6. They are sensible carkeses breathing carrions For though they haue a reasonable soule which maketh them to bee men yet they want the spirit of grace which maketh them to be Christians Fourthly in regard of their future misery for which Saint Iames wisheth them to weepe and howle and make all kinde of lamentation For howsoeuer all reprobates shall be damned yet they shall sink to the bottome of terrors and torments in hell that haue risen vp to the top of pleasures cursed prosperitie on earth Instruction First to foresee that which will follow when Vse 1 baytes are layde for vs by Sathan or wicked men and accompt the threatnings of God as certaine as executions and feare the plagues to follow heereafter as if wee were foorthwith to feele them Secondly that no example preuaile so far as to draw vs into a wicked way Consider not what they bee in outward appearance that dwel in follies house but what their state is presently by Gods testimonie and how they shal finde it heereafter by their owne experience Thirdly that wee illude not our owne hearts by hoping to shift for one for neuer any one could auoid the punishment by shifting Sinne maketh sure work withall her guests to giue them their deadly wound at the entrance so that death waites on folly to take them presently at her hands hell followeth death to receiue them afterwards at his hands A Plaine Exposition vpon the tenth Chapter of the Prouerbes of Salomon CHAPTER X. The Parables of Salomon A wise sonne maketh a Verse 1 glad Father but a foolish sonne is a he auinesse to his mother PARABLES That is wise and graue sentences written by Salomon but inspired by the spirit of God for the imformation of the minde and the institution of the life according to the rules of Wisedome Iustice and Pietie The other nine Chapters being presixed as a preface to these contained a continued discourse wherein the commendation of Wisedome and the exhortations to manie good duties were prosecuted with varietie of arguments wheras in these that follow for the most part are set downe briefe sayings euery verse almost comprehending a whole point in it selfe not growing vpon dependance of that which went before nor ministring th' occasion of that which commeth after Yet sometimes it falleth out otherwise and diuers verses together haue dependance one with another as will appeare in some place of this present Chapter A wise sonne that is a vertuous towardly sonne or daughter maketh a ioyfull father or mother and a foolish sonne that is a sinfull and vngratious childe is an heauinesse and griefe to his mother or father yet it is not without cause that the mother is rather put in the latter clause than the father for that sex is the weaker more impatient of such a crosse and vsually contemptuous children be bolder to contemne the mother then the father as Chap. 15. 20. A foolish man despiseth his mother as Rebeccah was more troubled with Esau then Isaac was and very often the mothers by too much indulgence and fondnesse are meanes of their childrens vices and so it is said A childe set at libertie maketh his mother ashamed Chap. 29. 15. The comfort or sorrow of parents standeth much in the behauiour Doct. of their children This is euident by the example of A good sonne makes a glad father Iacobs sonnes whereof Ioseph a gracious child was neuer but a refreshing to him but Simeon and Reuben and Leny and most of the rest by their sinfull actions did fill him with griefe and afflictions and so had Dauid experience both waies being peirced with sorrow on the one side by the villanous practises miserable ends of Absolon and Ammon and abounding with ioy on the other side for the singular wisedome of Salomon First these affections doe proceede from the loue that godly Reason parents doe beare vnto God that thinking all too little that is done in his seruices they haue now helpers euen out of their owne loynes that will ioyne with them in the same and when they haue finished their course and ended their owne daies worke yet the worke shall still bee continued by their posteritie We see in humane affaires that euery good subiect will be glad to breede vp a sonne that will bee sit and able to serue his soueraigne and how can it then but cheere vp the heart and refresh the spirits of Christian fathers or mothers to haue their children the Lords Souldiers valiantly sighting his battailes against sinne and Sathan and that in their owne sight and presence euery good master as was Abraham will think it a benefite to haue his seruants to be the seruants of the Lord and euery Christian will gladly heare of Godly men in another familie in another towne in another countrie in another kingdome and therefore much more will religious parents be rauished with ioy to see with their owne eyes the feare of God in their owne houses in their owne children by the blessing of God vpon their owne gouernement and prayers but they cannot but conceiue as great griefe by the sinfulnesse of impious children which wholy cast off the yoke of all holy obedience that dispite him whom they honour and blaspheme that name which they sanctifie and reiect that word which their soules doe liue by The Prophets eyes gushed out with riuers of waters because strangers and aliants and euen his very enemies obserued not the commandements of God and therefore much Psal 119. 136. more would he haue mourned when his owne sonnes rebelled against them Secondly loue to the people of God will worke gladnesse when faithfull men discerne their children to bee inclining to goodnesse For they are growing to be fruitfull plants in the Lords orchard and so many shall haue profit by them many waies whereas the wicked are as thornes and bryars and noysome brambles Thirdly the happy condition of gracious and godly children themselues doth procure to the parents much consolation for besides their spirituall promotion and dignitie being made the sonnes of God and kingly heires of euerlasting glory the fauour and blessing of God doth vsually appeare towards them for the things of this life when rebellious and wicked children haue the curse of God vpon them doing mischiefe and hurt and receiuing the reward of it by shame and infamy by debts and arearages by slight and lurking by bonds and imprisonment and oftentimes by an ignominious death and destruction Fourthly wise children yeeld matter of comfort to their parents in being officious vnto them and vsing all good behauiour towards them for they are most forward to obay their commandements they are most cheerefull to releeue their necessities they are most faithfull and prouident to preserue their life and health and welfare In which respect the Scripture compareth them to arrowes or any other weapons whereby men may be defended Psal 127. 4. And as they are prest and ready to performe euery
is so able to defend vs from violence Consolation to them that haue a good conscience that they alwaies euery where haue their safetie with them because they carry grace in their harts and God carryeth them in his handes That is true of euery faithfull seruant of God that Abigail did speake concerning Dauid that their soule is 1. Sam. 25. 29. bound in the bundell of life with God it lyeth not loose and scattered for enimies to finde and take vp or tread vpon at their pleasure but it is in Gods owne custodie and bound vp that it shall neither drop downe nor bee wrested from him Hee will defend them in warre and feede them in dearth and preserue them in pestilence and death shall neuer come before they may comfortablie bid it welcome Iob. 5. 19. 20. If thou bee wise c. Of all men Christians bee most prouident Doct. 2 to procure their owne good prosperitie That testimony Onely Christians are good husband is giuen of them by the Lord himselfe Chapter 3. 13. 14. Blessed is the man that findeth Wisedome and the man that getteth Vnderstanding For the marchandise thereof is better than the marchandise of siluer and the gaine thereof is better than gold They that obtaine not onely the knowledge of wisedome but the sound and sure possession thereof which is meant by finding are all in a blessed state not destitute of any happinesse The marchants which trafficke with the Indians for gold and pearles and precious stones make not their commoditie in any proportion comparable to theirs that deale with the god of heauen for the graces of his spirit First in respect of outward state they are in good case the Reasons 1 blessing of God neuer fayling to minister vnto them all good things in fittest season in meetest manner and most competent and conuenient measure They haue euery thing that they neede and enioy the vse of euery thing that they haue God blesseth their labours that thereby they get substance God Psal 128. 2. blesseth their substance that thereby they are nourished by them God blesseth their nourishment that there-withall they haue ioy and comfort and if at any time they fall into afflictions they haue supportation in them deliuerance from them and benefit by them All sicknesse shall be wholesome to them all disgraces for their honour all losses for their gaine all danger for their safeticall troubles for their peace and quietnesse Secondly in respect of the state of their soules the blessednesse wherof consisteth in righteousnesse and that doth yeeld such a benefit which as the Apostle doth truely testifie doth farre surpasse the capacitie of all sence and humane reason which will appeare first if we consider the misery out of which they haue escaped they were the enemies of God and are reconciled to him they were most deepely in debt and are discharged of it they were bond men and are made free they were condemned and are pardoned they were dead in sinnes and trespasses and are quickned to euerlasting life Secondly if we respect the giftes that God vouchsafeth them their nature is healed their soules are sanctified they haue a free accesse to God the holy Ghost is in them Iesus Christ is bestowed vpon them all his merits and all his graces and all his prerogatiues are communicated vnto them Thirdly the fruite of their wisedome is apparant at their death for then doth their faith and faithfull behauiour stand to them and visite their hearts and animats them with hope against the temptations of Sathan and feare of hell and damnation and all kindes of desperation if it bee true that a good conscience is a continuall Prou. 15. 15. feast then especially is it most forcible and comfortable at that time Fourthly the full and perfect reward of it shall bee rendred vnto them in the life to come and chiefely at the last day in the presence of God and men and Angels elect and reprobate and euery particular of euery sort who shall heare their praises and see their glorious aduancement Confutation of them that esteeme mortified Christians of Vse 1 all other creatures to be most sillie and voide of prudencie and most carelesse and voide of all forecast for their affaires Secondly of them that thinke all the precepts and doctrines of obedience are onely for the exercise of the ministers authoritie and nothing for the furtherance of the peoples commoditie so they call it Psal 2. 3. Let vs breake their bonds and cast their cordes from vs. As who would say it is an imprisonment and grieuous restraint to be vnder Christ his ministrie Whereas instruction is for his vse that doth receiue it and not for his will that doth deliuer it It is not a packe or burthen laid vppon his shoulders to carrie for others but as money put into his purse to vse for himselfe Instruction to take greatest paines in husbanding the hart to labour most for the crop of grace and to be most diligent in doing of good Corne and cattell and money and other wealth may be gotten for other men and happely for our enemies but the holy lessons that we conscionably learne the gratious speaches that we seasonably vtter and all the good workes that we duely performe are treasured vp in heauen for our owne soules Consolation against the manifold discouragements which might weaken the hearts of such as be possessed with this wisdome They are railed vpon by some to be hurtfull men they are iested at by others to be foolish men they are threatned they are persecuted and euery way iniuriously dealt with yet let none of these things driue them from their wisedome and make them turne fooles to cause them to leaue of friendship with themselues and to forsake their owne gaine It is more beneficiall for them to be godly then it can be hurtfull to be molested A slight of snow or shower of raine or flash of lightning or clap of thunder cannot compell a thriftie farmer to disclaime his good ground and surcease his husbandrie If thou be a scorner c. The wicked bee most their owne foes Doct. 3 which poynt this holy wisedome confirmeth in the former The wicked man hath no foe like himselfe Chapter ver 35. Hee that sinneth against mee hurteth his owne soule and all that hate mee loue death In all the attempts and proceedings against good men wisedome it selfe is smitten at for their quarrell is against the seruants for the mistrisse sake but they onely sinne against it but can doe no hurt vnto it for that redoundeth wholy vpon themselues And though they be all for themselues and carried strongly with selfe loue in affection yet they doe the worke of mortall hatred and become their owne deadly foes in effect The reasons which were alledged for the former point will Reason also make this manifest by the contrary For as wise men and scorners serue contrary maisters and haue contrary harts and behauiours so
there is also a contrarietie of condition and of euery thing that beefalleth vnto them Whatsoeuer miseries therefore those other escaped these shall surely fall into and whatsoeuer happinesse the other attained vnto for body soule state or name in life at death departed heere and at the resurrection these shall be depriued of them Terrour for sinfull men which seeme to bee in safetie and Vse 1 very good case hauing yet suffered nothing but hardnesse of heart and the poyson of sinne working in their soules which they least of all doe feele they must suffer also the paine of sinne as well as the pleasure and who knoweth how soone and sodainely it will come vpon them But in the meane time they plague such as set against them and pursue them that goe about to crosse their courses and this they glory in as a matter of great contentment But heerein they make others happie and themselues miserable they procure the blessing of God vpon them whom they maligne as enemies and bring the curse vpon their owne soules and bodies But yet they preuaile further in their purposes by feare or flattery by company counsell or constraint they draw men into sinne and this they take to be a victory and now others be in as bad case as they and if things fall out to be amisse with them they shall haue company in sorrow but this will be noe case of their burden for that shall lye wholy vpon themselues They that suffer themselues to be seduced by them shall likewise suffer punishment with them but not detract any from theirs but adde much more vnto it according as the case standeth with Sathan A foolish woman is alwaies babling shee is ignorant Verse 13 and knoweth nothing Thus much hath beene spoken of Wisdomes wholesome banquet which the louer to that end proposed that we might bee allured vnto it Now followeth the feast of Follie which shee maketh to that end that shee may poison her guests and God discouereth for this purpose that wee might auoide it And heere as also in that which followeth shee is described by her qualities and behauiour carrying the right stampe and print of an harlot One thing is that shee is giuen to much talke to make an noise which was the note of the whorish woman Chap. 7. 11. The meaning heere is that sinfulnesse and Sathan by the mouthes of sinfull persons doe pretend manie reasons to iustifie any wicked cause and vse cunning perswasions to draw men thereunto as the vnchast woman doth slow with intising speaches And though she haue a lauish tongue yet we knowledge according as wee vse to say that none is so bold as blinde Bayard The drift is that the factors for Follie such as labour to promote sinne be vtterly destitute of sauing vnderstanding which was called before the knowledge of holy men Shee is babling c. It is no sure note of a good cause to Doct. 1 bee set foorth with many words Hananiah maintayned his Many words make not a matter good cause more stifly than Ieremie for hee after a sort gaue place to the others confident asseuerations but Ieremie maintayned his cause more truely than Hananiah for God and experience confirmed his testimonie Ier. 28. Zidkijah and his companions the false Prophets were more violent in giuing incouragement to Ahab for his voyage to Ramoth Giliâ—d but Michaiay was more faithfull in diswading him from it 1. Reg. 22. First wickednesse hath many tongues to speake by all vnregenerate Reasons 1 men being ready to plead for it Secondly Sathan doth sharpen mens wits and fine their tongues and euery way asist them that stand in defences of his causes and kingdome Thirdly all vngodly men by their owne disposition are earnestly affected to folly and lewdenesse being as their right hand and dearest member of their body and therefore will speake in the behalfe thereof as if the case did nearely concern their owne estate Fourthly all the arguments that are brought for any bad cause are light and vtterly voide of force and therefore that which faileth in qualitie they will fill vp in quantitie and so supply the want of weight by multitude of words Fiftly successe doth much animate folly and her adherents to speake much for be the matter neuer so vniust and false be the reasons neuer so slight and slender bee the person neuer so base and abiect yet if a sinner stand vp for sinne all sinfull men euery where will giue him allowance Admonition that we neuer conclude the equitie of a cause Vse 1 by the number of woordes as though the force of the matter stood in the violence of speech and all were weake that eyther wanted strong breath for it or else had vehement opposition against it The multitude of allegations is of no value where soundnesse is wanting in the points alleadged And it is vsuall that innocent persons bee least forward to speake and such as be faultie be seldome giuen to scilence When Moyses came to take vp the matter betweene the two Israelites he that was most lewde was most lowde the offendour that did the wronge was most readie to complaine of wrong offred What wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian Act. 7. 27. 27. Confutation of them that iustifie Popery and the corruptions of it by this that many take part with it Much is said for it great commendation is giuen of it All this is true it is much praised but onely by the foolish babling woman they are full of speech and frequent in writing and yet doe nothing else but fome out froth and falsehoode If multitude or cries of commendations were sufficient to credit a cause and cleaâ—e it Diaua were a glorious goddesse so highly magnified by the generall applause of the Ephesians Act. 19. 28. Secondly of such as take it for an inuincible testimonie against the Gospell and the sincere professors of it that they be so much blamed and so many professe their dislike of them So they dealt with Ieremie though he neither bought nor sould with them nor offred any colour of iniurie to them yet euery man spake euill of him Ier. 1â— 10. So Christianitie in Paules time was counted a sect and euery where spoken against And so our Sauiour himselfe had the sentence of death inforced vpon him by the violent cry of the people Ignorant c. So farre as any man giueth himselfe to be an Doct. 2 agent for sinne so farre he bewrayeth his owne ignorance All Follies friends are most fooles deceiuers and euill men are first deceiued 2. Tim. 3. 13. The Diuell first catcheth one and maketh him a baite to take an other as it fell out in the ouerthrow of our first parents First many of them haue their mindes darkened with want Reasons 1 of knowledge that they cannot discerne betwixt light and darknesse truth and falsehood Secondly all the rest haue their hearts blindfolded with wilfulnesse that they will not vnderstand For
it but vnderstanding that doth discouer the dangerous occurrents that will insue vpon pernicious counsell For other vses of this poynt see verse 10. Doct. 2. Stollen waters are sweete and hid bread is pleasant Verse 17 This verse containeth an euent that followeth their yeelding to follies allurements that at the first they finde delight and pleasure and great contentation in their intertainement Hee alludeth as it seemeth to the disorders that are wont to be in harlots houses wherein at the meeting of companions they vse to haue a feast and all the prouision is of stollen stuffe Eyther seruants filtch from their masters or otherwise they steale from their neighbours hennes and geese and duckes and connies and venison and such things as they can come by which is called hid food because as they cannot iustifie it so they dare not let it be seene but dresse it couertly and eate it secretly in the middest of the night in the most inward and closest rome of the whole house And whatsoeuer is so gotten and there made ready is very delicious vnto them though it were but bread and water Those things that bee most vnlawfull doe best satisfie the Doct. humors of vnregenerate men Though wisedome make a feast Things the more vnlawfull the better liked of bad men of meates that be daintie and wholesome and prepare spiced cups with wine that is sweete and delicate yet shee hath few guests that will visite her table but let folly prouide only bread and water which they must also eat in a corner and hide their heads like malefactours and shee shall haue great store that will flocke to her house and accept of their cheare with very good liking in this sence it is said Chap. 20. 17. that the bread of deceit is sweete to a man The vnrighteous trade and course of getting is to many a kinde of sauce to procure a relish to their possessions They esteeme euery thing to bee so much the more worth if a craftie head a violent hand a guilefull tongue or any fraudulent meanes hath brought it vnto them The same proportion holdeth in all other cases How many bee carried with brutish lusts and affections to strange flesh that haue nothing in them of beautie and in the meane time loath their owne wiues which bee well fauoured personable and comely and who almost taketh delight in any recreation which is neither vnseasonable in respect of the time nor yet vnwarrantable in regard of the manner yet it is altogether too fresh and vnsauery for their taste vnlesse the Diuell powder it with some enormious abuses And hence it proceedeth for that all which is fleshly and most contrary to the spirit of God is alwaies acceptable to Reason them that be fleshly and most agreeable to the corrupt nature of man And so saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the flesh sauour of the things of the flesh And it falleth out in this case as it doth in the infirmities of the body euery maladie doth desire that which will feede and maintaine it as it is to be seene in cholericke persons and such as be inclining to the dropsie the one sort best liking meate that increaseth choler the other thirsting still after drinke whereby the dropsie is nourished Confutation of Popery that hath dishes for euery carnall Vse 1 mans diet the whole body of it tending to sensualitie Euery sence is thereby fed with fleshly delights insomuch as any infidell may be greatly refreshed therewith and yet not led one step nearer to saluation And as it is for euery mans turne readie to satisfie their carnall humors so men be of their owne accord very strongly and vehemently affected to it It is as naturall for them to be superstitious as it is for netles and thistles and other weedes to grow without sowing or setting And this is the cause why men bee so hardly reclaimed from it and so easily vpon weake reasons ready to reuoult back vnto it Instruction that the spirituall delights of the word doe repell the carnall lusts of the world and the comforts of heauenly things doe swallow vp the pleasures of all earthly vanities For vnlesse our hearts bee well fenced against them by grace they will returne to their natiue home and take possession of their ancient habitation Thirdly Consolation to them that distrust these fleshly delights which be so pleasing to other mens appetites it argueth that they haue beene well fed at wisedomes feast and that is the cause why their stomackes can no better disgest the voluptuous messes of folly it is a cleare case that no man can loath the inchanted meate that Sathan and sinne haue dressed but such as haue been nourished by the bread of life which Iesus Christ himselfe hath prepared But hee knoweth not that the dead are there and that her Verse 18 guests are in the deepe of hell Heere followeth another euent insuing vpon the former that as they had pleasure at the first so they must haue paine at the last as their intertainment was with delight so shall their reckoning be with destruction It is said he knoweth not that is euery one of them that bee tractable to her call haue the perill of their state hid from their eyes That the dead are there c. That all that giue themselues to such courses are strangers from the life of God and in the power of the first death and in the depth of hell that is are as certaine to bee damned in the world to come vnlesse God giue them repentance as if they were already in hell fire According as euery sinne is more delightfull so is it more Doct. dangerous and deceitfull The sweet meates of wickednesse Sin the more pleasing the more pernicious will haue the sowre sauce of wretchednesse and misery Sinnefulnesse wil be the bane of transgressors as the harlot is commonly of adulterers It is the holy Prouerbe of God that when the bread of deceit is sweet to the tast it turneth to grit and grauell to the torment of the teeth Chap. 20. 17. First as it appeareth heere men be willingly ignorant of Reasons 1 the euills to come when their desires be satisfied for the present Which thing our Sauiour doth also intimate by the example of the old world when once they gaue ouer themselues Mat. 14. 39. to profit and pleasure as feasting and marying planting and building and traffaquing they knew nothing till the flood came though Noah had foretold them aboue an hundred yeares together Secondly when they be possest with the delights of sinne they are with much difficultie brought to leaue them As Zophar sheweth Iob. 20. 12. c. that when wickednesse is sweet in their mouthes they will fauour it and not forsake it till it turne to a poyson in their bowells Thirdly in respect of the present condition of voluptuous persons which liue in pleasure that they are dead whiles they liue 1. Tim. 5.
beeing foretold of the famine to come made prouision beefore hand for the Saints of Ierusalem First it is a thing pleasing to God to accept of his gifts when Reasons 1 his gracious hand doth reach them out vnto vs and very offensiue to him when we put by the fauour and kindenesse that he maketh offer of For he taketh it either as a contempt of the things which he would bestow or as controlement of his wisedome as though he did not see far inough into the fitnesse of euery season Secondly the euents that fall out on both sides doe make this manifest they that open their hands to receiue when God openeth his to giue they that are prepared to accept with thankefulnesse as hee is ready to bestow in mercie such shall haue the blessings of God confirmed vnto them with newblessings and to them will he communicate much and often and that which is excellent which vse speedy intertainment to his graces But on the other side when men hold him off with delaies and grow nice and coye and turne his benefits backe vpon him they shall be soone rid of them and stript of all his mercies they shall call and cry at another time and haue no answere they shall search and seeke and finde no successe they shall feele their wants and faile of supply to releeue them Reproofe of them that be euill husbands for themselues in Vse the things of this present life pretermitting the precious time of getting skill in any profitable trade or science and onely learne the art of vanitie and bee many yeares apprentises to dogs and dice and hawkes and boules and to euery ruffianly companion that shall teach them to swagger and sweare to swill and quaffe and play all the parts of professed Atheists And so at last their wits beeing worne out for want of wisedome which would haue preserued them their strength consumed in striuing to doe mischiefe and age perishing in them as neuer yeelding fruite to themselues or any others they come to that condicion as did the vagabonds that Iob speaketh of that euery man will be readie to prefer his dogs before them as in equirie it is fit for the master to take the better hand of the seruant and to let his very dunghill haue preheminence aboue them Their wretched and cursed courses in mispending their time do worke them the fulnesse of woe and misery and make them odious and hatefull to God and godly men and to ciuill men and burthenous and loathsome to vngodly and sinfull men Secondly of them that be vnthriftie for their soules which neuer apply themselues to prepare for another life before they be departing out of this They doe not once thinke of seeking heauen and euerlasting saluation vntill they bee sinking into hell and perpetuall perdicion They imagine that earthly things will require long labour to compasse them but pietie and grace repentance and faith may be gotten in a moment they be ready at their will and their will wil be flexible to their wish and neither abilitie nor will nor wish will bee wanting at the time of their deathes Oh miserable men how long will their eyes bee blinded How long will their hearts be hardned do they not perceiue that sinne and Sathan haue power ouer their affections and desires and purposes and will and all the faculties of their whole soules Euen this maketh it cleare that it is so because they doe not perceiue it to be so And if their soules bee in such bondage and subiection and held at the wil of the diuell that now in their fresh age health their sences being more capable of instruction and the ministerie of the word readie to yeeld instruction that they cannot attaine to sound and godly sorrow and conuersion let them not deceiue themselues as though in sicknesse and paine and dotage and sencelesenesse and affected blindnesse of minde they can by their owne disposition returne sincerely to the Lord. Blessings are vpon the head of the righteous but iniquitie Verse 6 shall couer the mouth of the wicked Blessings That is all kinde of happinesse euery good gift of God that is fitte for them as peace plentie grace and health c All shall be vpon the head of the righteous meaning vppon the whole soule and body of euery faithfull holy man And they are said to be on the head because they come downe from aboue and light as it were vpon the head and so discend to the other parts But iniquitie the vengeance of God executed for violence and sinne shall couer the mouth of the wicked shall take away all excuses and defences from him Now heere is somewhat vnderstoode in the former clause and expressed in the latter and somewhat expressed in the latter and to be supplyed in the former Blessings are vpon the head of the righteous and therefore doe open his mouth viz to praise God and maintaine his owne innocencie and iudgements called here violence or iniquitie by a metonymie of the cause they are vpon the head of the wicked and so close vp their mouth Blessings c. The greatest reward that God doth giue to Doct. 1 his seruants in this life is to blesse them That is very ordinarie Blessednes is the greatest gift of God to his seruants with the Prophets in the Psalmes and other places of Scripture in wishing well to the Church to pray for this and in gratulations to commend it and in thankefulnesse to God to acknowledge it As in the sift Psalme ver 12. desiring the comfort and ioy of faithfull men and praying the Lord to worke it in them he sheweth what iust cause they had to bee so affected For thou Lord saith hee wilt blesse the righteous and with fauour wilt compasse him as with a shield First such blessings as are heere spoken of be sure testimonies Reason 1 of Gods loue and proceede meerely from his gracious goodnesse they are infallible pledges of his fauour as it appeareth in the wordes of the Psalme last quoted Secondly they be prerogatiues peculiarlie appropriated to godly men for saith hee in an other place Saluation belongeth to the Lord and thy blessing is vpon thy people It is alwaies accompanied with saluation none are blessed but such as are saued and none are either blessed or saued but such as are the people of God Thirdly they haue all good things infolded in them which readilie according to our neede are ministred vnto vs. Deut. 28. Fourthly Gods blessings doe season all prosperitie and the gifts that it bringeth and maketh them comfortable and all aduersitie and maketh it profitable whereas the curse doth poyson both to the wicked Instruction that whereas we desire to haue the Lord poure Vse 1 this heauenly gift vpon vs so let vs obserue the condicions that he doth prescribe to them which shall receiue it Let vs get holinesse into our hearts and blessings cannot chuse but bee vpon our heads let righteousnesse haue place