put on the new man in their old age hauing worne the old man all the time of their youth doe shew foorth an excellent wisdome in redeeming at last the former part of the time which they haue misse-spent and humilitie in submitting themselues to learne when so many of their Iuniors disdaine to bee taught and the power of Gods holy spirit which notwithstanding all the impediments wherewith that age is encumbred doth rescue them from the hand of Satan who had held them so long a time in captiuity and bondage Fourthly where anciencie and goodnesse doe concurre and meet together there the image of God doth shine out the more brightly there is a liuely resemblance of him whom Daniel calleth The ancient of daies Dan. 7 13. Vse 1 Instruction for the yoonger sort as sonnes and daughters that they yeeld due reuerence to them whom the Lord hath made reuerent as fathers and mothers He hath vouchsafed them time to attaine to these yeeres and titles to be called by these names and graces to be worthy of that honour Yea he requireth that they be respected and obeisance be done vnto them by those that haue care to regard and obey him for in this manner his commandement is laid vpon them Thou Leuit. 19. 32. shalt rise vp before the hoare head and honour the person of the old man and dread thy God I am the Lord. What though their beautie be withered away and their bodies growen crooked What though their strength be diminished and their memories impaired What though they retaine not their former freshnesse of wit or elegancy of speech What though their state bee but poore and their parentage obscure Yet their honourable place of age especially being garnished with wisdome iustice and pietie doth counteruaile and farre exceed all the rest of those ornaments It serueth also to admonish them that would not bee contemned and haue the world weary of them when they shal be old to lay the foundation of a constant and durable estimation whiles they are yoong If they treasure vp vnderstanding and good discretion and other spirituall graces whiles they haue the benefit of strength memorie senses and capacitie they shall haue that which will comfort their hearts informe their mindes direct their behauiour and maintaine their credit at those yeeres wherein others will dote and deale absurdly and be full of contempt and tediousnesse Reproofe of their follie which haue nothing else to commend them but this that the daies of their life haue beene many and they haue seene many faire yeeres and all those of their age be gone and knew the grand-fathers of the most of their neighbours c. but what good haue they done or what goodnesse haue they gotten in all those daies and yeeres which haue passed ouer them And they which knew men so long time since is it not a shame for them that they neither know God nor themselues as yet Haue they beene spared all this time from death and at last will they be vnprouided for death that death and destruction together should apprehend them For a sinner saith Isaiah of an hundred yeeres old shall die Isa 65. 20. accursed Verse 32. Hee that is slow to wrath is better than the mightie man and he that ruleth his owne minde is better than he that winneth a City HE that is slow to wrath which will not be prouoked to anger without due cause neither hauing due cause to bee angry will passe the bounds of moderation and measure is better than the mighty man is more to be commended for his strength and fortitude than hee that is boisterous and strong of bodie and he that ruleth his minde which represseth and keepeth vnder his intemperate passions and violent affections of euerie sort is better than hee that winneth a Citie hath greater power and doth a more worthy exploit than hee which by force of armes doth ouercome and conquer whole Cities Castles and Countries Doct. It is a point of greater valour to subdue corruptions in ones selfe than to preuaile against other men The Scripture testifieth of the force and might of Esau that from the wombe hee was farre more strong and sturdie than Iacob but it praiseth the patience and mortification of Iacob that hee was incomparably more meeke and moderate than Esau And that staiednesse of affection which was seene in poore lame Mephibosheth who was neither perplexed with perils nor imbittered with wrongs hath wonne him more honour than Ioab could get by all his martiall prowesse or Sampson himselfe by his admirable power Reasons 1 First the enemies of the soule as lusts and inordinate affections are more powerfull and dangerous than the enemies of the body and therfore the victorie ouer them is so much the more notable and praise-worthy Secondly he that vanquisheth Cities and people doth preuaile by a bodily power which will decay together with the bodie and may at another time be ouer-matched but hee that mastereth his affections doth it by a spirituall puissance which age impaireth not and that retaineth the victory for euer Base men may subdue Kingdomes and Nations and yet themselues remaine the bondmen of sinne Satan death and hell as Zenacherib and the stately Kings of Ashur and Nebuchadnezzar and the mighty Monarkes of Babel the Medes in like manner with the Persians the Grecians also and Romanes But all that rule their owne minde are truly noble and euer free and haue already the liuerie and seisen of an eternall libertie Vse 1 Instruction more to labour for the command of our selues than for domination and authoritie ouer our brethren All men almost desire to rule and in this case euery man may well be a Ruler God doth offer to the meanest men and women the iurisdiction of their owne hearts let him bee soueraigne there And hee would haue them to be his substitutes vnder him and they that will vndertake that office and set themselues seuerely to suppresse those disordered passions lusts and motions that keepe euill rule in their soules shall want no backing countenance or preferment from him Reproofe of those that are ambitious and would haue all men vnder them abroad and suffer all vile affections to rule ouer them at home They thinke to make themselues very glorious by shewing themselues so wrathfull fierce and furious and hope to bee reputed so much the more excellent as they can make their poore neighbours to feele their hands to be more heauy and violent but like foolish creatures in so doing they make many of their vnderlings become their superiors and debase themselues beneath their meanest inferiors Their humble poore patient oppressed tenants seruants and people haue gotten a preheminence aboue them by the Lords owne appointment hee hath deposed the one side and will in time make it manifest for their sinful hearts and cruell behauiour And he hath exalted the other side and once will declare it for the meeknesse of their mindes and their sober
vttered Doct. They are of all others most thriftie which preferre heauenly graces before earthly riches Which point is more amplie prosecuted by the holy ghost himselfe Chap. 3. 14. c. and 8. 10. 11. Verse 17. The path of the righteous is to decline from euill and he keepeth his soule that keepeth his way THE path of the righteous The wonted and most constant conuersation of all good men that which they most desire and endeuour is to decline from euill to abstaine from sinne and iniquitie and all that may allure thereunto and contrariwise to performe as farre as in them lieth euery Christian dutie that is required at their hands and he keepeth his soule he preserueth himselfe both soule and body from destruction and all kinde of plagues that keepeth his way which ordereth his life aright and walketh vprightly in obedience to Gods holy Commandements Doct. Though godly men doe sometimes slip into sinnes yet they haunt them not nor walke in them S. Paul confesseth that diuers things he did amisse but Rom. 7. 15. with no allowance for hee hated them and sundry good workes he failed to doe but not to desire for his will was to haue performed them And God giueth a testimonie of integritie and a promise of happinesse to his faithfull seruants in that diuine and holy Psalme Blessed saith he are those that Psal 119. 1. 3. are vpright in their way Surely they worke none iniquitie but walke in his waies Reason 1 First the Lord doth minister assistance to them his word to be a light and his spirit to be a guide in their waies and both of them to discouer the deceitfulnesse and danger of euill to the end that they may with the more wisdome and warinesse auoid it Secondly they haue the loue of God in their hearts and that doth cause them to abhorre iniquitie for the Lords sake and so they haue also his feare and that doth driue them from sinne for their owne sake to escape punishment for they know that whosoeuer will propose heauen and saluation for the end of his iourney must walke in holinesse and sanctification as the way vnto it and that he which would not feele Gods curses and beare the weight of his displeasure must feare Gods threatnings and shunne the cause of his anger Vse 1 Confutation of their presumptuous selfe-liking which walke in wicked and damnable waies and yet arrogate to themselues the titles of iust and godly men What prophane Atheist what superstitious Papist what blasphemous swearer what impious Sabaoth-breaker will indure to be charged with vngodlinesse And who is he among the worst of all that will acknowledge himselfe or beare it wel at other mens hands to be tearmed or deemed vnrighteous Proud persons will not contemptuous persons will not contentious persons will not nor violent oppressors nor filthie whoremongers nor luxurious Epicures nor the couetous nor Vsurers nor gamesters nor liers nor railers nor any other malefactors Euery man say they committeth euill and the best haue their faults but no vpright man saith the Scripture walketh in euill nor alloweth himselfe to continue faultie Shall a rebellious traitor that conspireth against his Prince or taketh vp armes against him be therefore iustified for a good subiect because the most faithfull subiects may be conuinced of the breach of some penall lawes Consolation to Gods people against the frailties wherewith they are many times ouertaken The Lord obserueth and approoueth of the way that they vsually and conscionably trauell in though now and then they swarue from it He marketh that their minde is most bent to the right path though their feet be sometimes in the wrong Doct. And he keepeth his soule So much assurance hath euery man of his saluation and safety as hee is carefull to keepe himselfe innocent and righteous To this end tendeth that saying of Moses after hee had deliuered and declared the Law of God to the Israelites Behold I haue set before thee this day life and good death and euill Deu. 30. 15. 16 in that I command thee this day to loue the Lord thy God to walke in his waies and to keepe his Commandements c. Reasons 1 First no man can order his behauiour aright but he that is lead by the spirit of God and he that is lead by the spirit of God is a member of Christ and a member of Christ can no more possibly be destroied than Christ himselfe can perish Secondly the promise of al Gods mercies is made to them that liue a godly life and the Scripture pronounceth them blessed that are vpright in their way and walke in the Commandements of the Lord and therefore they are farre from danger of damnation Thirdly they that looke well to their waies haue God and his Angels to looke well to their soules and bodies and who shall be able to resist such puissant Keepers And who can do hurt to them that are so powerfullie kept Vse Incouragement against all those scoffes and calumniations which this godlesse age doth cast vpon them that take heed to their steps and will not run with the wicked in the race of Atheisme and iniquitie For that is now verified in our time which the Prophet bewailed in his that he that refraineth from Isa 59. 15. euill maketh himselfe to be thought a mad man As who seeth it not that they are little better accounted of which flie from those sinfull delights which others follow That dare not ioine with swearers Sabbath-breakers and men of other leaud conditions in fashions or fellowship That dare not lift vp themselues in pompe and pride and will not reuenge the wrongs that are offered vnto them That chuse rather to liue poore and godly than wealthy and worldly and to get goods by guile and falshood What are you the better say the sonnes of Belial for your precise course of life and strict restraint of your selues from that libertie which other men take Heere is an answer to them and a comfort to vs This text telleth wherein we are the better and what gaine wee doe get by the exercise of godlinesse shunning of licenciousnesse than which nothing is more contrarie to libertie Wee keepe ourselues in keeping our way We escape much mischiefe in shunning of sinne We are deliuered from destruction by ordering well our conuersation Who now doth call into question the wisdome and prouidence of Noah in declining the vniuersall corruptions of his daies though then all generally derided him Was not he protected when others were punished Was not hee preserued when all the world perished Right wise then and happy is that man which proceedeth in the good way though it bee neuer so rough that is safe and leadeth to saluation as hee is most sottish and miserable that turneth to the pathes of sinne how smooth soeuer they seeme to be which are full of perils and will bring him to perdition Verse 18. Pride goeth before destruction and an high minde
or dangerous to himselfe but the issue thereof are the waies of death in the end it will bring them to destruction toward which they haue beene trauelling all their life time before See Chap. 12. verse 15. and Chap. 14. verse 12. where the selfe same words haue beene expounded Verse 26. The troublesome person bringeth trouble to himselfe for his mouth doth recoile vpon himselfe THE troublesome person which taketh a delight and seeketh occasions to molest others which haue done him no hurt bringeth trouble to himselfe procureth his owne hurt or vexation of minde for his mouth recoileth vpon himselfe his false or malicious speeches whereby hee diffameth his neighbours or otherwise seeketh to worke their sorrow turne to his owne shame and discredit if not losse or further punishment Doct. No turbulent man can keepe himselfe safe from trouble and miserie It is a righteous thing with God saith S. Paul to the Thessalonians 2. Thess 1. 6. to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you Pharaoh with the cruell Egyptians felt this true and Saul with his malicious Courtiers and Haman with those violent men that attempted the ruine of the Church in Hesters time Though Achan minded not to molest Israel nor had a purpose to doe them harme yet because hee did it in deed and drew downe a plague and iudgement vpon them therefore said Ioshua to him In as much as thou hast troubled vs the Lord Ioshua 7. 25. shall trouble thee this day Reason 1 First God taketh the matter in hand for the wronged and repaieth the wrong-doers according to their owne measure wherewith they mete to others as appeareth by the former testimonies and examples Secondly an vnquiet and contentious person doth commonly make himselfe hatefull and odious to the people and so that befalleth him which was spoken concerning Ismael His hand shal be against euery man euery mans hand against him Gen. 16. 12. Thirdly their bodies vsually are put to trauell by going or riding their purses to charges for fees or other expences their hearts to torment with disappointments and repulses for their successe will not be answerable to their expectation and desire as Haman found to his discontentment euen whiles Mordecai was vnder him but felt to his anguish and destruction when Mordecai was ouer him Vse Instruction to preserue our owne peace by liuing peaceably with our brethren and rather to suffer iniuries with quietnesse than to reuenge them vncharitably with strife and contention and especially than to offer them with molestation and disturbance of any man Or if we haue faulted too farre already that way before wee heard or well harkened to this counsell that shall be our wisdome prouidently to preuent the hurts that may ensue by a timely remedie thereof and that is as wee haue vniustly brought griefe to other mens hearts and hindrance to their states so we afflict our owne hearts with griefe for the same and as much as in vs is procure them rest and make them recompence Verse 27. A wicked person diggeth vp euill and in his lips is as it were burning fire A Wicked person A naughty leaud and wicked man diggeth vp euill secretly vnder hand laieth plots for the subuersion of his neighbours state whom hee maligneth as pioners vndermine the foundations of Cities or houses and in his lips is as it were burning fire he breatheth out pernicious and euill words tending as much to the ruine and destruction of the parties against whom they are spoken as fire kindling vpon an house doth to the consumption both of the building and stuffe that is in it Doct. 1 A malicious man is alwaies practising of mischiefe whether he pretend friendship or professe enmitie At one time Dauid must be Sauls sonne in law he is so farre 1. Sam. 18. in his fauour and no dowrie required at his hands but an hundred foreskins of the Philistims but Sauls purpose was to make Dauid fall into the hands of the Philistims Another time Dauid is reputed a Traitor that hath conspired against Saul a rebell that seeketh to kill the King and why is this charged vpon him Not because Dauid was guiltie thereof but that Saul might haue some colour of reason to kill Dauid Micah complained that euery man hunted his brother with a Micah 7. 2. net And Dauid saith that his aduersaries were fierce Lions that they were set on fire that their teeth were speares and arrowes Psal 57. 4. and their tongue a sharpe sword So craft and crueltie are euer at the hand of malice ready to serue her turne and each of them to be imploied for great aduantage See Chapter 12. verse 6. Doct. 2 And his lips c. Many and great euils are wrought by the poison of a mischieuous mouth A few euill words quickly spoken may minister a multitude of troubles and stirres for a long time as the hot breath of Rehoboam and his Counsellers did against himselfe and the whole nation for many ages What a flame was kindled by the mouth of Sheba the sonne of Bichri who by one mutinous saying caused all Israel to goe from Dauid and follow him so base a companion And how many millions by the like meanes haue beene drawen from the Lord himselfe to fall to Poperie and treasons and to follow sinne and Satan Reasons 1 First all the corruption that is in mans nature and the sinfulnes that is in his heart doe gather vnto it and there breake out whereby it becommeth so fierce and violent Secondly the Diuell himselfe hath the rule and managing of it and hee putteth force into it beside the venome that it hath in it selfe Hee fireth that matter that hee findeth there and addeth to the same fuell of his owne to feed the flame thereof Behold saith S. Iames how great a thing a little fire Iam. 3. 6. kindleth And the tongue is fire euen a world of wickednesse so is the tongue set among our members that it defileth the whole bodie and setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of Hell that is to say by Satan that hellish spirit Vse 1 Instruction to refraine as much as we may from the societie of those firie fellowes as we would preserue our selues our houses and goods from the flame of burning fire lest otherwise their friendship doe scorch our soules or else falling out deuoure our states And it is needfull also for godly men alwaies to haue innocencie wisdome and patience in a readinesse to preuent the hurt that may grow from these Iuniper coles and firebrands for though they will take occasion by maligning these graces to blaze the more yet they shall bee restrained by the same from burning so much or annoying them whom they maligne And withall it shall be very expedient to haue often recourse to God for remedie against them without whose helpe there is no hope of safety the whole Church and euerie part of it would be burnt