NOAHS DOVE OR Tydings of Peace to the godly A comfortable Sermon preached at a Funerall By Samuel Smith Minister of Gods word at Prittlewel in Essex PSAL. 34.19 Many are the troubles of the righteous But the Lord deliuereth him out of them all LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes and are to be sold by Thomas Archer 1619. To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader as it hath euer bin the practice of wicked men to make their prosperity an argument of Gods fauour reasoning after this manner Is it likely that I should inioy so many blessings from God if my conuersation were not pleasing in his sight c. Eccl. 9.2 Not considering that these common gifts are giuen alike both to the godly man and to the sinner And that Esau though he was a man hated of God yet enioyed the fatnesse of the earth as well as Iacob Rom. 9.2 So the children of God beholding the outward prosperity of the wicked and their owne miserable condition here in this life haue hereby beene much troubled and haue beene moued to call Gods Iudgements into question how it could stand with his Iustice that wicked men should so abound in wealth that Rebelliously transgresse Ier. 12 1. Psal 37. This prooued a sore temptation vnto Dauid insomuch that he confessed that his steps had wel-nigh slipt Psal 73.2 And the same thing perplexed the Prophet Ieremie that hee was bold euen to reason the case with God saying Ier. 12.1 Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper why are they in wealth that rebelliously transgresse Many of Gods seruants are not a little affected herewith not vnderstaÌ„ding the reason how the Lord will not suffer his children in this life to goe vnchastised for their sinnes but thereby brings them to a greater measure of humiliation As for the wicked the Prophet assigneth a reason of their prosperity namely this Ier. 12 3. That thou maiest pull them out like beasts for the slaughter and prepare them for the day of Destruction This truth is most cleerely set downe in the seauen and thirty Psalme a portion whereof I haue handled in the Sermon following my desire herein is to comfort Gods people that notwithstanding their present condition may seeme to bee miserable yet the Lord doth euer vpholde his in time of greatest danger and of this they shall be sure that their later end shal be peace I wish thee comfort by it and by all other holy helpes And so remayne Thine in euery Christian office Samuel Smith Prittlewel this 8. of April 1619. PSALM 37.37 Marke the vpright man and behold the iust the latter end of that man shall be peace THe Author of this Scripture as all other the Scriptures of God is the Spirit of God according to that of the Apostle All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God 2. Tim. 3.16 and is profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for Instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect in all good workes The Instrument that the holy Ghost vseth for the penning of it It seemes to be the Prophet Dauid A princely Prophet of the Lord and that Sweet singer of Israel The argument of the Psalme is an Exhortation vnto all Gods people that are ready many times to be grieued at the prosperity of the wicked and at the afflictions of the godly For men are but men haue their infirmities a thing not to bee wondred at Iob. 4.18.19 For as Iob saith Beholde hee found no stedfastnesse in his seruants and layd folly vpon his Angels How much more in them that dwell in houses of clay And amongst many other infirmities that the godly are subiect vnto here in this life this is not the least that they grudge and repine at the prosperity of the wicked whom they finde to be free from troubles and as for outward prosperity to florish like a greene Bay tree which makes the godly to thinke that they haue cleansed their heart in vaine Now against these assaults and temptations Gods spirit doth â—ence vs streÌ„gthen vs in this Psalme giuing vs to vnderstand that howsoeuer the wicked haue here abundance of prosperity for a time it is but for a time For hee sheweth that all euill doers shall bee cut off and after a short time shall no where be found How prosperously soeuer the wicked may liue for a time hee affirmes that their felicity is but vaine transitory for being in their sinnes and not in Gods fauour in the ende are sure to bee destroyed with the rest of Gods enemies And on the contrary part how miserable soeuer the estate and condition of the godly seemes to bee in this world yet being in Gods fauour their end shall be peace The Psalme diuides it selfe into three parts Parts of the Psalm First an Exhortation to the weake that they bee not grieued nor disquiet themselues at the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the godly and this is layd downe from the first verse to the 7. verse Secondly hee sheweth that how prosperously soeuer the wicked doe liue for a time yet their present felicity is vaine transitory and suddenly shall come to an end From the seauenth verse to the eleuenth Thirdly he sheweth that how miserable soeuer the godly seem to liue in this world yet shall still be preserued and their end shall be peace To the end of the Psalme The verse wee haue in hand containes in it matter of exhortation that we diligently marke and behold the vpright man the man that is godly religious makes conscience of holy duties that in all things labours to keepe a cleere conscience before God and all men that howsoeuer this man be exercised with sore afflictioÌ„ vndergoes much hardship at the hands of others bee neglected or little regarded yet the later end of that man shall bee peace The verse hath in it two parts First the matter of obseruation who is it the Holy Ghost would haue vs to take such notice of not the Noble the Rich or the Mighty but the Vpright and Iust man Secondly the end wherefore we should so diligently obserue him namely that wee might be incouraged in wel-doing and not discouraged vnder our present afflictions since hee is sure to haue peace at last In the first of these which is the matter of obseruation I obserue two things First the note of attention marke and behold Secondly the person to bee obserued the vpright and iust man First the Holy Ghost seeketh to awaken our eyes which naturally are very drowsie to behold any thing that is good and to prepare our hearts which are first to be sought vp before wee can goe about Gods businesses Marke and beholde 1. The note of attention these words of attention make known vnto vs that there is some waightie matter within this Text which Almighty God would haue vs well to coÌ„sider of For so indeed in the
to warne me and to teach mee that if I commit the same sinne God is iust still I shall bee sure to partake of the same punishment and so to breake off their sinnes by repentance But alas though wee see and heare daily of neuer so many fearefull examples of Gods iudgements against sinne and sinners where is the man that saith alas What haue I done for farre are many from marking Gods dealing with others Secondly this ministers matter Vse 2 of instructiō vnto all that we marke well the vpright It is the counsell the Holy Ghost giues vnto vs heere followe them as they haue followed God bee carefull to imitate their vertues so shalt thou bee sure to pertake of their praise Heb. 11. Our labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord He is a plentifull rewarder of them that seeke him And euer remember that God is vnchangeable true hee that stood by them and carried them out through all their miseries and afflictions will bee as strong in thee if thou be carefull to walke with him as they haue done Marke the vpright man and behold the iust The next thing wee are here to take notice of is the description of a godly man or that man that especially is to be marked hee is an vpright man and a iust man These titles wee see are frequent often vsed in the Scriptures and the Lord doth honor his seruants with them whence we are taught this instruction Doct. 2 That Gods seruants in this life may attaine vnto that measure of grace and sanctication Gods seruants may be called vpright men and iust here Iob. 1.1 Luk. 1. Act. 10. Heb. 11.38 as that they may truely be called vpright and iust men Thus doth the Lord commend Iob to bee an vpright and iust man It was the cōmendations of Zacherie Cornelius diuerse others mentioned in the Scripture Which Doctrine indeed deserues to bee vrged and pressed to stop the mouthes of those that are euer disgracing Gods people with their taunts Oh you are holy you are an vpright man you are a iust man but herein they despise not man but God who hath holinesse in his seruants Heb. 4. without which no man shall see God But if I should stand vpon this point I should bereaue you of some other instruction more fitter for this present occasion which I would willingly impart vnto you And so I come to the second part of the verse The later end of that man shall be peace These words containe in thē the reason why we shold so dilligently obserue the vpright man The later end of that man shall be peace Out of this Reason I obserue two things First the speciall time of refreshing God will take care of the godly at all times yea thogh the Lord doe suffer them to lie vnder affliction for a time hee is not then vnmindfull of them But their later end shall haue a double rewarde Secondly I note the blessing it selfe which shal be conferred vpon them 2. Cor. 13.13 it is peace the greatest blessing and that which goeth beyond all other blessings for it passeth all vnderstanding The Latter end of that man shall be peace The Prophet hauing before exhorted vs to marke and behold the life of the vpright man and iust man comes now to shewe wherein hee is happy aboue others hee shall haue peace Peace is promised vnto him frō God as a iust recompence of his vprightnesse and fastnesse this he shall bee sure of Sathan the world nor his owne corruption shall neuer be able to take it frō him it is an inseparable companion of grace and vertue haue thou grace thou shalt be sure of peace But marke heere it is at their latter end they are not sure of it at all times no no Gods seruants are heere in a warfare they are to fight against the Diuell and a world of wicked men and as our Sauiour teacheth Ioh. 16.33 In the world you must haue tribulation but The latter end shall be peace The Doctrine is Doct. 3 The godly in this life haue many troubles That good men yea the dearest of Gods Saints and seruants in this life shall haue troubles sore affl ctions which they bear so much the more grieuous when on euery side the wicked shall abound in pleasure This was it that so troubled Dauid at this time and before hee wondered at the prosperity of the wicked and on the contrary part was much cast down to see what a loade of afflictions lay vpon the godly but now he recouers himselfe with the comfort of this that howsoeuer Gods people suffer much for a time it is but for a time yea a short they shall bee sure to haue peace at last And now hee hath learned this lesson and can teach it others That looke how many will truely feare the Lord that carefully will endeauour to walke in Gods commandements to the end of their dayes they shall haue crosses and troubles Act. 14.22 so true is that of the Apostle That all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution Innumerable troubles saith Dauid haue compassed mee from my youth may Israel now say they haue oftentimes afflicted mee from my youth Psal 40.12 but they could not preuaile against mee I might instance this Doctrine by infinite examples Abraham in exile Iob on the dunghil Ioseph innocent Ioseph in the prison as a malefactor in an high degree Ieremy in the stocks Daniel in the denne the people of Israel euen the Israel of God in miserable bondage vnder the Egyptitians So that I conclude that look how many of vs as intēd to be righteous we must looke for afflictions and troubles yea and prepare our hearts thereunto not to bee dismayed at them when they fall vpon vs had though some strange thing had happened vnto vs according to that of the Apostle 1. Pet. 4.12.13 Dearely beloued think it not strange concerning the fiery tryall which is amongst you to prooue you as though some strange things were come vnto you But reioyce in as much as ye are pertakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall appeare ye may be glad and reiocye I shall not neede I hope in so euident a truth to search vp more Scriptures to proue it The Reasons that follow will cleare the same vnto vs. Reas 1 First because the godly haue in them many sinnes for sinne is the generall and vniuersall cause of all troubles for so testifieth the Prophet saying Lam. 39.3 Man suffereth for his sinne let vs search try our waies and turne vnto the Lord. So then in as much as all haue sinned all are lyable to chastisements afflictions the iust punishment of sinne and if wee breake his Satutes and keep not his Commandements no maruaile though the Lord doe visit our iniquities with his rod and our sinnes with scourges Secondly because the godly Reas 2 haue many graces
for as God doth bestowe vpon his seruants more gifts graces then vpon all the worlde besides so will the Lord haue the same to appeare in his seruants to the praise of his grace They must be beat like spice in a motter that they may sauour the better and euer according to our strength the Lord doth euer proportion our tryals On Hos 6.1 but I haue handled this elsewhere Vse 1 The consideration of this is for excellent vse vnto the godly to comfort them in the midst of all their troubles and afflictions here that they doe not thereby iudge of Gods fauour or displeasure for as Salomon teacheth All things happen alike to all It is the condition of the godly as wel as the wicked yea it is more insident to the professors and profession of the Gospell then to others Such must not thinke the worse of themselues but the better onely they are to labour to make their calling and election sure that hauing assurance of Gods fauour in Iesus Christ they may thereby haue their afflictions sanctified vnto them Secondly this may serue to Vse 2 comfort the faint-hearted that are tossed with the waues of many troubles heere if searching their hearts they can finde their vprightnesse and trying their owne waies they prooue to bee righteous there is not that cause of sorrow or discontent to that man to thinke his state eyther desperate or irrecouerable If troubles were alwaies an argument of Gods displeasure who then were sure of Gods fauour The Lord doth as sure prouide his children correction as food and hee that is without chastisement is a bastard not a sonne Let no man then say in prosperity I shall neuer bee remooued God hath his quiuer full of arrowes to shoot abroad Neither let any in aduersity say I shall neuer bee restored For the Lord taketh no pleasure in afflicting his seruants whensoeuer the Lord chastiseth his he sees there is great necessity of the rod yet in the middest of iudgement the Lord remembreth mercy howsoeuer sorrow may indure for a night ioy commeth in the morning Their latter end shall be peace The latter end of that man shall be peace The Second thing wee are to take notice of Peace the greatest blessing of God is the blessing it selfe which shall bee conferred vpon them it is peace the greatest blessing Obiect Ob. But shal not the later end of all men be alike doth not SalomoÌ„ say Eccl. 9.1 There is one end to the righteous and the wicked to the cleane and vncleane to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not the end is all alike why then shall the later end of the vpright be marked more theÌ„ other mens Ans I answere that their later end is all alike for the matter of their death that is Ans all doe die But it is not all one for the manner of their death for all shall not die in peace but as my Text saith Marke the vpright man and beholde the iust for the later end of that man shal be peace So then the instruction we are to take notice of hence is That the godly onely at their Doct. 4 later end haue peace Onely the godly haue peace at last so that wee haue heere to consider what is the condition of all men in death all die but all haue not peace in their deathes The later end of the iust shall bee peace But as for the wicked Esa 48.22 There is no peace to the wicked saith my God I desire briefly to speake of both of these And first concerning the godly the Holy Ghost doth heere assure them of peace that presently vpon their going hence they are happy Reu. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from thenceforth they rest from their labours This appeares in Abraham to whom it was promised that hee should goe vnto his fathers in peace Gen. 15.15 And of Isaac his sonne it is sayd Gen. 35.29 That he gaue vp the ghost and died peaceably being old full of dayes The like may bee sayd of Iacob of Ioseph of Iosuah Moses Dauid and it is true of all Gods seruants that their latter end is peace An exellent place of Scripture wee haue to this purpose by the Prophet Esay Esa 57.2 Hee shall enter into peace and they shall rest in their beds Euery one that walketh before him in his rightousnes It was Simeons dying song Luk. 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word This wee haue confirmed by that we read of Lazarus Luk. 16.22 who was carried immediately after his death into Abrahams bosom in his life time a man little regarded at his end the Angels are his seruants Yea the wicked themselues haue confessed shall acknowledge that the godly are blessed in their deaths witnes that speech of cursed Balaam who desired to die the death of the godly Num. 23.10 Let mee die the death of the righteous and let my last end bee like his That wretch could not but acknowledge that the condition of the godly was happy and blessed howsoeuer their liues are full of misery and they are tossed from post to pillar as the Israelites in the wildernesse yet in their deaths they had peace I will not spend much time herein I hope our iudgements are sufficiently conuinced concerning the truth of the Doctrine I will briefly set downe the Reasons Reas 1 First the godly are sure of peace at last in regard of the accomplishment of Gods promise who hath sayd that peace shall come Esa 57.2 that They shall rest in their beds euery one that walketh before the Lord which promise of his the Lord hath euer made good from time to time vnto all the faithfull after all their labour and trauailes giuing them rest and from their troubles and afflictions in the ende to giue them peace his promise requireth it Secondly the godly haue Reas 2 peace with God with whom they are reconciled by Christ which is their peace This peace the godly haue in this life in the midst of their greatest miseries heere which serues to sweeten the Crosse and to support them vnder the burthen of their afflictions And therefore the Lord giuing them the earnest of their inheritance and the first fruits of the Spirit here they must needs haue peace with God going out of the worlde who goe to enioy God who haue such peace in the worlde where they are absent from the Lord in their bodies The vses follow to bee considered First of all seeing Gods seruants Vse 1 doe die in peace and that this shall bee the portion they shall receiue from the Lord after all their labours trauailes peace at last This may serue to reprooue those that flatter their owâ—e soules and secure themselues that they shall die happily though they haue neither care nor conscience to liue holily faine would they
sacred Scripture these two words marke and behold are euer vsed vpon extraordinarie occasions Now this serues to put vs in minde of our owne dulnesse and backwardnesse to good duties Vse that wee thus stand in neede of such prouocations to put vs in minde of the same precept vpon precept and line vpon line and all too little to prouoke vs to good duties If our hearts be duly possest with diuine contemplation a man can neuer cast his eyes amisse whether wee looke to the heauens aboue or to the earth belowe or vpon what creature soeuer still wee haue Gods Phylosophy Lecture read vnto vs in the Creature to teach man his dutie towards his Creator 2. The person But amongst all other creatures whatsoeuer the Lord sends vs to beholde man to this ende that wee should marke and consider what is Gods manner of dealing towardes the sonnes of men both in his punishing of the wicked and rewarding the godly Marke the vpright man Doct. 1 The Doctrine is that euery ChristiaÌ„ maÌ„ is bouÌ„d in a special maner to obserue what is Gods dealing with men Gods dealing with men must be obserued both with the godly and with the wicked as well those that are recorded in Gods Booke as those that we haue knowne in our owne experience and that to this ende that wee might bee incouraged in the wayes of godlinesse by the examples of the godly the Lord highly honouring them with a blessed memory vpon earth and crowne of glory in heauen As also discouraged in committing of sinne when we shall consider Gods feareful Iudgements inflicted vpon sinners how the name of the wicked doth rot and how the Lord doth pay and repay Iudgement wrath and indignation vpon sinners We must not be sencelesse of Gods dealings in the world but duely to record his workes and dealings with men not onely to see and behold the seuerity of God towards others but for spectacles and examples to vs that we should take heede of such sins which procure such iudgements And to this ende wee see in the Scriptures the Lord hath hung vp in chaines as it were diuers wicked men not for others to gase vpon them but to be warned by them For murtherers Caine is hung vp Gen. 4. For all prophane persons Esau is made an example For traytors Iudas For all Apostates Lots wife And so the Apostle Iude telleth vs that Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them which the Lord destroyed for following strange flesh were and are set foorth for a warning and example to all filthie and beastly minded men The like may be sayd of Ismael Gehezi Absalom Saul Achan and the like And as we are to obserue the wicked so especially to marke and beholde the godly their godly life their sober conuersation and their care and conscience to walke with God in obedience to his commandements their admirable faith wonderfull patience meekenesse temperance c. These things must be obseru'd by vs that so we may by their examples be incoraged in the waies of well doing in them may see that our labour shal not be in vaine in the Lord and to this end the holy Scriptures sets out vnto vs a Catalogue of very memorable examples of deedes of Gods worthy seruants you haue heard of the patience of Iob saith Iames Iam. 5. Heb. 11 and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes there are diuerse remembred vnto vs that were famouzed in their times for their faith still remaine in a blessed memory in Gods Church and so shall remaine for euer And so likewise to take notice of the graces of God in his seruants that remain with vs beholde their liues and behold their ends as an incouragement vnto vs in walking in their pathes Howsoeuer the godly are afflicted heere for a time the latter end of that man shall be peace I come to the reasons of the Doctrine Reas 1 First concerning the obseruation of the wicked especially of the godly This may be one principall reason why wee must marke them well for the manner of their life and for the manner of their deathes because God is not mutable and changeable but euer the same without any shadow of change As the Lord heretofore and daily doth bring shame and confusion vpon the heades of wicked men and so makes them examples vnto others so will the Lord deale with vs if wee treade in their pathes the same iudgements of God that ouer-tooke other sinners shall in the ende ouertake thee if thou walk in thâ—er waies Seest thou a man that hath been a gracelesse wretch a horrible swearer an vncleane person a prophane person or the like hath the Lord followed such with his Iudgements as their life hath beene without grace so their deathes haue been without comfort behold in them thy owne condition remember that God is iust the same iudgements waite vpon the same sinners So especially as my Text saith concerning the godly Marke well the righteous and behold the iust Beholde their life and beholde their death if their liues haue beene religious though accompanied with many outward afflictions their deathes haue neuer wanted comfort The end of that man shall be peace And let the same incourage thee in well doing because God is not mutable Acts 10. hee changeth not In euery nation hee that feareth God and worketh righteousnes is accepted of him follow such in their life thou shalt not misse of their comfort in thy death grace in life and peace in death Reas 2 Secondly by these are the men that God delights in these feare him these honour his Name these haue learned first to seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof these do not disgrace the Gospell and holy profession of Christ and therefore marke well these men Thirdly it may be sayd of the Reas 3 godly as it was sayd of Dauid that they are men after Gods own heart these are they that haue learned to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lust and liue soberly and iustly in this present world In a worde these are the best statesmen these vpholde a kingdome bring a blessing to the towne countrey wherein they liue These God doth tender as the apple of his eye these are as neere to him as the signet of his right hand whom hee daily follows with his blessings and will neuer leaue them till they haue the ful fruition of him in glory and therefore marke these men I come to the vses of the Doctrine First it serues for matter of Vse 1 reproofe vnto those that in reading the stories of Gods iudgements vpon others in the Booke of God and obseruing the like daily in their owne experience make not this vse of them to make them beware many wonder at them that they had no better grace but alas they doe not heereby take occasion to feare Gods iudgements to apply them to themselues to say in their hearts this example is set out