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
the Lord he obteined a glorious deliuerance Iehosophat seemed to be in as great perill as Ahab and Ahab was of as great wealth as Iehosophat yet God gaue direction to the hand of one archer vnwittingly to shoote and to the arrow to light vpon him and to finde a chincke in his armour and to hit him in such a place as through which it pearced to his life And contrariwise hee perswaded the hearts of many others who pressed vpon Iehosophat to withdraw their hands and to let him alone in safetie Thirdly the death of Iesus Christ hath plucked out the sting and taken away the venome of their naturall death as that it is conuerted into a quiet and comfortable rest Fourthly the Resurrection of Iesus Christ shall at the last day subdue and destroy this death that now houldeth their bodies in the graue and death shall dye and they shall liue in immortalitie and euerlasting blessednesse Instruction to euery one to get a sure possession of sound Vse 1 and vnfained righteousnesse such as will hould weight in the ballance of Gods righteousnesse before his iudgement seate and therefore let him obserue these three generall rules which bee effectuall and necessarie First that he put off the old man with the carnall reason and shewes thereof disclayming for authentick and alowable goodnesse all counterfait natural and ciuill vertues and bee clothed with Christ and his merites and sanctified with his holy Spirit Phil. 3. 9. 10. Secondly that hee make a narrow search to finde out all his sinnes and that with godly sorrow and repentance for the same obtaining also pardon and remission for them through the bloud of Iesus Christ Thirdly that he make a conscience constantly and totally to walke in the commandements of God endeuoring to please him in all things For hee that leaueth off well doeing in the end shal loose all the comfort of his beginning And he that is content to serue God but in a part may bee suppected to serue him soundly in no part Consolation to them that haue attained to this righteousnesse and bee furnished with it in heart and behauiour they are throughly armed not onely with the brestplate but with the whole and complete armour of God against Sathan and all his forces And so likewise are they in safety from the perill of all places the violence of all persons and the terrours of all times and seasons When they are in health they neede not to feare sicknesse when they are sicke they neede not to feare death when they are to die they neede not to dread the daunger of damnation The Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous but Verse 3 hee casteth away the substance of the wicked These words bee inferred vpon the former as an answere to a secret obiection that might bee made against them why should it bee thought that men get no good by gathering riches in what manner soeuer They stand them in steade in time of dearth scarcety when others that want them though neuer so iust are like to perish Now heere hee sheweth the case to bee otherwise good men are not vnprouided of foode because they are vnfurnished with wealth and sinfull men haue no assurance of prouission though they haue riches for the Lord will not famish the soules of the righteous that is will not suffer the men themselues to starue though they haue neuer so little But will cast away the substance of the wicked that is he will depriue them of the possession or vse or vertue of it when they are in greatest neede The Lord will not c. Poore Christians be in better estate Doct. then wealthie wicked men euen in respect of bodily prouision A poore Christian better then a rich worldling and maintenance Such a comparison is made Psal 34. 10. that lyons that is mightie strong and boysterous men suffer hunger and sustaine want as was notably seene in the case of Nabucadnezzer who in the middest of his greatest power his ample dominions and large possessions was yet turned a grasing like a beast amongst the beasts But they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good They may sometimes bee without that which they wish for because they may wish for that which will not well agree with their safetie But whatsoeuer is good and there neede requireth it that shall vndoubtedly be ministred vnto them Obiect But may not a godly man dye of hunger shall wee condemne all that are afamished Answ There is no doubt but many men euen faithfull seruants of god in sieges extreame dearthes c. be brought to their ends through penury and want of food but then it is good for them so to come to their end The Lord doth call them home to heauen by such a messenger In the like sence it is said in the former Psal 34. 20. that not one of their bones is broken that is to their hurt or through neglect of gods prouident care ouer them But one may haue his bones broken be hewed or sawed asunder in great mercie Heb. 11. 37. So there is a promise to Gods people to preserue them from the pestilence Psal 91. 7. and yet many blessed saints bee taken away by it to euerlasting glory Else Dauid would not haue giuen them that testimonie who so dyed at that time calling them poore harmelesse sheepe or haue offred himself to that kinde of death to preserue them aliue The meaning is then that religious men shall neuer bee plagued with the venome and sting of scarcetie and famine hauing it executed as a curse vpon them as it falleth out with sinners First they haue the good prouidence of God continually Reasons 1 for them his eyes are open to see their neede his eares are open to heare their prayers his hand is open to releeue their necessities his treasury and rich store house is open and able to supply all their wants They haue his loue and fauour they haue his power and sufficiencie they haue his word and promise they haue his truth and fidelitie that the will neuer faile them Heb. 13. 5. Secondlie the wealthie misers of the world haue the hand of God against them to consume that which they haue augmented to scatter that which they haue gathered together and to cast away that as a cursed thing which they haue laid vp as a precious treasure They trust not in him but make that their hope and therefore hee will make that to deceiue them when they haue greatest neede of helpe They doubt not but it shall goe well with them when others be in extremitie and therefore they shall bee brought into straits when it shall goe well with others And so much the rather beecause they doe not onely glory in their wealth and lift vp themselues aboue poore Christians but arme themselues therewith and make it a weapon of oppression Consolation to good men that haue inward store of grace Vse 1 though
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
the truth of God and take it for a glory to giue it a foyle But howsoeuer their prompt wits ready tongues together with art and Sathans assistance may sometimes perplexe and trouble a poore Christian yet shall they nothing preuaile against Christ and his veritie nor gaine any thing at his hands but shame and punishment It were safer for them to incounter with tenne Sampsons then to try their manhoode with one point or article of Gods holy doctrine But their case is worst of all which obstinately peruersely and of wilfull malice doe reiect all that is taught them out of the word It is in vaine to admonish them as the Prophet saith Hos 4. 4. Thy people are as they that rebuke the Priest that is presumptuous persons sinning with an high hand in refusing to heare or be directed by the Priest then of the law Deut. 17. 12. or to giue eare to the ministers of the Gospel now but contentiously disobey the truth and so bring vpon their owne soules indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 9. Hee that walketh vprightly walketh bouldly but hee that Verse 9 peruerteth his waies shall be knowne He that walketh vprightly that is doth carefully looke to his waies with an honest heart walketh surely hauing both the affection and ground and effects of Christian bouldnesse but hee that peruerteth his waies that is doth allow himselfe in any course though neuer so secretly shall be knowne his sinnes shall be detected The sence of the whole verse may be thus expressed Hee that walketh vprightly walketh surely because his faithfulnesse shall bee knowen to his praise And hee that peruerteth his waies walketh dangerously beecause his lewdenesse shall bee knowne to his shame All sound safetie and boldnesse proceedeth from sinceritie Doct. of heart and integritie of life liuery religious man that feareth He liues safely that liues sincerely the Lord hath this promise Psal 112. 7. 8. That no euill tidings shall make him afraid because he beleeueth in the Lord if all the world would tell him of perill when God himselfe doth warrant him safetie he will giue most credit to him that hath most truth and most power also to dispose of all euents And his heart is not as a pole that is pitched vp or a stake that is sticked vp which euery hand may plucke away or euery blast of winde may blow downe nor like a dry wall without a quoine or buttresse or any other binding to fortifie it but it is fixed and established as a tree that is well rooted groweth strongly or a building that hath a sure foundation and standeth fast and so is freed from feare and all slauish terrour First his heart hath Gods owne eye to behold it and his spirit Reasons 1 to testifie the faithfulnesse of it and so receiueth comfort from him Iob. 31. 31. whereas the hearts of hypocrites beeing searched by him are found most fraudulent and deceitfull Secondly the course of their actions is such as will indure light and the more they are examined the better they will prooue and therefore they need not feare any might or malice or cunning aduersaries that shal seeke their disgrace Isa 50. 7. 8. And though their enemies for a time doe falsely slander them yet the Lord in due season will make their righteousnesse as cleare as the noone day Psal 37. 6. Thirdly their bodies and state are in Gods custodie and he hath vndertaken the defence and preseruation of them Cap. 3. 26. Psal 91. whereas the wicked are out of Gods protection and goe perpetually in perill Fourthly their soules are prepared for death and the iudgement seate of Christ and therefore more desire to bee dissolued then are afraid to heare of the neerenesse of their dissolution which is contrary in the wicked who all their dayes are in bondage to the feare of death and damnation Heb. 2. 15. Instruction to get apparant and euident testimonies of Vse 1 vprightnesse which will make our liues comfortable keep off many miserable vexations and horrors that come vpon the wicked And this wee shall doe if wee labour to know all that God would haue vs to learne to indeuor to practise all that wee know and to confesse to God all that we faile to practise for so farre as wee are willingly ignorant of any dutie or carelesse to performe it or secure when we neglect it conceale Psal 32. 2. 3. our sinnes not acknowledging them that the Lord may remit them so far wee come short of a good conscience Consolation for all that be vpright that whether they walk abroad or stay at home whether they be in company with others or alone by themselues whether it be in the day or in the night whether they bee walking or sleeping they are well assured of certaine safetie Terrour for sinfull men whose consciences be at all times readie to assaile them Naturall courage will not help them in the time of extremitie how many seeming very valient as Saul for example haue through desperate feare laide violent hands vpon their owne bodies And let power and courage concur to gether yet both wil be insufficient to strengthen a heart that Gods iudgement and their owne guiltinesse doe weaken As Balshazzar being bold to defie Cyrus and to bid battell to the Lord himselfe profaning his holy vessells in despight of him yet now in the middest of iolitie amongst his friends in his owne house in a strong cittie garded with an hoast of armed souldiers hee was so frighted and terrified that his countenance was changed his heart was resolued into dastardlinesse the ioyntes of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against an other And what was it that so danted him the sight of an hand writing vpon the wall There were neither more enemies nor fewer friends nor any other alteration then beefore but God wakened his conscience and his conscience shewed him his guiltinesse and altogether threatned his destruction and heereby his great courage was so quickly killed And this also may serue to take away the vaine confidence of foolish men that be bold to commit iniquitie yet looke to escape the reproach of it hoping neuer to be found out But they forget that the Apostle saith that mens sinnes come to light in diuers maners some presently vpon the fact some long after some in their life time some after they be dead some reserued to the last day but so that all shall certainely be manifested one day Caine had as faire possibilitie 1. Tim. 5. 24. 25 and likelihood to couer his crueltie as euer any sinner had or possibly can haue to conceale his offences no man but himselfe knowing of it no circumstances beeing to sift it out by if hee would keepe his owne counsell and yet what fact almost is more notoriously knowen and published and that with detestation then his murdering of Abel And it is not to be imputed to his owne sillinesse or
themselues by their purses and treasures as they did by their prayers and holy exercises of their tongues Ionah could not haue beene comforted nor holpen by the greatest quantitie of money in the whales belly where his prayer was very effectuall Peter could not haue giuen so good an almes to the poore creeple if hee had beene stored with siluer Act 3. 6. 7. and gold as hee did by the efficacie of his words through the name of Iesus Christ Instruction to shew our selues righteous by putting away Vse 1 all obscenitie of speeches that neither silthinesse or couetousnesse be once named amongst vs nor foolish talking nor seurrill bitter or vncomely iesting or any kind of rotten communication as the Apostle calleth it but onely that which is for the vse of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Ephe. 5. 4. 4. 29. And especially let vs beware of the drosse of dissimulation vntruth and falsehoode which bee-seeme not righteous persons Make no report for certainiie of any thing that is vncertaine neuer make a promise without a setled purpose and resolution of performance The faithfulnesse of Boas in this case was so prooued and made manifest that when hee had once giuen his word to Ruth Naomy biddeth her to binde vpon it and not further to trouble her selfe for saith she the man will not bee in rest vntill hee haue finished the matter this same day Ruth 3. 18. Consolation if good men notwithstanding their great infirmities and corruptions haue yet such sinceritie in speaking and such fidelitie in performing that which they speake how shall not the righteous God in comparison of whom all men are lyars and who is not so properly called true as truth all his words veritie it selfe how shall not hee I say fulfill all his promises and stand to his couenants that hee hath made with his people Hee hath vndertaken for their saluation their maintenance protection safety from sathan deliuerance from tirants and persecutors and shall not all this bee accomplished is not all pure mettall that he pronounceth is it not as siluer tried seauen fold in the sire Psal 12. 6. If hee should faile of his word he should forget his truth and in forgetting his truth should forgoe his nature and consequently should forfeite his deitie which were an execrable thing so much as to conceiue But the heart of the wicked c. Though sinfull persons Doct. 2 make neuer so great a shew on the outside yet there is nothing A wicked man hath his worst side inward within them worth any thing To that purpose tend the words of the Apostle collected out of the Psalmes the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise to bee but vaine If the point had stood vpon mans opinion there might easily haue beene an errour in it but he bringeth the testimonie of god vpon sure infallible knowledge to cōfirme it And wheras the Prophet nameth man indefinitely that is euery man vnregenerate Psal 94. 11. Hee singleth out the chiefe and choysest of all the sort of them whose purposes seeme to bee of greatest price and most likely to preuaile and sayeth that the thoughts of the wise men best qualified with art and naturall parts are not onely vaine but very vanitie as the Psalmist hath it Reasons 1 First they are altogether destitute of the spirit of grace Secondly the heart of man without the spirit is foule and filthie and an vncleane sinke of all abhominations Thirdly the streames that issue from thence declare what the fountaine is when all their words and actions and recreations and imaginations are onely sinfull and wicked Hag. 2. 15. Tit. 1. 15. Gen. 6. 5. Fourthly Gods proceeding against them in his displeasure maketh manifest how base they are for hee knoweth how all things are to bee priced Since therefore hee reiecteth and casteth them away it euidently appeareth that there is no goodnesse in them So sayth Ieremie They shall call them reprobate siluer because the Lord hath reiected them Ier. 6. 30. Vse 1 Instruction not to much to magnifie and admire them nor too farre to depend vpon them For better things are not certainely to be expected from them than are in them And therefore many times they make golden promises and leaden performances because they haue but drossie affections Consolation to poore Christians in regard of their portion notwithstanding they come short of the vngodly in goods and liuings Many sinners bee set vp in state and much worth in outward wealth when as they bee worse than bankroupts in their soules and wholy destitute of all inward substance and contrary wise though the Saints haue but small store of externall riches yet they bee of great possessions in their hearts and flow with plentie in their inward parts The lippes of the righteous doe feede many but fooles die Verse 21 for want of wisedome Before was declared the excellencie of a good tongue and well seasoned speech and heere are the effects of it commended namely the good that is wrought by it the soules of many being edified therewith and receiuing grace and groweth for saluation and comfort as the body doth obtaine strength and nouriture and refreshing by their meanes that minister wholesome foode vnto it And this is illustrated by the contrarie effect of wicked and ignorant persons that they are so farre from feeding others with knowledge and wisedome that they suffer themselues to be starued to death distruction through the want of it The lippes of the righteous c. It is the note of a faithfull Doct. man to vse his knowledge and other good gifts for the benefit Hee is the best man that doth others most good of his brethren In this sence the Apostle sayth that though he were poore yet he made many rich 2. Cor. 6. 10. His meane estate would not permit him to bestow mony or such kinde of gifts as wealthie men vse to distribute because he had no great plentie himselfe but that which hee had most of and others had most neede of that he most liberally communicated to all that would receiue it wheresoeuer hee came First godly men doe prouide themselues of these celestiall Reasons 1 graces and thereby are made able to participate them to others They haue a learning eare therefore also a teaching tongue Isa 50. 4. they be couetous of spirituall gifts and therefore also liberall of them they are great eaters and as we may say haue an appetite to deuoure all and therefore would haue euery man to take part with them In earthly commodities men are of a contrary disposition for as they are the more greedie of getting to themselues so are they more niggardly in witholding from others and as any one doeth swallow vp more the lesse is left for the rest of the company but in heauenly things it commeth to passe that none be so frank and free as they whose desires be most greedie of hauing and none
the spirit in their soules or hurtfully in the way of a curse from an outward good estate nor vnseasonably be cut off from the earth Now because some of these iudgements doe seeme sometimes to fall vpon some righteous persons who for a season be eclipsed of grace and separated from the fruition and comfortable sight of Gods kindenesse and fauour towards them their estate in appearance is wholy ruinated and ouerthrowne therefore the word doth well beare it agreeably to the meaning of the holy Ghost to say that the righteous shall not be remoued for euer Though they seeme to be cast downe for a time yet they shall be restored againe afterwards The contrary is heere affirmed concerning the case of the wicked who shall certainly fall vnlesse they repent they shall not continue in that estate wherein they are most grounded and haue greatest establishment they are so far from inioying eternall life in heauen as that the vengeance of God will not permit them long to keepe their owne breath or to hold the outward possessions of the earth The opposition therefore in effect is this The righteous shall neuer be remoued but haue an habitation for euer in heauen but the wicked shal be remoued and not suffered so much as to dwell in the earth the sence is the same with verse 25. The mouth of the righteous will be fruitfull in wisedome Verse 31 but the tongue of the vnrighteous shall be cut out This verse agreeth altogether in substance of matter with the cleauenth onely the comparison is altered for there the tongue of a good man for the constant store of holy speeches was resembled to a plentifull fountaine and heere to a fruitfull tree or fertile field there the wicked for lewd speeches was threatned to haue his mouth stopped and heere to haue his tongue cut out that is the iudgements of god vpon him for his vngracious and cursed speakings shall strike him as mute and dumbe as if the tongue were cut out of his head The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable but the Verse 32 mouth of the wicked speaketh froward things The meaning of these words is that a righteous man knoweth regardeth what is best pleasing to God for him to speak and what is most gratefull to good men to heare what doth deserue acceptation at any mans hand for faithfulnes truth and therefore he will vse his lips to vtter it but the wicked neither knoweth nor regardeth these things and therefore he vomiteth out onely peruerse speeches such as tend to rebellion against God the damnifying of men and the annoyance and hurt of his owne selfe The lips It is a point of godly wisdome for a man so to speak Doct. as his words may be accepted for his best aduantage This appeareth He speakes wisely whose words make most for his aduantage by manifold examples of holy men in the Scriptures of God when the Ephraimites were imbittered against Gedeon and chide with him sharply how easily did he still them abating their spirits with a mild and modest answere Iudg. 8. 2. When Dauid was in a great rage comming with a purpose to destroy Nabal his whole familie how readily was Abigails mind instructed with vnderstanding and her lips prouided of prudent speeches wherby she presently pacified his displeasure 1. Sam. 25. 23. 24. This skill also had Dauid himself to win the harts of his people to hold them fast vnto him by the wisdome of his words yea by the force and efficacie thereof he made the heart of bloudy Saul his cruell and implacable enemie for a time to relent What shall we say of Paul who knew what words would draw his mortal foes to turne after a sort to be his friends his persecuters to preserue him the Priests and Pharises to stand for the defence of th'apostle of Christ First the word and spirit of God doth informe his seruants Reasons 1 in this knowledge and giue them discreation to apply themselues to the state of the persons and season Isa 50. 4. Secondly the vse exercise of gracious religious speeches doth bring a dexteritie to iudge what is most meete to be spoken and to deliuer the same in the aptest manner and so as trained souldiers they are in a continuall readinesse vpon due occasion to deale with God and all sorts of people Col. 4. 6. Confutation of all Popish praiers which are offred without Vse 1 any assurance of acceptance and consequently it conuinceth all Popish persons to be vnrighteous men because they know not what is acceptable for so much they plainelie declare when they pronounce they know not what in a strange language when they call vpon the dead which hear them not at all when they intertaine strange aduocates to vsurp Christ his office when they aske things needlesse as the saluation of such as are actually and absolutely saued when they aske things which are botelesse as the deliuerance of such as are irrecouerablie damned And their best apologie for these things is that if they doe no good they will doe no harme whereby they make profession that they are vncertaine whether their prayers bee like to please God or otherwise be vaine and idle Reprofe with terrour for them whose mouthes speake froward things which may know that their words are gratefull to none but the diuell and damnable men who wittingly and willingly and spitefully with greedy desire doe belch out such bitter blasphemies and other cursed speeches as may offend the maiestie of God and grieue the hearts of his children which they doe of purpose to professe that they are neither seruants to the one nor members of the other but vowed enemies of both but doe they prouoke the Lord to wrath and not themselues to the confusion of their owne faces doe they assault the glorious name of god strike at him with their virulent venemous tongues and shall not he set vpon them and destroy their soules and bodies with his grieuous plagues and fearefull iudgements Euen this is a principal cause together with whordome and other sinnes of death that casteth so many into the magistrates hand and bringeth them to an ignominious end for stealth and robberies for murthers and most hellish and abhominable treasons Consolation to them that order their lips aright they shote not at an vncertaine marke they may as well know how they shall speede as how they speake though their counsels or rebukes be not sometimes well taken of men yet at all times they are pleasing to the Lord who will also requite them with a glorious and blessed reward FINIS