can be more and is much subiect to the temptations of Satan and of the flesh And on the other side ouer and besides that there is neither iudgement nor wisedome in yongmen in so much that they are so stirred vp with heate as that their boiling affections breake out Yet in steade of hauing some modestie to take in good part the admonitions which might be giuen them they will be the more loftie and stubborne which might take better occasion to be more grieued in beeing reprehended or rebuked And that this is true we see at this day howe all things are out of order This is sure that the true vertue which should be in youth is modestie and that the younger sorte ought to knowe that since they are not furnished with wisdome and discretion as the elder sorte are they ought to heare them and not to be giuen ouer to their owne will and wit This is the moste principall wisedome that ought to bee in young men But what they are at this day past all shame By this we may see that the worlde is euen as it were vtterly desperate and that we are growen to the fulnesse of all mischiefe and iniquitie For wee shall see these beastly and gracelesse boyes and wenches which scarsely are able too wype their owne noses as we say yea and that might yet be vnder the rod ten yeeres like peeuish wretches as they are that when so euer they shal be spoken vnto wil make no reckoning of whatsouer is said but poute and mowe at it counterfaiting the very Apes and Monkeyes as dayly wee may see And when we see such extreame pride in this people what shall wee say but that Satan hath euen possessed them and that they will shewe themselues as in deede they are to weere without all amendment So then this point is so much the more to be wel considered of when as hee saith Wherwithall shall a young man addresse his way by taking heede thereto according to thy worde True it is that a great many which haue neede heere to be tolde this geere care not for filling of their eares with any such matter they haue knowledge inough too keepe them selues from the Church For they haue the thing which they desire when they may be at the Tauerne playing and Dauncing But what It is certaine that this doctrine will not leaue them vncondemned when as God cryeth vnto them as hee witnesseth by Solomon Prou. 1.20.21 22.23 where he bringeth in Wisedome saying I haue cryed out and put foorth my voyce in the streetes I haue bidden both great small to the end that men might heare mee and none hath vouchsafed too receiue me ne yet to giue me lodging When God declareth vnto vs that our life shall be well ordered if wee keepe his word surely as many as flye from this doctrine and admonition shall render an account at the last day because God hath called them And also because they haue not only bin deafe but also haue added this mischiefe to flye from the admonitions which Gods word admonished them off to bring them againe into the way of saluation from whiche they were strayed It is especially sayd Tea by taking heede thereto according to thy worde Dauid his meaning is heere to expresse vnto vs that we may make our selues beleeue that we haue wisedome and discretion inough But yet it shall profire vs no whit at all without we will bee gouerned and ruled by God according to that which hath beene before saide Nowe it followeth With my whole hearte haue I sought thee let mee not wander from thy Commaundementes Dauid heere maketh a notable confession which is not common to all men That hee bath sought God with his whole heart For although we haue a desire to goe to God yet it is so feeble as is lamentable seeing we are with drawn with so many vanities by reason the world hath such dominion ouer vs and yet ought not to retire our selues frō any good deuotion whē as we haue had a through feeling therof There are very few of vs that are able to say with the prophet Dauid that we haue sought God with our whole hart to wit with such integritie and purenesse that we haue not turned away from that marke as from the most principall thing of our saluation It is very true that Dauid had not yet any such perfection but that hee slacked in the fight against the prickings of the fleshe and went back Saint Paule also confesseth that hee went too God as it were halting that he did not that good which hee woulde desired Rom. 7.19.20 but that he was encompassed with his naturall vices to doe the euill which he condemned Dauid was not without such temptations but how soeuer it was it is most certaine that the principall matter wherto he bent himself was to serue God Now as I haue before said we are all farr from this example For as many of vs as at this day are best affected may be letted and hindered by a number of vices vaine cares of this world with lusts desires of the flesh that if we should remoue our foote euery day too goe one pace forward it were much and yet it may come so to passe often times that we would drawe back againe to the place from whence we came And yet notwithstanding Dauid after hee had protested that he sought God with his whole hearte besought God that he would not suffer him to decline from his Commaundementes Heereby let vs see what great neede we haue to call vpon God too the ende he may holde vs with a mightie stronge hand Yea and although hee hath already mightely put too his helping hand and we also knowe that he hath bestowed vppon vs great and manifolde graces yet is not this all But there are so many vices and imperfections in our nature and wee so feeble and weake as that we haue very greate neede dayly to pray vnto him yea and that more and more that hee will not suffer vs to decline from his Commaundementes For although Dauid protested that hee sought God with all his heart neuer thelesse hee addeth yet suffer mee not O Lorde too goe wronge from thy Commaundementes What shall we doe then Let vs also learne to walke carefully for since hee is the God which giueth vs that good minde to wil and that also giueth vs the power too performe and all of his meere fauour and grace wee ought sayth Saint Paule to walke in feare and to keepe good watch too the ende that Satan taketh not vs vnprouided Phil. 2.12 and that he enter not within vs. And loe what is the cause that wee haue seene some men which haue made a greate shewe of holinesse for a time and haue seemed too bee more like Angels then men which at length haue growne too outrage and haue so greatly exceeded their boundes as that GOD euen forsooke them like desperate
hee sayeth O Lorde open myne eyes that I may see the woonderous thinges of thy Lawe Wherefore vseth hee this woorde woonderous It is as if he would haue saue saide Although the world taketh the lawe of God to be but a light thing and seemeth to be giuen but as it were for simple soules yong children Yet for al that there seemeth such a wisedom to bee in it as that it surmounteth all the wisedome of the worlde and that therein lye hidde wonderfull secrets Asmuch is saide of the Gospell and that not without great cause And in very deede that which at this daye is most plainely declared in the Gospell was before conteined in the lawe onely these were darker shadowes then they are which were since the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ And yet notwithstanding there is no chaung or alteration in this wisedome as God also is not mutable Ephes 3.10 1. Pet. 1.12 It is not then without cause that all the holy scripture is called wisedome and that the Angels of heauen theÌ„selues do woÌ„der thereat If then the Angels be astoyned at the secrets conteined in the holy scripture I beseeche you tell mee what reuerence deserueth it to haue among vs mortall men For we are but poore wormes vpon earth creeping here belowe If there be comparison made betwixt vs and the Angels what shall it be See howe the Angels are wonderfully rauished to see the wisedome of the word of God and yet we make no accompt of it but esteeme of it as a base and childish thing The more therefore ought wee throughly to marke this saying of Dauid that the doctrine of the lawe is not as wee take it to bee to wit a thing of small valure or a common and ordinarie doctrine but a wonderfull wisedome wherein are such secrets as ought to rauish vs with admiration bicause they farre surpasse our wit and reason But what is the cause that we so lightly esteeme of the lawe of God that is to say his whole word Herein the common prouerbe is verified when we saye A foole regardeth nothing Which prouerbe we declare to be rightly verified in vs For many of vs make no estimation of the holy scripture it seemeth to vs that that which we reade there is too to coÌ„mon and this is the reason bicause we know not what it is â—â—e yet the great and abundant treasure hidde therein But such as haue once knowen what the Maiestie of God is which hee sheweth and declareth him selfe to be there and do see whether it is that God calleth and allureth them and do also vnderstand and knowe the large and sweete promises offered vnto them therein such I say will say with Dauid O Lorde thy law is wonderfull And so consequently will desire that their eyes might be lightened confessing them selues to be blind vntill such time as God hath ayded them with his holy spirite Now it followeth I am a stranger vpon earth hyde not thy commandementes from me When Dauid did put to this verse he ment to confirme the matter which before he touched that is to say that he desired not simply to liue as if his life had beene deare and precious vnto him without any other respect but he had a further meaning For he saith by a by after I am a stranger in the world therefore hyde not thy commandements from me They which make their continuall nest here according to their owne fansie and thinke to make their heauen in this world these men I say haue nothing to do with the commandementes of God for their saluation For they are safe enough if they may eate and drinke to be glutted that they may take their pleasures and delightes that they may be honoured that they may be in estimation and credit loe here is all that they desire or wysh to haue Yea forsooth For they looke no further but to this corruptible and transitorie life These men I saye are not greatly troubled ne yet haue any care of the commaundementes of God but when as they shal be taken from them all shall be one to them When as the couetous man the whoremonger the dronkarde the ambitious person shall heare no preaching of the word at all neither any talke of God ne yet of Christianitie nor of life euerlasting He in the meane time ceaseth not to pursue his owne waye Yea and it is to them a lothsome and vnpleasant kinde of speach to heare God spoken of but had rather haue no mention in the whole worlde made of him And therefore it is not without cause why Dauid requireth not to haue the coÌ„mandements of God taken from him this is his reason to wit bicause he is a stranger on the earth As if he should haue sayd O Lord if I had none other consideration but of this present life I should be euen accursed and it had beene better my mother had beene deliuered of me as of a dead body and that I had beene an hundred times plunged in hell And why so For we are here in this world but as pilgrims and wayfaring men and we passe to a more excellent life as to that also wherein we repose our whole trust Seeing then O Lord that I am a stranger in the world let not thy commandementes be taken away from me Nowe in this part is conteined a very profitable doctrine and exhortation for vs for we knowe how cold wee are where in deede we ought to haue an ardent desire to be taught the worde of God and to be more and more confirmed therein And I beseeche you how carelesse are we But what is the cause hereof No doubt of it we must alwayes euen searche and looke into the depth and bottom of this corruption and mischiefe for when we see any vice in our selues we ought to enquire from whence the cause proceedeth to the ende we might finde remedy for the same Now the reason is bicause we are blynde and do suppose our abode should bee here still vpon earth and euery man imagineth him selfe to haue here euerlasting life Wherefore when we are thus giuen to the world thinke our selues to haue here an euerlasting enheritance loe this is the cause of our thus conteÌ„ning of God and his word or rather that we care no whit at all for the seeking out of the doctrine of our saluation What must we then do Forsooth wee must looke a great deale further then to the world if we will come vnto God and be exercised in this study wherof meÌ„tion is here made and to say with Dauid O Lord bicause we are strangers in this world to wit that we are to passe here only that nothing can be shorter then our life is here let not thy commandements be taken away from vs. On thother side Dauid his meaning here is to signifie vnto vs that he was but as a poore pilgrime and wandring man without he were conducted and guided by the worde of
followe the doctrine heerein conteyned Nowe returneth hee to the firste Argument which we haue already touched to wit according to the woord of God Wherein we see that all the assurance and certaintie which we ought to haue in our prayers to God is to looke vnto that which hee hath promised vs. For they which trust vnto themselues and think there is sufficient in them why God should heare them it is most sure that they shal neuer open their mouthes to desire any thing of God or if they doe it shall be all but meere hypocrisie As in Popery where wee are not taught the promises of God True it is that they wil babble much mumble ouer a number of Pater Nosters with a mixture of Aues yea and will also direct their Pater-noster to the Puppet of S. Agatha or some other Saint as if it were too God Nowe this is nothing else but beastly to profane the name of God And therefore I haue sayde that the principalest poynt that we ought to vse in praying vnto God is to lay before him his promises saying O Lord God it is true that we rightly deserue to be reiected of thee but seeing thou inuitest and callest vs shall wee goe from thee Is it not meete that we should doe thee this honour as to giue credite vnto thy worde and to holde it for stedfast and sure Sithens then it is so that we haue thy promises we may boldely trust vnto them considering that they are true and because wee cannot but haue them graunted vnto vs we onely rest and stay our selues vpon them Loe heere the meaning of Dauid in this verse Nowe hee goeth on and sayth Take from me the way of lying and graunt mee gratiously thy Lawe Heere he acknowledgeth that although hee were already exercysed in the lawe of God and in his knowledge and that although he were a Prophet to teach others neuerthelesse that he was yet subiect to a number of wicked thoughtes and imaginations which might alwayes wickedly leade him from the right way except God had helde him with his mightie and strong hande And this is a poynte which we ought heere rightly to note For wee see howe men greatly abuse them selues When any of vs shall haue had a good beginning we straight wayes thinke that wee are at the highest we neuer bethinke vs too pray any more to God when as he hath shewed vs that fauour too serue our turnes but if we haue doone any small deede wee by and by lift vp our sayles and woonder at our great vertues To be shorte wee thinke straightway that the Deuill can winne no more of vs. This foolish arrogancie causeth God to let vs goe astray so that wee fall mightily yea that wee breake bothe armes and legges and are in greate hazarde of breaking our neckes I speake not now of our naturall body but of the soule Let vs looke vpon Dauid him selfe For he it is that hath made proofe heereof It came too passe that he villanously and wickedly erred when as hee toke Bethsabe the wife of his subiect Vry to play the whoremonger with her 1. Sam. 1◠that hee was the cause of so execrable a murder yea that of many for he did asmuch as in him lay to haue the whole army of the Lorde and all the people of Israell to bee vtterly ouerthrowne Loe then too too great negligence and securitie in Dauid and see also wherefore hee sayth Alas my good God I beseech thee so to guide me that I may forsake the way of lyings This is the whole summe that Dauid although he exceedingly profited in the lawe and word of God acknowledged that he was subiect and apt to be carryed away and abused that the deuill might sundry wayes beguile and deceaue him that hee might bee seduced through many temptations allured by the lustes of the fleshe and oftentimes fall were it not that God did take from him the way of lying Loe heere a poynte which we ought thorowly too mark O Lord saith he take from me the way of lying It is spoken to this ende that euery of vs might knowe our owne wante to wit that we should enter into our selues and meditate after this manner Goe to now I am as a poore wretched and so fraile a creature as is possible my faith so very weake and the lustes of my fleshe so stronge as that they might haue sudenly oppressed me Alas my God sithens I am so weake and feeble I must needs be assisted by thee and by thy power and might And againe howe many are our enemyes which molest and greeue vs howe mightie and strong is the Deuil How great and infinite are the meanes wherewith he assayleth vs and when hee shall assayle vs with his Dartes and arrowes it is impossible for vs too escape them we shall become then like vnto the Lambe in the throte of the Lyon Whē we shall thus haue vnderstood these our wantes and needes then may we say with Dauid O Larde take from me the way of lying Nowe he sheweth the remedy when he sayth Cause me to make much of thy Lawe or graunt me thy grace that I may keepe thy law For the word which Dauid vseth importeth meere fauour and free gift As if the should haue said it commeth of thy meere fauour and grace that thou giuest me thy lawe See heere the remedy which our lord and Sauiour vseth when he would withdraw vs from the law of lying to wit that we should keepe his truth For the truth of God is sufficiently able to encounter al the subtelties and slye practizes of Satan to withstande al temptations and to vanquishe and ouercome al the lustes of our flesh The trueth of God then wil suffice against al this And this is it whiche Saint Paule speaketh of Ephe. 6.10.11 12 c. that when we shal be str doctrine of the Gospel that then we shal haue wherwithall too bee Iusty and strong and become valiant Champions too fight vnder thensigne of our Lord Iesus Christ and triumphe ouer al our enimies So then wil we bee farre from hypocrisie wil we be deliuered from lying from al the subtelties of Satan and from al the deceits of the world Let vs beseeche God then to graunt vs his law and to doo vs that good that we might be instructed therein as wee are heere taught by the example of Dauid Now after al this he maketh his protestation That he hath chosen the way of trueth and hath cleauen vnto the testimonies of God that he hath folowed his iudgements and heerevpon he beseecheth him not too bee confounded Heere now we see that when we beseech God to giue vs his law to deliuer vs from temptations to suffer vs not too be deceiued neither by Satan nor the world that we doe it with such a true desire as Dauid sheweth vs heere in this place For there are many which may say with their mouth O Lord I
from the same by euill example Nowe as I haue already touched if Dauid had neede hereof what shall become of vs who are so inconstant and mutable in al our doings Lo then the first point which we haue to note in this place to wit that Dauid protesteth that although the holy Ghost assisted him and that he felt him selfe confirmed as wee haue seene neuerthelesse he yet sought other helpes to coÌ„tinue and hold him in the feare of God as the companies which were most meete for him to cause him to followe his vocation and not to withdrawe him from it seeing there must be nothing that must pull vs aside from the right way Now he meaneth to signifie further that he ioyned him selfe with men that feared God to the ende also that hee might serue him as hee ought For we are bound to stirre vp one another through mutual exhortations and good ensamples It is meete then that we haue these twoo considerations in the first place we are to consider to followe those which can aduaunce further vs in the right waye who can profite vs more and more in the feare of God and after that wee must also labour to to profite those with whome wee shal be likewise conuersant inciting them by all meanes possible to followe the right trade wherein God shall haue set them to the ende he may be honoured with one accord and that euery of vs might say come let vs goe and let vs trauell and take paines to cause to others to goe with vs that wee may altogether honour the Lord our God Now the conclusion of the eight verse is the second request The earth O Lorde is full of thymercie O teach mee thy statutes Here we see howe necessarie a thing it is for vs to bee alwayes praying to God beseeching him more amply to instruct vs that we may acknowledge him better then heretofore we haue done yea and that specially when as wee thinke we knowe al that is to be knowne that we throughly consider that wee haue yet great neede to profite continually more and more For which of vs I pray you dareth be so bolde as to compare with Dauid Loe so excellent a Prophet as that he is like vnto an Angel of God wee see also how God hath reueled vnto him his secrets as if he had bin taken vp into the heauenly kingdom yet he hauing such excellent gifts as we know desireth notwithstanding to be instructed in the statutes of God And which is hee amongs vs that hath not greater neede of theÌ„ So then wheÌ„ as we shal be greatly learned in the word of God not onely for our selues but also to instruct our neighbours let vs for al that be coÌ„teÌ„ted to yeld our selues to be taught of him to beseech him to grant vs his grace that we may daily profit more more And therefore we ought the better to note the reason which Dauid setteth first down For the earth O Lord as ful of thy mercie As if he should haue saide thou O Lorde spreadest abrode thy fatherly goodnes ouer all creatures we se how of thy mercy thou feedest the beasts of the field we se the trees florish the earth bring forth her increase thy goodnes spreadeth through heaueÌ„ earth how is it then possible that thou shuldst not do good vnto thy children I am one of that nuÌ„ber which call on thee that put their trust in thee Seing thou art so louing mercifull to al creatures thou shalt not forsake me The reason here set down serueth Dauid for a confirmation that he should not dout to obtaine the request which he had made And so as oft as we desire God to instruct vs in his statuts the good nes dout to obtaine the request which he had made And so ost as we desire God to instruct vs in his statuts the goodnes wherwith he ouerspreadeth al his creatures serueth vs as a foundation wheron to build al our petitioÌ„s And since that God hath giuen vs this grace to allow vs in the nuÌ„ber of his children and to shew him selt to be our father let vs be sure that he wil not refuse to giue vs those things which he hath promised And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie c. The nienth Sermon of the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme TETH O Lorde thou hast dealte gratiously with thy seruant according to thy woorde O teach me good iudgement and knowledge for I haue beleeued thy commaundementes Before I was troubled I went wrong but nowe I keepe thy worde Thou art good and gracious teach me thy statutes The proud haue imagined a lie against me but I wil keepe thy coÌ„mandements with my whole heart Their hart is as far as grece but my delite is in thy law It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble that I may learne they statutes The law of thy mouth is better vnto me then thousandes of gold and siluer IF we be oftentimes foolish vnaduised in a great many causes it may chiefly appeere wheÌ„ we meane to pray to God for theÌ„ if there be but one drop of wit or reason in vs it wil shew it selfe but we discouer our owne folly in that behalf more then in al the rest of our actions And what is the reason For sootli we wil behaue our selues more modestly whensoeuer wee shall craue any thing at the handes of men then when we come before the maiestie of God for we go on hedlong thereto not knowing what we ought too desire of him but euen powre out at all aduenture whatsoeuer shall come into our mouthes And we should then tâ—e rather call to minde our lesson to the end we might know the order rightly how to pray For we profane the name of god shew ourselues too much to conteÌ„ne his maiestie if we beg at his hands any other thing theÌ„ that which he hath declared vnto vs to haue liking off in such sort as that his will be alwayes preferred and our desires thereby chiefly ruled Now we are heere aduertised that aboue all thinges we ought to pray vnto God that he wil teach vs cause vs to vnderstand his wil accordingly as he hath declared vnto vs in his worde to open our eies that we may doe it so that wee might vnderstand that which is comprehended therin And this is the summe and effect of these eight verses which here we haue nowe to handle For Dauid demaundeth of God none other thing but to knowe the contents of the lawe and the doctrine thereof that he might be ruled thereby and his whole life framed thereafter But in the first place he remembreth God of all the benefites which he had already receiued from him For that it which must giue vs trust and confidence when as wee come to make any prayer vnto God And in deede there is nothing in the world which giueth vs a better
they shall not be assayled neither yet that the wicked will not craftely goe about to worke them mischiefe but yet so as that God will be their buckler and defend them with his mightie power And namely hee sayth The proude Because that they which are our enemyes and make warre against vs haue such an vnbrideled libertie as that they thinke neither God nor yet any other liuing creature is able to stay them but that they will bring to passe whatsoeuer they haue determined Since then it is so that we haue too deale with such kinde of people as are both stout and cruel who lifte them selues vpp against all trueth that neither the feare of GOD nor yet naturall honesty can stoppe them but that they will destroye whether it be right or wrong as we say for this cause Dauid sayth O Lord let not the proude doe me wrong And so as often as we shall see this boldenesse in men to lift themselues vp and to vomit out their pestilent malice against vs let vs flye vnto GOD and beseech him too holde his holy hande ouer vs to represse so great and insolent arrogancie This beeing done although men for their partes make such attempts yet shall they neuer bring them to passe For God will holde them back as it were with a sharpe brake Nowe if this petition came euer in season it commeth nowe at this day in very good season For wee see how many the enemyes of God are which bend themselues against the Gospell wee see the malice and obstinacy throughout the whole worlde And so it is not possible but that a man which feareth God must needes be assayled troubled on all sides Seeing then that men are so furious to wrong vs so much the rather ought we to be carefull to make this request vnto God with Dauid yea and that with such a confidence as that we should not doubt but that when wee are vnder his protection he shall bee sufficient too maintaine and defende vs. Nowe it followeth Mine eyes haue fayled in looking for thy saluation and for thy iust promise We shall not neede to stande long vppon this sentence because it hath beene already handled heere before Dauid onely protesteth that he hath looked for such helpe from God as he desired And that is to shewe that he prayed not hypocritically but faythfully And this is a thing which we ought throughly to marke For wee thinke our selues too haue doone very substancially and sufficiently when as wee haue pronounced and rightly placed our words in the time of prayer but if wee shall haue spoken neuer so loude and with neuer so full and open mouth and yet haue emptie or fast closed vp heartes emptie I say and voyde of all trust and fast closed vpp it is a moste manifest token that wee neuer surely looked for any succour at the hands of God and therefore beholde why of very right all our prayers are vnprofitable and to no purpose And so when as wee wil beseech the Lord our god to take our cause into his hād to help vs let vs take this with vs which dauid here sheweth in this place by his example to wit let vs attend and looke for our saluation and deliuerance from God Yea and let vs cōsider of that which is said according to the word of thy righteousnes For by this he signifieth to vs vpō whom we must looke and cast our eyes when as we would throughly stirre vp our selues vnto such an hope to wit vnto the promises which God hath giuen vs for if this be not in vs it can neuer be said to be any more hope but a vaine imagination which we haue forged too our selues for to hope or trust in God is to be established in his promises For if a man imagine a thing which seemeth good in his own sight after leaneth thereto this mā trusteth not in God but in him self So then if we looke to haue any help at the hāds of God we must haue a sure testimonie of his will we must be sure that he loueth vs and that when he loueth vs hee will not fayle vs in our neede And how shal we be assured of this It shal be by the onely meane of his worde Nowe bicause men are so hard to be brought to rest them selues vpon God and not to cōtent them with his promises Dauid saith these promises to be iust according to the word of thy righteousnesse saith he It is not in vayne that hee thus intituleth the word of God And why so For he thinketh that if he haue but his bare worde that it is enough for him And why so For God maketh not vnto vs liberall and large promises as men doe and then deceiueth vs. His wordes are iust And as he saieth in an other place Psal 12.6 his wordes are like to pure siluer which is tried in the fier and hath beene seuen times purified in the furnace Euen so is it with all the promises of God we ought to be very assured of them Bicause hee is faithfull and iust and that there is nothing but righteousnesse and truthe in all that he sayth Now Dauid goeth further on for he speaketh not of a simple affection But saith that his eyes haue fayled as if he should haue said that he was hardly so resolued and not without great paine By this hee sheweth vs that his faith was so troubled as that hee knewe not what would become of him that hee had great and strong conflictes that he was in marueilous anguishes troubles so that he was as a man halfe dead and yet that he was armed and fenced amiddest al these hard cases with the hope trust which he had in God See what the words import which he vsed that his eyes fayled for the health and succoure which hee looked for at the handes of God Will we then haue a right hope and such an one as God alloweth of Let vs then not trust onely when wee are quiet and at rest ne yet be throwne downe by any temptations but when as we shal be in our extreamest troubles that wee know not at all what shal become of vs that we shal see nothing els but death before vs and round about vs here vpon I say let vs alwayes be firme and constant trusting that God will be our sauiour since he hath so promised vs. Loe howe we may make this protestation as Dauid here doeth Nowe it followeth Deale with thy seruant according to thy louing mercies and teache me thy statutes Here it may very wel seeme that Dauid maketh two petitions but yet they tende both to one ende For in the first part of this verse he sheweth how he desireth and trusteth to be heard to wit through the meere mercy of God As if he should haue said O Lorde teach me thy statutes and teach mee them not for that I thinke my selfe worthy of them but bicause thou art pitifull and
This diuersitie of woords vsed heere in this Psalme by Dauid is not superfluous For it sheweth vs that the Lawe of God doth hot onely commaunde vs how wee should liue and after what sorte but doth also certifie vs of the good will of God promiseth vs saluation leadeth vs too Iesus Christe stirreth vs vp too call vpon the name of God giueth vs Ceremonies to confirme vs therein and moreouer that it guideth holdeth vs within our limits And surely there is not one verse in all this Psalme although there are very many wherein there is not mention made of one of these wordes too witte either of the lawe of God or of his Commaundementes either else of his Ordinaunces Statutes or Testimonyes or of his voice Iudgementes or Iustice These wordes are heere so many times repeated as that there is not one verse but that there is one or sometimes twoo of them in it as heereafter wee shall see throughout the whole Psalme And now let vs come to the matter heerin contayned Blessed are they which keepe the Testimonies of the Lorde and which seeke him with their whole heart First Dauid decalareth heere as afore said that wee haue greatly profited in the lawe when as wee shall acknowledge and confesse what affection and loue God beareth vs and how we ought to assure our selues of his good will and fatherly loue And afterward he telleth vs to what end and purpose it is that God graunteth vnto vs such an assurance bicause saith he we should seeke him For this is most sure when as we shall vnderstand God to be such a one as he declareth himselfe vnto vs by his worde it is impossible but that wee shoulde stirre vp our selues and be moued to giue our selues wholy vnto him And to proue that this is true behold the inestimable bountie and goodnes declared vnto vs in our God what man is hee that is so peruerse and voide of sense and reason which wil not be contented to place him self there where he thinketh his whole blessednes and felicitie consisteth and lieth Euen so likewise when as become careles in seeking after the Lorde our God it is a signe and token that we haue vnderstoode nothing of that which he hath shewed vnto vs of his goodnes and mercie and of all his fatherly affection which is witnessed vnto vs in the law and in the holy scriptures But because it shall be no great adoe for a number of men to make a countenance of seeking the Lord Dauid sheweth that wee must not seeke him with our feete and handes with the outward gestures of the bodie alone but with a true and pure affection And therefore he saieth Blessed are they which seeke him with their whole heart As if he should say I would not haue you to doe as the hypocrites do which beare of religion with strōg hand no I meane not so but I would haue your loue to be sound and true As touching that saying With their whole heart it is to declare vnto vs That God cannot away with parting of stakes as we men many times doe For we are well contented to bestowe some part vpon God and would be at free libertie to holde vs with the world and to serue God by halfes But Dauid teacheth vs here to serue him with our whole heart to wit in all integritie and soundnes and not with two faces in one hood He would not haue vs patted in sunder to saye Well I am contented to serue God howbeit I would not that he should require my whole seruice to him selfe but that I might after satisfie and followe my owne lustes and pleasures that I might be at libertie to serue the worlde No not so saith he It must be brought into a true and perfect soundnes and not to deuide man after such a maner True it is that wee shall neuer be able to seeke God with such a perfection but that it may be greatly amēded neither doth the holy scripture meane by this saying With their whole heart ful perfection but only opposeth it selfe against the hypocrisie of a great nūber of men and which would be in vs al were it not that God him self did remedy help it That is we would with good wil serue God by halfes if so be he would let vs alone with the rest to do what we thought good As for example Wee shall haue very many which will not sticke with God to come to the Sermon on a Sunday and to be present at the prayers of the faithfull and to make some shewe of religiō and yet they would haue God to giue them free choise to do what they listed at the rest of the weeke after or if they come to a Sermon oftener then on the Sunday it seemeth to them that they haue done very well that they are throughly discharged of their dueties if they tarrie there but one houre But because they might be set at more libertie they will not sticke to saye that they will bee free from some one vice one will say that he will be no whoremaister Another that he will be no drunkarde Another that he wil be no blasphemer yet euery one of these wil haue his particular vice and thinke that God ought to beare with them seeing that for his honour and to do him pleasure they absteined from some synne and that they obeyed him in some point But the scripture telleth vs that all this is nothing but that euery one ought to examine him selfe throughly and in all pointes and finding in him selfe any thing which is against the wil of God to be vtterly displeased therewith clerely to renounce it and to desire nothing but to be cleansed thereof See nowe this is that perfection whereof Dauid here speaketh Nowe let vs see what is the summe of the second verse to weete that wee should doe nothing els but study in the lawe of God not onely to knowe what is forbidden or commaunded but to be certaine what maner of one GOD is towardes vs and what affection he beareth vs that we might put the trust of our saluation in him and call vpon his holy name And besides there is declared vnto vs that when we haue tasted of the mercies of God that hee hath certified vs of his loue and grace that the same ought to stirre vs vp to seeke him and to cleaue wholy vnto him and to yelde our selues wholly to his seruice and that not in the outward shewe and in hypocrisie but with a pure and sound heart and affection and not by halfes so that there bee founde true soundnes and integritie as before I haue touched Now it followeth Surely they woorke none iniquitie that walke in his waies First Dauid here sheweth in this present verse what the cause is why all men abounde in euill and iniquitie to weete for so much as they will not bee ruled by the Lorde their God See here the spring head of the outrages of
in the Pulpit dayly with this condition too learne when as we teach others And beeing thus I doo not onely speake that I might bee hearde but for mine owne parte I must also bee the Scholer of God and that the word which proceedeth from my mouth might profite my selfe likewise otherwise cursed am I. Let vs then note this by the way that they which are moste perfecte and ready in the Scriptures are arrogaunt fooles except they acknowledge that they had neede too haue God for their Schoolemaister all the dayes of their life and to bee more and more confirmed after the example of Dauid In very deede these things very well deserue to bee spoken of more at large but that I respecte one thing that in handling of this Psalme by parcels it may be imprinted the better in our memory For as I haue sayde in the first Sermon which I made on Sunday last past that it is not without cause that the spirite of God would haue this Psalme to be made according to the Letters of an A.B.C. because euery one should learne it as perfectly as their Pater Noster as wee commonly say Seeing then that our Lorde God would that we shoulde haue this Psalme perfectly and for our owne vse it is also good and necessary that the handling of it be pure and simple and so to follow the plainnesse of the text as that wee might vnderstand as it were worde by worde whatsoeuer is contayned therein It remayneth now that euery of vs vnderstand what hath byn handled without looking after any longer repetition Neuerthelesse I will so endeuour my selfe to be shorte as that God willing the woords which I shal vtter shall not bee very darke especially to those which be attentiue It followeth With my lippes haue I declared all the Iudgementes of thy mouth Dauid sheweth heere the accorde which ought to be betwixt God vs to wit that god hath instructed vs when we haue heard that which hath bin saide vnto vs that euery one should say Amen that there bee a sweete harmony accorde betwixt him vs without iar or contradiction Loe heere in summe that which is ment in this verse Nowe in the meane while we haue to note that Dauid declareth that he contenteth not himselfe alone with following of God and cleauing vnto him but that he laboureth and desireth asmuch as in him lyeth to stirre vpp his neighboures likewise and to bring it so to passe as that God might bee serued with a common accorde throughout the whole worlde He then that will haue a true zeale to honor God will not thinke onely of himselfe but will haue an eye euery where and seeke by all meanes possible that he can too redresse those which are wickedly giuen to stirre vpp those which are colde and negligent to strengthen those which are weake and feeble to entertaine those which are already in a good forwardnesse and to make them more forwarde Loe heere whereunto all the faithfull haue an eye For the Lord our God teacheth vs vpon this condition that euery of vs thinke not onely particularly of himselfe but that wee should also haue a mutuall care one of another and whensoeuer we shall haue this zeale let vs vnderstand that God hath created the whole worlde vppon this condition that we all should be obedient vnto him But we must wel way the order that is heere set downe For Dauid beginneth not with this sentence That with his lippes he hath tolde of all the Iudgementes of the Lordes mouth For he hath sayde before that he hath hid them in his hart The thing which Dauid said to be hid in his hearte he soone after declareth it with his mouth wherin he sheweth that euery of vs ought to beginne with himselfe When wee meane too instruct and teach our neighbours we must not say vnto them Go you before but Come next after me or else harde by me and hauing care all to goe the right way wee should all at-once labour to goe togither to our God to be conioyned vnto him in true fayth And I speake it too this ende because wee shall see many who in this behalfe can very well prattle and babble and would seeme to be the greatest doctors in the world But what of all this Let vs in the meane time looke into their liues and conuersation and wee shall finde in them nothing but infection and stench nothinge else but mocking of God in all they goe about and doe We must therfore followe the order which Dauid here holdeth to witte that the word of God bee hid as a Treasure in the bottome of our heart and afterward when as we shall haue this affection let vs indeuour our selues to draw others also thereto and goe altogither with one accorde to honour our Lorde God and that hee which hath beene better taught then any of his neighboures haue beene let him confesse that hee is so much the more beholden and bound vnto God to doo that which is heere shewed vnto vs by Dauid For although wee are not all Prophetes as hee was yet for all that this was spoken to vs all in general 1. Thessa 5.14 Collo 3.16 Heb. 3.13 Admonish ye one another Saint Paule speaketh it too all the faithfull and to all Christians And that we should also knowe that this belongeth and appertaineth too vs and chiefely as I haue before sayde that they which are moste forwarde shoulde lay foorth the grace which was giuen vnto them for the common building vpp of the Church and instruction of their neighbours It followeth I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonyes as in all manner of riches Heere Dauid declareth that hauing wayned him selfe from his earthly affections wherwithall we are ouer greatly intangled he wholly traueleth to come to God For it is impossible for vs too taste the sweetenesse conteyned in the worde of God to take pleasure in this doctrine of our saluation and to bee altogither giuen therevnto before such time as we haue cut off from vs all our wicked lustes and affections which reigne too too much in our mortall bodyes It is like as if a man woulde haue land to bringe foorth Corne which were altogither full of thornes and weedes Or what is he that would haue a Vine growe vpon stones and rockes wherein is no moysture For what is the state of the nature of man Forsoth it is as barrē land as possibly can be What are al our affectiōs but bushes thornes and weedes which choke and make all the good seede of God nothing worth So then it is not without cause that Dauid heere matcheth riches with the worde of God and this auarice wherwith we are led and inflamed against the desire that hee had too followe God and too walke after his word As if he should haue sayd Alas Lord it is true that I am giuen to the vanities of this world aswel as others are
to wit when as we are conformable to him and to his woorde Let it not now abash vs although wee feele so little taste of God his mercies And why so For what is he that will acknowledge it Wee are so beguiled with these false deceiptes of the worlde that we thinke we may triumphe by them that wee shall bee exceedingly blessed when as wee shall haue all thinges after our owne heartes desire But in thus doing we can contemne God and his grace We must not then be abashed if we be set besides that which apperteineth to our saluation and that God suffereth vs to languishe in wretchednesse and miserie And so let vs learne after the example of Dauid to bee as it were reiected of the worde of God and to bee as it were estraunged from it to craue in good earnest to cause his mercies to retourne vnto vs to wit that he would graunt vs this grace to let vs in such sort vnderstand what neede we haue of his fauour and aide that notwithstanding that we haue declined from his commandements yet that he would graunt vs for all that to feele his mercie although he hath held the same from vs for a season Now it followeth Let the proude be confounded for they haue delt wickedly and falsely with me but I meditate in thy commaundementes Here Dauid setteth downe another reason to confirme him self continually more and more that hee shall obtaine that which he praieth vnto God for to wit bicause the wicked do persecute him whom he calleth the proud And this is the sentence which wee haue already heretofore treated off neither will the time suffer vs to stay any lenger vpon it It shall therefore suffice vs for this time that faith onely is the thing which bringeth vs within the compasse of humilitie when as we know that there is nothing in vs but wickednesse and that wee are thereto tied by the iust iudgementes of God When I say that the faithfull knowe this it pulleth downe their high mindes they are no more arrogant nor presumptious to lifte themselues vp against God and their neighbours Contrariwyse the wicked and enemies of GOD are called proude for the pride which they vse against GOD engendreth also crueltie against their neighbours As many as will humble them selues before God will also bee very gentle too their neighbours but they which haue a fierse and high mynde to stande against God must needes likewise cast their poyson against their neighbours And for this cause Dauid sayeth let the proud O Lord be confounded for they go wickedly about to confound me Whereby wee are admonished that although the wicked vexe and grieue vs neuer so iniuriously and without cause yet we are thereby taught to haue the rather a great deale more trust that God wil haue mercie vpon vs. And why so bicause it is he which graunteth our request and when as we shall make it vnto him it shall not come of our selues but he shal be authour thereof So then when as we shall be grieued and iniuried by malitious and cruell men let vs go boldly vnto God and beseeche him to haue pitie and compassion vpon vs. Nowe he addeth that he neuer ceased to meditate vpon the testimonies of God although he was so afflicted And this is an excellent admonition for vs that when wee are tormented both from heauen and on the earth that God on the one side to the outwarde shewe estraungeth him selfe from vs and we on the other side are so forsaken that wee are troden vnder mens feete besides a thousand other villaines done vnto vs when as I say wee shall be so vexed and grieued We must learne after the example of Dauid to meditate of the testimonies of God and there to seeke our whole comfort for that is the very meane by which God meaneth to plucke vs out of all our anguishes and griefes which might any way trouble vs. That now which foloweth hath beene already handled to wit that men which feare God doe turne vnto him to say that they will keepe him companie And in the ende he setteth downe this conclusion Let my heart bee vpright in thy statutes that I bee not ashamed Now like as in the first verse hee desireth GOD to giue him vnderstanding that hee might learne his Lawe here he desireth that he would graunt him affection Whereby we may see that this proceedeth from vs from our nature to wit to be very poore blynd soule vntill such time as God openeth our eies And thus much for the first point But yet vnderstanding onely shall not serue God must make our heartes pliant vnto his obedience and place vs so with him selfe as that we haue none other desire but to serue him Let vs thē learne to pray vnto him as Dauid here hath done for after he had desired him to giue him vnderstanding of his law he desireth him also to giue him a pure and a sound heart yea and that we should also doe the same in veritie truth not doubting but that when God hath bestowed vpon vs some graces that he will also encrease them more more and haue compassion vpon vs so that we be obedient vnto him in our behalfe and yelde him the homage and authoritie which vnto him belongeth And according vnto this doctrine let vs in all humilitie prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him so to touch vs as that wee might learne after the example of his Prophet how to make and present our requestes vnto him to bereaue vs of all our earthly affections which we feele to be most violent against vs to the ende that our minde bee not withdrawne through them from his righteousnes but that wee submit our selues wholy vnto his holy will desiring nothing els but to haue him to gouerne vs to the end that being fortified by his holy spirite we might perseuere vnto the end to resist those temptations which shal grieue vs to obteine the victory abouesaid and come to the triūphe which is prepared for vs in heauen aboue That he wil not onely graunt vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The eleuenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme CAPH My soule fainteth for thy saluation yet I wayte for thy worde Mine eyes faile for thy promisse saying when wilt thou comfort me For I am like a bottle in the smoke yet do I not forget thy statutes How many are the dayes of thy seruant when wilt thou be auenged of them that persecute me The proude haue digged pittes for mee which are not after thy lawe All thy commandementes are true they persecute me falsely be thou my helpe They had almost made an end vpō me on the earth but I forsooke not thy commaundements Quicken me according to thy louing kindnesse so shall I keepe the testimonies of thy mouth IF we could rightly call to our remembraunce
such time as he deliuereth vs when we haue all this we may then say with Dauid that we haue displaied and layde wide open our life to serue God and this shall be a good and sure profe thereof But if we haue not this constancie a great number may make a wonderfull shewe of godlinesse before the face of the worlde but all that shall proue nothing And so let vs well consider of this place for Dauid spake not this for him selfe but for our common instruction And besides if we will in deede profit our selues by this doctrine let vs consider that if we sometimes see the apparaunt dangers of death so that wee be pressed downe on euery side not to thinke it to be any strange thing And why so Bicause the same came too passe as greatly sometimes to Dauid For he saieth that he was not without continuall trouble My soule saieth he is alwaies in my hand my life is as it were I can not tell where it is put foorth to abide all mischiefe that it seemeth I were at deathes doore euery minute of an houre If Dauid was alwayes thus troubled and yet perseuered in the praysing of God I beseech you ought not we to bee ashamed to be faint harted when as it shal please God to exercise vs onely but now and then Euen so although afflictions oppresse vs yet must we not cease too fight against them attending and crauing the helpe of God And thus much for this And besides when wee are thus assured let vs seeke our comfort where it may hee founde that is in the woorde of God and to be thus constant neuer to forget the lawe of God Let vs thē consider and obserue this doctrine For it is not without cause that Dauid sayeth That although my soule bee in my hande yet haue I not forgotten thy lawe Hee sheweth vs heereby that as wee are weake so we shoulde be soone shaken and in the ende throwne downe when as wee shoulde see our selues laide wyde open to death Wee then hauing this vnderstanding ought to stand vpon our guarde to the ende the diuell might neuer beguile vs vnder the coloure that God had as it were forsaken vs and that we should be as it were in the shadowe of death Moreouer we see what doltishnesse or rather beastlinesse this is amongst the Papistes to take this place for proofe of freewill My soule is in my hand to wit I am able of mine owne nature and of my owne proper strength to discerne betweene good and euill and to do whatsoeuer I thinke best If brute beastes could speake they would speake a little wiselier then thus For to what purpose should Dauid say although O Lorde that my soule is in my hande yet haue I not forgotten thy lawe He should altogether speake cleane against nature But as we haue already declared this is a kinde of speeche much vsed in the scripture to say that the life of a man is in his hande it is as it were in the winde or I know not where Let vs now come vnto the protestation which he addeth The vngodly haue laid a snare for me but yet I swarued not from thy commaundementes This sentence is like vnto the other which we are about to handle For hee sheweth howe his life was in his hande too witte that ouer and besides the afflictions which were directly sent him from the hande of God that the wicked also persecuted him aswel and besides the violences and outrages that were doone vntoo him hee had also secrete ambushes laide for him See then howe diuersly hee is oppressed and yet he neuer shronke from the lawe of God In the ende he addeth and saith Thy testimonies haue I claymed as myne heritage for euer for they are the very ioy of mine hart Nowe heere hee sheweth howe he was able to remaine firme constant without being withdrawne by any temptations but that hee alwaies stood stedfastly in the lawe of God that is bicause hee alwaies chose it for his heritage that is for his chiefe felicitie For this worde heritage in the scripture is taken for the thing that man moste desireth and that which moste properly belongeth vnto him To be shorte it is such a similitude as that is which is spoken of the Treasure as if a man shoulde call it the souereigne good the true and perfect felicitie See then at what ende wee must beginne if in the middest of death we wil abide so constantly as Dauid hath doone too keepe the lawe of god that is I say to choose it for our inheritance And how is that First of al we must vnderstande that al the commodities wherevntoo wee are ouermuch giuen are transitory without certaintie and without propertie For wee may want them euery handewhyle neither can wee enioy any thing be it neuer so iustly giuē but that we may be robbed of it betwixt this day and too morowe What is then the surest felicitie which wee can haue and may enioy for euer it is euen the woorde of God And this is it which wee ought chiefely too desire and wherein wee are especially too reioyce Lo then how wee must vnderstande that which Dauid heere protesteth That hee hath chosen the woorde of God for his heritage Yea and he setteth it downe by and by after that it hath beene the very ioye of his heart For vntill such time as wee haue had this taste in the woorde of God that wee truely ioye in it it is a signe that we neuer yet had any good affection thereto at all Although wee haue knowne that our chiefe felicitie lieth therein yet are wee not able well too keepe our selues in it vntill such time as wee haue conceiued that it is that wherein wee must delight and in none other thing Nowe it is impossible that wee should euer take any delight or pleasure in the lawe of God except we did knowe that he declareth him selfe to vs in it that hee is our father and taketh vs for his children that wee haue a testimonie that our sinnes are forgiuen vs that wee may haue accesse vnto him and hee able to call vpon him in all our necessities If God sayeth onely vnto vs loe what it is that I would haue you to doe I would haue you too take mee for your God to serue me with all your heart if we haue but these two tables to looke into to knowe what wee haue to doe shall the lawe of God delight vs No but contrariwise it shall feare vs. We see then very well when Dauid sayth that hee tooke all his delight and pleasure in the commandementes of God that he had not simply the bare worde of the lawe to say that God commaunded him that which he ought to do but that he also ioyned the promises thereto bicause that God willing his children to come vnto him promiseth to make them feele his goodnesse and fatherly loue which hee vseth towardes those that are his To
bee short he sheweth them that all their felicitie consisteth in his onely mercie He saieth in the ende I haue applied mine heart to fulfill thy statutes always euen vnto the ende Nowe when he sayeth that he enclined his heart to obserue the commaundementes of God he sheweth vs what seruice it is that God requireth that is a voluntary willing seruice See here yet a point which ought well too bee considered off too the ende wee shoulde not thinke that we are euer able to please God when as wee serue him constrainedly as wee see the miserable and wretched faithnesse do which greatly tormēt thē selues And why so For all that they do they doe it cōstrainedly bicause they would the better escape the hande of God but when they come neere vnto him as well as they may it is but as it were enforced and constrained bicause he is their iudge Nowe if we haue such a constāt desire as we terme it that we are enforced to do that which wee are cōmaūded our whole cace is little worth and God will neuer allowe of it And why so bicause he liketh of nothing els but of obedience and woulde haue vs come vnto him with franke and willing mindes See then why Dauid saieth that hee hath inclined his heart to keepe the commaundements of God not that he protesteth that he hath done it of him selfe nor of his own minde but bicause that God hath giuen him both the will and the power to do the same And to proue it to be so wee shall neuer see that Dauid braggeth of him selfe in any one place that he willed any good being so led of his own proper minde Psal 51.5 he will neuer saye that it was his naturall inclination but saieth cleane contrarie I was conceiued in sinne saieth he he reserueth nothing to him self but al that which is naught When then in this behalfe he protesteth that hee had inclined his heart he onely sheweth what the grace of God was in him And for conclusion he addeth That he did it for euer or euen vnto the ende or this is it which we haue touched heretofore to wit we must be like suddaine blasts which passe by and by but wee must bee constant and that when we shall haue once begunne we must pray vnto God that he will continue the same our well doing which hee hath begunne in vs and to holde vs by the hand vntill such time as we haue finished our course After he had sayde for euer he addeth euen vnto the ende It is very true that the saying which hee here vseth importeth sometimes salarie Or rewarde But in this place as in the first verse of the letter HE he vseth the selfe same saying it signifieth but too the ende as if hee shoulde haue saide wee may alter and chaunge our mindes in other thinges but we must follow vnto the death when God calleth vs vnto him beeing assured that in this pursuite wee cannot sayle to come to the true ende without to fayle and erre for euer And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknoweledging our faultes beseeching him that it woulde please him too make vs so throughly too feele them as that wee may in all humilitie bee able too craue pardon of him for them groaning for all the offences which wee haue committed against him And that in the meane while also wee may haue recourse vntoo him beseeching him too remedy all our vices and imperfections and so too confirme our weakenesse as that beeing strengthened by him wee might ouercome all the temptations wherewith Satan can any way assayle vs that beeing more more confirmed in his holy dictrine wee desire nothing els but to submitte our selues vnto it and too bee squared by none other rule but by that which he hath giuen vnto vs through his word That it woulde not please him onely to graunt vnto vs this grace but vnto all people and nations of the world c. The fifteenth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme SAMECH I hare vaine inuentions but thy lawe do I loue Thou art my refuge and my shield and I trust in thy worde Away from me yee wicked for I wil keepe the cōmaundementes of my God Stablish mee according too thy promise that I may liue and let me not be disappointed of my hope Hold thou me vp and I shall be saufe yea and my delight shal be continually in thy statutes Thou hast troden downe all them that depart from thy statutes for their deceipt is vayne Thou hast taken away all the vngodly of the earth like drosse therefore I loue thy testimonies My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy iudgementes WE haue so many lettes and stoppes both from aboue and heere beneath which drawe vs on to doe wickedly or at least wise which cause vs too slacke our seruing of GOD that which soeuer of vs that is minded to doe well must remoue frō him al his wicked euill affections and all the temptations which any waye may come against him See then why Dauid in this place meaning to proteste that hee loued the lawe of God sayeth to the contrarie that hee hated high enterprises or rather wicked and crooked imaginations euill considerations For the worde which is here touched signifieth a bough or braunch and by a similitude taketh it for the euill and wicked imaginations and deuises of men which runne this and that way Now we see what a bottomlesse depth the spirite of man is and how he wreatheth or windeth him selfe in his fantasies This selfe same word signifieth the very height and toppe either of an hie hill house or any other hie thing And therevpon also as by a similitude the imaginatiue cōceipts of men whē as they entend to bring them selues into credit and goe about to aduaunce them selues euen as ambitiō ruleth our nature vntill such time as God hath tamed vs by his holy spirite and humbled and made vs gentle and meek And now that wee may haue the true and naturall meaning of this place let vs see in effect that Dauid protesting that he loued the law of God saieth that hee remoued quite from him whatsoeuer might withdrawe him from it Nowe hee speaketh not this here to the ende to bragge of him selfe but rather that this example shoulde bee for our better instructiō For the spirite of God hath spokē it by his mouth to the ende we might vnderstand and knowe which is the meane whereby we might be wholy giuen to the seruice of God and to take holde of the lawe with such an affection as that our heartes might be as it were euen fast tied thereto For it is impossible I say that wee should euer come or attaine vnto it vntill such time as we haue cleane cut of the things which withdraw and turne vs away both on the one side and the other to wit
whome he so greatly loued as the scripture witnesseth of him Nowe heere we are to note two things The one is that when Dauid desired God to looke vpon his afflictions and to deliuer him out of them hee confesseth that hee was astonyed as if God had turned his backe vpon him It is very true that Dauid considered not of all that was too bee considered neither did he conclude that God would cast off his children in such sorte But yet so farre forth as naturall reason coulde reach see howe he might iudge of his estate And at that pointe also are all the Children of God For on the one side when as they shall looke vppon their owne state and condition they cannot chose but that they must be forced to say what a thing is this Surely if God hath any compassion vpon vs and that he seeth vs is it possible that euer wee should bee thus cruelly handled will not he take some better order for this See then that wee cannot choose but to conceiue these and such like imaginations in our heartes when as wee are greeued and persecuted and looke into our owne present estate yea euen as I haue already sayde we cannot choose euen too feele our selues as it were to be forsaken of GOD. And yet for all this wee muste bee fully perswaded and resolued that GOD beholdeth vs and although it seemeth that hee hath turned his backe vppon vs yet that hee ceaseth not too helpe vs and is carefull for our saluation yea and though wee see nothing yet let vs holde this for a certaine and an vndoubted trueth in oure heartes And therfore so often as we shall be thus troubled to thinke that God hath no lenger care ouer vs but that he hath clerely forsakē vs yet let not this hinder vs from praying after the example of Dauid neither let vs be slacke but euen say O Lord beholde me In the second place we haue to note the reason which Dauid here setteth downe For I do not forget thy lawe If then wee will haue God to heare vs wee must haue his lawe as it were fully settled in our heartes And howe is that Forsooth wee must thinke and study vpon his promises we must know him to bee louing and mercifull to helpe all those that are his and too ayde them in all their necessities and besides this must bee oure sure foundation that his promises are infallible and that he will not suffer his children to goe emptie away when as they shall tende them selues thereto See then how we must meditate vpon the lawe of God that is to say vpon his word For vnder this worde the law there is no doubt but that Dauid comprehended the summe of al the doctrine which God gaue vnto his church Euery of vs then must be exercised in this study and we hauing the lawe thus imprinted in our heartes may bee certaine and sure that God beholdeth vs and will helpe vs in all our afflictions yea although it seemeth and wee may iudge according to our carnall senses that hee hath turned his backe vpon vs or that he hath closed vp his eyes and sleepeth and as a man would saye neuer thinketh more of vs. Now it followeth in the second verse Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy worde Here Dauid expresseth what this his affection is whereof hee hath spoken too wit howe that the wicked vniustly persecuted him as againe hereafter shall more at large bee declared Now wee knowe that the griefes which the children of God doe suffer in this worlde are diuerse and sundrie For sometimes God will lay heauy hande vppon them without any man his touching sometimes also men shall persecute them with vniust actions so that the wicked shall torment and grieue them Dauid then sheweth that the affliction which he endured was of this second kinde to wit that hee had enemies which did vniustly trouble him And see wherefore hee desireth God too pleade his cause and restore him By this wee are admonished according to that which I haue already saide that when we haue liued in a good conscience and haue trauelled euen to doe good vnto euery man so that no man hath any cause iustly to complaine of vs yet although wee are persecuted and troubled wee must not for all that bee ouermuch abashed bicause as great matters as al these were layde vpon Dauid For this is most sure that hee walked so marueilous soundly as that euery man had occasion too loue him And yet notwithstanding hee was not without troubles amongest men And why so Bicause of their vnthankefulnesse Let vs then vnderstande that this vice began not first in these dayes I meane the vnthankefulnesse and iniquitie of men But long time a goe and therefore as much as in vs lyeth let vs seeke after peace but if so be wee shall procure to doe any wrong the worlde will neuer giue ouer hating of vs and procuring of our hurte yea and goe about euen to destroye vs. But as I haue already saide let not that seeme straunge vnto vs seeing it came so to passe in Dauid And thus much for this Nowe in the second place wee are to beseeche God too auenge our cause too comfort vs when we see our selues to be wrongfully dealt withal when as we are oppressed with false and slaunderous reportes that we are euill spoken of without iust desert we must thē desire God to be our warrant and deliuerer and let vs not dout but that he will take our cause into his owne hand shewe him selfe to be more then a protector lawyer For he saieth that he is the aduerse partie for the maintenance and defence of the causes and quarrels of all his when as they shall haue walked sincerely before him selfe before men Loe here a notable and very profitable admonition That is we must cast all our care vpon God when as we are wrongfully accused iniuriously dealt withall troubled and oppressed and beseech God to take the cause into his own hand and to auenge it him selfe Nowe this may serue too make vs patient for what is the cause that men so trouble and torment them selues waxe so fierce and cruell vse reuenge or els growe to be very cowardes when any wrong is done them but bicause that they haue not recourse vnto God put not thē selues vnder his protectiō pray him not to holde his holy hand ouer them and to defend their cause Now if wee knowe this it is most certaine that oure heartes shall incontinent bee a great deale more quiet and let vs not haue such boyling affections as wee haue to be auenged of them which trouble vs but let vs followe the doctrine which is here set downe vnto vs to wit that when we are vniustly entreated let vs pray vnto God that he will auenge our cause And besides also let vs learne to stay our selues of the promise which is made vnto vs thereof for
all the disorder and confusions in the worlde to weete that God is prest and ready to guyde and gouerne vs but what we may not awaye to beare his yoke euery man refuseth it and wil be exempt from it Loe here whereupon ariseth our dissolute and wanton life to weete bicause we will not suffer the authoritie which God hath ouer vs to leade and guide vs as he is alwayes ready to do and as he also sheweth vs by his lawe Let this then be an Item for vs. And it followeth further For Dauid meaneth to confirme the woordes before spoken to weete howe it commeth to passe that wee are blessed that is if wee keepe the testimonies of our GOD and walke in his lawe For sayeth hee they which doe no wickednesse walke in his wayes contrarywyse wee doe nothing but prouoke his heauy wrath and displeasure against vs in committing of synne and iniquitie when as God then standeth against vs becommeth our enemie must not our life be vnhappy and accursed It can not be otherwise chosen Heere then is one proofe of that which before hath beene said to wit that our whole felicitie consisteth in this that God is our instructer and teacher and that we holde our selues too the doctrine which wee receiue from him And what is the reason For loe sayth Dauid they will abstaine from euill dooing When then wee abstaine from dooing of euill wee prouoke not God his heauy wrath against vs and so let vs conclude that herein consisteth our chiefe felicitie Moreouer here is to be noted that as many as walke not in the law of God cannot but runne into mischiefe and destruction yea how soeuer they thinke of their well doing and persuade them selues to liue holily and godly yet hath God tolde them that it is cleane contrary And here this parcell of scripture is worthie the marking for hereby we may see the pryde of vs men in that wee make all the worlde beleeue that all things goe with vs as well as is possible when as we follow our own fantasies being thus arrogant to say whatsoeuer we do it is all well done But behold what God the onely iudge hereof hath certainly set downe which we can no way repeale or call backe neither shal be possible to be retracted as we lust to wit that no man can abstaine from euill doing but such onely which walke after this heauenly doctrine They then which walke after their owne pleasure must needes runne into euerlasting perdition Now then there are two maner of wayes wherein men doe erre For one sort exceede in open and most manifest transgressions and sinnes and although they very well knowe that they are euill and wicked yet take they leaue continually to followe them As a whoremonger can not iustifie his wicked doing no more can a theefe a swearer nor a dronkard And yet it is so with them that they alwaies giue them selues leaue to goe from better to worse Howbeit there is another maner of way of euill doing which is mere d̄agerous and a great deale more to be feared bicause it is more couert and secret to weete when as men will not acknowledge them selues to be worthy of commendation and that they thinke that there is none that can detecte or condemne them hauing a foolish and diuelish opinion which blindeth their eyes These men then as it is the maner of all hypocrites may well iustifie them selues but yet the case so standeth that God condemneth them as here we may see It remaineth now that we vse nothing for the whole rule and order of our life but the law of God alone for without it all our life must needes bee dissolute and there shal be nothing in it but confusion and destruction It followeth next after That God hath commaunded vs too keepe diligently his precepts That is alwayes according to the truth which Dauid holdeth For it is very sure that God is so carefull ouer our saluation that he procureth and furthereth it as much as is possible for vs to desire No we if God be thus touched with vs and beareth vs such a good will and loue let vs vnderstand that when he chargeth vs to keepe his ordinances and preceptes that he thereby signifieth vnto vs that the same is our whole blessedness and felicitie And to prooue it to be so God requireth not our seruice bicause he hath some busines for vs to do For he hath not nor needeth any helpe of his creattres When then we are not able do that which he commaundeth vs we can neither do good nor hurt vnro our creator What is it that moueth him to bee so carefull ouer vs as he is and what is it that pricketh and thrusteth vs foreward to keepe his commandements Surely since neither his profite nor gaine leadeth him to be thus careful doutles he respecteth onely our saluation By this we may conclude that there is none other blessednes which we can enioy but to walke in his lawe as he hath before said But in the meane while we may see how villanous and wicked a thing our vnthankfulnes is for God sheweth not vnto vs onely in a worde what is our duetie to doe but vseth also a familiar gentle doctrine to drawe vs vnto him And afterward he exhorteth vs because he seeth vs to be very cold and vntoward And for the selfsame cause he vseth much diuersitie and pursueth it diligently as we see to the ende wee might pretende no excuse of ignorance when we haue nor performed that which he hath set downe vnto vs by his lawe but that we should be conuinced of malice and that wee might vnderstand and knowe that wee are well worthie of euerlasting cond̄enation And so much the more ought we thoroughly to marke this doctrine where it is declared vnto vs that no excuse shall serue vs whē as euery of vs outrageth so much and followeth his owne lust seeing that God hath preuented vs and that he hath declared vnto vs that the right rule to walke by is to follow his cōmandementes neither that he hath done the same slightly but that hee hath persisted and continued therein as much as was possible for him to do Thirdly that by this meane hee hath shewed vnto vs his great loue towardes vs and what care he hath of our welfare life Dauid thē goeth on forward saith O that my wayes were directed to keepe thy Statutes Here Dauid pricketh him selfe fowarde and sheweth the desire hee hath to come to that blessednes and felicitie whereof hee hath spoken before And we must be sure to obserue this order for it is not enough for vs to vnderstand and knowe wherein our felicitie and blessednes consisteth and the way to come thereunto as God hath appointed vs but we must also enter into our selues For euery man must thinke thus with him selfe What maner of man am I Seeing my God is so louing and mercifull tha the seeketh me that he
that we hold no way although we think al to the contrary But we are to consider why he especially speaketh here of a yong man For we are sure that God hath geuen his law aswel for the great as the smal for the olde as the yong that when we shal begin to be taught it euen frō our youth we must hold continue it to the graue Wherfore then doth Dauid straine this doctrine of the lawe too yong men It is not for that it reacheth not vnto the aged but there are twoo reasons why he so spake We knowe the hoat affection that is in youth and that there is suche an heate in vs as that it seemeth it can no way be kept in And because it is a harde matter too represse the hoat and exceeding boyling affections of yongmen Dauid especially sheweth that the word of God is the best remedy to represse the same As if he should haue saide It is very true that yong men are recheles and do erre yea like vnto wilde beastes which caste no doubtes so hoate and furious as that it is almost impossible to bring them to any good passe or yet to restrayne them For when we thinke to haue surest hold on them then are they farthest off but if they shal be aduised and counselled to be ordered and gouerned by God no doubt of it they wil be greatly daunted And although their passions and affections doe greatly exceed yet shall a man see in them some modestie and a quiet and courteous behauiour The mischiefe then is that yong men will not be subiect to God for if they woulde they should finde a good meane in his word yea and the same very sufficient to remedy all their vices And it tendeth to this end to declare vnto vs what vertue is in the worde of God euen to suppresse the most outragious passions that may possibly be within vs. And thus much for the first point The second reason is that Dauid his meaning is chiefly to shew vnto the yonger sort that they had great neede to be held short for otherwise they woulde exceede more more in all mischief for their nature is the rather more more enclined to euil bicause it hath little aduice and small wisedome His minde therefore is to aduertise them of this necessitie because they should be more careful to bestowe their study vppon the woorde of God And to be brief his meaning is to aduertise the whole worlde in general that we ought betimes to enter into the schoole of God if we wil be taught according to his will We know what Solomon saith in the booke of Ecclesiastes that wee must not tarry vntill we come to old worne yeeres Eccl. 12.2 then to remember God thinke vpon him But that we should beginne so soone as God hath giuen vs wit and discretion and to cōtinue it vnto the ende Loe here a doctrine which ought throughly to be marked of vs for wee see frō whence the springhead of all the excesse and wantonnes which do nowe reigne and haue in al ages reigned in the world commeth bicause that God is not obeyed for if that were so we should haue a bridle to keepe vs in awe and in good order so that we would suffer our selues to be ordred by the doctrine which is conteined in the holy scripture If we thē would humble our selues and be subiect to God as to our Maister all things should be aswell directed as wee could possibly wishe But why do we not so The world forsooth wil not obey God as becōmeth it neither wil it he brought to this reason Behold then the cause why we see all things so confused as they are So it is that we are altogether inexcusable seeing that our God so offreth him selfe vnto vs declareth vnto vs that if we will followe his worde that all things shall go well with vs that our way shal be pure and cleane and that our life shal be true perfectnes it selfe And whē God giueth such a testimonie vnto his law al mouthes must be stopped and we must be cast down hedlong when as we know that we thus rebelled against our God who is alwayes ready truedy to guide vs. And thus much for this Moreouer if our affections be so contrary that our lustes affections be like wilde beastes that we cannot represse thē let vs know that our God will giue power and strength to his word that we may be ioyned with him if so be that wee will direct our selues to that marke And to proue it to bee so he here speaketh especially of the corruptions of youth which as I haue already declared are more excessiue and disordered then they are in the aged But so it is that both great and small might very wel be brought to this passe to suppresse their inordinate affections and lustes if so be they would giue that honour to God which vnto him apperteineth that is if they would follow his word Furthermore wee are here to note the exhortation which we haue already touched to wit that it is Dauid his meaning to manifest vnto vs that wee ought betimes to bee Gods schollers and to suffer him to rule vs and to continue and holde vs in this study all the daies of our life Let vs not then tarry vntill we come to the graues brinke to become wise in this behalfe as wee see these scorners which make them selues mery and outrage in mocking of God saying Well sir wee shall haue leisure to repent time enough For if we may haue but one hearty sighe care away Sithens then this is most sure that it is Satan which eggeth thē thus greeuously to abuse the patiēce of God let vs bew are that we be not so bewitched But let vs follow that which is here set downe to weete that wee may be Gods schollers euen from our youth And aboue all things let vs consider that yong mē haue here a speciall lesson to learne as before hath beene touched For Dauid here declareth vnto them Psal 73.22 that they haue a great deale more neede to bee restrained thē any of the rest It is very true that we are before God alwayes euen as yong childrē Yea I say that the elder sort of greater experience and such as appeare graue and wise to the world are without all dout before the maiestie of God very fooles and idiotes We heare also what Dauid confesseth of him selfe in an other place where he saieth that he was like a calfe and a beast without reason or wisedome And if it went so with him with him I say that was so excellent a Prophet what shall become of vs I say then that the elder sort ought greatly to profite in this schoole of Gods wisedome and yet this is no vaine thing whereunto Dauid here especially exhorteth the yongemen And why so For as I haue already sayde this age is so without any consideration as nothing
But yet haue I chiefely desired thy word haue euen striuen with my self to subdue al the euil affections of my flesh Here we see what doctrin we haue to gather vnto our selues out of this place to wit that if we wil be the good scholers of God and take delight in the way of his testimonyes we must first subdue the lustes of our fleshe not learne to be giuen to worldly things neither yet to bee nousled in that which we imagine to be the highest pointe of our felicity but that we might vnderstand to contēne riches al other things whatsoeuer which might withdrawe vs from our God and our sauiour Iesus Christ Phil. 3.8 to make no more accoūt of it then of doung and dyrt as S. Paule saith And yet it is most sure that Dauid contemneth not the riches which he had For beeing a mightie rich king as we know yet he cast not his Golde siluer into the bottō of the sea but vsed of the abundance store which God had giuen him yea wee see what an excellent and beautiful house he had as the holy history telleth vs. But yet he followed the rule which the Scripture setteth downe vnto vs which is that hee so vsed the goods of this world as though he neuer had them We must therfore passe through this world 1. Cor. 7.31 without staying our selues altogether in it as S. Paul exhorteth that if God giue vs abundāce of riches we might know how to vse thē with out hauing our harts imprisoned in them yet notwithstāding to be pore in spirit to wit to be redy to forsake all whatsoeuer as often as god would haue vs to be rid of thē to haue alwaies one foote redy lifted vp to go vnto him whēsoeuer it shal be his wil pleasure to take vs out of this world But it is not without cause that Dauid hath spoken heere of the abundaunce of riches For wee see it maketh men couetous which is the springhead of all mischiefe as Saint Paule saith 1. Tim. 6 1◠Forasmuch then as we are so much giuen to the goods of this worlde and that we holde our selues accursed if we haue not wherwithall and them to bee blessed which are wel furnished with them let vs keepe well the lesson which is heere taught vs to wit that all our desier must be in the way of the testimonyes of God as in all manner of riches to wit that all our delight and contentation be wholly in them Now in the end Dauid goeth on and sayth I will meditate in thy Commaundementes and consider thy wayes My delight shal be in thy statutes I wil not forget thy words This is the conclusion to confirme the matter which we haue already spoken off For Dauid heere speaketh of no newe matter but protesteth as he hath begun That his delight shal be alwayes in the commandements of God in the doctrine conteined in the holy Scripture and that hee wil bestowe his whole study therin so continue the same and neuer forget the desires which he hath to profite in the obedience of God If Dauid nowe hath thus saide let vs vnderstand that it is not inough for vs to be wel affected to serue God and that for the performing thereof that wee haue already sufficiently traueled but we must also be pricked forwarde that we might alwayes goe on For euen the very faithful neuer runne with so feruent and hote a desire but that they continually draw one leg after them neuer come vnto God but in halting wise What is there then for vs to doe Forsooth wee must protest with Dauid neuer to forget that which God hath once declared vnto vs and also neuer to cease to pricke our selues on to the ende there might be greater vehemencie in vs to goe vnto him with a more seruent desire and boulder courage So that at the last we may growe to this perfection whereunto God calleth allureth vs that is that beeing vncased from out of our flesh and nature hee might fully conioyne vs vnto his righteousnesse that thereby his glory may shine in vs. And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good god acknowledging our innumerable sinnes by which we continually prouoke his heauy wrath and indignation against vs. Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs to feele our sinnes and iniquities more then euer to fore we haue done to the end we might seke for such remedies as he hath ordained for vs in exercising our selues about the reading of his holy word and the dayly Preaching thereof which hath graunted vnto vs. And furthermore not to forget to stir vs vp to call vpon him to the end that by his holy spirite he might to put his helping hande euen in our heartes and not too suffer the doctrine which we heare by the mouth of his Preachers to become vnprofitable vnto vs but that it may haue the full power strength so that we may from day to day be confirmed therein and more and more learne to forsake the worlde and all whatsouer may withdrawe vs from the vnion and coniunction of our Lord and Maister Iesus Christ who is our heade And that hee will not onely shewe vnto vs this fauour and grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The third Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme GIMEL Bee beneficiall vnto thy Seruant that I may liue keepe thy woorde Open mine eies that I may see the wondrous things of thy lawe I am a straunger vpon Earth hide not thy commandements from me My hart breaketh out for the desire vnto thy iudgementes alwaies Thou hast destroyed the proude cursed are they that doo erre from all thy Commaundements Remoue from mee shame and contempte for I haue kept thy Testimonyes Princes also did sitte and speake against mee but thy Seruant did meditate in thy statutes Also thy Testimonyes are my delight and my counsaylers IT shall greatly haue profited vs if so be wee haue learned what the ende of our life is For for that cause hath God placed and bringeth vs vpp in the worlde and yet fewe there are which thinke vpon it True it is that euery man will say that it is good reason wee should doe homage too GOD for our life and beeing because wee holde all of him and that wee should glorifie him with so much of our goods as he hath largely bestowed vpon vs. But what of all this When as wee haue confessed that it is but to shewe our ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse and yet no man maketh any account heereof Loe heere wherefore the holy Ghoste seeing vs so tyed to the worlde putteth vs in minde too what ende wee liue heere As heere Dauid maketh this request to God too obtayne that benefite of his Maiestie That hee mght liue and keepe his woorde As if hee should haue sayde I desire
which I haue seene with mine eyes When I haue seene that thou chastisedst the proude I haue beene by and by humbled thereby so much discipline haue I receiued by it see then nowe why I do beseeche thee that I might be more carefully and diligently instructed in thy law If now it was behooueful for Dauid who was already so well instructed in the law to be thus aided for the drawing of him selfe to God to wit that hee seeth the vnbeleeuers punished and God to laye his hand vpon them I beseeche you tell me had not we neede of such instruction also of a great deale more And so as oftentimes as we shal plainely see God to send his chastisements into the world to punishe sinne we ought greatly to consider thereof and to vnderstande that it commeth not by aduenture or chaunce as we commonly saye And when GOD so striketh the proude and disobedient let vs consider that he meaneth not to punish their persons and bodies onely but to teache vs to haue a greater regarde to our selues that wee might bee humbled to the ende the like fall not vppon vs. For God doeth vs great pleasure when hee punisheth others thereby to teache vs to take heede as also it is great wisedome for a man to beware by the harme of an other according to the olde prouer be And so also meaneth God Let vs then consider of the fauour and grace which he sheweth vnto vs when as he setteth foorth his iudgementes before vs it is to aduertise vs of our faultes to the end we should the better walke in his feare to obey him yea and that he punisheth others for our amendement as I haue already sayd And especially he addeth Cursed are they that erre from thy commaundementes or that goe wrong By this hee farther declareth and expresseth that which wee haue already shewed to witte howe hee hath beene taught to walke according to the will of God by the punishmentes which lighted vpon the proud and disobedieÌ„t And here he maketh this generall conclusion That all they which erre from the commaundemen of God are accursed Whereupon we are to gather first of all that the particular iudgementes of God ought not to serue vs for one deede alone but that we should apply it for a generall instruction all the dayes of our life As how When as we see God punish one persone O wee must not stay our selues vpon such an act to say that God punisheth but one person which deserueth it but wee must conclude and say according to that saying of S. Paul There is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2. 11. Now when he hath punished such a fault we must then say that this fault displeaseth him in as many as do committe it As in an other place he sheweth Sithens that God so grieuously punished the children of Israel for Idolatrie we must conclude that he vtterly abhorreth Idolatrie As greatly also abhorreth he Lechery murmuring disobedient persons and horrible wicked couetousnes And all this saith S. Paul should serue vs for an Image or paterne 1. Cor. 7. ver 7.8.9.10 to the end that when we see the like come to passe we should remember vs of that which is conteined within the holy scripture and applie it wholy to our own vse and profite And thus much as touching the first point which we haue here to note to wit that if God punisheth a man we must gather out of it a generall instruction and conclude that all they which go wrong from the commaudementes of God are accursed Now we haue to touch the second point which is also notable that is we must not tarrie vntill such time as God scourgeth vs but beeing aduertised by that which hee hath shewed vs a farre of wee might preuent the punishmentes and corrections which might light vpon vs in the end And this is it which wee must gather vnto our selues in generall of that which hath beene spoken That all they which erre from the commaundementes of God are accursed Moreouer let vs also in the third place learne that all the happinesse which we imagine when wee are farre from God is nothing but accursed and that in the ende the sentence of our Lord Iesus must be accomplished Luk. 6. â— 25. Cursed are ye which laughe for ye shall weepe and your laughter shall be turned into gnasshing of teeth Let vs then vnderstand that whiles the poore worlde maketh it selfe mery and that it seemeth to be come euen to the full aboundane of the wisâ—hes and desires and that it hath obteined the chiefe felicitie that it is euen then vnder the greatest and chiefest curse And why so For all they which stray from God are accursed bicause that hee is the fountaine of all goodnes and without him there is nothing but all miserie True it is that for a time hee suffereth the infidels and vnbeleeuers to make them selues mery that we might thinke them to be the happiest people in the worlde but what of that It will all returne to their greater confusion It followeth soone after Remooue from me shame and contempte for I haue kept thy testimonies Here Dauid commenceth a newe suice vnto God to wit that he would hold him in his innocencie and puritie And it is not without cause that he so doeth for we see that they which serue God with their whole heart are contemned and despised yea they are most shamefully slaundered For we see euen at this daye that he which walketh simply he shall by and by be called an hypocrite All they which would serue God are thus cried out vpon O these hypocrites O these mortified See here how the puritie simplicitie of the faith full is despised naught set by For the deuil possesseth the contemners of God in such sort as that they vomit out their blasphemies not onely against those whome they purpose to oppose them selues but euen against God him selfe But this mischiefe and corruption is not of a dayes hatching and therefore wee are throughly to consider the saying which Dauid here setteth downe O turne from me rebuke to wit suffer mee not O Lorde to be lightly esteemed of men bicause I haue kept thy testimonies Wee see then that the summe of this verse is this That Dauid desireth GOD to vpholde and mainteine his puritie Now the cause is incontinently added For princes also did sit vnder the shadowe of Iustice and speake against me Nowe this was a great temptation to Dauid that hee was not onely mocked and scorned at the Tauernes and Innes beeing there blasoned by dissolute Iesters and Scoffers and talked of in the streetes and market places but euen in the place of Iustice which ought to bee holy it could not therefore bee chosen but that they also woulde vtterly defame and slaunder him and condemne him to be as it were a most wicked and cursed man When Dauid then did see that he was thus vniustly intreated
say when wee come afresh to pray O Lord thou hast heard mee For as I haue before saide our vnthankfulnesse hindereth vs that we cannot haue any such experience practise too pray vntoo God incessauntly And see also what is the cause of our so colde and faynt prayers for if wee were ready too cal to minde the graces of God O we should be sure and certaine to bee alwaies fenced when as we meant to present our selues before him to say Alas my God this is no noueltie vnto mee neither ought I Lorde to thinke it straunge too present my selfe before thee for thou hast graunted mee free accesse and libertie this is not the first tyme that thou hast doone mee good no I haue felte thy fauour by experience euen from my youth and when as I shal speak e of the number of tymes which thou hast hearde me I shall finde them infinite I may very well then repose and put all my trust in thee hoping that thou wilt continue thy goodnesse towardes me as thou art alwayes ready so to doe Nowe because we are so vnthankfull vnto God as not to acknowledge his benefites as becommeth vs and as to him apperteyneth Loe here why we cannot benefite our selues by this confession in truth to confirme our hope to come vnto him as should be good for vs. Moreouer we are to note that we must not deale with God as with mortall men For if any man hath doone vs a pleasure we may truely say as we commonly do I shal be the more beholding vnto you because you haue already bound mee thereto this shall come in amongst the reste But yet if we shall haue borrowed much of any man wee shall be a shamed that we haue troubled him so often But the case standeth not so betwixt God and vs. And why so For God is neuer weary of well dooing as men are and besides he neuer diminisheth his substaunce when hee dooth vs any good If any man bestoweth his goodes liberally vpon vs hee hath so much the lesse if he giue his woorde for vs hee will say this is all that I can doe for you But God so aboundeth in riches that it is like too a Spring which can neuer be drawne dry the more that is drawn out of it the greater abundance is to be seene So then wee must not be affrayde too come vnto God when as he shall haue bestowed vpon vs store of wealth that we shall be so much bounde vnto him as is possible to be thought but the same ought to make vs the boulder as Dauid heere declareth vnto vs. And of this are many like sayings in the Scripture O Lorde sayth Iacob I was neuer woorthy of the benefites which thou haste bestowed vson me Gen. 32 10. but yet thou haste so bountifully dealte with thy seruaunte as that I must needes call vpon thy name continually See then howe GOD moueth vs to come familyarly vnto him by reason that he sheweth him selfe so liberall and hath his hands wyde open to the ende hee might giue vs whatsoeuer wee stand in neede off And when as bee shall haue continued thus all the dayes of our life wee ought the boldelyer to call vpon him as Dauid him selfe sheweth vs heere by example And now let vs mark his saying I haue declared my wayes and thou heardst mee teach mee thy statutes Dauid heere protesteth that God hath giuen eare vnto his particular matters to wit when as he was perplexed and full of forowe hee then called vpon God Loe what this worde Way in the Hebrue meaneth where it is sayde I haue acknowledged my wayes and thou answearedst me to witte heardst me Heerevpon hee desireth that God woulde teache him his Statutes to witte that hee woulde shewe him the right rule to liue wel Heere we are to note that God yeldeth his consent euen vnto vs and that hee will assist vs in all our seuerall needes We see that our Lorde Iesus hath taught vs too aske our dayly breade which importeth all that concerneth this transitory life Euen so when we haue any thing to doe or too treate off God graunteth vnto vs this priuiledge and licence too come vrito him yea if wee should steppe on but one pace or but remooue our hand we may come vnto God beseeching him to direct and conduct vs. Let vs then marke this inestimable goodnesse which God vseth towards vs when hee seeth well that wee haue shewed vnto him all our wayes to witte all our desires and smallest matters If a man had his brother or deere companion he durst hardly shewe him selfe so familyarly for feare he would be importune vpon him as God giueth vs leaue too come vnto him What bountie is this Nowe when wee see that God maketh himselfe so familyar in our small affayrs so much the snore ought we to beseech him after the example of Dauid that he would conduct vs according to his lawe to witte that hee will graunte vs his grace to liue in such sorte as that wee may followe the rule which hee hath sette downe heere vnto vs. See then howe that by the lesse wee muste come too the greater as by particularityes wee muste come to generalities From the lesse too the greater say I is this That if God giueth vnto vs our dayly breade let vs also craue of him health for our soules If God will so humble him selfe as to aduise vs when we haue any thing to doe amongst men about the earthly affaires of this transitory life let vs also beseech him to doe vs this good as to conduct vs likewise according to his lawe Loe heere how we may come from the lesser to the greater Wee may also discend from particularities to generalities when as we shall say O Lorde thou hast hearde me in such a thing which is a speciall matter now by a more forcible reason I may call vpon thee for a thinge which may serue me all the dayes of my life which is that whē thou hast set me into the way of saluation thou wouldst keepe me therein and that thou neuer forsake me vntill such time as thou hast brought mee vnto that ende and perfection whereunto thou hast called me It followeth Make me to vnderstand the way of thy commaundementes and I will meditate of thy woondrous woorkes Marke heere the thirde reason which Dauid alledgeth to obtaine of God that he might bee taught in his lawe O Lorde saith he make me to vnderstande the way of thy commaundementes and so shall I talke of thy woondrous woorkes As if hee should haue sayd O Lorde if it be thy good pleasure instruct me according to thy will and it shall not serue for my selfe onely but also for my neighbours for I will indeuour my selfe to bring also others vnto thee And thus we ought to vse the graces and giftes of God to wit that they be not as it were buryed in vs but that wee may also profite our neighbours
would gladly resist all temtations But what They compound with the Deuil conspire with him too set them selues against God flatter them selues in all their iniquities and desire wholy to giue themselues to all wickednes Are not heere I beseech you faire and proper petitions which we make with the mouth when as the hart bendeth it selfe altogither to mischiefe and iniquitie Is not this I pray you to mock God what other thing else is it Let vs then learne to say with Dauid O Lord I haue chosen the way of trueth and haue sticken to thy testimonies When he sayth that hee hath chosen the way of trueth hee meaneth that he desined nothing else but to follow that which was right and good as God had shewed it vnto him When he saith that he cleaued to the testimonyes of God he declareth what trueth that is whereof he made mention For men many times imagine vnto them selues certaine fantasie in their heads and think the same to be the best most sure foūdation in the world and that there is no other reason trueth nor wisdome but that which they haue conceiued in their owne braine Let vs now beware of that and assure our selues that trueth selfe is inclosed within the word of God that that is it which we must seeke And not to haue vs thinke that to bee the trueth which wee in our owne fantasies doe iudge too bee good but euen then haue wee chosen the way of trueth when as we shall sticke to the testimonies of God when we shall vnderstand and knowe that it is hee onely which may leade vs straight and that we haue doone this honour unto his woorde to be ruled thereby all the dayes of our life Loe howe we shoulde followe the way of trueth Nowe when Dauid hath made all these protestations hee desireth that hee may bee confounded As if hee shoulde haue sayde My GOD since that it is so that I desire to obey thee suffer me not now to bee confounded that I be not scorned and supposed to bee as a vacabonde and without a guide Loe heere a place which ought dilygently to be marked For I beseech you when we shall bee desirous to cleaue vnto God and his word when wee shall haue preferred the same before all our Iustes and pleasures yea aboue all whatsoeuer shall seeme good and right in our owne eyes if wee shall then I say bee put to confusion and shame what shall become of vs when we shall laye the raine of the bridle in the necke of all our desires and take from God all his authoritie Deserue we not to bee vtterly confounded No doubt we doe So then let vs way the firste parte of this doctrine that wee muste not let our tongues walke against God For he knoweth how to bee right well auenged thereof How many doe we see at this day too become after this manner so beastly as that it is shame to see their brutishnesse and what is the cause They haue cast of the yoke of God they haue not vouchsafed to do him that honor as to bee gouerned by him It is meete then that they be confounded in the open sight of the worlde that they may be pointed at that euen young Children may perceaue their beastlynesse and are very well woorthy so to be serued And so least wee fall into such shame let vs pray with Dauid that it woulde please God to make vs so too stick vnto him and his woord as we neuer be confounded Nowe too conclude with these eight verses aparte Dauid sayth I will runne the way of thy Comaundements when thou shalt inlarge mine hearte When he sayth That when God hath set his hearte at libertie hee will runne it is too shewe vnto vs that when our heartes are inclosed and fast shutte vp that wee are not able so much as too remoue one of our fingers to well dooing vntill such time as GOD gladdeth vs and sheweth vs a mery countenaunce Nowe Dauid in this firste place declareth vnto vs that wee are able to doe nothing except God stirreth vs vpp thereto And although he hath already solicited admonished vs yet that is not all We should cry out and Alas poure out some sighes and grones But because God will be serued with a cheerefull minde and not with an euill will so long as we are fast shut vp we cannot once stirre out of the place to goe on forwarde in the way of saluation And how can we then runne When as he shall haue set our heart at libertie to wit that he shal haue so disposed ordered vs as that we should freely bend our selues sully wholy yeeld our affections vnto him For otherwise we hauing our harts fast shut vp shal alwaies become the bondslaues of sin It is very true hat while we are in this world we neuer run so fast ne yet so perfectly as is required yea wee shall many times go as it were halting where in deede we should make hast But thus it is with vs that whensoeuer he shall gouern vs with his spirit and that we shall be vnder the conduct of our head Captaine Iesus Christ we may say with Dauid that we doe not onely walke in his commaundements but that we also runne in them Yea so that our affection bee not hypocritical and that our zeale be also feruent to addict ourselues vnto our good God since he hath placed vs in the world to this end to obey him and too glorifie his holy name And according to this doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good God in acknowledging our sinnes beseeching him that it would please him to make vs to feele our sinnes and iniquities more and more that it would also please him to make vs so to remember them that we may learne to acknowledge how necessary it is for vs to be more more encreased confirmed in his graces which he bestoweth vpon vs to the end that in allowing esteeming of his benefites as it becommeth vs we may render vnto him our humble and hearty thankes beseeching him also to continue vs in such sort in his holy vocation as that we may be glorified in the latter day in hauing fought a good fight and that we may inioy the prize rewarde of the victorie to triumph in our Lorde Iesus Christe Let vs beseech him that he will not onely giue vs this grace but also all the people and nations of the worlde c. The fifth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme HE. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I wil keepe it vnto the end Giue mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy lawe yea I will keepe it with my whole heart Direct me in the path of thy Commandementes for therein is my delight Encline my hearte vnto thy testimonyes and not to couetousnesse Turne away mine eyes from regarding vanitie and quicken thou me in thy way
beguile his neighbours and craftily inuent how to giue himselfe too all iniquitie Such is the wysedome of this worlde But in the meane whyle let vs note this by the way that these woordes are not spoken without cause too witte that al our wysedome and reason consisteth heerein that wee walke in the feare of God and seeke after his wil yea and too holde vs too it In the second place as Dauid hath already protested that wee are not capable to vnderstande the lawe of God and the contentes thereof if wee bee not taught from aboue that is by the holy ghost hee also addeth that hee can haue no good affection nor desire to giue himselfe thereto vntil such tyme as his heart bee reformed The law of God may seeme to be but a common thing yea we our selues do see that the proude men of this world contemne it as a thing too too common But yet as Dauid hath before said God hath set downe vntoo vs in his lawe wonderful secretes which hee heere repeteth not in vaine that it must needes bee that in receiuing the spirite of God from heauen hee shoulde bee conducted to the ende to followe the commaundementes of God Nowe he namely saith That I will keepe yea that I will keepe it with my whole hart This is no superfluous repetition when he saieth That I wil keepe yea that I wil keepe it with my whole harte For beholde what it is that abuseth a great number of men so that they cannot be reprehended by men that their life is not so dissolute as that they may bee pointed at and bee not brought to rebuke and shame Loe these men bee lyke little Angelles They make themselues belieue that they are more then iust before God they feele themselues guiltie in nothing For this cause then Dauid hauing said that he wil kepe the lawe of God declareth that it is not so common a thing to doo as we take it And why so For saith he he must keepe it with his whole heart When he meaneth to shewe vnto vs what the good keeping of the law of GOD is and such an obseruation as God requireth of vs it is not onely meant that our feete and handes should be seene to bee well ruled and compassed that our sinnes and iniquities should be so apparaunt as that they might be cōdemned in the sight of the world this say I is not all as to vse such an obseruation But wee must saith Dauid keepe the lawe of God with our whole heart When as we shal be neuer so litle affected or desirous thereto it shal be a great deale more worth then all the substance in the worlde But we must beware that we haue not a double heart that our desire be so colde and feeble as to say very well I would gladly that God would bestowe his grace vpon me that I might followe his commaundemēts and thereupon to shewe our selues wearie and slougthfull but we must haue a true sinceritie to walke therein with all fulnes and integritie But I beseeche you what is he that is able to attaine to that perfection It is so farre of that there should be any such vprightnes in vs as that we are not able to thinke once a good thought except God chaūgeth our peruerse nature which before should be repugnāt and contrary vnto his righteousnesse Wherefore in summe Dauid after that he had prayed vnto God that he woulde instruct him to the ende hee might keepe his commaundementes addeth for a more ample confirmation That I may keepe thy commaundementes with my whole heart As if he should haue saide O Lorde I knowe that we men as we are puffed vp with pride and arrogancie doe thinke vs too haue accomplished and fulfilled all the whole lawe when as wee haue set a good countenaunce of the matter and haue made some apparaunce or shewe to the worlde if there were no more in it but this yet shoulde it be enough for mee considering that all our members doe so rage in wickednesse as that it is very harde too holde them in But all this shoulde bee nothing For it shoulde be all but meere hypocrisie and bycause that thou hast respect to the heart all my carnall passions and affections must be pulled down my selfe in such sort renued as that I may be wholy conformed vnto thy righreousnes Alas my God and if I must be brought to that I see it to be an impossible matter And so thou must needes put thy helping hand vnto me that I might be taught by thy holy spirite It followeth in the thirde verse Make me to goe in the waye of thy commaundements for therein is my desire Here we see that which hath beene touched to wit that Dauid prayeth not vnto God that he would beginne to set him in a good way For he was already entred into it hee had already walked in it a good long season And in deede this desire is a very great furtherance vnto vs when as wee may praye vnto God to beseeche him to gouerne vs and we ought to preferre this felicitie or blessednes before all the things in the worlde And herein let vs shewe our selues to haue greatly profited Now Dauid protesteth without hypocrisie that he hath kept the cōmaundements of God Neuerthelesse he beseecheth the Lord to graunt vnto him power to perseuer therein and that hee may come to the perfection thereof Wherein wee see that it is not enough that whē God hath begunne and set vs in a good way that we may euer after doe what soeuer seemeth good in our owne sight We see here to the contrary that when God shall haue taught vs and that we haue beene apt to learne from the beginning neuerthelesse that his grace shoulde be made voide euery minute without hee did continue it And so in the first place when as God shall haue instructed vs to make vs to come to a good vnderstanding and knowledge he must also graunt vnto vs a good affection and desire And hath he giuen vs that It is also meete that he continue the same in vs and make vs desirous to walke in his commaundementes Finally after that he hath giuen vs to will the must also giue vs to perfourme as S. Paul saith that he doe all in all but not to rewarde this good will or any other good preparation which is in vs but to doe it according to his pleasure to wit of his free mercie Moreouer let vs on our behalf consider when as wee would obteine any such grace at Gods handes to witte to leade vs into the way of his pathes that our hearts be there setled as that we be not so accursed as to forsake God and to set light by him to quēche this light which he shal haue put in vs. For otherwise if wee bee alwayes giuen to the vanities of this world as commonly we are and that wee make no accompte of the graces which God shall bestowe vppon
Psalmes as a newe doctrine ne yet as a doctrine separate from the doctrine of the lawe but drew them from it as out of a Fountaine So then it is not without cause that he protesteth heere that the Statutes of God serued him for Psalmes and for songes yea in steade of his Pilgrimages that is to say in a strange Countrie in the middest of Infidels when he was as it were banished from the Church that he could not bee in the Temple to make confession of his faith yet was he not for all this wickedly addicted Nowe heere they which are trauellers are admonished of their duetie For albeit they see a greate many of enormities committed in the worlde neuerthelesse they are stedfastly purposed to holde themselues in the feare of God and to walke in a pure and soūd conscience albeit they are mingled emongst the infidels As behold euen the very Christians which are in the Papacy although they are there prisoners hauing no doctrine preached vnto thē without libertie to serue God publikely and to make confession of their faith as they would yet doe they not exceed and outrage with the rest in these villanyes which reigne amongest them but confirme themselues the best they can to the worde of God take all their delight and pleasure therein and make the lawe of God their song which maketh them to withdrawe themselues from all the vanities and corruptions which they commit so that they keepe them selues within this compasse Moreouer if they which are in a place where the worde of life is not taught and doe so yea euen greate store of offences wherewith they may take occasion too be drawne to wickednesse and to be corrupt with the rest these I say be inexcusable but are commaunded to take their delighte and pleasure in God and in his lawe and too incourage themselues taking the holy songs to exhorte them to well doing what shall become of vs when as wee are in a place where the Bell ringeth too call vs that we might bee admonished by the woorde of God to be instructed too call vpon his name and to make confession of our fayth When GOD then calleth vs vnto his Schoole and openeth his mouth to instruct vs I pray you are not we worthy of most horrible condemnation when as wee shall doe altogither preposterously in that whereof Dauid heere maketh protestation As we shall see very many which can neuer bee mery but when as they shall deafely hearken vnto God if they come to a Sermon it is onely to heare their condemnation For whatsoeuer is sayd vnto them and layde before thē to bring them into the right way they soone forget what hath beene saide Must not these mindes then be violently carried with a merueylous fury Yes without all doubte And therefore let vs keepe in minde the conclusion which Dauid heere maketh That hee remembred the lawe of God vnto the ende As if he had sayd Beholde what is the cause that I beeing a miserable vacabond cast out of the Temple and driuen out of my countrie did yet neuer but stay vpon thee And after that beeing assayled by the Infidels haue perseuered in the consideration of thy lawe and delighted my selfe therein Euen so also must wee doe For if we see many offences and many things which might withdrawe vs from the lawe of God let vs ouercome all that in the vertue and power of the promises which God hath made vs that by them we might be confirmed in his loue and bountie to the ende we fall not into such a confusion as wee see the wicked and vngodly fall and dayly caste themselues And according too this doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God in acknowledging of our offences Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better too feele what taste wee ought too take in his holy promises and to be exercised in them that we might valiantly fighte against those vices which might hinder vs to stay vpon his protection and that by the power of his holy spirit we might ouercome all offences and griefes to the ende that beeing fortifyed by his grace wee might not haue any accesse to Satan whereby hee might winne and get of vs but that we constantly perseuering in the holy vocation of this good God might followe our course vntill such time as he shall take vs out of this worlde to bring vs vnto that heritage which hee hath prepared for vs before the beginning of the worlde and also which Iesus Christe hath purchased for vs with his moste pretious bloode And that hee will not onely graunt vnto vs this grace but also to all people and nations of the earth c. The eight Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme HETH Thou art my portion O Lorde I haue determined to keepe thy lawe I made mine humble petition in thy presence with my whole hearte O be mercifull to mee according too thy woord I haue considered mine owne wayes and turned my feete vnto thy testimonyes I made haste prolonged not the time to keepe thy Commaundementes The handes of the vngodly haue robbed me but I haue not forgotten thy lawe At midnight I will rise too giue thankes vnto thee because of thy righteous Iudgementes I am a companion of all them that feare thee and keepe thy commaundements The Earth O Lord is full of thy mercie O teache mee thy statutes THese eight verses nexte before conteine none other thinge but the protestations which Dauid maketh in giuing himselfe wholly too God sticking vnto his law except two requestes which he maketh in the second verse in the last Now in the first place he saith that his soueraigne good and chiefe felicitie was in that he was resolute to keepe the law of God It is very true that some doe expounde this thus that Dauid calleth God his inheritance But when as the matter shal be well wayed and considered the meaning is this that he setteth his whole felicitie in this that hee is fully determined and resolued as already hath bin touched to followe that which God had shewed and taught him Nowe this worde Portion in the Scripture is taken for inheritaunce and inheritaunce is taken for the chiefest and most desired thing that man hath And so it is as much as if hee had sayde That euery man might deuide it as hee woulde and lusted As wee see the desires of men too bee sundry and diuerse one draweth one way another another And in deede sayth hee euery man wisheth as hee fantasieth but as for my selfe I desire none other blessednesse nor felicitie but to content my selfe with the lawe of God and when I haue this I haue gotten a good and an excellent inheritaunce And nowe we see the summe and effect of this first verse it remaineth that wee gather out thereof such Doctrine as is therein conteined For when wee heare Dauid speake after this manner there is no
voyde As at this day it is in Popery for when they pray vnto God they pray at all aduenture And especially this is one of the poyntes that the Papistes striue most about that wee must not assure our selues when wee pray vnto God that hee heareth vs but remaine in suspence Forsooth but the scripture telleth vs that it is not possible that the man which is thus floating as the waues which are tossed with the winde and tempest shoulde obtaine any thing It telleth vs that when we come vnto God that we must come with faith hope and boldenesse And so then as I haue already touched this is an holy and a commendable presumption that when wee stay our selues vppon the worde of God to set downe in summe that hee will accomplish that which hee hath promised vs For we hold him as one bound vnto vs not that he is any thing in our debte but because that of his meere liberality he stoupeth so lowe as to declare vnto vs that hee woulde that wee should haue this libertie and leaue to present our selues so before him with such boldenesse and assuraunce as already I haue declared And thus much for the second verse In the thirde it followeth I haue considered myne owne wayes and turned my feete vnto thy Testimonyes This protestation is woorth the noting For wee are admonished why it is that men so greatly flatter thē selues in their own follyes and deuices and make thēselues beleue that they will make their Prayers vnto God albeit they rest not vpon him trust not vnto him neither yet followe that which hee hath commaunded them but onely their owne imaginations And that forsooth in such sorte as that they thinke a man should offer them great wrong if hee sayd that all is loste labour which they haue bestowed that they greatly tormented themselues to no purpose except they did knowe that God hearde them It is most true that euery one will say And howe so I beseech you wherefore wil not God think wel of that which I doe since it is my finall intent to to serue him no no God forceth not of all this And what is the cause that men so arrogauntly striue and spurne against God It is because they call not their wayes too remembraunce For it they had this consideration and wisdome to looke narrowly vnto their dooings and to think thus with them selues Howe shall I doe In what case am I I must not goe astray but keepe a sure and certaine way and good meane and to consider how to liue and aboue all I must do thus much as that God be not disappoynted of the soueraintie which he hath ouer his So then when as men looke well to their wayes it is very certaine and sure that they will wholely giue themselues to followe the woorde of God and therein take all their delight And this is it that he sayth on the contrary part that he would turne his feete too the testimonyes of God Wherein he sheweth too all men by his example that they shoulde walke as God hath commaunded them and not too be ruled after their owne head and brayne For see from whence this madnesse cōmeth which possesseth as it were all the whole worlde that euery man will serue God as he thinketh best It is because we turne not our feete vnto his Testimonyes Nowe wee ought so much the more too practize this which is heere declared to witte to looke too our wayes that wee shoulde knowe that seeing that God hath placed vs heere in this worlde that he hath not doone it too that ende that we should doe whatsoeuer our senses would lead vs vnto But our life must be ordered ruled And whence must wee haue this rule Euen from the woorde of God And when as wee shal be so carefull as too order and rule our life there remaineth no more for vs to doe but to followe euen whether our God calleth vs. Loe the testimonyes of God loe his trueth which hee hath declared vnto vs Loe there must we place and set our selues Wee must neuer heereafter make any more question too wander any longer and to discourse and say why shoulde not this bee good and commendable No forsooth not so let not vs followe our owne fantasies neither let vs bee wise in our owne conceits but let vs consider with our selues to heare our God and obey him loe then the effecte of this thirde verse where it is sayde That Dauid looked vnto his wayes and that he turned his feete to the testimonyes of God to witte to the lawe where God hath declared his will Now hee addeth I made haste and prolonged not the time to keepe thy Commaundementes He continueth his purpose but he sheweth that this his affection was not slowe I made haste sayth he yea and that without delay Nowe it is not without cause that Dauid putteth to this for we see howe straightly wee oughte too deale against our owne appetites yea euen they I say who are best affected to serue god do yet com as it were halting trayling either an arme or a leg after them as wee cōmonly say And what is the cause heereof We carry about with vs such a number of corruptions as that the very weight of them maketh vs to goe exceding slowly so that we haue much to doe to go on And we know and haue too too greate experience howe weake our nature is when as wee intende to doe well Let vs then vnderstand and knowe these twoo thinges and we shall neuer thinke it straunge that wee are so slowe and slack to followe God as in deede we are yea euen these two things I say For behold Satan wil neuer cease craftily to go about to imagine whatsoeuer he possibly can to cause vs to drawe backe he will set barres and pitch Hayes before vs hee will lay Bushes Thornes and euill fauoured stumbling blockes whatsoeuer which any way may hinder and let vs that if we meane to march on but onely three paces we shal be violently carryed away to turne on this side and on that not knowing what shall become of vs. Againe wee shal be solicited and moued by our inordinate appetites to drawe vs cleane awry For if we will wholly put our trust in God the Deuil will drawe vs too the contrary and make vs to giue our selues vp too this wordly pelfe and so consequently to all the rest Seeing then that we are drawen and haled with so many Cart ropes yea and are of our selues so feeble to doe good euen burning after wickednesse Alas no maruell though wee be slowe too followe God but yet for all that we must needed fight It is no question but that we flatter our selues when as wee see such slacknesse in our selues and say in deed it is very true such is the state condition of our nature and againe our infirmities are so great as that it is an impossible thing for any man too discharge
himselfe as he ought O deere brethren let vs not build vpon such a foundation but let vs fight against our vices and take and get vnto vs strength and courage against all the stumbling blocks and ambusshes which Satan shall lay against vs that we may breake all the bandes and Cordes wherewith hee holdeth vs bound See I say howe we ought to doe in this case For let vs not thinke but that Dauid was a man passionate as we are and felt in himselfe greate infirmities neither made he protestation of this in vaine when he sayth that he hasted and made no delay to doe the Commaundementes of God And so let vs haste after his example when God speaketh and let vs bowe downe our eares to heare him and lift vp our foote to obey that which he shall say vnto vs. Loe then what Dauid meaneth to declare vnto vs in this place to witte what readynesse ought to be in all the children of God to heare his worde and to receiue it and not to deferre from day to day For wee knowe not what time God will giue vs the grace to offer his woord vnto vs. They which in such sorte delay the time doe make their account that God is greatly bound and beholden too attend vpon them Now we see how he scorneth such our arrogācy when as wee pray vnto him with such tearmes and conditions Wherefore we ought a greate deale the more too force our selues to the ende to attaine to that perfection after the example which is heere set downe vnto vs too runne without delay so often as God shall haue mercy vppon vs. It followeth soone after that Dauid was not giuen too doe wickedly notwithstāding all the wrongs which the wicked had done vnto him and had persecuted him with all the greefes and conflictes which he had sustained Albeit sayth he that the hands of the vngodly haue robbed me yet haue not I forgotten thy law This is not heere put to without a cause For wee shall heerein see very many which are peaceable and moderate inough when as they be not greeued but suffred to runne their owne course But if any trouble ouer take them and that they be molested beholde then are giue to doe wickedly then alter they their determination and purpose and chaunge their coppy So then because men are so easy to be drawne to euill although before they followed the thing that was good see therefore we ought diligently to note this place which Dauid heere addeth For it is as it were to ratifie that which he hath before spoken of the ready nesse to followe the woorde because that that had not beene inough without he had beene so confirmed in it For although the Deuill had so lyen vpon him euen too haue discouraged him yet was he not without hope continually to make his parte good against him And so muste wee also doo in this case When our Lorde then shall sette vs in the way and shall giue vs some good motions let vs beseech him so to confirme vs in the same as that when the Deuill shall goe aboute for too assayle vs wee might repulse and ouer come all the assaultes wherewith hee shall assayle vs and alwayes too continue and remaine in our determination and purpose without chaunge Loe the thinge which is heere declared vnto vs. And we are also to note that there are two temptations which we must resist when as wee shall be greeued and iniuried The first temptation is that when we are iniuried we are by and by mooued too render the like Marke I beeseech you the state and condicion of our nature Nowe since God commaundeth vs to flye that which is naught to doe that which is good euen to loue our enemyes wee had neede tobee very well armed and furnished with these textes of the Scriptures For wee shall neuer bee able to attaine to the ende to ouer come any such temptation nor desire of reuenge excepte God putteth to his helping hande We think it also lawfull to doe euill when we see our selues compassed with nothing else but euill and wickednesse if we looke into the order and gouernment of the world wee shall see one man exceede in lechery another to be an horrible blasphemer one an extortioner vsurer and another a deceitfull bargainer one in this thing another in that very many estranged from God and become neere neighbours to Satan violētly carried to this that Whē as then we are thus incompassed with euil and iniquitie we thinke that we may take leaue to doe wickedly Loe how the children of God may be tempted and how we see a so and infinite number to be as it were dayly deceiued And therefore let vs note that if wee haue at any time beene boldely affected too come vnto God and that hee hath reached foorth his hande for a season to haue vs too come vnto him that yet this is not inough But wee must heereupon indeuour our selues too gather vnto vs newe force and courage to the ende the Deuill might not shake vs when as hee shall rayse vpp against vs troubles and vexations and lay a great number of stoppes and stumbling blocks in our wayes Wee muste therefore bee armed againste him to the ende wee forget not the Lawe of God whatsoeuer come of it And here we are to note this circumstance that Dauid doth not onely saye that he was greued by one man alone ne yet by two or three but he sayeth The congregation of the wicked When he sayeth The whole congregation this is very much if there had beene but a small number it had beene enough But he sayeth The whole congregation signifying that he was assayled on euery side that he was like a sheepe amonge Wolues Lyons Beares and other wilde beastes of rauyne and yet for all that that he always put his trust in the Lorde Now if we shall looke well into our selues how few shall we see which haue not beene ouercome with the least temtation that hath come vnto them there shall neede but one man to oppose him selfe against vs and loe we are by and by carried to do wickedly now we knowe not that this cōmeth from God To be short the least flie which flieth before our eyes as we saye is euen enough to turne vs quite out of the right way And surely we may be greatly ashamed so suddainly to change our copie where before wee made great showe of following of God and by and by to goe cleane against the haire And we thinke this may be a most lawefull excuse when as we can handle the matter thus to say that we were carried to doe wickedly through some tētation It is so farre of that this excuse should goe for payement as that it is neither worth ware nor money But wee must seye with Dauid yea and that truely as he hath done That whensoeuer the whole congregation of the wicked shall assaile vs let vs not
can be able to submit our selues to God in such humilitie as for to knowe say that he is onely wise But yet they which knowe this think not his chatisements too be gentle and gratious but are impacient and conceiue some griefe that maketh them too grinde their teeth Nowe Dauid ioyned these twoo togither to wit that he did not onely make much of the word of God but also of the punishment which he sente him as if hee had saide O Lord I do not only suffer my self to be taught by thy word but to bee chastised also with thy hand and I beseech thee to scourge and beate mee with thy rodes so often as thou seest mee too doe amisse and too cause mee too amende shewing thy selfe a moste louing and pittifull Father towardes mee Wee haue heere nowe a very good admonition to wit that first we must learne to be ruled after the will of God to receiue his woorde without contradiction that wee reply not according as it pleaseth our owne wittes and affections neither too make any noyse when wee heare God speake But let him haue such authoritie ouer vs to make vs so silent as that wee may knowe that whatsoeuer hee sayth vnto vs is iuste and true And thus too doe let vs learne not to be so sleepy and sluggish as wee are by nature in our vices and sinnes and specially in this vice of ambition hauing alwayes a gready desire to be aduaunced Let vs rather knowe that God is the Mayster of the humble and lowely and let vs therfore humble our selues not looke so bigge and bee so foolish hautie which doth nothing else but cast vs hedlong into destruction when as wee aduaunce our selues higher then becommeth vs. Let vs rather be aduised to bridle all our Lustes and that which holdeth vs as it were captiues as Saint Paul sayth For what is the cause that so many people at this day doe set them selues against the Gospell It is not because they know not this doctrine too be good and that they iudge not so of it But yet are they not therein thorowly perswaded too say Loe howe we must liue Euery man will doe whatsoeuer himself thinketh to be good We must then needes confesse that the iudgements of God are right that wee learne to holde all our passions in bondage that we suffer our selues to be condemned by him and to be rebuked for all our vices and imperfections as becommeth vs. Now can we doe this to wit are we become subiect obedient to the word of God We must also submit our selues vnder his hand to strike vs when it shall please him and liuely to vnderstande that wee haue doone amisse confessing that he hath iustly chastised vs or as heere it is sayde of very faithfulnesse This is the summe and effect that he is iust in punishing of vs as he is wise in teaching of vs the one hāgeth on the other that is to say the second hangeth vpon the first For whosoeuer shal come to this humilitie that Dauid speaketh off to knowe that in the worde of God there is but one holy doctrine one infallible truth one so perfect equitie as can be no perfecter hee that shall haue knowne this shall by little and little haue wherewith too bee fortified too receiue the corrections with a meke spirite and not to bee grieued and to kicke against the pricke as wee are wonted to doe Let vs nowe then suffer God to rebuke vs yea and to correct vs seeing hee doeth all this for our profit and health And this is the summe and effect of this verse It followeth next after I praye thee that thy mercie may comfort me according vnto thy promise vnto thy seruant Here Dauid maketh and more generall request then that which before we haue seene Hee desireth God to instruct him and now he addeth O let thy mercifull kindnes bee my comfort As if he had said O Lord I haue besought thee for a speciall and particular thing but I adde nowe that thou wilt be mercifull vnto me in all and through all that thy mercie bee extended vpon me that I faile in nothing Thou knowest what is necessarie and profitable for me O Lord let mee feele thee to bee gratious and pitifull all maner of wayes Loe what difference there is betweene the first request which we haue already seene and this second Now this is a point worth the noting For as wee haue before said see the first which we ought to haue in a singular recommendation and that is that wee may bee taught by God and not to be taught onely by wordes but that hee will also lighten vs with his holy spirite to make vs knowe that it is his worde which guideth vs. See here I say the very right way to saluation Nowe haue wee made this request we may craue of God that hee will not let vs fall in anything whatsoeuer that his mercy may comfort vs. But yet here we se how that Dauid was not comforted nor yet reioyced but onely in God knowing that all the ioye that we haue here bilowe shal be accursed when as wee haue no regarde vnto our Creator And yet for all this se how commonly wee are wonted to reioyce and comfort our selues that is euen to forget God to turne our backs vpō him Now accursed be such ioy for the issue thereof can be none other but as our Lord Christ Iesus sayeth That it shall bee turned into weeping and gnasshing of teeth Howbeit the worlde is waxen dronke for whatsoeuer is saide vnto it it maketh no reckoning thereof but vtterly refuseth al good sound doctrine In deede this is true that this same was not written in vaine but that we shal be so much the more inexcusable when as we shall haue the example of Dauid except we folowe it See then for this first point that after Dauid had compassed the whole worlde both aboue and beneath he founde no rest to comfort his spirite and soule but at such time as he made his repaire vnto God And there I say he found wherwith to reioyce and comfort him selfe finding nothing els but vnquietnesse in all liuing creatures Now he soone after setteth downe how we ought to reioyce and to be comforted in God to wit through his mercie for if God shoulde deale with vs according to our desertes we should haue no cause wherefore to reioyce but rather be confounded with very horrour and feare When as God shal declare him self to be our iudge alas which way shall wee be able to turne vs Must wee not needes bee cast headlong into the deepe pit If it be said that wee must appeare before the maiestie of our God what shall become of vs which sucke vp iniquitie euen as the fishe sucketh in water as it is written in the booke of Iob Wherefore let vs know that if we will rightly reioyce and finde sure rest in our consciences wee must betake our selues to
this free mercie of our God that he declareth him selfe pitifull vnto vs in that he seeth vs to be miserable wretched creatures and to put foorth our hand vnto him to receiue his mercie Nowe Dauid in the ende sheweth whereuppon he buildeth him selfe in making such a request According vnto thy worde made vnto thy seruant Loe whereupon we must builde and settle our selues when as we will come vnto God to be heard of him to wit vpon his meere mercie as we haue here aboue said But are wee already come thus farrefurth And if wee be yet is there an other point farther required to wit wee must assure our selues that the graces of God shall adorne and garnishe vs so we seeke them according to his word And to proue it to be so marke I beseeche you for it were marueilous great presumption in vs to come vnto God without we had his promises for it and to desire of him any thing and say O Lord I haue neede of this and that Go to now here is already some occasion which causeth vs to come vnto God And againe O Lord thou art good and gracious loe this is an other thing also which augmenteth our courage and boldnes But bicause we are so farre from God that we are not able to come nere his maiestie without he come down vnto vs we must then before wee can haue any accesse to make our prayers vnto him lay this foundation which is here set before vs that is to say the word of God when as thereby God witnesseth vnto vs that his mercie is alwayes readie that he there laieth it before vs and offereth the same there vnto vs. There remaineth now nothing els but that wee receiue it by faith and that there wee declare our faith through our calling vpon him So then we see the order which Dauid here setteth downe that is that hee bringeth vs to God to the ende we might take our whole contentation repose and reioysing in his meere goodnesse And since that he hath receiued vs through his mercie let vs beseeche him that he would looke vnto vs with his eyes of pitie For the third point he sheweth vs how we ought to make such our petitions that is bicause God hath bounde him selfe vnto vs of his own good will and hath witnessed vnto vs that he wil be neare vs. When then we shal come vnto him in this sort let vs not doubt but that he wil heare vs graunt whatsoeuer we shall desire according to his will And namely he sayeth thy woorde made vnto thy seruant to th ende he would declare to euery of vs that euery man should apply the promises of God particularly vnto him selfe And not to vse the maner of the Papistes to saye It is very true that God hath promised this and that but we know not whether the same belongeth vnto vs or not And these are no fooles which say thus but this is the doctrine which they teache in all their Satanicall and deuelish Schooles and Synagogues Loe here the very doctrine of popish doctors that the promise of God are vncertaine that we must receiue thē as things hanging in the ayre not to take them generally to say I doubt not but that GOD speaketh the same vnto me But contrariwise we must conclude as Dauid here doth and O Lord let it be done vnto thy seruant according to thy word He saith not according to thy word I knowe not to whom nor vnto such mē of which number I am not so that I can not builde vppon it but he saith according to thy promise O Lord made vnto me Let vs then learne by his example that when we desire the Lord God to assiste vs to charge him with his promises yea let vs apply them vnto our selues and beleeue that they are also spoken to euery of vs in particular and generally vnto all I meane vnto all the faithfull When as the Lord our God saieth I receiue all sinners to mercy let euery one saye O Lorde I am one of those miserable and wretched creatures and therefore I come vnto thee charging thee with thy promise made vnto me Loe howe wee must behaue our selues herein for els we shall but wander in the holy scripture all the daies of our life It followeth immediatly after Let thy tender mercies come vnto me that I may liue for thy lawe is my delight In this verse we may very well see that Dauid was as it were estranged from the mercie of God Now this is a very notable point to be considered off for what is the cause of our distrust yea euen to close vp the gate against God for that we would not come vnto him but onely bicause wee thinke that God hath estraunged him selfe from vs and that we should be thereby confounded It is very true that he will sometimes cause vs to feele them as if he had cleane turned him selfe away from vs and all bicause we first forsooke him but yet we must notwithstanding returne vnto him and not be discouraged but followe the example of Dauid that although the mercies of God to the outwarde apparance and in our iudgement bee farre from vs and in such sort as that we may well perceiue it yet must we neuer cease to say O Lord let thy louing mercies come vnto me surely to the outrward shew so farre as I can iudge they are farre of me but yet O Lorde I knowe that thou wilt in the ende make me to attaine vnto them yea and although thou manifestly shewest me them not yet notwithstanding I will wayte and surely looke for them with an assured faith and hope Moreouer when he sayeth that I may liue that is to signifie vnto vs the same which I haue already said to wit that although his wit and spirite stayed it selfe vpon creatures yet that he was but as a dead man whiles he thought God not to be neare him hee supposed him self to be but as a forlorne man And in deede although we had all the world on our side and had GOD against vs and were sure that he neither loued nor fauoured vs all the rest would turne but to our ruyne and destruction And if wee esteeme not thus of him must it not needes be but that we must bee bewitched by Satan and caried violently away when we shall content vs onely with these worldly things and neuer haue regard vnto the spring head and fountaine of all goodnesse to wit the bounty of God But in the meane while let vs note this that although we bee dead for a time after the example of Dauid yet shall wee be quickened so that we come to God beseeching him not to holde backe his mercies farre from vs. Now he saieth in the ende For thy lawe is my delight By this we are admonished what it is that we must craue at the handes of God in good earnest forsooth that his mercies may remaine with vs
not after thy lawe Here Dauid pursuing his purpose maketh mētion of the griefes which he endured that is the wicked and vngodly persecuted him wrongfull and that hee beeing retired to God as to his saulfegarde found no succour of him at the first dash but that God held him at a bay as a forlorne mā Now herevpon hee rightly sheweth that his faith was not clerely quenched ne yet lessened but that he stil continued in prayer And in the ende concludeth that he will yet better remember the word of God when as he shall bee so restored by him and raised vp againe as it were from death Let vs then note that Dauid here setteth downe a certaine maner and order to shewe vs that when God to the outward shewe shall seeme to estraunge him selfe yet we must take hede that the same keepe vs not from hauing recourse vnto him Now it may very wel seeme that God sometimes thinketh not of vs but specially when hee shall suffer the wicked to runne whether they lift and let them doe whatsoeuer they desire Now this is a terrible temptation And why For on the one side we looke that if God tooke vs for his children loued vs as he testifieth should he not by and by haue compassion of our miseries should he not put forth his hande to helpe vs When then he suffereth vs to be thus vniustly troden vnder foote it is a signe that hee hath forsaken vs and that he hath no care of vs nor of our health Loe heere a very hard and greeuous temptation And the second is that it should seeme that God doth not his office How is that Beholde how the vngodly fall out with him so that it seemeth they would giue him open defiaunce For is not this to make warre against him when as they giue them selues licence to doe wickedly that whatsoeuer can besayd vnto them they can neuer bee brought too goodnesse And yet God maketh semblaunce as though he had no care of their wicked dealing These we see are two maruelous daungerous temptations And this is the cause namely why Dauid hath heere recited his persecutions which he abode at the handes of the wicked Now it is so that he beeing in such conflictes hauing to fight against these two temptations which I haue noted sheweth right wel that he remained stil conqueror And see why he sayth How many are the dayes of thy seruant when wilt thou be auenged of thē that persecute me Dauid signifieth that he made not this request vntill such time as hee was driuen too this extremitie that he was no longer able to abide it As if he should haue sayde Alas my good God wilte thou helpe me after I am deade For thou seest that I haue already abidden so much as it is not possible to indure more thou seest me euen at the graues brinke It is now time or else neuer to helpe But yet I perceiue no succour comming from thee And what is the cause When wilte thou doe it It cannot bee chosen but that Dauid had as it were an intollerable affliction when he called vpon God in this manner Wherefore we are so much the rather to meditate on this place For although God suffereth vs to be afflicted but for a little while yet the same lasteth so with vs as that we beeing vexed euen to the vttermoste will say I knowe not where I am nor what to doe heerein What is the cause why God deferreth his ayde so long For in steade too call vpon him it is out of doubt rather that we murmure yea and moyte as it were secretly against him Nowe the right remedy to ouercome these temptations not so to murmur against God in our afflictions is this to call vpon him with full assuraunce beseeching him to graunt vs his grace that notwithstanding al the afflictions which he layeth vpon vs yet that he leaue vs not for all that too hope after that which hee hath promised vs. And this is it which Dauid declareth yet more fully when after he had sayde that the vngodly had gone aboute to digge pittes for him which is not after his lawe hee addeth and sayth All thy Commaundements are true they persecute me falsely be thou my helpe Heere he expresseth what the iniuryes outrages were which they had done him They haue saith he digged pittes for mee yea and he protesteth that they did it vniustly that he neuer gaue the wicked occasion to hurt him but that he had walked in a good and pure conscience Yet saith hee They haue gone about to circumuent and compasse mee rounde about Wee see then that Dauid had no small assaultes but such as were euen deadly that it was without all question that he must be vtterly confoūded yea although he neuer hurt any of them that it might be sayd that he had iniuriously persecuted them yet had he alwayes his recourse vnto God So then we may now bee better confirmed in the doctrine which we haue heeretofore handled to wit that to whatsoeuer extremititie we are driuen vnto in our afflictions we shall bring them to a very good end when as we being fenced with the power of the spirit of God do looke vnto his promisses Now let vs see why he addeth and sayth Thy Commaundementes are true they persecute me falsely O help me Dauid setteth downe heere three poyntes The one is that God is true after he addeth a protestation of his good conduct and guydance and of the malice of his aduersaryes Thirdly he calleth vppon God in his afflictions Now as concerning the first hee sheweth vs that although Satan to shake vs and in the ende vtterly too carry vs away subtilly and cunningly goeth about to deceiue vs we must to the contrary learne how to knowe his ambushes and to keepe vs from out of them So often then as wee are greeued with aduersitie and affliction where must we beginne See Satan howe he pitcheth his nettes and layeth his ambushes to induce and perswade vs to come into them what sayth he doost thou not see thy selfe forsaken of thy God where are the promises wherevnto thou diddest trust Now heere thou seest thy self to be a wretched forlorne creature So then thou right well seest that God hath deceiued thee and that the promises wherevnto thou trustedst appertaine nothing at all vnto thee See heere the subtlety of Satan What is nowe to be doone We are to conclude with Dauid and saye yet God is true and faithfull Let vs I say keepe in minde the trueth of God as a sheelde too beate back whatsoeuer Satan is able to lay vnto our charge when as he shall goe about to cause vs to deny our Fayth when as also he shall lye about vs too make vs beleeue that God thinketh no more of vs or else that it is in vaine for vs too trust vnto his promises But let vs knowe cleane contrary that it is very plaine and sounde trueth which
nothing to be found in their life and conuersation of the thing whereof they babble Hee then was exercised in the word of God and that not onely for his owne particular vse but to th ende also to instruct his neighbours and to communicate to them the matter which he had heard and learned Now we see the summe and effect of this first verse He protesteth that he hath loued the word of God that not after a common manner but with a vehement zeale in such sort as that it hath beene his whole purpose and drift as when we haue liking of any one thing we cannot holde from talking thereof continually to be thinking of it As we shall see a miserable couetous man neuer but hunting after his wealth occupied about his lands possessions marchandise cattle must make prouisiō for this and that In like sort also is it with the whoremonger and the glutton and accordingly as euery mans desire leadeth him so must the tongue speake euery one apply him self wholy to that Se wherefore Dauid addeth that he was continually exercised in the word of God meaning thereby to shew howe greatly he hath loued it as he hath in deede said And nowe we see what thexample is which is here set down before vs for Dauid speaketh not this for himself but telleth vs what we ought to be if we will haue God to instruct vs and too haue him to make vs partakers of his truth wherein consisteth our whole felicitie and welfare for if wee wax colde make no accōpt of the word of God we are not worthy that he should giue vs the least taste thereof And for this cause we must not marueile much though so small a number at this daye haue profited in the scripture Although euery man desireth to be praised and esteemed amongest men to bee very able and sufficient yet for all that wee see what ignoraunce is in the greater number And therefore it is good reason that God should shut the gate vpon vs so that we might not haue so much as the least entraunce into his woorde And why so For where is the loue and desire that Dauid here maketh mention of Nowe when we shall know such a vice to be within vs we ought by and by to seeke to amende it and beseeche God to put this coldnesse from out of our heartes and that it would please him to enflame vs in such sort as that wee might learne to preferre his worde before all our fleshly desires that we be no more so much giuen to all these vayne follies of the world but that we may looke vnto the principal thing Let vs now come to that which followeth He sayeth Thou through thy commaundementes hast made mee wiser then mine enemies teachers and auncientes He setteth down here three sortes of people with whom he compareth him selfe and saith that God hath bestowed this grace vpon him to surpasse them all Now here Dauid sheweth vnto vs what profit shall redounde vnto vs when as we shal reade the word of God after his example to wit that we shall get thereby such wisedome as shall defende vs from our enemies to be better learned then our teachers and those which otherwise should haue byn in stead of our instructours To be short that all the men of the world shal not haue that which wee shall finde there and that all the wisedome which is in al the creatures of God deserueth not to bee egall and comparable too it Loe here in effect that which he meaneth Now we ought alwaies to cal to minde that which we haue already touched When as Dauid here setteth downe him selfe in the first ranke and sayeth that hee hath surpassed his enemies teachers and those which were the moste wyse and of greatest vnderstanding that this is not too attribute anye thing vntoo him selfe and to his owne persone but to the ende that God might be glorified in him and that we might knowe what profit shall redound vnto vs by the word of God when as we shal giue our selues vnto it We see then that Dauid had no regarde to him self but meaneth rather to giue vs occasion to glorifie God And besides his purpose is to stirre vs vp to the loue as we haue already touched which hee had to the word of God knowing the same to be so profitable for vs. For what is the cause that wee are so very negligent as in deede wee are in giuing our selues to the study of the holy scripture that we thinke it to be euen labour and time lost if we onely spend but one houre of the day therein What is the cause of such contempt Verely bicause we know not the profit that might come vnto vs thereby for if we were thus persuaded that all our wisedome is and consisteth in the worde of GOD and that without it we are like vnto miserable beastes so that Satan hath caught and holdeth vs fast bound in his grinnes and snares and that we cannot erre in all the whole course of our life if we know this and againe that it is sufficient that God hath taught vs and so haue thereby such a cleare light as that will neuer faile vs that we be fenced against all the ambushes of Satan and against all the villanies and deceiptes of the world if then we were thus throughly persuaded that the worde of God were sufficient against all this it is most certaine that wee should be a great deale more in loue without all comparison with the studie thereof then now we are And therefore let vs well recorde this lesson which is here set downe vnto vs by Dauid to wit that in the first place wee shall be wyser then all our enemies if that wee haue the woorde of God alwayes remayning with vs. Nowe when he sayeth that hee was made wyser and had more vnderstanding then his enemies hee meaneth that hee had so excellēt a knowledge as that God would not suffer him to fall into the ambushes priuie engines which the vngodly had layde for him suddenly to bee entrapped caught by their subtill traines and pollicies Loe already a wonderfull profit which we receiue by the worde of God that although wee be encompassed with the wicked which seeke nothing but our destruction when as wee doe thinke that we should perishe euery minute of an houre yet that we shall bee guarded from all whatsoeuer that they may any way attempt and priuily laye in wayte against vs so that we be instructed in the worde of God Lo say I an inestimable treasure but we must cōsider who they be that are our enemies For we haue not onely to do with men which seeke our hurt dishonour or that which might grieue vs as touching this present life but wee haue Satan and all his fauourers and mainteiners which are deadly enemies too our soules who seeke nothing els but our destruction yea not onely as concerning the worlde
that in the firste place none of vs all shoulde bee proude of our good wittes ne yet of our other excellent aydes nor too be hautie in that wee haue greatly profited at Schole haue vnderstood all the liberal sciences and to be men of greate experience When then a man shall be the moste perfect in science and knowledge that it is posibly to be imagined yet ought we to learne to humble our selues and to cast all our pride cleane vnder fote that the worldly knowledge which God hath giuen vnto vs to serue him bee subiect vnto his worde Shall we finde a man that shall be moste eloquent most cunning and most excelling in euery condition all others That man I say ought to doe homage vnto God for that which he hath receiued frō him knowing that no worldly science or knowledge ought to shadowe or darken him who farre surpasseth the same because the Heauens are farre aboue the earth In very deede both two proceed from the meere goodnesse of God But to this point must it be brought That whatsoeuer he be that shall attayne to the true and heauenly light must say I am nothing O Lord For all that which thou hast giuen me commeth also from thee receiue thou then the same as the most speciall thinge aboue the rest And since thou haste shewed mee that grace and fauour to be instructed by thy worde worke so in mee I beseech thee that all the rest yeelde such honor and homage as appertained to this wonderful knowledge which I haue learned in thy schoole See then what it is that Dauid meaneth to learne vs by his example And besides when he sayth That he is become wiser then his auncients It is to shewe vs that wee ought too haue such a certaintie of our fayth as that when there shall bee layde before vs what soeuer shall bee alleadged of this worlde that it be sayde And what I beseech you muste not the auncient men bee wise They lyued thus in the olde time There are a great number of persons And wee see a great many to be of the contrary opinion to this If then they shall alleadge vnto vs men for their age for their long experience and all their study and whatsoeuer else that may bee sayde What of all this All that can bee sayd is nothing in respect of this word of God So then wee see howe Dauid after he hath taught vs the way vnto humilitie to the end we should present before God all the knowledge that is in vs he sheweth againe that the word of God ought to be of that authoritie with vs as that wee shoulde not feare too walke the way which hee hath taught vs although we see all the rest of the world to go cleane cotrary Whē as we shal heare that that may be said And what I pray you Is it possible that they which are helde and accounted to be so wise should erre like poore and miserable beastes yea and that the same hath continued so many yeeres wil any man say that it hath no reason for it in all the whole worlde Is it possible that this may be so we ought not to trouble our selues for all these speeches And why so I answere hath god spoken the word Then I say let mans reason wit stay there let it humble make it selfe nothing worth and let vs confesse with Dauid that there is one onely word of God which ought to beare rule ouer all that this woorde hath such an excellent wisedom in it selfe as that it shall consume all the knoweledge and wisedome whatsoeuer that men thinke they haue Nowe like as the faythfull ought to scorne that which men on their behalfe shall alledge to the ende too diuert them from the obedience of God and the certaintie which they haue in his woord so also let vs learne that the olde men ought not too bee opinatiue against God vnder this shadowe that they haue seene much that they haue seene many thinges euen before their eyes as many of them there are which in this poynte vnder the shadowe of their age would goe beyonde God and remaine in their opinion stiffe and obstinate saying What I beseech you I haue lyued thus longe and thus many yeeres and would you haue mee nowe too chaunge my condition and manner of dealing It is for wilde headed young Gallants so to doe which knowe not what it meaneth But since I haue liued thus long bee it as be may I will ende my life so See then howe aged men will go beyond God But in this place Dauid sheweth vnto vs that when as we shall be young as hee hath before treated that although we haue hot boyling affections that our wittes are troubled with many hard matters that wee be without all consideration yet if we be ruled by the word God no dout it wil make vs peaceable quiet cause our life to be rightly gouerned And thus much forthe younger sort As touching the ageder it is folish arrogancy in thē to build vpon that which they haue seene and passed through their hands but let them know that true wisdome which is to be ordered by God is common to all that therefore they ought to apply and giue them selues therto in all ages And for this cause it is that S. Iohn in his Canouical Epistle 1. Iohn 2.12.13.14 after that hee hath made a generall exhortation vntoo all men sayeth I speake vnto you fathers to the ende you shoulde haue regard vnto him who is the Father of all the world I speake vnto you yong men to the end you should cal vppon your heauenly father And you olde men I sende you againe vnto him which is from the beginning To beshorte Dauid sheweth vnto vs by this place that the faithfull haue wherein too reioyce when as they are taught in the worde of God that they haue whereon too stay and assure them selues knowing that they shall neuer want any thing that they ought not to be drawen neither this way nor that way because they follow him of whome they helde the doctrine So then they beeing settled heerevpon may be able too make their parte good without any great a doe and when they shall see euery man goe aboute to withdrawe them let them pray vnto God that hee will giue them the grace to holde them selues simply vnto him Loe heere Dauid his meaning Nowe hee addeth soone after I haue refrayned my feete from euery euil way that I might keepe thy woorde Heere Dauid teacheth vs that they which are desirous to serue God and to stick to his worde are neuer without afflictions But what is then to be doone We must be of a good courage to withstand all the temptations which Satan can any way assayle vs with to withdraw turne vs frō that which is good I haue sayth he refrayned my feete from euery euill way And had Dauid neede of this hee that was an
that which is euill vntill such time as wee know what goodnesse is It is very true that we shall somtimes see men to haue a great desire to doe good forsooth as they thinke But indeede that is nothing all is but hypocrisie vntil such time as God hath so taught vs that wee might knowe and discerne in good earnest and say Loe it is God that speaketh and therefore let vs see what it is that hee sayeth vnto vs. And so after that we are fully resolued in his truth then shall we beginne to hate all the wayes of wickednesse For it cannot otherwise be but whatsoeuer is against God wee must needs detest and abhorre For howsoeuer Satan indeuoreth himselfe to carry vs to doe wickedly we ought too haue this by and by in our mindes What shall we estrange our selues from our creator whose we are Shall the deuill beguile vs too make vs renounce him who hath so dearely bought vs And besides we also knowe that the health of our soules and all our felicitie consist in the obedience of our good God Whē thē we shal be thus taught by the word of God we shall hate all wicked wayes Without this contrariwise it must needs be that we should be wholy inclined thereto and that the deceits of Sathan shall please vs as we see it come to passe emongst the infidels vnto whom we shal be very like without God restraine vs with a bit For if we walke after our owne nature and fantasie what shall beecome of all our wicked wayes And so let vs learne that we shall neuer be brought to that which Dauid heere speaketh of vntil such time as wee are instructed and vnderstande it by the word of God and the testimonyes of his lawe And according too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledging of our faultes beseeching him to make vs so to feele our wretchednesse as that we may learne too seeke our felicitie in him onely And because hee so familiarly instructeth vs by his woord let vs not bee so accursed as too reiect this inestimable treasure whereof wee may be possessed but that beeing in possession thereof wee might increase dayly more and more in the knowledge which hee hath giuen vs and continue therein vnto the ende and vntill such time as wee shall attaine vnto that Heauenly inheritaunce and too the full possession of that eternall reste which he hath promised vs after that we shall be deliuered from all the assaults of this fraile and transitory life That he wil not onely bestowe this grace vpon vs but also vpon all people and nations of the earth c. The xiiii Sermon vpon the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme NVN. Thy woord is a Lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my pathes I haue sworne and will performe it that I wil keepe thy righteous Iudgements I am very sore afflicted O Lord quicken me according vnto thy worde O Lord I beseech thee let the free will offeringes of my mouth please thee and teach mee thy iudgemeates My soule is alwayes in mine hand yet doe I not forget thy lawe The vngodly haue layde a snare for mee But yet I swarued not from thy commaundements Thy testimonies haue I claymed as mine heritage for euer for they are the very ioy of mine heart I haue applied mine heart too fulfill thy statutes alwayes euen vnto the ende IF we did throughly consider that it were very requisite for vs too reade the worde of God and to listen vnto the doctrine taken out of it wee should not neede to haue the mater to be so much preached off what profite and vse we receiue by it For euery of vs should feele the same by experience But because wee are so colde blockishe in reading and hearing of that which God declareth vnto vs it is meete we should be stirred vp therto som other wayes and be shewed for what cause the word of God shall profite vs when as we shal be thus wise and of this mind throughly to exercise our selues to apply our whole study therein And see why Dauid pursueth this matter so diligently For besides that which we haue already seene heere before hee addeth saith Thy word is a Lantern vnto my feere a light vnto my pathes Wherby he sheweth that it is an inestimable treasure which we shal receiue when as we be taught by the word of God to wit that we shall neuer erre al the dayes of our life as the vnbeleeuers do who know not whether they go but walke at randō Dauid sheweth vnto vs that whē as we shal be guided by the word of God we shal be without al danger of falling Now because it is a very easie thinge for a man to say thus it seemeth at the first sight that this saying is so common as that we neede not to stay any longer vpon it But in the meane while let vs se how the world practizeth that which is heere spoken In deed we shall see it all cleane contrary for there are very fewe that wil abide to be guided by the word of god but the more part reiect it like rather to follow their own wills and desires or rather can be contented to be gouerned as it pleaseth men so that they will not suffer God to beare any rule or authoritie ouer them Therefore let vs well mark what this importeth when as it is said That the word of God hath bin as it were a Lantern vnto the feete of Dauid as a light vnto his pathes Nowe hereby he signifieth that he meaneth not to bee wise in his owne conceite but hath sought how he ought to be gouerned by the word of God so wholy held him self thereto Now if this hath beene a necessary poynt for Dauid let none of vs thinke that we can go beyond him And see also why S. Peter writing too all the faithful in generall telleth them that they should doe very well to be attentiue and to take hede to the word of God as to a light shining in darke places 2. Pet. 1.19 By this S. Peter declareth vnto vs that it is not without cause that Dauid hath vsed this similitude of a Lanterne And why so For he sayth that we being in the world are as mē in the darke to proue it to be so I beseech you what wisdom is in any of vs Although that euery of vs estemeth of him self inough a great deale more thē needeth yet for all that when as wee shall be throughly knowne we shall finde all our vnderstanding too be full of vanitie and follie and although we think our selues to haue a goodly light yet are we in a deepe dungeon of darkenesse And besides let vs seeke all the meanes possible too guide and gouerne vs well heere in this worlde yet shall it be alwayes but darkenesse Let vs then vnderstand that it cannot be chosen but
I will nether deceiue nor abuse you ne yet shall you be destitue of mine ayde but be you assured that my hande shall alwayes be streatched out too succour you We haue this promise made vnto vs which can neuer faile vs. Mow it behoueth that it be ratified and sealed in out heartes And how is that That in our prayers and supplications we beseech God to accomplish and performe that which he hath promised which shall be in steade of a seale sealed within to the ende we might haue such a certaintie as is requisite and anon after God sheweth in effecte that he speaketh not in vaine vnto vs. Loe say I what wee ought to note of the accorde that is betwixt the promises of God the prayers which we make vnto him in desiring to make vs feele by experience that he is faith full in what soeuer he speaketh Nowe Dauid by and by addeth Holde thou me vp and I shall be safe yea and my delight shall be continually in thy statutes Nowe the word which he vseth signifieth somtimes to meditate sometimes to speake therfore it may bee said I wil recite ouer thy Statutes But the most proper sense meaning is I will meditate or study in thy Statutes and therein take delight In steade that before he hath sayd Establish me O Lord or stay me in thy worde Heere hee sayth Holde mee vp Nowe this is no simple and plaine prayer which heere he maketh but hauing spoken of the woorde of God he speaketh of the power which hee sheweth towards his faithfull It is very true that when wee thinke that wee haue not one foote of grounde too stand vppon that there is nothing but the sea vnder vs and darkenesse ouer vs that we should be as it were in a bottomlesse pitte and ouerwhelmed yet we ought to stay settle our selues on the worde of God But when as our hope shall be thus cxercised and that we haue doone God this honor to hold him for faythful although we do not perceiue any succour to come from him hee will adde a second grace to wit he will giue vs his hand to be releeued by his powre and to be vpholden by him and wil preserue vs all the dayes of our life Loe heere thē the meaning of Dauid whē he desired God to stay him in his woord he sayth Holde me vp yea by thy hand and power So then let vs learne to to flye vnto God when as we would be in any good safetie For with out it as I haue already sayde wee may very wel for a while assure our selues and thinke no euill can come vnto vs But when as we shall be thus foolishly persuaded too say peace and assuraunce destruction must needes suddainly come vpon vs 1. Thess 5.3 and we to be vtterly confounded But after we haue wayted and seene God too haue appeared in very deed let vs learne to seeke all our assuraunce in his woord to walke in his cōmandements to take our whole delight in them and in them to bestowe all our study In summe Dauid in this place declareth That when as God shall haue bestowed any benefites vpon vs that wee haue prooued his mercie and fatherly affection It is to cōfirme vs more and more in his word to tye all our senses therto to learne to forsake all vanities which hinder and occupy our spirits in these wilde affections wherewith wee are carryed hither and thither That we then beeing retired from them might be inflamed with such a zeale as Dauid was to meditate in the commaundements of God and in them too take our whole delight Nowe it followeth Thou haste troden downe all them that departe from thy statutes for their deceiteis vaine Heere in this place Dauid considereth of the iudgementes of God which hee executeth vpon the wicked howbeit we are not alwayes able to perceiue them For we shall oftentimes see as it were against all Gods forbod as wee say the wicked to beare aucthoritie and in such sorte to triumph as that they think it cannot be possibly amended and suppose them selues to be the most blessed people in the worlde And then for the while we shall see all things goe cleane against the haire But after that the Lorde God shall long time paciently haue abidden all these abusers of his mercifull louing kindenesse it cannot bee chosen but that at the last hee must vtterly destroy them And so let vs consider not too be so blockish as too forget the iudgements of God but let them rather instructe vs after the example of Dauid to walke in his feare and to loue his Commaundementes Now he say thin the first place Thou haste troden the vngodly vnder foote and all them that departe from thy statutes for they imagine but deceite sayth hee He addeth one reason which we ought throughly too weigh For what is the cause that the vngodly hearkē not vnto God so outrage against him beyond all measure For if at any time GOD mooueth them too repentaunce through the admonitions of his woorde they doe nothing else but scoffe and laugh at him yea they are so shamelesse as it is pitifull too see What is the cause of this It is because the wicked haue their heartes faste shutte vpp in their backe warehouses thinking thereby to beguile GOD too escape his hand through their starting holes and subtile deuises and they seeing them selues too be brasen faced to couer their villanyes before men thinke that they shall easily inough put of the plagues and punishmentes of God See howe the wicked doe increase in their willes that they are euen come too this poynte that they feare nothing at all of what soeuer they ought too bee affrayde And this is it why the Prophet Isaiah also sayth Isaiah That they digge Caues in the earth for their defence thinking that when their eyes are shutte vppe that their sinnes shall be no more seene and that God shall not bee able too finde them Accursed bee you sayth hee which thus digge deepe pittes Now Dauid sayth in this place that all the subtiltie of the vngodly is nothing else but vanitie It shall bee forsooth to great purpose for them when as they thinke they shall through their hypocrisies shroude them selues and couer their wiles and subtilties yet shall their deuises bee but vanitie for they shal be taken in the tripp as it is sayde in the other place yea and in the ende shall be fast shutte vp in all their deceits and inuentions Heerevpon he sayeth Thou hast taken away all the vngodly of the earth like drosse therefore I loue thy testimontes Heere Dauid declareth vnto vs in breefe by his example That when God punisheth the Godlesse he layeth his hand vpon them in such sort as that we may perceiue that he sheweth him selfe to be their Iudge to the ende that wee thereby should be the rather stirred vp too loue his Commaundemens and to be ruled by them in
intermedle himselfe with a naughtie cause which is an impossibilitie and altogither contrary to his nature See then wherefore it is saide in this place I haue executed iudgement and iustice giue me not ouer vnto mine oppressors Dauid heere maketh a request vnto God that he might not bee deliuered into the handes of his enemyes which sought to destroy him Nowe for the obtayning of that which he demaunded he maketh this protestation That hee hath walked rightly before God yea euen with them which went about to destroy him Moreouer these twoo wordes Righteousnesse and Iudgement when they goe togither importe asmuch as too doe wrong too none but too proceede in equitie and in good fayth as we say for too maintaine euery good cause and not to suffer any wronge to bee doone For it is not inough for vs too abstaine from hurting and greeuing of our neighbour Neither is it enough for vs to goe aboute to discharge vs of our dueties But when wee shall see any man vniustly troden down and a good cause goe too wrack wee ought too oppose our selues against euery such wicked acte and iniury and as it were to take parte with God who as he is the commender of all equitie so will hee also haue vs to maintaine it forasmuch as we are his children We see then in summe the protestation which Dauid heere maketh that is that he did not only abstaine from hurting his neighboures go about to render to euery man that which was his But ouer besids al this he set himself against al violences extortiōs which were cōmitted he would not suffer the innocent to be oppressed to be put forth for a pray or spoyle but payned him selfe to doe what in him lay to helpe them Whē we may be bolde too make such a protestation in trueth Let vs not dout but that God will stretch foorth his hand that if men went about to trouble vs yea and that wee were as it were in great daunger too fall into their hands Let vs not doute but that God will haue pittie on vs and ayde vs. For this Prayer which Dauid heere maketh was not made at aduenture but the holy Ghoste put it into his mouth to the end to teach vs to walke as he hath doone so soundly perfectly And heerevpon if men should lifte themselues vpp against vs and vse all the outrages and malice they can against vs Let vs haue recourse vnto God be assured that he will be our defendor and protector Now we very well see by this that Dauid made no mention of his merites vnto God as if he should haue sayde I haue right wel deserued O Lord that thou shouldest keepe and defend me against the wicked because I haue doone that which is lawfull and right Dauid spake it not too any such end But he had regarde as I haue already said to the goodnesse of God and to his promisses which are contayned in the lawe and imprinted in his heart too wit That God will vpholde all those that are vniustly troden down and alwayes helpe those which are outraged and iniuryed Because that they for their parte haue taken great paine to be at peace withall the world that they haue not giuen occasion for any to greeue and torment them and yet that the vngodly haue rysen vp against them See what a regarde Dauid had Nowe he addeth Answere thou for thy seruant in that which is good and let not the proude doe me wrong The saying that Dauid heere vseth signifieth sometimes a man to giue his woord as we say in this countrie that is to become a mans suretie and his pleadge and some there are which doe so expound it but the true sense and moste naturall meaning of it is this that Dauid prayeth that hee might be giuen to doe good and to delight therein Wherin wee see this to be a woorke of GOD and a grace proceeding from him when we shall desire too be giuen too doe good so that we haue pleasure in it and doe taste therof For this is very certaine that notwithstanding that men followe the very inclination of their flesh to hate the good and loue the euil and when any thing shall be tolde them of God we see howe it maketh them Melancolique and sorowfull So then it is God that muste chaunge and reforme vs or else we shall neuer attaine to this affection here spoken of to take pleasure in wel dooing and so to loue it Nowe Dauid was no hypocrite too make a faire shewe to desire a thing at the handes of God which was in his owne hand But he knewe this too be the manner of men that it was impossible for him to come to the ful perfection of that except it were giuen vnto him from aboue See heere in summe what we haue to learne and keepe by this For whē he addeth that the wicked or the proude outrage against him he sheweth that when we shall be so giuen too well dooing we must trust too the protection of God according to that which I haue already saide Let vs also note that Dauid in this verse confirmeth the matter already handled He hath heeretofore very well said O Lorde I haue done the thing that is lawfull and right and yet hee ceaseth not to beseech God too graunt him such courage and strength And howe is that Forsooth that he woulde increase it in him giue him the grace to stande stedfastly therein vnto the ende We see then that whensoeuer wee shall be the moste desirous in the worlde to followe sinceritie equitie we must vnderstand for all that that we may yet be amended and that we are nothing neere that perfection which is requisite Wherfore it remayneth that we desire this performance with the graces that Dauid hath heere demaunded Thy graces O Lord had neede to increase in vs graunt vs therfore that we may come too the accomplishment of them Wee haue O Lorde walked purely so farfoorth as thou hast giuen vs the power But wee flye vntoo thy promises to the end thou mightest make vs to perseuer in well dooing See I say how wee ought too craue the thing at the handes of God which he hath already giuen vs and that we haue receiued from him that is that it woulde please him to conserue and increase it considering that we are very farre from such a perfection as is most requisite in such sorte as that wee neuer decline from well dooing which we should doe if he shaked his hande See then too what end this petition tendeth which is heere placed Nowe we must turne againe to the matter to wit that Dauid heere repeateth that they which haue beene thus perfect haue loued well doing should be vnder the hand and safegarde of God neuer to be deliuered into the power of their enemyes so that the proude shall neuer be able to doe them that excceeding great wrong which they had pretended Not that
not from the loue which wee ought to beare to the woorde of God See then what wee must keepe in minde for the vnderstanding of this text And after we are too note for the last verse that Dauid saying that he loued the commaundements of God saith not that he did it by halfes as wee many times doe but I sayeth hee haue loued thy commaundements aboue all thinges As if he should haue sayd I am not like vnto those O Lord which come to serue thee by halfes but in all and through all I loue whatsoeuer that thou hast commaunded And after this maner it is that we must also do for it is not in vs to deuide and make a partition of the worde of God neither yet can wee make it And therefore let vs bee wel aduised to obey God in whatsoeuer he shal commaund vs and to loue his commandementes from the first too the last and not to do as a great many do which wil be contēted to receiue the Gospel forsooth so farre foorth as it wil serue their turne and pleasure them Or els if they passe ouer this or that and thinke themselues to giue God greate credit when as they shall giue him authoritie ouer them in some one point But if soone after they shall bee any thing grieued they wil neuer ouerslip that point Neuertheles we are there admonished too the contrary that it is not for vs as I haue already said to make a partition of that which god hath conioyned but wee must yeelde our obedience vntoo him euen to the ful that although whatsoeuer he saieth or commaundeth vs to do be hard and sharpe too our nature yet let vs take it in good parte with a gentle and mild mind and say with Dauid O Lord I haue loued thy commaundements which thou hast giuen me not in one two nor three points but in al and through al. According to this holy doctrine let vs humbly prostrate our selues before the Maiesty of our good god in acknowledging our offēces beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better to feele our miseries to the end we might be grieued with them and to seeke for remedy at his hands That in renouncing whatsoeuer that is in vs and whatsoeuer power and strength wee thinke our selues to haue let vs beseech him to fortifie vs and so to inlighten vs with his holy spirite as that wee may more and more draw neare vnto him And as hee hath already begunne to inlighten vs that it would please him too cause vs to see his brightnes better than we haue don heretofore vntil such tyme as we shal come vnto his kingdome where we shal perfectly see that which now we do but halfe know And although this worlde be so peruerse wicked as that we might take occasion to withdraw vs frō the right way notwithstanding let vs beseech him that he wil alwaies vphold vs with a mighty and strong hād to th end wee may stand stedfastly in that whervnto he hath called vs neuer decline frō it whatsoeuer came of vs. That it wold please c The seuenteenth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme PHE. Thy testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my soule keepe them The entrance into thy wordes sheweth light and giueth vnderstanding vnto the simple I opened my mouth and panted bicause I loued thy commaundementes Looke thou vpon me and be mercifull vnto me as thou vsest to do vnto those that loue thy name Order my steppes in thy worde and let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me O deliuer me from the wrongfull dealings of men and I will keepe thy commandements Shewe the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy statutes Mine eyes gushe out with ryuers of water bicause men keepe not thy lawe IN very deede the sentence cōteined in this first verse of the eight should be a very ordinarie and common thing with vs. And in very deede there is no man but will confesse it to be true but yet it is so very far of as that there is none of vs al which hath the feeling thereof in him selfe that is that the lawe of God is a wonderfull wisedome for we doe see how it is contemned and despised It is very true that God in all the holy scripture speaketh sharpely enough and also humbly but it is for this cause that he would fit himself to our simple capacities And bicause that wee are blockishe and earthly it is meete that he should so plainely speake as that wee might vnderstand him Neuerthelesse in this speache whcih carrieth no great glorie with it ne yet is coloured with any worldly eloquence are certaine secretes which may very well rauish vs with marueilous astonishment And in deede the very cause why these faithlesse and comtemners of God so little esteeme of the doctrine of saluation is for that they beeing brutish neuer tasted of that which it meaneth to vtter See then wherevpon this pride and vngodlinesse ariseth which wee see at this daye too bee in the greater parte of the worlde so that there are very fewe which beare that reuerence to the woorde of God as they ought for it is an olde saying no man can loue a thing before such time as he knoweth it They then which are so blockish as that they haue neither sense nor iudgement rightly to discerne of the truth of God slippe it ouer yea and treade such an inestimable treasure as it is vnder their feete But they which haue once knowne what it is that God teacheth vs in the holy scripture may very well saye with Dauid that they are wōderful things and so high mysteries as that we ought to wonder at them doe deserue that euery one of vs should wholy apply his mynd thereto Nowe he sayeth That for this cause his soule did keepe the testimonies of God This importeth a greater matter then if he had simply sayd I haue kept them for he signifieth that he hath kept them as we say with an hartie affection And loe howe indeede we ought to esteeme of the doctrine of God it is not onely to haue an opinion that it is excellent and worthy to be had in soueraigne and high honour but that we should be very earnestly touched therwith that we might haue such a feare and an obedience rooted in our heartes as that the saying of the Prophet Isaiah might bee fulfilled in vs that we might trēble at the voice of our God Loe here in effect the content of the first verse of these eight which we are nowe about to handle that is to saye that the faithfull whose eyes God hath opened might knowe that the holy scripture conteineth no common doctrine but such a wise doctrine as is worthy to be reuerenced and honoured all the world ouer Nowe when as we shal once haue knowne that God layeth wyde opē his heauenly mysteries in his lawe it is good reason that wee for our part be
touched moued to hearken vnto our God when he speaketh vnto vs yea and that in such sort as that he handleth no small and light matters and of no importance but openeth vnto vs his mysteries which are farre beyond our reach and capacities except that of his infinite goodnesse hee bare vs that fauoure too fit him selfe to our vnderstanding Now Dauid addeth in the second verse The entrance into thy wordes sheweth light and giueth vnderstanding vnto the most simple Wherein he signifieth that if we vnderstand not all the mysteries of God which he sheweth vnto vs in his worde we must not straightwayes therefore say that the doctrine is vnprofitable vnto vs. Why so Bicause the onely sauoure which we shall feele therein shall profit vs. It is not nedeful that wee bee great clarkes nor perfect doctors to receiue some benefire and edifying from the word of God for we can not haue so small an entrance into it but that wee shal become already both wise and well aduised Loe here in summe the meaning of the second verse And it is a place which we very well ought to obserue for like as there are a great sort of people which make no accompt of the worde of God bicause they neuer tasted of the mysteries therein conteined euen so also there are some which excuse them selues and say that the worde of God is too too darke and harde in so much that it maketh them too flie from it dare not come neare it Alas will one say I am a very ignoraunt soule or I am not so sharpe witted as in deede a man would iudge or els I am but a simple scholler and therefore can not conceiue of so high mysteries Lo here what excuses a number of men will make bicause they would not be acquainted with the word of God No doubt of it we shall haue of those people which will vse such excuses and startingholes onely bicause they would be ignorant and haue their eyes fast closed vp although they haue the light of God too shine vpon them Againe there are another sort which will keepe them selues cleane away from the worde of God fearing that if they should once enter into it that it would be like vnto a maze wherein they should be held fast in and so bee vtterly confounded And therefore let vs for this cause throughly consider the saying of Dauid to wit that although wee attaine not vnto such a perfection as that wee are able to vnderstand and know whatsoeuer is written in the holy scriptures and to be so exercised therein euen at the full as that nothing hath escaped vs but let vs be throughly acquainted with the law and haue the very true and vndoubted exposition and meaning of the Prophets yea and let vs know and vnderstand the Gospel at our fingers endes and yet although I say we haue not attained vnto this excellency let vs not for all this cease to bee inlightened Let vs then boldly approche when as we see that God calleth and allureth vs and is ready to teach vs his word and let vs know that when we shall haue neuer so little a tast thereof that it shal be for our saluation so that we shall not be altogether blinde but that we may be able to know which is the right way vnto euerlasting life To be short we shal be inlightened as Dauid speaketh of in this place And hereby we may see what a great abuse at this day raigneth in this point in Poperie when as they shall put by the greater part of Christendome from the reading of the holy scripture vnder a colour it should thereby be vtterly confoūded and againe being neuer able once to come to haue any tast therof that it is ouer high a thing for them to meddle with Now this is to make the holy Ghost a manifest liar who hath spoken pronoūced by the mouth of Dauid that which we haue already heard That the first entraunce into the woorde of God sheweth light in so much that so soone as we shal haue vnderstoode but one onely sentence thereof the same to be already euen enough to leade and guide vs to euerlasting life Now sithens then wee see how the deuill possesseth the Papistes when as vnder such a cloke they withdrawe the simple people from the reading of the word of God yea in forbidding it them with such a cruell tyranny let vs for our part hauing so good and sure a ground take great heede how we wauer and how we alwayes abide wittingly ignorant considering that God hauing openly and at large mainfested himself vnto vs cōtinueth still more and more our good God and giueth vs so great leisure and large a time to profit in his schoole And why so Bicause then tree alone is cleare and bright what will it then bee when as wee shall enter on somewhat further that euen in the very entrance we finde saluation in what case then I beseech you shall we be when as we shal haue once passed the midway on And to the ende that Dauid might the better expresse that the question is not here of the great learned doctors he namely saieth That it giueth instruction to the simple and silly soules to the ende they might haue light and vnderstanding As if he should haue said that God hath so communicated his word vnto vs and in such sort framed and wrought it for our vnderstanding as that there is not the most simple ignorant which shal not find himselfe capable to bee the scholler of God yea so that we come vnto it in all lowlinesse and humblenesse For Dauid in saying that the word of God maketh the lowly to vnderstand right wel sheweth that if we come vnto it in the pride of our own minds presuming of our own fine heads as in this point a great nūber of proud and glorious men doe who wil rather cōtroll God then submit them selues vnto him to his word no doubt of it wee shal bee left in the darke For let vs not bee abashed although such people of whome I haue already spoken do continually remaine most blockish But wee for our partes ought to know that we must be hūbled throwne down in ourselues to thend god might lightē vs. And then let vs not dout but that we shal feele God to be euer more ready to play the part of a good schoolemaster vnto vs whē as we shal shew our selues to bee true and dutiful schollers Now by and by followeth I opened my mouth and panted he was scarsly able to fetch his breath And by this is signified the feruent zeale which he had which was to be wel instructed in the law of God Now here Dauid sheweth how it is that wee should bee enlightened that is that after wee are knowne to be lowly and hūbled feeling our want and necessitie let vs sigh groane vnto the maiestie of our God in beseeching him to instruct vs.
vnto vs and open our eyes when wee reade and that altogither by his holy spirit And thus much for this For although we haue the woorde of God offred vnto vs yet shall wee profite nothing thereby vntill such time as God giueth vs vnderstanding to see it And besides it is not inough to haue the knowledge of the will of God and to vnderstand the right way to saluation But God also must leade vs him selfe and holde vs by the hande euen vnto the ende And why so For we will neuer cease drawing backward when as God shall haue faithfully instructed vs if so be he himself doth not stil conduct vs and alwayes holdeth vs with a stronge and mightie arme because that our rebellious nature will neuer cease too withdrawe vs cleane contrary For Saint Paule who had so greatly profited in the feare of God and was so very forwarde therein as the like was not in his time yet ceased hee not still too say I see two lawes in my selfe I haue a desire to serue God Rom. 9.19 but yet there is another thing also which leadeth me to the contrary so that I doe the euill wich I abhorre and would not doe and if I doe any good it is not doone with so cheerefull an affection as I would See heere in what sorte Saint Paule complayneth him selfe and in the ende concludeth and sayeth Alas most wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me out of this prison If Saint Paule vsed this kinde of speech Ephe. 6.13.14 what shall become of vs when we shall be no whit guided by the spirit of God I beseeech you what shall the bare doctrine profite vs It is meete then that after God shall haue taught vs that hee also guide vs after that he giue vs the power and strength to followe him and too confirme imprint and engraue his lawe in our heartes as also it is sufficiently sette downe in the scripture touching the same Dauid goeth forward and sayth Suffer not any iniquitie to haue dominion ouer me To what end and purpose saieth he this For he had before desired God too order his steppes to the ende he might serue him in true and faithfull obedience Forsooth it is because that when God hath bestowed his grace vpon vs to be desirous too cleaue vnto him yet shall we neuer come to the ful ende there of without greate afflictions hauing so mightie an enemie to stand against vs as we haue It is very true that we desire nothing else but to be made teachable of God and to suffer our selues to be gouerned by the great Pastor or Shephearde Iesus Christe this is already one good steppe but let vs a little better consider wherefore such grace profiteth vs not It is because the Deuil commeth soone after too set it on fire for hee alwayes findeth good store of Woode in vs according as we are stored with many vices and imperfections in our nature vntill such time as God shall haue wholy taken vs frō out of this flesh For all our lustes and affections are so many rebellions against God as that wee neuer cease to fight against him that if at anytime on the one side we go about to do good we are on thother side caryed to do euil What must we then doe We had neede to haue God too array vs with a power and constancy to resiste all these contrarietes and wicked lustes which are in vs that wee bee not onely teachable and gouerned by him but also that wee be fenced with such armour and weapon as are meeete too fight against Satan and all his craftie sleights and strengths to the ende our enemie might haue no holde of vs so that wee hauing as Saint Paule sayth bothe our headpeece and shielde might bee armed and appoynted at all peeces And when as we shall be thus armed then to see howe wee should wholly and fully cleaue vnto our God And whatsoeuer the Deuil shall craftily inuent against vs whatsoeuer stoppes and lett es are in vs yet let vs not doubt but too obtaine victory So then it is not without cause that Dauid heere ioyneth these twoo thinges togither to be guided by the maiestie of GOD and abooue all to bee so mightily strengthened as that no iniquitie could haue dominion ouer him but that he was well able to ouercome all the temptations wherewith Satan any way coulde assaile him Nowe if Dauid was faine to make such a petition vnto God with out hypocrisie by this we may gather of what strength and effect our free will is which the Papistes so highly extoll Whenas we shall speake of the seruing of God they straight wayes think that it cōmeth of our owne power strength Not that they doe not confesse but that they had in some sorte neede of God his helpe but yet that they will bee companions and fellow workers with God and that without they for their parte did something of their owne power and strength all of it were nothing And contrariwise excepte the spirit of God leadeth and guideth vs wee muste needes slippe yea and vtterly fall away We speake not heere of an halfe ayde onely But it is GOD that must take the whole conducte and leading into his owne charge And againe hath he taken vs into his hand Then no doubt of it there is a seconde grace to be looked for that is to say that we be strengthened with his holy spirite and so to be gouerned as that wee may haue an inuincible power to perseuer in wel dooing Howbeit there is yet one point more to be considered of in this verse And that is that Dauid desiereth to haue all his steepes ordered according too the woorde of God Nowe by this he sheweth that if we be gouerned according to our owne mindes and fantafies wee will bee very swift to run But yet not be too seeke our saluation And why so because we runne thwart the fieldes without holding any way and path Loe heere the maner of the Papists are they able rightly to say that their steppes are ordered by the woorde of God but contrariwise the abhomination of their Antichrist withdraweth them from the right way to makethem wander and stray heere and there and in the ende to cast them selues headlong into the bottome of hell in such sorte as whatsoeuer they call the seruice of God when as both the endes shall be brought togither we shall finde to be so many blasphemyes against God And if they be asked Now Sir I beseech you frō whom haue you your Masse your inuocation of Saintes prayer for the dead images your deifiing of Saintes your erecting of Aultars vntoo them your torches candlelights pilgrimages and all the rest of your beggerly trash what aunswere will they make They are neuer able to answere you one iotte for the maintenance of this their cloutery out of the holy scripture What wil they thē say Forsooth we folow our fathers and their
traditions Yea but it is heere namely set downe that we must be ordered by the woord of God For all our whole life is a very great disorder and we wander stray like vnto brute beasts except the word of God be our only rule and plaine square Wherefore let vs bee wel aduised not to stray as these miserable accursed people which close vp their eyes in the cleere day light yea and which whet them selues and stubbornly stand in opinion against God when he goeth about to reforme them and to shewe them that they haue hitherto vainely spente and loste all their time and trauell And although that they bee altogither so hardened yet let not vs be so But let vs knowe that there is none other direction that is good but the very same which God sheweth vnto vs as was sayde too Moyses Loe this is the way which thou must followe Nowe it followeth soone after O deliuer me from the wrongfull dealings of men and I will keepe thy commaundements Dauid by this manner of speaking right well declareth that the Children of God shall alwayes bee assayled with many and sundry assaultes persecutions griefes so long as they liue heere in this worlde and the meaning of God is to appoint him to be as it were a Glasse for all the faythfull to looke in For as we see how he hath beene intreated and do also see his condition and state no doubt God hath set him as it were vpon a scaffolde to the ende we might be conformed according to his example as he was also in very deede a figure of our Lord Iesus Christ Now we knowe that our Lorde Iesus was a true patron of all the Children of god according vnto whose image we must be made like namely in this poynt to wit in afflictions in anguishes and miseryes as Saint Paule therof witnesseth to the Romanes Since then it is so let vs know that so long as we are to liue in this world we shall be alwayes afflicted and troubled by wicked and vngodly men Rom. 8.35 neither ought wee too thinke it any strange thing since that Dauid hath shewed vs the way and that God hath purposed too haue vs framed after his example let not the afflictions and persecutions which wee must abide at this day seeme newe and strange vnto vs. Nowe heerevpon it followed That he will keepe his commaundements Whereby he signified that he will not forget him selfe of such a benefite when as he shall haue God too be his protector to succour him against the malice of men that hee will keepe his commaundementes Let vs learne then that when God shall haue maintained and defended vs that we ought to be a great deale the more ready too obay and feare him and that this ought alwaies too stirre vs vp to a greater consideration that as hee dayly increaceth more and more his benefites vppon vs so ought our affeetion also to serue him increase and besides it muste more profite and inflame itselfe Nowe it followeth by and by after Shewe the light of thy countenaunce vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy statutes By this he confirmeth the matter which he before handled and therefore we shall not neede to stande much vpon this verse for he sheweth that he is contented too haue God to looke and care for him And to proue this too bee true you may see that the thing which hee desireth is that which I haue already touched that is the principall safetie which the Children of God ought to haue is to stay them selues vpon this prouidence of God when as they certainly knowe and may boldely say that God standeth for vs and will neuer forget vs and although wee be neuer so miserable creatures yet for all that he careth for vs watcheth ouer vs yea and also hee hath an eye vntoo vs neither will he suffer any hurt to come vnto vs but will prouide for all our needes and wantes And if we carry this minde with vs we haue the greatest benefite that is possibly to be wished And this is it which Dauid speaketh of in this place when he sayeth Shewe the light of thy countenaunce O Lorde vpon thy seruant For he meaneth that when he shall feele the protection of God he is then sure that God looketh vnto him and that the same is it which shall deliuer him from all cares Nowe let vs note that this manner of speech is drawne from a similitude as when wee thinke God his countenaunce to be darkened in the time of our trouble aduersitie and feeling no comfort whereby too glad our selues in him it seemeth to vs by by that there are great and monstrous thick cloudes betwixt him and vs and indifferently we imagine that God seeth vs not And therefore Dauid so farre as flesh and blood coulde reach vnto saith Shewe the light of thy countenaunce that is make me to feele that thou hast care ouer me And in the ende he sayth Mine eyes gush out with riuers of water because men keepe not thy law Here he declareth that ouer and besids the desier which we ought to haue and wherwith we ought to be affected to cleaue vnto God according to his word what a great mischiefe grief it should be vnto vs to see the scorners which so contemne and despise the word of God too treade the same vnder foote besids to see the wicked to ouerthrow all good order and iustice See then that the true childrē of God ought not onely to be contented with their own walking aright to be framed according to the law of God But they ought also by al meanes possible to labor to bring the whole world to that passe with them too the ende that all the creatures of God might with one accord reuerence and glorifie his maiestie And therefore when as they see God to be contēned they should begreeued thereat not only to be sory vexed but also to bee as it were mortally wounded For it is not without cause that Dauid saith here That riuers of water gushed out of his eyes He meaneth hereby that he was so sorrowful vexed as could not be expressed Now if Dauid had occasion to grone and weepe after this sort when he see God to be reiected what shall become of this our time I pray you to what an extremitie are we cōe Is not impietie or vngodlines growne at this day to a full measure Doe we not see the vngodly exceede in al abundance of wickednes one sorte is fallen out with God and the gospel Another sort will confesse with the mouth that they allowe of it or desire it and yet we see them to be an hundreth thousand times worse then the papists no dout of it we shall find amongst vs of that sort such deuils incarnate and so vilanous and detestable as that the very aire cryeth out vnto god for vengeāce against them When then we shall see these accursed
also in parte of the night See heere what we are in very deede to gather out of this place But first we must mark the proceeding of Dauid For after hee hath spoken of the hope wherein he was setled to pray vntoo God without doubting that he would heare him hee sayeth That he carefully meditated on his woord And why did hee so Shall that which was necessary for Dauid to doe bee superfluous for vs God forbid For if such a Prophet as hee had neede too arme himselfe against the temptations of his fleshe against the infirmities wherwith he might be assayled I pray you how quickly shal he be ouerthrowne if we haue not the same remedy which we vsed and the courage also which he heere exhorteth vs vnto Let vs then consider that if we will be stayed vpon the promises of God because we would call vppon him in the time of neede we ought many times to meditate vpon his woords both day and night and to set all our study and affection therein And see what the cause is why there are so fewe which be disposed to pray vnto God Yea and when they are thereto inforced they knowe not which way too beginne because they cannot he fully resolued to say It is very requisite that when I shall call vpon my good God that I be fully assured that hee will not refuse to heare me What is the cause of this vncertaintie It is because they are not wel acquainted with the promises of God For a man will thinke that it were euen inough sleightly and lightly to beleeue that God will heare those that are his And when we come to prayer with this thought we thinke that if we haue said but a word or two that it is too much Yea and if wee come to a Sermon and heare the promises of God spoken of we thinke it by and by too bee an vnprofitable speach and will say that it is more then needeth for what is he that vnderstandeth not that well inough And in the meane while beholde a mightie great temptation like vnto a boysterous whirlewinde and tempest euen at hande and then he which thought him selfe so able a man is become a very Milkesop He wil looke whether God wil haue pitie of him He will possibly imagine that he hath turned his back yea or else hee will doubt of his prouidence whether he hath any care of the worlde or no there are a thousand fantasies which the Deuill goeth about to put in our mindes And when we are in this case see we are so astonied as that there is no comming for vs too pray vnto God And what is the reason It is because wee haue not beene carefull to meditate vpon his promises And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of this lesson when as it is said That Dauid his eyes preuented the night watches too meditate vppon the promises of God Let vs nowe compare our selues with him But it is so farre of that any of vs in particular hath this care whereof mention is heere made as that wee cannot by any meanes possible bee trayned vnto it And although God biddeth vs to come vnto him yet cannot wee be brought to come any thinge neere him See howe the Bel shal ring euery day to moue vs to come to the Sermon God there telleth vs of his will hee declareth vnto vs that he is ready to receiue vs to his mercie as often as wee shall call vpon him Nowe euery of vs may very well see that wee passe not of his helpe one minute of an houre And yet howe many are there notwithstanding which will vouchsafe too steppe one foote too come to occupy them selues aboute the promises of God that their memoryes might be refreshed in them to th end they might so much the better be remembred of them Nay we shall sarcely haue a number of them com to it on the Sunday yea and if percase they come once they thinke it too bee as it were ouer much And forsooth they muste not come thither neither euery Sunday because their eares will bee ouer much filled with noyse and againe such as doe come too it with what affection come they thinke you Verely because that they cannot deny but that there must bee one day in the weeke for them to meete togither and besides they will for once come thither but it shall be to sleepe so that they vnderstand and carry away asmuch as these pillers or else the stoles whereon they sit Loe heere howe a great number of the people come to the Sermon Yea and there are no small number which wil come thither euen to mock God as we see these scoffers and gibers who come to none other ende but too dispite him bring with them whorishe and shamelesse faces and such a beastly impudencie as cannot bee greater All this we see Nowe let vs consider that it is so farre of that our slouthfulnesse should be excused as that God cannot but iustly punish vs in that we shall be depriued of the abilitie to call vpon him in our neede and shall haue our mouthes also stopped And afterwarde the mischiefe shall increase dayly more and more vntill such time as we are come euen to the deapth of the bottomlesse pittes that is to say wee shall be vtterly excluded from the help of our good God that he will retire him selfe from vs and cleerely banish vs his kingdome Beholde heere the fruite which commerh by our negligence when as we shall make no accounte of the exercising of our selues in this study of the promises of God Nowe Dauid addeth Heare my voyce O Lord at cording vnto thy louing kindenes quicken me according to thy iudgement Heere Dauid declareth yet more plainly vppon what ground he layde his foundation of praying vnto God to wit he brought no kinde of presumption with him thinking to make account of this or that and so to be thought very woorthy that God should heare him but he preferred the goodnesse and faithfulnesse of God aboue all his owne woorthinesses Loe heere wherevnto wee must looke if wee wil haue God to be merciful vnto vs. And whē as we would profite our selues by our prayers wee must not once talke of bringing in of any thing of ours with vs ne yet alledge this thing nor that as thinking too binde God vnto vs for some good turne that wee haue doone him but too haue this principall regarde with vs God is good and faithfull and iust See then wheron it is that we must settle our confidence if we will be resolued that he will heare vs. And this is such a doctrine I tell you aswe ought well to holde and keepe For in very deede vnder this worde Promise this must altogither be vnder stoode For what is it that induceth God to helpe vs and to saye come vnto me without hee looke that wee would craue something at his handes What is the cause that our
like as a Dauid maketh here such a request so also we are to consider that he made it not of his owne head nor at aduenture but he knewe it to bee the office of God That is That he will auenge all outrages Exo. 15. as it is said in the song of Moyses That if men oppresse any vniustly our Lord sayeth that it is be which auengeth the cause of the innocent and of him that is troubled without a cause Dauid then knowing that God hauing taken this title vnto him selfe and declared that he will not suffer the throates of the righteous too bee thus cut to be tormented and troaden vnderfoote but that hee will stretche foorth his hand too helpe them hee hauing knowne this calleth vpon God with a sure constancie that will receiue him Wherefore it is meete that we looke vnto this promise when as wee praye to the ende wee praye not doubtfully but in full assurance that God will be incontinent ready to helpe our necessities And this is it why Dauid by and by after sayeth Quicken mee according vnto thy worde It is not without cause that this saying was added For as I haue already said when as we will beseeche the the lorde our God to take vpon him our quarrell and too assiste vs in our afflictions and then we in the meane time shall stand in doubte of his so doing wee shall profite our selues little in so praying But we must bee fully assured that he will deliuer vs. And whensoeuer it shall come too passe that we shal be destitute of all mens ayde yea that it shall seeme that all the whole worlde had conspired our destruction and decay then should we chiefliest assure our selues that God will auenge our cause and not onely serue vs in steade of a proctour but will be altogether also our iudge aduerse partie against our enemies and against all those which haue vniustly afflicted vs. For he it is that must take in hand all iust causes Wee had neede then too assure our selues of this But from whēce shal we learne this euen out of the worde of God bicause hee hath lefte vnto vs a testimonie thereof in it as wee see that Dauid speaketh not here at a wilde aduēture but hath already groūded him self vpon a good foundation whereon he hath settled him self Now it followeth Saluation is farre from the vngodly bicause they seeke not thy statutes And afterwarde hee sayeth Great are thy tender mercies O Lorde quicken me according to thy iudgementes Nowe here are two thinges to bee considered off The one is that Dauid telleth the reason why all the contemners of God and all that rebell against his maiestie runne headlong into destruction and that hee forsaketh them that they feele no taste nor ease in their afflictions but that God clerely forsaketh them Dauid setteth downe here the cause of all this it is saith he bicause they haue not sought after thy lawes and therefore are farre from thy saluation Nowe he cleane contrary protesteth of him selfe that hee followed the lawe of God and kept it in his heart So then we must needes conclude that he could not be estraunged from it In very deede this sentence at the first sight is somwhat darke but I will make it plaine in three woordes and then by little and little shewe what doctrine wee are too gather out of this When any telleth vs of our saluation wee must in the first place know whence it proceedeth to wit from God and that there is no saluation but in him in so much that so long as God is good and gracious vnto vs it must needes be that all must goe very well on our side and be assured that our life is blessed and that we shall want nothing that is meete for our welfare and felicitie So then our saluation and all fulnesse and perfection of benefites consist in this one onely pointe that God loueth vs and receiueth vs vnto himselfe And since it is so let vs nowe consider what he is whome God will forsake Once we are his creatures and euen as he hath created and fashioned vs so also will he continne his goodnesse towards vs. Now seeing that his mercie extendeth euen to brute beasts euen to the moste vile and abiect thinges yea euen which wee contemne and disdaine once to looke on seeing the mercie of God extendeth so farre as the holy Scripture teacheth vs how can it be that he wil forsake vs yea vnto whom he hath graunted so great dignitie and excellencie For wee haue a thing excelling all other his creatures which is this that God hath imprinted-his owne similitude and likenesse in vs Now when as he hath exalted vs vnto so highe a degree of honor will he thinke you now forsake vs Hee will not without all doubt What is the cause then that wee see so many caitifes and miserable wretches which are euē giuen ouer so that God sendeth them not so much as the leaste ayde and comfort that it seemeth that he hath set them as it were vpon a stage to be a shame and rebuke to the whole worlde Whence commeth this Forsooth because they withdrawe them selues from God for when as they withdrewe not them selues from him it is most sure that then he shewed him selfe vnto them such a one as indeede hee is of his owne nature that is louing kinde pitifull gentle mercifull To be short so long as we will be ordered by him as his children it is most sure that he will play the parte of a father towards vs so long as we will yeelde our obedience vnto him he wil intreate vs gently But when we are so peruerse as that wee will not submitte our selues neither vnto him selfe nor yet vnto his word but contemne his loue grace offered vnto vs is it reason that God should put forth his hand to helpe vs is it meete he should entreat vs as his children and accompt vs in the number of those which wholy dedicate them selues vnto his maiestie No not so But we rather are worthy to be set farre from him and too haue nothing at all to do with him Loe here the meaning of Dauid in this place when he saieth O Lord helth is farre from the vngodly bicause they regard not thy statutes As if hee should haue said we ought not to be abashed O Lorde although thou giuest vs ouer and that we feele no succoure of thy goodnes but that we languish in al miserie and calamitie And why so Bicause wee haue forsaken and refused thy grace and therefore of very right we ought to be confounded and come to naught Now I pray you tell vs what meaneth it that God will not be nigh vs but by meanes of his word we must needes feele his goodnes by the effect yea forsooth and yet God commeth nigh vnto vs by his word for that is a preparatiue by which he fashioneth our heartes to the ende he might shewe him selfe
to be a mercifull father vnto vs. And so he maketh an entrance into our heartes for his mercie that we might be capable to enioye his benefites Seeing then it is so that God by his worde sheweth him selfe and also commeth nigh vnto vs we must not be abashed although they which refuse his worde yea which so vilananously and contemptuously reiect it as wee see we must not I say thinke it straunge although that they feele no help at the hand of God in their afflictions that his mercifull goodnesse stretcheth not it selfe vnto them Now Dauid returneth to this sentēce which we haue seene and desireth to be quickened according vnto the worde of God It is very true he vseth the word Iudgement but al cōmeth to one as we haue already heretofore declared Quicken me then according to thy iudgements sayth he yea which I have loued But yet notwithstanding he sheweth vs how it is that God hath promised to quicken vs and why hee attributeth it vnto his onely mercie Nowe this is a saying which importeth a very good and excellent lesson for they which confesse that they can not be saued but by the grace of God yet notwithstāding how soeuer it is they cease not to ouerthrow the grace of God in extolling their merites or els in making them selues beleeue that God hath promised them to bee so kinde vnto them bicause they haue deserued it It is requisite then that we know with Dauid what it is that hath moued and stirred vp God to promise to quicken vs to wit to mainteine vs. For this worde to Quicken importeth all whatsoeuer concerneth our estate saluation It is bicause he is good and neuer sought the cause otherwise but in his goodnesse When then we are enforced to cōfesse that it is God which mainteineth vs we must also forthwith confesse that God hath done it for his promise sake and for that he hath reueled it as a testimonie in his worde Moreouer see wherein a great number of people are too too grossely deceiued that is that God promiseth too mainteine and conserue vs accordingly as we are worthy thereof or accordingly as euery man shall deserue And herevpon as I haue already said we darken the grace of God and faine through arrogancie I know not what presumption that it seemeth that wee our selues are the cause why God fauoureth vs and that the same commeth at the least partely of our selues And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of that which Dauid speaketh of in this place Thy mercies O Lord are great O quicken me according to thy testimonies He sayeth not onely O Lord I am conserued by thee bicause thou hast promised but meaning to declare that it commeth altogether freely hee sheweth that God was not moued too make any such promise ne yet was induced by any occasion that he found in vs or that he tooke it on our behalf No no but bicause his mercies are great So then by this saying Dauid teacheth vs that the promises of God are altogether free that they hang not of our worthinesse ne yet bicause God found some thing in vs why to loue succour vs so but bicause he is good pitieth our miseries Loe what made him to offer himselfe so liberall to vs consequently to perfourme his promise Wee must learne then to glorifie our selues in the meere grace of God and not to attribute any thing whatsoeuer either to our owne persons or yet to our merites for there is nothing at all in vs. Nowe it followeth Many there are that trouble and persecute me yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies Here Dauid maketh a protestation and complaint too the ende God might the rather encline him selfe to heare and helpe him And that is according too that which hee hath already said For if we will haue God to helpe vs it is good reason that wee should patiently attende his leisure And in very deede hee that shall presume to aduaunce him selfe or thinketh that God will haue mercy vpon him and then letteth him selfe to be ouercome with temtation and becommeth altogether desperate hee by this meanes suffereth not God too exercise his goodnesse as he hath promised but in thus doing shutteth the gate against God as it were Wherefore if wee be moued to be reuenged of our enemies to be our owne caruers as we say in reuenge and not tary vntill God doth his office doe we thinke that hee ought to helpe vs Hee that will doe iustice with his owne hand and of his owne priuate authoritie will hee come to craue aide of the Magistrate after that hee hath killed his enemy If so be then there be any man which thinketh to be saued of him selfe and yet sayeth vnto God Saue me O Lorde this a very mockery And therefore for this cause Dauid saieth in this place Many there are O Lorde which trouble and persecute me yet do I not swarue from thy statutes Dauid speaketh not here to boast him selfe but it is to declare that he wayted for the help of God and putting him selfe vnder his protection trusted to obteine his request bicause he might boldely craue it of him See then what a full boldnes we may conceiue to haue in calling vpon God not to dout but that we shal obtain whatsoeuer we pray for vnto him according to his wil that is he hath pitie of vs so that I say we must alwayes stay our selues vpon his promises as we see Dauid here hath done So then let vs here consider in the first place that so often as we come vnto God we must come vnto him attending his good leysure and not to be shaken with what soeuer temptations shall come vnto vs but we must alwaies seeke after God meditate continually vpon his promises haue them alwayes in minde we must I say haue all this if we will haue God to help and defende vs. Now as I haue already said Dauid bragged not here of his vertues but meaneth onely that hee was not caried away with the iniquitie of men to be euen with them or to crie quittance as wee say that hee was not in haste to haue that which was promised him but helde him selfe continually quiet and still attending paciētly to haue God to accomplishe that which he had promised touching the reuenge of his enemies euen so when as any shall grieue trouble vs yet must we not leaue to followe our vocation and to perseuer in the feare of God For the greater part of vs will alwayes be full of malice and vnthankefulnesse vntil such time as God hath refourmed vs. So then when as wee shall not haue hurt any man if they ryse vp against vs in armes let vs not be astonied thereat And thus much for this Nowe the other is that when our enemies shal be infinite in number wee must not be troubled for all this but let vs knowe what the power of God is
and glorifie him as he ought to be glorified And this is a very necessary point for vs to learne For wee must not bee afeard of our owne shadowes as we say And therefore if there be two or three men which are in credit and authoritie that shall make warre against vs wee are so faint hearted before the blowe come as that it semeth vnto vs that we are vtterly vndone euen as though God were not strong enough to helpe vs. See how we through fond ignoraunce glorie in the power of men and vtterly ouerthrowe the power and might of God And therefore wee ought a great deale the better to consider of this place where it is saide Many there are O Lord which trouble and persecute me yet doe I not swarue from thy lawe neither yet haue I forgotten it That is to saye that although wee see an infinite number of people too rise vp against vs that wee see a generall conspiracie of the whole world and of all the creatures therein yet let vs not be too too much afeard knowing that the power of our God shal be sufficient inough to saue defend vs. See what we haue to note out of this place where it is said It grieued me when I sawe the transgressors bicause they kept not thy lawe Here Dauid sheweth that which we haue already seene before to wit that it greeued him more to see the offences which were committed against God then all the outrages which he bare in his owne person And this is also it which we ought to haue in great recommendation For if we bee so fine and as it were womannish that wee can abide nothing and yet in the meane while haue no care howe God is dishonoured his iustice violated and his commaundements broken I beseech you do we not right well shewe that wee are so giuen too please our selues as that wee euen contemne his sacred maiestie If a man meaning to defende his honour euen with tooth and nayle as we saye and maketh no accompt too see the glorie of God troden vnder feete if he bee so gallant and hawtie as to bee reuenged for euery iniurie and can abide too heare the holy name of God to be euill spoken off his lawe to be cast vnder foote doth he not right well shewe him selfe to be a very sensuall and fleshly man Yes surely hee is no better then a brute beaste And therefore for this cause let vs learne after the exāple of Dauid to be chiefly grieued and vexed whē as we shall see the commaundements of God to be broken It is the common and ordinarie fashion amongest vs too bee extreemly vexed when as any iniurie is done vnto vs as if the honour or credit of any of vs be touched we are by and by in a great heate and desire nothing els but too followe the matter hoatly And why so bicause we haue no regarde but to our owne person If one man shall robbe another his choler or anger will not be apeased hee looketh to his purse his medowes his possessions and to his houses euen as he shal be hindered either in this thing or in that Now a man that can well rule his affections shall neuer haue so great regard to his honour nor to his goodes as hee shall haue when as hee shall see the righteousnes of God to bee violated What shall hee saye euen groning in him selfe ought men in this sort to peruert the righteousnes of God shall men breake and corrupt all order and equitie Loe say I what it is that ought to touch vs and to make vs very angry that is when we see offences committed against God and not that which toucheth our owne persons But what shall we speake of this for very fewe there are which haue any care hereof And yet for all that it is not in vaine that Dauid hath set downe vnto vs this example but to shewe how the children of God ought to moderate their passiōs that is they should alwaies beginne at this end to be grieued and sorrowfull to see the transgressors which breake contemne and treade vnder foote the worde of God and this should bee their chief grief and sorrowe which should crucifie them and not to haue such regarde to their owne persons as they haue but to let God alwayes to be preferred before them selues and to let him to haue the most soueraigne degree as he is most worthy Now if it grieueth vs to see the transgressors which teare in pieces and breake al iustice and pollicy it is certaine that we should also be grieued at the euil which we know to be in our selues For euery man is to iudge of him selfe without exception As for those which will say Oh see I am not grieued as touching mine own person and in very deede I care not so much for my selfe as I am grieued to see men thus horribly to offend the maiestie of God and yet they themselues will take leaue to cōmit as great or els greater villanies wickednes thē the rest and yet when they haue thus said they will couer their own vices flatter thē selues when they haue offended his maiestie wheras they should lay thē wide opē now in deede these men shew thē selues to be right hypocrites And why so I beseech you bicause they are not grieued at the transgressors when as they see the glorie of God impaired his seruice not obserued and his righteousnesse contemned But rather persecute the persons and hate not the vices which are nourished and purposely mainteined in them For what shewe soeuer they make of condemning the euil yet it may bee easely seene that they are no whit touched therewith And by this they right well shewe that they know not what it is to be grieued as they ought Now this is not to do as wee ought For whatsoeuer shewe wee shall make of the great zeale wee haue to the honour and glorie of God we shall very well see that there is nothing but hypocrisie and dissimulation in vs if wee looke indifferently into the matter Loe here what we haue to note out of this place Now Dauid saieth in the ende Consider O Lord how I loue thy commaundementes quicken me according vnto thy louing kindnesse Here Dauid doth nothing els but setteth downe more manifestly that which was spoken of heretofore Consider O Lorde I loue thy commaundementes hee speaketh not onely of that which is said vnto vs that wee must loue our neighbour liue chastely honour our father and mother do wrong to none but vnder these wordes hee comprehendeth all the doctrine wherewith God meaneth to gouerne his people and church as we haue already handled Nowe in this doctrine are conteined the promises which witnesse vnto vs his goodnesse yea and they haue the chiefest place bicause that God shewing himselfe vnto vs to bee our father wil not giue vs ouer for any thing forsomuch as we be assured of our eternall saluation and
grounde And yet in the meane while we neuer once thinke that they are but Gnattes or els when wee shall esteeme most of thē that they are but Frogges leaping and skipping vp and downe heere belowe Neither yet haue they so mighty thighes and legges as that they are able too iustle against God but that whensoeuer he shall stretche forth his hand it shall throwe downe euen into the depth whatsoeuer mē shall of purpose with all their complices or aftely or wickedly deuise and whatsoeuer power they shall be any waye able to make See then what wee haue here especially too note that is that whensoeuer we shall fall into the handes of our enemies and that it shall seeme they might at their pleasure bring to passe whatsoeuer they listed so that there remained no way to withstande them yet let vs looke vnto this infinite power of God and not too doubt but that when it shall please him to deliuer vs that the Deuill ne yet all his rable of maintayners shall be able to doe any thinge against vs. And although all the creatures in the worlde lifted them selues vp against vs yet are they not able too doe vs any hurt so long as God is on our side And thus we must I say receiue the grace of God which hee hath promised vs to the ende we might not doubt that all the world can doe vs any harme when as he shall haue taken vs into his protection And see also I pray you whether it is that the Scripture leadeth vs Although sayth Dauid Psal 3.6 an hundreth thousand men did set them selues against me yet will not I bee afrayde And why so Because the Lord is with me And againe Psal 23.4 If I should walke in the shadowe of death so long as I shall looke vnto God and see his Sheepcrooke before mee I will not bee afrayde but be assured that I shall liue Rom. 8.13 Saint Paule also comprehendeth all this speaking not onely of this present life but of the health of our soules likewise when as he sayth If God be on our side who shall be against vs. I cannot deny but that wee shall haue a greate number of enemyes and Satan will labour by all meanes possible to hurt vs we shall haue great store of his supporters to goe a bout to cast vs downe headlong into the bottomlesse pit and yet all they shall doe nothing when as wee shall bee in the safekeeping of our God Nowe this is the summe which we are too gather heereby in the firste place of this text But yet we must goe on a great deale farther For Dauid doth not onely shew vnto vs that we ought highly too esteeme of this mightie power and greate goodnesse of God wherewith he hath promised to helpe vs in our nede but also aduertiseth and exhorteth vs not too turne aside from his obedience for any hurte that men can doe vntoo vs. Nowe it is very true that the one hangeth vppon the other For how can it be that wee should haue heartes too serue GOD when as wee see the whole worlde too bee against vs and we alwayes in daunger to be hurt That is to say Let vs pot our trust in God although the allarme and assaultes bee giuen vs on euery side For otherwise it shal be impossible for vs too stande stoutly to it without we be throughly perswaded that God is sufficient to defende vs yea when as we see all the men in the world to set them selues against vs but that we trusting in his power cease not to followe that which he hath commaunded vs notwithding all the lets that men can possibly lay before vs. Moreouer we must giue our minds to this word of God as here it is said I stand in awe of thy word For Dauid meaneth not that he would haue God to shew himselfe in a visible manner that he might come vnto him to doe him homage but he is contented that God hath shewed vnto him his will pleasure and holdeth him selfe well pleased therewith And euen so must wee also doe For there are a great many of people which wil brag that they feare God and professe it with open mouth And yet notwithstanding see how God calleth vs vnto him by his word we for al that are no whit moued therwith yea we scarcely vouchsafe once too open our mouthes to declare that we are contented to obay him Where then is that feare wherof we so brag since the word wherin the maiestie of God appeareth is so contemned of vs See then wherefore we ought a great deale the more to consider of this manner of speaking which Dauid heere vseth that he standeth in awe of the woord of God and that he desired none other visible presence but it suffised him that God had onely spoken and hee made good accounte thereof Now if we doe not thus we shall euer be letted frō following that which God hath commaunded vs neither shall we euer haue the harts to discharge our selues perfectly of our dueties Contrariwise they that shal be resolued as Dauid was only to giue their mindes to the word of God shall ouercome all lets stops Moreouer after they haue walked aright doe they see that men murmure against thē for it that it seemeth that they for their wel dooing shal be recōpensed with euill and that this thing that is mischeously wrought against them that they muste needes languish in long attending without spating yea that they haue kindled the fury of men against them without any occasion giuen by them doe they see I say all this And if they doe thus it is very well for then stande they in awe of the word of God knowing that they shall not be without the help of God as also our sauiour Christe exhorteth vs. Feare not saith he them which may kill the body Mat. 10.28 but I wil shewe you whome you ought to feare to wit feare him who hath both soule and body in his subiection When as then you shall looke vnto your God then shall you not neede to feare whatsoeuer men goe about to cause you to turne aside to withdraw you from the right way And thus we see in summe that it is our infirmitie or rather our infidelitie which hindereth vs when as men threaten vs when as we see the wicked practizes which are imagined against vs and that wee are troubled and tormented without cause For if wee still looked vnto God this should neuer be able to withdrawe vs but that wee should alwayes remaine constant to doe that which hee commaundeth vs. And by this also we may see how al to the cōtrary raigneth at this day in the world and that there is very little feare of the word of God For so that wee can holde the fauour of men in doing our duetie any way wel this goeth for payment But if there bloweth an ill winde and that wee perceiue any euill practise
commaundements Heere Dauid more liuely expresseth and declareth that which I haue already touched to wit that our affection in seruing of God proceedeth of the trust which wee haue in him in beleeuing his promises If then we conceiue not that God is our sauiour and so by that meanes truste that hee will help vs it is impossible that we should be inflamed too serue him It is true we may very well haue some feeling of the duetie which we owe vnto him and be some what touched therewith although in deed few there are which think therof but admit it be so yet will no man for all that freely and of his owne accord say O come Let vs serue yea let vs serue our God euen vntill such time as we are fully assured of the good which he meaneth and is ready to procure vs and of the true and full hope of our saluation throughly imprinted in our heartes And so let vs rightly consider that they which remember no more of that which is preached vnto them but this to say Loe this is it which GOD commaundeth vs we must either doe this or that Truely this is no pointe of true Christianitie And why so Because the principallest pointe of Christianitie is to knowe the goodnesse of God and the mercie which hee vseth towardes vs. Loe this is I say the true knowledge which wee muste learne in the Schoole of our Lorde Iesus Christe and holde vs to that which he hath declared vnto vs. And besides we are also to consider of that which he commaundeth vs but his promises must be preferred haue the cheefest place And by this also we are shewed that in the popish religiō the principall doctrine of Christianitie is put out made nothing Because that when the Papistes creake and chatter their prayers making as though they presented their supplications vnto God they say that they must neuer assure them selues of that which they pray for And the cause is for that they looke not vnto the free promises of God And how so Beholde an hypocrite shall step vp and preach nothing else but that which euery man is bounde to doe Hee will preach vnto you of Chastitie he will make you another Sermon of Almes one of this matter another of that and yet for all this we knowe not what it is to beleeue in God Then doe we a great deale lesse know what it is to call vpon him in full assurance to say God is our father he alloweth vs for his children because he hath vs as he would wish that our sins are forgiuen vs through the grace of our lord Iesus Christ There is no whit of this in popery therfore it is impossible that there should be one word of good and sound doctrine in it and profitable vnto saluation Let vs then well consider of this saying of Dauid O Lorde I haue trusted in thy sauing health and haue doone thy Commaundements Nowe in the ende he sayth My soule hath kept thy testimonyes and I loue them exceedingly I haue kept thy commaundements and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee After that Dauid hath sufficiently protested that hee loueth the word of God that it was so sweete and pleasant vnto him as that all his study and delight consisted therin he concludeth and saith That his soule had kept it as if he should haue said O Lord in that I was giuen to serue thee it was not with my hands and feete onely but because I loued thy word yea and that with all my soule and I take my whole delight therein For when the Hebrewes meane too shewe a pure and sounde lyking they say My soule hath done this or that that is asmuch to say as I haue doone it with all mine hearte Loe then an heartie seruice which Dauid heere expresseth this is yet a point which ought throughly too be considered of For wee see howe men are giuen to play the hypocrites euen too set a very fayre outwarde shewe of the matter and by that meanes thinke them selues to be discharged before God Nowe wee must beginne farder of as Dauid heere sheweth vs that is wee muste keepe the woorde of God in our heartes Wherein hee confirmeth the matter which we haue already heeretofore handled to witte that the question is not to haue GOD simply to teach vs whereby wee might know what he requireth at our hands what our duetie is towards him but he buildeth vpon his promises Howbeit Dauid hauing said that his soul kept the cōmādemēts of God because he loued thē by this which he addeth sone after he ioyneth the promises with the cōmandemēts saying For al my wayes are before thine eyes It is true that he sheweth by these words that except he had byn sure that god protected him it had not byn possible for him to haue had that true lyking to haue serued his maiestie And herevpon hangeth the seconde pointe that God helde him alwayes in his presence because hee should not haue leaue to doe euill as if hee shoulde haue saide O Lorde because I knowe that no man is able too hide him selfe from thee Loe why I giue my selfe wholly too feare and serue thee And too say the trueth what is the cause that the vngodly take such libertie to commit and deuise such vilanous and greeuous Actes as that they them selues are ashamed off yea that it maketh the very heares of their head to stand vpright What is the cause of this The reason is for that they knowe not that God seeth them for if they were sure of that they would be somwhat moued with the feare of his maiestie So then in that the faithles war thus against God and take libertie too doe wickedly it is bicause they think that God seeth them not according too that saying in the Scripture The wicked man hath said God seeth not hee knoweth nothing of that which is doone heere on the earth I meane not that the wicked doe thus openly speake yet for all that they think no lesse as by experience wee see for they thinke that God marketh not all their iniquities neither yet that it is needefull for them once too make any account of their sinnes Howbeit Dauid sayth cleane contrary That because hee knewe that all his wayes were before God therefore he kept his commaundements See also why the scripture in speaking of the holy fathers which liued sinceerly sayth That they walked before God to wit they had this consideration that they knew that God did see them and therefore they walked as if they had beene in his presence And this importeth that they toke not such liberty as they thēselues thought good but that they wholy ordered them selues according to the will of God as hee had declared it by his worde See then Dauid his meaning And euen so must we also doe if wee will haue our life and conuersation to be well ordered to witte to know that God seeth
recourse in all our necessities And thus much for the first point The Second is when that wee shall haue had our refuge to God we might finde in him wherewith fully to reioyce vs. Thus much then for the second The third is That if we will obteine tobe restored at Gods handes wee being as it were dead and confounded should looke vnto his promises For behold he will giue vs encouragement to come vnto him We haue here then a good admonition and very profitable that is That as often as we shall be ouerwhelmed with all the miserie that can be we should yet looke vnto God bicause that then hee will seeke after vs more then euer he did before willing vs to come vnto him But here we are to note that there is not any so great a miserie which ought to let and stay vs from cōming straight on vnto him For Dauid confesseth that he was become as a dead man When then wee shal be euen as it were at the last cast as we say that we can no more that we should bee as a man would saye oppressed and ouercome with sorowe and griefe yea and that the graue euen gapeth to swallowe vs vp let vs not for all that ceasse to beseeche God to restore vs. For it belongeth properly vnto him when he hath appealed and brought vs to deathes dore to restore and quicken vs againe But we are to vnderstande that we must not come vnto him after an hypocritical maner we must not require him too restore vs and yet haue our mindes wandering here and there neither yet must we seeke for that thing in the worlde which wee make countenance to seeke for at his handes We must not make vs two wayes to the woode as we saye but our whole delight and contentation must bee in God and in his grace that it suffiseth vs to haue him only and to feele his mercie and compassion towardes vs and when wee haue gotten that to bee contented onely therewith But bicause we can not come vnto God without he him selfe draweth vs when as wee desire him to restore vs and to stretche out his hande vnto vs wee must adde thereto this saying here expressed to wit that he will quicken vs according to his word Now by this as I haue already sayde wee are taught that in the middest of death we finde saluation and health bicause the promises of God neuer fayle vs. It followeth in the second verse I haue declared my wayes and thou heardest mee teache me thy statutes Here Dauid alledgeth another reason that GOD heareth him to wit that this is not the first time that he had heard him neither yet that God is mercifull and liberall to graunt vnto his faithfull their petitions and requestes But wee in very deede must in continuing the matter which wee are here in hande to open be throughly assured and resolued that it is not in vayne when as we make our prayers vnto God neither yet that wee lose our labours but that our prayers shall profite vs. We must therefore be fully resolued herein And howe must that bee Forsooth Dauid euen very now alledged vnto God his promises assuring him selfe that hee receiued them through his meere mercy and goodnesse And this is no foolehardinesse Euen so then let vs in no case feare to come vnto God boldly and cherefully vpon this condition yea so long as wee builde vpon his promises We must not come vnto him according to our owne fantasies neither must we allege and saye my God I present my selfe here before thy maiestie bicause I thinke or suppose that thou oughtest to heare me this were too too fonde and lewde arrogancie but to saye Alas my good God it is very true that I am not worthy to come neare vnto thy presence and although it shall seeme to me that I might approche to thee yet must I pull back that foote againe Neuerthelesse since thou biddest me to come vnto thee and hast commaunded me to call vpon thee and promised also for to heare mee Loe here my God the cause which maketh mee so bolde not to doubt to come vnto thee bicause I beleeue thy worde And now O Lorde I stand in no doubt that thou wilt not receiue mee when as I thus buylde vpon thy promisse After Dauid hath vsed this kinde of speech to stirre him selfe vp to praye vnto God and also to obtaine his request he addeth O Lorde I haue acknowledged my wayes and thou heardest mee As if he should haue saide Ouer and besides thy promise my God there is another reason which enboldeneth and encourageth me to come vnto thee to wit the experience which thou hast shewed vnto me of thy great goodnes I neuer required any thing of thee in mynecessitie but thou diddest heare me to witte but that thou satiffiedst my request but that I haue felt howe thou hast relieued thy seruauntes and hast alwayes beene ready to succoure them in their distresse Yea O Lorde and that thou hast not tarried nor wayted vntill they came vnto thee but hast euen offered thy selfe first vnto them Seeing then it is so that thou hast shewed thy selfe to be so good and liberall O I nowe doubt not but that thou wilt continue the same thy goodnesse Wherefore I beseeche thee teache mee thy statutes See here a text worthy the marking For as I haue before sayde wee must not come vnto God doubting and wauering but with full resolution that hee will heare vs. And howe is that O we haue a most sure and infallible testimonie too wit he hath promised too bee neare vnto al those which shal craue and begge of him in trueth we may then say wee beseeche thee O Lord to haue regarde vnto vs according too thy woorde It is very true that wee are vnwoorthy that thou shouldest bee careful ouer vs But so it is that hauing thy woorde and promise wee may boldly come vnto thee and besides let vs adde there too the experience which God hath already shewed vntoo vs that hee neuer forgetteth his but preserueth and keepesh them and alwaies watcheth ouer them And why so That wee ought to be much more heedful then wee are of al the benefits of God too the ende wee might come too this consideration of the reason which Dauid heere bringeth in too wit that wee might say vntoo God that hee hath hearde vs. Nowe there are very fewe of vs that can doo this And why so Bicause that when we are in any distresse wee neuer thinke to cal vpon God yea although the griefe or disease presse and grieue vs neuer so much And yet if wee doo then cal vpon him it is so that assoone as we haue escaped the danger we wil not acknowledge it too bee God that hath had pytie and compassion vppon vs but is quyte out of memory and troden cleane vnder foote By cause then we remember not the benefites of God Loe what is the cause why we cannot