we may inioy the prize rewarde of the victorie to triumph in our Lorde Iesus Christe Let vs beseech him that he will not onely giue vs this grace but also all the people and nations of the worlde c. The fifth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme HE. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I wil keepe it vnto the end Giue mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy lawe yea I will keepe it with my whole heart Direct me in the path of thy Commandementes for therein is my delight Encline my hearte vnto thy testimonyes and not to couetousnesse Turne away mine eyes from regarding vanitie and quicken thou me in thy way
from many doubtes and griefes that we cannot bee vtterly ouerthrowne and caste downe although we happen to be pressed with some griefes because we alwayes conclude thus that wee cannot bee ouercome seeing God holdeth vs with a mightie and stronge hande And in very deede what is the cause I pray you that men are so oftentimes tormented but only that they submit not them selues vnto God It is very true that there are very fewe which knowe this but this is the very cause For when as wee shall haue looked somewhat neerer the matter wee shall find that nothing so much hath hindred vs as our owne vnthankfulness But because we wil be ouerwise in not yeelding vnto God the honor to gouerne vs wholy to rule our life ne yet become his subiects it is meet we should receiue the hier due for the same For men whē any thing is in question that they haue to do wil straight wayes enter into their owne speculations they neuer make question to haue recourse vnto God nor to cal vpon him but euery man wil doe what semeth best to himself And therfore it is meete that God pay vs in such mony as we deserued that he put vs I say in such doubt as that wee shall neuer be able to knowe what shall become of vs so that the anguishes shall force vs too say What shall become of this matters Which way shall I beginne And what shall bee the ende and issue heereof Beholde howe wee see the miserable and wretched worlde dayly so fast shutte vp in streights as that it seemeeth that wee are more then cast away And what is the cause heereof Euen the men which haue built vnto them selues such Mazes For it is euen they them selues that are the cause of their so greate tormentes For Dauid hath heere declared vnto vs that as many as seeke the Commaundementes of God doe walke at libertie It is very true that the faithfull although they indeuour themselues all they can to obey God and suffer him to gouerne them yet for all that they are not voyde of merueylous griefes vexations that they are many tymes at their wittes end and knowe not what to doe but yet they come vnto God and lay all their care vpon him as it is written in the thirtie and seuenth Psalme And there they finde them selues discharged and vnburdened And so goe they dayly on for they are assured that God can neuer fayle them Beholde then howe we may bee very well tempted with many sorrowes and griefes neither can wee be exempt from a great number of disquietnesses but yet God will alwayes vnburden vs of them as it is sayd in an other place of the Psalme that when we haue beene for a while fast shut vpp yet God will set vs at libertie as also Saint Paul sayth in the second to the Corinthes It is very true sayth hee that wee are oppressed with many tormentes and griefes but yet we continue not in sorrowe and payne For God will alwayes deliuer vs and will giue vs a good and ioyfull issue so that in the ende wee shall bee able to ouercome them See then what is declared vnto vs in this place where it is sayde I will walke at libertie O Lorde because I seeke thy Commaundementes Euen so let vs knowe that when our life is miserable and wretched and that we must needes liue in payne torment and sorrowe that all commeth by reason of our sinne because wee present not our selues before GOD suffer vs not to be conducted by him put not our liues into his handes neither doo wee come willingly too seeke for remedie after wee haue once knowen out griefe that is too say too desire God that it woulde please him to take vs into his custodye without hoping or wayting for any other thing but for that which he telleth vs out of his woorde For when wee shall so doo there is no doubte but that he will make vs too walke at libertie Nowe it followeth I will speak of thy Testimonyes also euen before Kinges and will not be ashamed Beholde a declaration of the matter which wee haue already touched heere before For Dauid making this request not to haue the woorde of trueth to bee taken out of his mouth for euer had regarde to twoo thinges that is to say beeing able too speake after that GOD in bestowing his grace vpon him had opened his mouth had confirmed the Children of GOD by his example and brought them vnto him in shewing them the way and in the meane whyle had foyled the wicked and despisers of God and of the Lawe the scorners of his hope and the blasphemers of God yet was hee able I say too beate them backe and make his parte good againste them all And this matter hee manifestly declareth whereas hee sayeth I will speake of thy Testimonyes because GOD shoulde no more take the woorde of trueth out of his mouth Nowe besides this that God giueth vntoo vs matter whereof to speake freely yet must that come from him as we heare that our Lord Iesus Christe hath spoken off that it is the holy Ghoste which guideth our tongues that it cōmeth not of ourselues to be able to answere our enemies that there neded but a small gale of wind to ouerthrow vs. So then it is meete that God shoulde vse his power that we might be confirmed by him For when as he shal put his woorde in our mouth we may speake before Kinges and Princes and neuer be ashamed As if he should haue sayde O Lorde thy woorde ought to be of such power vnto vs as that wee may foyle our enenemyes yea howe greate and mightie soeuer they bee albeit they should bee suche as were able to astonish and feare all the whole world yet let our Fayth be ouerthrowne through their mightinesse and pompe knowing that when as they shall thinke too swallowe all vp yet that we be left stil alwayes as Conquerors yea euen because we haue regarde to it Nowe heere wee are too note that when God maketh his trueth forcible in vs it shall bee sufficient too holde vs vpp yea notwithstanding all the Combates that the Deuill shall stirre vpp agaynst vs and that the whole world opposed it selfe too the contrary And it is not without cause that this is spoken for whereon is our fayth setled Euen vppon the trueth of God Let vs nowe compare God with men and with all their woorkes and vertues Let vs take Emperours and Kinges and let all their glorie and pompe bee set foorth too the shewe and let God be set right ouer agaynst them too witte whether men with all their mightinesse and great boasting are able too surmounte God too reuerse his will or too make voyde his power and vertue Oh it is very sure they can neuer be able to doe it So then let vs consider with whome wee haue too deale and remember this saying of Saincte Paule Thou knowest sayeth hee to
voyde As at this day it is in Popery for when they pray vnto God they pray at all aduenture And especially this is one of the poyntes that the Papistes striue most about that wee must not assure our selues when wee pray vnto God that hee heareth vs but remaine in suspence Forsooth but the scripture telleth vs that it is not possible that the man which is thus floating as the waues which are tossed with the winde and tempest shoulde obtaine any thing It telleth vs that when we come vnto God that we must come with faith hope and boldenesse And so then as I haue already touched this is an holy and a commendable presumption that when wee stay our selues vppon the worde of God to set downe in summe that hee will accomplish that which hee hath promised vs For we hold him as one bound vnto vs not that he is any thing in our debte but because that of his meere liberality he stoupeth so lowe as to declare vnto vs that hee woulde that wee should haue this libertie and leaue to present our selues so before him with such boldenesse and assuraunce as already I haue declared And thus much for the second verse In the thirde it followeth I haue considered myne owne wayes and turned my feete vnto thy Testimonyes This protestation is woorth the noting For wee are admonished why it is that men so greatly flatter thē selues in their own follyes and deuices and make thēselues beleue that they will make their Prayers vnto God albeit they rest not vpon him trust not vnto him neither yet followe that which hee hath commaunded them but onely their owne imaginations And that forsooth in such sorte as that they thinke a man should offer them great wrong if hee sayd that all is loste labour which they haue bestowed that they greatly tormented themselues to no purpose except they did knowe that God hearde them It is most true that euery one will say And howe so I beseech you wherefore wil not God think wel of that which I doe since it is my finall intent to to serue him no no God forceth not of all this And what is the cause that men so arrogauntly striue and spurne against God It is because they call not their wayes too remembraunce For it they had this consideration and wisdome to looke narrowly vnto their dooings and to think thus with them selues Howe shall I doe In what case am I I must not goe astray but keepe a sure and certaine way and good meane and to consider how to liue and aboue all I must do thus much as that God be not disappoynted of the soueraintie which he hath ouer his So then when as men looke well to their wayes it is very certaine and sure that they will wholely giue themselues to followe the woorde of God and therein take all their delight And this is it that he sayth on the contrary part that he would turne his feete too the testimonyes of God Wherein he sheweth too all men by his example that they shoulde walke as God hath commaunded them and not too be ruled after their owne head and brayne For see from whence this madnesse cōmeth which possesseth as it were all the whole worlde that euery man will serue God as he thinketh best It is because we turne not our feete vnto his Testimonyes Nowe wee ought so much the more too practize this which is heere declared to witte to looke too our wayes that wee shoulde knowe that seeing that God hath placed vs heere in this worlde that he hath not doone it too that ende that we should doe whatsoeuer our senses would lead vs vnto But our life must be ordered ruled And whence must wee haue this rule Euen from the woorde of God And when as wee shal be so carefull as too order and rule our life there remaineth no more for vs to doe but to followe euen whether our God calleth vs. Loe the testimonyes of God loe his trueth which hee hath declared vnto vs Loe there must we place and set our selues Wee must neuer heereafter make any more question too wander any longer and to discourse and say why shoulde not this bee good and commendable No forsooth not so let not vs followe our owne fantasies neither let vs bee wise in our owne conceits but let vs consider with our selues to heare our God and obey him loe then the effecte of this thirde verse where it is sayde That Dauid looked vnto his wayes and that he turned his feete to the testimonyes of God to witte to the lawe where God hath declared his will Now hee addeth I made haste and prolonged not the time to keepe thy Commaundementes He continueth his purpose but he sheweth that this his affection was not slowe I made haste sayth he yea and that without delay Nowe it is not without cause that Dauid putteth to this for we see howe straightly wee oughte too deale against our owne appetites yea euen they I say who are best affected to serue god do yet com as it were halting trayling either an arme or a leg after them as wee cōmonly say And what is the cause heereof We carry about with vs such a number of corruptions as that the very weight of them maketh vs to goe exceding slowly so that we haue much to doe to go on And we know and haue too too greate experience howe weake our nature is when as wee intende to doe well Let vs then vnderstand and knowe these twoo thinges and we shall neuer thinke it straunge that wee are so slowe and slack to followe God as in deede we are yea euen these two things I say For behold Satan wil neuer cease craftily to go about to imagine whatsoeuer he possibly can to cause vs to drawe backe he will set barres and pitch Hayes before vs hee will lay Bushes Thornes and euill fauoured stumbling blockes whatsoeuer which any way may hinder and let vs that if we meane to march on but onely three paces we shal be violently carryed away to turne on this side and on that not knowing what shall become of vs. Againe wee shal be solicited and moued by our inordinate appetites to drawe vs cleane awry For if we will wholly put our trust in God the Deuil will drawe vs too the contrary and make vs to giue our selues vp too this wordly pelfe and so consequently to all the rest Seeing then that we are drawen and haled with so many Cart ropes yea and are of our selues so feeble to doe good euen burning after wickednesse Alas no maruell though wee be slowe too followe God but yet for all that we must needed fight It is no question but that we flatter our selues when as wee see such slacknesse in our selues and say in deed it is very true such is the state condition of our nature and againe our infirmities are so great as that it is an impossible thing for any man too discharge
to wit when as we are conformable to him and to his woorde Let it not now abash vs although wee feele so little taste of God his mercies And why so For what is he that will acknowledge it Wee are so beguiled with these false deceiptes of the worlde that we thinke we may triumphe by them that wee shall bee exceedingly blessed when as wee shall haue all thinges after our owne heartes desire But in thus doing we can contemne God and his grace We must not then be abashed if we be set besides that which apperteineth to our saluation and that God suffereth vs to languishe in wretchednesse and miserie And so let vs learne after the example of Dauid to bee as it were reiected of the worde of God and to bee as it were estraunged from it to craue in good earnest to cause his mercies to retourne vnto vs to wit that he would graunt vs this grace to let vs in such sort vnderstand what neede we haue of his fauour and aide that notwithstanding that we haue declined from his commandements yet that he would graunt vs for all that to feele his mercie although he hath held the same from vs for a season Now it followeth Let the proude be confounded for they haue delt wickedly and falsely with me but I meditate in thy commaundementes Here Dauid setteth downe another reason to confirme him self continually more and more that hee shall obtaine that which he praieth vnto God for to wit bicause the wicked do persecute him whom he calleth the proud And this is the sentence which wee haue already heretofore treated off neither will the time suffer vs to stay any lenger vpon it It shall therefore suffice vs for this time that faith onely is the thing which bringeth vs within the compasse of humilitie when as we know that there is nothing in vs but wickednesse and that wee are thereto tied by the iust iudgementes of God When I say that the faithfull knowe this it pulleth downe their high mindes they are no more arrogant nor presumptious to lifte themselues vp against God and their neighbours Contrariwyse the wicked and enemies of GOD are called proude for the pride which they vse against GOD engendreth also crueltie against their neighbours As many as will humble them selues before God will also bee very gentle too their neighbours but they which haue a fierse and high mynde to stande against God must needes likewise cast their poyson against their neighbours And for this cause Dauid sayeth let the proud O Lord be confounded for they go wickedly about to confound me Whereby wee are admonished that although the wicked vexe and grieue vs neuer so iniuriously and without cause yet we are thereby taught to haue the rather a great deale more trust that God wil haue mercie vpon vs. And why so bicause it is he which graunteth our request and when as we shall make it vnto him it shall not come of our selues but he shal be authour thereof So then when as we shall be grieued and iniuried by malitious and cruell men let vs go boldly vnto God and beseeche him to haue pitie and compassion vpon vs. Nowe he addeth that he neuer ceased to meditate vpon the testimonies of God although he was so afflicted And this is an excellent admonition for vs that when wee are tormented both from heauen and on the earth that God on the one side to the outwarde shewe estraungeth him selfe from vs and we on the other side are so forsaken that wee are troden vnder mens feete besides a thousand other villaines done vnto vs when as I say wee shall be so vexed and grieued We must learne after the example of Dauid to meditate of the testimonies of God and there to seeke our whole comfort for that is the very meane by which God meaneth to plucke vs out of all our anguishes and griefes which might any way trouble vs. That now which foloweth hath beene already handled to wit that men which feare God doe turne vnto him to say that they will keepe him companie And in the ende he setteth downe this conclusion Let my heart bee vpright in thy statutes that I bee not ashamed Now like as in the first verse hee desireth GOD to giue him vnderstanding that hee might learne his Lawe here he desireth that he would graunt him affection Whereby we may see that this proceedeth from vs from our nature to wit to be very poore blynd soule vntill such time as God openeth our eies And thus much for the first point But yet vnderstanding onely shall not serue God must make our heartes pliant vnto his obedience and place vs so with him selfe as that we haue none other desire but to serue him Let vs thē learne to pray vnto him as Dauid here hath done for after he had desired him to giue him vnderstanding of his law he desireth him also to giue him a pure and a sound heart yea and that we should also doe the same in veritie truth not doubting but that when God hath bestowed vpon vs some graces that he will also encrease them more more and haue compassion vpon vs so that we be obedient vnto him in our behalfe and yelde him the homage and authoritie which vnto him belongeth And according vnto this doctrine let vs in all humilitie prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him so to touch vs as that wee might learne after the example of his Prophet how to make and present our requestes vnto him to bereaue vs of all our earthly affections which we feele to be most violent against vs to the ende that our minde bee not withdrawne through them from his righteousnes but that wee submit our selues wholy vnto his holy will desiring nothing els but to haue him to gouerne vs to the end that being fortified by his holy spirite we might perseuere vnto the end to resist those temptations which shal grieue vs to obteine the victory abouesaid and come to the triūphe which is prepared for vs in heauen aboue That he wil not onely graunt vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The eleuenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme CAPH My soule fainteth for thy saluation yet I wayte for thy worde Mine eyes faile for thy promisse saying when wilt thou comfort me For I am like a bottle in the smoke yet do I not forget thy statutes How many are the dayes of thy seruant when wilt thou be auenged of them that persecute me The proude haue digged pittes for mee which are not after thy lawe All thy commandementes are true they persecute me falsely be thou my helpe They had almost made an end vpō me on the earth but I forsooke not thy commaundements Quicken me according to thy louing kindnesse so shall I keepe the testimonies of thy mouth IF we could rightly call to our remembraunce
not from the loue which wee ought to beare to the woorde of God See then what wee must keepe in minde for the vnderstanding of this text And after we are too note for the last verse that Dauid saying that he loued the commaundements of God saith not that he did it by halfes as wee many times doe but I sayeth hee haue loued thy commaundements aboue all thinges As if he should haue sayd I am not like vnto those O Lord which come to serue thee by halfes but in all and through all I loue whatsoeuer that thou hast commaunded And after this maner it is that we must also do for it is not in vs to deuide and make a partition of the worde of God neither yet can wee make it And therefore let vs bee wel aduised to obey God in whatsoeuer he shal commaund vs and to loue his commandementes from the first too the last and not to do as a great many do which wil be contēted to receiue the Gospel forsooth so farre foorth as it wil serue their turne and pleasure them Or els if they passe ouer this or that and thinke themselues to giue God greate credit when as they shall giue him authoritie ouer them in some one point But if soone after they shall bee any thing grieued they wil neuer ouerslip that point Neuertheles we are there admonished too the contrary that it is not for vs as I haue already said to make a partition of that which god hath conioyned but wee must yeelde our obedience vntoo him euen to the ful that although whatsoeuer he saieth or commaundeth vs to do be hard and sharpe too our nature yet let vs take it in good parte with a gentle and mild mind and say with Dauid O Lord I haue loued thy commaundements which thou hast giuen me not in one two nor three points but in al and through al. According to this holy doctrine let vs humbly prostrate our selues before the Maiesty of our good god in acknowledging our offēces beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better to feele our miseries to the end we might be grieued with them and to seeke for remedy at his hands That in renouncing whatsoeuer that is in vs and whatsoeuer power and strength wee thinke our selues to haue let vs beseech him to fortifie vs and so to inlighten vs with his holy spirite as that wee may more and more draw neare vnto him And as hee hath already begunne to inlighten vs that it would please him too cause vs to see his brightnes better than we haue don heretofore vntil such tyme as we shal come vnto his kingdome where we shal perfectly see that which now we do but halfe know And although this worlde be so peruerse wicked as that we might take occasion to withdraw vs frō the right way notwithstanding let vs beseech him that he wil alwaies vphold vs with a mighty and strong hād to th end wee may stand stedfastly in that whervnto he hath called vs neuer decline frō it whatsoeuer came of vs. That it wold please c The seuenteenth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme PHE. Thy testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my soule keepe them The entrance into thy wordes sheweth light and giueth vnderstanding vnto the simple I opened my mouth and panted bicause I loued thy commaundementes Looke thou vpon me and be mercifull vnto me as thou vsest to do vnto those that loue thy name Order my steppes in thy worde and let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me O deliuer me from the wrongfull dealings of men and I will keepe thy commandements Shewe the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy statutes Mine eyes gushe out with ryuers of water bicause men keepe not thy lawe IN very deede the sentence cōteined in this first verse of the eight should be a very ordinarie and common thing with vs. And in very deede there is no man but will confesse it to be true but yet it is so very far of as that there is none of vs al which hath the feeling thereof in him selfe that is that the lawe of God is a wonderfull wisedome for we doe see how it is contemned and despised It is very true that God in all the holy scripture speaketh sharpely enough and also humbly but it is for this cause that he would fit himself to our simple capacities And bicause that wee are blockishe and earthly it is meete that he should so plainely speake as that wee might vnderstand him Neuerthelesse in this speache whcih carrieth no great glorie with it ne yet is coloured with any worldly eloquence are certaine secretes which may very well rauish vs with marueilous astonishment And in deede the very cause why these faithlesse and comtemners of God so little esteeme of the doctrine of saluation is for that they beeing brutish neuer tasted of that which it meaneth to vtter See then wherevpon this pride and vngodlinesse ariseth which wee see at this daye too bee in the greater parte of the worlde so that there are very fewe which beare that reuerence to the woorde of God as they ought for it is an olde saying no man can loue a thing before such time as he knoweth it They then which are so blockish as that they haue neither sense nor iudgement rightly to discerne of the truth of God slippe it ouer yea and treade such an inestimable treasure as it is vnder their feete But they which haue once knowne what it is that God teacheth vs in the holy scripture may very well saye with Dauid that they are wōderful things and so high mysteries as that we ought to wonder at them doe deserue that euery one of vs should wholy apply his mynd thereto Nowe he sayeth That for this cause his soule did keepe the testimonies of God This importeth a greater matter then if he had simply sayd I haue kept them for he signifieth that he hath kept them as we say with an hartie affection And loe howe indeede we ought to esteeme of the doctrine of God it is not onely to haue an opinion that it is excellent and worthy to be had in soueraigne and high honour but that we should be very earnestly touched therwith that we might haue such a feare and an obedience rooted in our heartes as that the saying of the Prophet Isaiah might bee fulfilled in vs that we might trēble at the voice of our God Loe here in effect the content of the first verse of these eight which we are nowe about to handle that is to saye that the faithfull whose eyes God hath opened might knowe that the holy scripture conteineth no common doctrine but such a wise doctrine as is worthy to be reuerenced and honoured all the world ouer Nowe when as we shal once haue knowne that God layeth wyde opē his heauenly mysteries in his lawe it is good reason that wee for our part be
these contemners of God which will euen lift them velues vp against him and powre out their blasphemies is it meete that we dissemble this No not so but let vs rather stirre vp our selues to groaning yea to crie out with a loude voyce beseeching GOD too stretch forth his mighty and strong arme against such villaines fier brādes of hell such vpholders of Satan which thus come too defile the sacred and holy things of God which his maiestie hath set before vs for our saluation And thus much for this point And againe let vs not onely bee grieued and sorrowefull bicause there are in vs rebellious affections which so hinder vs as that wee cannot take any such taste as is to be wished for in the worde of God but also when as we see that men so lightly esteeme and forget this word of God that they outrage in all wickednes it can not be but that we must be grieued and sorrowefull for the same And yet there is a further matter to bee required at our handes which is this that when wee shall see and heare the name of God to be blasphemed and his maiestie violated we should be tormented and feele a greater griefe for the same then for all the euill that might come vnto our selues for it is very good reason that the maiestie of God should be more deare vnto vs without all comparison then our owne persons and liues Nowe since it is so that if wee ought to be sorrowefull when as we see the worde of God to be forgotten by others euen to beginne at the best end if the euill be founde in vs as Satan moueth vs to fall vnto wickednesse and we are very farre of from truly seruing of God and looking to his word with such feare and humilitie as in deede we ought since then I say we are so greatly to be amēded that we haue so many sinnes fighting against the lawe of God euen so much the more ought we to sigh and groane as saint Paul right well sheweth vs saying Oh accursed man that I am who shall deliuer me out this mortall body Loe here saint Paul in shewing their condition state to be miserable which liue in this world exhorteth thē to groaning and to a continuall sorrowe and care bicause they are not able fully and throughly to yelde them selues to the word of God so that whensoeuer wee shall doe but euen so much we shall render a true proufe and testimonie of our faith Christianitie Now it followeth soone after Thy word is proued most pure and thy seruant loueth it Here it verily seemeth as we haue before saide that Dauid bringeth in a most manifest sentēce yea knowne euen vnto the simplest to wit that the word of God is pure and cleane without spot and blemishe But what let vs see a little whether wee putte this puritie in practize or not alas wee are farre from it For euen then wee may saye the worde of God too bee pure and without spot when as without any gaynesaying we only trust in him and that we haue a true certaintie of our saluation bicause he hath once stretched foorth his hand vnto vs and promised neuer too faile vs. When then we shall haue such a confidence in God that wee may boldly walke through death and the very gulfe of hell that in seeing the bottomles pittes open too swallowe vs vp we should not doubt of our saufetie since that we are in the hand of God loe howe the word of God shal be pure vnto vs. But nowe are wee all in a cleane contrary vayne And from whence commeth this It is bicause we are full of infinite filthinesse and pollutions to be short there is nothing but stenche in vs and all our senses are defiled Let vs first beginne at our eyes and we shall haue such a number of filthy troublesome and glimsing gloatings to wit such a number of vanities which hinder vs too knowe the puritie that is in the worde of God as loe wee haue already lost one of our senses Afterwarde we are depriued of our hearing bicause our eares are so filled with such trifling yea and peruerse matters that wee can giue no eare vnto God or els that which entreth in at one eare goeth out at another as we say Now if this be already a great vice in vs to be so slacke as to receiue but one good lesson the second is no whit lesse that when we shall haue gotten euen a very little it shall incontinent so melt away from vs as that wee shall neuer thinke more of it We see howe iolly and frisking our feete and handes are when as wee heare any talke of ribauldrie and filthinesse and altogether dull and sensles when any speach is of vertue and godlinesse There is neuer a finger in our handes but will bee as good as a raysour to cut euen to the quicke if any talke shal be had to offend the maiestie of God And in the meane while we shall not finde one man that will once lift him selfe vp too doe any good See howe all our senses are corrupt and howe full of pollutions and filthinesse And this is it which hindreth vs that we are not able to knowe howe the worde of God is to be tried Now it followeth I am small and of no reputation yet do I not forget thy commaundementes This saying here importeth more then at the first sight it seemeth to doe It is very true that it should seeme a farre harder matter for the mightie men of this worlde to serue God then the meaner sort in so much as wee will neuer accompt it straunge if a man of base condition hath not forgotten the word of God But what is the cause why wee so greatly prattle iangle and lift vp our selues so arrogantly against him and that we submitte not our selues wholy vnto him Forsooth euen the very honours and delightes of this worlde are oftentimes the chiefest causes When a man shal be in any credit estimation and reputation hee imagineth vnto him selfe an idoll in his owne heart and herevpō forgetteth God and thinketh him selfe to bee no longer vnder his gouernement When then our Lorde God holdeth vs in a lowe estate hee putteth vs in minde and forceth vs by this meanes not to forget his commandements and to walke in his feare with all humilitie But Dauid his meaning tendeth to another ende that is although he was as it were contemned yet ceased he not to loue God Nowe as I haue said this is not here set downe without cause It is very true that when God liberally bestoweth vpon vs great store of benefites then are we so blockish as that we thinke our selues least beholden vnto him And contrariwise they vpon whome hee hath not bestowed such graces thinke them selues for their partes not so greatly bounden vnto him And in very deede the worlde will alwayes finde starting holes to keepe it selfe out from the seruice
also in parte of the night See heere what we are in very deede to gather out of this place But first we must mark the proceeding of Dauid For after hee hath spoken of the hope wherein he was setled to pray vntoo God without doubting that he would heare him hee sayeth That he carefully meditated on his woord And why did hee so Shall that which was necessary for Dauid to doe bee superfluous for vs God forbid For if such a Prophet as hee had neede too arme himselfe against the temptations of his fleshe against the infirmities wherwith he might be assayled I pray you how quickly shal he be ouerthrowne if we haue not the same remedy which we vsed and the courage also which he heere exhorteth vs vnto Let vs then consider that if we will be stayed vpon the promises of God because we would call vppon him in the time of neede we ought many times to meditate vpon his woords both day and night and to set all our study and affection therein And see what the cause is why there are so fewe which be disposed to pray vnto God Yea and when they are thereto inforced they knowe not which way too beginne because they cannot he fully resolued to say It is very requisite that when I shall call vpon my good God that I be fully assured that hee will not refuse to heare me What is the cause of this vncertaintie It is because they are not wel acquainted with the promises of God For a man will thinke that it were euen inough sleightly and lightly to beleeue that God will heare those that are his And when we come to prayer with this thought we thinke that if we haue said but a word or two that it is too much Yea and if wee come to a Sermon and heare the promises of God spoken of we thinke it by and by too bee an vnprofitable speach and will say that it is more then needeth for what is he that vnderstandeth not that well inough And in the meane while beholde a mightie great temptation like vnto a boysterous whirlewinde and tempest euen at hande and then he which thought him selfe so able a man is become a very Milkesop He wil looke whether God wil haue pitie of him He will possibly imagine that he hath turned his back yea or else hee will doubt of his prouidence whether he hath any care of the worlde or no there are a thousand fantasies which the Deuill goeth about to put in our mindes And when we are in this case see we are so astonied as that there is no comming for vs too pray vnto God And what is the reason It is because wee haue not beene carefull to meditate vpon his promises And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of this lesson when as it is said That Dauid his eyes preuented the night watches too meditate vppon the promises of God Let vs nowe compare our selues with him But it is so farre of that any of vs in particular hath this care whereof mention is heere made as that wee cannot by any meanes possible bee trayned vnto it And although God biddeth vs to come vnto him yet cannot wee be brought to come any thinge neere him See howe the Bel shal ring euery day to moue vs to come to the Sermon God there telleth vs of his will hee declareth vnto vs that he is ready to receiue vs to his mercie as often as wee shall call vpon him Nowe euery of vs may very well see that wee passe not of his helpe one minute of an houre And yet howe many are there notwithstanding which will vouchsafe too steppe one foote too come to occupy them selues aboute the promises of God that their memoryes might be refreshed in them to th end they might so much the better be remembred of them Nay we shall sarcely haue a number of them com to it on the Sunday yea and if percase they come once they thinke it too bee as it were ouer much And forsooth they muste not come thither neither euery Sunday because their eares will bee ouer much filled with noyse and againe such as doe come too it with what affection come they thinke you Verely because that they cannot deny but that there must bee one day in the weeke for them to meete togither and besides they will for once come thither but it shall be to sleepe so that they vnderstand and carry away asmuch as these pillers or else the stoles whereon they sit Loe heere howe a great number of the people come to the Sermon Yea and there are no small number which wil come thither euen to mock God as we see these scoffers and gibers who come to none other ende but too dispite him bring with them whorishe and shamelesse faces and such a beastly impudencie as cannot bee greater All this we see Nowe let vs consider that it is so farre of that our slouthfulnesse should be excused as that God cannot but iustly punish vs in that we shall be depriued of the abilitie to call vpon him in our neede and shall haue our mouthes also stopped And afterwarde the mischiefe shall increase dayly more and more vntill such time as we are come euen to the deapth of the bottomlesse pittes that is to say wee shall be vtterly excluded from the help of our good God that he will retire him selfe from vs and cleerely banish vs his kingdome Beholde heere the fruite which commerh by our negligence when as we shall make no accounte of the exercising of our selues in this study of the promises of God Nowe Dauid addeth Heare my voyce O Lord at cording vnto thy louing kindenes quicken me according to thy iudgement Heere Dauid declareth yet more plainly vppon what ground he layde his foundation of praying vnto God to wit he brought no kinde of presumption with him thinking to make account of this or that and so to be thought very woorthy that God should heare him but he preferred the goodnesse and faithfulnesse of God aboue all his owne woorthinesses Loe heere wherevnto wee must looke if wee wil haue God to be merciful vnto vs. And whē as we would profite our selues by our prayers wee must not once talke of bringing in of any thing of ours with vs ne yet alledge this thing nor that as thinking too binde God vnto vs for some good turne that wee haue doone him but too haue this principall regarde with vs God is good and faithfull and iust See then wheron it is that we must settle our confidence if we will be resolued that he will heare vs. And this is such a doctrine I tell you aswe ought well to holde and keepe For in very deede vnder this worde Promise this must altogither be vnder stoode For what is it that induceth God to helpe vs and to saye come vnto me without hee looke that wee would craue something at his handes What is the cause that our
here giueth vs is very necessary to wit that the commandementes of God are true As if he should haue said O Lorde I haue already said that thou art neare vnto vs for as much as thou seest vs to bee persecuted and troubled by the wicked and how they come vpon vs to destroye vs and that thou arte right before them and against them to beate them backe and to beare their blowes All this do I confesse O Lorde But yet I vee not this after a visible worldly maner Howe then It is bicause thy commaundements are true Dauid then knewe that God was neare vnto him bicause hee settled him selfe vpon the lawe and the promises which were giuen him And euen so must we do although it seeme very hard as we haue already touched It followeth I haue knowne long since by testimonies that thou hast grounded them for euer In this latter verse for a conclusion Dauid sayeth that he was not like a nouice to bee nowe too learne to knowe what the commaundements of God were but hee was resolute that God was neare him bicause hee had his worde from which he could not starte He sheweth then that the faithfull ought not too bee as it were in their A. B. C. but must bee long time exercised as Dauid protesteth of him selfe I haue knowne them sayeth hee long since Now here he setteth downe a woorde which signifieth continuaunce From the beginning haue I knowen saieth hee long since thy commaundements which thou haste grounded for euer So then let vs learne that if wee will boldely striue against all the assaultes wherewith wee may bee assayled wee muste continue in this knowledge of the woorde of God and we shall alwayes finde him ready to be neerehand vs so that we may be sure of his protection not for a day onely but all the dayes of our life And so let vs throughly recorde this lesson to the ende we may say with Dauid that wee haue the testimonyes of GOD so deepely imprinted in our heartes as that wee haue longe time since knowen what is already in them too witte that God hath established them That is to say that although we shall see a great number of chaunges in this world that all things are chaunged and turned yet that God is no chaungeling that hee neuer altereth his minde that his woorde is as it was from the beginning and as it shall continue for euer that it shall neuer be subiect to al the turnes and chaunges of this worlde but shall euer abide in his ful strength and vertue because that God hath established it for euer And this is euen so as that we ought to bee prepapared to call vpon God to witte when as we shall be setled vpon the true confidence of his promises that we shall haue knowne the euerlasting power strength which he hath giuen to his woorde that is that he will remaine alwayes like vnto him selfe When I say wee shall haue knowen this we may boldely come and present our selues before him beeing assured that hee will make vs feele by proofe that which he promiseth vs so oftentimes as wee shall haue recourse vnto him trusting heerein that he hath rendered vnto vs a testimonie of the loue which hee beareth vs. Nowe let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God and father in acknowledging our innumerable offences which wee dayly commit against him Beseeching him that he will so touch vs as that in steede that wee haue beene ouer much giuen to our fleshly affections and vanities of this world that nowe we seeke none other way but wholy too order our selues according to his good will beeing assured that although we bee feeble and weake yea and vtterly voyde of all strength so that wee cannot stepe one foote forwarde without stumbling or else in going backwarde we bee farre from him yet let vs not doute but that hee will be neere at hand too helpe vs And also that when hee hath made vs too feele his helpe that he will giue vs that grace that wee may bee so thankfull vnto him as hee deserueth desiring nothing else but too glorifie him all the dayes of our life for so many his benefites as he dayly giueth vs and liberally bestoweth vpon vs. That hee will not onely graunt vnto vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The xx Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme RESH Beholde mine affliction and deliuer mee for I haue not forgotten thy lawe Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy woorde Saluation is farre from the vngodly because they seeke not thy statutes Great are thy tender mercyes O Lord quicken me according to thy iudgements Many there are that trouble me and persecute mee yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies It greeued mee when I sawe the transgressors bee cause they kept not thy lawe Consider O Lorde howe I loue thy Commaundementes quicken mee according vnto thy louing kindenesse Thy worde is true from euerlasting all the iudgements of thy righteousnesse inudre for euermore IF wee might haue whatsoeuer we would desire wish in very deede wee should bee the better at ease and without any griefe And this is it that man naturally desireth But in the meane while wee are to consider that God wil exercise vs with diuerse afflictions so long as we are in this worlde Wherefore such is the condition and state of Christians so long as they shall liue heere vpon the earth That is they must striue be exercised with diuerse sortes of greeues sometimes of the body and otherwhiles of the soule And therefore for this cause must we arme our selues to the ende we be not ouercome in the midest of our conflicts Now the principal peece of our armour is to pray vn-God and to call vpon him to helpe vs. And to bring this about we are throughly to consider howe all the faithfull which liued long before our time proceeded heerein too the ende we might order our selues after their example as in this texte heere we see howe Dauid was euen extreemely afflicted Againe wee see also howe he behaued him selfe in all his afflictions which although they were very vehement yet did they not hinder him too haue recourse vntoo God and of him he was rescued and saued See then what we haue to meditate vppon too the ende that wee might doe the like Beholde mine affliction and deliuer me for I doe not forget thy lawe When as he desireth God to looke vnto his afflictions it is euen the same which wee haue already saide too wit That although God loued him yet would he not but that he should be subiect too a greate number of miseryes torments and griefes Let vs not think then to be priuiledged so long as we are to walke heere bilowe on the earth but that God will exercise vs and assay and proue our patience as he hath prooued Dauids
whome he so greatly loued as the scripture witnesseth of him Nowe heere we are to note two things The one is that when Dauid desired God to looke vpon his afflictions and to deliuer him out of them hee confesseth that hee was astonyed as if God had turned his backe vpon him It is very true that Dauid considered not of all that was too bee considered neither did he conclude that God would cast off his children in such sorte But yet so farre forth as naturall reason coulde reach see howe he might iudge of his estate And at that pointe also are all the Children of God For on the one side when as they shall looke vppon their owne state and condition they cannot chose but that they must be forced to say what a thing is this Surely if God hath any compassion vpon vs and that he seeth vs is it possible that euer wee should bee thus cruelly handled will not he take some better order for this See then that wee cannot choose but to conceiue these and such like imaginations in our heartes when as wee are greeued and persecuted and looke into our owne present estate yea euen as I haue already sayde we cannot choose euen too feele our selues as it were to be forsaken of GOD. And yet for all this wee muste bee fully perswaded and resolued that GOD beholdeth vs and although it seemeth that hee hath turned his backe vppon vs yet that hee ceaseth not too helpe vs and is carefull for our saluation yea and though wee see nothing yet let vs holde this for a certaine and an vndoubted trueth in oure heartes And therfore so often as we shall be thus troubled to thinke that God hath no lenger care ouer vs but that he hath clerely forsakē vs yet let not this hinder vs from praying after the example of Dauid neither let vs be slacke but euen say O Lord beholde me In the second place we haue to note the reason which Dauid here setteth downe For I do not forget thy lawe If then wee will haue God to heare vs wee must haue his lawe as it were fully settled in our heartes And howe is that Forsooth wee must thinke and study vpon his promises we must know him to bee louing and mercifull to helpe all those that are his and too ayde them in all their necessities and besides this must bee oure sure foundation that his promises are infallible and that he will not suffer his children to goe emptie away when as they shall tende them selues thereto See then how we must meditate vpon the lawe of God that is to say vpon his word For vnder this worde the law there is no doubt but that Dauid comprehended the summe of al the doctrine which God gaue vnto his church Euery of vs then must be exercised in this study and we hauing the lawe thus imprinted in our heartes may bee certaine and sure that God beholdeth vs and will helpe vs in all our afflictions yea although it seemeth and wee may iudge according to our carnall senses that hee hath turned his backe vpon vs or that he hath closed vp his eyes and sleepeth and as a man would saye neuer thinketh more of vs. Now it followeth in the second verse Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy worde Here Dauid expresseth what this his affection is whereof hee hath spoken too wit howe that the wicked vniustly persecuted him as againe hereafter shall more at large bee declared Now wee knowe that the griefes which the children of God doe suffer in this worlde are diuerse and sundrie For sometimes God will lay heauy hande vppon them without any man his touching sometimes also men shall persecute them with vniust actions so that the wicked shall torment and grieue them Dauid then sheweth that the affliction which he endured was of this second kinde to wit that hee had enemies which did vniustly trouble him And see wherefore hee desireth God too pleade his cause and restore him By this wee are admonished according to that which I haue already saide that when we haue liued in a good conscience and haue trauelled euen to doe good vnto euery man so that no man hath any cause iustly to complaine of vs yet although wee are persecuted and troubled wee must not for all that bee ouermuch abashed bicause as great matters as al these were layde vpon Dauid For this is most sure that hee walked so marueilous soundly as that euery man had occasion too loue him And yet notwithstanding hee was not without troubles amongest men And why so Bicause of their vnthankefulnesse Let vs then vnderstande that this vice began not first in these dayes I meane the vnthankefulnesse and iniquitie of men But long time a goe and therefore as much as in vs lyeth let vs seeke after peace but if so be wee shall procure to doe any wrong the worlde will neuer giue ouer hating of vs and procuring of our hurte yea and goe about euen to destroye vs. But as I haue already saide let not that seeme straunge vnto vs seeing it came so to passe in Dauid And thus much for this Nowe in the second place wee are to beseeche God too auenge our cause too comfort vs when we see our selues to be wrongfully dealt withal when as we are oppressed with false and slaunderous reportes that we are euill spoken of without iust desert we must thē desire God to be our warrant and deliuerer and let vs not dout but that he will take our cause into his owne hand shewe him selfe to be more then a protector lawyer For he saieth that he is the aduerse partie for the maintenance and defence of the causes and quarrels of all his when as they shall haue walked sincerely before him selfe before men Loe here a notable and very profitable admonition That is we must cast all our care vpon God when as we are wrongfully accused iniuriously dealt withall troubled and oppressed and beseech God to take the cause into his own hand and to auenge it him selfe Nowe this may serue too make vs patient for what is the cause that men so trouble and torment them selues waxe so fierce and cruell vse reuenge or els growe to be very cowardes when any wrong is done them but bicause that they haue not recourse vnto God put not thē selues vnder his protectiō pray him not to holde his holy hand ouer them and to defend their cause Now if wee knowe this it is most certaine that oure heartes shall incontinent bee a great deale more quiet and let vs not haue such boyling affections as wee haue to be auenged of them which trouble vs but let vs followe the doctrine which is here set downe vnto vs to wit that when we are vniustly entreated let vs pray vnto God that he will auenge our cause And besides also let vs learne to stay our selues of the promise which is made vnto vs thereof for
to be a mercifull father vnto vs. And so he maketh an entrance into our heartes for his mercie that we might be capable to enioye his benefites Seeing then it is so that God by his worde sheweth him selfe and also commeth nigh vnto vs we must not be abashed although they which refuse his worde yea which so vilananously and contemptuously reiect it as wee see we must not I say thinke it straunge although that they feele no help at the hand of God in their afflictions that his mercifull goodnesse stretcheth not it selfe vnto them Now Dauid returneth to this sentēce which we haue seene and desireth to be quickened according vnto the worde of God It is very true he vseth the word Iudgement but al cōmeth to one as we haue already heretofore declared Quicken me then according to thy iudgements sayth he yea which I have loued But yet notwithstanding he sheweth vs how it is that God hath promised to quicken vs and why hee attributeth it vnto his onely mercie Nowe this is a saying which importeth a very good and excellent lesson for they which confesse that they can not be saued but by the grace of God yet notwithstāding how soeuer it is they cease not to ouerthrow the grace of God in extolling their merites or els in making them selues beleeue that God hath promised them to bee so kinde vnto them bicause they haue deserued it It is requisite then that we know with Dauid what it is that hath moued and stirred vp God to promise to quicken vs to wit to mainteine vs. For this worde to Quicken importeth all whatsoeuer concerneth our estate saluation It is bicause he is good and neuer sought the cause otherwise but in his goodnesse When then we are enforced to cōfesse that it is God which mainteineth vs we must also forthwith confesse that God hath done it for his promise sake and for that he hath reueled it as a testimonie in his worde Moreouer see wherein a great number of people are too too grossely deceiued that is that God promiseth too mainteine and conserue vs accordingly as we are worthy thereof or accordingly as euery man shall deserue And herevpon as I haue already said we darken the grace of God and faine through arrogancie I know not what presumption that it seemeth that wee our selues are the cause why God fauoureth vs and that the same commeth at the least partely of our selues And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of that which Dauid speaketh of in this place Thy mercies O Lord are great O quicken me according to thy testimonies He sayeth not onely O Lord I am conserued by thee bicause thou hast promised but meaning to declare that it commeth altogether freely hee sheweth that God was not moued too make any such promise ne yet was induced by any occasion that he found in vs or that he tooke it on our behalf No no but bicause his mercies are great So then by this saying Dauid teacheth vs that the promises of God are altogether free that they hang not of our worthinesse ne yet bicause God found some thing in vs why to loue succour vs so but bicause he is good pitieth our miseries Loe what made him to offer himselfe so liberall to vs consequently to perfourme his promise Wee must learne then to glorifie our selues in the meere grace of God and not to attribute any thing whatsoeuer either to our owne persons or yet to our merites for there is nothing at all in vs. Nowe it followeth Many there are that trouble and persecute me yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies Here Dauid maketh a protestation and complaint too the ende God might the rather encline him selfe to heare and helpe him And that is according too that which hee hath already said For if we will haue God to helpe vs it is good reason that wee should patiently attende his leisure And in very deede hee that shall presume to aduaunce him selfe or thinketh that God will haue mercy vpon him and then letteth him selfe to be ouercome with temtation and becommeth altogether desperate hee by this meanes suffereth not God too exercise his goodnesse as he hath promised but in thus doing shutteth the gate against God as it were Wherefore if wee be moued to be reuenged of our enemies to be our owne caruers as we say in reuenge and not tary vntill God doth his office doe we thinke that hee ought to helpe vs Hee that will doe iustice with his owne hand and of his owne priuate authoritie will hee come to craue aide of the Magistrate after that hee hath killed his enemy If so be then there be any man which thinketh to be saued of him selfe and yet sayeth vnto God Saue me O Lorde this a very mockery And therefore for this cause Dauid saieth in this place Many there are O Lorde which trouble and persecute me yet do I not swarue from thy statutes Dauid speaketh not here to boast him selfe but it is to declare that he wayted for the help of God and putting him selfe vnder his protection trusted to obteine his request bicause he might boldely craue it of him See then what a full boldnes we may conceiue to haue in calling vpon God not to dout but that we shal obtain whatsoeuer we pray for vnto him according to his wil that is he hath pitie of vs so that I say we must alwayes stay our selues vpon his promises as we see Dauid here hath done So then let vs here consider in the first place that so often as we come vnto God we must come vnto him attending his good leysure and not to be shaken with what soeuer temptations shall come vnto vs but we must alwaies seeke after God meditate continually vpon his promises haue them alwayes in minde we must I say haue all this if we will haue God to help and defende vs. Now as I haue already said Dauid bragged not here of his vertues but meaneth onely that hee was not caried away with the iniquitie of men to be euen with them or to crie quittance as wee say that hee was not in haste to haue that which was promised him but helde him selfe continually quiet and still attending paciētly to haue God to accomplishe that which he had promised touching the reuenge of his enemies euen so when as any shall grieue trouble vs yet must we not leaue to followe our vocation and to perseuer in the feare of God For the greater part of vs will alwayes be full of malice and vnthankefulnesse vntil such time as God hath refourmed vs. So then when as wee shall not haue hurt any man if they ryse vp against vs in armes let vs not be astonied thereat And thus much for this Nowe the other is that when our enemies shal be infinite in number wee must not be troubled for all this but let vs knowe what the power of God is
that in this worlde he hath care ouer vs and our life is as it were committed vnto him so that herein lieth the whole substance that after hee hath pardoned vs of our sinnes hee alloweth vs for righteous and will also gouerne vs with his holy spirite See then what it is that is conteined in the testimonies of God And so Dauid in summe protesteth in this verse that he alwaies walked in this loue of God which hee founde in his promises This is it which he protesteth and thereupon sayeth Quicken me according vnto thy mercy If Dauid then loued the commaundement of God and his testimonies wherefore desireth he not to be quickeâ—â—ed according to his merites And if it be so that he hath deserued why hath he recourse to the mercie of God Nowe he very well sheweth that he meant not too boaste of his vertues neither yet of any such I know not what perfection to haue fulfilled the lawe of God but he had a speciall regard as I haue already saide to the content of God his promises He alledgeth not here that he had deserued to bee holpen but he desired to bee defended according to the mercie of God In this point he setteth before vs his example to the ende wee might followe him as this is also the meaning of the holy Ghost when as he spake by the mouth of Dauid Now he goeth on for a conclusion and saieth Thy word is true from euerlasting and all the iudgementes of thy righteousnes endure for euermore That is to say thy iust iudgementes are euerlasting or els thy iudgementes are alwayes righteous Heere Dauid in summe meaneth to signifie that hee so stayed him selfe vpon the worde of God as that he had set his heart vppon it yelded him selfe wholy vnto it and bestowed all his thoughtes wittes on it And why did he so sayth he The beginning of it is true and the righteousnesse thereof endureth for euermore As if he should haue thus said Thou O Lord art true in thy word shalt alwayes bee found so afterward It is nothing but righteous it is true from the beginning thy righteousnes shall endure vnto th end and with out end See how the two borders or limittes of the worde of God are layde out When as we shall seeke for this word wee must make a destinction and difference betweene truthe and righteousnes with this resolution see how God sheweth him self true and righteous And the farther we go on the better shall we finde his worde to bee such so that after we haue throughly vnripped and examined it we shall not haue one syllable where righteousnes truth wil not shewe them selues Euen so may wee alwayes attribute this title to the woorde of God as Dauid here sheweth vs. In summe when as wee would haue a perfect assurance to be confirmed and strengthened in all temptations so that the deuill shall neuer be able to take fast holde vppon vs let vs haue this regard to stay our selues chiefly vpon the worde of God and therewith to arme vs attributing thereto these true titles which are here set downe that there is nothing in it but all truthe and righteousnesse And therefore this ought greatly to content vs to assure our selues of God not doubting but that hee will graunt vs the grace that when he hath once brought vs into the waye of saluation that he will continually conduct and gouerne vs and hold vs with a mightie strong arme vntill such time as hee hath brought vs to that ende whereunto he hath called vs. According too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better to feele our miseries then wee haue heretofore felt them to the ende we may laye our selues open vnto him And that we may in the meane while attaine too that remedy as to craue pardon of him for them not douting but that he will graunt vs pardon for them according to our desire through the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ albeit we are miserable sinners And also that he wil through his holy spirite so purge vs froÌ„ our sinnes as that we desire nothing els but to be coÌ„firmed vnto his righteousnesse to come vnto him to aduauÌ„ce vs thereunto daily more and more vntill such time as he hath coupled vs vnto that holinesse of life whereunto he continually exhorteth vs. That hee will not only graunt vnto vs this grace but also vnto all people nations of the earth c. The xxi Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme SCHYN Princes haue persecuted me without cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy worde I am as glad of thy worde as one that findeth great spoiles I hate falshood and abhorre it but thy lawe doe I loue Seuen times a daye doe I prayse thee bicause of thy righteous iudgementes They that loue thy lawe shall haue great prosperitie and they shall haue no hurt Lord I haue trusted in thy sauing health and haue done thy commaundements My soule hath kept thy testimonies and I loue them exceedingly I haue kept thy commaundementes and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee WHen as men shall trouble vs and do vs many iniuries or els any waye griue and vexe vs yet are there twoo thinges too leade vs too walke wickedly without the feare of God The one is that it wil seme that God hath not compassion of vs to helpe vs. The other that wee will bee more afearde of men then in deede wee ought For we imagine that all is in their hand and that they may doe all thinges at their owne pleasure and as them selues liste doe God what he can to the contrary Lo heere I say what it is that he hindereth vs froÌ„ perseuering in the feare of God That is That when men trouble vs with iniuries violences extortions we are straightwayes discouraged And so we are heere throughly too consider of this place where Dauid saith that hee stoode in awe of the woorde of God although princes persecuted him without a cause in deede wee ought euen then most specially too weygh it when as we fee the mightinesse of men to astonish vs our enemies to be in great credit and authoritie yea that it seeme we are euen as sheepe in the iawes of woulfes that we haue no meane too resist their violence but that they may do whatsoeuer seemeth good-vnto them in so much that no man dareth once to open his mouth against them When as I say our enemies shall haue all this and bee thus highly lifted vp ouer vs that wee knowe not what shall become of vs then it is a harde matter for vs too conceiue what the helpe which God hath promised vs is worth so that we are ouertaken with this feare to say O see wee are vtterly vndone all our cause is cleane cast to the
are carryed away with their wicked affectiōs as with a fury so that their whole reason is altogither brutish And euen they shal very wel haue an hatred of their euill but yet not so flye frō it as that wee shall not be able to say that they haue such a feare of God as is to be required too forsake them selues and wholy to submit themselues vnto his will Se heere what we haue to consider out of this place But in the meane while one thing is to be obserued that Dauid maketh a comparison betweene the lawe of God and all whatsoeuer that men can imagine on their owne head with all their reasons and desires as if he should haue said That there is but onely rule that is good and worthy to be beloued to wit the lawe of God When then our life shal be conformable to the word of God all shall goe wel But wee shall not withdrawe our selues neuer so little from it as that we shal not by and by royle ouerthwart al the fields And why so For all our trueth and sinceritie is inclosed within this rule which God hath set downe vnto vs. Wee ought then to beare this honor vnto the word of God too heare it as it is layde out vnto vs and to follow it in all simplicitie or else so soone as we shall decline from it neuer so little see we are quite out of the way of saluation so that we cannot chose but to be confounded vntill such time as we are entred againe into the way which God hath shewed vs. Now hee addeth Seuen times a day doe I prayse thee because of thy righteous iudgements Heere we may take this word Iudgement for the manner which God holdeth in gouerning the worlde and the punishments which he layeth vpon the vngodly as also for the grace which he causeth them to feele which call vppon him and which walke sincerely before him For the holy Scripture oftentimes when it speaketh of the Iudgementes of God meaneth al this But because that in this Psalme the Iudgements are for the most parte taken for the statutes ordinaunces that are contayned in the law of God I gladly meane too handle it at this present thus that is That Dauid praysed GOD because he had giuen vnto his people a lawe which was bothe iuste and full of equitie and that therein hee had whereof to bee glad and to prayse and magnifie him Loe heere a place well woorthy the noting For by these woordes Dauid doth vs too witte that wee cannot prayse GOD so longe as wee are not instructed in his woorde our mouthe shall bee closed vppe and our hearte looked fast vppe so that a man shall not pull from vs one good woorde which may turne too the prayse of God And to proue this to be so we see that the vnfaithful shal not onely bee dumbe too praise God But they will also fall out with him that whatsoeuer shall come from their mouthes shal be to blaspheme God to murmur against his diuine maiestie As for the ignoraunt they shal be so blockish as that they shall haue no desire to prayse God if they doe prayse him it shall bee but for fashions sake because it is but a mocking of God and his word How then may we praise God in good earnest without hypocrisie Forsooth euen when as wee shall be instructed in his ordinaunces when as we shall haue knowen what care he hath of our saluation how he gouerneth his Church howe hee embaceth him selfe to apply him self vnto our grosse capacities to make himself to be familiarly acquainted with vs. When then we shal see God to haue such a care ouer vs to instruct vs that he hath so rightly ruled our life that hee so purueieth for al our necessities as that we want nothing ought not we to giue our mindes vnto him yea euen to be inflamed wholly to magnifie his holy name and to bee rauished with that desire which Dauid heere speaketh of Let vs now see what we haue to gather in summe out of this place and thereby we may see how slenderly wee haue at this day profited in the Schoole of God For whence commeth this circumspection Where is that zeale of ours in praising of God which Dauid sayth that he had Seeing that sarcely one word can bee pulled from vs when any speech shal be of praysing God yea were it not for fashion sake and contenaunce onely This is farre from continuing in it and farre from extending our whole study thereto as to make it the most principall thing that ought to bee in our whole life Now we are heereby conuinced of our slender studving and meditating in the worde of God because we are so colde and negligent in praysing of him and without hauing a greater care in acknowledging his benefites bestowed vpon vs. And that which is more Let vs throughly consider that Dauid sayeth not onely that he was stirred vp to prayer vnto God for once so continued it for certaine dayes but hee sayth dayly afer seuen times that is that he cōtinued in it all his life long For this word Seuen is taken in the holy Scripture for a meruelous perseuerance when as men continue it and are not drawne away for any cause whatsoeuer but do alwayes holde thē selues therto And this is the meaning of the Scripture for this number of Seuen Nowe Dauid protesting that hee dayly praysed God seuen times meaneth that he exercised him selfe therin from the morning vnto the euening And after that hee exhorteth all other men too haue the like desire and zeale too praise God So then let vs compare our selues with Dauid and we shall finde that wee haue learned very little out of the word of God considering that we are so slouthfull in praysing of him And yet for all that wee are greatly too giue him yea infinite thanks when as wee shall haue knowne his grace and goodnesse towards vs in that hee is so carefull to gouerne and order our life and too shewe vs the way of saluation The Papistes haue applyed this saying to their set houres and haue layde holde onely on the first parte of the verse saying That they prayse God seuen times a day when as they sing their Mattaines Primes their third houre sixth houre at midnight their euensong and Compline See heere how God shall be well praysed seauen times a day as they thinke Yea yea good inough As though God would call back that which hee hath pronounced by his prophet Isaiah This people saith he honor me with their lips but their hearts are very farre from me Isai 29.23 He goeth on farther and sayth that hee will shewe them that hee cannot abide such mockeryes and to be so dallyed withall See heere howe God threateneth the Iewes with an horrible vengeaunce because they onely praysed him with the mouth Nowe we knowe what their set houres which their Monkes Fryers and
If we stand in neede of meate and drinke if wee be sicke if we be in daunger of any plague or warre that stirreth vs and toucheth vs too the quicke but when wee are pressed with any euill we abuse our selues and lifte our selues vp in such a fond presumption as that we thinke wee haue some power to do this and that we then make our selues beleeue that we are very well able to defende our selues although not wholy yet at the least partly And therefore wee ought so much the rather rightly to marke the sayings of the scripture where it is saide vnto vs that it is the hande of GOD that must helpe vs to the ende that euery man may learne to knowe his neede and that we had all neede too bee defended fended by this heauenly power so that we are all cast down into the bottomlesse depth without it pleaseth GOD to stretch forth his hande to helpe our necessities And thus much for this Now when Dauid setteth downe the reason that he had chosen the commaundements of God he did it not to extoll any dignitie or worthinesse of his owne Wherefore then Forsooth euen to shewe that he wayted for his ayde and helpe from the hand of God And therefore they which perswade them selues at aduenture that God heareth their prayers and yet haue this foolish hope with them to finde helpe at the handes of his creatures refuse the hande of God as much as in them lieth and so by that meanes shall neuer finde him to bee fauourable vnto them And for this cause Dauid saith I haue chosen the commaundementes of God that is to saye that all his whole liking was in them And this saying importeth a very great matter and much greater then at the first sight it seemeth Why doth Dauid rather set downe this worde Election or choise then any other I haue chosen thy commaundementes It is bicause wee are alwayes carried with peruerse affections and bicause we cannot make choise neither can we hold vs to that which is best Euery man wil gladliest desire that thing which is meetest for his own ease and quietnesse to be short euery man desireth to be happy Wee are nothing indifferēt herein for the very wicked in the world and the most vile persons wil saye I would haue that which were good and meete for me howbeit wee can not chose but euen the very worst Wee shall very well haue a naturall desire which shall carry vs as it were to one selfe same end but we cannot keepe the waye Euery man goeth out of it One mā will chose this thing another that in this choyse we are all confounded One will chose goodes landes and possessions another great trade of marchandise another to come vnto dignitie and into credit some one man will be giuen to lecherie and bee wholy carried that way another will yelde him selfe too some other filthinesse as too drunkennesse intemperancy and wantonnesse See then how we al make choise of that which is naught And for this cause Dauid saieth that he chose the commādementes of God to wit that although hee was a mortall man subiect too a great number of wicked affections yet that he neuer trusted his owne flesh neither yet obeied his lustes to chose nothing but vanitie and that which might withdrawe him from the right way and leade him too destructiō but that he made a good wise choise to wit that he helde himselfe to the commandements of God So then let vs learne to make a good choise when as God shall present vnto vs his worde when as he shall offer him selfe so liberally on his part as to looke for nothing at our handes but that we should come to seeke him and that hee presenteth him selfe before vs let not vs be deceiued nor carried away by the deceiptes of Satan through the corruptions which he layeth wyde open before our eyes let vs not be so foolish as to stay our selues vpon matters of nothing and to leaue that which ought to bee the most principall and wherein lieth all our felicitie and saluation It followeth I haue longed for thy sauing health O Lorde and in thy lawe is my delight This sentence comprehendeth all whatsoeuer wee haue already touched and is the onely confirmation thereof For he sayeth that he hath longed for the sauing health of God And howe is that For it seemeth that euery man might say as much and so that Dauid had no more then the very faithlesse For if wee shall aske a desperate man yea euen a very halfe deuill and saye wouldest not thou haue God to be thy sauiour he will make answere and saye yes forsooth Loe what answere wee shall finde in the mouthes both of great and small of good and bad Nowe Dauid his meaning is to make a great protestation and such a one as a very fewe can make in truthe For we suppose him to be all our Sauiours and yet we seeke our sauing health at a wilde aduenture and euery man will haue regarde to his owne considerations and prouidence When there shall arise any question of our maintenaunce here in this present life do we beleeue that God must keep and preserue vs that it is hee in deede which mainteineth vs herein whence commeth it that wee haue so mighty euill consciences whence commeth all deceiptes fraudes excesse cruelties iniuries violences and all such like What is the cause that maketh vs to liue with such euil cōsciences but bicause wee do not beleeue that God will giue vs our daily bread Wee desire God to feede vs and yet wee will haue the deuill to do it in so much that there are very fewe which at this day thinke that that which they haue commeth from God So then it is very farre of frō the thought of our heartes to saye O Lorde I haue desired thy sauing health For in steade of attending vppon God to haue him too guide defende and helpe vs at all times whensoeuer that wee haue neede in steade of this I saye what doe wee Euery man as I haue saide seeketh for his sauing health at a wilde aduenture We should rather seeke for i◠in hell then to haue our eyes lifted vp into heauen to call vpon God to seeke for our sauing health both of body and soule in him So then there are very fewe which are able to saye as it is here set downe O Lorde I haue longed for thy sauing health if they will not lye As we see the impudencie of hypocrites which will make mighty great bragges inought but yet for all that it is no small matter as I haue already sayd to trust altogether in God and to saye that it belongeth to him to guyde vs that wee runne to him and haue there our refuge both for soule and body Nowe then hee addeth In thy lawe is my delight To signifie how we ought to demeane our selues not to hope for saluation nor yet to wishe for it