aboue it is no gift of God it is sensuall carnall and diuellish Secondly not to hearken to the reports of such wicked persons that seeke to defame others and detract from their good name they are but foolish and base pedlers that vtter such infectious wares and therefore they cannot be wise chapmen that trafficke with them and receiue them at their hands It is the propertie of the wicked to giue heede to false lips and lyars hearken to naughtie tongues Prou. 17. 4. Consolation for them that are molested and vexed vniustly for the Gospels sake by clamorous and false accusers let them consider what account God maketh of their malicious aduersaries he calleth them fooles and derideth their practises and therefore in the end it shall be seene that when they haue spat all their venome they haue but shotte a fooles bolt and procured shame and sorrow to themselues The sinne ceaseth not by the multitude of words but hee that refraineth his lips is wise Verse 19 He seemeth still to proceede in the prosecution of the matter spoken of in the seauententh verse that men take an euill way for themselues which refuse to be reprooued The words immediately going before these declare how some reiect it by inward hatred and bitternes of heart and yet outwardly make semblance of great loue and friendship others breake out into open profession of their discontentiment and malice by reproching those that would help them out of their sinnes and heere commeth a third sort which would shift off all rebukes by denying defending cloaking or colouring their faults by excusing and extenuating matters that are charged vpon them But all is in vaine the sinne will not bee blowen away with breath and therefore hee sheweth that it is a poynt of wisedome to giue place by silence and to take the blame vpon them The sinne ceaseth not c. The multiplying of words doth make a bad cause rather worse then better So Ieremie telleth the impenitent people that were very forward to cleare themselues Doct. of their sinnes whereof they are accused Thou sayest A fault excused is oft times inrcesed Ier. 2. 35. because I am guiltlesse surely his wrath shall turne from mee behold I will enter with thee into iudgement because thou sayest I haue not sinned Their excuses were accusations their denials were conuictions their seeking impunitie without repentance did hasten and augment their punishment First when they defend or make things small trifles which are vnlawfull to be done they contradict the word of God and his truth which no wit nor art nor eloquence shal be able to preuaile against Secondly when they hide their facts by deniall or labour to supply their omissions by assuming that to themselues which they neuer performed the eye of the Lord doth beehold their falsehood his eares doe heare how vntruly they iustifie themselues he knoweth all their guiltinesse and he will make the world to know their guilfull haulting Though Saul failed of obedience to the will of God yet hee arrogated the praise of fulfilling it though Samuel by demonstration declared his sinne yet he sought to make an Apologie for himselfe and to lay all the offence vpon the people but that course tooke none effect it did him no good for body or soule it nothing preserued his honor or state he was conuicted and censured sentenced and vtterly cast off notwithstanding all his excuses Thirdly their owne consciences apprehend euery action and word and intent of the heart and the mouer of their whole life and they will not bee illuded by the fraud of the lips but take occasion thereby to passe a more heauie sentence vpon them Fourthly it is a sinne of it selfe to bee giuen to ouer much talke as hauing selfe liking and rashnesse for the rootes thereof and therefore it cannot possibly be a medecine to cure other sinnes Instruction to leaue off speaking to men for the mitigation Vse 1 of our transgressions and to speake to our owne hearts for iudging and aggrauation of them to the Lord by acknowledgement that we may be pardoned Prou. 28. 13. Consolation to them that humbly yeeld to a rebuke without replies that their state is good though their actions were bad they are wise now in restrayning their lippes from speaking of sinne though they were foolish before to commit it The tongue of the iust man is as fined siluer but the heart Verse 20 of the wicked is little worth Hee setteth foorth the excellencie of the speech of Godly men by comparison resembling it to siluer that is purged and fined from the drosse that was in it Because a good man will be carefull of his tongue not onely that there bee no mixture of filthines and lewdenesse in his words but also to auoyde all superstuous and idle babling and so to open his mouth with holy wisedome Which is contrary in the wicked because there is a contrary fountaine in him of sinfulnesse and corruption and no matter of vertue and grace which are the springs of all wholesome speeches Thus therefore standeth the Antithesis the tongue of the iust man is as fined siluer because his hurt is precious but the tongue of the wicked is as drosse because his heart is nothing worth The tongue of the iust man c. The best wealth of a Christian Doct. 1 is laid vp in his heart and disbursed with his lips And Good mens wealth is in their hart and is vttered with the lippes Math. 12. 25. that is the meaning of our Sauiour when he saith that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth foorth good things An euill man may haue coyne and plate and iuels in his treasury and yet haue no treasure and may draw money out of his purse yet haue no good yet haue no good therewithall but to haue grace in the soule and to vtter gracious words with the tongue is proper to a good man and the exercise good and the fruite of it good to himselfe and others And albeit here seeme to be a comparison of equall as though the tongue were iust of the same value and worth that fined siluer is yet it is to be vnderstoode that at least it is so pure and precious but in deede far beyond it in excellencie First this is one of the good and perfect giftes which is from Reasons 1 aboue and commeth downe from the father of lights whereas Iames. 1. 17. siluer is a tertestiall matter euen earth it selfe digged out of the earth and neuer did but grow in the ground Secondly this is currant in heauen and acceptable to God himselfe with whom gold and siluer are of small estimation Thirdly such things are obtained by it which no money can purchase as wisedome and grace and the assurance of Gods eternall fauour and all good things that concerne both Prou. 2. 3. 5. soule and body Ezekias and Iehosophat with other good kings could not haue preserued
the truth of God and take it for a glory to giue it a foyle But howsoeuer their prompt wits ready tongues together with art and Sathans assistance may sometimes perplexe and trouble a poore Christian yet shall they nothing preuaile against Christ and his veritie nor gaine any thing at his hands but shame and punishment It were safer for them to incounter with tenne Sampsons then to try their manhoode with one point or article of Gods holy doctrine But their case is worst of all which obstinately peruersely and of wilfull malice doe reiect all that is taught them out of the word It is in vaine to admonish them as the Prophet saith Hos 4. 4. Thy people are as they that rebuke the Priest that is presumptuous persons sinning with an high hand in refusing to heare or be directed by the Priest then of the law Deut. 17. 12. or to giue eare to the ministers of the Gospel now but contentiously disobey the truth and so bring vpon their owne soules indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 9. Hee that walketh vprightly walketh bouldly but hee that Verse 9 peruerteth his waies shall be knowne He that walketh vprightly that is doth carefully looke to his waies with an honest heart walketh surely hauing both the affection and ground and effects of Christian bouldnesse but hee that peruerteth his waies that is doth allow himselfe in any course though neuer so secretly shall be knowne his sinnes shall be detected The sence of the whole verse may be thus expressed Hee that walketh vprightly walketh surely because his faithfulnesse shall bee knowen to his praise And hee that peruerteth his waies walketh dangerously beecause his lewdenesse shall bee knowne to his shame All sound safetie and boldnesse proceedeth from sinceritie Doct. of heart and integritie of life liuery religious man that feareth He liues safely that liues sincerely the Lord hath this promise Psal 112. 7. 8. That no euill tidings shall make him afraid because he beleeueth in the Lord if all the world would tell him of perill when God himselfe doth warrant him safetie he will giue most credit to him that hath most truth and most power also to dispose of all euents And his heart is not as a pole that is pitched vp or a stake that is sticked vp which euery hand may plucke away or euery blast of winde may blow downe nor like a dry wall without a quoine or buttresse or any other binding to fortifie it but it is fixed and established as a tree that is well rooted groweth strongly or a building that hath a sure foundation and standeth fast and so is freed from feare and all slauish terrour First his heart hath Gods owne eye to behold it and his spirit Reasons 1 to testifie the faithfulnesse of it and so receiueth comfort from him Iob. 31. 31. whereas the hearts of hypocrites beeing searched by him are found most fraudulent and deceitfull Secondly the course of their actions is such as will indure light and the more they are examined the better they will prooue and therefore they need not feare any might or malice or cunning aduersaries that shal seeke their disgrace Isa 50. 7. 8. And though their enemies for a time doe falsely slander them yet the Lord in due season will make their righteousnesse as cleare as the noone day Psal 37. 6. Thirdly their bodies and state are in Gods custodie and he hath vndertaken the defence and preseruation of them Cap. 3. 26. Psal 91. whereas the wicked are out of Gods protection and goe perpetually in perill Fourthly their soules are prepared for death and the iudgement seate of Christ and therefore more desire to bee dissolued then are afraid to heare of the neerenesse of their dissolution which is contrary in the wicked who all their dayes are in bondage to the feare of death and damnation Heb. 2. 15. Instruction to get apparant and euident testimonies of Vse 1 vprightnesse which will make our liues comfortable keep off many miserable vexations and horrors that come vpon the wicked And this wee shall doe if wee labour to know all that God would haue vs to learne to indeuor to practise all that wee know and to confesse to God all that we faile to practise for so farre as wee are willingly ignorant of any dutie or carelesse to performe it or secure when we neglect it conceale Psal 32. 2. 3. our sinnes not acknowledging them that the Lord may remit them so far wee come short of a good conscience Consolation for all that be vpright that whether they walk abroad or stay at home whether they be in company with others or alone by themselues whether it be in the day or in the night whether they bee walking or sleeping they are well assured of certaine safetie Terrour for sinfull men whose consciences be at all times readie to assaile them Naturall courage will not help them in the time of extremitie how many seeming very valient as Saul for example haue through desperate feare laide violent hands vpon their owne bodies And let power and courage concur to gether yet both wil be insufficient to strengthen a heart that Gods iudgement and their owne guiltinesse doe weaken As Balshazzar being bold to defie Cyrus and to bid battell to the Lord himselfe profaning his holy vessells in despight of him yet now in the middest of iolitie amongst his friends in his owne house in a strong cittie garded with an hoast of armed souldiers hee was so frighted and terrified that his countenance was changed his heart was resolued into dastardlinesse the ioyntes of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against an other And what was it that so danted him the sight of an hand writing vpon the wall There were neither more enemies nor fewer friends nor any other alteration then beefore but God wakened his conscience and his conscience shewed him his guiltinesse and altogether threatned his destruction and heereby his great courage was so quickly killed And this also may serue to take away the vaine confidence of foolish men that be bold to commit iniquitie yet looke to escape the reproach of it hoping neuer to be found out But they forget that the Apostle saith that mens sinnes come to light in diuers maners some presently vpon the fact some long after some in their life time some after they be dead some reserued to the last day but so that all shall certainely be manifested one day Caine had as faire possibilitie 1. Tim. 5. 24. 25 and likelihood to couer his crueltie as euer any sinner had or possibly can haue to conceale his offences no man but himselfe knowing of it no circumstances beeing to sift it out by if hee would keepe his owne counsell and yet what fact almost is more notoriously knowen and published and that with detestation then his murdering of Abel And it is not to be imputed to his owne sillinesse or
sinnes and was the best instrument of his clearing by his free faithfull discouerie of them Fourthly Ia 5. 20. if it belong not to our place to giue them admonition or they receiue it not at our hands then let vs shew their diseases to more skilfull Phisitions and their wounds to better surgeons as Ioseph told his father of his brethrens infamie Gen. 37. 2. Gen 37. 2. 1. Cor. 1. 11. and the house of Cloe shewed Paul of the dissentions 1. Cor. 1. 11 of the Corinthians Reproofe of them that take it for their owne honour to bring others vnto disgrace they thinke that the blackenesse of their brethren will make them white when they haue no goodnesse in themselues to helpe their credit they goe about to dig it out of the dunghill of their neighbours corruptions Consolation to the seruants of God that if the weake loue of creatures that haue in them so great defect of loue and pronenesse to hatred be of such force as to hide their sinnes which be further from them how much more shall the infinite loue of God couer all their sinnes that are so neare vnto him No man in his best loue to his best friend can either forgiue sinne or worke repentance that sinne may bee foregiuen But God can performe both and hath bestowed vpon vs his Son and his Sonne hath bestowed vpon vs his life and bloud to effect both In the lips of him that hath vnderstanding wisedome is Verse 13 found but a rod shall be for the backe of him that is destitute of vnderstanding These words neede no further explanation then the supply of that which is to bee vnderstoode in both the clauses For this seemeth to be the sence of them In the lips or speech of him that hath vnderstanding wisedome is found which keepeth iudgements and punishments from him but in the lips of him that wanteth vnderstaÌ„ding folly is found which bringeth iudgements and punishment vpon him The first hemistich or former part of the verse is the same simply set downe and without allegory or metaphore as was comparatiuely vttered in the eleuenth verse by the similitude of a well spring The latter part is the same in sence that was in the eight and tenth verses for there it is said that the foolish in talk shal be beaten Wise men lay vp knowledge but the mouth of the foole is Verse 14 a present destruction Heere is declared by what meanes wise men attaine to that abilitie and sufficiencie of fruitfull speeches by due attention to that which is spoken to them or which they read or by diligent obseruation of things which they behold Those they lay vp as a man would his treasure in a safe place As therefore a prouident thriftie husband which hath gathered together a stocke will bee ready vpon short warning to make a purchase or vpon any good occasion to disburse a summe of money so he that is faithfull in seeking knowledge and applyeth both heart and memory to hold it fast and keepe it shall readilie in conuenient time draw out the good things which he hath learned either for his owne vse or the benefite and profit of others Which is contrary in carelesse and heedlesse persons for they will be as forward to speake as any others but that which is within the heart will quickly bee at hand to come out at the lips and that is poyson and venome and pestilent matter which will certainely hurt themselues and be dangerous to others So then thus standeth the opposition wise men lay vp knowledge and therfore their mouthes are a present preseruation but foolish men reiect knowledge and therefore their mouthes are a present destruction Wise men c. It is not inough to bring the eare to heare holy Doct. 1 instructions but the heart must also receiue and keepe them What good the â—â—â—e layeth in that the heart must lay vp The necessitie of this duetie appeareth by the serious exhortation which he giueth to that purpose in the beginning of the seuenth Chapter My Sonne keepe my wordes and hide my commandements with thee keepe my commandements and thou shalt liue and mine instruction as the apple of thine eyes Hee giueth this counsell as a friend to a neare friend as a father to his owne sonne for the matter of it is not of small importance but of the greatest weight and moment it behooueth men not onely to lay sure hold of holy doctrines in regard of state but of their very liues And therefore not to looke to the safe keeping thereof as we are chary of our money but to be as prouident that we be not spoyled of them as we are watchfull to preserue the members yea the dearest members of our bodies from violence First the excellencie of wisedome and sauing knowledge Reasons 1 may allure vs vnto it for it is more precious and profitable then all earthly treasures which earthly minded men hord vp so carefully Chap. 3. 14. 15. Secondly it concerneth our saluation and euerlasting happinesse faithfully to retaine the holy word of God in our soules Heb. 2. 1. 3. Thirdly the store of grace that is congested doth minister matter and oportunitie and readinesse of good and wholesome speeches to the lips Psal 49. 3. 4. Fourthly by this meanes men are in their whole liues both framed to be good and declared to bee good and deliuered from all sinfull courses that they may continue to bee good Psal 119. 11. Prou. 2. 10. 11. And in this point the good ground in the Gospell hath the preheminence aboue all the others it receiueth the word and giueth entertainement vnto it by attention and so it goeth beyond the high way Secondly it hath a roote in it selfe whereby it maketh a bold profession in the time of persecution and so it goeth beyond the stony ground Thirdly it keepeth a constant course of obedience and bringeth the fruit of the seede to ripnesse and so it goeth beyond the thornie ground Reproofe of them which through the greedy desires of Vse 1 corruptible and casuall treasures are wholy with-held from seeking this one thing onely necessary A great crop of wheat is offered vnto them which they refuse and sill their barnes and garners with chaffe and stubble They may loade themselues and fill their houses with siluer and gold with pearles and diamonds and all kinde of precious stones and they take their backe burthen and pester their houses with old rustie iron and drosse and pebbles and other things that be heauy and combersome but of no value They haue libertie and oportunitie they haue perswasion and incouragement to gather together and store vp abundance of durable riches which can neuer perish nor be taken from them and they take paines to heape vp snow and such like matter that will melt away and vanish in a moment Terrour to them that suffer Sathan to rob them of all good lessons and instructions and yet thinke that no hurt
at all is done to them If their houses had beene broken vp by men and their money taken out of their chests their neighbours should heare their clamours and the whole countrie should heare their outcries but let the diuell himselfe bereaue them of that portion which should not haue beene onely for liuing but life not for this present state but their euerlasting state in this case they be quiet no wrong is offred to them they haue sustained no manner of losse It is set downe as a iudgement and curse by the Prophet that men shall put their money into a broken bagge and what a fearefull case stand they in then Hag. 16 that put the sacred instructions of the blessed word of God into a bottomlesse heart that can hold nothing but that which will peruert and hurt them The Apostle giueth an earnest caueat to the Hebrewes admonishing them strictly to giue Heb. 2. 1. heed to the things which they heard least they should let them slippe and as the word signifieth should leake or runne out For it were better to haue wounds in our bodies that all our bloud should gush out then to be rifted vessels hauing chinkes in our soules that the doctrine of life should soake away and oaze out from vs. Consolation to them that haue couetous desires after spirituall dishes that would suffer nothing that wayes to passe from them but inlarge their affections vnsatiably to gather all It is no point of folly as it was in the rich man Luke 12 to multiply worldly wealth but these haue the Lord to commend their wisedome and it may as truly be affirmed of them as of such as be mercifull because they bee the same persons though the respects differ that they lay vp store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life But the mouth of the wicked c. The tongues of vngodly Doct. 2 men are alwaies pernitious and hurtfull Of them Saint Iames An ill mans mouth worketh much woe speaketh largely comparing them to fire breaking out in an house or whole towne especially when it commeth by the hostilitie of the enemie making assault to it by meanes whereof men are stayed from extinguishing of it and haue not onely their goods but their life also in great perill And this flame of the tongue is so much more dangerous then materiall fire because it is kindled of hell that is the diuell himselfe hath set Zac. 3. 5. 7. it on worke And so in the same place he resembleth them to poyson and that not of the common sort but to strong poyson which is deadly and faileth not to worke the bane of them that drinke it First they are hurtfull and bring great annoyance and mischiefe Reasons 1 to other men and therfore in the Scriptures are called swords and arrowes and rasors and mortall weapons Ier. 9. 8. Psal 52. 2. And yet such similitudes are not able fully to expresse and set out the euill that commeth by venemous mouthes and virulent speeches First the tongue most commonly causeth weapons to bee drawen all warres all rebellions all massacres all quarrels all manner of strifes are first breathed out of mens mouthes on some part Secondly the hand may be held that handleth the weapon the strokes may be warded armour may preserue from the violence of them or there may be refuge and couert to hide them that are pursued but who can stay an vnruly tongue What defence is against it whither shall a man fly from a false accuser what distance of place will preuent malicious calumniations Thirdly they which fall into the hands of most fierce and cruell enemies which are pearced and wounded with keenest and sharpest edge tooles haue all the hurt vpon their bodies the extreamitie of it reacheth but to take away their naturall life but a slanderous tongue doth smite at the name which an ingenious man would forgoe his breath to preserue and a pestiferous seducing tongue doth peruert the soule and by the poyson thereof are many thousands brought to euerlasting perdition Secondly they bring destruction vpon themselues and draw mischiefe vpon their owne heads as the Scripture testifieth The words of a wise man haue grace but the lips of a foole deuoure â—ccl 10. 12. 13. himselfe The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madnesse The truth of this shall be spoken of more at large in the eightenth Chapter and seauenth verse vpon these words A fooles mouth is his owne destruction and his lippes are a snare for his soule Instruction to be very well aduised in all our speeches sithens Vse 1 they are so important and weightie Who would not heedefully foresee where his arrow shall hit before he shoote it out of his bow least it should destroy any person or other creature through negligence who would not be very circumspect and wary in discharging of a peece least hee should doe mischiefe by it And yet by these a man may affray and not hurt and hurt and not kill and kill and not dye himselfe but what arrow what shotte what artillery what murdering peece is to bee compared to the mouth of a man that is not guided by a wise and watchfull foresight Great woe it worketh to other men but it surely bringeth death it selfe vnto himselfe euery word that breaketh an other mans skinne doth certainely breake the kall of his owne heart and he that doth aime at an other to giue him a wound can not misse himselfe to violate his owne life For so wee learne in this booke Hee Prou. 13 3. that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth his lips destruction shall bee to him It concerneth therefore euery man to be as prouident yea more carefull to looke to that which goeth out of his lips then to that which commeth in to bee more affraid to vtter blasphemous reuiling slaunderous and infectious speeches in regard of the soule then to eate and deuour vnwholesome meates in regard of the body And by this we are admonished to commit our mouthes to a better keeper then our owne wit or reason or ciuill disposition least lust and Sathan doe ouer rule vs to let in what they will and to let out sinfull words when and whither and as oft as they will And this mooued the Prophet to pray to the Lord to set a watch before his mouth and to keepe the doore of his lips Confutation of them that thinke it nothing dangerous to speake whatsoeuer words they say are but winde when a man hath spoken he hath done and so there is an end of that matter Nay when a sinfull man hath spoken sinfully much hurt is done and so there is but the beginning of a bad matter for all the mischiefe followeth after So it may be said of a cup of poyson it is but a draught and when a man hath swallowed
creatures like brute beasts led altogether by sensualitie Fiftly and lastly the one sort haue laid vp a treasure in heauen and shall haue the full fruition of it with greatest glory at the appearance of our Lord Iesus Christ and the other haue treasured vp wrath against the day of wrath when all their violence and crueltie shall be made manifest and punished and all their neglect of mercie and compassion shall bee published to their shame and confusion before the whole world Instruction to euery man that he doe not onely suruey his Vse 1 state to see what he hath but especially to know what hee is let him not so much regard the value and quantitie of his possessions as the faithfull and fruitfull imployment of them If the happinesse of Iob had consisted in hauing much hee could not but haue felt much miserie when so much wealth was consumed to nothing but now hee could recount with comfort how wealthie and mightie he had formerly beene because he could truely relate also how righteous and mercifull hee had beene Hee that regardeth instruction is in the way of life but Verse 17 hee that refuseth correction goeth out of the way Hee that regardeth instruction That is which yeeldeth reuerence attention and obedience to the ministery of Gods holy word is in the way of life hee taketh the right course to obtaine euerlasting saluation but hee that refuseth correction which will not indure to heare his sinnes rebuked goeth out of the way both depriueth himselfe of eternall life and walketh towards destruction The doctrine of this is fit to bee handled in the first Chapter where it is more largely set downe by the holy Ghost Hee that hideth hatred is a man of deceitfull lippes and Verse 18 hee that vttereth slander is a foole Hauing in the former words declared the perill of them that refuse admonition hee describeth heere the persons that vse to doe it and they are of two sorts some are hipocrites that pretend and make a shew of fauour and good liking and yet nourish deadly hatred in their hearts others are professed contemners of that which is taught but yet picking a quarrell against the man that deliuereth it as though the fault were wholy in him and iust occasion were giuen to reiect all that hee teacheth But the Lord which knoweth the ground and roote of their calumniations and cauils imputeth them to their proper cause and that is the sinfulnesse and folly of those malicious despisers The Lord hath hipocriticall dissemblers in detestation The Doct. 1 Prophet Dauid maketh mention of such Psal 28. 3. 4. Draw A plaine heart pleaseth God mee not away with the workers of iniquitie which speake friendly to their neighbours when mallice is in their hearts Reward them according to their deedes and according to the wickednesse of their inuentions His earnest prayer to God is to escape their hands for they were very subtile and readie to take him and verie cruell and violent if he should come into their clouches Their trade and occupation was to worke iniquitie and therefore also their wages and hire shall bee destruction By all which circumstances it manifestly appeareth that there is enmitie beweene God and them First they are exceeding dangerous because they treacherouslie Reasons 1 in trap them that trust them They know their counsels and purposes and haue all meanes of aduantage against them whereas they would take heede of a professed aduersarie and keepe them out of his company and hide themselues from him And that made Dauid to cry out vpon the execrable fact of Achitophell in conspiring against him Psal 55. 12. And so doth hee finde himselfe much grieued with them that had smooth tongues as soft as oyle and butter and yet were as sharpe and hurtfull as any swords Secondly the iudgements of God will declare his hatred against such perfidious Iudases not onely in executing other punishments vpon them but euen in bringing to light the falsehood and hidden malice of their wretehed hearts As it is said that hatred may be couered by deceit but the malice thereof shall bee discouered in the congregation Prou. 26. 26. Though Saul made a faire shew to Dauid cloking his secret mischieuous purpose to haue him killed by giuing his daughter to bee his wife yet now it is notisied and made knowen to all nations 2. Sam 18. 17. and posterities Instruction first to auoide this cursed sin that bringeth the Vse curse of God vpon the sinners Let vs learne to bee plaine hearted towards our brethren â—nd if ought bee amisse in them let our lippes faithfully admonish them in loue and not flatter them in hatred It may bee a courtly tricke to dissemble but not an honest part to practise it it may bee agreeable to carnall pollicie but it is altogether contrarie to Christian wisedome Secondlie to bee wary how wee conuerse with such cunning dissemblers and if wee cannot auoide their companie yet suffer not our selues to bee deceiued by them It is not want of Charitie not to giue credite vnto them but an holy discreation which the holy Ghost himselfe perswadeth vs to Hee that bateth will counterfait with his lippes but in heart hee layeth vp deceit Though hee speake fauourably beeleeue him not for there are seauen abhominations in his heart Prou. 26. 24. 25. And he that vttereth slander c. It is a note of a sinfull foole Doct. 2 to haue a bitter rayling and slanderous tongue Our Sauiour Raylers are fooles reckoneth this amongst many other foule sinnes proceeding from a corrupt heart whereby wicked men are defiled Out of the heart saith he come euill thoughts murthers adulteries fornications theftes false testimonies and slanders Mat. 15. 19. First they grieuously wrong the partie whose name they Reasons 1 traduce for if a mans estimation be of greater value then gold or siluer Prou. 22. 1. then a greater iniurie is offred by them which depraue him in that then by those that shall robbe him of his goods and spoyle him in his estate Nay many times the violence that is offered to ones person is lesse hurtfull then to bee reproched in his name and therefore they that shew that indignitie are compared to hammers and swordes and sharp arrowes Prou. 15. 18. Secondly they take the way to poyson the hearts of all that shall heare their obloquy to alienate them from all good instructions when they shall raise vp rumors and false reports of scandulous behauiour against the ministers of the word and by this meanes they worke a publick mischiefe to keepe many from euerlasting saluation Thirdly they are most iniurious to their owne soules excluding themselues from the priuiledge of gods people in this life the blessed state of glory in the life to come Psal 15. 3. Instruction if we desire the credit of wisedome let vs vse better meanes to obtaine it then obtrectations and artificiall Vse 1 disgracings of our brethren for that commeth not from
hundred and ninetenth Psalme where in many places he professeth his singular comfort and delight that he conceiueth in the heauenly word of God as when hee saith how sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then hony vnto my mouth And they are the ioy of mine heart Psal 119. 103. 111. First this contrarietie ariseth from the contrary causes of Reasons 1 these contrarie likings All wicked men doe loue sinne and it is as deare vnto them as the members of their owne bodies And all godly men doe loue righteousnesse and rather desire to be deliuered from life then separated from grace and the seruices of God Now it is a perpetuall rule which neuer faileth that whatsoeuer any man loueth most that hee will alwaies most delight in Secondly wicked men are fleshly and therefore liue after the flesh and sauour of the things of the flesh and delight in the workes of the flesh And godly men are led by the spirit and sauour of the things of the spirit and reioyce in the fruites of the spirit Secondly it is seene in the contrary effects of both sides First wicked men runne violently to sinne and will not desist from their diuellish purposes before they haue effected them though godly men through naturall corruptions and temptations haue sometimes a pronenesse and inclination to euill yet they may be easilâ— retracted by counsell and admonition as Dauid was from sâ—â—â—ing of Nabal but they constantly proceede to the perforâ—â—â—â—e of euery good dutie Secondly wicked men doe mediâ—â—â—e in â—â—e night and indeauour in the day to fulfill their sinfull desir◠〈◊〉 Micah 2. 1. Godly men doe meditate in the night and indeauour in the day to know and obey the holy will of the Lord Isa 26. 9. Thirdly when wicked men haue accomplished â—â—eir sinfull desires they surfait with gladnesse when they aâ—â—â—â—sapointed they are filled with bitter vexation Prou. 4. 16. 〈◊〉 godly men haue committed sinne it bringeth anguish 〈◊〉 their hearts when they haue performed any Christian seruice it is a comfortable refreshing to their soules Fourthly the custome of sinning is so sweete to the wicked that they will not forsake it but take them for Iob. 20. 12. their enemies that shall disswade them from it the yoke of sinne is heauie to the Godly that they still striue to be disburthened of it and the yoke of Iesus so easie that they willingly yeeld themselues to it and account them their best friends that shall help them against the one and further them to the other Confutation of therronious opinion of those that allowing Vse 1 themselues in the pursuite of all sinfull pleasures and profits euen seruing their lusts with delight and working vncleannesse with greedinesse doe yet vndertake for the safetie of their owne soules and challenge the name and prerogatiue of righteous men Consolation to them that are wearied with the rebellious motions of the flesh that are not able vtterly to subdue the remnants of sinne and their owne naturall disposition but that sometimes their pride giueth them a wound sometimes their rage breaketh out sodainly striketh them so that the prints of the strokes are seene and the scarres which remaine after them sometimes couetousnesse presseth so hard vpon them that it maketh them to giue ground yea it taketh and imprisoneth them yet if they hate these corruptions the more because they haue ben hurt by them if they labour for libertie and groane for deliuerance out of their captiuitie they are still reputed wise and the faithfull souldiers seruants of Christ That which the wicked feareth shall come vpon him Verse 24 but God will graunt the desire of the righteous The condemnation in the world to come which vngodly men through the guiltinesse of their consciences are often summoned vnto when God shall draw their soule out of their body they shall certainely fall into And those iudgements and miseries of this life which they most hate though they hope to escape them they are in danger to bring vpon themselues And that which is most desirable and will be most comfortable to Christians the Lord which knoweth what is most acceptable to them and profitable for them will in due season bestow vpon them That which the wicked feareth c. Whatsoeuer is most contrary Doct. 1 to the affection and liking of sinfull persons that they That which ill men most fear shall surely befall them may expect to be plagued withall This the Lord threatened to the rebellious and obstinate Iewes by the Prophet Ezekiell I will take from them their power the ioy of their honor the pleasure of their eyes and the desire of their heart their sennes and their daughters Ezek. 24. 25. The things which they are altogether vnwilling to depart with those would hee strip them of and consequently that which they would bee very loath to beare should heauily bee laid vpon them First ordinarily they feare that which is the most proportionable Reason 1 proper punishment of their offences As proud men haue nothing in so great detestation as reproach contempt and nothing is so much due vnto them as to bee contemned Secondly their feare and dread of falling into those cuils doth cause them to seeke the preuention of them by cuill meanes and thereby they take the way to inforce the speedie execution of them As they that would flie farre from necessitie and want by hasty getting of riches and substance doe very often prouoke pouertie to come swiftly with violence vpon them Prou. 28. 22. Thirdly the Lord doth make choise of and singleth out such manner of iudgements as shall most sting them come nearest to their hearts and those are they which are most terrible to them What could haue beene so grieuous to Haman Ioel. 5. Isa 3. 16. 17. c as first to bee made Mordecayes page and then afterwards to bee hanged vpon the gallowes then which nothing could bee inuented more horrible to him and therefore hee had prouided it for Mordecay whom hee most mortally hated Instruction first to fence our selues against the imitation Vse of the wicked and desire of their state by considering how wretched and miserable their condition is Euen presently they are arrested and after a sort apprehended with feares hell and destruction doe sometimes shew themselues vnto their soules and in time to come vnlesse they repent they shall haue full possession of them Secondly to free our selues from all our feares by flying to the Lord for succour against the mischiefes which we would not fall into for repentance humiliation against the sins that wold draw them vpon our heads But God will graunt c. The best way to haue our wills Doct. 2 satisfied is to bee Godly For to such there is a promise made Good mens desires shal be graunted that God will fulfill the desires of them that feare him Wherin yet these rules are to bee obserued First that our will bee
be sharp and soure doe set the teeth an edge and smoake We must bee carefull whoâ— we imploy in our affaires doth bring both smart and hurt to the eyes so doth the slothfull person or he that is giuen to any other lewd behauiour doth worke vexation of heart to them that send him or commit matter of moment vnto him He that imployeth in any seruice vnworthie and carelesse persons shall bring sorrow and molestation vpon himselfe There is another prouerbe which tendeth to the same purpose though the similitude be different As though he should cut off his messengers feete so hee drinketh violence or hurt that sendeth a message by a foole Prou. 26. 6. He doth as much iniurie to himselfe as if he should maime his messenger of his feete or make him lame of his legs for as the one in that case should not be able to dispatch his iourney so neither can the other well performe the things that are committed to his care and wisedome It is a speech that is ordinarie in vse that hee must neuer looke to speede well that sendeth a foole on his errand First there is perill of falsehood and treachery or of much Reasons 1 remissenesse and negligence or want of discreation and skilfulnesse by all which there groweth hurt or losse or trouble to him that put him in trust with his affaires as Mephibosheth and Benhadad found by the seruices of Ziba and Hazaell The curse of God doth vsually accompany the actions and waies of cursed sinners and therefore they that aduenture to entertaine them haue many times a part of the punishment with them Thirdly all the faults and absurdities in word or worke of foolish and sinfull seruants are imputed to the reproch of their maisters that imploy them and so the sorrow is caused by shame and infamie Fourthly the contrary will cleare the truth of this point For if good seruants and faithfull messengers be for the comfort and credit the safetie profit of such as do vse them then they that are altogether of an other manner of affection and disposition cannot but worke an other manner of effects and consequents Admonition to bee very heedefull to auoide that noisome Vse 1 sinne of slothfulnesse which bringeth so many michiefes with it both to our selues for soule and body and state and name and to others also and those especially whom in speciall manner we owe dutie vnto Secondly to make a wise choise prouidently of such as wee haue occasion to vse in any businesse that their industry and diligence their prudencie and discreation their faithfulnesse and sound dealing may bee a refreshing and not a torment to vs. Prou. 25. 13. 3. If wee haue obtained such as bee not as smoake to offend our eyes but our eyes may behold them and their good behauiour with delight let vs not bee vineger to their teeth or smoake to their eyes let not our sourenesse and discontentment our niggardlinesse and ouermuch sparing be any meanes of their discouragement Deale kindely with them and bee liberall to them that thou maist not onely retaine them still to be thy seruants but giue all good furtherance to the continuance of their vprightnesse The feare of the Lord increaseth the daies but the yeares Verse 27 of the wicked are cut short The feare of the Lord c. That is true pietie and religion with the exercise also of iustice and righteousnesse increaseth the dayes That is as a meanes it preserueth those that are indued with it from an vntimely death but the yeares of the wicked shall bee cut off Their vngodly and sinfull course of life is sometimes an instrument to bring them speedily to their end as by surfets and euill diseases or falling into the hands of the magistrate or by quarreling and such like Sometimes it prouoketh the Lord to stay them in the middest of their race and not to suffer them to come to that age which by their strength and constitution of body they might haue attained vnto And in this sence the Prophet saith in the Psalmes that the wicked Psal 55. 23. shall not liue out halfe their dayes This doctrine of this verse hath beene handled already in the eleauenth verse of the former Chapter The patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse Verse 28 but the hope of the wicked shall perish After that the children of God haue once imbraced his promises afflictions and temptations doe vsually ensue thereupon that it would seeme to sence and fleshly reason that misery and troubles were the onely rewards of pietie and obedience and nothing else performed to them that trust in his word Now therefore he sheweth that a better state and condicion remaineth for them that their sorrow shal be turned into ioy their mourning into gladnes when the Lord shall deliuer them from troubles and fulfill all his promises Which is illustrated and further amplified by the contrary case of the wicked which howsoeuer now they seeme to haue the preheminence and are most likely to preuaile heereafter shall yet be depriued of their present prosperitie frustrated of all future expectation This then is the opposition The hope of the righteous shall preuaile and bring them gladnesse but the hope of the wicked shall perish and so worke them sorrow The patient abiding c. They which depend on God in their Doct. afflictions shall in due season be deliuered from them Vpon They that in affliction wait on God shall timely finde ease this ground an exhortation is raysed in an other place of this booke Let thy heart be in the feare of the Lord continually For surely there is an end and thy hope shall not be cut off Prou. 23. 17. 18. Though troubles and sorrowes are in appearance perpetâ—ll endlesse yet they are but temporarie and come quickly to an end though hope possibilitie of help seeme readie continually to vanish away yet it neuer ceaseth nor is taken away First there is nothing in all the world that is more infalliblie Reasons 1 assured of certaine successe then the hope of christians It neuer misseth of that which it aymeth at nor any time disapointeth them that possesse it Rom. 5. 5. For faith doth support it the truth and fidelitie of God himselfe is the foundation of it Secondly that which is long delayed and much waited for is the more welcome and acceptable when it is performed so sayth the holy Ghost The hope that is deferred is the Prou. 13. 12. fainting of the hart but when the desire commeth it is a tree of life The vertue of it cureth al the former faintings the delightfull tast doth swallow vp all the sorrowes If Isaacke had beene borne to Abraham or Iacob to Isaacke the first yeere after they were married their ioy would haue beene but ordinarie wheras the long barrennesse made their birthes exceeding comfortable to them as the benefits were memorable to posteritie Thirdly the delay doth draw