deserving at their hand our ill carriage in the cause and our deserving to be forsaken and saith in effect that the false friend or traitor hath reason to be avenged on us and to oppose us in that cause and what can be heavier to a godly persecuted person for this is a very exalting of the Traitor against us Neither was it he that hated me that did magnifie himself against me 5. Amongst many friendly neighbours it hath been the custom of godly and wise men to chuse out some to be their most intimate friends whom they would use most familiarly and freely whose counsel they would take and most readily follow It was thou O man mine equal my guide and my acquaintance 6. To finde a godly and wise man with whom we may be free in all cases of minde or conscience wherein we may fall to whom we may freely open our minde and be strengthened by him in the service of God it is a notable refreshment and part of happinesse and contentment We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company 7. A godly and wise man may be deceived in his choice by the close carriage of an hypocrite who because he hath no sound principles of stedfastnesse in a good cause may both disappoint his friend and deceive himself also and so do that which he did not at first intend to do This disappointment to the godly is a very heavy affliction But it was thou a man mine equal my guide Ver. 15. Let death seise upon them and let them go down quick into hell for wickednesse is in their dwellings and among them From his Prophetical imprecation against his enemies such as Achitophel was to David and Iudas to Christ and such like together with their followers and complices Learn 1. Swift destruction is the reward of the enemies of Gods servants and specially of treacherous Apostates from a good cause as Achitophel's and Iudaas's latter end gave example Let death seise upon them and let them go down quick into hell 2. Such as give entertainment and lodging to wickednesse shall have hell for their lodging where wickednesse lodgeth for here it is given for a reason why the wicked shall go down to hell Because wickednesse is in their dwellings and among them 3. What the Lord hath revealed to be his righteous decree the godly may warrantably subscribe unto it Let death seise on them c. Ver. 16. As for me I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me 17. Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall heare my voice In the second part of the Psalme he comforteth himself in his resolution constantly to depend on God and his confidence to finde accesse in worship Whence learn 1. The right use of Gods judgements on the wicked for their wickednesse is to draw near to God to worship him and depend upon him as David here resolved As for me I will call upon God 2. A man may be sure to be saved in drawing near to the Lord whatsoever shall befall the wicked I will call on God and the Lord shall save me 3. He who resolveth to live upon Gods good will and furniture and hopeth to be saved at last must resolve also to be constant servent and importunate in his daily worship and attendance on God Evening and morning will I pray and cry aloud 4. As it is needful upon all occasions to watch unto Prayer and to entertain a frame of Spirit fit for supplication so is it fit for giving of our selves more specially and fully to this work to have albeit not fixed canoniâ—…k houres yet set times every day at or about which we may follow religious worship such as are morning evening and noon or any other time most fitting for the work all circumstances being compared as here Davids resolution and example doth teach us Ver. 18. He hath delivered my soule in peace from the battel that was against me for there were many with me His next encouragement is taken from the experiences of former deliveries given to him by God Whence learn 1. Then do we make good use of experiences when we stir up our selves thereby to beleeve the more for them in God and to call on him in all conditions as David here giveth this He hath delivered my soul as a reason of his former resolution 2. In the midst of war the Lord can keep a man as safe as in the time of peace and in extreme perils preserve him from danger He hath deliverd my soul in peace from the battel that â—…as against me 3 He that depends upon God in the time of trouble albeit he had an hoste against him yet hath he more with him when God is with him then can be against him He hath delivered my soul for there are many with me Ver. 19. God shall heare and afflict them even he that abideth of old Selah because they have no changes therefore they feare not God 20. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him he hath broken his Covenant 21. The words of his mouth were smoother then butter but war was in his heart his words were softer then oile yet were they drawn swords His third encouragement is taken from assurance that God should punish his enemies for their godlesse security bâ—…each of Covenant and deep diâ—…mulation Whence learn 1. Upon the complaint of the oppâ—… servants of God not only aâ—…e they delivered themâ—…lves but also their enemies are punished God shall â—…ear and afflict thâ—… 2. Gods eternity and immutability is a sufficient groâ—…d of the maniâ—…station of his mercy to his own people and 〈◊〉 against their enemies from generation to generation God shall hear me and afflict them even he thâ—… abideth of old Sâ—…h 3. The more gently the Lord deales with the wicked in not exâ—…cising them with so many cresses outward and inward as he doth his own the more godless are they the more seâ—… aâ—…e they and the more godless and secure they are the more certain is their vexation coming He will afflict them sore because they have no changes therefore they feare not God This is one reason of the Lords pursuing the wicked 4. Whoever he be that maketh a breach in the peace between himself and others shall have God for his Pâ—…ty who shall not faile to afflict the Peace-breaker he shall afflict them and namely the chief Ring leaders Who have put forth their hands against such as be at peace with them and this is another reason of the Lords punishing of the enemies of his People 5. The Lord will make a quarrel and pursue for the breach of Covenant in special because this is a most solemn confirmation of peace and wherein God hath specially interest to sâ—…e it performed or the breach of it punished He hath broken his Covenant and this is the third reason of Gods punishing false brethren
approach unto thee 3. It is the free good will of God which putteth the difference among men and maketh some to be partakers of blessednesse and not other some Blessed is the man whom thou choosest 4. The power and glory of the work of conversion reconciliation and drawing near to God for communion with him of so many as are converted is the Lords power and glory no lesse then election is his free choice and glory Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and whom thou causest to approach unto thee 5. The man elected effectually called reconciled and drawn in society with God is a true member of his Church a constant member thereof in this life and one who shall be a member of the Church triumphant in the life to come and so effectually blessed He shall dwell in thy Courts saith the text in the original 6. Whatsoever is sufficient for begetting and entertaining the life of grace and of true blessednesse in Gods elect is to be found by the meanes of publick ordinances in the Church of God We shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thy holy Temple 7. Whosoever do finde in themselves the proper effects or consequents of election in special a powerful drawing of them to the Covenant with God and unto a nearer and nearer approaching unto God in the way of obedience unto the publick ordinances of his house may be assured of their election of their effectual calling of the blessednesse and of their interest in all the goodnesse of Gods house to their full contentment for after the general doctrine he applieth We shall be satisfied with the goodnes of thy house even of thy holy Temple Ver. 5. By terrible things in righteousnesse wilt thou answer us O God of our salvation who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea The fourth reason of the Lords praise is taken from the defending of his Church in all ages and places and saving of his people by giving terrible answers to their prayers against their enemies for the performance of his own word and confirmation of the faith of his own people in whatsoever part of the earth unto the end of the world Whence learn 1. As the love of God to his people doth not exempt them from the molestation of enemies because the Lord will have the faith of his people by this means exercised and them put to pray unto him and complain of the injuries done unto them so his love to them will not suffer their prayers to want an answer in their troubles to the amozement of their adversaries By terrible things wilt thou answer us 2. In the Lords relieving of his people and destroying their enemies he will have the work looked upon as the performance of his Word wherein he hath promised to be a friend to the friends of his people and a foe to their foes By terrible things in righteousnesse wilt thou answer us 3. The reason of particular deliveries of Gods people from their enemies is because these deliveries are appendices of the Covenant of grace established for giving to them everlasting life Thou wilt answer us O God of our salvation 4. What the Lord hath promised and done to his Church of old is a sufficient ground of confidence to the people of God in all times and places to expect and finde the like mercy unto that which they of old did expect and finde O God of our salvation the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea that is thy people whether dwelling in the Continent or in Isles or sailing on the sea Ver. 6. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountaines being girded with power The fifth reason of the Lords praise is from his strong power whereby he is able to do all things as appeareth by his framing and setling the mountains Whence learn 1. The power of God manifested in the work of Creation is a prop to the saith of his people to believe the promises and a pledge of the performance thereof unto them By his strength he setteth fast the mountaines 2. Whatsoever great work the Lord hath done he is able and ready to do a greater work if need be for his people He is girded with power Ver. 8. Which stillest the noise of the seas the noise of their waves and the tumult of the people From the sixth reason taken from his wise and powerful over-ruling all commotions of unruly creatures of whatsoever sort Learn 1. There is nothing so turbulent and raging and reasonlesse in the whole world which God doth not rule and bridle and make quiet as he pleaseth He stilleth the noise of the seas the noise of their waters 2. As the commotions of people their seditions their insurrections and conspiracies against Gods people within and without the visible Church are no lâ—…sse rageing and reasonlesse then are the commotions of the sea so God hath the ruling of them as well as of the seas and by his stilling the noise of the seas the noise of the waters thereof he giveth an evidence of his power and purpose to bridle the sury and rage of reasonlesse men who threaten trouble and destruction to his people He stilleth their waves and the tumult of the people Ver. 8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoyce From the seventh reason of Gods praise taken from the affright ing of all the world by his judgements against the enemies of his people lest they should attempt the like Learn 1. As the Lord can still the tumults of the people when they rage most so he can by his terror prevent their commotions against his Church by shewing them his terrible judgements executed on others which are the tokens of the power of his displeasure against all who shall dare to be adversaries to his people They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens The eight reason of Gods praise is from the joyful tranquillity and peace which he when he pleaseth giveth to his people after he hath setled their enemies rage and power against them Whence learn As the Lord doth sometime exercise his people with trouble and persecution from their enemies so also he can and doth give them some breathing times some comfortable seasons as it were fair dayes from morning to evening yea sundry â—…ull fair dayes one after another so that his people are made to rejoyce before him from day to day Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoyce Ver. 9. Thou visitest the earth and waterest it thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God which is full of water thou preparest them corn when thou hast so provided for it 10. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly thou setlest the furrowes thereof thou makest it
witnesse of it and most able to speak from his own perswasion to the perswasion of others I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortresse 2. The duty of the Believer is to go on and grow in faith and the right use of his experiences is the confirmation of him in the faith of the Covenant and resolution to grow therein in measure of strength and sincerity He is my God in him will I trust Ver. 3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence The third motive to beleeve in God is a promise of deliverance out of danger which by humane wit could not be eschewed which he expresseth under the similitude of snares and pestilence which do overtake a man before he be aware Whence learn 1. A kindly beleever should love to have others beleeving in God as he himself doth and should leave nothing undone to perswade others to beleeve as his calling requireth for the example of the Psalmist teacheth us so 2. There are many tentations whereby Satan as a fowler laying snares catcheth poor foolish sinners and there is much contagion of sinne whereby albeit men are infected one by another and many do perish yet the beleever in God is either preserved from falling into the snare and from being corrupted with contagion of others ill speeches and manners or else he is rid and delivered out of the danger Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence 3. As there are dangers in relation to our spiritual condition unavoidable if God do not deliver us so are there dangers of plots and conspiracies by wicked enemies in relation to bodily dangers also from which the wisdom of beleevers could not deliver them but God hath promised a deliverance or a good escape from them all so as the beleever shall be no loser Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler c. Ver. 4. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler A fourth motive is a promise of comfortable and sure defence against the invasion of the enemies set forth under sundry similitudes usual in Scripture Whence learn 1. The care and watchfulnesse of God over his own is such as neither Nature nor Art can yield sufficient similitudes to expresse it as the borrowing of more similitudes some from one thing and some from another doth here shew The watchfulnesse of the bird over her young ones and the care that a man hath in battel to preserve his own body from hurt are but imperfect shadowes to represent the watching care of God for a beleever 2. As the Lord descendeth unto our capacity in such low similitudes of protection and comfort so he requireth of us that by those we should ascend in our faith to rely confidently and lovingly upon him He shall cover thee with his feather and under his wings shalt thou trust 3. That which we must oppose to all perils is the Word of God so long as we keep that and ward off darâ—…s and swords by that meanes we shall not be overcome His truth shall be thy shield and buckler Ver. 5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night nor for the arrow that fleeth by day 6. Nor for the Pestilence that walketh in darknesse nor for the destruction that wasteth at noone day 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee A fifth motive to beleeve is from a more particular promise of safety unto the beleever from all sort of deadly enemies and dangers wherinto when many do fall the beleever shall stand Whence learn 1. The true remedy against tormenting fear is faith in God for many terrible things may befall men when they are most secure like unto those that befall men in the night but for any harme which may befall the beleever this way the Lord here willeth him to be nothing afraid Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night 2. Many sudden accidents may befall men when they are most watching and upon their guard but the Lord willeth the beleever to be confident that he shall not be harmed this way Thou shalt not be afraid for the arrow that fleeth by day 3. Many evils are men subject unto which come upon them they cannot tell how but from such evils the Lord assureth the beleever he shall have no harme Thou shalt not be afraid of the pestilence which walketh in darknesse 4. Men are subject to many evils which come upon them openly and not unawares such as are calamities from enemies and oppressors the Lord willeth the believer to be confident that he shall not be harmed this way Thou shalt not be afraid for the destruction which walketh at noon-day 5. When trials and tentations come upon the world to try the children of men albeit many fall by those tentations yet the man who beleeveth in God shall stand whether the tentation come upon the left hand with lâ—…sse appearance of good offered in it or upon the right hand with 〈◊〉 pretences of lawfulnesse and holinesse in a sinful course whereunto the tentation doth drive albeit a thousand should fall by the tentation on the one hand and ten times more on â—…he other hand yet the beleever in God going upon the grounds of Gods Word shall not fall those evils wherein others fall and peâ—…ish shall not come near him as to the point of harming of him or of destroying of him A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come near thee 6. The Lord will not only one way be helpful to the believer but so many wayes as he can be in danger as the enumeration of so many sundâ—…y cases wherein he promiseth deliverance doth teach us 7. The only persons who are hurt by judgements and tentations are such unfenced souls as beleeve not in God are not reconciled with him and stand at a distance opposite to him as the object of his wrath for none have â—…ight to the former promises except the believer only as all the text holdeth forth Ver. 8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked He answereth an objection It may be said that the former mentioned evils tentations and calamities do come very near unto the godly for they aâ—…e ofttimes no lesse deep in them then others are He answereth that the Lord may well acquaint them with the danger and with the sense of their own weaknesse but for the point of hâ—…me from those evils or for the point of destruction by those evils which â—…s the reward of the wicked the godly have no more but a discovery of it to see it wherein they might have fallen if God had not preserved them and wherein thâ—… wicked do fall