nature they are farre more dangerous The diseases of the body tend onely to the death of the body which of it self must necessarily dy and by the power of God shall most certainly rise again but the diseases of the soule tend to the eternall death and destruction both of body and soule 2 That those places of Scripture where the faithfull are said to be dead unto sinne buried with Christ to have the world crucified unto them and themselves unto the world c. are to be understood not according to rigour but according to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or equity of the Gospell Repr Here come to be reproved 1 Such as are not sensible of the diseases of their soules like men who having their brain distempered by some hote and violent disease know not that they are ill when they are even hard at deaths doore but sometimes raile at the physician sometimes are merry and laugh whilest their friends stand about them with teares in their eyes But here is the difference that these mens ignorance of their disease is invincible they can not help it but those we speak of are ignorant of their estate either affectedly or of extreme negligence which can neither excuse nor be excused For if they would examine themselves by the Scriptures as they might ought to do they would easily discerne if not straightway all yet many of their diseases and the rest by degrees Which because they doe not their condition is farre worse then theirs to whom we liken them not onely because the death and destruction of the soule whereof they are in danger is far worse then that of the body but also because they are in more danger of it For they who are bodily sick by how much the lesse sensible they are of their disease themselves have their friends so much the more solicitous for them and the physick which is administred to them though they desire it not neither perceive when they take it working by the naturall vertue which God hath put into herbs c. may restore them to their health But they who are spiritually sick and yet wilfully refuse to know or acknowledge it can not whilest they so continue receive any good by spirituall physick neither will Christ the great Physician of souls take in hand to cure them Luk. 5.30 31 32. 2 Such as daily cast their soules into new diseases There are two principall means of preserving health and preventing diseases Diet and Exercise But for the former as it is Hos 12.1 many so feed themselves with vain and impious principles not onely speculative but practicall that thereby the mind and heart and whole man fall into sundry and great distempers Some eat the bread of wickednesse and drink the wine of violence Prov. 1.17 18 19. 4.17 Some eat the bread of deceit which is sweet at the first tasting but afterwards fills the mouth with gravell Prov. 20.17 Some swallow down riches ill gotten which prove the gall of aspes within them Job 20.14 15. Some by oppression swallow up the needy Amos 8.4 And is it any wonder if such diet breed diseases So for Exercise many giving themselves to spirituall idlenesse altogether neglect the exercises of piety and so both of themselves contract abundance of ill humours and also give the devil opportunity to infect their souls with his temptations yea tempt him to it Standing waters putrifie breed frogs noisome vermine c. Again this doctrine as it informs us of our misery Consol so it ministers unto us some comfort I Against the trouble which ariseth from the sense of these diseases For as the diseases themselves are common lesse or more to all Gods children in this life so the sense and trouble arising thereupon is a good both sign cause of amendment We may and ought whilest we live here to be daily gathering strength against these diseases but perfect and uninterrupted health is to be expected onely in heaven 2 Against the imperfection of our good works if grieving for what is wanting in them we seriously and diligently endeavour to grow in grace and holinesse He were a cruell master that should require the same work of a sick which he doth of a sound servant The Father of mercies Who knowes our mold and temper how weak and sickly our soules are doth not expect from us a conversation so every way perfect in all points as He did from Adam in the first covenant but if He sees us truly sory for our imperfections and daily to our power endeavouring towards greater perfection He accepts of our endeavours in Christ and pardons what is wanting Two things we are here to be exhorted to Exhort 1 To withstand these diseases as much as may be both by way of prevention and by way of remedy Motiv 1. From the worth and price of the soul the subject of these diseases 2 From the great and imminent danger wherein it is by reason of them 3 From the difficulty of overcoming them 4 From the possibility notwithstanding of doing it in some competent measure by the power of Gods grace Meanes 1 Withdraw whatsoever may nourish or foster these diseases 2 Feed upon the sincere milk and solid meat of Gods word and exercise the graces of His Holy Spirit 2 To search diligently what diseases we have Motiv 1 It is too certain we have our diseases we shall not seek a knot in a bulrush 2 Unlesse we know them we cannot be healed of them as we heard before Repr 1. 3 The sense of them will humble us will excite us diligently to seek after the means of health will make us more ready to pity and help others Means 1 Consider out of Gods word what is required to the health of the soule 2 Examine our selves according thereunto 5 Doctrine The LORD healed all Davids diseases Here we have three things to be explained Expl. 1 Wherein this healing consists As before it was said of diseases so there being the same reason of contraries healing also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bath for its proper subject the body naturall ill affected by some disease or wound but by Metaphor it may be transferred to other things also For as in the proper sense he is said to heale who takes away that which hinders the health of the body so in the metaphoricall he who takes away from any thing that which hinders the well being of it So 2 King 2.21 22. Psal 60.2 And thus it is often transferred to the soule though here the similitude holds not in every point For in the body nature being freed from the noxious humour doth of it self breed good blood and supply it to the repairing the strength of the whole impaired by the disease But in the soule after lapse there is no power to any saving good 2 How this healing is wrought Namely by the Spirit of God using the Word and Sacraments It is the work of the
just ground we have to pray as we do in our publique Letany against sudden death That a long life whereby death comes upon us not suddenly and unexpectedly but maturely and according to the ordinary course of nature may lawfully with submission to Gods will be desired abundantly appeares by what hath been said in the Reason of this Doctrine and sufficiently by this act of David here For thanksgiving rightly ordered as we must suppose it here to be alwaies implies the cause of it to be some benefit or good thing which therefore being absent may lawfully at least be desired 2 It is cleare that our deliverance from eternall destruction much more our eternall happinesse in heaven is of Gods free grace not of the merit of our works which is opposed to grace Rom. 11.6 for there is no thanks due but for a benefit freely bestowed Luk. 17.9 Here are reproved 1 They that are unthankfull to God for their redemption or reprive from bodily death Repr Such must they needs be who doe not acknowledge it to be received from God for the first degree of gratitude is to acknowledge the benefactour But much more unthankfull are they who when God hath delivered them from any sicknesse employ their recovered health and strength to sinne against Him Such men shew plainly that they think their life serves onely for the satisfying of their lusts as if they were born for none other end but to sinne and therefore having been hindred in their businesse by sicknesse as soon as they are recovered they double their diligence for the regaining that time And this is still so much the worse when done after promises and vowes of amendment Oh what saints do some men seeme upon their sick beds when they think themselves in danger of death How do they blame their former courses What promises do they make for the future if God shall restore them to health But being recovered no such matter appears With the dog they return to their vomit the courses which they so disliked in their sicknesse they rush into again as the horse into the battell Against the amendment then promised they beare an aversation in respect of their lusts anew urging them to their old courses and of their companions who would hate them if reformed Such persons little consider with Whom they have to doe having never heard or not regarded that Galat. 6.7 God is not mocked He knowes whether people be like those Hos 7.14 who cryed not unto God with their hearts when they howled upon their beds c. High time it is then for such to recount what vowes they have made in their distresse and speedily to go about the performance of them Otherwise let them make account to beare the punishment not only of unthankfulnesse as the former but moreover of breaking vowes and those not of things indifferent which yet God will strictly require but either the same with or branches of their vowes formerly made in Baptisme When thou vowest a vow unto God defer not to pay it Dent. 23.21 Eccles 5.4 Not onely Deny not or Forget not or Omit not but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Defer not Slack not Put not off till afterwards For if thou dost remember that God can every moment bring thee into the like or greater danger And then with what faee canst thou look up unto Him again with Whom thou hast before dealt so perfidiously See Job 27.8 9 10. 2 They who so live that they can not give thanks to God for redeeming them from eternall destruction seeing they will not be redeemed from it But are there any such Answ It is incredible indeed that any man if so be he beleeve there is any such destruction should simply be unwilling to be redeemed from it But we must distinguish of the act of willing which is either efficacious inefficacious Essicaciously to will redemption from eternall destruction they onely can be said who diligently frame themselves according to the prescript of the Gospell truly repenting of their sinnes fleeing to Christ the Redeemer by true faith and for the time to come ceasing to do evil and learning to do well Thus wicked men are not willing to be redeemed and therefore not efficaciously It remaines therefore that if they will it at all it is but inefficaciously which kind of willing is called velleity or woulding rather then true willing Which as it is alwayes vaine so here it is also foolish and impious For seeing that impenitent sinning and eternal destruction are inseparably linked together by God as the Scripture every where testifies how foolishly do impenitent sinners wil to be redeemed from eternall destruction Yea how impiously For what else do they wil but that God Who is infinitely and necessarily faithfull should break the new covenant established in the blood of his Sonne and confirmed in the promises and threatnings thereof by his oath and so should become not onely a liar but perjured Such kind of willing God so makes no account of that judging not according to mens foolish thoughts but according to the truth of the thing he plainly saith that such men will to dy Ezek. 18.31 Doubtlesse according to their own opinion they do not will eternall death but yet continuing in their sinnes they do by consequence in the causes altogether necessarie most truly will it See Prov. 8.36 21.6 18.6 17.19 But let us imitate David Exhort Motives see the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have seen the privative benefits viz. Deliverances from evil both of sin and punishment Come we now to the positive The conferring of good things And first in generall both spirituall and temporall are comprehended in the latter part of this 4th verse 4 Doctrine The LORD crowned David with loving-kindnesse and tender-mercies 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loving-kindnesse Explic. This word properly signifies goodnesse or an affection of doing good any way and so is often joined with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By a Metonymie of the Efficient it is put for the effect thereof viz. the benefit it self or the good deed done as Gen. 20.13 2 Sam. 2.5 6. and so often joined with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the plurall number almost perpetually as 2 Chron. 32.32 Nehem. 13.14 Gen. 32.10 Psal 106.7 Now these effects have reference to all kinds of good as well privative in deliverance from evil whether of sinne or punishment as positive as may appear by the severall places where the word is used But one may suffice for all viz. Psal 136. where this word is 26 times used in reference sometimes to positive sometimes to privative benefits Now though David in this Psalme gives thanks to God for both sorts of benefits yet having spoken of the privative particularly vors 3. and in the former part of this verse this lanter seems rather specially to intend the positive and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here to be restrained to them 2
〈◊〉 hast made my hill so strong Upon which words Saint Augustine Non in viribus nostris non in meritis nostris c. Not by our own power for it is Thou LORD not for our own merits for it is of thy goodnesse See also Psal 44.3 They who offend in either of these kindes can not possibly be thankfull unto God Such as attribute Gods blessings to their own merit howsoever they may seem to acknowledge His justice yet they deny His liberality grace and favour accounting the things they receive to be paid them as debts not given or bestowed upon them as benefits But such as attribute them to their own strength wisdome industry c. deny not onely Gods liberality but also His justice providence and all setting themselves in the place of God Habak 1.15 16. Dan. 4.30 And in like manner doe they offend who attribute Gods benefits to any other but Him as to idoles Judg. 16.23 24. Hos 2.5 8. 3 Such as remember Gods benefits but so as to vilifie them and set them at nought yea to account them as ill turns or injuries to hate and murmur against Him for them as if they proceeded from His hatred not from His love toward them Deut. 1.27 In this height of ingratitude doe all they offend who hate the word or messengers of God just reproofe c. Thus Ahab hated Micaiah 1 King 22.8 and accounted Elijah his enemy Chap. 21.20 who yet was the charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof 2 King 2.12 But let David's example exhort us to imitate him in ever thankfully remembring and exciting our selves to remember Exh. and not forget all Gods benefits Motives See the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beside the remembrance of these may and ought to stir us up to divers other duties viz. 1 To beware of sin which is a rendring unto God evill for good And the more good we have received from God the greater is the evil of the sin So David's sin is aggravated by Nathan 2 Sam. 12.7 8 9. and Hezekiah's pride 2 Chron. 32.25 Therefore as Joseph fortifies himself against his mistresses temptation Gen. 39.8 9. Behold my master c. How then can I doe this great wickednesse and sin against God! So when we are tempted to any sin we should say to our selves or to our tempters Behold God hath done these and these great things for me hath bestowed these and these blessings these and these deliverances upon me How then can I doe this great wickednesse and sin against God! When the Proconsul moved Bishop Polycarpus to blaspheme Christ These 86 yeares saith that holy man have I served Him and He never yet did me any hurt How then can I blaspheme or speak evill of my King which hath bestowed salvation upon me Euseb lib. 4. cap. 15. 2 To serve God cheerfully Who is so kinde and bountifull a Master Who prevents us with His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or benefits before we have done Him any service much lesse will He be slack or behinde-hand with us in rewarding us when our work is done It was true which the devil said though he said it with a diabolicall that is a slanderous intent Job 1.9 Job did not serve God for nought And hee proves it in the next verse from Gods protection and blessing upon Job and all that he had So let any of us consider how many waies both positively privatively God hath been good to him and he must needs acknowledge that he hath not doth not shall not serve God either for nought or in vain either without cause or without hope either without desert or without reward Therefore as the Apostle exhorts us 1 Cor. 15.58 Let us be stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. 3 To trust in God for the future So David 1 Sam. 17.37 The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine So S. Paul 2 Tim. 4.17 18. 2 Cor. 1.10 On the contrary Mat. 16.8 9 c. 4 To be patient in afflictions Iob 2.10 Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evill 5 To be free and bountifull in contributing to any work which concerns Gods immediate honour and service Though indeed this cannot be accounted an act of bounty or liberality but of justice gratitude duty seeing we doe but render unto God his owne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the things which He hath formerly bestowed upon us which as they proceeded from Him to us were truly benefits as they return from us to Him are but due debts And therefore whensoever Gods occasions call upon us in this kinde we must contribute thereunto as on the one side readily and cheerfully and which will follow thereupon richly and plentifully according to our ability so on the other side humbly and modestly without pride or boasting or thinking that we thereby make God a debter to us or merit any thing at His hand An admirable example of both we have in David 1 Chro. 29. 6 To be beneficiall unto our brethren both that we may be the children of our heavenly Father by imitation of His goodnesse Mat. 5.45 and also that we may thereby shew our gratitude to Him Who takes what we doe to our brethren His children Christs brethren as done to Himself Prov. 19.17 Mat. 25.40 All these duties will be the fruits of remembring Gods benefits and therefore may be as so many Motives to excite us to it Means Direct Means Removing impediments Direct 1. Take diligent notice of all Gods benefits both in themselves and with respect to the Author that is both that such and such good things we enjoy and that we have received them from God This means is the ground of all the rest and is absolutely necessary not onely to affective but even to bare notionall remembrance which can have no object if notice or apprehension goe not before 2 Make a due that is a high estimate or valuation of them For what we most esteem we best remember Even old men whose memories most fail yet what they greatly regard they seldome forget as where they have laid their treasure Cic. de senect Now Gods benefits are highly estimable or rather inestimable whether we consider them in themselves their greatnesse multitude variety conveniency c. or in respect of God the Authour and Donour of them Whose greatnesse and majesty illustrates and amplifies His benefits and Whose goodnesse commends and endears them to us as proceeding not onely from His love or good will but also from His grace or free will 3 Adde to Estimation Admiration for that also will adde to the keeping Gods benefits in memory For as what we esteem as great so what we admire as strange we doe not easily forget Which is one
ashamed to commit before any ordinary honest man Let such men know that the Holy one of Israel hates iniquity and will without respect of persons render to wicked men the wages of their sinne that is eternall death The holinesse of God urges their damnation in a double regard namely both in regard of His hatred of sinne as directly contrary to holinesse and in regard of His truth in executing his threatnings 3. More specially such as offend against the 3d Commandement by taking this holy and imperate the performance of it the Affections of Love Desire Joy Hope c. to carry it on amain through all obstacles or impediments Thus Psal 9.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will praise the LORD with my whole heart or with all my heart Here is the heart and the whole heart or all the heart So Psal 86.12 For he knew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 That God requires this integrity of all and intensnesse of every part of man in His service Dent. 6.5 2 That Gods infinite excellency and namely His holinesse Psal 99.3 5.9 His beneficence also and His having made all that is within us and that for this end abundantly deserves this 3 That these faculties of the soul are so linked together that unlesse they all concurre none of them can be rightly exercised The Apprehension though never so clear yet without a sutable motion of the heart is idle On the other side there can be no motion of the heart at all without some apprehension going before Every affection presupposes some act of the understanding an orderly affection a distinct act a vehement affection a presse and intense act Uses Here then we see of how great moment Instr this work of blessing God is to which all that is within us is required But how farre are they from this duty Repr who call together all that is within them to doe the works of the flesh the world and the devil Now as before for the thing Exh. so here for the manner and degree David's example should excite us to imitate him Motives See the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Meanes 1 By way of removing impediments Away with all things that may overcharge the soul Luke 21.34 or hinder us from lifting it up to God as we ought 1 Tim. 2.8 or which may divert any faculty of the soul another way So in the act of blessing God we must watch over our thoughts that they wander not after other objects for then they will draw the affections after them and so make them cold and slack in the performance of this duty 2 Direct When we are about this work consider Gods speciall presence and the weightinesse of the businesse Verse 2. Blesse the LORD O my soul and forget not all His benefits 1. Doctrine David saith againe Blesse the LORD O my soul For 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He earnestly desired to perform this duty so as it might be pleasing and acceptable unto God for the Reasons mentioned in the 1 and 3 Doctrines of the former verse And in such case reiteration is usuall As in prayers Psal 51.1 2 7 9. Dan. 9.17 18 19. And in precepts Prov. 4.13 14 15. Rom. 12.14 2 He knew that as this could not be done unlesse the soul concurred so the soul was not easily excited and prepared in such manner as it ought 1 In regard of the weightinesse of the duty 2 In regard of the infinite Majesty of God before Whom and to Whom it is to be performed 3 In regard of the reliques of corruption which hinder or slacken the soul in this performance or draw it another way Uses Now in that David thus again and again excites himself to blesse God Instr we see 1 How necessary and important a thing the right performance of this duty is For it is the property of children and fools not of a man of David's wisdome to be so earnest in a matter of small moment 2 How difficult a thing it is duly to prepare the soule hereunto For though the duty were of never so great importance yet if it were not also of some difficulty this earnestnesse were superfluous 3 That we must use all diligence and never cease till the soule be competently prepared This reproves 1 Such Repr who if their soule be not presently excited do not diligently endeavour it but defer the duty Such men should remember the saying Qui non est hodie c. They who are so remisse in so excellent a work of God may justly by Him be left to themselves and to the tempter who if he once see them so easily taken off will be sure daily to cast in their way more and more impediments 2 Much more such as diligently excite themselves to work iniquity who when their conscience by the light of nature Scripture the admonition and example of others the Spirit of God also striving together checks and restrains them yet never leave till having extinguished the light cast Gods Commandements behinde their back and grieved his Holy Spirit their conscience becomes seared and their soul so addicted to iniquity that they are ready to drink it like water to draw it with cords of vanity and sinne as with cartropes to doe evill with both hands greedily To sinne is to depart from God and to draw nigh to hell Now doe they think they cannot depart far enough from God or draw nigh enough to hell from whence there is no redemption where the torments have neither end nor intermission without all this diligence On the other side here is comfort and encouragement for such as truly desire to blesse God Consolation Exhortation If at any time they perceive their souls to be not without some difficulty excited to this duty let them not be discouraged or give over but endeavour it so much the more earnestly And by how much the more and greater obstacles or hindrances they shall break through so much the more they shall testifie their love to God and conscience of doing their duty and so much the more comfort and sweetnesse they shall find in it 2 Doctr. He saith Forget not all his benefits 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His benefits Explic. The prime and proper signification of the verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is simply and absolutely afficere bono vel malo to doe one good or evill to deale well or ill with him And so it is taken in the good part Prov. 11.17 and frequently being spoken of God as Psal 13.6 116.7 119.17 142.7 Isa 63.7 In the bad part Gen. 50.15 17. Psal 137.8 Prov. 3.30 In both Prov. 31.12 Sometimes in reference to a precedent cause or occasion in the object it may signifie to reward recompense or requite So by our last English Translatours it is rendred in the good part 2 Sam. 19.36 22.21 Psal 18.20 In the bad Deut. 32.6 Isa 3.9 Joel 3.4 2 Chron.
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tender-mercies The verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is once used in the Kal. viz. Psol 18.1 signifying to love not simply and absolutely largely And so the sense is That God had given him not onely some few but very many blessings as it were compassing him round about on every side amongst which were first spirituall gifts wherewith his soule was wonderfully adorned and made beautifull in the eses of God and all good men also wisdome valour beauty and comelinesse of person wives children power authority and riches lastly frequent victories and from thence ample spoiles c. That Gods benefits bestowed upon him were many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Psal 40.5 68.19 139.17 18. For his spirituall ornaments faith hope charity humility zeal justice c they are every where obvious For his wisdome see 1 Sam. 18.14 His valour he shewed by the acts which he did His beauty is mentioned 1 Sam. 16.12 His wives 2 Sam. 12.8 His children 1 Chron. 28.5 Power and authority he had as being made King over all Israel and having subdued many other nations to his dominion His wealth may be conjectured by what he had provided for the building of the Temple viz. 100000 talents of gold and 1000000 talents of silver c 1 Chron. 22.14 To which he added out of his own peculiar treasure 3000 talents of gold of Ophit and 7000 talents of refined silver Chap. 29.4 A talent after the balance of the sanctuary being of our money in silver 375 l. in gold after a twelve-fold proportion 4500 l. Of his victories and spoiles and subduing his enemies we read every where Now all these God according to His own good pleasure bestowed upon David 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the end that he being both furnished therewith might be able and being excited by the consideration thereof might be willing and ready to serve Him cheerfully to his own salvation and Gods glory Uses This instructs us 1 Who is the Author of all good things namely the LORD Instr Man himself may be a means of some good things to himself by his diligence to others by beneficence But 1 Of some onely not of all for who can adde one cubite to his stature or make one haire white or black or endue the soule with understanding judgement memory c 2 Neither of any at all othertherwise then as an instrument under God without whose blessing all mans industry is but vain Psal 127.1 2. Habak 2.13 That others also have to give unto us and are willing to do it is of God Ezra 7.27 28. God therefore is truly the Authour of all good things of most the solitary cause of the rest the principall cause And this David acknowledges not onely here but often elswhere See 1 Chron. 29.14 So Saint James chap. 1.17 2 How these things come from God viz. not of His strict remunerative justice Job 22.2 35.7 41.11 Psal 16.2 Rom. 11.35 but of His loving-kindnesse and tender-mercies as the Scripture every where testifies Hence that admiration of David 2 Sam. 7.18 3 What it is to serve God viz. not vain and unprofitable as many imagine with them Mal. 3.14 For consider how many and how excellent benefits God here bestowed upon his servant which as comprehended under the metaphor of crowning we before in some sort explained Neither these things onely which are here according to the context specially understood but also deliverances from evil of which before and that which is added ver 5. Nor was the measure of these things either the power of God as though He could not have given more or His love to David as though that had wholly spent it self in these things and were not willing to bestow more but the conveniency in respect of David 2 Sam. 12.8 Lastly all these things were but as a few drops in respect of those rivers of pleasures but a few mites in comparison of the true treasure but the first-fruits of a farre more ample harvest to follow but the earnest of an eternall and incorruptible inheritance c. And seeing God is a Lord or Master Who is no respecter of persons therefore these benefits are not peculiar to David onely but common to all his fellow-servants for the greatest and best of them grace and glory most certainly for the rest also so farre as shall be convenient for them Psal 19.11 31.19 84.11 Here are reproved 1 Such as through their own fault are not crowned with Gods blessings Repr as simply in respect of spirituall grace whilest they not onely neglect but reject the meanes of it yea esteem it as nothing worth yea think it dishonourable and prejudiciall to them so many times in respect of other things also So they who do not seek outward things of God or seek them onely to this end that they may confume them upon their lusts Jam. 4.2 3. So to speak in a word they who by their sins of what kind soever provoke God Isa 59.1 2. Ier. 5.24 25. 2 Such as uncrown themselves decaying in grace besotting brave wits by drunkennesse c. bringing deformities and diseases upon bodies formerly both comely and able chusing such wives as are a rottennesse in their bones and so bringing up their children that they are a shame and greif to them squandring away such wealth as friends have left them polluting their hoary heads with sinne c. 3 Such as are unlike to God herein So they who are wanting in loving kindnesse towards others More they who secretly envy those that are crowned of God Most of all they who out of envy persecute and doe injury unto others These indeed crown others but as Saul crowned or compassed about David 1 Sam. 23.26 or as the foldiers crowned Christ Mat. 27.29 The heads of exhortation may be 1 According to Davids scope that I may here briefly touch the relative consideration of these words that we be thankfull to God that crowns us Exhort But of this something hath been spoken in the 2d verse 2 That we expect and seek from God onely whatsoever good things we want See the 2d Doctrine of this verse Exhort 1. 3 That we imitate God in loving kindnesse and tender mercies Vers 5. Who satisfyeth thy mouth with good so that thy youth is renewed as the eagles This verse containing a speciall benefit may be considered in it self wherein the benefit effect of it as it affords an argument for gratitude 1 Doctrine The LORD satisfyed Davids mouth with good These words contain the Benefit viz. an abundant supply of all things necessary for this life That God did so supply David see Psalm 23.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 1 God had much work for David to doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in fighting his bettells against so many bitter enemies in administring justice and judgement to so great a people c. 2 Though the soule or spirit be
the execution thereof Here in resemblance to magistrates or earthly gods the same acts are eminently attributed to the God of heaven Who is called the Judge of all the earth Gen. 18.25 and the great King over all the earth Psal 47. And the words may here in like manner not unfitly be distinguished so that by Gods executing righteousnesse be understood His relieving the oppressed by his executing judgement His punishing the oppressour Moreover in that both these words are of the plurall number it signifies according to the usuall idiome of the Hebrew tongue an Auxesis or intension in both Omnimodam justitiam judicium He will do it in every particular He will do it throughly and to the full perfectly both for parts and degrees For proof hereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That God is a God of righteousnesse and judgement administers the same to all men in generall see Psal 89.14 97.2 33.5 99.4 c. More particularly that He executeth both these for the oppressed in righting them and punishing their oppressours for both acts commonly goe together see Psal 146.7 8 9. 140.11 12. 10.14 18. Prov. 22.22 23. Deut. 10.17 18. 1 Righteousnesse for the oppressed He executeth out of the multitude of His mercies and compassions toward them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For such is Gods mercy that He pities the afflictions even of them that suffer most justly yea farre below their desert Jud. 10.16 2 Kin. 14.26 How much more will He pity them that are unjustly oppressed of men Act. 7.34 So Isa 63.9 In all their affliction he was afflicted c. 2 Judgement upon oppressors He executeth out of His hatred against oppression Zech. 8.17 Yea He so hates it that He hates to have any thing which is gotten thereby dedicated to His service Isa 61.8 And no marvell seeing oppression is directly contrary to Gods goodnesse and to His will not onely in Scripture every where declared but known even to the heathen by the reliques of Gods image Also it hurts those whom God loves and pities So that even the Mercy of God also is a reason of this as well as of the former act See Exod. 22.21 22 23 24 25 26 27. where in the last words this is given as the cause of all that goes before for I am gracious Moreover God therefore shewes exemplary judgements upon oppressours that others may beware Uses Here 1 we see David takes it for granted that at all times there are men oppressed Instr and those not a few seeing he speaks not of one or of some but of all And this the experience of all times since men began to multiply upon the face of the earth plainly shewes If therefore in these last and dangerous times and as it were the dregs of the world there be many such it is not to be wondred at Eccle. 5.8 Indeed it is strange that a man to whom reason dictates the summe of the law and the prophets that every man should doe as he would be done unto and much more that a Christian man notwithstanding so many dehortations and threatnings so many examples of Gods judgements against oppressours in Scripture yea so many precepts exhortations to defend relieve do good to others should yet wrong and oppresse his brethren But if we consider how great covetousnesse pride envy c. reignes in many men and with all what reasons good ends God hath for which He is pleased to permit oppression so farre as He doth and not altogether to hinder it as by his omnipotency He could we shall see it is not without cause that David here takes it for granted that there alwaies have been are and will be oppressours and men oppressed by them 2 This also is by David here presupposed that there is no oppression but that God sees otherwise how could He execute righteousnesse judgement for all that are oppressed Thus Psal 10.13 14. Wherefore doth the wicked that is the oppressour or persecutour v. 2. blaspheme God saying in his heart Thou wilt not require it Thou hast seen it for Thou beholdest mischiefe and spite to requite it with Thy hand the poore committeth himself unto Thee for Thou art the helper of the fatherlesse If God did not see both what the oppressour does and what the poor orphane suffers he could neither requite the one nor help the other See also Psal 94. where we have at large set down 1 The oppression practised by wicked and proud men and their triumphing in it vers 3 4 5 6. 2 Their blasphemy that God did not see or regard it ver 7. 3 The refutation of it vers 8 c. And Eccles 5.8 He that is higher then the highest regardeth it or observeth keepeth it in mind c. In generall see Hebr. 4.13 3 Wee see how God stands affected to oppression viz. so that He will execute righteousnesse for all that are oppressed and judgement upon their oppressours Gods patience animates many men to do wickedly Eccle. 8.11 And hence they imagine God to be such an one as themselves Psal 50.21 And some of the heathen did hereupon deny Gods providence But the wiser sort even amongst them observing more diligently the event of oppression were of another mind Whence those common proverbs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods mils grind slowly but they grind small and Male parta male dilabuntur c. Much more should we who have the Scriptures for it undoubtedly beleeve that God howsoever He reserves in His own hand the time unknown to us yet will most certainly sooner or later execute both righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed This then should terrifie oppressours Repr if they be not altogether hardened in their sin For 1 Let not them or theirs expect that they shall long enjoy goods so gotten God will execute righteousnesse for the oppressed in restoring to them their own making the oppressours vomit up again the riches they have swallowed down and pulling them out of their belly Job 20.15 Neither 2 shall the guilt of their sin be taken away together with the gain of it God will execute judgement also as well as righteousnesse What judgements remaine for them in this world we know not but without repentance they are sure of the judgement of eternall damnation in the world to come For how can they escape He Who hath taken upon him to execute this judgement is God from Whose all-seeing eye they can not be hid Whose almighty power they can not resist Whose will concerning them unlesse they be changed by repentance is unchangeable Now is the day of grace when truly repenting of what they have done and restoring what they have wrongfully taken away or detained and for the time to come despising the gain of oppression Isa 33.15 they may obtain pardon But if they slip this time that succeeds wherein every man shall be rewarded according to his works And if he shall
be reduced to His works of mercy toward the Israelites and of justice against the Egyptians the rebellious Israelites the Midianites Amalek and the Canaanites The particulars every where occurre 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the children of Israel Children by a Synecd spec familiar to the Hebrews are put for posterity Why they should be denominated as here and generally they are of Israel rather then of Abraham or Isaac the reason may seem to be because these had children of deferent religions Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael Isaac had Jacob and Esau but Jacobs children though many were all of one faith and religion Why of Israel rather then of Jacob the reason may be because the name of Israel was given him by God Himself and that of honourable signification A prince with God and bestowed upon him for his great and pertinacious piety Gen. 32. That God had before Davids time made known His acts to the children of Israel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abundantly appeares in all the books of Moses Josuah Judges and Samuel See Deut. 11.2 3 4 5 6 7. Reasons 1 For the impulsive cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods acts of mercy viz. His delivering the Israelites out of Egypt leading them to the land of Canaan bringing them into it placing them in it and so the acts tending thereunto proceeded from Gods truth and fidelity which required the performance of His promises made unto their fathers His acts of justice proceeded from His hatred of sinne And all from His love to that nation even those acts of justice which He shewed on the rebellious Israelites for so he pluckt up the ill weeds that the corn might grow the better and punished some exemplarily that others fearing might be kept in their duty See Deut. 17.13 2 The end in generall was that they so many as were not taken away by his judgements and their posterity to whom they were often commanded to declare His acts might the more diligently keep His commandements Who had done so great things for them to their own salvation and His glory So Deut. 11.7 8. Your eies have seen all the great acts of the LORD which He did Therefore shall ye keep all the Commandements c. So chap. 6.20 c. 10.12 So Psal 105. Where beginning from Abraham verse 9. and briefly reckoning up the acts of God he concludes with the end of all vers 45. That they might observe His statutes and keep His Lawes Hence Psal 78. Not to forget Gods works and to keep His commandements vers 7. and on the other side to forget those and not to keep these vers 10 11. are joined together as causes and effects In speciall for his works of mercy that they and their posterity in all their dangers and necessities might put their trust in God Who had shewed such great power and love toward them Deut. 7.17 18 19. Psal 77.10 11 12. 78.7 For want of which duty Moses reproves them Deut. 1.29 c. as Samuel those of his time who for feare of Nahash asked a King when God who had formerly so many waies delivered them was their King 1 Sam. 12. Also that they might alwaies have matter of praising and giving thanks to God Psal 9.1 26.6 7. So Psal 105. 106. 136. where earnestly exhorting to praise and give thanks to God he takes his argument from these works of God For His works of punitive justice that beholding therein His power and hatred of sinne they might feare to offend Him by committing it Numb 16.40 Levit. 18.24 25 c. 20.22 23. Uses Hence we may observe 1 That God rests not in desires Instr purposes c. of doing good to the godly and punishing the wicked but in due time proceeds to acts of mercy and justice Many men think they have done a great matter if they inwardly wish well to the godly and ill to the wicked desire to doe good to those and punish these though when they have power authority and opportunity they will not doe it Or if their love to those proceed as farre as to word or tongue in praising promising c. and their hatred to the sinnes of these expresse it self by dispraising threatning c. they think they have almost obliged God to them by it But this is not to imitate God Who hath His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His acts both of mercy to the godly and of punishment against the rebellious And such affections and words shall be so farre from doing them any good that they plainly convince them to be wicked servants who knowing their Lords will yet doe it not 2 Though God have some secret things belonging to Himself Deut. 29.29 some judgements unsearchable and waies past finding out Rom. 11.33 yet His acts which it behoves men to know He hath made known unto them that His mercy and justice might be manifest to the ends abovesaid and the like And herein He is to be imitated by us but with caution that is so as it be not done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the dispraise of others or boasting of our selves but to the good of others and our own necessary defence and that modestly 3 Behold here that God is no respecter of persons For there were many nations at that time far superiour to the Israelites in all earthly respects yea of Esau's progeny there were many Dukes Gen. 36.15 c. when the Israelites lived miserably and despicably in Egypt Yet God out of all nations chose these children of promise to whom He would make known His acts Here we may see the reason why God was more angry at the Israelites sinnng against Him then at any others Though He left not Himself without witnesse amongst other nations and therefore might justly punish them also for their sinnes and so many times did yet that witnesse if compared with the manifestation of His wayes in the former Doctrine and of His acts in this to the children of Israel was but litle And therefore of them to whom He had committed much He might justly require more and for want of it more often and more severely punish them By Gods thus manifesting His acts Repr are reproved 1 Such as will not observe or take notice of them Psal 28.5 Isa 5.11 12. And now more especially among us to whom God hath made known those acts not onely in the writings of Moses but also in the Psalmes and often elswhere in the Old Testament and likewise in the New And not those onely but many other acts of God also beyond all admiration especially the miracles wrought by our Saviour Christ and in His Name Yet how few of us set our hearts upon them so as thereby to learne to keep Gods commandements to hope in Him to fear Him to glorify Him c But let us assure our selves if we neglect Gods acts of mercy towards others we shall not enjoy
frequent acts the habit may be gotten and confirmed 3 To give unto God the glory of His mercy Motiv 1 God working all things for Himself hath revealed this as all the rest of His Attributes to us in His word and works that we may glorifie Him 2 Holy men in Scripture every where shew us example David especially in this book of Psalmes 3 It is most just seeing the mercy of God is the fountain of all the good we have or hope for That eternall glory and happinesse is prepared for us that Christ was sent to merit and procure it the Spirit to apply it the word and other ordinances which the Spirit useth to this end c. is all the work of mercy Meanes 1 Meditate of the excellency of Gods mercy as it is described in the word 2 Observe the sweet operations thereof in thy self and others 2 Doctrine The LORD is gracious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gracious Expl. The grace of God is often by a Metonym effic put for a double effect of it noting 1 holy habits begotten in the mind and heart as saving knowledge of God faith hope charity c. 1 Cor. 1.4 5. 1 Pet. 4.10 2 The continuall assistance of the Holy Spirit 2 Cor. 12.9 But here it is taken in the proper signification and so it imports the manner according to which God out of His goodnesse love mercy delivers the creature from evils and enriches it with good things namely gratis or freely For deliverance from evil Psal 51.1 For bestowing of good Gen. 33.5 11. When therefore God is sayd to be gracious the meaning is that He is ready to remove evil from His creature and to bestow good upon it not upon any precedent merit or debt or yet out of hope of recompense whereby any thing may accrew to Himself but onely that it may be well with the creature For the Proof and Reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the former Doctrine Object If it be objected that God doth not give salvation but according to His covenant prescribing conditions without performance whereof He hath threatned and sworne that no man shall enter into His rest Answ I answer that Grace and Faith doe very well agree Whereupon the Scripture ascribing our Justification to Grace doth also often teach that we are justifyed by Faith And so for salvation Ephes 2.8 By grace ye are saved through faith c. Yea Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace c. For it is of the mere grace of God that He would make a new covenant that omitting the rigour of the Law He would require Faith for the condition of it that we are either able or willing to beleeve Philip. 2.13 These two therefore may very well stand together That all who are justifyed and saved are justifyed and saved of the mere grace of God and yet That no man is justifyed or saved but by Faith God doth not enter covenant with us as needing any thing that we can do unto Him Who is in Himself All-sufficient and Blessed from everlasting to everlasting He doth not enter covenant with us as thereby to cut off that absolute right of creation and redemption in regard of which He might require of us whatsoever we could performe without making any promise to us or covenanting thereby for our obedience His covenant is so framed that He commands what we are to doe and adds a terrible threatning of death if we doe it not and promises a reward as of grace and free gift if we doe it we tender the condition to Him from His own power as our duty and seek the reward by humble intreaty that He would remember His holy covenant So that he enters into covenant to excite us the more willingly and cheerfully to doe Him service not to imply that He needs to us or that we can merit any thing at His hands Obj. 2 Yea but He doth not give salvation but for the merit of Christ Answ For answer see Vers 3. Doctr. 3. Uses For our instruction Instr 1 Here we see whence it is that God often plentifully bestowes upon wicked men the good things whereof they are most unworthy and averts the evils which they have most justly deserved though out of His Omnisciency He most certainly foresees their obstinacy to be such that they will not by these riches of His goodnesse be led to repentance Hereupon some of the heathen denyed Gods providence and sometimes holy men envy the wicked But we may easily resist these temptations The former of the heathen if we think of the grace of God which looks at neither antecedent merit nor subsequent recompense in the bestowing of good or averting of evil and out of which He will doe good even to bad men that He may satisfie His love to His creature though He certainly foresee that by reason of their contumacy He shall not obteine his prime end of bringing them to repentance which He seriously intends and for which He useth sufficient meanes The other temptation of the saints we may also resist 1 If we consider the same grace of God whereby He may doe with His own what He will For is it not lawfull for Him so to doe Is our eye evil because He is good 2 If we consider how long He so deales with the wicked of His grace Not for ever but onely so long as He thinks fit to expect their conversion But if they will not be converted but turne His grace into wantonnesse the Spirit of grace to which they doe such despite will not alwaies strive with them but there will be a time when stripping them of all good God will cast them into eternall misery so that it shall be manifest to all that they are nothing lesse then the object of envy 2 See here a just and effectuall cause of patience when either good things are wanting or evils ly upon us If we could deserve or God did any way ow us the bestowing of those good things or the averting of those evils it were another matter But seeing He is gracious dispensing all His benefits freely why do we yet complaine as if He dealt injuriously with us Yea rather let us set in order before our selves our many and great sinnes and amongst the rest our abusing of Gods benefits and then I dare boldly say we are very blind if we do not see most just cause of acknowledging the great grace of God toward us that any good at all even our life and breath is still continued to us and that we are not at this very houre in hell And further we must consider that Gods withholding temporall good things or His sending temporall evils do not alwaies proceed from an intention of revenge neither are as it were forerunners of condemnation but that He often even of the same grace fatherly chastises us for our good yea many times onely proves us that His graces may be exercised
necessity upon us and this Attribute abundantly encourages us 2 See the fountain of all good whence both what we have is received and what we want is to be sought 3 If God be so plenteous in loving kindnesse even towards all how much more towards His children 4 If any man do not abound with good things let him know that the cause is not in God Who is plenteous in loving kindnesse but in himself This reproves 1 Such as seek the good things they desire Repr from any other then from God These are like unto them Jer. 2.13 they commit two evils c. For whereas every transgression of the law is sinne they transgresse two waies at once Which their transgression as all sinnes are not equall see 1 how impious it is 2 how unprofitable and foolish 1 For the impiety the degree of it which for the substance is to be estimated by the Commandement which is violated is very great because it is against a commandement of the first Table which immediately respects God Himself and so the violation of it caeteris paribus is worse then the violation of any of the commandements of the 2d Table which respect our neighbour And whereas the first Commandement of the first Table concerns the having of the true God as the rest the true manner of worshipping Him therefore the breach of that is most hainous See the story of the Samaritanes 2 King 17. God sent lions against them that did not at all acknowledge Him ver 25. but with-held them from those that worshipped Him though after Jeroboams manner Now whereas the first commandement enjoines the having of the Lord for our God and forbids other gods these men violate both parts of it the affirmative by forsaking the Lord the negative by digging themselves other cisternes For Trust is an act eminently due onely to God and not to be placed in any thing else but with subordination unto Him And therefore in what thing soever a man principally trusts that he makes his god 2 How unprofitable and foolish this is appeares by the description of God and these cisternes God is the fountain of living waters The cisternes which they dig as being but cisternes not fountaines they have no water of themselves so being but broken cisternes they can not hold the water that is put into them to supply those that dig them For all creatures as they are from God so they depend upon Him for their operation yea and for the continuance of their being and therefore unlesse they be preserved by God and enabled by Him it is impossible they should help us Now He will be so farre from blessing the creatures wherein men idolatrously trust that He curses those that trust in them Isa 31.1 Jer. 17.5 and many times takes away and destroyes the creatures themselves Isa 31.3 2 Such as are unlike to God 1 Privatively such as either through their own fault have not spirituall or temporall good things wherewith to profit others or who having them are not ready to communicate them 2 Positively such as are plenteous in mischievousnesse who are so much worse then the former by how much commission of ill is worse then omission of good which it includes in it self and superadds to it On the other side this serves to comfort 1 Sinners if truly penitent Consol Benhadad having lost the day and being in great feare of losing not onely his kingdome but his life his servants comforted him with the fame that they had heard that the Kings of Israel were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mercifull Kings 1 King 20.31 but we know most certainly that the God of Israel is a mercifull God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plenteous in mercy or loving kindnesse as here 2 Much more the godly For if God be so plenteous in loving kindnesse to men whilest they are yet His enemies how much more when they are reconciled to Him and become His friends and His children whom He tenders as the apple of His eye more then a mother her sucking child Can we think that Jacob feared the famine after he knew there was come enough in Egypt and the disposall thereof in the power of his son Joseph Yet among men love descends so that the love of a sonne toward his father is not equall to that of a father toward his children and the love of any earthly father whatsoever is nothing to the love of our heavenly Father whether we consider the tendernesse or the constancy or the efficacy of it Of how little faith therefore are we if so great kindnesse of so loving a Father can not comfort us against any grief or feare whatsoever Let this also exhort us 1 For the good things we yet have not Exhort to expect and seek them of Gods loving kindnesse 2 For those we have already received to be thankfull to Him 3 To imitate God in this Attribute also as in the former Motiv 1 The dignity of man consists in being like unto God Some courtiers have imitated even the imperfections of their princes And shall not we much more imitate our God every way most perfect And particularly in His bounty or loving kindnesse seeing as it is more honourable in the eies of men so it is a more blessed thing before God to give then to receive Act. 20.35 to be a help rather then a burden to others 2 The good things we have whether spirituall or temporall are not our own but are onely to be dispensed by us according to Gods prescription And He hath prescribed us this duty Gal. 6.10 3 We are all brethren in our first parents of the same flesh and blood Isa 58.7 Act. 17.26 partakers of the same naturall capable of the same gracious and glorious image of God 4 Hereby God shall be glorified His doctrine adorned we shall give good example to the good winne them who are yet enemies or else stop their mouths we shall get and keep the peace of conscience other men will be moved to help us when we shall need or if men be ingratefull and inhumane God will most amply recompense us here and minister unto us abundantly an entrance into His heavenly kingdome hereafter Vers 9. He will not alwaies chide neither will He keep His anger for ever In the precedent verse we had the foundation of all Gods benefits which He bestowes upon them that feare Him in those foure Attributes of His. The benefit upon which the Psalmist principally insists is the moderation of His anger Which moderation is illustrated from the proëgumenall or internall moving cause vers 11 12 13. and from the procatarcticall or externall cause or occasion vers 14. to the 19. In which illustration other notable benefits of God are also mentioned This moderation of Gods anger is either in respect of the duration of it vers 9. measure of it whilest it endures vers 10. Of this 9th verse both the parts are almost coincident but the
our life whilest we are at home in the body creeping as wormes upon the ground Let us not therefore say of this world as S. Peter of the mount in another respect It is good to be here but let us so live whilest we are here that we may be admitted into heaven after this life that is let us doe the will of our Father Which is in heaven and then with the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.8 desire rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. 2 Doctrine As the heaven is high above the earth so is Gods mercy great toward them that feare Him 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mercy Expl. or loving-kindnesse Of this Vers 4. Doctr. 4. and Vers 8. Doctr. 4. Here it is taken largely for propensity both to remove evil from us and to bestow and continue good to us and that notwithstanding the demerit of our sinnes 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them that feare Him The feare of God here notes the whole worship or service of God For that was the phrase of the Old Testament whilest the heire being yet a child had indeed the Spirit of adoption but tempered with the spirit of bondage The same thing that is the observation of the condition of the covenant in the New Testament is called Faith or Trust 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 toward This preposition according to the nature of the speech wherein it is used is diversly rendred Most commonly over of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ascend Now a thing may be over another either as being farre above it as the heaven is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over or above the earth or as contiguous to it and so upon it And whereas a thing may be so upon a man either for evil Judg. 16.30 or for good Psal 133.2 hence it sometimes signifies against 2 Sam. 11.23 Psalm 2.2 sometimes towards Psalm 4.6 that is Be favourable to us or manifest Thy love towards us So here 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usually signifies to prevaile Now one thing may prevaile over another either in strength and so it is commonly taken or amongst other things in height as Gen. 7.19 20. where the LXX render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And feeing height commonly imports greatnesse therefore our Translatours here render it not amisse is great 5 The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here signifies not exact parity but similitude For the greatnesse of Gods mercy or loving-kindnesse see Psalm 108.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where it is sayd to be above the heavens as here the heavens above the earth See also the places before quoted vers 8. where God is sayd to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great or plenteous in mercy Now the Mercy or loving-kindnesse of God in it self or in acta primo as was sayd before vers 8. is His essence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without cause But in actu secundo that is in the exercise or effects of it as here towards them that feare Him it hath a cause viz. 1 His mercy in actu primo that is His pronenesse to doe good from whence in Christ Who hath satisfyed His Justice offended by our sinnes He hath graciously promised to shew mercy or loving-kindnesse to them that feare Him 2 His Justice Truth or Fidelity which require the performance of His promise though graciously made Uses Here then 1 we see there is in God infinite mercy or loving-kindnes Instr whereby men may be invited to fear Him 2 Seeing the subject or object of this mercy is limited to a certaine qualification we may learn that God is so mercifull that He also doth not neglect His justice whereby he hates sinne 3 Seeing this qualification is the fear of God we see to whom and to whom onely this mercy belongs 4 It appeares how naturally miserable the condition of men even of them that fear God is to need such mercy and how happy in obtaining it The least degree of Gods mercy shewed to such is excellent because it proceeds from His second love is a pledge of greater following But the greatnesse of it we have here illustrated by a comparison not fully but as the nature of the world will afford wherein the greatest height is that of the heaven above the earth that being the highest part of the world this the lowest The limitation of Gods mercy to them that fear Him reproves them who Repre though they fear Him not yet presume of His mercy On the other side it affords singular comfort to them who truely fear Him Consol Whatsoever good they lose or whatsoever evil they suffer for this cause it is all nothing to this Mercy It comforts them also against the greatnesse of their former sinnes if they now truely repent and fear God For how great soever they were they can not be so great as Gods mercy Likewise against whatever calamities or afflictions they can suffer For though they have not alwaies the sense of Gods mercy He sometimes for a while hiding His face from them either to try them as in the history of Job or to make them before haply not sufficiently esteeming it desire and seek it more earnestly being absent and love and delight themselves in it the more being recovered c yet it is most certaine that Gods mercy is exceeding great towards them and wil so appeare to them in due time Lastly this should exhort us 1 To feare God Exhort that we may be qualified to be partakers of His mercy 2 To imitate our heavenly Father that as He is kind to all Psal 145.9 Mat. 5.45 but more exceedingly to them that feare Him so should we study to doe good unto all but especially to them which are of the houshold of faith to them that feare God Vers 12. As farre as the east is from the west so farre hath He removed our transgressions from us We have seen the greatnes of Gods mercy The effects follow The former in this verse viz. the removing of our sinnes or transgressions from us which in respect of the space is illustrated by the distance of the east from the west 1 Doctrine The east is farre distant from the west This Axiome seems litle to belong to Divinitie and therefore shall be the more briefly handled By the East and West as the notation of the words import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to arise Explic. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evening are signified the places of the rising and setting of the sunne and so the two termes à quo and ad quem of the motion of it above our Horizon These the sunne being in the Aequator are points diametrically opposit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so as farre distant one from the other as any can be in the same globe whether of the
Gods temporall judgements upon their children c. And shall they not pity those whom themselves have made miserable 2 Children thankfully to requite according to their ability the care and tender affection of their parents who take such pity on them 2 Doctrine So the Lord pityeth them that feare Him 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of this before Expl. Here it notes the exercise of Gods mercy strictly taken as it signifies an affection of relieving them that are in misery 2 For the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we must alwaies remember that when similitudes taken from the creatures are applyed unto God we must separate the imperfections of the creatures and understand their finite perfections juxta modum eminentiae after an eminent manner befitting God Who is infinitely perfect So here 1 A father though never so wise and good yet may sometimes be ignorant of the condition of his children and so either not pity them when there is cause or pity them when there is no cause as Jacob did not pity Joseph when he was cast into the pit and sold by his brethren but extreamly grieved and mourned for his as dead when he was well entreated by Potiphar and after when being governour over all the land of Egypt he gathered come to sustaine them all in the time of famine But God is alwaies every where present ignorant of nothing and therefore pities alwaies and onely where there is just cause of pity 2 A father oftentimes out of inordinate affection pities foolishly so tendring the bodies of his children that he suffers their soules to perish whilest for feare of grieving them a litle by reproof or correction he lets them runne headlong into eternall torments and staies them not But God alwaies pities most wisely sparing the body indeed so farre as the necessity of the soule requires but when it is so that externall prosperity can not consist with eternall felicity He spares not to afflict His children temporally that he may make them happy eternally 3 A fathers pity many times can goe no further then the affection can not produce the reall effect of helping His children and relieving their misery But God as He is metaphorically sayd to have the affection Judg. 10.16 so He hath also all-sufficient power to remove any evil present or to avert any that is imminent from those whom He pities which also He doth This Doctrine for the substance we have had twice before viz. Vers 4. Doctr. 4. Vers 8. Doctr. 1. Therefore we may passe it over the more briefly here For further proofe we may adde Isa 63.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. 2 Sam. 24.14 Lam. 3.32 Nehem. 9.19 27 28 31. Psal 119.156 The Reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Vers 11. Doctr. 2. Uses 1 Instr 2 3. As Vers 11. Doctr. 2. 4 We see the feare of God doth not exempt men from all misery 1 Gods pronenesse to pity reproves such as are contrary Repr Vers 8. Doctr 1. Repr 2. 2 The qualification annexed them that feare Him reproves them that presume God will pity them when they do not feare Him God indeed often so farre pities wicked men as to remove some temporall evils from them Amos 7.1 2 3 4 5 6. and also to afford them meanes of salvation 2 Chron. 36.15 But as they have no promise whereon they may rely to expect this so if they goe on in their sinnes it shall aggravate their guilt and increase their damnation But it is most certaine that such shall not obteine Gods saving pity as which is proper to them that feare God Yea of such see Jer. 13.14 Ezek. 7.4 9. Prov. 1.24 c. This also may abundantly comfort them that feare God Consol What matter is it who hates them or endeavours to hurt them when they have Him Who is Almighty so tenderly pitying them In the middest of all calamities diseases death it self how sweet is the remembrance of Gods mercy The compassion of men though when they can onely pity not help is some comfort to a man in misery not in regard of the grief it self but of the love which is the cause of it how much more then Gods compassion which both proceeds from His love as the cause and produces relief as the effect Lastly this should exhort us Exhort as Vers 11. Doctr. 2. 1 To feare God 2 To imitate Him in being pitifull as He is pitifull 3 Doctrine Because such is Gods mercy and compassion Vers 11 12 13. therefore He mitigates His anger Vers 9 10. The 11 12 13. verses were before considered absolutely here relatively Thus Psal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 136. 23 24. Jer. 3.12 Lam. 3.22 Mic. 7.18 Why God should out of His mercy be prone to mitigate His anger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no reason can be given He is so because He is so It is His nature But why it may stand with the honour of His Justice so to doe the cause is Christ satisfying Gods Justice and by His Spirit making us conformable to the covenant Uses 1 Then if at any time we perceive the anger of God mitigated toward us Instr behold the cause not in us but in Himself 2 They that feare God need not doubt of the mitigation of His anger it being the effect of His Mercy which never faileth as being infinite and essentiall to Him This reproves such as attribute the mitigation of Gods anger to their own merits Repr satisfactions c. Lastly it exhorts us 1 To gratitude for the mitigation of Gods anger Exhort For by this Doctrine it appeares to be a benefit most free and of Gods meere grace 2 To imitate God as in the thing vers 9 10. so in the manner If we mitigate our anger onely towards such as deserve the mitigation of it what great matter doe we more then the publicanes and heathen Verse 14. For He knoweth our frame He remembreth that we are dust Now followes the procatarcticall cause or occasion of Gods mitigating His anger that is mans misery in respect of his soule body for the matter like to grasse or flowers ver 15 16. unlike to Gods mercy vers 17 18. 1 Doctrine Our frame or figment is evil This 14th verse is by most expounded of the body Explic. as if both the parts of it tended to the same thing viz. that God knowes and remembers that we are framed of the dust So the Old Translation more plainly He knowes whereof we be made c. And this sense is also good seeing it cannot be denyed but that in the Psalmes and other parts of Scripture especially those which are most elegant the same thing is often expressed in divers phrases and seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also may be referred to the body as an earthen vessell framed of the clay But this word may also be referred to the soule according to the more frequent use of
hope But to diminish this hope they must know that whatsoever they have of that which is past they have not much of that which is to come unlesse in their own imagination reckoning without their host For God in whose hand is the soule of every living thing and the breath of all mankind Job 12.10 saith unto all To day if ye will heare his voice c. Psal 95. And Boast not of to morrow Prov. 27.1 Rabbi Eleazar sayd that we should repent one day before the day of our death And when his scholars asked Which should be the day of their death he answered That was uncertain and therefore it was best to repent to day The Jewes have a proverbiall speech That many times Old camels carry yong camels skinnes to the market And how often do we see elder folk carry yong mens and childrens bodies to the grave It is then a fault even in yong men to presume of long life How much more therefore in old men who have already one foot in the grave and yet under gray haires nourish green hopes and desires Lastly Exhort this serves for exhortation 1 To such who in respect of their callings are commonly exposed to more then ordinary danger of their lives See that the thing thou goest about be lawfull that it lie upon thee in respect of thy calling that it be such as God would not have thee to omit whatsoever may thereby befall thee and then goe on couragiously and doe it Thy life is like unto grasse It is appointed unto thee once to dy and but once If therefore that once shall then happen blesse God that He will accept of thy death as a free-will-offring which of it self was due unto nature Or if that thy danger be from men consider that their life also is like unto grasse and therefore though thou maist so farre feare their power and malice as to implore Gods help the more earnestly and to order thy businesse the more cautelously as Jacob Gen. 32. and Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20. yet do not so feare them as to be wanting to a good cause and thy duty Thus God Himself reasons Isa 51.12 Sennacherib gave out great threats against Hezekiah and Jerusalem 2 King 18. But his soldiers in whom he trusted were but grasse and one Angel in one night mowed down 185000 of them Chap. 19.35 2 Seeing this life is so fraile let us so much the more diligently seek that life which is eternall in the heavens and fadeth not away 3 Seeing our life is like unto grasse which perishes so many severall waies therefore let us alwaies every where expect death and be ever ready and prepared for it 2 Doctrine As a flower of the field so he flourisheth Thus is the life of man compared Job 14.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 28.1 40.6 Jam. 1.10 11. 1 Pet. 1.24 Why or in what respect David likens the flourishing estate of man to a flower 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himself is his own best interpreter vers 16. Which tending onely to this purpose we may here consider it without further handling In a flower therefore David observes two points of frailty or vanity 1 In respect of the essence of it Though no hand pluck it nor foot tread it down nor beast crop it nor any other casualty befall it yet as soon as the wind that is the nipping or blasting wind such as the cast wind Gen. 41.23 passeth over it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not that is it neither continues any longer in being nor returnes any more into being So how greatly soever any man flourishes in his time yet as soone as a deadly wound or disease cometh upon him all his glory can not save his life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is gone he is not he both must die and being dead he returns to this life no more Psal 78.39 Job 14.7 8 9 10 11 12. 2 Sam. 12.23 14.14 2 Which necessarily followes upon the former in respect of the appearance of it Though whilest it flourishes the place of it seems as it were to know nothing but it the glory and beauty of it drawes all eies to it nothing else of all that is round about it is lookt at or regarded yet when it is once nipped with the wind not onely the glory and beauty of it but even all appearance and signe of it perishes together with the essence and never returnes againe the place thereof shall know it no more So though whilest a man is in his flourishing estate he is eminent in his place lookt upon and regarded by all pointed at and shewn by one to another This is the man yet when his life is once taken away his glory and appearance in this world vanishes together with it and never returnes againe yea being once out of sight he growes by litle and litle out of mind also litle thought of lesse spoken of many times not so much as his name mentioned or remembred in the next generation Job 7.8 9 10. 14.10 Where is he Eccles 1.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of former men 2.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every man 8.10 9.5 Hence the state of the dead is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the land of forgetfulnesse Psal 88.12 And Psal 31.12 I am forgetten as a dead man out of mind And that this is the meaning of this phrase appeares not onely by the place first before quoted Job 7.10 but by divers other places also where this and the like phrases are so used See Job 20.9 Nahum 3.17 Psal 37.10 compared with vers 35 36. of the same Psalme Object But we read of three in the Old Testament and five in the New raised from death to life Answ I answer 1. These few examples of men raised from death to life by Gods extraordinary power do not infringe the truth of what the Scripture affirmes of all mankind according to the ordinary course and law of nature 2 Even those men also afterwards died againe and vanished no more to return or appeare againe in this world Uses Instr Observe here 1 That men ordinarily have a time of flourishing whilest their gifts of mind faculties and habits their endowments of body health strength beauty c. their outward good things wealth power c. are in their prime And all these come down from the Father of lights and are given unto men partly that by enjoying them the many calamities of this pilgrimage may be mitigated but chiefly that they may glorify the Giver promote their own salvation benefit the Church common-wealth and particular persons by the rightuse of these according to Gods word 2 When they most flourish they are but like unto a flower whose short continuance and fading condition no man but knowes And that to a flower not of the garden which is much sheltered from sharp winds fenced from the teeth and feet of beasts from the hands of children strangers
he can no way get out of it but as the further a man goes from one part of the heaven the nearer he drawes to the other so the further one departs from Gods commanding will the nearer he comes to His punishing will Uses We see then 1 That no creature is sui juris lord of it self Instr Some men indeed have sometimes thought so as Pharaoh Exod. 5.2 So Psal 2.2 3. 12.4 And the conversation of many among us plainly shewes that they think so whilest they follow whatsoever pleases them and refuse whatsoever stands not with their liking notwithstanding the precepts admonitions threatnings c. of God in Scripture But that all men and all creatures are subject to Gods dominion as it is manifest to all Christians especially so these men also shall at last feel For if they will not now in the day of grace be subject to Gods fatherly dominion they shall one day be subject to His masterly dominion and when He bids them Depart into everlasting fire shall not be able to refuse or disobey 2 That no creature can have dominion over another unlesse it be derived from God Who hath the supreame dominion over all Rom. 13.1 Whence both magistrates should learne so to carry themselves in their government as being to give an account to God the chief Lord and people so to yeeld obedience to them as to Gods vicegerents upon earth from Whom and for Whom they governe This reproves all such as goe about any way to diminish Gods dominion So they Repr who by refusing to obey His commandements do as much as in them is withdraw themselves from under His dominion Would they vindicate themselves into absolute liberty and be altogether their own men subject to none other That is impossible For every man obeys either righteousnesse and God or unrighteousnesse and the devil Rom. 6.16 They therefore who will not obey God do voluntarily yeeld themselves slaves to the devil Nor can they so shake off Gods dominion Who is able to subdue all things unto Himself and when He shall visit His house will say Those Mine enemies which would not that I should reigne over them bring hither and slay them before Me Luk. 19.27 See Ezek. 20.33 So they who account all they have so fully their own that they may doe therewith what they list What spend-thrift is there among us that will not be ready to say I hope I spend nothing but mine own And yet it were well if some of them did not by borrowing or stealing spend that which is other mens So covetous men they think they are absolute lords of all that they have 1 Sam. 25.11 otherwise how chance they will not lay out those goods according to the owners will So they who abuse the creatures which surely are Gods creatures He hath made them nor shall any man goe unpunished that shall usurp or use them otherwise then according to His will The stone out of the wall shall cry c. saith the Prophet Habakkuk ch 2.11 12. So the creatures out of the gluttons and drunkards belly shall cry Woe to them that rise up early in the morning to follow strong drink c. Isa 5.11 12. On the other side Consol this may comfort all Gods faithfull subjects against whatsoever can happen to them If they be in perill by sea the sea is subject to the kingdome and dominion of God Psalm 93.3 4. 107.29 Jer. 5.22 If they be in danger from men see 2 Chron. 32.8 Isa 40.15 17. If from the devil Hebr. 2.14 Rom. 16.20 1 John 4.4 If from death and the grave Hos 13.14 Phil. 3.21 1 Cor. 15. Lastly Exhort this should exhort us 1 to humble our selves before the supreame King and Lord of all When Job seemed to trust too much to His innocence or righteousnesse Elihu endeavoured to reduce him to due humility by this argument Job 36. 37. And God Himself especially chap. 38. 39. 40. 41. The successe see chap. 40.3 4 5. chap. 42.1 2 3 4 5 6. 2 To obey and honour Him Motiv 1 He is most worthy of our honour and obedience Revel 4.11 2 He is most able to reward His faithfull subjects and to punish rebels 3 Consider the example of the Angels vers 20. of this Psalme yea of the unreasonable creatures yea of those without sense or life Psalm 148.5 6. And if He will have any thing done by them though contrary to the inclination of their particular nature they straightwaies obey The sunne stood still for the space of a whole day Jos 10.13 went backward 2 Kings 20.11 The heaven gives or withholds raine Jam. 5.17 18. The water stands as a wall Exod. 14.22 Jos 3.16 beares Christ walking upon it Mat. 14.25 The fire though most extreamly ardent singed not a haire of the three children walking in the middest of it Dan. 3.27 The earth swallowed up Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. The hungry lions hurt not Daniel shut up all night with them Dan. 6. 3 To trust in God 3 Doctrine David hence excites himself to blesse God So Psalm 145.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 3. 1 Chron. 29.10 11 12 13. For David knew 1 that God in regard of this His excellent majesty is most worthy of praise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the ground of praise is the good which one hath or doth And by how much the greater this is so much the greater praise is due What therefore can be compared to this Divine excellency 2 That God is glorifyed by praises Psalm 50.23 and that we have great cause to glorify Him 3 That our praising God is profitable to others to excite them also to glorify Him For it is to be hoped that many do not sinne against God obstinately but because being intangled with the cares of this life they do not think of His majesty and excellency who hearing the glorious majesty of God set forth by other mens praising Him may be brought to glorify Him both in word and deed And truly God desires to be praised of us not that He being infinitely perfect wants any thing in Himself much lesse any thing that we can bestow upon Him but He desires our praises as He doth all our service first as that which of right belongs to Him secondly for the good and salvation of them that praise and serve Him and that by their example others may be invited to doe the like and so to receive the like reward Uses Here then see the end and use amongst others whereof in the two former Doctrines to which the consideration of Gods lofty throne Instr and kingdome ruling over all ought to serve viz. that we may hereby be excited to praise Him So not onely David here but others also elswhere partly doe as the saints Psal 145.10 11 12. yea a heathen king Dan. 4.34 35 37. partly are often invited to doe See onely Psal 47.1
Mat. 26.53 and destroy His enemies Exod. 33.2 2 Sam. 24. Isa 37.36 Psal 35.5 6. Uses The Uses of this Doctrine are much what the same with those vers 19 20. seeing all these three verses tend to one scope the setting forth Gods power and majesty that He hath His throne established in the heavens vers 19. that He hath Archangels excelling in power as captaines of His host vers 20. and that He hath as here an innumerable company of other Angels as soldiers to fight His battells I shall onely urge it to exhort and encourage us to fight valiantly under Gods banner Exhort as against carnall enemies if God shall call us to it so especially against our spirituall enemies which we shall never want so long as our life is a warfare upon earth Motives 1 From the military oath or sacrament where with we have bound our selves hereunto in our Baptisme 2 From the cruelty of these enemies who never a whit the more spare any man for yeelding himself to them and most officiously serving them 3 From certaine hope of victory if we resist as we ought Jam. 4.7 Soldiers fighting against worldly enemies can not alwaies assure themselves of victory Eccle. 9.11 1 King 20.11 seeing themselves are many times wicked and though pious and fighting for a good cause yet God hath not simply promised they shall alwaies prevaile But against our spirituall enemies we have most firme and absolute promises of prevailing if the fault be not in our selves 4 The victory shall be most gainfull and most glorious 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Revel 3.21 Meanes 1 By way of removing impediments 1 Flee worldly cares and delights 2 Tim. 2.3 4. 2 Beware of intemperance sloth security c. 1 Pet. 5.8 2 Direct 1 Take the whole armour of God Ephes 6. 2 Follow Gods direction Mark the word 3 Fervently constantly and humbly implore His assistance 2 Doctrine They are His ministers doing His pleasure 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His ministers Explic. This word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the constant acception both of it and of the verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof it comes being spoken of men signifies not any servant promiscuously but onely such an one as gives attendance upon his masters person waits upon him stands before him serves in his presence c. So was Joseph to Potiphar after he found favour in his sight Gen. 39.4 and to the chief butler and baker Gen. 40.4 Joshua to Moses Exod. 24.13 33.11 Num. 11.28 Deut. 1.38 Jos 1.1 Elisha to Elijah 1 King 19.21 2 King 3.11 and Elishahs servitour to him 2 King 4.43 6.15 Amnons to him 2 Sam. 13.17 18. Abishag to David 1 King 1.4 15. And so more particularly it is used of the servants of kings which are in attendance upon their persons whether continually as their domesticall servants or by courses See Psal 101.6 Prov. 29.12 1 King 10.5 1 Chron. 27.1 28.1 2 Chron. 17.19 22.8 Est 1.10 2.2 6.3 In like manner being applyed to the servants of God the great King it signifies such as are in neare and speciall attendance upon Him stand before Him c. And thus it is peculiarly attributed 1 to His Priests Levites and such as minister about holy things at the least 70. times in the Old Testament 2 to His Angels as here 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that doe His pleasure Gods pleasure which He will have done by all reasonable creatures respects both the substance of the act conteined in His commandement and the manner of doing viz. out of obedience or because He commands it As therefore it is here necessarily presupposed that the Angels hearken to Gods voice so it is expressely said that they doe His pleasure that is His commandements Whereby it appeares that the same thing for substance is sayd here which we had in the latter part of the former verse And therefore we shall not need to insist long upon it For proof of the Doctrine see Psalm 104.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cited by the Apostle Heb. 1.7 and alluded to vers 14. So Dan. 7.10 where the Chaldee word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is all one with the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Targum expounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 King 1.4 And the Prophet Daniel so expounds himself in the same verse by another phrase of the same signification viz. standing before Him which is often joined with ministring as Deut. 10.8 17.12 18.5 7. 1 King 8.11 2 Chron. 29.11 So the standing of his ministers 1 King 10.5 The Reason see vers 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctr. 3. Uses Here 1 we may observe concerning the name and office of a minister Instr that it is usually much mistaken as if it were a name of slavery and basenesse Of service indeed it is but of the most free ingenuous and honourable service that is For 1 it is not for an ordinary man to have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a minister or attendant upon his person though he may have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a servant to doe his businesse Prov. 12.9 as appeares by all the places quoted in the Explication 2 Of all the servants of the same master his ministers or those who are about his person are nearest unto him and most in grace and honour with him 3 The greater and more honourable the master is the more honourable also is his minister How honourable therefore is it to be Gods minister Who is Lord of lords and King of kings Herein they that stand before Him here upon earth are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same rank and degree of service with the Angels in heaven And therefore the Apostle thinks it no disparagement but an honour even to kings that they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods ministers Rom. 13.4 6. Another mistake there is which perhaps is the ground of this viz. that people account of Gods ministers as if they were their ministers or rather their servants It is true indeed they minister for their sakes and so in that sense are said to minister unto them or rather for them Num. 16.9 Ezek. 44.11 Coloss 1.7 Rom. 15.16 But so do the Angels also Heb. 1.14 And yet I suppose no man can be so foolishly proud as to think himself their lord and master or any way thereby superiour to them but rather contrary as he which is committed to anothers charge custody tuition c. is therein inferiour to him to whom he is committed 2 We see here the nature and duty of servants even of the most honourable kind of servants viz. ministers or attendants upon the person of their lord that they are not to doe their own will and pleasure but his whose servants or ministers they are So Aristotle makes it the property of a servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to live not as himself
of mere nothing 3 in the meanes which He used or rather in the manner of working which was without any meanes by His bare word Psal 33.6 9. Gen. 1.3 c. In these the eternall power of God was clearly seen even of the heathen Rom. 1.20 Now joine all these together Such Goodnesse such Wisdome such Power afford infinite arguments of praising God 2 Of blessing God also by way of Thanksgiving all the creatures afford arguments unto man as all serving to His use and benefit The inferiour parts of the world viz. the earth and waters and all things created of them not onely serve for his use but are also subjected to His dominion Gen. 1.28 29. 9.1 2 3. Psal 8.6 7 8. The superiour parts also that is the heavens though in respect of the dominion reserved to God alone Psal 115.16 yet in like manner serve for the use and benefit of man the lowest heaven affording him breath winds raine c. the second heaven light heat c. and the third if he rightly serve God an eternall and most blessed habitation Object Yea but there are some creatures hurtfull to man viz. either immediately to his person as poisons or unwholesome meates wild beasts serpents c. or mediately as hurtfull to those things which are needfull or usefull to him as weeds to corne moths to garments fores wolves c. to sheep c. Answ I answer 1 Blessing God consists not onely in giving Him thanks but also in praising Him And therefore if there were any such creatures for which we were not to thank God yet even for those also Hee were to be praised if they make for His praise And that even those creatures before mentioned with the like doe so is evident in that the Goodnesse Wisdome and Power of God are declared in the creation of them His Power without doubt His Goodnesse also at least in communicating good to them beeing life motion c. and continuing it to His good pleasure and lastly His Wisdome at least in making them so various and all in their severall kinds so fit for the punishing mens sinnes to the glory of His Justice But 2 God also in wrath remembers mercy neither hath He made any creatures which are not some waies profitable unto men and so contein arguments of gratitude also All those mentioned and the like make for the exercise of carefulnesse industry c. and to keep us from idlenesse to which we are so prone since the fall and which is a vice so foule in it self and the mother of many more They make also for the humbling us for our sinnes the causes of those annoyances from the creatures for weaning us from this world where we are subject to so many dangers and calamities and to enflame us with a desire of heaven where is perfect happinesse In speciall That some creatures assault our persons it may admonish us how by the just judgement of God for our rebellion against Him these creatures also rebell against us and may warne us to take heed of sinne for the future lest these prove but the beginning of sorrowes The dangers also to which our life is by these meanes liable may put us in mind of the uncertainty thereof and so prepare us for death that whensoever it shall happen we may live eternally in the world to come Job 5.17 to the end of the Chapter That other creatures also are hurtfull to the things we possesse it may serve to draw us from the immoderate love of those things and to excite us to lay up treasures for our selves in heaven where neither moth c. Mat. 6.19 20. Lastly all the aforesayd creatures if men knew rightly how to use them are perhaps beside the morall use before specifyed naturally more profitable then hurtfull unto man Of many it is plaine Nettles poppy and other weeds though hurtfull to corne yet are helpfull in physick for preserving life which is more then meat So are antidotes made of poisons Uses For our instruction Instr 1 If all Gods works afford matter of blessing Him then they are all good for otherwise they could not be arguments either of thanks or praise God indeed inflicts the evil of punishment Isa 45.7 Amos 3.6 But this is not evil simply but onely in respect of us and that unlesse we our selves be the causes onely to the outward man and for a litle time For it is very good as it illustrates the glory of Gods justice and good to us also if we make a right use of it Psal 119.71 And if some of the creatures be now morally evil as the devils and wicked men the cause is their own sinne whereby they have cotrupted and marred Gods workmanship Eccle. 7.29 So Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 13. cap. 14. Deus creavit hominem rectum naturarum Author non utique vitiorum sed sponte depravatus justéque damnatus depravatos damnatósque generavit 2 If all Gods works then much more those which are more excellent the heavens sunne moone starres c. Also if the creatures without reason sense or life then much more man to say nothing of the Angels His body is fearfully and wonderfully made Psal 139.14 in the finding out the structure whereof Anatomists after the dissections of so many bodies have still enough to exercise their industry But the fabrick of the soule exceeds all admiration 3 If the works of Creation then much more the work of Redemption as being farre more noble In the Creation appeared wonderfull Goodnesse Wisdome and Power but to the work of Redemption all these three Attributes are required in a greater degree and others also beside whereof in the creation there was no need And the reason is from the different condition of the object The object of Creation was pure Nothing wherein as there was no help so there was no hindrance to Gods working But in the object of Redemption was sinne not onely bringing death but vehemently hindring Redemption Here therefore was required 1 Greater Goodnesse viz. not onely simply free communicating good to them that deserved it not but also mercifull doing good to them that deserved ill 2 Greater Wisdome which might find out a way how Gods Justice offended by mens sinnes and His Mercy which had pity on them might so meet together and kisse each other that both Justice might have fitting satisfaction for mens sinnes and yet Mercy might have full content in procuring their salvation 3 Greater Power seeing the termes were more distant and the way more difficult 1 The termes were more distant In the Creation man the most noble creature next to the Angels was taken out of the earth formed after the image of God and placed in a happy condition But when he was redeemed he was taken out of a condition worse then the earth Job 30.8 and then nothing Mat. 26.24 and brought at last to an estate better and more worthy then Adam either had or by