second Reason Secondly with the favour of acceptance into covenant God vouchsafed to work in Davids heart such inward graces as did maintain and continue unto David sure title to Gods salvation as first trust and affiance in God Psal 86.2 Save thy servant that trusteth in thee Psal 25.2 O my God I trust in thee Secondly love unfeigned whereby his heart did cleave to God Psal 18.1 2. I will love thee O Lord my strength The Lord is my rock Thirdly David did fear God and reverence him in his heart Psal 119 12â— My flesh trembleth for fear of thee I am afraid of thy judgements Now he will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their cry and save them This serves for instruction and for admonition and for comfort The Use for instruction For instruction see that it is a right and priviledge of them that be truly Godly by particular and speciall faith to apply Gods blessings of the covenant to themselves so David did ordinarily and Paul Gal. â— 20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himself for me 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Now herein he is a pattern to believers 1 Tim. 1.16 Which is the rather to be marked because Papists deny there is any such speciall faith for particular and personall assurance of the great blessings of the covenant but onely a generall applying of them as they belong to Gods Church But so the truly godly should go no further then wicked men nay then the very devils do for they know that there is a God and believe his goodnesse in Christ belongs to his Church Neither is it true that particular assurance of the many blessings of the covenant is onely a fruit of speciall and extraordinary revelation for the Scriptures testifie it comes from true particular ordinary saving graces as faith 1 Joh. 5.13 and love 1 John 3.14 The use for admonition For admonition every one that desires the comfort of this estate must labour to testifie the truth of being in covenant with God by those graces that did entitle David to the great blessings of the covenant even true faith in God through Christ true love and true fear of God The getting of faith is in the reverend exercise of the Word Rom. 10.17 to pray humbly and earnestly for the work of the spirit which is the worker of this grace 2 Cor. 4.13 The grace of love to God in our hearts is a fruit of the spirit Gal. 5.22 and so gotten in and by the reverend use of the same means the word and prayer whereby the spirit is given with which we must also joyn endeavor to feel the love of God in Christ towards us in justification and sanctification and then shall we out of doubt love him as 1 Joh. 4.19 And the grace of reverence and fear is a fruit of the same spirit Isa 11.2 so gotten as the other when by the word we are taught rightly to conceive of God and of our selves The Use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to those that being in covenant with God do testifie the truth of their faith in Christ of their love and fear of God which is rightly done by the fruits of these graces according to Christs rule The tree is known by his fruits Matth. 12.33 Now the sure fruit of true faith is the saving work of the word 1 Thes 2.13 The fruit of love is obedience in doing good for Gods glory 1 John 5.3 The fruit of fear is obedience to God in eschewing evill Exod. 20.20 Prov. 8.13 Prov. 14.27 Secondly consider Davids claim to have God for the God of his salvation with the end for which he doth here make it which is to move God not to hide his face from him nor to leave him nor forsake him and then this is plain The sixt Observation That they that have God for the God of their salvation have a good ground of assurance that he will not forever hide his face from them nor leave them nor forsake them I say forever because for a long time God may hide his face and seem to leave and forsake as Psal 13.1 2. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face c. And Psal 77.7 8. Will the Lord cast off for ever Is his mercy clean gone But if they be his by covenant he will certainly return and shew mercy see Psal 30.5 His anger endureth but a moment in his favour is life weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning See Isa 49.14 15 16. Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking childe c. Isa 54.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but in great mercies will I gather thee c. The reason is from Gods faithfulnesse The reason in the covenant of grace in Christ which is established in the very heavens Psal 89.2 Faithfull is he that calleth you who will also do it 1 Thes 5.24 If we believe not yet he abideth faithfull he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2.13 If we mark well the causes of Gods forsaking those that be truly in covenant are ever temporary answerable whereunto mâ—st the forsaking it self be to wit correction for sinne and triall of grace for they that are effectually called are born of God and so cannot sinne unto death 1 John 3.9 and 5.18 unto whom Gods corrections are with instruction the way of life for thereby God humbles them for their sins and so brings them to repentance as Jer. 31.18 19. And the end which God made with Job shews that Gods trials of grace make them come forth as gold Job 23.10 This serves for instruction and for admonition The use for instruction For instruction see here a plain evidence of great gaine in true godlinesse as 1 Tim. 4.8 and 6.6 for their piety gives evidence of their being in covenant and then their troubles though they may be many and grievous yet certainly they are but temporary as Psal 34.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of them all Psl 37.7 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace so that a man shall say verily there is fruit for the righteous Psal 58.11 The Use for admonition For admonition to every one that lives in the Church to give diligence to get this estate to have the true God for the God of our salvation then we may be sure Gods leaving and forsaking will not bee overlong Psal 119.8 Now this requires first
malitious will and desire of his enemies by the very name of the soule it self whose steps St. Paul doth plainly follow speaking of the corruption of our nature which Divines do call concupiscence that it may seem in measure fearfull he calleth it the old man and body of sinne Rom. 6.6 yea a body of death Rom. 7.24 having many and strong earthly members as fornication uncleannesse and the like Col. 3.5 And that it may seem strong and forcible he ascribeth great power and might unto it in all naturall men Rom. 7.5 When we were in the flesh the motions of sinne which were by the law had force in our members to bring forth fruit unto death it hath a kind of spirituall soveraignty in them it raigneth unto death Rom. 5.21 where mark their sins dominion is for the soules damnation the trouble and terrour whereof in the godly is acknowledged by Paul in his owne person Rom. 7.23 but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity unto the law of sinne This terrour I say that corruption causeth in the godly may easily manifest how terrible the tyranny of it is in naturall men That blessed Apostle cryes out of his misery by reason of this corruption yet dwelling in him Rom. 7.24 though then it had received in him a deadly wound by the power of Christs death effectually applyed unto him by Gods holy spirit at the time of his conversion Oh what slavish bondage then are all naturall men under that have in their soules originall corruption the devils task-master to keep them close under the drudgery of sinne for which they shall receive the wages of eternall death The third Use for instruction Thirdly this very phrase rightly understood gives plain evidence where corruption bears dominion for look where the motions of sinne for force and strength to bring forth evill actions are as availeable as the soule is in the body for the effecting of naturall actions How to know where corruption bears dominion there undoubtedly sinne reigneth and corruption beareth sway The soule we know gives life to the body and sets every part a work about those things it liketh so as we may soundly argue that he is endued with a reasonable soule who doth constantly mannage his humane affayres with good discretion In like manner doth inbred corruption quicken sinfull motions in the soule and gaining consent of will draweth the parts of the body to become the tooles of the mind for the execution of sinfull actions Look therefore where we see a course held in the practise of sinne there we may be sure that corruption bears dominion when the motions of sinne hath force in their members to bring forth fruit unto death then men are in the flesh Rom. 7.5 This raigning power of sinne is the law of the members warring against the law of the mind and bringing man into captivity of the law of sin Rom. 7.23 This raigning corruption shewes it self in man when his mind is set in evill works Col. 2.21 and he minds the things of the flesh Rom. 8.5 when his heart is fully set in him to do evill Eccles 8.11 when his tongue proclaimes his resolution for sinne as Jer. 44.17 we will certainly doe whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth Psal 12.4 with our tongue we will prevaile our lips are our own who is Lord over us If. 56.12 Come yee say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and when he cannot endure to be checked or crossed in his evill course This cuts them to the heart Acts 7.54 stirres them up to rage and fury as Acts 7.57 58. Gen. 19.9 1 Sam. 20.30 whereby they plainly shew themselves to be brutish Prov. 12.1 and sensuall having not the spirit Jude 19. The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to observe in our selves the force and strength of corruption in sinfull motions and desires after things forbidden of God for if to enjoy them be our soule so we would have it as Psal 35.25 then certainly we are wholy carnall sold under sin and if we so die we perish eternally for where sinne raigneth it is unto death Rom. 5.21 And that we deceive not our selves in a matter of so great importance besides the evidence of this estate given in the last instruction which is very plain if we examine our selves thereby The dominion of sinne illustrated by resemblance mark some other resemblances that give further illustration St. James Iam. 1.15 speaks of a strange conception in the foule brought forth in life when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sinne Mans sinne is the child born there spoken of mans soule as it is carnall is the wombe wherein it is conceived the Suggestion of Satan with mans own evill concupiscence are the seed whereof it is formed and so farre forth is mans sinne begotten of the devill and hath him for the father as he is called the father of lyes John 8.44 for he put it into Judas heart to betray his master Iohn 13.2 filled Ananias his heart that he lyed unto God Asts 5.3 and so became in them the father of those grievous sinnes treachery in Judas and hypocrisie in Ananias Now to try our estate for the dominion of sinne by this resemblance do we say of any sinne as Rachel did of naturall children to Iacob Gen. 30.1 give me children or else I dye doth lust make thee sick as it did Ammon 2 Sam. 13.1 2. doest thou like the whorish woman with an impudent face allure others to sinne Prov. 7.13 18. Is it pastime to thee to do wickedly Prov. 18.23 doest thou not sleep except thou have done mischief Prov. 4.16 Doest thou devise iniquity and work evill upon thy bed and when morning is light doest thou practice it because there is power in thine hand c Mich. 2.1 c. upon all these and the like the dominion of sinne may be concluded he that saith of evill doing aha my soule is as yet undoubtedly in his soule void of saving grace Psal 36.1 The transgression of the ungodly saith within my heart there is no feare of God before his eyes This is likewise evident by the contrary affections in the godly in whom grace is renewed to get grace and to practise obedience is their soule as Christ told his disciples My meat is to do the will of him that sent me John 4.34 As the hart panteth after the water brooke so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God Psal 42.1 2. My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Psal 84.2 The word of God was to David as his soule the soule we know quickeneth the body and Gods word quickened his soule Psal 119.50.93 They were the joy and rejoycing of Jeremiahs heart Jer. 15.16
kindly with those that walk uprightly Magistrates mus look at God Iob 8.20 He forsaketh not the upright nor taketh the wicked by the band either to shew kindnesse or to yeeld support And Ministers as embassadours must deliver the will of their King and master and as stewards must give to every one his due portion Luke 12.42 which if it were done would encourage the good and daunt the wicked But alas the contrary practise of both marres all in all estates Magistrates stretch out the hand to scorners and drunkards Hos 7.5 and beat the good Ezek. 34.3 c. And ministers some by ill teaching but more by bad living do strengthen the hands of the wicked Jer. 23.14 and make sad the hearts of those whom God hath not made sad The use for admonition For admonition it serves effectually to all that are desirous God should speak peace unto them to be carefull to become truly his Saints and people for to them God will speak peace and to none else indeed as Isaiah 48.22 There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Now they that would approve themselves to be Gods people and Saints must do three things First by true repentance break off the course of their sins and turn from every evill way for else God will not own themfor his people Psal 50.16 17. They that live in sin walk in darknesse and so cannot have fellowship with him 1 John 1.6 2 Cor. 6.14 Secondly by true faith in Christ rest and rely upon Gods mercy for pardon of sinne and salvation for he that commeth unto God and hath fellowship with him must believe Heb. 11.6 therefore Christ bidding his Disciples to believe on him as they believe on God John 14.1 doth encourage them thereto by this that he is the way the truth and the life by whom alone they must have accesse to the father verse 6. In whom we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him Eph. 3.12 Thirdly walk in new obedience to testifie the truth of their repentance and faith for faith worketh by love Gal. 5.6 And this is the love of God that we keep his commadements 1 John 5.3 The Use for comfort For comfort it maketh greatly to Gods people and children in any misery or trouble that doth befall them for God will speak peace unto them peace shall come Isa 57.2 though for a time they be in heavinesse through manifold temptations yet believing in Christ they rejoyce with joy unspeakable 1. Pet. 1.6 8. God will give them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning c. Isa 61.3 Onely they must wait in the way of obedience Psal 42.5.11 Isa 40.31 They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength The fifth Observation But let them not turn again to folly A needfull caveat or item for Gods people touching their behaviour whereby they wait for peace from God they must not turn again to folly By folly he meaneth their sinnes which formerly had brought miserie upon them thereto he would not have them turn again In this caveat there are two things to be observed First the title given to sinne Secondly the behaviour required of Gods people toward it For the first sinne is here called folly or foolishnesse by the Holy ghost so also Prov. 22.15 Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a childe that is corruption sticks fast to the heart and soul by nature even in childhood Psal 38.5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishnesse that is because of my sinfulnesse Psal 107.17 Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted Prov 26.11 As a dog returneth to his vomit so a fool returneth to his folly that is a wicked man returneth to his sinne The first Reason In reason this is plain For first in every sinne there is a rejecting of the word of God which is divine wisdome Jer. 8.9 Nay a forsaking God himself and cleaving to the devill which is extreme madnesse The second Reason Secondly every sinne gives a deadly would to the soul being indeed the sting of death 1 Cor. 15.56 See Rom. 5 1â— and 6.23 Now who but fools or mad-men will hurt themselves I very man that is wise will be wise for himself Prov. 9.12 The 3 Reason Thirdly every sinne must be undone by repentance or else the the doing of it will destroy the sinner Psal 7.12.13 If he turn not he will what his sword he hath bent his bowe and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the instruments of death The wicked shall be turned into hell Psal 9.17 The Use for instruction This shews first that the world is full of fools for sin abounds every where the whole world lieth in wickednesse 1. Joh. 5.19 Which well considered may stay our hearts from doubting of Gods providence because of the generall disorders that be in the world see Psal 75.3 4. The earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved Isaith unto the foolish deal not so foolishly c. The Use for admonition Second y as we desire to escape the brand of folly so we must be carefull to shun the practise of sinne and impietie for sinne is folly and they that commit it deal foolishly as 2 Sam. 24.10 The rather because of the devils dealing with these fools they are in his hands and he deals with them as many times great men in the world do with naturals make a prey of their estate and sport themselves with their folly so the devill makes a prey of their souls and sports himself with their sinnes which be their folly Even as the Philistims deal with Sampson Judg. 16.15 who turned him to grinde in their prison house and brought him forth as a laughing stock to make them merrie Men may be wise for the world and yet such scols for the devill Luke 12.20 The sixt Observation The second point here purposely intended is this They that look for peace and welfare from God must not turn again to sinne Jer. 18.9 10. When God speaks concerning nation to build or plant it if they do evill and obey not his voice then will he repent of the good he intended for them Dent. 29.19 20. When wicked men blesse themselves in their hearts with a perswasion of peace and welfare and resolve to go on in sinne God will not spare but cause all his wrath and jealousie to smoke against them till they be destroyed His charge unto his people whom he brought out of Egypt that they should not reture thither any more Deut. 17.16 teacheth us that he cannot endure mens turning back to the servitude of sinne which was sigured by Egyptian bondage and as God punished the Jewes that would needs returne thither with sword famine and pestilence till they were destroyed Jer. 42.10 16 17. so he will not spare any that turn back to the service of Satan in the
the foundation of these evils for affliction followes sinners as Jer. 9.12 c. Who is the wise man that may understand this and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that he may declare it for what the land perisheth and is burnt up like a wildernesse that none passeth through And the Lord said Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them and have not obeyed my voyce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peccatum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danum neither walked therein c. Sinne brings in death it selfe and all evils that forerunne or accompany the same By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 Yet Gods dear and fatherly love to his Church comes in as a moving cause of the Churches afflictions that thereby he may bring them to repentance and to escape condemnation see Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chaster whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom he receiveth Heb. 12.16 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that wee should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.30,32 Herein it is with our heavenly Father as Solomon saith of earthly parents Prov. 13.24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Hence David pronounceth them blessed whom the Lord correcteth Psal 94.12 and acknowledgeth it was good for him and that God did it of very faithfulnesse Psal 119.67.71 75. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word c. This we are to note to prevent rash judgement against our selves and others under the crosse whereto how apt we are against our selves see Is 49.14 Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten mee against others If. 53.3.12 He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and wee esteemed him not Hee was numbred with the transgressours The first use for admonition For admonition two wayes First to give all diligence to become true members of the Church that so wee may have part in Gods speciall love wherein stands true happinesse And hereto two things are required first that we know the true Church and secondly that we be not only in it but of it For the first where the true Church of God is what people professing religion be Gods true Church is a great question of large extent and much disputed between Protestants and Papists For our direction and resolution briefly let us learn this That the true Church is Christs mysticall body Eph. 1.22 23. Gave him that is Christ to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body That spirituall building which consist of spirituall living stones built upon the foundation Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 6 7. Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 3.9 That is such professours of the the faith of the Gospell as by the work of the spirit are indued with true faith and adorn their profession with new obedience Now then those that professe Religion and have communion and fellowship with Christ through the work of the spirit in grace undoubtedly are true members of Christs Church But those that be evidenced to want fellowship with Christ through faith are no Church of God nor true members thereof Now they of the Church of Rome are cut off from this fellowship by their ido atry Col. 2.18 19. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind and not holding the head c. By their opinion of justification by works Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are fallen from grace Gal. 5.4 By making the Pope the head of the Church for he is Antichrist and those that so hold are Antichristian the true Church hath not two heads The way to become true members of Christs Church for sure title to Gods speciall love is humbly and reverently to receive the word of the covenant and conscionably to yeeld obedience thereunto as Deut. 33.3 Mark 16.26 The right receiving is by faith 1 Pet. 2.7 And the truth thereof must be testified by obedience For true faith worketh by love Gal. 5 6. And this is the love of God that wet keep his Commandements 1 Iohn 5.3 The second use for admonition Secondly the wicked of the world must hereby be admonished to beware of wronging Gods children for God that loves them above others will require and requite it Psal 10.14 as Psalm 105.14 15. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harme He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye Zech. 2.8 Therefore it will be good to regard and follow the counsell of Gamaliel Acts 5.38 Refrain from these men and let them alone lest we be found fighters against God and it be said to us as it was unto Paul Acts 9.4 5. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me c. For consolation it makes greatly to every true member of Gods Church in any distresse for certainly they have a speciall part and portion in Gods love from which no afflictions can separate them see Rom. 8.35,37,38,39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Nay in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loved us c. Having loved his owne which were in the world hee loved them unto the end John 13.1 Therefore even in affliction they may say Rejoyce not against me O mine enemie when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light unto me Micah 7.8 Verse3 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God The meaning of the words A Third thing setting out the happinesse of the Church that though her present outward state be not alwayes comfortable and glorious yet even then her future hopes upon divine prophecies and promises are great and excellent In the words note two things First the description of the place Secondly the declaration of her happinesse in the ground of her hopes For the first the place here spoken of is Jerusalem thus described thou City of God so called because of Gods sanctuary here seated on Mount Sion which place God chose and desired for his habitation saying This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 132.13 14. Whereupon in the new Testament it is called the City of the great King Mat. 5.35 Now the earthly Jerusalem
of the Lord shall obtain joy and gladnesse and sorrow and mourning shall flee away I even I am he that comforteth thee who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye and of the sonne of man that shall be made as grasse and forgettest the Lord thy maker c. Adde hereto Jerem. 46.27 28. Fear thou not oh thou my servant Jacob for I will save thee I am with thee Obj. But we shall finde that the most godly do fear as David himself Psal 116.11 I said in my haste all men are lyars And 1 Sam. 27.1 I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul Answ This comes from the weaknesse of their faith as Matth. 14.30 31. Peter feared though he had Christs word for his warrant through the weaknesse of his faith which may also be encreased by present guilt in some sin Obj. But the gâ—dly sometimes flye and fall before their enemies and so cannot but fear Answ All promises of temporall blessings such as freedome from humane fear is are to be understood with exception of the crosse that is must give way to Gods correction for sinne as in David 2 Sam. 12.14 and to Gods making triall of grace as in Job Chap. 2 3. The second Use for instruction Secondly here see the true ground of that difference which is between the wicked and the godly about slavish fead and godly boldnesse plainly testified by Solomon Prov. 28.1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth but the righteous is bold as a Lion This cometh hence The godly have the Lord with them and for them and that makes them bold but the wicked have the Lord against them and that strikes their hearts with fear and dread See the truth of this in instance Moses leades all the people of Israel boldly through the red sea Pharaoh followeth boldly for a while but at length he and all his hoste are affraid and flye away and are drowned Heb. 11.29 with Exod. 14 25. And at Christs resurrection the keepers are as dead men for fear but the women that sought Jesus are bid not to be affraid Matth. 28.4 5. The 1. Use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to take notice that the true grounds of courage and boldnesse is this that a man hath the true God for his God that so whosoever would be comfortable and couragious in the evill day do labour for this estate to have the true God for his God It is not onely true that affliction followeth sinners so as evill shall hunt the wicked person to destruction Psal 140.11 but even the godly themselves are subject to many miseries as Psal 34.19 Through manifold tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14 22. Now unlesse God be for us the heart will fail when evils come as Nabals did 1 Sam. 25.37 And none indeed have the Lord for them but those that stand rightly in covenant with God which be such as repent of their sinnes believe in the Lord Jesus and walk in new obedience This is wholsome doctrine for souldiers in warre Mariners on the sea and for every one in evill times The second use for admonition Secondly those that have true courage and comfort in evill times must learn hence to give God all the glory For this is the Lords gift as David confesseth Psal 18.29 c. Vers 2. When the wicked even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh they stumbled and fell The meaning of the words HEre David gives instance from his own experience of Gods powerfull preservation of him in extreme danger which no doubt he propounds as the ground of that great confidence professed in the former Verse as in like case he encouraged himself to encounter in fight with great Goliah because God had formerly strengthened him against a Lion and a Bear 1 Sam. 17.33 34 35. In the instance here made we have three things to note First the state and condition of David enemies they are wicked men Secondly their purpose and attempt against David they came upon him to eat up his flesh that is utterly to destroy him as the roaring lion devoureth a little sheep Thirdly the issue and successe of their attempt they stumbled and fell The first Observation For the first note Davids enemies and foes are wicked men Psal 3.7 Thou hast smitten all mine enemies on the check bone thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly Ps 5.8 9 David praying for safety because of his enemies saith There is no faithfulnesse in their mouthes their inward parts are very wickednesse c. â—sal 6.8 Hee cals his enemies workers of iniquitie Psal 17.9 The wicked that oppresse him are his enemies and Verse 13. Deliver my soul from the wicked The Reason The reason whereof is the enmitie put by God himself between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman Gen. 3.15 which David found Psal 38.19 20. They that render evill for good are mine adversaries because I follow the thing that good is and our Saviour Christ Joh. 7.7 The world hateth me because I testifie of it that the deeds thereof are evill Who also fore-told his Disciples hereof Joh. 15.15 If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you and John 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The use for instruction For instruction it shewes plainly what the godly must expect and look for in this world at the hands of wicked men namely all bitter opposition and enmitie that may be as Christ Jesus told his Disciples ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake and therefore tels them that he sent them forth as sheep into the midst of Wolves Mat. 10.16 Which thing David had found long before and thereupon complains My soul is among lions and I lye amongst the children of men that are set on fire whose teeth are speares and arrowes and their tongue a sharp sword Psal 57.4 And mine enemies workers of iniquitie lye in wait for my soul Psal 59.1 2 3. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace but when I speak they are for warre Psal 120.6 7. This Paul likewise felt Acts 20.23 The holy Ghost witnesseth in every City that bonds and afflictions abide me See 2 Cor. 11.23 In stripes above measure in prison more frequent in death oft Yea it was the case of the rest of the Apostles as well as his I think saith he that God hath set us forth the last Apostles as it were appointed to death For we are made a spectacle unto the world unto Angels and to men 1 Cor. 4.9 The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to the wicked
their enemies under the power of their distressors plainly by the bondage of Israel in Egypt for a long time Gen. 15.13 with Exod. 1.9 10 11 13 14. The three servants of God were thus cast into the fiery furnace Dan 3.20 21. and Daniel himself into the Lyons denne Dan. 6.16 Jeremie felt this evill Jer. 26.14 yea Christ himself by the wicked hands of the Jewes was taken crucified and slain Acts 2.23 which we are to mark to prevent rash judgement as well against others as also against our selves in this case A fault in which the godly themselves may fall as well against others Job 4.7 Remember I pray thee saith Eliphaz to Iob who ever perished being innocent as also against themselves Is 49.14 Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Psal 22.1 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me But if we mark every mans deserving by sinne and Gods soveraignty over the best it will stay our hearts and tongues from the sinne of rash judgement The second Use for instruction Secondly this petition shewes that if the godly fall into the hands of the wicked it is by Gods permission and dispensation for a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without the will of God Mat. 10.29 therefore Christ saith to Pilate thou wouldest have no power over me at all except it were given thee from above John 19.11 and the Church saith unto God thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat thou sellest thy people for nought Psa 44.11 12. Paul saith I think that God hath set us forth the last Apostles as it were appointed to death Which is a thing very observable as the only ground of true patience Psal 39.9 with 2. Sam. 16.10 11 12. and also of sweet comfort in the greatest persecution for he hath said I will not leave thee nor for sake thee Heb. 13.5 Ps 91.15 I will be with him in trouble Psal 66.10 11 12 Thou O God hast proved us thou hast tryed us as silver is tryed Thou broughtest us into the net thou laydest affliction upon our loynes Thou causedst men to ride over our heads we went through fire and through water but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place Mark the comfortable end of the troubles of the godly as Iob 23.10 He knoweth the way that I take when he hath tryed me I shall come forth as the gold And so the story shewes Job 42.12 So God blessed the latter end of Iob more then the beginning The third Use for instruction Thirdly see here that prayer is a sanctified means to obtain of God safety and preservation from the hands of those that desire our hurt Thus the Jewes escaped from the bloody designe of Haman Eph. 4.16 17. and 7.3 4. c. Thus Jehosaphat escaped in battaile when the Captains of the Chariots beset him about 2 Chron. 18.31 And thus were he and his people preserved from three Kings that came against him 2 Chron. 20.3 4. c. And thus was Hezekiah preserved from the great Army of Senacherib Isaiah 37.21 33 34. And no marvaile for as God requires the duty so he hath made the promise which he will perform Psal 50.15 Psalm 91.15 The use for instruction For admonition it serves effectually to stirre up every child of God to become a follower of David in the performance of this duty to be much and earnest with God in prayer for the preservation of himself and the Church of God out of the hands of their enemies A most needfull duty in these evill times wherein the enemies of Gods Church do band themselves like Edom Moab Geball Ammon Amalek and the rest Psalm 83.3 4. c. to root out Religion to cut off Gods people that the name of Israel be no more in remembrance Consider the good successe of this duty in this case by the former examples How prayer is prevalent with God against enemies for it is not as naturall men do think a vain thing to serve the Lord unprofitable to pray unto him Mal. 3.14 Iob 21.15 experience shewes that this duty is prevalent with God one of these three wayes at all times Either it prevents their attempts as the former examples shew fully and plainly or else it procures deliverance out of the enemies hands after some time of triall and correction by them as it did for Peter when he was kept in prison by Herod with purpose to put him to death Acts 12.5 6. c. and for Israel to procure their deliverance out of Egypt Exod. 2.23 24. or at least it procures strength of grace to bear the violence and the cruelty of the enemy though he proceed to inflict upon them most violent death as we may see in Steven Acts 7.59.60 and in the Saints of God that would not be delivered that they might obtain a better resurrection Heb. 11.35 For indeed when the godly do sincerely perform this duty though the outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed daily 2 Cor. 4.16 and in death it self the child of God is more then conqueror Rom. 8.37 Let us not therefore be weary of this duty the effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5.16 while Moses his hands were lifted up Joshuah prevailed but when they were let down Amalek prevailed Exod. 17.11 God is much moved by prayer it stayes the wrath of God against his people as Exod. 33.10 11. c. Psal 106.23 Deut. 9.18 19 20. And therefore when God is resolved to bring a judgement he forbids Jeremie to pray for the Jewes Jer. 7.16 and 11.14 and 14.11 Qu. Is this all we have to doe to pray in time of danger Answ No we must likewise serve Gods providence in the use of ordinary means and withall use prayer for Gods blessing thereon So Moses did for Joshuah when he fought against Amalek and Mordecai prayed for Esther when she went unto Ashuerus in the behalfe of the Jewes And besides these we must have due regard to our estate and behaviour when we perform this duty and pray and namely first we must see that we stand rightly in covenant with God and be his people through faith in Christ for then we have a promise of protection as Psal 89.3 â—0 21 22 and of audience in time of trouble 2 Chron. 7.13 14. which encouraged the Church in adversity Is 63.19 we are thine thou never bearest rule over them they were not called by thy name And Jeremiah herewith moveth God to mercy Jer. 14.8 9. O the hope of Israel the saviour thereof in time of trouble why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land as a man that cannot save yet thou O Lord art in the midst of us and we are called by thy name leave us not Secondly if we have failed by transgression for in many things we sinne all Jam. 2. then we must be carefull to renew covenant with God by renewing our
Job 1.8 Prov. 14.2 Thus shall we be surely entitled to Gods blessings Psal 25.12 13 14. What man is he that feareth the Lord His soule shall lodge in goodnesse or dwell at ease as it is translated The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his covenant Psal 31.19 O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layd up for them that fear thee and wrought for them that trust in thee even before the sonnes of men Thirdly we must walk in obedience in well doing according to the duties of our places labouring in all things to keep a good consciente both towards God and men Herein stands the power of godlinesse which hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 No good thing shall be lacking to him that walketh uprightly Psal 84.11 What man is hee that desireth life and loveth many dayes that he may see good Keep thy tongue from evill and thy lips from speaking guile Depart from evill and do good seek peace and pursue it Psal 34.12 13. Yea to them that by continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality shall be eternall life glory honour and peace to every man that worketh good Rom. 2.7.10 The thiâ—d Use for admonition Thirdly when we enjoy any good we must remember whence it comes and stirre up our selves to true thankfulnesse 1 Thess 5.18 In all things give thankes Psal 50.23 He that offereth praise and thanks honoureth him Therefore we must with David study the art of thankfulnesse as Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me and call upon our soules for the performance of this duty as Psal 103.1 2. Blesse the Lord O my soule c. remembring the Samaritan Luke 17.15 19. who upon his thanksgiving was sent away with a better blessing for his soule then he obtained for his body by humble supplication For comfort this makes greatly to all the godly in any want or distresse The Use for comfort for surely their God is kind to the unkind and in temporall blessings very liberall even to the wicked as we may see Psal 73.3 4 5. c. The wicked have proserity there are no bands in their death their strength is fiâ—m c. Psal 17.14 They have their portion in this world their bellies God filleth with his hid treasure Now all they have are but effects and fruits of his common favour what then do we think hath he in store for those whom he loves in Christ Surely for them he hath a worthy dowry as 1 Sam. 1.5 Consider Mat. 6.26 c. Behold the fowles of the ayre for they sow not neither do they reap nor gather into barnes yet your heavenly father feedeth them are not you much better then they c. when a gentleman keepeth his dogs and his hogs fat and faire shall we think he will suffer his children to starve for want of food and raiment Nay nay though deer parents may sometimes prove unnaturall and a mother forget her sucking child yet will not God forget his children Is 49.15 The third Observation The third thing to be noted here is this David believed that he should enjoy the goodnesse of the Lord in this world Psal 116.9 10. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living I believed therefore have I spoken and more plainly Psal 23.1 5 6. The Lord is my shepheard I shall not lack Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies thou annointest my head with oyle my cup runneth over Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the daies of my life The Reason The reason of this his perswasion was the goodnesse of God to David both making promises of these blessings unto David and also enabling him by grace to rest and rely thereon as he confesseth unto God Psal 119.40 Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope The promises of God to David were twofold First generall which are good to all Gods people that be truly in covenant with God and make conscience of obedience which are at large set down Levit. 26.3 4 c. to 14. and Deut. 28.1 c. to 15. and fully though briefly Psal 34.9 there is no want to those that fear him Psal 37.3 Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Secondly more particular and personall unto David himself alone for the honour of the Kingdome over Israel assured by speciall promise Psal 89.20 21 22. and ratified by holy annoynting 1 Sam. 16.13 and for the building and blessing of his house 1 Sam. 7.11.27 This serves for instruction and for admonition For instruction The use for instruction see here plain evidence of the great use and benefit of faith it serves to entitle us not only unto spirituall and heavenly blessings in Christ but even to the good things of this world in temporall blessings as here David layes hold on Gods goodnesse promised in this world So did Noah by faith build the ark for the saving of his houshold in the flood Heb. 11.7 So did Paul receive safety to himself and those that sailed with him in his dangerous voyage Acts 27.24 25. Thus Asa and his people received victory in time of battell 2 Chron. 18.8 and Jehosaphats preservation from assault 2. Chron. 20.20 And what shall I more say saith the Apostle for the time would faile me to tell of Gideon of Barack of Sampson of Jephta of Samuel David and the prophets who through faith subdued Kingdomes c. Heb. 11.32 33 34. So as we may well say of faith what the Apostle doth of godlinesse 1 Tim. 4.8 that it is profitable for all things and hath the promise of all kind of blessings for true faith is the prime grace of godlinesse to the sure entitling of us to the best blessings as Gal. 5.6 Here indeed every Christian must wisely and rightly consider the different nature of blessings promised and according to the Lords meaning intitle themselves thereunto For some promises concern blessings simply necessary to true happinesse as be justification and sanctification other promises are made of blessings both spirituall and temporall which are very good and comfortable but not simply necessary to salvation as be peace of conscience and joy in the holy ghost and all degrees of spirituall graces above that which shewes the truth and life thereof as abundance of knowledge strong faith fervent love and the likeâ— which high degrees of grace some have had as Abraham Rom. 4.19 20. the Centurion Luke 7.9 and the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.28 whereas the disciples themselves were for a good while men of little faith Mat. 6.30 and 16.8 and the Church of Philadelphia had a little strength Rev. 3.8 Now the promises of blessings simply necessary
ground and cause of the former benefit and of all other that follow For the better understanding whereof we must know that there is a double trope in the words First the gates of Sion part of the building of the city upon mount Sion are put for the whole city as it was a type of Gods Church in Christ who as Mediatour here began the setled building and government of it as Psal 2.6 compared with Luke 1.32.33 Secondly Jacob is here put for his posterity the whole twelve tribes who inhabited all the land of Canaan as if he would have said The Lord indeed bears a good affection to the whole land of Canaan where his people dwell as Deut. 11.12 A land which the Lord thy God careth for the eyes of the Lord thy God are alwaies upon it but above all the places thereof he bears a good affection towards Mount Sion whereon his holy city is built which is the type and beginning of his true Church in Christ visibly represented in a setled choyce place In the words thus conceived note this point The observation that God loves his Church above all other states and conditions of men in the world whatsoever Mal. 1.1 2,3 The word of the Lord to Israel that is the posterity of Jacob the Church in those dayes I have loved you saith the Lord and that more then others for was not Esau Jacobs brother saith the Lord yet I loved Jacob and I hated Esau which in the most mild and favourable interpretation taking hatred for lesse love as Gen. 29.30,31 proveth the point in hand that God loves his Church above all other states and conditions of men in the world John 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved his Church Christ Jesus in love to his Church makes himselfe a pattern to husbands to love their wives Now we know every husband should love his owne wife more then any other woman in the world and therefore wee need not to doubt but Christ doth so to his Church The greatnesse of Gods love to his Church seene in three things This will yet more plainely appeare by these three things First Gods delivery vouchsafed to his Church from evils Secondly his advancement of her to speciall estate of happinesse Thirdly the means of both which is Jesus Christ given unto her 1. In delivering her from evils For the first the greatnesse of Gods love in his delivery of his Church will plainly appear by that which is said thereof both in generall and in particular In generall Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Psal 34.19 He visiteth and redeemeth his people and delivereth them out of the hands of all their enemies Luke 1.68.74 In particular Gods Church in her self is liable to temporall evils in this world and to evils eternall in the world to come for they were by nature the children of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Now from eternall evils God gives to his Church absolute and perfect deliverance There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 On them the second death hath no power Rev. 20.6 But it is not so with others that be on t of the Church to them it will be said Depart from me ye curâ—â—d into everlasting fire Mat. 25.41 And for deliverance from temporall evils in this world whether corporall or spirituall Gods Church hath a great prerogative above others though not in absolute freedome from them for we must through many tribulations enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14.22 and the Church of God is greatly afflicted when all the earth sitteth still and is at rest Zech. 1.11 12. Yet in her sufferings the Church of God hath a great measure of deliverance which the world doth ever want namely from the curse of God which ever accompanieth temporall evils upon the men of the world as Zech. 5.3 For Christ hath redeemed his Church from the curse of the law Gal. 3.13 and. the evils that lye upon them are corrections for sinne When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.32 or trials of grace as Jam. 1 2,3 My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience 1 Pet. 1.6 7. wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heavinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ Job 2.3 The Lord said to Satan hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evill and still he holdeth fast his integritie although thou movest me against him to destroy him without cause For the second 2. In advancing her to a speciall state of happinesse in this world Gods advancement of his Church to a speciall estate of happinesse is two fold partly in this world and principally in the world to come In this world sometime with outward peace and plenty to the admiration of the world as in the dayes of Solomon 1 Kings 10.21 c. And though many times the Church of God hath a small portion in temporall blessings for their felicitie is not in this life if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 yet hath she alwaies in Christ Jesus true right unto all temporall blessings for Christ is Lord of all Mat. 28.18 and in him all things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come 1 Cor. 3.21 22. She hath also a sanctified use of what she enjoyes and sweet content therein whether her portion be small or great I have learned in what ever state I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need Phil. 4.11 12. living under that speciall providence whereby she is preserved night and day Isaiah 27.3 But in spirituall blessings is her speciall advancement above the world Blessed with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 1.3 Eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 As in effectuall calling to the state of grace wherein they have spirituall society with God in Christ Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee that he may