whome he so greatly loued as the scripture witnesseth of him Nowe heere we are to note two things The one is that when Dauid desired God to looke vpon his afflictions and to deliuer him out of them hee confesseth that hee was astonyed as if God had turned his backe vpon him It is very true that Dauid considered not of all that was too bee considered neither did he conclude that God would cast off his children in such sorte But yet so farre forth as naturall reason coulde reach see howe he might iudge of his estate And at that pointe also are all the Children of God For on the one side when as they shall looke vppon their owne state and condition they cannot chose but that they must be forced to say what a thing is this Surely if God hath any compassion vpon vs and that he seeth vs is it possible that euer wee should bee thus cruelly handled will not he take some better order for this See then that wee cannot choose but to conceiue these and such like imaginations in our heartes when as wee are greeued and persecuted and looke into our owne present estate yea euen as I haue already sayde we cannot choose euen too feele our selues as it were to be forsaken of GOD. And yet for all this wee muste bee fully perswaded and resolued that GOD beholdeth vs and although it seemeth that hee hath turned his backe vppon vs yet that hee ceaseth not too helpe vs and is carefull for our saluation yea and though wee see nothing yet let vs holde this for a certaine and an vndoubted trueth in oure heartes And therfore so often as we shall be thus troubled to thinke that God hath no lenger care ouer vs but that he hath clerely forsakē vs yet let not this hinder vs from praying after the example of Dauid neither let vs be slacke but euen say O Lord beholde me In the second place we haue to note the reason which Dauid here setteth downe For I do not forget thy lawe If then wee will haue God to heare vs wee must haue his lawe as it were fully settled in our heartes And howe is that Forsooth wee must thinke and study vpon his promises we must know him to bee louing and mercifull to helpe all those that are his and too ayde them in all their necessities and besides this must bee oure sure foundation that his promises are infallible and that he will not suffer his children to goe emptie away when as they shall tende them selues thereto See then how we must meditate vpon the lawe of God that is to say vpon his word For vnder this worde the law there is no doubt but that Dauid comprehended the summe of al the doctrine which God gaue vnto his church Euery of vs then must be exercised in this study and we hauing the lawe thus imprinted in our heartes may bee certaine and sure that God beholdeth vs and will helpe vs in all our afflictions yea although it seemeth and wee may iudge according to our carnall senses that hee hath turned his backe vpon vs or that he hath closed vp his eyes and sleepeth and as a man would saye neuer thinketh more of vs. Now it followeth in the second verse Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy worde Here Dauid expresseth what this his affection is whereof hee hath spoken too wit howe that the wicked vniustly persecuted him as againe hereafter shall more at large bee declared Now wee knowe that the griefes which the children of God doe suffer in this worlde are diuerse and sundrie For sometimes God will lay heauy hande vppon them without any man his touching sometimes also men shall persecute them with vniust actions so that the wicked shall torment and grieue them Dauid then sheweth that the affliction which he endured was of this second kinde to wit that hee had enemies which did vniustly trouble him And see wherefore hee desireth God too pleade his cause and restore him By this wee are admonished according to that which I haue already saide that when we haue liued in a good conscience and haue trauelled euen to doe good vnto euery man so that no man hath any cause iustly to complaine of vs yet although wee are persecuted and troubled wee must not for all that bee ouermuch abashed bicause as great matters as al these were layde vpon Dauid For this is most sure that hee walked so marueilous soundly as that euery man had occasion too loue him And yet notwithstanding hee was not without troubles amongest men And why so Bicause of their vnthankefulnesse Let vs then vnderstande that this vice began not first in these dayes I meane the vnthankefulnesse and iniquitie of men But long time a goe and therefore as much as in vs lyeth let vs seeke after peace but if so be wee shall procure to doe any wrong the worlde will neuer giue ouer hating of vs and procuring of our hurte yea and goe about euen to destroye vs. But as I haue already saide let not that seeme straunge vnto vs seeing it came so to passe in Dauid And thus much for this Nowe in the second place wee are to beseeche God too auenge our cause too comfort vs when we see our selues to be wrongfully dealt withal when as we are oppressed with false and slaunderous reportes that we are euill spoken of without iust desert we must thē desire God to be our warrant and deliuerer and let vs not dout but that he will take our cause into his owne hand shewe him selfe to be more then a protector lawyer For he saieth that he is the aduerse partie for the maintenance and defence of the causes and quarrels of all his when as they shall haue walked sincerely before him selfe before men Loe here a notable and very profitable admonition That is we must cast all our care vpon God when as we are wrongfully accused iniuriously dealt withall troubled and oppressed and beseech God to take the cause into his own hand and to auenge it him selfe Nowe this may serue too make vs patient for what is the cause that men so trouble and torment them selues waxe so fierce and cruell vse reuenge or els growe to be very cowardes when any wrong is done them but bicause that they haue not recourse vnto God put not thē selues vnder his protectiō pray him not to holde his holy hand ouer them and to defend their cause Now if wee knowe this it is most certaine that oure heartes shall incontinent bee a great deale more quiet and let vs not haue such boyling affections as wee haue to be auenged of them which trouble vs but let vs followe the doctrine which is here set downe vnto vs to wit that when we are vniustly entreated let vs pray vnto God that he will auenge our cause And besides also let vs learne to stay our selues of the promise which is made vnto vs thereof for
to be a mercifull father vnto vs. And so he maketh an entrance into our heartes for his mercie that we might be capable to enioye his benefites Seeing then it is so that God by his worde sheweth him selfe and also commeth nigh vnto vs we must not be abashed although they which refuse his worde yea which so vilananously and contemptuously reiect it as wee see we must not I say thinke it straunge although that they feele no help at the hand of God in their afflictions that his mercifull goodnesse stretcheth not it selfe vnto them Now Dauid returneth to this sentēce which we haue seene and desireth to be quickened according vnto the worde of God It is very true he vseth the word Iudgement but al cōmeth to one as we haue already heretofore declared Quicken me then according to thy iudgements sayth he yea which I have loued But yet notwithstanding he sheweth vs how it is that God hath promised to quicken vs and why hee attributeth it vnto his onely mercie Nowe this is a saying which importeth a very good and excellent lesson for they which confesse that they can not be saued but by the grace of God yet notwithstāding how soeuer it is they cease not to ouerthrow the grace of God in extolling their merites or els in making them selues beleeue that God hath promised them to bee so kinde vnto them bicause they haue deserued it It is requisite then that we know with Dauid what it is that hath moued and stirred vp God to promise to quicken vs to wit to mainteine vs. For this worde to Quicken importeth all whatsoeuer concerneth our estate saluation It is bicause he is good and neuer sought the cause otherwise but in his goodnesse When then we are enforced to cōfesse that it is God which mainteineth vs we must also forthwith confesse that God hath done it for his promise sake and for that he hath reueled it as a testimonie in his worde Moreouer see wherein a great number of people are too too grossely deceiued that is that God promiseth too mainteine and conserue vs accordingly as we are worthy thereof or accordingly as euery man shall deserue And herevpon as I haue already said we darken the grace of God and faine through arrogancie I know not what presumption that it seemeth that wee our selues are the cause why God fauoureth vs and that the same commeth at the least partely of our selues And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of that which Dauid speaketh of in this place Thy mercies O Lord are great O quicken me according to thy testimonies He sayeth not onely O Lord I am conserued by thee bicause thou hast promised but meaning to declare that it commeth altogether freely hee sheweth that God was not moued too make any such promise ne yet was induced by any occasion that he found in vs or that he tooke it on our behalf No no but bicause his mercies are great So then by this saying Dauid teacheth vs that the promises of God are altogether free that they hang not of our worthinesse ne yet bicause God found some thing in vs why to loue succour vs so but bicause he is good pitieth our miseries Loe what made him to offer himselfe so liberall to vs consequently to perfourme his promise Wee must learne then to glorifie our selues in the meere grace of God and not to attribute any thing whatsoeuer either to our owne persons or yet to our merites for there is nothing at all in vs. Nowe it followeth Many there are that trouble and persecute me yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies Here Dauid maketh a protestation and complaint too the ende God might the rather encline him selfe to heare and helpe him And that is according too that which hee hath already said For if we will haue God to helpe vs it is good reason that wee should patiently attende his leisure And in very deede hee that shall presume to aduaunce him selfe or thinketh that God will haue mercy vpon him and then letteth him selfe to be ouercome with temtation and becommeth altogether desperate hee by this meanes suffereth not God too exercise his goodnesse as he hath promised but in thus doing shutteth the gate against God as it were Wherefore if wee be moued to be reuenged of our enemies to be our owne caruers as we say in reuenge and not tary vntill God doth his office doe we thinke that hee ought to helpe vs Hee that will doe iustice with his owne hand and of his owne priuate authoritie will hee come to craue aide of the Magistrate after that hee hath killed his enemy If so be then there be any man which thinketh to be saued of him selfe and yet sayeth vnto God Saue me O Lorde this a very mockery And therefore for this cause Dauid saieth in this place Many there are O Lorde which trouble and persecute me yet do I not swarue from thy statutes Dauid speaketh not here to boast him selfe but it is to declare that he wayted for the help of God and putting him selfe vnder his protection trusted to obteine his request bicause he might boldely craue it of him See then what a full boldnes we may conceiue to haue in calling vpon God not to dout but that we shal obtain whatsoeuer we pray for vnto him according to his wil that is he hath pitie of vs so that I say we must alwayes stay our selues vpon his promises as we see Dauid here hath done So then let vs here consider in the first place that so often as we come vnto God we must come vnto him attending his good leysure and not to be shaken with what soeuer temptations shall come vnto vs but we must alwaies seeke after God meditate continually vpon his promises haue them alwayes in minde we must I say haue all this if we will haue God to help and defende vs. Now as I haue already said Dauid bragged not here of his vertues but meaneth onely that hee was not caried away with the iniquitie of men to be euen with them or to crie quittance as wee say that hee was not in haste to haue that which was promised him but helde him selfe continually quiet and still attending paciētly to haue God to accomplishe that which he had promised touching the reuenge of his enemies euen so when as any shall grieue trouble vs yet must we not leaue to followe our vocation and to perseuer in the feare of God For the greater part of vs will alwayes be full of malice and vnthankefulnesse vntil such time as God hath refourmed vs. So then when as wee shall not haue hurt any man if they ryse vp against vs in armes let vs not be astonied thereat And thus much for this Nowe the other is that when our enemies shal be infinite in number wee must not be troubled for all this but let vs knowe what the power of God is
or that we bee threatened and that the vngodly beare the sway we are incontinent astonyed yea and that in such a feare as that we are not able once to stirr a finger And that which is more to gratifie the wicked whom we see to be in authoritie we will make no bones at it as we say to offend the maiestie of God And frō whence commeth this but that we loke not vnto his word as here it is set downe We are then euen conuinced of infidelitie when as we assure not our selues of the helpe of our God to do that which he hath ordayned and that which is our duty to doe that we haue not this inuincible power to resist the assaultes of men And why so Because it is most certaine that we haue not earnestly stoode in awe of the word of God which ought to be as an assured fortresse and not to make any account of whatsoeuer that Satan can any way craftely inuent against vs. Now after that Dauid hath thus spoken hee goeth on and sayth I am as glad of thy worde as one that findeth great spoyles That is to say he gladded more in the promises of God then in all the riches in the worlde as wee haue seene in the nienth parte beginning with the letter TETH which hath beene in that place song That hee esteemed more of the worde of God then of all the golde Siluer in the worlde And heere he sayth that he reioyceth to heare God speake more then if hee had sounde all the goods in the worlde that all the riches in the worlde were nothing to him in respect of it It seemeth greatly at the first sight that heere is some contrarietie as to stand in feare awe of the word of God also to reioyce in it For ioy feare are meere contraryes But we haue already declared what it is that Dauid meaneth by this feare not that hee was abashed too serue God ne yet that he douted of his saluation But it was to bridle him and to holde him in obedience and also to declare that God gaue him such a constancy against all the men in the worlde as that when hee seeth all the creatures of God to lifte thē selues vp against him yet that hee ceased not to goe on to doe that which God had committed vnto him and that which he saw was his duetie to doe To be short let vs then holde this for a resolute point that Dauid had not such a feare as made him fierce and cruell ne yet which made him to flye from the presence of God but he so reuerenced that which God spake as that hee stoode boldly at defyaunce with all men declaring that hee made no reckoning of their fury poyson nor yet of all their deadly enmities Dauid I say cared for none of all this And why so Because he so reuerenced and honoured God as that he fully reposed him selfe vpon his worde Nowe when as we haue such a feare it is nothing contrary to the ioy which Dauid heere speaketh off But it is rather an excellent accorde or sweete hermony for it is impossible for vs rightly to giue our selues vnto God and to obay him in such sort as we ought without we loue him and that his word be pleasaunt and sweete vnto vs. And see wherefore Dauid doth not onely say that the woorde of God was more deere vnto him then either golde or siluer but he sayth that it was sweeter vnto him then hony Hee setteth downe these two thinges which ought too be coupled together to wit that the word of God ought too be more deere and sweete vnto vs then all other thinges and that we ought to take all our delight and pleasure therein desiring nothing else but to order and holde our selues to it knowing that whatsoeuer God hath is to this ende too communicate the same vnto vs that wee might taste of his bountie and loue Nowe wee see that Dauid did not without cause ioyne this ioy which he conceiued of the woorde of God with feare signifiing that he stoode not in awe of God perforce and with a slauish feare as we say but he did it in acknowledging him too be his God and Sauiour and setling him selfe wholly vpon his promises And thus much for this second verse Nowe he addeth soone after I hate falshod and abhorre it but thy lawe doe I loue This verse is not heere added but to good purpose For Dauid sheweth that we can neuer be glad as hee hath declared how he hath beene neither yet stand in awe of the word of God without we detest falshod Now we of our owne nature are so nusseled in vanitie as that it is lamentable The lawe of God then shall neuer come so fully home vnto vs as that we may iustly say that we earnestly heare it and receiue it from the hart vntil such time as we haue striued against our fleshly affections that is too say against all whatsoeuer is in our nature because it is all but vanitie In summe Dauid after hee had spoken of this ioy which hee had conceiued of the promises of God wherein hee declareth vnto vs his goodnesse after he had spoken of the feare which we owe him to become subiect vnto him and after that he had giuen him the authoritie which hee deserued aboue all other men and creatures for a conclusion hee addeth the meane howe to attaine to all this to wit that we must eschewe falshod and not onely eschew hate it but also detest it yea signifying that wee must greatly abhorre it so that wee ouercome all our wicked desires and tame them and all other our lustes which cary vs away too wickednesse withdraw vs from the obedience of God So then we see nowe that naturall men can neuer be disposed to serue God vntil such time as they haue striuē against the vanitie of their owne nature and that not onely once or twise but also too continue it all the dayes of their life For what are the lustes which are in vs and which doe wickedly leade vs from the right way In very deede the more parte are so preuented with them as that they feele them not or else thinke that it is nothing so meruelous thicke darkenesse remaineth in them As for those which haue a desire with all their hart to forsake them yet shall we finde them also to be ouermuch nusseled in them Moreouer if all the men in the worlde were examined and an inquisition made I confesse that wee shall finde the moste wicked sometimes to be remorsed and stoong and to be inwardly pricked and constrayned manger their hearts to haue loathing to doe euill They haue an eye vnto it by fittes and yet they cease not too follows the euill with a continuall course although betweene whiles they haue a lothing of it And we must not greatly meruell at this For carnall men which are not gouerned by the spirit of God
vs and therefore that we cannot flye from his hand but must submit our selues vnto it albeit wee wil not doe it freely and of our owne accorde And so let vs willingly be contented to be ruled by him beeing certifyed of his loue and goodnesse towards vs to the ende wee might in trueth make this protestation which Dauid heere maketh According too this holy doctrine let vs humbly prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good god in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it woulde please him to make vs to feele the power of his woorde in such sort as his holy Prophet heere sheweth vs and so too feele it as that wee may wholy submitte our selues vnto it Knowing that when it shall come in question for vs too remitte our selues and cleaue vnto him as hee requireth that wee must forsake the whole worlde and all our carnall affections which any way hinder vs from comming vnto him to the ende wee may so climbe vp vnto his maiestie as that not fearing the world nor all his assaultes wee may putte our whole confidence in his mercifull goodnesse and boldly present vs before his face to the ende the may receiue vs so that wee might alwayes bee gouerned through his holy spirit vntil such time as he hath brought vs vnto that perfectiō wherevnto he calleth and biddeth vs. That hee will not onely graunt vntoo vs this grace but also c. The xxii Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme THAV Let my complaint come before thee O Lorde and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Let my supplication come before thee and deliuer me according vnto thy worde My lippes shall speake of thy prayse when thou hast hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shall treate of thy worde for all thy cōmandementes are righteous Let thine hande helpe me for I haue chosen thy cōmaundementes I haue longed for thy sauing health O Lorde and in thy lawe is my delight Let my soule liue and it shall prayse thee and thy iudgementes shall helpe me I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruaunt for I doe not forget thy commaundementes THese eight last verses which arche knitting vp of the whole Psalme do shew vnto vs that which we oftentimes haue before seene to wit that Dauid his chiefest desire was this to be duely and truely instructed in the word of God and therin to be cōfirmed for he tooke such pleasure in it as that all the rest was little or nothing worth vnto him in respect of the same Now it is very true that he hath already sufficiētly spoken of this matter and yet that which he presently addeth is not supperfluous especially if we consider in what sort our carnall desires rule vs. For that is it which letteth vs that we can not onely haue that feruency which Dauid had to seeke throughly to profit in the schoole of God but we scarsely haue so much as any small desire And therefore as I haue already said we are too too much nuzzeled in our earthly affections Wherefore this is a lesson which ought many times too put vs in minde that if wee will pray vnto God according vnto his will wee must not come vnto him with a desire of our owne to saye whatsoeuer commeth in our brayne yea and to leaue out the most principall parte but we must beginne with this saying to wit that it would please God so to instruct vs as that our life may be squared according to his law and we to cleaue so vnto it as not to come with a double and twyfold heart Although we are to striue against the worlde and our owne nature yet must we remaine constant in this chiefly to loue the woorde of God And therefore for this cause Dauid here sayeth Let my Complaint come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according vnto thy word When he speaketh of his complaint which hee maketh vnto the Lord he sheweth that he made no cold prayer vnto God as we many times and as it were daily do but with great vehemency I can not deny but that an hypocrite may very well make complaint with a loude noyse and thrust out his weasaunt But Dauid hauing here consideratiō of God meaneth not to make an outward shew before men Wherefore That he cried out aloude importeth as much as an earnest testimonie wherewith hee was pricked forward Now by this we see that he chiefly desired that which he craueth to wit to haue God to instruct him and to giue him vnderstāding And in desiring this gift of God he cōfesseth that he was of him selfe a very wretched blind soule that hee neuer vnderstoode any thing yea although he had the lawe in his hands which he might reade wherein was conteined a true perfection of all wisedome yet that he still continued euē like a poore miserable blind wretch except God enlightened him So then let vs vnderstande that this is an especiall gift which God bestoweth vpon vs when hee openeth our eyes too make vs vnderstande that which is shewed in his word whether we reade it or that it be preached vnto vs. Yea and let vs not here make any exception thinking our selues to bee more sharpe witted or abler then Dauid was but let vs rather knowe that if hee needed to beseech God to giue him vnderstanding that we for our partes haue as great neede So then it can not bee chosen but that whē God hath deliuered vnto vs his word and declared his will therein conteined and for performance hereof inlighteneth our hearts by his holy spirite for other waies we shal haue our cares beaten in vaine and then the doctrine which we haue heard will do vs no good Now that which followeth According vnto thy worde may two wayes beset forth According vnto thy word that is to say that thou wilt make me wise And after what maner That I be altogether ruled by thee and do that which thou commaundest This is a very true saying for by this wee are admonished to heare God speake and we againe must suffer him to haue dominion ouer vs and not to be ouertakē with this fooolish arrogancie and saye I haue knowledge inough I neede not so much teaching Wherefore when as God shall haue spoken the worde let vs passe it simply and without gainesaying This sentence then which I haue spoken is very true but yet it agreeth not with the meaning of Dauid he yet with the plamenesse of the text For he craueth here two things the one in the first verse the other in the second He sayeth in the first verse Let my complaint come before thee that I might be instructed according vnto thy worde And afterwarde he addeth 〈◊〉 my supplication come be fore thee and deliuer me according vnto thy worde It is very true that he vseth two sentences but yet they are not without a marueilous grace in one selfe same signification and by this repetition we
hee sayeth O Lorde open myne eyes that I may see the woonderous thinges of thy Lawe Wherefore vseth hee this woorde woonderous It is as if he would haue saue saide Although the world taketh the lawe of God to be but a light thing and seemeth to be giuen but as it were for simple soules yong children Yet for al that there seemeth such a wisedom to bee in it as that it surmounteth all the wisedome of the worlde and that therein lye hidde wonderfull secrets Asmuch is saide of the Gospell and that not without great cause And in very deede that which at this daye is most plainely declared in the Gospell was before conteined in the lawe onely these were darker shadowes then they are which were since the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ And yet notwithstanding there is no chaung or alteration in this wisedome as God also is not mutable Ephes 3.10 1. Pet. 1.12 It is not then without cause that all the holy scripture is called wisedome and that the Angels of heauen theÌ„selues do woÌ„der thereat If then the Angels be astoyned at the secrets conteined in the holy scripture I beseeche you tell mee what reuerence deserueth it to haue among vs mortall men For we are but poore wormes vpon earth creeping here belowe If there be comparison made betwixt vs and the Angels what shall it be See howe the Angels are wonderfully rauished to see the wisedome of the word of God and yet we make no accompt of it but esteeme of it as a base and childish thing The more therefore ought wee throughly to marke this saying of Dauid that the doctrine of the lawe is not as wee take it to bee to wit a thing of small valure or a common and ordinarie doctrine but a wonderfull wisedome wherein are such secrets as ought to rauish vs with admiration bicause they farre surpasse our wit and reason But what is the cause that we so lightly esteeme of the lawe of God that is to say his whole word Herein the common prouerbe is verified when we saye A foole regardeth nothing Which prouerbe we declare to be rightly verified in vs For many of vs make no estimation of the holy scripture it seemeth to vs that that which we reade there is too to coÌ„mon and this is the reason bicause we know not what it is â—â—e yet the great and abundant treasure hidde therein But such as haue once knowen what the Maiestie of God is which hee sheweth and declareth him selfe to be there and do see whether it is that God calleth and allureth them and do also vnderstand and knowe the large and sweete promises offered vnto them therein such I say will say with Dauid O Lorde thy law is wonderfull And so consequently will desire that their eyes might be lightened confessing them selues to be blind vntill such time as God hath ayded them with his holy spirite Now it followeth I am a stranger vpon earth hyde not thy commandementes from me When Dauid did put to this verse he ment to confirme the matter which before he touched that is to say that he desired not simply to liue as if his life had beene deare and precious vnto him without any other respect but he had a further meaning For he saith by a by after I am a stranger in the world therefore hyde not thy commandements from me They which make their continuall nest here according to their owne fansie and thinke to make their heauen in this world these men I say haue nothing to do with the commandementes of God for their saluation For they are safe enough if they may eate and drinke to be glutted that they may take their pleasures and delightes that they may be honoured that they may be in estimation and credit loe here is all that they desire or wysh to haue Yea forsooth For they looke no further but to this corruptible and transitorie life These men I saye are not greatly troubled ne yet haue any care of the commaundementes of God but when as they shal be taken from them all shall be one to them When as the couetous man the whoremonger the dronkarde the ambitious person shall heare no preaching of the word at all neither any talke of God ne yet of Christianitie nor of life euerlasting He in the meane time ceaseth not to pursue his owne waye Yea and it is to them a lothsome and vnpleasant kinde of speach to heare God spoken of but had rather haue no mention in the whole worlde made of him And therefore it is not without cause why Dauid requireth not to haue the coÌ„mandements of God taken from him this is his reason to wit bicause he is a stranger on the earth As if he should haue sayd O Lord if I had none other consideration but of this present life I should be euen accursed and it had beene better my mother had beene deliuered of me as of a dead body and that I had beene an hundred times plunged in hell And why so For we are here in this world but as pilgrims and wayfaring men and we passe to a more excellent life as to that also wherein we repose our whole trust Seeing then O Lord that I am a stranger in the world let not thy commandementes be taken away from me Nowe in this part is conteined a very profitable doctrine and exhortation for vs for we knowe how cold wee are where in deede we ought to haue an ardent desire to be taught the worde of God and to be more and more confirmed therein And I beseeche you how carelesse are we But what is the cause hereof No doubt of it we must alwayes euen searche and looke into the depth and bottom of this corruption and mischiefe for when we see any vice in our selues we ought to enquire from whence the cause proceedeth to the ende we might finde remedy for the same Now the reason is bicause we are blynde and do suppose our abode should bee here still vpon earth and euery man imagineth him selfe to haue here euerlasting life Wherefore when we are thus giuen to the world thinke our selues to haue here an euerlasting enheritance loe this is the cause of our thus conteÌ„ning of God and his word or rather that we care no whit at all for the seeking out of the doctrine of our saluation What must we then do Forsooth wee must looke a great deale further then to the world if we will come vnto God and be exercised in this study wherof meÌ„tion is here made and to say with Dauid O Lord bicause we are strangers in this world to wit that we are to passe here only that nothing can be shorter then our life is here let not thy commandements be taken away from vs. On thother side Dauid his meaning here is to signifie vnto vs that he was but as a poore pilgrime and wandring man without he were conducted and guided by the worde of
which I haue seene with mine eyes When I haue seene that thou chastisedst the proude I haue beene by and by humbled thereby so much discipline haue I receiued by it see then nowe why I do beseeche thee that I might be more carefully and diligently instructed in thy law If now it was behooueful for Dauid who was already so well instructed in the law to be thus aided for the drawing of him selfe to God to wit that hee seeth the vnbeleeuers punished and God to laye his hand vpon them I beseeche you tell me had not we neede of such instruction also of a great deale more And so as oftentimes as we shal plainely see God to send his chastisements into the world to punishe sinne we ought greatly to consider thereof and to vnderstande that it commeth not by aduenture or chaunce as we commonly saye And when GOD so striketh the proude and disobedient let vs consider that he meaneth not to punish their persons and bodies onely but to teache vs to haue a greater regarde to our selues that wee might bee humbled to the ende the like fall not vppon vs. For God doeth vs great pleasure when hee punisheth others thereby to teache vs to take heede as also it is great wisedome for a man to beware by the harme of an other according to the olde prouer be And so also meaneth God Let vs then consider of the fauour and grace which he sheweth vnto vs when as he setteth foorth his iudgementes before vs it is to aduertise vs of our faultes to the end we should the better walke in his feare to obey him yea and that he punisheth others for our amendement as I haue already sayd And especially he addeth Cursed are they that erre from thy commaundementes or that goe wrong By this hee farther declareth and expresseth that which wee haue already shewed to witte howe hee hath beene taught to walke according to the will of God by the punishmentes which lighted vpon the proud and disobedieÌ„t And here he maketh this generall conclusion That all they which erre from the commaundemen of God are accursed Whereupon we are to gather first of all that the particular iudgementes of God ought not to serue vs for one deede alone but that we should apply it for a generall instruction all the dayes of our life As how When as we see God punish one persone O wee must not stay our selues vpon such an act to say that God punisheth but one person which deserueth it but wee must conclude and say according to that saying of S. Paul There is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2. 11. Now when he hath punished such a fault we must then say that this fault displeaseth him in as many as do committe it As in an other place he sheweth Sithens that God so grieuously punished the children of Israel for Idolatrie we must conclude that he vtterly abhorreth Idolatrie As greatly also abhorreth he Lechery murmuring disobedient persons and horrible wicked couetousnes And all this saith S. Paul should serue vs for an Image or paterne 1. Cor. 7. ver 7.8.9.10 to the end that when we see the like come to passe we should remember vs of that which is conteined within the holy scripture and applie it wholy to our own vse and profite And thus much as touching the first point which we haue here to note to wit that if God punisheth a man we must gather out of it a generall instruction and conclude that all they which go wrong from the commaudementes of God are accursed Now we haue to touch the second point which is also notable that is we must not tarrie vntill such time as God scourgeth vs but beeing aduertised by that which hee hath shewed vs a farre of wee might preuent the punishmentes and corrections which might light vpon vs in the end And this is it which wee must gather vnto our selues in generall of that which hath beene spoken That all they which erre from the commaundementes of God are accursed Moreouer let vs also in the third place learne that all the happinesse which we imagine when wee are farre from God is nothing but accursed and that in the ende the sentence of our Lord Iesus must be accomplished Luk. 6. â— 25. Cursed are ye which laughe for ye shall weepe and your laughter shall be turned into gnasshing of teeth Let vs then vnderstand that whiles the poore worlde maketh it selfe mery and that it seemeth to be come euen to the full aboundane of the wisâ—hes and desires and that it hath obteined the chiefe felicitie that it is euen then vnder the greatest and chiefest curse And why so For all they which stray from God are accursed bicause that hee is the fountaine of all goodnes and without him there is nothing but all miserie True it is that for a time hee suffereth the infidels and vnbeleeuers to make them selues mery that we might thinke them to be the happiest people in the worlde but what of that It will all returne to their greater confusion It followeth soone after Remooue from me shame and contempte for I haue kept thy testimonies Here Dauid commenceth a newe suice vnto God to wit that he would hold him in his innocencie and puritie And it is not without cause that he so doeth for we see that they which serue God with their whole heart are contemned and despised yea they are most shamefully slaundered For we see euen at this daye that he which walketh simply he shall by and by be called an hypocrite All they which would serue God are thus cried out vpon O these hypocrites O these mortified See here how the puritie simplicitie of the faith full is despised naught set by For the deuil possesseth the contemners of God in such sort as that they vomit out their blasphemies not onely against those whome they purpose to oppose them selues but euen against God him selfe But this mischiefe and corruption is not of a dayes hatching and therefore wee are throughly to consider the saying which Dauid here setteth downe O turne from me rebuke to wit suffer mee not O Lorde to be lightly esteemed of men bicause I haue kept thy testimonies Wee see then that the summe of this verse is this That Dauid desireth GOD to vpholde and mainteine his puritie Now the cause is incontinently added For princes also did sit vnder the shadowe of Iustice and speake against me Nowe this was a great temptation to Dauid that hee was not onely mocked and scorned at the Tauernes and Innes beeing there blasoned by dissolute Iesters and Scoffers and talked of in the streetes and market places but euen in the place of Iustice which ought to bee holy it could not therefore bee chosen but that they also woulde vtterly defame and slaunder him and condemne him to be as it were a most wicked and cursed man When Dauid then did see that he was thus vniustly intreated
our selues wholy to it and altogither rest thereon Beholde say I after what sort our prayers are allowed to wit whē as we pray not to God for that which seemeth best in our owne eyes but when as we be fenced with that which he hath promised vs. And this is it wherein we differ from the Painimes and Infidels For wee see that the Turkes and Idolaters doe greatly pray vnto God But after what manner pray they Forsooth euen at all aduenture so that they knowe not what they doe But contrariwise wee must pray vnto him with full assuraunce that he will heare vs. But from whence shall this certaintie proceede if wee haue not the trueth to goe before vs and say beholde the Lorde who calleth vs vnto him And then when wee come vnto him this is no foolish presumption But we come in such sorte vnto him as he hath commaunded vs. Let vs then see what wee haue yet to note in this place when Dauid setteth downe heere the promises of God by which he is bounde vnto him O Lorde sayth he let it bee doone vnto me according to thy worde Nowe heere is a very profitable poynt to be considered off to witte after that we are once assured that God hath promised too doe that for vs which we shall aske of him we must no more doubt that it shall be so but that the thing is fully concluded vpon so that we are euer sure and certaine thereof For when God speaketh vnto vs we are very sure that he will not deceiue vs hee will not giue vs faire woordes and then deceiue vs as men many times doe dealing very liberally with their tongues but yet notwithstanding very close fisted But God dealeth not in such sorte Let vs then come before him without distrust Haue wee his woorde Let vs then holde the thing as already performed And so when Dauid sayth according to thy word hee signifieth vnto vs that hee was not onely assured that God is faithfull and liberal that he meaneth not to abuse vs when as wee truste to him but sheweth vs that this certaintie which wee haue of the trueth of God should not make vs weary to say that wee bee as it were euen ouerwhelmed But wee must rather be carefull and diligent to pray vnto him There are some men which will in deede say that they beleeue the promises of GOD but since say they hee knoweth what wee haue neede of what neede wee to bee importune vppon him Nowe these men indeede very well declare that they neuer vnderstood what faith and hope are For if we receiued the promises of God without hypocrisie we ought to be thus earnest and zealous to pray and haue recourse vnto him saying O Lorde God when as thou hast assured mee of thy bountie and mercie it is to this end that I should call vpon thee in my neede And that I see the necessitie which vrgeth and presseth mee I muste needes come vnto thee as thou haste called mee by thy worde Beholde then that all the promises of God should serue vs in stede of so many spurres to prick vs forwarde in making our prayers vnto him Let vs nowe come to the woords of Dauid Let thy louing mercyes or thy graces come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation After that he hath layde his foundation wherevpon too builde he desireth one selfe same thing in two words which to the outwarde apparance are diuers and sundry to wit the graces of God and his saluation And yet notwithstanding Dauid meneth nothing else but that god would shew him selfe to be his Sauiour Neither is there any thing heere spoken superfluously For it is asmuch as if he had sayd O my God I besech thee that according to thy promise thou wilt make me feele thee to be my sauiour and father But yet in the meane while he expresseth vnto vs whence this saluation which we must wayte for and whiche God hath promised vs cometh and that is of his meere good will For men cannot otherwise choose but that they wil euer wrongfully take vpon them some thing or other which appertaineth nothing vnto them and alwayes to be foolishly and arrogantly bounde vnto them selues Nowe Dauid cleane contrary sheweth heere that all the saluation which he hopeth after desireth commeth from another spring-heade then from the vertue and dignitie of men to wit euen from the meere goodnes of God So then wee see that as before he hath spoken of the promise euen so also hee heere addeth and expresseth the cause which moued God to bind himself so vnto vs to wit his meere mercy By this we are admonished that when we are to call vpon God we should alwayes haue regarde vnto these twoo things to wit the grace of God and his free mercie and after that his promise God is good and liberall and see why it is that he with pitie looketh vppon vs and beholding vs with his eyes of cōpassion vouchsafeth to receiue vs yea and calleth and allureth vs vnto him and also imboldeneth vs to craue of him to the end he would help and succour vs in all our needes and necessities Now this goodnesse should lye hidden in God were it not that hee made vs to feele it by his promise For God sheweth himselfe vnto vs to be such a one as in deede he is he layeth his heart wide open when he rendreth vs a testimonie of the loue hee beareth vs. Loe heere why I haue said that in all our prayers wee ought to haue these two considerations The one is that God is so good and louing that although wee bee poore and miserable creatures and nothing else but doung and stench yet for all that hee ceaseth not too loue vs and to haue greate care of our saluation And since wee are come too the promise which is a sure testimonie that God is such one we should no more doubt what affection he beareth vs whether he be our friend or enemie seeing it is so that he is very well willing to bee bounde vnto vs in declaring vnto vs that he is our father and taketh vs to bee his Children Nowe Dauid maketh such a request as we haue already touched to the end he might answere those which wrought him shame Although he sayth word for word To the ende I may answeare these which woorke me shame Heere Dauid declareth that when God shall haue ayded him that then he shall be able to withstand all his enemyes put by all the iniuries scornes of the vnbelieuers and faythlesse which they did lay before him to the end too shake and crush the faythful and to destroy them yea and vtterly to make their fayth nothing woorth if it were possible for them to do it By this we are let to vnderstande that if we make our prayers to God whensoeuer it shal happen al the world too assaile vs and that it might seeme wee shoulde be plunged in hel an hundred thousand tymes yet
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
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
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