and the Deuill and to the redemption purchased by the death and bloodshedding of Christ and published in the Gospell for this kind of speech which the Prophet vseth here is of greater importance then that it may be applied onely to these particular Captiuities For what great matter was it for these people of the Iewes being as it were a little handfull to be deliuered out of temporall Captiuitie in comparison of the exceeding incomparable deliuerance whereby mankind was set at libertie from the power of their enemies not Temporall but Eternall euen from Death Sathan and Hell it selfe wherefore we take this Psalme to be a Prophesie of the Redemption that should come by Iesus Christ and the publishing of the Gospell whereby the kingdome of Christ is aduanced Death and the Diuell with all the powers of darknesse are vanquished This Psalme being thus generally vnderstood may afterwards be applyed to euery particular deliuerance Verse 1. When the Lord brought againe the Captiuitie of Sion wee were like them that Dreame BY Syon is signified that people which had the promise of the comming of Christ For Redemption and Saluation was first promised to the people of Syon and to the children of Abraham after the flesh This people was in bondage vnder the Law and by the Law vnder the Captiuitie of Death and Sinne. Now if this people complaine of their Captiuitie and sigh for their deliuerance what shall we thinke of the Gentiles which liued in Idolatrie and in their owne lusts without any Law without God he could not therefore haue signified a more generall and more grieuous captiuitie then when he saith That his owne people of Sion did long for this deliuerance which in outward appearance was most holy and vnder Dauid and Saul did mightily flourish But behold how liuely he setteth forth that ioy which should follow this deliuerance we shal be saith he like them that dreame By this kind of speech he expresseth the greatnesse of their ioy meaning that this ioy and gladnesse should be so great that the heart of man should not be able to conceiue it as if hee should say when he shall heare of Yea when we shall indeed feele and inioy this deliuerance from sinne and death so farre passing all that we could hope or look for the ioy therof shall be so great that it shall seeme to vs but as a dreame For so wee see it come to passe also euen in particular deliuerances when God suddenly deliuereth his Seruants out of any great trouble or affliction Acts 12.7 So it happened to Peter when he was deliuered by the Angell out of prison Likewise when it was said to Iacob Ioseph thy Sonne liueth Gen. 45.19 and ruleth ouer all the land of Egypt He was as one raised out of a dreame and could not beleeue it vntill that it was shewed vnto him by certaine tokens to be true indeede Heere then is set foorth vnto vs the inestimable grace whereby we are redeemed through the blood of the Sonne of God who did not spare himselfe and his owne life that hee might set vs free from the power of the Deuill the wrath of GOD Death and eternall Damnation but mans heart is not able as is said to comprehend these things The more feeling and taste he hath thereof the greater alacritie and courage hath he to goe through all dangers the lesse feeling he hath the more he is shaken with terrours and at the length looking backe to Egypt with the Israelites seeking other helpes Our heart therefore must wholy rest in this Redemption and wee must labour to haue some part of this taste and feeling which the Prophet rightly compareth to a most ioyfull and pleasant Dreame We see heere the Iewes were so glad of their deliuerance out of the Babylonish Captiuity and their returne thence that they scarce could beleeue whether it was not a Dreame Our Captiuitie was farre greater being vnder the Curse of the Law sold vnder Sinne Bondslaues vnto Sathan and Sonnes of Wrath Which Bondage could wee rightly acknowledge our Deliuerance would be farre more gratefull then it is Our Deliuerer was not Moses nor Ioshua nor Zerubbabel but the Sonne of God of whom they were Types both in the first Induction of that People out of Egypt into that Land and in their second Reduction backe againe He by putting himselfe into the Prison of our Flesh and in that Flesh by suffering that execrable Death and all the Sorrowes of it freed vs from the guilt of Sinne appeased the wrath of God abolished eternall Death and destroyed the Deuils Kingdome Now the Sonne thus freeing vs wee are free indeed Oh the greatnesse of this deliuerance should astonish vs whereby we auoid those great and insuperable euils which otherwise had for euer oppressed vs. This serueth to comfort all Gods Saints and all the Elect who can find this that they are redeemed a comfort of all comforts for what can comfort the Heart of Man more then to thinke of that glorious Victorie in Christ Iesus that whereas before they were in the state of damnation now they are restored into the state of saluation whereas before the Deuill held them bound hand and foot in bondage and in slauish thraldome yet now the Snare is broken and they are deliuered What can be more comfortable and ioyfull to the poore Prisoners that haue lyen so long in the Dungeon haue beene arraigned at the Barre condemned as Guiltie and the Sentence of Death denounced then to heare the King for such a Friends sake hath granted their Pardon How much more ought all the faithfull members of Christ to reioyce when as they see that there was no way with them but Hell there to haue perished and to haue beene damned Soule and Body for euer yet that good God of Heauen and Earth He for Christ his sake hath granted this Pardon that being redeemed they may liue for euermore Reioyce therefore and be glad ye which once were desolate and in heauinesse lift vp your heads with ioy be glad and comfort your selues together for the Lord hath comforted you his people he hath redeemed you his chosen as Isaiah breaketh forth into ioy Isaiah 52.9 and reioyceth For he that made thee is thine Husband whose Name is the Lord of Hosts and the holy One of Israel that mighty God of the whole world he is the Redeemer and with euerlasting mercy haue I had compassion on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Thus the Lord comforteth his people himselfe saying Feare not Isaiah 54.1 5. be of good courage for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by thy name Isaiah 43.1 thou art mine Againe Reioyce ye Heauens for the Lord hath done it shout ye lower parts of the Earth burst forth into prayses ye Mountaines O Forrests and euery Tree therein I haue put away thy transgressions like a Cloud and thy sinnes as a Myst Isaiah 44.22 I haue redeemed thee
them downe to hell and deliuered them into chaynes of darkenesse to be reserued vnto Iudgement Secondly his iudgements on men Remember Lots wife Luk. 17.32 and how hee spared not the olde world 2. Pet. 2.5 bringing in a Floud vpon the world of the vngodly how hee turned the Cities of Sodome and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an ouerthrow and all to make them an example vnto those that after should liue vngodly Euen so the Lord knoweth how to reserue the vniust vnto the day of Iudgement to be punished 2. Pet. 2.9 10. chiefely those that walke after the flesh in the lust of vncleanenesse and despise gouernement c. Thus when Pharaoh hardened his heart against God Psal 136. the Lord caused the Red Sea to ouerthrow him 1 Sam. 15. When Saul grew rebellious and disobedient the Lord reiects him Acts 12.23 When Herod waxeth proud the Lord caused the very woormes to deuoure him When Caine played the vile hypocrites part the Lord makes him of a Prince Gen. 4. a Vagabond and a runagate vpon the face of the earth Mat. 27. When Iudas playes the hypocrite and prooues a villainous Traytor the Lord suffers him to despayre and make away himselfe When Ananias and Saphira lye vnto the holy Ghost Acts 5. they are both smitten with present death Thus if wee will seriously remember Gods iudgements for such and such sinnes euery forewarning will be a good forearming of our selues against all the sinnes of wicked and vngodly men The consideration whereof should moue vs to hasten our repentance not to liue in sinne any longer but to walke circumspectly in this present world Ephes 5.15 16. and redeeme the time because the dayes are so euill and to cease from sinne by the example of our Sauiour Christ and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world 1. Pet. 4.1 and to shun the paths of the wicked Iam. 1.27 not communicating with them in their sinnes Reuel 18.4 least wee be partakers with them in their plagues We must take heede Ioh. 5.14 and sinne no more lest worse things happen to vs. We mvst preserue our selues from sinne and watch lest that day come vpon vs vnawares and so finding vs vnprepared wee perish in our sinnes for looke how the day of death leaueth vs so shall the day of iudgement finde vs. As Salomon speaketh Eccles 1.3 Looke how the tree falleth so it lyeth This is a dutie indeede both befitting the times wherein wee liue as also best beseeming not onely our Christian Profession but an holy conuersation also which appeares in nothing more than in ceasing to doe euill and rising vp to newnesse of life and therefore as being the onely and principall duetie required Paul perswadeth it chiefely saying Phil. 1.28 Onely let your conuersation bee as it becommeth the Gospell of Christ Now wee cannot adorne the Gospell more then by preseruing our selues from the wayes of sinne and keeping our selues in the wayes of God neyther can we disgrace the Gospell more than by forsaking the wayes of God and liuing in our sinnes Verse 6. Our soule is escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler the snare is broken and wee are escaped THe Prophet amplifieth yet further by a third similitude the great perils and dangers of the faithfull being in the hands of their enemies as a bird that is taken in the snare is in the hands of the Fowler and yet notwithstanding they escape by the mightie power of God Euery tentation is a snare whether it be of the flesh or of the spirit persecutions torments imprisonment slander diseases and infirmities of the body bee snares which as they are permitted of God to exercise and strengthen our faith so by the malice of Sathan they are wrought to afflict and vexe Man that hee may bring them to infideltie and desperation and so into the snares of eternall death from the which snares but by the speciall grace of God there is no way to escape therefore saith Salomon Pro. 3.26 The Lord shall bee for thy confidence hee shall support and sustaine thy hope he shall encourage and establish thy heart and shall keepe thy foote from taking because it is an olde custome for the wicked to lay snares and spreade nets for the feet of the godly and as common a thing as for Fowlers and Hunters to set snares and traps for birds and beasts therefore the Lord doth graciously deliuer his from being taken in the same and when he himselfe doth lay his nets and his ginnes for the vngodly he will most prouidently take order that his owne be not intangled therein The like Allegory is vsed by the Prophet for the same purpose Psal 91.3 Surely hee shall deliuer thee from the snare of the Fowler and from the noysome pestilence True godlinesse will endure great tontations True godlinesse endureth great tentations euen as trees well rooted abides the blastes of strong windes and gold that is fine abides the tryall of fire Many wayes was Dauid tempted and among the rest the wicked by troupes and multitudes combinde themselues against him yet did he not forsake the Lawe of the Lord. Hereby may wee discerne a sanctified crosse from a cursed The crosse which makes thee better then thou wast how sharpe soeuer it bee if it worke a correction in thee thou mayst bee sure it is a blessing It is commonly in the mouths of many when they are in trouble we must thanke God for his correction But alas how can that be called a correction which corrects thee not if thou bee not corrected with Dauid thou hast matter of griefe in thy trouble but none of Ioy and so canst not say with Dauid Psal 119. it is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted Affliction in it one nature is euill being a punishment of sinne but the Lord who changed the bitter waters of Marah and made them sweete vnto Israell hath also changed to his children the nature of the crosse that not onely they find comfort in it but most happy effects are wrought in them by it And this being a prerogatiue of Gods children namely that euill shall be turned to their good as good to euill to the wicked be be not dismayed in afflictions but comfort thy selfe in the Lord thy God and in this that the prsent affliction tendeth vnto and endeth in good because it brings foorth the fruites of vnfeigned righteousnesse 3. things we see in trouble better then in prosperitie In trouble we see three things better then in prosperity First how prouident mercifull true the Lord is Secondly how weake miserable our selues are Thirdly how false and changeable the world is besides all these it is an effâ—ctuall meanes whereby the Lord beates downe the pride of nature and humbles for our sins Hagar was prowde and blinde in Abrahams house but in the wildernesse shee is
compelled them to sigh and cry vnto God but the seruice which the regenerate man giues to the Lord is voluntarie done as vnto his most lawfull Superiour with gladnesse ioy and contentment of mind Happie is that man who can make this reply to his spirituall Aduersarie when hee is challenged of his sinnes Augustine It is true O enemie that I haue done many things by thy inticement yet herein I reioyce whatsoeuer seruice I haue done to thee it is now through the grace of God the matter of my griefe but the weake seruice I haue giuen vnto God is the matter of my ioy The comfort of a Christian militant in this body of sinne is rather in sinceritie and feruencie of his affections then in the absolute perfection of his actions Hee fayles many times in his obedience to Gods Precepts in regard of his action but loue in his affection still remaynes So that both before the Tentation to sinne and after it there is a Griefe in his Soule that hee should finde in himselfe any corrupt will or desire contrarie to the holy Will of the Lord his God The Snare is broken and we are deliuered Wicked men are subtill in inuenting wayes to hurt and craftily lay manie Snares wherein to trap me but my defence is in thee onely Dauid was in many most desperate dangers yet still hee found the Lord prouiding vnlooked for Deliuerances The strong Citie of Keilah could not defend him the Lord warned him to come out of it and hee was a shield vnto him The solitarie Wildernesse of Maon could not secure him for euen there Saul and his souldiers had compassed him but God had a care of him and turned his pursuers another way These the fore-passed experiences of Gods louing care and fauour towards him doe now confirme him to rest in God how many wayes soeuer his enemies pursue him Hee will still make the Lord his refuge Psal 119. and shield and trust in his word c. Therefore Dauid sayth in the Psalmes Psal 4. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in distresse implying that hee was in a strait and as it were strongly besieged with enemies or dangers but the Lord inlarged him and so preserued him Psal 25.15 He will bring my feet out of the Net The godly may be in as great danger as a silly Bird in a Net but the Lord will breake the Net that the Bird may escape who deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs 2. Cor. 1.10 in whom wee trust that hee will hereafter deliuer vs. First Gods care of his Children though it free them not from the exercise of Troubles yet it leaueth them not till hee haue deliuered them Can a Mother forget her Child shee may let it get a knocke and feare it with the sense of some danger but leaue it in danger shee cannot And who be they towards whom the Lord thinketh thoughts of peace or to whom he will remember mercy but Vessels of mercy Once haue I heard sayth Dauid yea twice Psal 72.11 that mercy belongs to God and therefore it is so true as it can neuer bee false once yea twice that is once by the Scriptures and another time by the Holy Ghost Secondly Gods promise is that he will not suffer his to be tempted aboue that they are able to beare and therefore at length they finde him Psal 73.2 As Dauid saith My feet were almost gone but not altogether The man of God may slip and slide and much adoe to keepe his feet but at worst his feete are but almost gone and this comes from Gods promise Thirdly Gods prouidence limiteth the times in which his Church shall suffer no longer sometimes a longer time as Israel in Egypt 400-yeares sometimes shorter seuentie yeares in the Babylonish captiuitie Reu 2.10 sometimes shorter then so ye shall suffer tribulation for ten dayes Sometimes three dayes as Ionas in the Whales belly and Christ in the graue sometimes but one night Sorrow may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning And sometimes there is but an houre for the power of darkenesse then Gods time is come and the godly see the saluation of the Lord. Lastly he deliuers them in their troubles by his presence First of power And so a 4. like the Son of God was in the furnace with the three children And it is sayd I will be with thee in sixe troubles and in seuen in fire and water Secondly of grace his right hand is vnder their heads he giues thē grace sufficient proportions their strength to the burthen mitigates their sorrow makes them possesse their soules in patience yea reioyce in sorrow which else would sinke them and at length recompenseth their light affliction with an eternall weight of glory Verse 7. Our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen and earth THis is the conclusion of thankes-giuing containing a worthy Sentence of great comfort that against sinne The name of the Lord is our onely sanctuary and succour in all afflictions the horror of death and other dangers their is no other helpe or safetie but onely the name of the Lord if that were not sayth he wee should fall into all manner of sinne blasphemy errors and into all kinde of calamities but our helpe is in the name of the Lord which preserueth our faith and our life against the diuell and the world And as ye heare in the other verses before so he sheweth in this verse also that God suffereth his Saints to be tempted and in their temptaion to fal into great distresse onely the word of the Lord sustaines vs and assureth vs that our light and momentary afflictions shall cause to vs at the length an infinite weight of glory These prayers of Dauid are penned with such heauenly wisedome that they are conuenient for the state of the whole Church and euery member thereof The Church is the bush that burnes with fire but cannot bee consumed euery member thereof beareth a part of the crosse of Christ neuer without some affliction we know that in afflictions it is some comfort to vs to haue our crosses knowne to such How God is a spectator and partaker with in all our afflictions as of whom we are assured that they loue vs it mitigates our dolour when they mourne with vs albeit they bee not able to helpe vs but the Christian hath more solid comfort to wit that in all his troubles the Lord beholds him like a king reioycing to see his owne seruant wrastle with the enemy he looks with a mercifull eye pittying the infirmity of his owne when he sees it and with a powerfull hand ready to helpe but because many a time the cloud of our corruption commeth betweene the Lord and vs lets vs not see his helping hand nor his louing face looking vpon vs wee haue neede to pray at such times with Dauid
Psal 119. Behold mine affliction And notwithstanding godly men be full of afflictions sorrowes and sicknesses necessities molestations and disgraces yet al these or whatsoeuer other calamities vanish away in time and the hope of Gods fauor blessed reward from him shal out liue all these and take place when these are abolished Psal 37.37 Marke well the vpright man and hehold the iust for the end of that man is peace that which he desired hee shal enioy a faithfull man shal not be frustrated of his expectatiō nor defeated of that hee hopes for According as the Psalmes sayth The poore man shall not alway be forgotten Psal 31.29 the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer for that is euer grounded vpon faith and faith is surely grounded vpon Gods promises Dauid was a godly man and dearely beloued of the Lord his God yet he was sore humbled by affliction Ioh. 15.2.1 for euen those branches which are fruitfull God will purge to make them more fruitful Our nature is so rebellious that without sore afflictions it cannot bee tamed and subdued Stones cannot bee squared for Pallace worke without strokes of the hammer gold cannot be purged and prepared for worke without fire neither is corn separated from the chaffe without winde we are Gods corne let vs abide the winde of temptation to clense vs from the chafe of our corruption wee must suffer the fire of afliction that wee may bee fined and made vessels of honour for the house of God and we must be content that the hammer of God strike vpon vs to beat away the prowd lumps that so we may bee squared and made readie like liuely stones to be layd in heauenly Ierusalem By the which examples we may learne to know the will of the Lord and to seeke our helpe and safety at his hands which suffereth his people to bee exercised in the furnace of Egypt not to their vtter destruction but onely to kill the old man with his vain hope and confidence which hee hath in his owne strength this is the cause why God suffereth his people so to be exercised For it is not hearing reading talking or teaching onely which maketh a Christian man but practise is that which is further required in a true Christian That is to say the crosse to plucke downe the flesh and bring it to nothing that man dispairing of his owne strength and seeing no succour in himselfe should resigne himselfe wholy to the Lord looking with patience and hope for helpe at his hands To know this doctrine is one peece of the victory for they that know it not when temptations assayleth them either doe dispayre or seeke other helpes Let vs learne then out of this Psalme that it is the will of God to exercise his Saints with troubles and afflictions Iam. 1.12 Blessed is the man who endureth temptation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them who loue him Therfore this is a necessary conclusion our helpe is in the name of the Lord it is a short sentence but it setteth foorth most worthy doctrine and consolation whereof especially in these latter dayes we haue great need seeing the Pope together with the greatest part of the world so cruelly persecute the doctrine of the Gospel c. In respect of these huge mountaines what are we small mole-hils yea though they were no force nor powe of man for vs to feare how are wee able to stand against not onely so many Diuels but euen the very gates of hell also and yet this experience wee haue of the great mercy and goodnesse of the Lord our God that when we are euen in the hands and neuer so much oppressed yet are we not forsaken but are safe through our confidence and trust in his helpe but to this wisedome it is impossible for vs to attaine without continuall afflictions The fruit of afflictions Whereby it is necessary that the confidence of all worldly succours should be beaten downe for vexation and trouble bringeth vnderstanding as Isaiah sayth whereby we are compelled to cry Helpe Lord for else wee perish So in the last houre when death approcheth there is nothing wherein mans heart can repose it selfe or finde comfort but in the helpe of the Lord there is rest and quietnesse there is perfect peace he that can then say my helpe is in the name of the Lord and lay hold on Iesus Christ by a true and iustifying faith dyeth happily and is out of all danger Thus we may learne what it is to haue and enioy God euen to rest in sure trust of his mercyfull helpe and succour in all dangers these are the words therefore of a triumphing and victorious faith our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord which made heauen and earth as if he sayde the maker of heauen and earth is my God and my helper Ye see whither he flyeth in his great distresse hee dispaireth not but cryeth vnto the Lord as one yet hoping assuredly to finde reliefe and comfort rest thou also in this hope and doe as he did Dauid was not tempted to the end he should dispaire In the temptations of sinne and of the wrath of God what we ought to doe thinke not thou therefore that thy temptations are sent vnto thee that thou shouldest bee swallowed vp with sorrow desparation if thou be brought downe to the very gates of Hell beleeue that the Lord will surely rayse thee vp againe If so thou be bruised and broken know it is the Lord that will helpe thee againe If thy heart be full of sorrow and heauinesse looke for comfort from him who said Psal 51.17 That a troubled Spirit is a Sacrifice vnto him Thus hee setteth the eternall God the Maker of Heauen and Earth against all Troubles and Dangers against the flouds and ouerflowings of all Tentations and swalloweth vp as it were with one breath all the raging furies of the whole World and of Hell it selfe euen as a little drop of water is swallowed vp of a mightie flaming fire and what is the World with all his force and power in respect of him that made Heauen and Earth Let the World fret then let it rage then so that this succour neuer fayle vs and if it be the will of God that wee shall suffer Trouble and Affliction yet in him wee shall ouercome at length Onely happie and sure is the estate of that man who is in Christ neither Life nor Death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God in Christ Iesus Our helpe standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heauen and Earth Hence I gather this Doctrine That no elect child of God that is truely regenerate and borne anew and a liuely member of Christs mysticall Body can perish and finally fall away Rom. 8.30 For whome hee predestinateth him hee calleth whom
them as wee may see most apparently Where it is sayd Mat. 25.32 that he will gather all nations before him and that he will separate them one from another as a Sheapheard separates the sheepe from the Goates sending some to hell and carrying others with him into heauen Let vs then neuer feare in any perill or danger whatsoeuer whether of war famine plague or the like lest wee should perish with the wicked hand ouer head we see he hath a care of his own and what he will doe he can doe if it be good for vs to escape these worldly woes we are assured wee shall as we are sure we liue And if otherwise it please him to wrap vs with others in the outward punishment yet shall we euer bee sure to be distinguished from them in the eternall payne and those outward griefes shall bee but meanes to leade vs to euerlasting ioyes Now therefore saith he like as mount Sion or our holy city Ierusalem is neuer moued but remaineth sure and safe by the mighty protection of the Lord in all extremities so he that trusteth in the Lord shall be defended against the furious rage of the world and the gates of hell for euer pronouncing this to bee chiefest anchor of our saluation onely to hope and trust in the Lord To hope and trust in the Lord is the greatest seruice that we can doe to him and that is the greatest seruice that wee can doe vnto God for this is the nature of God as I haue sayd to create all things of nothing therefore hee createth and bringeth forth in death life in darknes light this to beleeue is the very nature and most speciall property of faith when God then seeth such a one as agreeth with his owne nature that is which beleeueth to finde in danger helpe in pouerty riches in sinne righteousnesse and that for Gods owne mercies sake in Iesus Christ alone The nature of faith him can God neither hate nor forsake for he worshippeth God truely which putteth his whole trust in the mercy of God With this seruice God is highly pleased because he delighteth of nothing to make something so hee made the world of nothing so hee raysed the dead who so then consenteth to Gods nature and obeyeth his will there hoping for something where nothing is he it is that pleaseth God and shall neuer be remoued That is they shall neuer be remoued from Gods fauour they shall neuer bee remoued from the constant graces of the spirit in their soules or hurtfully in the way of a curse frō outward good estate nor vnseasonably bee cut off from the earth Now because some of these iudgments seeme sometimes to fall on some righteous persons who for a season being separated from the comfortable sight of Gods kindnes and fauor towards them and their estate in appearence is wholly ruinated Therfore the word doth well beare it agreeing with that of Salomon 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 Therfore godly men must needs be in safety because they be Gods childrē whō he in Christ hath begotten to himself by the immortall seed of the word Wee see here the constancy of Gods children The constancy of Gods children no winde of tempration can remoue or ouerthrow them they are like rockes in the sea enduring euery waue like trees planted by the riuer side Gods owne plantation they may be shaken but not ouerturned they abide rooted and stablished by the Lord such is the nature of faith that it carryeth vs out of our selues into the Lord and makes vs leane vpon him rest in him and liue in him They who abide in themselues resting in any thing that is in them either wisedome strength or merits shall be found to haue built their house on the sand which will not continue but such as goe out of themselues and trust in the Lord haue built their house on the rocke that shall neuer faile them Therfore cleaue ye fast vnto him and feare not be of good comfort though others be cursed yet you shal be blessed for you see the difference of being religious and being prophane of louing Christ loathing him this difference here will make a fearefull difference in the world to come when no man can helpe it had he the treasures of all the earth to purchase his ease with all and therefore remember your selues betimes turne to the Lord with all your hearts serue him in holines righteousnes all the dayes of your liues that so you may be blessed both here in this world and in the world to come First this may seeme to reproue that cursed yet common opinion of the world namely that of all men the godly man is most miserable We see here the Lord himselfe doth proclaime from heauen that he accounteth the godly man and him that trusts in the Lord a blessed and happy man but yet the world that is the wicked men in the world iudge and deeme the godly man wretched and miserable such a man as truely feareth God hates all iniquitie disliketh lewd company makes conscience of good duties as to pray in his family to instruct his seruants and children is diligent and carefull to frequent Sermons this man is an Owle among Birds whooted at and poynted at and of all men he most contemned But as Paul sayth thus it must bee We are brought vpon the Stage wee are made a gazing-stocke to wicked men and accounted as dung for Christs sake Secondly this may serue to stop their mouthes that say and thinke it is in vaine to serue the Lord that it is lost labour to bee religious that there is no good got by hearing of Sermons and leading of a godly life it is and euer hath beene the cursed thoughts of mans heart to thinke so as in the time of the Prophet Malachy Mal. 3.14 It is lost labour to serue the Lord and what good comes there by seruing of God So in these dayes it is cleare men thinke it is in vayne to bee religious to liue godly and in all thinges to labour to keepe fayth and a good conscience before God and men But it is manifest here that it is not in vaine to serue God nay it is that alone that bringeth a man to happinesse and true comfort here and eternall measure of glory in the world to come withall this may serue to cōfort euery child of God against all the discouragements of the world by Satan his cursed instruments Namely that whatsoeuer thy estate be Heb. 11.24.12.23 Psal 125. verse 1. neuer so poore in this world and subiect to neuer so many afflictions yet if thou be a godly man certainely then thou art blessed thou that art in Gods fauor thou that art reconciled to God in Iesus Christ and hast thy sins pardoned eternall life belongs vnto
true diuinitie consisteth in vse and practise Wee are vexed on euerie side with wicked and peruerse scorners and others which hate the word of God and the doctrine which we professe Comfort when the godly are not esteemed of the wicked The men of this world esteeme Gods Children as the off-scowrings of the earth So Paul a chosen vessell of God yet not esteemed of men Let this confirme the godly against the contempt of men onely the Lord hath in his owne hand the ballance of Iustice which weigheth men aright according as they are but these are very trifles if wee compare them with those vexations which Sathan sinne and our owne infirmitie raise vp in our cōsciences we must learne therefore thus to iudge of all things that they are the rod or scepter of the wicked and to set the Lord against them reuealing his will here in his word and pronouncing that he will not suffer the scepter of the wicked to rest vpon the godly Since then the same Prince promiseth thus much vnto vs which hath all things in his hand what can we require more for the will of God is certaine that though he suffer vs to be afflicted yet will he not see vs troden vnder foote or perish What the rod signifieth in the Scriptures it is well knowne children when they are young are corrected with a rod and when they waxe bigger with a wand or a cudgell and if they will not amend then followeth the iron rod hereof it commeth that the rod signifieth all power and rule which is for the amendment and corrction of such as doe offend so it is taken in the 110. Psalme The Lord shall send forth the rod of thy power out of Sion That is to say Thy kingdome for here he signifieth such a rod whereby kingdomes and people are gouerned On this wise the Holy Ghost permitteth heere to the Wicked dominion and tyrannie ouer the Godly which they are compelled to suffer this dominion or tyrannie the Holy Ghost called the rodde of the Wicked and comforteth vs. That as the Lord liueth their tyrannie shall fall and shall not rest vpon the lot of the Godly The lot of the Iust is as much to say as the Portion that is the Number or Congregation of the lust like as Christ calleth them the little Flocke and Paul the poore Saints Ouer these sayth hee although the tyrants doe rule yet shall not their power endure although the persecutors of the Church doe oppresse the Faithfull yet shall they not doe so alwayes neyther shall their counsels haue that successe which they desire for they thinke to roote out this Doctrine for euer but that shall they neuer be able to doe Therefore albeit ye suffer in the meane time sayth the Holy Ghost yet know ye that my will is That they which beleeue in me shall neuer perish but shall be preserued to life euerlasting Here then haue ye whereunto ye may trust in all your tentations But behold the reason which the Holy Ghost heere vseth to proue the Scepter of the Wicked shall not rest vpon the Iust God is moued sayth he to helpe and defend the Iust For else it might so come to passe that God should haue no Church at all and the Iust should put forth their hands to wickednesse So we finde in Ieremy that before the people were deliuered into the hands of the Babylonians they had a promise that after seuentie yeares they should returne againe to Ierusalem because they should not bee brought into doubt of Gods mercy and so vtterly dispaire and falling away from God should turne to foolishnesse that is to say should blaspheme and become impatient this is the cause why God ioyneth the promise of the word with the execution and performance of the deede for else the godly should be driuen to desparation We see how many are cast downe with aduersitie by the losse of goods wife children other things which are deere vnto them except therefore their minds were raised vp againe and comforted first with the word and promise and then with the performance and execution of the same many would say there were no God therfore God must needs shew himselfe to be a God not onely in a word but also in deed Dauid had great promises of God 2. Sam. 15.30 and yet by his owne sonne was driuen out of his kingdome and so persecuted that hee was compelled to flye away bare head and bare foote this was a sore tentation wherefore the great and ample promises made vnto him could neuer haue raised him vp and comforted him againe except God had indeede deliuered him out of this great miserie and affliction euen so if we had no more but the promises of God to support vs against the Papists and aduersaries of the word yea if God did not indeede fight for vs and defend vs against their tyranny God therfore worketh both waies hee raiseth vp with the word and promise and deliuereth out of troubles and afflictions by the execution of the deed that according to the saying of Saint Paul the tentation should not be aboue our strength but should haue an end and wee learne by our owne experience that the first Commaundement I am the Lord thy GOD is most certaine and infailable therefore when he saith Least the iust should turne away from God and fall to gentilitie for GOD hath a double care ouer the faithfull first that they bee not ouercome but may ouercome the tentation And this he doth by the word and promise the second is that the tentation bee not perpetuall euen so must we be vndoubtedly perswaded that besides the infailable promises which we haue of the good will of God towards vs and in the end of euerlasting life wee shall also be deliuered and our aduersaries destroyed albeit wee can see no manner of way or possible meanes how that it may bee done But heere wee must beware that wee doe not appoint the time of this deliuerance for before that come God will haue vs tried to the vttermost and brought to that extremitie that all our hope and trust shall bee vtterly spent and we at the point of desparation Now when wee are brought into this case that wee can see nothing but desparation then euen then God sendeth comfort in death he sheweth life and euen in damnation he bringeth saluation Briefely of nothing hee maketh all things and when all hope of remedie is past then beginneth he to worke and frameth all anew againe in most perfect wise Thus cannot the God of this world doe this is the singular worke of God therefore when thou thinkest thy selfe cleane cast away and vtterly forsaken euen then thou shouldest be most sure and safe and most gloriously shine as the Day-starre in the Firmament These things are easily taught but by experience we finde and feele how farre they passe all reason and power of man and how hardly we can beleeue that God maketh all
can confesse But Sinne shall slay the vngodly Psal 34.24 As for the righteous the promise is though they fall they are not cast off Not that their sinne doth not deserue they should but because the Lord puts vnder his hand and reneweth his grace to rayse them to repentance Moreouer wee are here admonished of the great danger that followeth these Afflictions and Tentations which they that through impatience forsake the Word and Faith doe fall into Therefore the Lord here sheweth himselfe so carefull for his people lest they should fall into this danger for their state which haue once forsaken the Word is much more perillous then it was before and into such as our Sauiour Christ pronounceth in the Gospell doe enter seuen Spirits much more wicked then the first Luk. 11.26 Wee must therefore patiently suffer and perseuere in all Tentations and rather abide all extremities then once shrinke from the Word of Life lest wee bee possessed with seuen Spirits more wicked then the first And moreouer wee must assuredly trust as wee are taught in this Verse that so long as wee haue a desire and a purpose so to doe the Lord will neuer forsake vs or suffer vs to fall into this impietie For heere haue wee a manifest promise and a liuely description of the Lords singular care and prouidence ouer vs namely that hee is mindfull of the end of our tentations and afflictions so that wee onely continue constant and patient vnto the end And if that Heathen Poet sayd Endure and reserue your selues for more happie things Virgil. how much more should Christians diligently stirre vp themselues with mutuall exhortations to patience and perseuerance whether they outwardly suffer in things pertayning to the Bodie and to this present Life or inwardly in Conscience For wee haue a God which euen in Death in Hell and in the middest of all our Sinnes can saue and deliuer vs. A Christian therefore must bee readily prepared not onely with strength to stand against the enemy but with stedfast purpose also to continue vnto the end For he runneth not in such a race wherein there is any end of his course during this life but he runneth as it were in a circle in the which hee must haue a continuall recourse thither where he first began Our course and race is as it were in a circle which hath no end therefore our Sauiour Christ saith He that continueth to the end he shall be saued We must not be then discouraged by the importunitie of our enemy or ouercome with tediousnesse and long continuance but wee must fight not onely against the power and subtiltie of our enemie but also against our owne weaknesse and wearinesse for as in them who wrastle with any equall strength sometimes the one is aboue and sometimes the other till at length one bee ouercome So is it in this combat in the Christian somtimes the power of nature othertimes the power of grace preuailing but this comfort we haue that at the length grace shall preuaile and the power of corrupt nature shall bee captiued vnder the obedience of Christ Hence we learne that it is not enough for a man or woman to begin well or to take some liking of religion as to reuerence Gods Ministers to desire to heare them to ioyne with the people of God in prayer to bring forth some good fruit in outward reformatioÌ„ of life c. vnlesse he perseuere persist and go on vnto the end He that endures to the end shal be saued Mat. 24.13 Reu. 2.10 And be thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee a Crowne of life If a righteous man leaue his righteousnes c. he that puts his hand to the Lords plough Eze. 18.24 Luke 2.21 and looketh back is not worthy of the kingdome of heauen Againe It had beene better for them that they had neuer knowne the wayes of godlinesse then afterwards to fall away 2. Pet. 2.21 And therefore in the Scriptures such as haue had some beginning and after fallen away are noted to haue bene exceeding wicked men as we see in Iudas Math. 27. First a Preacher and an Apostle a man well esteemed that had excellent gifts to preach pray and cast out Diuels afterward an hypocrite a theefe a traytor a reprobate Herod had many things in him at first reuerenced Iohn Baptist heard him gladly did many things at his request yet afterwards a bloody persecuter Demas once a sound professour as it seemed and one that was deere vnto Paul but afterwards left his profession and fell in loue with the world c. and therefore it is a speciall dutie required of euery Christian to continue stedfast Be thou faithfull vnto the end 〈◊〉 2.26 and I will giue thee a Crowne of life Hence we see that it is a dangerous thing to reuolt and goe backward in matters of religion to lose our first loue It is a fearefull signe of a reprobate and cast away when men slacke hand and slip necke out of chollar grow carelesse in the seruice and worship of God for a man to grow there is some hope though hee doe but creepe in religion but for a man to goe backeward or to stand at a stay is dangerous for it is certaine Not to go forward in Gods matters is to goe backeward not to increase is to decrease not to grow better is to waxe worse it is a hard matter to make a good beginning Wee are not easily brought to set one foote forward in the waies of godlinesse but then to trip while we are in our iourney and to waxe weary of wel doing This is a fearefull sinne Let this admonish vs all Mat. 24.13 as wee doe loue our owne soules to labour for constancie and perseuerance that we may hold out vnto the end that our workes may bee more at last then at first Râ—â— â— that we be sure to dig so deepe that we lay the foundation of our faith vpon the rocke Christ and for want of this godly care and circumspection â—forehand many haue at the first giuen their names to Christ who afterwards when they were to take vp the Crosse of Christ haue gone out and turned their backes vpon Christ Saul began well but afterwards he waxed worse and in the end became an open persecutour Ioash behaued himselfe vprightly of the Lord. But after his death he fell into Idolatrie What did it profit Lots Wife to goe out of Sodome insomuch as afterward she looked backe and was turned into a pillar of Salt So then wee see here that it is not enough to begin well neither is it enough to proceede well It is required of vs to perseuer well and to continue in a constant and setled course euen to the end So that if wee looke to partake of eternall life and happinesse for euer with God Reu. 2.10 We must be constant in the profession of his truth in all
the wine in a cup. We must watch ouer our selues both alone and in company and not run into bad company least we come home by weeping crosse as Peter did Secondly we must not lye in our fals a man in his iourney if hee fall and lye still shall neuer come to his wayes end and if hee rise quickly though it hinder him a little it shall not bee much The Saints all of them recouered themselues out of their fals by renewing their Faith and Repentance A man out of his way must come backe againe the sooner he returnes the lesse is his labour Peter presently went out and wept bitterly and so was restored to Christs fauour Thirdly suppose thy fals be grieuous and often into the same sins yet let them not hinder thee still out of the way For as the Childe of GOD must neither presume nor purpose sinne so must he not despaire of rising hauing fallen into sinne seeing the promise is that If a mans sinnes for hainousnesse be as red as scarlet vpon his true repentance they shall bee made white as Snow And the parable teacheth that if a sinner offendeth seuenty times seuen times in a day and as often truly repent he shall be as oft forgiuen Fourthly after such falls we must be more warie and careful least we fall in the same manner A man yea a beast will be more carefull when it comes by the same place where it caught a fall yee cannot get it into the same hole againe Dauid no doubt would not count the Tribes againe after that fall in numbring them Thirdly hold on in this way constantly with perseuerance for the end of a worke crowneth it and the end of a way gladdeth and resteth the wearie traueller and this rest is without end Many set forth on this way but are discouraged by the hardnesse of the entrance whereas if they were a little entred the way would be pleasant and the yoake of Christ easie and sweete Others haue gone yet further but at length looke backe yea goe backe when a man would haue thought they had escaped the filthinesse of the world and these haue lost a great deale of labour and comfort Others yet farther then they as the bad earth euen so farre as a man could perceiue no difference betweene them and sound Christians and apparent difference was there none but in perseuerance and yet wanting soundnesse haue suffered shipwracke euen at the hauen and so their former righteousnesse is all forgotten a great deale of way they had gone and much worke had they rid whereof they shall neuer see crowne nor comfort Oh beware of wearinesse and relapse As towards the end of his way the traueller is most cheerefull so should we and the rather because first euery one affects a good end euen Balaam and will we not endure a little difficultie for it Fourthly seeing there are a number that deceiue themselues about their estate in which they are thinking that their waies are right when God knowes they are the pathes that leade to hell they boast of their supposed good when indeed it is nothing but a meere delusion of the Diuell to blinde the eyes of their minds to make them seeme that which they are not they boast and bragge of Iustification and yet liue without Sanctification Such people are out of the way and all this while they doe nothing else but deceiue their owne soules for he that is Iustified is also Sanctified and after Iustification there will follow Sanctification Wouldst thou then know whether thou hast throughly and effectually remembred thy fals and art conuerted and that God hath Iustified thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes and acquitting thee from the guilt and punishment of thy sinnes and that God accepts thee through Christ as righteous before him and that thou shalt neuer be condemned for thy sinne then examine thy Sanctification Doest thou leaue thine waies and walke in the waies of GOD Doest thou vse all good meanes to come to saluation and auoide all occasions which might draw thee to destruction In a word doest thou deny thy selfe and wholy resigne vp thy selfe to bee guided by Gods Spirit in all things then thou art Sanctified and so maist approoue thou art Iustified else not Rom. 8.1 Now there is no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus There is Iustification who are such as walke not after the flesh Ephe. 2.10 but after the Spirit there is Sanctification It is the end of our new Creation and second birth Psal 125.5 which God hath ordained viz. to walke in good works Lastly in a word vtterly to renounce all sinne to hate loath detest and abhorre it so as to haue nothing to doe any more with it but to vow and resolue against it and so leaue it and forsake it and daily more and more to be out of loue with it and our selues for it is a most true signe of him that hath rightly searched himselfe and is truly conuerted Pro. 28.13 and such a man shall obtaine mercy at Gods hand in this world and euerlasting mercy in the world to come Wherefore seeing we haue these promises 2. Cor. 7.1 let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and finish our sanctification in the feare of God Signifying that it is not sufficient to purge our selues in part but it must be both from internall corruptions of the soule as also the externall pollutions of the body and to labour for the feare of God without which wee are impudent and bold in committing of vncleanenesse which wee would not dare to attempt if the feare of God were firmely setled in our hearts teaching vs also not to make a shew of holines for a time but to goe on constantly and to finish our Sanctification dayly proceeding in a holy course adding more holinesse still to more that so holding out vnto the end we may receiue the end of our Faith the saluation of our soules For he that continueth vnto the end 1. Pet. 1.9 he shall be saued PSALME 126. When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Sion wee were like them that dreame The Argument of the Psalme TOuching the Captiuitie whereof the Prophet speaketh in this Psalme The Interpreters doe not agree Some vnderstand it to be meant of the Captiuitie of Babylon some of the Captiuitie vnder the Romans other some do thinke that the Prophet meaneth heere all the Captiuities and deliuerances of the Prophet according to that promise that if they should at any time be led into Captiuity for their transgressions and by repentance should returne vnto the Lord Of what manner of Captiuitie this Psalme treateth he would shew mercy vnto them and bring them home into their land againe but in mine opinion they go neere to the sence and true meaning of the Psalme which doth referre it to that great and generall Captiuitie of mankind vnder Sinne Death
Nations that forget God For seeing they haue a heart of iron and as the Prophet saith A brazen forehead they must bee terrified with the thunderings of the Law that is they must bee brought to the feare of Gods Iudgement and filled with the terror of death as it hapned to the people of Israel at the Mount Sina when the Law was published by the voyce of the Lord. But they that haue a fleshie heart that is to say a soft and tender hart may not be killed with the Law but reuiued raised vp with another kind of Doctrine which the holy Ghost calleth here laughter and ioy that is to say the Gospell This is the right diuiding of the word which Saint Paul speaketh of to preach and set foorth to the impenitent and hard hearted the threatnings of the Law the wrath of God against sinne and the terrors of Gods Iudgements but to the weake and broken hearted the sweete comforts of the Gospel that they that are secure and without feare may now learne to feare the Lord and they that are to much oppressed with feare may bee of good comfort and now begin to trust in the Lord. This difference betweene the Law and the Gospell is well knowne but by experience and practise it is not so wel known for our infirmitie is such that we are rather touched with the sence of Sinne and Death then with laughter and ioy that is the sweet comforts and ioyfull promises of Gospell And here also we finde Sathan to be our deadly aduersarie which most subtilly disputeth with vs touching the Law and vseth such Arguments as wee cannot deny For when he layeth vnto vs our sinnes wee are constrayned to confesse â—hem which albeit sometimes wee couer them before men our Conscience as a thousand witnesâ—es pronounceth against vs and will not suffer vs to forget them or hide them Whereof sometimes ariseth also a doubting or mistrust euen in the dearest of Gods Saints I speake nothing of those which are manifestly wicked with these darts Sathan pierceth and grieuously woundeth the soft and tender heart onely because this distinction is not so well knowne by practise as it is by speculation For if we had this practise indeed Speculation is a naked knowledge without experience practise we should rightly discerne betweene the Law and the Gospell also betweene the Disciples of the Law and of the Gospell and beate backe Sathan with this answer Speculation is a naked knowledge without experience practise that like a lying spirit he seeketh nothing else but to blinde and deceiue the heart with falshood and lyes for where as hard and stony hearts bee those hee doth not kill or terrifie but flattereth and filleth them with hope and fayre promises which doe not pertaine to such heartâ— contrariwise whereas such tendeâ— and timerous hearts bee as are too much terrified already and therefore should bee confirmed and raysed vp with the promises of the Gospell those hearts Sathan most of all not onely goeth about to afflict and terrifie but to beate them downe also to vtter discomfort wherefore the Christian man must learne and labour by feeling and practise to make this distinction in his heart and say vnto Sathan away from mee Sathan with thy lyes when I am voyde of the feare of God secure and hard hearted then come and pleade the Law against mee then will I heare thee for then that is the time to teach the Law but since thou commest now vnto mee with the Law A good answer to be giuen to Sathan whereas my heart is terrified already with sinne and death I will not heare thee for thy doctrine pertaineth not vnto mee but laughter and ioy not terrour and death So should Sathan bee answered when he goes about to terrifie vs but by experience wee feele that when most neede is our heart is not able thus to answer though wee haue heard these things before neuer so often the cause is this that albeit Heauen be ours and wide open for vs yet such is our nature and such is our infirmitie that all this doth not make vs so ioyfull as the gaping Gulph and horror of Hell doth terrifie vs so that our cogitation of our sinnes doth more afflict vs then all the teaching and preaching of the Merits of Christ can comfort vs. Therefore wee must earnestly endeuour to learne this practise or at the least to attayne to some knowledge thereof and rayse vp our selues with these words That the Gospell is nothing else but laughter and ioy which properly pertayneth to the Captiues that is to those that feele the captiuitie of sinne and death to the fleshie and tender hearted terrified with the feeling of the wrath and iudgement of God these are the Disciples in whose hearts should be planted laughter and ioy and which onely should heare the voyce of ioy and gladnesse in the Tabernacles of the Righteous and that by the authoritie of the Holy Ghost which this Verse setteth forth for it doth signifie that this people was in Sion and after the outward shew of the Kingdome and Priesthood did mightily flourish but if a man consider them according to the Spirit he shall see them to bee in miserable captiuitie and that their tongue is full of heauinesse and mourning because their heart is terrified with the sence of sinne and death This is Moses Tongue or Moses Mouth full of Wormewood and of the bitternesse of Death wherewith he ought to kill those onely which are too liuely and full of securitie but they which feele their captiuity should haue their mouthes filled with laughter and ioy that is the redemption and deliuerance from sinne and death purchased by the blood of Christ should be preached vnto them this is the sence and meaning of the holy Ghost that the mouth should sound and shew forth nothing else but great gladnesse and those inestimable consolations of the Gospell with voyces of tryumph and victory by Christ ouercomming Sathan destroying death and taking away our sinnes this was first spoken vnto the Iewes for this laughter was first offered to that people then hauing the promises now hee turneth to the Gentiles whom hee calleth to the partaking of this laughter Verse 3. Then sayd they among the heathen the Lord hath done great things for them THe Gentiles naturally hated and disdained the Iewes and could abide nothing lesse then their Religion yet these Gentiles sayth hee when this laughter this ioy shall be published and preached shall maruell thereat and shall prayse the great workes of the Lord now the Gentiles would not this doe or esteeme this worke of God as a benefit except they also should be partakers of the same therefore when the holy Ghost sayth that the Gentiles should publish praise and magnifie this benefite of the Iewes deliuerance out of captiuitie hee plainly signifieth withall that they should be partakers of this deliuerance and that they likewise should extoll and
haue heard of the Patience of Iob and haue seene the End which the Lord made and that the Lord is very mercifull and full of pittie Hee that shall set himselfe to consider in his mind how poore Ioseph was handled and sold of his Brethren and how refusing to consent to the shamefull request of his Mistresse hee was cast into Prison and kept there two yeeres surely a man would take pittie on him as on a miserable person But let vs see the accomplishment of the Worke of God Let vs consider him by this meanes exalted to the Gouernment of all the Kingdome of Egypt and then wee shall count him happie aboue all If wee behold Iesus Christ mocked scourged crowned with Thornes crucified betweene two Theeues who would not be offended that the Prince of Glory and Sauiour of the World should be so handled But let vs behold him risen againe ascended into Heauen and sitting at the right hand of God aboue all Principalities and Power and wee will admire and prayse the Worke of God Hee that neuer saw a Haruest seeing the Plough-man taking much paines to tyll the Earth to spread it with Dung and after to cast faire Wheat into the Field so tylled hee would thinke that this Man were mad and that a Child were to be whipt that should doe such a thing But seeing the Haruest hee would change his minde and acknowledge that the Husbandman had done an excellent Worke. Now this is the time to Tyll to Dung and to Sowe the Haruest shall follow Let vs not change the course of the Season neyther let vs separate them the one from the other but let vs ioyne the time of the Death with the day of the Resurrection and let vs assure our selues as wee haue it in the Psalme that hauing sowed in teares wee shall reape with ioy Hee that had seene poore Lazarus full of sores Luke 16.9 at the Gate of the Rich man and the Rich man at the Table in all Delights and Pleasures hee would not haue chosen to be Lazarus but the Rich man but if tarrying a while hee saw the Soule of Lazarus carried straight by the Angels into Heauen and the Rich mans Soule goe to Hell hee would change his minde and would desire to be Lazarus Let vs then derest the glistering state of cursed Riches and let vs account of the poore and afflicted Condition of the Lazarusses of our Time wayting to bee carryed vp into euerlasting glorie The wicked haue nothing in Heauen nor wee in the World Blessed is the man saith Dauid whom the Lord instructeth by the power of his Spirit and by the Doctrine of his Law to haue contentment and rest in the time of aduersitie while the Graue is digged for the vngodly for the end of his felicitie Not to feare death Yea if we were called to suffer Death for the Name of Christ what other thing is this Death but after a long Conflict the day of Victorie the Birth of a blessed Soule after a great Trauell the Hauen desired after so furious Tempests the end of a dangerous and troublesome Voyage the healing of all Wounds and Sicknesses the deliuerance from all feare and terror the accomplishment of our Sanctification the gate of Heauen the entrance into Paradise the taking possession of the Inheritance of the Father the Day of our Marriage with the Lambe and the enioying of our Desires Who is then among vs who feeling with Saint Paul the Bondage of sinne would not crye out with him Alas wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this Body of Death And feeling the good that Death bringeth vnto vs will not also say with him I desire to bee dissolued Rom. 7.24 and to bee with Christ If Death vvherewith God threatened our first Parents is a feeling of the Wrath of God in the Soule and in the Body because of Sinne wee may well say that Death and Life are two Twinnes vnited and knit together vntill the separation of the Soule and Body and this separation which is commonly called Death is rather the deadly stroke of Death the Body being then exempt from paine and the Soule from vice and corruption wayting vntill the rest of Death bee swallowed vp in Victorie at the day of the Resurrection First therefore it is to be considered that there is no Creature more enemie vnto Man nor more able to hurt then the Deuill and indeed he is called the Enemie the Murtherer 1. Pet. 5.8 and the roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may deuoure but the Historie of Iob sheweth plainely that God holdeth him bridled so as hee can attempt nothing nor goe eyther forward or backward more then God will permit him And this which is more hee hath not power to enter so much as into the Swine vvithout the leaue of Christ What is this then that we should feare Men Are not they also vnder the prouidence power and gouernment of God It is God said Hannah 1. Sam. 2.3 the Mother of Samuel who weigheth their Enterprises so as they cannot passe one Ounce of the Weight ordayned of God It is hee that killeth and maketh aliue againe which bringeth downe to the Pit and lifteth vp againe hee maketh poore and maketh rich hee abaseth and exalteth Psal 115.3 It is hee alone as Dauid sayth which doth whatsoeuer hee will Now wee doubt not but hee will doe that which hee hath promised vs yea and that hee hath taken vpon him to make vs happie If then the Doctrine of the Prouidence of God importeth that hee hath not onely ordayned in his eternall Councell the end and issue of his Worke which is his Glorie and the Saluation of his Elect but also the fit meanes according to his infinite VVisdome and requisite for execution and accomplishment of it Let vs be assured that there is no creature that can let or alter his VVill as Saint Paul sayth Rom. 8.30 If God be for vs who shall be against vs Let vs also be assured that whatsoeuer happeneth vnto vs it is the way whereby hee hath ordayned to leade vs to Life and euerlasting Glorie c. Secondly The end of our regeneration is that there may appeare in our Life an holy melodie and consent betweene the Righteousnesse of God and our Obedience Yee haue vnderstood here before that the desire of the heart to consecrate your selues to God is a marke of your election and adoption but see yee that this desire may shew it selfe by the workes of Godlinesse and Charitie If you make profession that yee know Christ know yee him according to the Doctrine of Saint Paul that yee haue not knowne him as yee ought if yee mortifie not the Old Man and put on the New walking in righteousnesse and true holinesse God hath drawne you out of the power of Darknesse and hath transported you into the Kingdome of his beloued Sonne Walke yee then as the Children of Light renounce this cursed
Bernard When we aske of God saith S. Bernard euen those things that concerne this present life our praiers are not so soone out of our mouth but they are written in his booke and we ought saith he to bee assured that he will either giue the thing it selfe which we haue asked or other things which hee knoweth to be more profitable for vs. To conclude Prayer is the most mightie and fruifull work of Charitie seeing by it we help our neighbours present and absent knowne and vnknowne great and little and that both with Spirituall and Corporall good things drawing by our Prayers the blessing of God vpon them Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his Will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ To whom be glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A NECESSARY Prayer for the great deliuerie from the Gun-powder Treason O Blessed Lord and euerliuing God whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Wee thy poore vnworthy Creatures do heere powre forth our hearts vnto thee that we may neither vngratefully remember thy gratious benefits nor vngratiously forget thy seuere Iudgements who both in the one and the other hast beene beyond all measure so gratious vnto vs. We thanke thee O Lord for all the externall and internall graces bestowed vpon vs the Spirituall and Corporall the Ecclesiasticall and Terrestiall blessings which we haue receiued O Lord thou knowest that without thy helpe we cannot auoid our ruine We beseech thee O Lord let this thy mercy towards vs and our great deliuerance daily put vs in minde to be thankfull vnto thee O God we were without all meanes to foreknow such a miserie and without all Iudgement to vnderstand such a mysterie haddest not thou O Lord of thy great loue to true Religion and mercy to vs giuen meanes to discouer it O Lord if this had not beene we had beene blowne vp we had beene smothered we had beene dismembred we had beene persecuted we had been vndone Wherefore good Lord seeing thou didst bring vs to the graues mouth but hast not giuen vs ouer vnto death wee haue imprinted in our minds the horror of the danger and excited our soules to thankefulnesse for the rescue and therefore wee prayse thee wee blesse thee wee worship thee wee glorifie thee and wee render to thee all thanks Honor and power wee ascribe vnto thee for this thy gracious preseruation And wee beseech thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome To this end wee beseech thee to blesse our gracious King Iames our supreme Head next vnder thee O Lord make all thy good to goe before him day and night vphold his Crowne maintaine his State giue him continuall peace long life and much happinesse mercifully heare him in all his Petitions and effectually worke for him in all dangers Furthermore we beseech thee to blesse our Noble Prince Charles the Prince Elector Palatine the Lady Elizabeth his Wife and their hopefull Issue and the righteous Cause and when it shall make most for thy glory and their good giue them victorie O Lord ouer all their Enemies And we entreat thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome thy assistance to the Gospell and euer blesse the Persons and Consultations of that High Court with holinesse safety that we may inioy our Liues Liuings our Religion our King and that his Off-spring after him may sit vpon his Throne till the comming of Christ Iesus to our comfort thy glory to whom we offer our selues our soules and bodies to be at thy seruice for euer and euer Amen Amen ¶ A Morning Prayer for a Familie O God of glorie and Father of mercy eternall and incomprehensible Maiestie in whom we sinfull Creatures doe liue mooue and haue our being fauourably heare our vnperfect Prayers and mercifully grant our needful suites We sinfull creatures doe sue vnto thee for grace hoping in thy mercie towards vs which is ouer all Keepe vs we beseech thee this day as thou hast kept vs this night past Keepe vs in thy feare faith and loue O Lord turne thy face from our sinnes wherein we haue so delighted and blot out all our misdeeds alter our hearts and wash and cleanse vs from all staines and corruptions in the blood of thy Sonne forgiue vs all that is past euen all the euill that wee haue done or thought and graunt vs the assurance of that forgiuenesse sealed vp in our Consciences by thy holy Spirit Kindle thy loue so feruently in our hearts that wee may detest whatsoeuer is against thee and thy Word Forgiue vs our great contempt and intollerable barrennesse in good workes our soule vnthankfulnesse and the abuse of thy graces and strike our stony Hearts with the Rod of thy feare that wee may attayne vnto a due thankfulnesse for thy benefites and a most vnfayned and earnest repentance for all our sinnes O Lord wee pray thee send thy blessing vpon all our labours and giue vs a willing minde to helpe them that haue neede according to our abilitie and so prepare our hearts in all our businesses that wee may alwayes begin it in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing that whatsoeuer wee shall doe it may prosper Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Mediator and Redeemer in whose Name wee further pray vnto thee saying that forme of Prayer that hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ An Euening Prayer for a Familie BLessing and glory and wisedome and thanksgiuing and power and might be vnto thee O Lord most high and immortall God for thy gracious goodnesse and mercie extended to vs this day past and alwayes notwithstanding all our Wickednesses which cry dayly against vs and our Enemies that would swallow vs vp Wee beseech thee O Lord be still our God and our Lord and continue thy gracious and mercifull fauour vnto vs forgiue vs all the euill that wee haue committed this day or any time heretofore teach vs to sorrow for our sinnes and separate them from vs that would separate vs from thee O Lord pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes remoue from vs those things which our Consciences are afraid of assure vs of thy gracious Pardon and renew vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may vnfainedly hate and detest whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee and graunt good Father that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee in holynesse and newnesse of life Bee thou our shield and defence against the suggestions illusions and temptations of Sathan against all the allurements and baits of the flesh with all alterations prouocations changes and chances of the world sanctifie vs with thy grace that we may keepe our bodyes