vnto euery one who doth with patience waite for the appearing of our Lord Iesus and loue the same and therefore feare not be not any whit discouraged hold out vnto the end certaine it is thou shalt be blessed and in so doing thou shalt haue a Crowne of Life If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side the waters had drowned vs and the streame had gone ouer our soules This serues to comfort the godly in that the Lord sits vpon the flouds and that to this purpose to performe this gracious promise Whē thou passest thorough the waters Esay 42 3 I will bee with thee and through the flouds that they shall not ouerflow thee So Eliphaz telleth Iob In sixe troubles hee will deliuer thee Iob 5.19 and in the seuenth euill shall not come neere thee As if hee had sayd Though sixe and seuen troubles beset thee yet the euil of them shal not come neere thee This presence of God with his children makes them glory in their troubles as in a Crowne vpon their heads and the Apostle Paul gloried 2. Cor. 11. that he was more in affliction then all the false teachers Heb. 11.35 The Saints were in most deadly tryalls and would not bee deliuered namely vpon vnlawfull conditions because they found God as good as his word Therefore miserable men are they that withdraw their hearts from the Lord and seeke him not in his promises not in their prayers but trust to winde out themselues by other meanes some make falsehood their refuge and some embrace the world carnall meanes and leane vpon the arme of flesh these flye from their defence Ionas 2.8 wait vpon lying vanities forsake their owne mercy 'T is as if Noah for feare of the inundation should haue left the Arke and fled to the Mountaynes which had beene to haue throwne himselfe into the midst of the waters and thus doe they that to auoyd troubles feare and flye their Profession and so Apostasie and Idolatrie and corruption drownes them We must rather with the Church flye to the Rocke Psal 69.2 Saue me O God the waters are vpon me yea I am come to the deepe waters And then being deliuered wee must goe backe vnto him Psal 124 saying Saluation is the Lords if the Lord had not beene with vs Verse 3 the waters must needes haue drowned vs when they roared vpon vs. This serues to perswade euery man to become godly seeing this priuiledge belongs onely to such there is no man but desires safety in danger and yet no man but the godly man can assure himselfe of safetie therein If then thou wouldest haue assurance of this promise thou must practise pietie in these seueralls First Become an humble person How to bee safe in dangers repent and turne to God cry out of sinne sue daily for pardon as for life and death and then let all the miseries and calamities in the world come vpon thee thou shalt be safe onely sinne is as poyson cast into the Lords Cuppe GOD giues thee no poyson to drinke but that is of thy owne tempering pull the sting out of these Scorpions and the fight onely will be dreadfull but the danger is past 2. Pet. 2.7 Secondly As thou mournest for thine owne so for other mens sinnes God deliuered iust Lot vexed with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked Thirdly Get thy heart washed with the bloud of Christ be a true Israelite a true beleeuer for God is good to Israel euen to the pure of heart Psal 73.1 and deliuer Israel O Lord. Fourthly Get innocencie and vprightnesse into thy life to bee able to say with Dauid Psal 18.24 Deliuer mee according to mine vprightnesse Fifthly Drawe dayly neerer vnto God and if God be with thee or thou with him thou needest not feare Psal 23.4 though thou walkest in the shaddow of death and doe this three wayes first get neere him by thy affection loue him in his Word and Image because hee hath loued mee Psal 91.14 I will deliuer him and exalt him that is set him out of the reach of trouble Secondly In obedience I am thine saith Dauid O saue thy seruant Thirdly Psal 91.9 In thy confident prayer for hee sayd to the Lord Thou art my refuge Verse 4. The deepe waters of the proud had gone ouer our soule HEe Incists still in his complaint against his enemies and describes them from the qualitie of their persons Enemies of Dauid described they were proud This is a stile commonly giuen to the wicked because as it is our eldest euill so is it the strongest and first that striues in our corruption to carry men to a transgression of the bounds appointed of the Lord. From the time that pride entred into Adams heart that he would be higher then God had made him hee spared not to eate of the forbidden tree and what else is the cause of all transgression but that a man in his ignorant pride will haue his will preferred to the will of God Neither is it without cause that wicked men are so commonly called proud men for pride is the mother of rebellion against God and man By pride Sathan and his confederate Apostates vsurped to bee like vnto God Pride an horrible euill and by the same sinne he drew man into the similitude of his owne condemnation so that now euery man by nature is a proud man which makes him shake off the yoke of God and without regard transgresse the limits of obedience appointed vnto him by God as Pharaoh would not let Israel goe till the Lord slew his first-borne so our nature now corrupted shall neuer render obedience to God nor loue to man till the first borne sinne that is pride be subdued by grace For grace on the contrary Grace worketh humilitie in the godly euer workes humilitie so soone as the eyes of Gods children are opened to see their sinnes they abhorre themselues the combe of their naturall pride is pulled downe and they abase themselues before God and man It was the humble speech of Abraham the father of the Faithfull Gen. 18.27 I am but dust and ashes It was the voyce of Iacob I am not worthie of the least of Gods mercies Dauid hath the like Who am I Lord c. Gedions voyce My fathers house is the least in all Israel And Iohn Baptist who receiued prayse that a greater Prophet was not among the children of women acknowledged in humilitie Ioh. 1.27 that he was not worthie to loose the latchet of Christs shooe The Centurian confessed hee was not worthy that Christ should come vnder his roofe Peters voice was Depart from me for I am a sinfull man Saint Paul I am not worthy to be called an Apostle yea he confessed plainely hee was the least of all the Apostles and the chiefe of all sinners Thus all the Children of GOD giue glorie to GOD by downe casting themselues
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
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
the Almighty and to see the deepe things of the Lord. For tell mee I pray you is not hee a Conquerour yea more then a Conquerour that doth so subdue his enemies that they can no more rise vp against him A man may vanquish his enemie and beate him cleane out of the field yet afterward hee may gather a power against him againe and put him to the worst But heere Satan the world and all our enemies are so beaten downe and troden vnder foote by all such as suffer and dye for the truth that they can neuer assault them any more to stirre either tongue hand or foote against them to doe them any hurt for they goe immediately vpon that their death and passion to Heauen and vnto all that happinesse which is prouided there for them as Iohn doth shew Apo. 14.13 saying Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord euen so saith the spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Christ a powerfull Sauiour stronger thē Samson yea then that strong one Iudges 16.1 O wonderfull worke Surely the weakenesse of God is stronger then man he is that strong one indeed stronger then Sampson when the Philistians thought they had him sure within the ports of Azzah Hee rose at midnight and tooke the doores of the gates of the Citty two Posts and carried them away with the bars thereof on his shoulders vp to the top of the mountaine which is before Hebron But our mighty Conqueror and deliuerer the Lord Iesus hath in a more excellent manner magnified his power for being closed in the Graue clasped in the bands of death and a stone roled to the mouth of the Graue the Sepulcher sealed and guarded with souldiers hee rose againe the third day before the rising of the Sunne hee carried like a victor the bars and Posts of death away as vpon his shoulders and vpon the mount of Oliues he ascended vpon high leading Captiuity captiue 2. King 18.35 Let Satan boast like Rabsecha that the Lord is not able to deliuer Ierusalem out of his hands Deut. 26.29 hee is a blasphemous lyer the Lord will rebuke him and will shortly tread Satan vnder our feet It is the curse of the wicked he shall bee oppressed and there shall bee none to deliuer him Psal 143.12 But blessed bee the Lord who hath prouided a strong deliuerer for vs who certainely shall set vs free glory therefore bee vnto him for euer It is good for vs to know this as also to thinke oftentimes vpon it for first by it we may learne to take heed we goe not about any thing which may be hurtfull or pernicious vnto Gods children for if we doe we see heere our labour shall bee in vaine wee shall not preuaile against them but they preuaile against vs. Hee is a very foole that will attempt a thing which he knowes for certaine hee cannot bring to passe and which hee is sure will bee his bane and destruction but wee know that wee cannot preuaile against the faithfull and wee are sure that our plots against them will turne to our ouerthrow and therefore let vs beware that wee lift not vp our selues against them at any time Againe from hence wee learne euen so many of vs as doe truely serue the Lord and feare him from our hearts that there is no cause vvhy wee should feare Man or vvhat hee can doe against vs. Oh wee may reioyce and be glad as it is required of vs in which places you may reade at your leasure feare not beloued bee of good comfort Zeph. 3.14 though that you haue enemies in euery Corner yet be not discouraged you shall haue the conquest And the Lord your God shall deliuer you 1. Pet. 3 14. out of all your troubles according to the saying of Dauid Psal 34 9 Great are ihe troubles of the righteous but ihe Lord deliuereth them out of them all he is wise he doth know how to do it and he is omnipotent he is able for to do it and as for his willingnesse he is ready at all times to accomplish it wherfore be I say of good comfort and feare not but trust in the Lord and commit your wayes vnto him and he shall bring all things to passe according to your hearts desire in the end he that deliuered Noah from the floud Lot from Sodome Iacob from Esau Ioseph from Potiphar Moses from Pharaoh Israel from Egypt the three Children from the Fire Peter from Herod Mordecay from Hamman and here Christ and Dauid from all sorts of enemies He euen he will deliuer you out of all trouble If you say that your enemies are many and that the whole world is against you I will say againe to you with Elisha the Prophet 2. Kin. 6.16 2. Chr. 32 7 and Hezechiah the King that there are more with vs then are against vs for God and all the Hoast of Heauen is for vs if you say againe that your enemies are wise and politicke and they are able to ouer-reach you by their craft and cunning considering that you are but simple and ignorant like Doues I will answere you with the Apostle 1. Cor. 1.25 That the foolishnesse of our God who is on our side is wiser then their best wisedome and that he will destroy their wisedome and bring their vnderstanding to naught to doe vs good If you say in the third place that your enemies haue hemmed you in and compassed you about that it is vnpossible for you to escape them I will answere you with the Angell Gabriel 1. Cor. 1.19 that with God nothing shall bee vnpossible and with the three Children Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that GOD both can and will deliuer you Dan. 3.17 when they say Behold our GOD wee serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot fierie Furnace and hee will deliuer vs out of thine hand O King If you say lastly that your Enemies haue already taken you and doe put you dayly vnto death I will answere you with Paul in Romanes the eight verse the seuen and thirtieth which place was touched before and with Iohn in the Reuelation the twenty two chapter the twelfth verse that by this meanes you do ouercome your enemies most of all For when you resist thus vnto bloud and dye for the truth you giue your enemies such an ouerthrow that they neuer rise vp against you any more and as for your selues you enter presently into Heauen the onely place which you striue for Euen as hee hath the victorie most in this vvorld who doth enter into the Cittie and take all the spoyle thereof and doth confound his aduersaries that they can neuer stirre any more against him In consideration of all which things cleaue fast vnto Christ I beseech you and feare no danger or perill but reioyce in the Lord and be glad alwaies fighting for the Crowne of righteousnesse which shall bee giuen
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
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
hee calleth hee iustifieth whome hee iustifieth hee glorifieth The gift and calling of God is without repentance My sheep heare my voyce and follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish Iohn 20.27 28.29 neither shall any man take them out of my hands And the reason is we beare not the roote but the root beares vs our saluatiō depends not vpon our selues for then indeed we were in danger to fall away euery moment of an houre but it dependeth vpon him because we are in him through him we grow and increase yea the older we be in Christ the more do we fasten our roote and floorish they which are planted in the courts of the Lord shall florish in their old age and bring forth much fruite Vse And whereas other branches are many times pulled from their stocke either by the violence of the winde by the hands of men or at least consumed by length of time it shall not be so with them that are in Christ for they are kept by him as the root bearing branches Because I am not altered nor changed therefore are you not consumed O yee sonnes of Iacob and therefore right happy is the state of that man who is in Christ Iesus For neither life nor death things present Rom. 8.18 nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God And this comfort is confirmed to vs by most sure arguments Arguments to proue a Christians perseueranee Phil. 1.6 The first is taken from the nature of almighty God he is faithfull which hath promised And I am perswaded saith the Apostle Rom. 6.9 that he who hath begun this good worke will performe it vntill the day of Christ Iesus The second is taken from the nature of that life which Christ communicateth to his members We know that Christ being raysed from the dead dyeth no more This life of Christ is communicated to vs so that it is not wee that liue in Christ but Christ in vs. The third is taken from the nature of that Seed whereof wee are begotten 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Wee are borne anew not a mortall Seede but of immortall Now as the Seed is so is the life that comes by that Seed Our life therefore must needes be immortall This confuteth a damnable Doctrine of the Papists who hold and reach That a man elected called iustified and sanctified may for euer fall away and bee damned that he which to day is the deare child of God to morrow may become the child of the Deuill to day a member of Christ to morrow a Limbe of the Deuill to day an heire of saluation to morrow an heire of damnation Now what Doctrine can be more deuillish and vncomfortable this is nothing else but to set vp a Gibbet to torment the poore soules of Gods children to ouerthrow the nature of Faith to make God feeble and weake 2. Pet. 1.10 Psal 15. or foolish and vnwise which is manifest Blasphemy But we see here the Word of God tells vs this cannot be Rom 8.1 8.35 for what shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Nothing This may serue to reproue another sort of men who are ready to abuse this Doctrine Tush sayth the carnall and loose Christian it skils not how a man liues whether well or ill he that is elected and is a member of Christ shall be saued and he that is reiected shall be damned though he liue neuer so well Therefore they take libertie to sinne and make no conscience of any sinne whatsoeuer But they must know that God decrees a man as well to the meanes as to the end and it is impossible a man should be elected and called but he must liue well so he that is not elected called cannot liue well And it is all one as if a man should neuer eate or drinke and yet hope to liue and like well or lying in the fire or water and vsing no meanes to come out should not perish But wee must know that the end and the means must goe together and for a man to neglect or reiect the means it is in vaine for him to hope to be saued for if thou belong vnto God thou shalt in time be called and sanctified and where this worke is not yet alreadie wrought that man is as yet in the state of damnation Our helpe is in the name of the Lord. Here is matter of endlesse comfort to euery child of God that truly repents beleeues in Iesus Christ that howsoeuer throgh the malice of Sathan the temptation of the Deuill the alluremēts of the world and the corruption of our flesh we may grieuously sin fall Rom. 8.1 yet there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ the gates that is Matth. 16.18 al the power of Hell shal not preuaile against vs. If euer thou foūdst the sound work of grace in thee thou foundst Iesus Christ to dwell in thy hart by faith so that thou hatest all sin desirest in all things to please God though Sathan rage storme and all the gates of Hel rise vp against thee yet thou mayest comfort thy selfe in the Lord and say with Paul There is no condemnation to me that am in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thou mayest triumph with Paul and say Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen And if God be with vs who can be against vs. And againe I am perswaded nothing can seuer me from the loue of God in Christ Iesus no not sinne nor death it selfe Oh happie then and blessed is the estate of that man who is in Christ neyther life nor death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God PSALME 125. They that put their trust in the Lord c. THe Psalme going before is a Thanks-giuing The argument of the Psalme or a Sacrifice of Prayse because the godly see and by experience feele that the Lord is faithfull and helpeth them in the time of need This Psalme following contayneth also in a manner the same matter for it pertayneth to the Doctrine of Faith and exhorteth the faithfull likewise to a sure trust and affiance in the helpe of the Lord in all their necessities whereunto hee stirreth them vp with great and excellent promises It may also easily bee vnderstood by that which wee haue said before for like as God maketh all things of nothing and of Darkenesse Light so hee worketh by his Word that in Death there is nothing but Life They then which sticke to the Word and Promise of God and follow the same doe finde it true which Dauid sayth Hee spake the Word and it was done But before wee can come to this experience we must abide some trouble and therefore haue need of such exhortation as this Psalme here setteth forth Verse 1. They that put their trust in the Lord
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
thee and therfore feare not be not any whit dismayed hold out vnto the end and trust in the Lord for euermore Hence we learne that as many as desire to be truly happy blessed may here behold the way to bee happy blessed Wouldst thou be truely happy and blessed here in this life and hereafter in the life to come Wouldst be assured that thou art the child of God in his fauour reconciled vnto him in Iesus Christ Wouldst thou be assured of saluation of thy soule Oh labour then to become a godly and a religious man repent of thy sinnes past amend thy life walke before God in new obedience labour to keepe Faith and a good Conscience hate euery euill way cleaue vnto the Lord delight in his Word let it be the ioy of thine heart then certainly thou shalt be blessed and happy for euermore To conclude if the godly man and hee that trusts in the Lord be blessed then the wicked man must of necessitie be cursed if the estate of the righteous and religious man be so comfortable and blessed then the estate of the wicked and vngodly must needes be miserable and cursed According to that of Moses vnto the Israelites Deu. 28.15 If thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God as indeede Obedience is farre from a wicked man howsoeuer hee may come with Sauls painted Sacrifice what followes Thou shalt be cursed in Body and cursed in Soule Psal 119.21 c. Againe Thou hast destroyed the proud and cursed are they that erre from thy Commandements Verse 2. The Hills stand about Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord about his people from this time forth for euermore WHere many hundred thousands of men are there are scarcely seuen thousand which know God or beleeue in God and yet for their sakes the whole multitude is called Gods people euen so was it in Ierusalem albeit the greater part was wicked and godlesse yet was Ierusalem called Holy not onely in respect of a small number of the godly but also because God had his abiding there So when there was not one iust person in Sodome but Lot Gen. 19.22 with his two Daughters yet could not the Angell destroy Sodome with Fire so long as Lot was in it Likewise where foure or fiue or tenne godly persons are to bee found for their sakes the whole Cittie is called Holy For these are the Elect Corner Stones these are the precious Pearles which GOD so highly esteemeth and for those sakes hee spareth the wicked Therefore sayth Dauid As Ierusalem is compassed about with Mountaines so doth the Lord compasse his people and mightily defend them on euery side In like manner Zacharie prophecyeth of a Citie whose Wall is of Fire These similitudes doe set forth vnto vs the safetie of Gods people that weake and little poore Flocke against all Dangers vpon this promise if wee also doe rest which at this day doe enioy the inestimable benefit of Gods Word wee shall be defended against the rage of Sathan and the whole World These things albeit we cannot comprehend yet should wee beleeue them so certainely as if wee did see them with our bodily eyes If wee should see our selues compassed about with brazen Walls wee should be without all feare and triumph against Sathan but it is a matter of Faith not to trust vnto that which the eyes see but which the Word offereth and promiseth This one thing therefore is lacking in vs that wee haue not the eyes of the Spirit but wee iudge according to the eyes and sence of the Flesh We must not doubt therefore but if we beleeue we are compassed about with fierie and brazen Mountaines that is to say wee abide for euer inuincible against the rage of Sathan and all the powers of Darkenesse Blessed therefore is hee that beleeueth These Mountaines are the Angels which compasse vs on euery side that Sathan with his Angels and Ministers cannot hurt vs as he would whose malice and power is such if they did not continually behold vs continually defend vs and watch ouer vs hee would destroy vs euery moment This can all they testifie which know that Sathan is a Murtherer and a Lyar which cannot abide to see the godly prosper and therefore he seeketh by all meanes to roote them out from the face of the Earth That wee are not then vtterly consumed it is the benefit of these Mountaines by whom wee are so compassed and defended Sometimes Sathan hurleth his Darts at vs as it were through the Window to destroy vs and worketh vs indeede some sorrow but he cannot hurt vs nor moue vs. This similitude seemeth to be taken out of the storie of Helizeus where the seruant of Helizeus saw the Hills about him full of fierie Chariots and Horsemen 2. Kin. 6.17 compassing Helizeus round about and mightily defending him This succour which the seruant of Helizeus saw and the Prophet beleeued when he saw nothing is sayth the Prophet round about all them which trust in the Lord The Angell of the Lord pitcheth his Tent round about them that feare him and haue a charge of them Psal 34.7 The Saints of Heauen and Earth are their fellow Brethren the Creatures of Almightie God are their Friends yea their Seruants to doe them good all their dayes The Deuils nor all the powers of Darkenesse shall not hurt them Psal 37.25 Psal 34.7 Psal 91.11 for Christ hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and hath made a shewe of them openly Hosea 2.18 and hath triumphed ouer them vpon the Crosse yea that which is more Col. 2.15 the Lord Iesus Christ to whom all Iudgement is committed is become their Lord and Sauiour so that they shall neuer come into condemnation Ioh. 5.24 but shall passe from Death vnto Life This Promise then will neuer deceiue vs onely let vs neuer deceiue our selues If therefore wee did beleeue no doubt wee should sleepe wee should liue wee should dye wee should suffer whatsoeuer Sathan and all the World can doe against vs without all feare for thus should wee thinke If I suffer any thing it is not without the will of God nor without good cause well knowne though not vnto me yet vnto God Therefore although Sathan breake through the wall in one place yet shall he neuer bee able vtterly to ouerthrow it altogether thus should wee thinke in our troubles and afflictions and comfort our selues with the good will of God The Lord will be a wall of fire round about Ierusalem and the glory in the midst of her he will keepe her as the apple of his eye and make Ierusalem a cup of poyson to all her enemies and a heauy stone which whosoeuer striueth to lift shall bee torne therewith though all the people of the earth were gathered together against it the weapons made against her shall not prosper and euery tongue that shall rise against her in iudgement shall be condemned this
all outward things to his hearts wish Zacheus had mercy enough when saluation was come to his house hee neuer got so fast before as now he forgoes restores he was neuer compassed with mercy till now though he was a great rich man neuer so rich as now when he was impouerishing himselfe to entertaine Christ in his house and heart Iacob when he saw Iosephs face his best beloued Son now saith he I haue enough let me now dye seeing I haue seene my sonne Iosephs face how much more shall we haue enough to see the face of the well-beloued Sonne of God yea and God himselfe in that wel-beloued one appeased and fully pacified Simeon hauing seen Christ with his eyes and held him in his armes Now Lord said he let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seen thy saluatiō but to see christ by the eye of faith hold him in our hearts will make death much more welcome to vs we shal think we haue enough the sweet sense of it will frame the mouth to speake plentifully of it as our Prophet doth in this place neither can any good heart either lightly account or speake slenderly of such a mercy neither content it selfe with slight meanes to get it or with superficial phrases in holding it In a word if once wee can claspe hold on this mercy of God in pardoning our sinnes we could desire euen to liue no longer in this world were it not to come to a more full sense fruition of it Where hee addeth from henceforth and for euer by rhese words he sheweth that this vigilancy of the Lord our God ouer vs is not temporall but eternall according to that which he sayd before in the first verse of this Psalme they shall remaine for euer Let vs learne therfore out of this Psalme that our constancy and perseurance consisteth in this that we are defended by the power and prouidence of the Lord on euery side Verse 3. For the rodde of the vngodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put their hand vnto wickednesse HEre the Prophet plainly decalreth that the people which rest vnder this defence and protection are afflicted and subiect to all miseries and calamities as touching the flesh although they be compassed about with high and mighty mountaines as touching the spirit as Sathan can neuer surmount yet touching the flesh and the old man they lye open on euery side to the darts of Sathan and of the world for God by these means will afflict and exercise the flesh that sinne and the foolishnesse of the flesh may be mortified in them and that spirituall wisedome and the inward man may increase this is the cause why we are according to the flesh as a broken hedge and as a citie Whose walles are cast downe and so lyeth open to the enemy on euery side Hereof cometh intollerable blasphemyes cruell torments and bloody slaughters of the Saints of God for the flesh hath no walles no munitions to defend it but the spirite therefore the flesh is in danger to all stormes and tempests as the Prophet Esay sayth which haue sayd vnto thy soule bow downe that we may go ouer thou hast layd the body as the ground and as the street to them that went ouer These afflictions wee must needes suffer and by patience ouercome them and withall we must beware that by these outward afflictions the inward man be not weakened or ouercome resting in the assured hope and trust that the Lord will neuer forsake vs but that wee are in the bosome of the Father and are closed within most sure and strong holds so that now although our goods our Wiues our Children yea our liues also be taken from vs yet wee shall neuer bee spoyled of our Christ by whom we are so surely defended that in the middest of all our tentations hee will make a way for vs to escape or else giue vs strength to beare them Blessed is the Man who indureth tentation Iam. 1.12 for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him Thus wee see what consolations the holy Ghost setteth forth vnto them which beleeue the word for vnto such as looke for a better life then this is all things are here full of calamities and miseries death followeth death as Saint Paul saith and we continually die one temptation followeth another vntill at the length by the death of the flesh all miseries shall cease and haue an end This verse therfore admonisheth vs that wee must suffer many troubles yet so that at length wee shall be safe and set at libertie from them although not in this life yet in the life to come as this verse full of consolation doth promise vs. Notwithstanding this promise seemeth incredible both to vs which suffer and also to them which persecute and aflict vs for if wee behold the same with our outward eyes what can be more false yea the contrary seemeth to bee most true behold our Sauiour Christ was hee not so forsaken hanging vpon the Crosse that the rod or scepter of the wicked rested vpon him did it not rest likewise vpon the Prophets the Apostles and orher holy Martyrs this matter then if we consider it with our outward eyes hath another meaning then the words doe import for they promise that the Scepter of the wicked shall haue no power ouer the godly and yet all Stories and examples doe testifie the contrarie therefore the holy Ghost calleth vs backe to the purpose and counsell of God reuealed in his word and commaundeth vs to weigh and consider not what we suffer but what is decreed with the Lord in heauen and he that can so sequester himselfe from the beholding of his afflictions and tentatfons and yeelde himselfe wholy to the will of God and there rest is a right diuine yea hee that is ignorant hereof in true diuinitie knoweth nothing at all for what knoweth he which is ignorant that God is such a God as will not suffer the godly to bee oppressed of the wicked For seeing he hath said I am the Lord thy God he will neuer suffer that which is his owne to bee wrested either by the world or by the gates of hell out of his hands if he then abide and continue they shall also continue for euer which are his Thus to beleeue and thus to lay hold on things inuisible is true diuinitie and true spirituall wisedome indeed Whereupon we may ground this proposition out of the inuisible counsell of God God hateth the wicked and loueth the iust ergo he will damne and destroy the wicked and will deliuer and saue the iust And heere we see that which is the chiefest thing in all Psalmes and Prophets to spring out of the first precept I am the Lord thy God Now haue we to learne how wee may apply this verse rightly and to our great comfort for
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
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