Lord loueth well and taketh delight in and without this all that wee doe is loathsome and abhominable This honest and good heart our Sauiour CHRIST commendeth in Nathanael Iohn 1.47 Behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile This true Israelite this vpright heart the Lord loueth it Luke 8.15 and the Lord delighteth in it And the good ground are those which with an honest and good hart heare the word and bring foorth fruit with patience Vse 1 This serueth to cut the combe of all hypocrites and dissemblers who thinke God wil be pleased with outward shewes and colours although they be rotten at the kore like Apples of Sodome the Lord sheweth his dislike of these naughty and dissembling heartes Esay 19 13 This people come neare mee with their lippeâ— and honour me with their mouthes but their hearts are farre from me So the Lord telleth the Iewes Iere. 42.20 They did but dissemble with him in their hearts when you sent mee vnto the Lord to pray for you and that you would doe his will and hit word but now you will doe nothing but the cleane contrary euen after your owne lusts And amongst vs in these dayes there are many hypocrites and dissemblers painted toombs gay without making faire shewes and goodly colours but their hearts are rotten at the kore they are but counterfeit Christians and GOD abhorreth them and hath no liking of them for as hee loueth trueth and soundnesse of the heart so hee hateth and abhorreth all hypocrisie Let all such looke vpon the fearefull hand of God on Ananias and Saphyra Actes 5. who because they would seeme to be religious and somewhat forward to sell their land and giue to the poore because their heart was not sound and vpright but they dissembled therefore the Lord smote them both dead And to shew how the Lord hateth al hypocrites and dissemblers CHRIST in the foure and twentiâ—h chapter of the Gospel of Saint Mathew and the one and fifty verse saith All vile sinners shall haue their portions with hypocrites because of all men hypocrites shall haue the greatest measure of torment and condemnation Vse 2 Seeing that the Lord loueth and delighteth in trueth and sinceritie of the minde and affection let vs be carefull all our dayes to get a sound and vpright heart voyde of all hypocrisie and dissimulation so as iâ— all things wee finde our heart sound and sincere in all the dueties of thâ— worship of God in speaking hearing praying yea in all things Now this vprightnes and soundnes of thâ— heart will appeare as by many other things so by this when a man iâ— carefull to please God and to shunne sinne in priuate as in publique in secret as abroad and making conscience of sinne although no man nor Angell could accuse him of it then is it a signe his heart is sound and vpright But if thou finde that in secret thou daiest commit those sins which thou wouldest bee loath to commit abroad in the sight view of others it is a signe thy heart is not vpright with God Oh then let vs labour to get this honest and good heart this soundnes and sinceritie of our affections this truth in the inward affections Actes 15.9 which will bring peace vnto our soules and make all we doe acceptable when our heart is purified by faith When the Lord describes a blessed man he shewes who it is Euen in whose spirit there is no guile Psal 32.2 And whatsoeuer a man doth though neuer so excellent and glorious in the eyes of man though a man could â—peake with the tongue of Men and Angells could pray neuer so excellent for wordes or matter yet if the heart be not sound but hollow and full of hypocrisie all is not worth a button whereas if the heart be sincere and sound purified by faith in CHRIST though men haue many wants and weakenesses the Lord GOD regardeth the truth of the heart Doctr. 3 Last of all A sanctified sanctified heart the greatest blessing of god obserue hence what a singular fauour and grace of GOD it is when we haue sound and sanctified hearts sincere and vpright with God voyde of hypocrisie and dissimulation It is that the Lord so highly esteemes of that hee wisheth most earnestly for it Deuteronomy 5.29 O that there were this heart in them And the Prophet Dauid saith heere that the Lord doth loue Truth in the inward affection And againe Prouer. 11.20 They that be of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord but they that bee vpright in heart are his delight This vpright heart is in none but those that be truely regenerate which haue truely repented of their sinnes and beleeue in Christ Iesus Acts 15.9 Because faith alone doth purifie the heart and therefore those that doe not beleeue and repent can not haue this pure heart And it is such an heart as hath no purpose to liue in any knowne sin whatsoeuer but a desire and carefull indeuour to performe obedience to euery one of the Commandements Vse Well seeing that the Lord GOD so highly commendeth an honest heart and so earnestly desireth and wisheth it Oh how should wee labour for it to haue a sound heart purified by faith in Christ Iesus to carry no purpose to sin in any thing but in all things to please him and to do his will and therefore againe and againe I say let vs locke to our harts that they be sound and that as wee professe our selues to bee Christians in shew so we may proue our selues Christians in the sight of God That he may approue of vs in that we haue sound hearts to walke with our God and purpose in all things to doe his will Iohn 1.48 It is no small commendations that Christ giues of Nathanael that hee was a true Israelite in whom was no guile And nothing indeed doth more distinguish a true Christian from a counterfeit But this trueth and sinceritie of heart Esau Genes 27. can mourne like Ezechias And Ahab can put on sackecloth 1. Reg. 21. And Saul as well as Dauid can say I haue sinned but their hearts were full of Hypocrisie farre from sinceritie before God Doctr. 4 Seeing GOD loueth trueth in the inward affections Sinne is but a lying vanitie we learne where trueth doth not raigne sinne doth raigne which is but a lying vanitie And all those that haue beene in loue with it in the end haue found the same too true Achan through hiâ— couetous desire thought to enrich himselfe by the wedge of golde Iosua 7.25 and the Babylonish garment which hee had purloyned contrary to the Commandemenr of God but it fell our to his owne destruction Ahab rose vp and tooke possession of Nabaoth Vineyard but withall 1. Reg. 21. he purchased the wrath of GOD the destruction of himselfe the ruine of his whole house The like may be said of Iudas who through his couetous desite was led
mercies for as thankefulnesse for an old is the beginning of a new so vnthankefulnesse for an old fauour is the next way to depriue vs of a new VERSE 16. 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I give it thee c. DAVID hauing professed that it was his earnest desire to honour GOD to praise him and seeke his glory confesseth that hee hath no other meanes but to speake of his mercy and to be willing to set forth the same to become a Preacher of his righteousnesse and goodnes and he confesseth to his comfort that the Lord is more delighted with this then with all those externall ceremonies and sacrifices which the people of the Iewes did offer thought by them to please God and to appease his anger and to procure pardon of their sinnes thereby So that the maine scope of these two verses is this to shew that Dauid though hee had nothing in the world to requite the Lords mercy vnto him yet he perswaded himselfe vpon his true repentance the Lord will accept of his earnest desire to honour him and to set forth his praise In this 16. verse hee shewes what are those sacrifices which the Lord cares not for and desireth not outward sacrifices alone which men offer without faith and repentance and whereby they thinke to appease his anger and merit pardon of their sinnes by the same In the 17. verse hee shewes what are the best sacrifices that wee can offer vnto God which hee will accept of for CHRISTS sake and wherewith hee is well pleased A broken and contrite heart truely wounded and humbled for sinne and which doth by faith embrace IESVS CHRIST Who alone is the propitiatory sacrifice to appease his fathers anger and to worke our attonement and reconciliation with GOD. Thou desirest no sacrifice Sacrifices of the Iewes of two sorts THe Sacrifices of the Iewes were of two sorts some propitiatory to procure fauour at GODS hands for the pardon of sinne some gratulatory which were onely for thankes-giuing for blessings receiued now of these Dauid speakes especially heere and of Sacrifices for thankes-giuing there were twosorts some were called sacrifices as the first word signifies where some beast was slaine and offered in sacrifice to God Againe some were called burnt-offerings which were all consumed and turned into ashes and they were called so because the smoke of them ascended vp to heauen and both of them were figures of Christ IESVS who should be slaine and burned as it were in the fire of GODS anger for our sinnes Quest But how can the Lord be said not to desire burnt offerings and sacrifices seeing hee commanded them in his Law Res. We may not thinke the Prophet speakes heere simply that the Lord cares not for Sacrifices for as yet the Ceremonies of the Law were in force and the greatest part of GODS worship stood in Sacrifices and Dauid himselfe and Salomon were diligent and not sparing in performing this duty But wee must know Dauid speaks heere first that the Lord careth not for sacrifices as they were done of the common people of the Iewes because that whereas the LORD did ordaine them as helps to leade them to CHRIST that they might deny themselues and see they were worthy to die when the beast was slaine so they might seeke to bee saued by the euerlasting sacrifice of CHRIST alone But they began to imagine that by their very offering of beastes in sacrifice God was pleased neuer looking to CHRIST IESVS whereof they were but types and figures Secondly because the people of the Iewes did offer them without faith and repentance with impenitent hearts Ier. 7. and thought so long as they offered sacrifices though they liued in sinne it skilled not Thirdly the Lord delights not nor is not so well pleased with this outward sacrifice as with a broken and contrite heart when that is humbled and mournes for sinne beleeues in Christ Iesus and is careful to honour God by an holy life Doctr. 1 Seeing Dauid affirmeth that GOD cares not for the outward sacrifice when the inward is wanting A mans person must first be approued before his sacrifice be accepted Ier. 24.20 Esa 29.13 Wee learne that though a man should performe all the outward seruice and worship of God and that in neuer so glorious a manner yet if the heart bee not affected and purified all is in vaine the Lord cares not for it as to Preach the word to heare it to receiue the Sacrament c. if there be not a broken heart for sinne Mat. 15. a repentant heart a sanctified heart all is but vaine The Scribes and Pharisesseemed maruelous precise in outward shew very zealous and forward yet their hearts were puffed vp with pride selfe-loue malice couetousnesse c. And therfore Christ saith Math. 15. Vnlesse your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen Iudas in outward shew Preached and Prayed as well as others yet a very deuill a most trayterous wretch full of hypocrisie couetousnesse and bloudy cruelty well wee see that though men make neuer so good and faire a shew yet if the heart be not sound all is in vaine and from the teeth outward and GOD cares not for it he esteemes as much of their Sacrifice as if they should kill a man or sacrifice a dog Esay 65.3 that is abomination to the Lord. Vse 1 This may serue to cut the combes of al those which be proud hipocrits and all they do is in outward appearance alas Their Prayers Preaching Hearing Prou. 29.9 Ps 50.16 it is but swines bloud dogs bloud a beautifull abomination and therefore let vs neuer content our selues with the outward worship and seruice of God but let vs labour to do all in truth with faith obedience repentance humiliation and good conscience Vse 2 This condemnes all the blind deuotious of ignorant and profane sinners who thinke that so long as they ofter their outward sacrifices come to Church heare the word receiue the Sacrament c. they may liue in sinne and yet please God and this was the very cause why the Lord abhor'd all the lewes sacrifices Esay 1.11.12.13 Ier. 7 8. And may not the Lord euen now abhor our sacrifices our comming to Church Heating Praying c. seeing men do content themselues with outward action and come with sinfull hearts and affections Doctr. 2 We learne hence that a man may performe duties which God hath cōmanded A man may performe a good duty and yet fin in the manner of doing it and yet not please God but sin most grieuously in doing of them to offer sacrifice it is GODS owne Commandement but when people shall do it in an euill manner either without faith and repentance or else to an euill end to merite at Gods hand then it makes that which God commands to be a sin to them not in it selfe but in them
repentance yet if wee finde that such hath beene our security and exceeding carelesnes that GOD leauing vs in his iust Iudgement wee haue sinned and laine in sinne a long time a yeare or two or ten yet if we can repent and truely turne to God as Dauid did we need not doubt but hee will shew vs mercy as to Dauid At what time soeuer The Lord limites no time if men doe repent truly yet if men shall deferre their repentance in hope of this that they may repent hereafter then let them take heede lest the Lord cut them off ere they be aware or else leaue them to hardnesse of heart and impenitency And there is a great difference betweene this when a man hath laine in sin and the time is past and when a man commits sinne and deferres in hope of time to come Vse 2 Heere we may see the difference betweene this life and the Life to come Here in this life the remnants of sinne as so many spots and staines in the flesh remaine euen in those which are cleansed by the bloud of CHRIST But when as the faithfull shall be glorified they shall then be vnblameable without spotte or wrinckle If wee shall now cast our eyes euen vpon the best of Gods seruants as Noah Abraham Lot Dauid Peter c. wee may easily see shame in glorie darkenesse in light follie in wifedome infidelitie in faith But when CHRIST shall appeare and we likewise appeare with him in glory wee shall be made like vnto him Here we cease not to prouoke God by reason of our sinnes which continually wee do fall into which should be vnto vs as bitter as gall or wormewood But when this corruptible shall haue put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortality and Death shall bee swallowed vp into victory then we shall cease to sinne and shall be as the blessed Angels in heauen Vse 3 We see that repentance is not in mans power Repentance is not in mans power but it is the speciall gift of God for if the Lord had not sent Nathan to him to awake his benummed conscience alas hee had runne on still in sinne he had laine and rotted in his sins but the Lord sends his seruant Nathan to admonish him to awake him And so the people of God acknowledge in many places of the word Conuert thou vs O Lord and we shal be conuerted Iere 31.18 2 Tim. 2. 25. Againe Instruct them with meekenes proouing if God will at any time giue them repentance that they may be saued Oh then seeing repentance is not in mans power but it is the speciall gift of God neither could Dauid turne of himselfe thogh he turned himselfe from God of himselfe What madnes then is it for men and women to deferre all till the last gaspe Saying If they may haue but three houres before death they do care for no more as though they had repeÌ„tance at command Man sins by nature â—ut caÌ„ not â—ise without grace But O thou vaine man see Dauid he fell by his owne power but could not rise by his owne power art thou better then Dauid No no vnlesse the Lord giue thee repentance thou canst neuer repent Oh then seeke at Gods hands and repent while the Lord calls and offers thee the meanes Doctr. 2 The word preached the means to beget faith and repentaÌ„ce Seeing that Dauid repented not till he was waked and rouzed vp by Nathan the Lords Prophet and Minister hence I gather that the word of God preached is the means both to beget Faith and Repentance and to increase and reuiue the same for how had Dauid gone on stil in sinne if Nathan had not humbled him by the word of God it is able to break a stony heart it is able to wound a heart of steele for what heart could be more obstinate rebellious stubborne stony and steely then was the hearts of the cruell Iewes yet by Peters Sermon Acts 2.37 they were pricked and throughly wounded and humbled Ier. 23.29 Is not the word IEHOVAH like vnto fire and like a hammer that breaketh the stone It is able to breake a stony hart which is as hard as flint I am not ashamed of the Gospel of God because I know it is the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue â—om 1.16 It is compared to a sharpe two-edged sword It is mighty in operation Hebr. 4.12 and sharper then a two-edged sword Eph. 2.1 2. It is able to giue life to those that are dead in trespasses and sinnes So then wee must acknowledge a perpetuall necessitie of the Word to beget as also to encrease in vs the graces of Faith and Sanctification which without the vse of the Word preached are subiect if not to dying yet to decreasing if not to perishing yet to diminishing And from hence it is that the Lord saith of his Vineyard his Church Esay the twenty seuen chapter and third vers I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it euery moment lest any assaile it I will keepe it night and day We see by daily experience that after our repentance and the renewing of our mindes we are subiect to stumble and to fall into sin and ready to lie long in it as men cast into a deepe and long sleepe if wee bee not awaked with the Lords Trumpet as wee may see by this present example of Dauid who was by the subtilty of Satan surprised drawne to commit two horrible sinnes Adultery and Murther and lay a long space securely in them vntill he was by the Prophet Nathan rowzed vp and recouered 2. Sam. 12. Wherefore as there is a continuall vse and exercise of repentance so is there a continuall vse of the preaching of the word that wee should not stand at a stay but increase more and more till we come to the fulnesse of the perfect age of Christ Iesus Vse 1 This serues to commend vnto vs the power of the Word of GOD which is both able to kill sinners and to make them aliue againe Gods word only conuerts and puts a manifest difference betweene the word of man and the word of God all the Wisedome Learning Eloquence and wit of man is not able to saue a soule to conuert a sinner only the word of God can doe it euen the plaine and simple preaching of the word can doe it 1. Cor. 1.21 Psal 19.7 Rom. 10.14 The Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the Soule Though nothing be more contrarie to our nature then the word of God yet it doth by Gods blessing conuert vs. Vse 2 Well then seeing Nathan is the messenger Despisers of the word must needes perish and the meanes that God vses to reclaime Dauid thus sleeping and snorting in sinne whereas the Lord could haue conuerted him without Nathans helpe we see then that those men who doe despise Nathan and the Lords Prophets and
Ministers must needes die in sinne without repentance who cannot indure themselues to bee admonished and reproued euen as a man hauing a long festered soare that is euen rotten putrified Note he can not abide the Chirurgeon should touch it or lance it alas it will be his bane in the end So if thy soule be sicke full of rottennes and corruption and yet thou continuest in sinne and liest in sinne and wilt not suffer the Lords Chirurgeons thou canst not indure Nathan to be so busie with thy sinnes what will follow but the vtter ruine of thy soule and the bane of it And therefore let all men be content to haue their hearts searched with the tents of the Law to be ript vp and launced til the bloud follow for that is the next way to be cured Doctr. 3 A feareful thing to liue in sin without repentaÌ„ce Note In Dauid obserue what a fearefull thing it is to lie in sinne without repentance it is that which maketh a grieuous wound in the conscience draweth downe many and grieuous iudgements of God as in Dauid hee felt the smart of this sinne a long time yea hee carried the skarre of it to his graue it was a heart-smart vnto sinne in denying his Lord and Maister yet he lying not in sinne repented presently went out and wept bitterly so had pardon but lying in sinne is that which wounds the conscience and drawes downe Gods Iudgements both in soule and body weakens our faith makes vs colde in prayer and in holy dueties Yea the wrath of GOD doth follow such as make no conscience of sinne giuing them ouer into a reprobate sence to a slumbering spirit and to hardnes of heart that they proue in the end to be past feeling Romans 1.28 and surely it is iust with GOD that hee should forsake them by his grace who haue forsaken him by their sins This is that which the Prophet declareth concerning the secret Iudgement of God vpon sinners that doe make shipwarcke of faith and a good conscience Psal 81.11 12. My people would not heare my voyce and Israel would none of me So I gaue them vp vnto the hardnesse of their heart and they haue walked in their owne Councels Whence he shewes that seeing they would not be reclaimed and reformed he suffered them to runne their whole swinge into all wickednesse Vse 1 Hence wee learne what a dangerous thing it is to giue entertainement vnto sin it is like to a shamelesse guest which if he be once inuited will be so hardy that hee will come againe vnbidden it is like the breaking in of water that can hardly be stopped we may see this in the example of Cain he was reprooued of God checked for his hatred against his brother and admonished to repent Gen. 4 8. But he hearkened not to the voyce of the Lord but hardned his heart and shead innocent bloud euen the bloud of his brother This appeareth in Iudas he entertained couetousnesse in his heart from couetousnes he fell to plot with the Pharises Mat. 26.15 from plotting he proceeded to practising in the end he brake out to treson against his Lord Master The like we may say of Saul That as he fell away from God step by step So did the Spirit of God forsake him For as amongst all the blessings that God doth bestow vpon the sonnes of men in this world a soft and tender heart is one of the greatest which is soone made to bleede and brought to repentance and amendment of life Ezech. 11.19 So there can bee no greater curse laid vpon man then to haue a stony heart which eueyr day doth heape vp wrath against the day of wrath Exod. 9. Vse 2 Well aboue all things let vs beware how wee lie Continuance in sin most dangerous and rest in sinne Indeede I confesse the Lord might iustly condemne vs for the least sin we doe commit but yet he doth not so much dislike vs for sinning as for lying in sinne without repentance whenas we sinne and lie in sin then we wound our conscience then all grace will decay let a man trie himselfe When Dauid had done this euill committed adultery and murther and lay without repentance how was his zeale quenched how was his prayers weakened how was his heart cooled Note how was his conscience wounded Euen so do but try thy hart if thou hast committed some euil either by adultery whoredome lying stealing c. When thou hast done this how vntoward and dull shalt thou be in holy duties in prayer and praising of GOD and thou shalt finde euen a hell in thy conscience for the present Vse 3 Seeing it is so dangerous to lie in sin without repentance it is the very cut-throate of the soule and of all good things Oh then if we do fall as the best fall daily yet let vs presently recouer our selues presently repent and cry out with the Prodigal child Luke 15. Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee And with Peter let vs hastily goe out and weepe bitterly and then we shall not so deeply wound our conscience nor draw downe Gods iudgements as when we lie and snort in sin securely without repentance The fourth Circumstance in the Title of the Psalme is the occasion wherefore this worthie Psalme was penned The occasioÌ„ wherefore this Psalm was penned which was this Nathans reprouing of Dauid for going into Bershaba of which story reade the second of Samuel the eleuenth and twefth chapters and you shall see both Dauids sinne and his repentance being reproued whence I pray you marke two things Dauids patience and Nathans holdnes Dauid was a mighty King a famous warriour yet when the Lords Prophet comes vnto him to reproue him he takes it patiently and most meekly endures it One would haue thought that Dauid should haue checked him and bid him holde his peace and bid him meddle with his equals But you see here though he were reprooued by Nathan a poore Prophet of God and that of a fowle sinne he most patiently endureth it Doctr. 1 Hence wee learne in Nathan and Dauid Ministers must reproue the greatest personagâ—s that the Prophets of GOD must not be afraide to reprooue the greatest Personages but they must lay open their sinnes Gods iudgements against them 1 Reg. 21. Elias reprooues Ahab Moses Pharaoh Paul Foelix Iohn Baptist Herod c. And so Marke 6. whatsoeuer thou art if thou wert as great a King as Dauid if the Lord send his Prophet to tell thee of thy sinnes thou art to take it as the Message of the Lord and not to storme against it And it is the thing which the children of God desire to haue their sinnes laied open and reproued Psal 141.5 Let the righteous smite me friendly and reprooue me for such smiting shall be good for me and nothing is more dangerous for Kings and great personages then to haue
laine a long time in his filthy sinnes and neuer sought vnto God for mercy but being awaked by the reprehension of Nathan now he cries for mercy The Prodigall sonne a true paterne for all sinners he neuer seeks to his Father till he was in extreame misery and then he saith I will goe to my Father Luke 15. so the prowd Pharise neuer begges for mercy for he felt no want of it And the Church of Laodicea Knew not that shee was miserable poore Reu. 3.10 blind and naked For how can a man repent of that hee is ignorant of Sinnes committed can not be repented of till men see them and know them nay not barely to know them but to know the hainousnesse of them and the curse of God due vnto them so as a man may take it to heart and be troubled for his sins Dauid thogh a Prophet of the Lord yea a man after GODS owne heart yet lay a long time in sinne without repeÌ„tance because he did not weigh and consider with himselfe what hee had done And therfore in the word of God the Lord oftentimes calles vpon men to consider their waies to know their sinnes and the curse of God due vnto them Ier. 3.13 Know thy sins O Ierusalem Zeph. 2.1 2. Fanne your selues Lam. 3.40 O let vs search and trie our waies and turne vnto the Lord. Vse 1 Here we may see the maine cause why there is so little faith true repentance in the world why men are no more humbled for their sinnes do not repent for them poore souls they know not that they doe euill They either cannot or doe not search themselues Lam. 3.40 they neuer call their hearts to account Now then going on in security seeing and fearing no danger Alas how should they repent how should they turne to God For if thou couldest see the misery of thy soule and thy wofull estate by reason of sin if thou couldest see the number and greatnes of thy sinnes Oh thou wouldest euen tremble for feare and wonder at thy woful estate But alas most men are like a man that trauels in the night ouer a narrow bridge which is verie dangerous and vnder it runneth a bottomlesse gulfe so as if he fall he cannot escape but must needs perish And therfore in the darke night seeing not the danger hee feareth it not But let him goe that way in the morning he will wonder that euer he was so madde and desperate to go that way and will neuer venture that way againe So many poore blinde ignorant soules when they haue runne headlong in sinne al their daies and passed their vncertaine life in ignorance profanenesse and manifolde sinnes posting to Hell and damnation not seeing the curse of GOD that doth hang ouer their heads they feare nothing but runne on headlong into all sinnes But if it please the Lord to open their eyes to see their sinnes and the Iudgements of God due vnto them Oh they do wonder at their owne extreame folly and Gods infinite goodnesse and patience and would not bee in that case againe for all the world Well then marke this Doctrine doe not lightly passe it ouer but esteeme it as a blessed trueth of GOD. Christ saith Lake 13.5 Except ye repent ye shall allperish And for a man to see his sinnes the greatnesse and grieuousnesse of them it is the first steppe vnto repentance So that we see heere who they are that doe repent and shall be saued euen such as see their sinnes their wofull miserie and the wretched estate wherein they are and which doe most earnestly hunger and thirst after mercie in Christ Iesus Well then let mee aske thee this Question or rather demaund it of thine owne soule Didst thou euer see thy wofull miserie the wretched estate wherein thou arte by reason of sinne what a miserable sinner thou art by nature out of the fauour of God in the state of damnation in extreme danger for euer to be damned and to loose thy owne Soule Didst thou euer find thy selfe to stand in need of Gods mercie for the pardon of thy sinnes and extreme want of Christs bloud to saue thy Soule Hast thou felt thy hart wounded and bruised for thy sinnes that thy soule is euen sicke with sinne Didst thou euer thirst after GODS mercie in Christ aboue all the world so as thou hast with sighes and groanes yea with teares begged Gods mercie on thy knees as for life and death Io. 7.37 Esay 55.1 2. Esay 66.2 If thou hast not found and felt these things in thee in some measure thy case is dangerous and fearefull thou neuer yet didst truely repent the mercie of God belongs not vnto thee Vse 2 O then it is a singular fauour of God when he doth open a mans eies to see his misery to finde himselfe to stand in need of GODS mercy and extreame want of Christs bloud to saue his soule This is the beginning of all grace to feele the want of grace Dauid if the Lord had noâ— rowzed him out of his dead sinne wherein he lay a long time he might haue died and perished in it And therefore this should teach vs all to pray to God that he would in mercy open our eyes that we might see our sins and feele our miseries and that wee may see wee stand in extreame neede of Gods mercy and the contrary is a fearefull plague and iudgement of God for men to lie and snort in sinne without remorce of conscience without the sence and feeling of sinne or want of mercy this Dauid now knew by wofull experience that if hee had died without repentance he had perished of all diseases they bee most dangerous which bee least felt as a lâ—thargy or dead palsie or the like so it is a most fearefull estate for any man to lie in sinne without the feeling of it for then the hart is hardned and he makes no account of Gods mercy A man that thinkes he is well enough wil scorne the Physition so those blinde sinners that thinke they are wel enough and feele no want of mercy of all men they are to be pittied they be in a most dangerous state and condition And therefore we see it a great blessing of God to be told of our sinnes to bee reprooued for them that so seeing them and the danger of them wee may seeke to GOD for mercy Doctr. 2 Hence we learne that the first step to heauen Sâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 man and the beginning of true repentance is this for a man to bee grieued for his sins to be wounded in conscience for them for till a man see his sinnes and feele the burthen of them and feare the curse of GOD due vnto them he will neuer repent and seeke the pardon of them 2. Cor. 7.10 Matth. 26. Luke 18.13 This is that godly sorrow that leadeth to tepentance neuer to be repented of Vse 1 If this compunction and pricke of the heart
himselfe telleth vs Esay 43 25. I euen I am hee saith the Lord that putteth way thine iniquities Now that they may be blotted out and this Booke may be cancelled we must How to haue the Bookes cancelled First truely repent of them all bewaile them be grieued for them that by them we haue grieued God Secondly we must beg hard euen as for life and death for pardon of them as Dauid did here againe and againe aske mercy If a man should runne into debt a thousand pounds and know not how to pay his creditor his best way were to seeke and make friends vnto him to forgiue it We are debters vnto God thousand Thousands sinnes pay wee can not then let vs confesse the debt intreate him to blot his booke and take that hand-writing and band of obligation on against vs and naile it to Christs Crosse And this is an excellent propertie of the childe of God that hee desireth after a sort to come out of Gods debt A true childe of GOD cannot abide to haue any thing standing on Gods score for he knowes Hebr. 10.31 That it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing GOD so long to deferre till God warne to his Barre Oh he seekes betimes and giues the Lord no rest till the debt be pardoned Thirdly that our sinnes may bee cleane blotted out wee must haue faith in Christ Iesus for nothing can blot out sinne but his bloud alone nothing in heauen and earth can satisfie Gods anger wash away sinne blot out our offences but onely the bloud of Iesus Christ and therefore let vs labour continually to be assured of it by faith to sprinckle our sinfull hearts with the bloud of Iesus Christ 1. Iohn 1.7 Reuel 1.6 Vse 3 Seeing the Prophet Dauid doth acknowledge that this Debt was more then he was able to pay and therefore disclayming his owne sufficiencie appeales onely to GODS mercy in Christ for the pardon of the same We learne that that Doctrine of Merites yea and Supererogation now taught in the Church of Rome is most false and erronious teaching poore people to leane vnto mans satisfactions which they must make vnto God either heere or in Purgatory whereas the Iustice of God is infinite And when we haue done all that we can heere in this life wee are vnprofitable seruants nay there is not that man in the whole world that if God should lay aside his mercie and deale in iustice were able to satisfie the Iustice of GOD for the least Debt that hee doth owe vnto GOD. And vnlesse the Lord take pittie on vs and forgiue the Debt there remaineth nothing for vs but to lie in prison and that for euer Matth. 28.27 But of this before VERSE 2. 2. Wash mee throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse me from my sinnes IN this Verse the Prophet Dauid proceedes with his former petition vnto GOD for grace and fauour for pardon of his sinnes yet so as hee doth it more effectual and more earnestly because his foule was now exceeding grieued seeing his woefull misery that he was in how foule and filthily he was stained with sin most hainously And though some put a difference betweene these two speeches and vnderstand the former of the washing of Iustification and pardon of his sinnes not imputing them vnto his charge And the second of the washing of Sanctification and the couering of our sins yea by little and little washing and purging them away and more and more renewing newing of vs in soule and bodie by the worke of Sanctification yet me thinks the words do both imply one thing namely to be throughly purged from the filth and staine of sinne and to be receiued againe into the fauor of God by the means of Christ It may seeme strange what should moue Dauid to confesse his sin and to intreate for pardon in this maner There was no Court of Inquisition concerning his fact There was no Magistrate to examine him nor Iudge to condemne him he being King Nay no doubt the diuel might set some on work which might back him and seeme to lessenhis fault what then should cause Dauid without any regard of his credit to come forth in this manner and thus publiquely to confesse his pollution and to be so earnest vnto GOD with his Haue mercie Blot out Wash me c. Surely it was his owne conscience and that extorted and wroong from him this Confession and made him so earnest vnto God in prayer Doctr. 1 From this prayer of Dauid A woūded consciēce can finde no rest but onely in Christ repeating his request to GOD so often Haue mercie Blot out Wash me c. we learn that a wounded conscience that is truely touched for sinne can finde no rest or comfort but only in the feeling of Gods mercy in Christ for the pardon of sinne and therfore Dauid to shew how hee was truely humbled and wounded for sinne hee neuer can content himselfe to pray and beg for mercy and pardon for after a man sees his sins and the filthinesse of them and beholdes the wrath of God against sinne his conscience still accuses him neither can hee finde any rest till hee do feele the mercy of God in Christ for the pardon of them Being iustified by faith we haue peace with God Rom. 5.1 Againe the Kingdome of GOD stands not in meate and drinke Rom. 14.17 but in righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost that is in pardon of sinnes and feeling of Gods loue for sinne once knowne will neuer cease to accuse vntil it be pardoned And this is confirmed vnto vs by the example of Caine Genes 4. who hauing slaine his owne brother and shead innocent bloud which cried in the eares of the Lord for vengeance how did the Lord strike him with an accusing conscience that he feared the sight of euery creature when he had once attained the sight of his sinne and whereas he thought to build him a Cittie to yeelde him comfort and safetie euen there did the Iustice of God ouertake him and he was driuen from that enterprise The like wee may see in Belieshazzer Dan. 5.56 when there appeared fingers of a mans hand vpon the wall his thoughts were troubled and his knees smote one against the other According tothat punishment the Lord foretolde Leuit. 26. I will send euen a faintnesse into their hearts And the sound of a leafe shaken shall chasten them And they shall flie as from a sword though none pursue them So that if it were possible to escape all apprehension and accusation in the world yet a mans owne conscience would arrest him and hale him vnto Iudgement Vse 1 Seeing this is the nature of sinne that being knowne it wil neuer cease to accuse and vex the conscience of a poore sinner till it be pardoned it should prouoke vs all that feele the smart of sinne neuer to giue the Lord any rest vntill we haue pardon
had offended his mercifull God â—nd louing Father it did torment and vex his conscience exceedingly so euery childe of God that truly repents of sinne he is more grieued for sinne because it offends God then for feare of shame or punishment As wee see in Dauid Psalme 119. I haue hid thy word within my heart that I might not sinne against thee The like wee may see in Ioseph Gen. 39. when hee was tempted to lewdnesse by his adultresse Mistresse his answere is worthie to be remembred of vs How can I doe this great wickednesse and sinne against God The wrong that hee should haue done vnto his Maister did not so much preuaile with him as that he knew he should sinne against GOD And the like may bee said of Peter Matth. 26. Who remembring how kinde and louing CHRIST had beene to him euen to pray to his Father for him when Sathan desired to buffet him That tolde him Matth. 16. That the gates of hell should neuer preuaile against him The looking backe of this his Maister wounded him to the heart that hee should sinne against him so cowardly to deny him Vse 1 Well seeing this is the nature of true repentance of godly sorrow and remorce of conscience for sinne that the childe of God is grieued for sinne because it displeaseth GOD his most louing and mercifull Father as in Ioseph Dauid the Prodigall sonne c. let vs labour to sinde our hearts thus affected that wee can mourne for sinne because it is sinne and offendeth GOD our louing Father though none knew of it nor could accuse for it nay although there were no hell nor Iudgement to condemne vs yet that wee sinde our hearts wounded for our secret sinnes for our close sinnes and hidden corruptions because wee know they offend our most gracious God and louing Father Let it be farre from vs to say with Pharaoh Exod. 5. Who is the Lord that I should be afraid to sinne Oh! know O man whosoeuer thou art that exaltest thy selfe in this manner to sinne with a high hand against the Lord That the Lord is as a consuming fire It is hee that drowned Pharaoh for all his pride Exodus 14. It is hee that made Ierusalem a heape of stones Matth. 29. It is hee that sent lice vpon Herod Actes 12. and fire vpon Sodome Genes 19. Learne therefore to know God aright And it will make thee quake and tremble to sinne against him Vse 2 This sheweth that most mens repentance is but counterfeit and vnsound for were it not for seare of shame and punishment they could be content to commit sinne to liue in sinne from day to day as Potiphars wise tempted Ioseph continually to sinne and vncleanensse Genes 39. alas shee thought not that GOD should see or beholde it But whatsoeuer thou arte vnlesse thou finde thine heart humbled for thy close and hidden sinne and secret corruption I tell thee thou art not truely humbled the veriest beast and Atheist that euer liued may confesse his knowne sins and in regarde of the shame and punishment be sory for them Exo. 20.17 1. Sam. 15. Matt 27.3 Actes 8.25 as Pharaoh Iudas Saul Simon Magus c. but heere is godly sorrow which brings repentance neuer to be repented of to be grieued for sinne though wee should haue neither shame nor punishment seeing it offendeth a gracious and mercifull God A simile as we see two children one is a naturall louing and duetifull childe and hee is loath to offend his father though he neuer corrects him because he sees his father kinde vnto him An other that is of a froward nature hee is loath to sinne before his father for feare of the whip and therefore out of his fathers fight he will play his prankes Doctr. 3 In that Dauid thus laies open his sinne A penitent person neuer excuses his sin though it was secret and doth aggrauate it wee learne that he that truly repenteth of his sinne will not excuse it mince hide and cloake it and seeke starting holes to conceale it But he will truely and humbly acknowledge it lay it open and make it manifest vnto God hee doth not blame the folly of the woman nor by any meanes seekes to hide his sin but laieth it open before the Lord Against thee haue I sinned so it is the manner of GODS children that doe truely repent to lay open their sinnes in the worst vilest maner to make them greater not lesser Vse 1 Well then this doth shew that those men are not truely humbled Note of a wicked maÌ„ neither yet haue truely repented that doe seeke starting holes for sinne I am not alone if I goe to hell I shall haue more company It is but the fashion and if I doe no worse then sweare by faith troth c. the Lord I hope will pardon me This excusing and cloaking of sinne is a signe of a naughty and dissembling heart that that man or woman is nor truly humbled as they should we see this in Saul he was so farre from aggrauating and increasing his sinne that he found out many excuses 1. Sam. 15. Matth. 15. The people did it and it was to offer Sacrifice So the wicked at the day of Iudgement are so far from confessing their sinnes that they excuse them so tâ—at it is a note of a wicked and gracelesse heart to excuse sinne to hide it and couer it Pro. 28.23 and he that â—oâ—n so shal neuer finde mercy Against thee Against thee only haue I sinned IT may heere bee demanded how Dauid could say that he had onely sinned against God Did he not sinne against Vrias his faithful seruant and louing subiect first in committing adultery with his wife and then in causing his innocent bloud to bee shed How then could Dauid say heere Against thee onely haue I sinned I answer First Dauid had sinned indeede against Vriah and that two maner of wayes first in his wise not in his goods for then perhappes hee might haue made amends but taking his wise out of his bosome as Nathan telleth him hee could neuer make a recompence when Abimelech a heathen King Genes 20. did ignorantly take Abrahams wise into his house when hee knew the same although he defiled her not gaue Abraham a large gift for satisfaction What satisfaction then might Dauid giue being not a heathen man but a Prophet of the Lord who witâ—ingly takes the wife of Vriah and defiled her Secondly besides his wife he taketh away his life also The Diuell could say Iob 2.4 Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will hee giue for his life yet as precious as a mans life is vnto him Dauid addeth this iniurie to the former taking away his life also Againe Dauid sinned not onelie against the husband but against the Wife also corrupting her chaste minde and alluring her vnto follie And vnto this sinne committed against Vriah and his wife I might adde the sinne
heauen or earth but onelie by the bloud of Iesus Christ alone if all Men and Angells should haue died and beene cast for euer into hell fire they could not satisfie the infinite wrath of God for one sinne but the heart bloud of Iesus Christ must bee shed else we can haue no pardon Vse 3 This condemnes that wicked and erronious Doctrine of the Papists who teach indeed CHRIST by his death hath satisfied Gods iustice for the fault and eternal punishment due to our sinnes but men must eyther in this lifâ— by workes or else in Purgatorie satisfie Gods iustice for temporall punishments now then what is this but to make the sacrifice and death of Christ imperfect when as it must bee patched and peeced with mens meriâ—es but wee beleeue and hold that Christs death is a sufficient sacrifice for all our sinnes Vse 4 Would you then haue the pardon of your sinnes Rom. 6. Gal. 3. euery sinne deserues death and the curse of GOD Now there is no way but this to beleeue in Iesus Christ to imbrace him by faith that so God the Father may for his sake pardon our sinnes accept of his death and passion for the punishment of them all And that we may be purged from our sins both the fault and punishment by the bloud and sacrifice of Christ we must first repent of them with Dauid be grieued for them bewaile them amend our liues and become new creatures in Christ Iesus wee must beg for pardon of them at the hands of God Secondly besides wee must bee sprinckled with hyssope that is as in the time of the Law they dipped the hyssope into the bloud of the beast and so besprinckled the person to be cleansed euen so must we by faith as it were with a bunch of hyssop apply the bloud of Christ and by saith besprinckle our defiled consciences it will purge vs from sinne and appease the anger of GOD for the punishment But if men either doe not repent of them and leaue their sinnes or doe not come with Faith to applie the blood of CHRIST they can not haue pardon As if there were a soueraine plaister to cure any sore if a man doe not apply it to his wound but let it lie in a box it will doe him no good so vnlesse wee apply the blood of Christ to our wounds and sores by faith alas it cannot help vs And as the woman with the bloodie issue touched Christs garment and was healed so if wee can by faith touch the blood of Christ and apply it to our selues it will heale all the bleeding wounds of sinne The second request is that GOD would wash him make him pure not imputing his sinnes vnto him but couering them in the death and obedience of his Sonne Iesus Christ And therefore in the second part of this verse he prayeth for the imputation of Christs righteousnes namely that God would not onely remit the punishment due to his sinne but looke vpon him as he is in CHRIST couered with his rightousnesse and that God would accompt him iust for Christs obedience holinesse satisfaction and righteousnesse for when God beholds a poore sinner couered with the righteousnesse holinesse and obedience of his Son Christ Ps 32.1.2 then he accompts him as no sinner but iust and righteous Euen as a man beholding any thing through a red glasse it appeares red or of the same colour so if the Lord looke on vs in Christ we appeare holy and righteous before him Doctr. 1 Whereas the Prophet Dauid intreates the Lord to wash him hee shewes that hee was defiled with sin and stained with vncleanesse and so stood in great neede of Gods mercy to cleanse his filthy soule and defiled conscience now polluted with most vile Adultery and filthy vncleanenesse Sinne defiles a maÌ„ that his soule was now besprinkled with the innocent bloud of that faithfull seruant and loyall Subiect Vrias the Hittite And as it was with Dauid sinne infected him made him vile and loathsome filthy and abhominable in the sight of God Euen so it doth begrime the faces of the best of Gods children it staines and pollutes them both in soule and body yea no carrion is more loathsome and odious then a sinner defiled and polluted with sinne is in the sight of God The leprosie was a loathsome disease it infected the body the very garments yea the stones and timber But this spirituall leprosy sinne infects the whole man body and soule yea it infects heauen and earth and all other creatures in the world and there is nothing that can take away the spots and blemishes of sinne but onely the precious bloud of Iesus Christ laid hold on by true faith Vse 1 Well seeing all of vs are thus defiled with sinne as Dauid was in soule and body let vs desire to bee washed let vs bewaile them loath and hate them intreate the Lord that he would not impute our sinnes vnto vs but couer them vnder the robe of Christs righteousnesse And that we should abhor euery sinne fâ—â— this cause because it defiles vs it pollutes vs and makes vnworthy to appeare in Gods presence Vse 2 Seing Dauid though an holy Prophet of God a man after Gods own heart yet desires the Lord to wâ—sh him from his sinnes and to couer them in the obedience of CHRIST IESVS appplied by faith wee see that no man is able to stand before the face of God in his owne righteousnesse in his owne workes or wothinesse for if any might who might better haue done it then Dauid a man truly sanctified a holy Prophet a man after Gods owne heart yea the Prophet Esay saith that all our righteousnesse is no better then a stayned clout full of bloud and all pollution Esay 64 6. And Paul desires that hee may not bee found in his owne righteousnesse and worthinesse Phil. 3.9 1. Cor. 1 30 at the day of Iudgement but in the righteousnesse of Christ laid hold on by faith And therefore let vs renounce all our owne goodnesse or worthinesse and accompt all but dung in respect of CHRIST and his righteousnesse And as for the Church of Rome wee may see their intollerable pride that they do so much rest and relye vpon their owne goodnesse and worthinesse merites and righteousnesse to stand vpon it appeare in it for remission of sins and life eternall But alas if Paul Dauid and all the Saints of God abhorre themselues in dust and ashes desire to be purged and washed and couered in the obedience and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ yea count all their owne righteousnesse but as dung and dare not appeare in it before the seate of Gods Iudgement but in the righteousnesse of Christ shall any Papist of them dare to stand before Gods Iudgement in his owne righteousnesse and worthinesse no no hee shall tremble and quake and not abide so great and glorious a presence I shall bee cleane I shall bee whiter then
worke of grace a renued heart faith repentance obedience and a sanctified life was euer wanting they were but hypocrites They went out from vs but they were not of vs Mat. 7.21 22. for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs. And therefore it behoueth vs all to take heed that we content not our selues with the common giftes and graces of the holy Ghost which a reprobate may haue for it is certaine most excellent gifts will not auaile a man to saluation vnlesse there be the true worke of grace sauing faith sound repentance and heartie obedience VERSE 12.13 12. Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free Spirit 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes vnto the wicked and the sinners shal be conuerted vnto thee Partes of the verses THese words contain in themselues and earnest prayer of Dauid vnto GOD for the renuing Of GODS mercy and feeling of his loue againe in the 12. verse In the 13. verse he vses a reason to moue the Lord thereunto namely that if the Lord shall receiue him into fauor againe and testifie his loue vnto him in the pardon of his sins then he wil not be vnmindful of Gods dealing with him but become a Preacher and proclaimer of Gods mercy vnto others to draw them to GOD in shewing what GOD hath done for his soule and so that by the example of Gods mercy to him others should be wonne In the 12. verse he makes a twofold petition vnto God First for the former feeling and assurance of Gods loue and mercy for the pardon of his sinnes Secondly that God would vphold him with his free spirit so as now being deliuered out of the cursed thraldome and slauery of sinne hee might frankely and freely serue the Lord and runne the way of his Commandements Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation No ioy can comfort mans soule but the ioy of Gods saluation AS if he should haue said O Lord my GOD I acknowledge and confesse that all the while I serued thee and liued in thy feare ledde a holy and godly life and kept an vpright heart that I found wonderfull and exceeding ioy in the assurance of thy loue and mercy in Christ for my saluation but since I rebelled against thee and wilfully brake thy holy Commandements I haue depriued my soule of that heauenlie comfort and consolation and felt errours and griefe feares and cares and exceeding vexation Now mercifull GOD I humbly intreate thee to restore me againe to that ioy and comfort to assure me of thy loue and fauour that thou art graciously reconciled vnto me that I may receiue my former comfort And not onelie that but because I see how weake I am haue no power to stand without thy help and grace I humbly intreat thee to stay and strengthen me to stablish thy grace in me and so to vphold me in thy obedience that I may freely and heartily obey thee all my dayes Doctr. 1 The childe of God truely called iustified Fruit of sinne described Note and sanctified by GOD spirit if he once fall against GOD and prouoke him to anger by wilfull disobedience doth feele exceeding griefe and sorrow of heart great griefe and trouble of minde feares and cares lest the Lord should reiect him so that there is an hell in his poore soule and wounded conscience till hee be againe reconciled to GOD by faith and true repentance So long as Dauid walked with God in vprightnesse of his heart hee had exceeding ioy and comfort in the Lord his GOD was assured of his loue for pardon of his sinnes and eternall saluation but when he fell to adultery and murder and so rebelled against God it is wonderfull to see into what a gulfe of misery he plunged himselfe what feares and cares what doubts and troubles did vex his soule and wounded conscience Euen so it is with all the godly while they liue in the feare of God serue and please him and keep an vpright heart before the Lord leade a godly and christian life they feele find in themselues exceeding ioy and wonderfull comfort with assurance of Gods loue in Christ for their saluation but if as any time they breake out to sinne and rebell against God by wilfull disobedience then they shall finde an hell in their consciences troubles feares and cares for the time Who can tell what feares and cares Peter felt Luke 23. in what griefe and sorrow of heart hee was in when cowardly he denied his Lord and Master It cost him many a bitter teare The reason of this doctrine is because all peace and comfort to a poore soule springs from the sence and comfortable feeling of Gods loue in CHRIST IESVS for the pardon of sinne and eternall saluation and therefore when that is lost alas what peace or comfort can they haue Secondly they do by such wilfull sin and disobedience grieue the spirit and make the holy-Ghost sad within them and so doe what they can to expell the Spirit of God in them Now where the Spirit of God is made sad and grieued how can there be any true ioy Vse Seeing there is such sweete comfort in a godlie and Christian life while we walke with GOD and serue and please him in spirit and truth and when men sinne and rebell against God they pull downe vpon their heads such wofull misery troubles and cares how should this make euery man exceeding carefull of sinne which brings such woefull miseries and iudgements vnto our own soules such torments feares and cares To the ioy of thy saluation AS if hee should haue said ô Lord my God when thou diddest assure mee of thy loue and fauour for the pardon of my sinnes and eternall saluation I had exceeding ioy therein Now I doe humbly intreate thee to restore it to mee againe Doctr. 2 Fauour of God is a Christians chiefest ioy Hence marke what is the thing the childe of God doth most desire and craue at Gods hands and wherein they do most reioyce namely in the fauour of GOD and assurance of Gods loue in Christ Iesus that they know that God is graciously reconciled vnto them that they be in his fauour and shall neuer perish but shall euerlastingly bee saued Dauid was a King and wanted no temporall commodity comfort or delight whatsoeuer wherein worldly men reioyce but Dauid now conceiued no kinde of ioy at all in these things to bee out of Gods fauour And therefore prayes vnto God for the feeling of the true ioy and that is of His Saluation and that will minister vnto him matter of true reioycing indeed But alas most men being carnall desire riches honour pleasure Psal 4.6.7 But Lord let me see thy louing countenance thy fauour and grace and that shall do me more good and comfort then all the things in the world The poore Publican begges for this Lord be mercifull to me a sinner So
Paul professeth of himselfe Luke 8. Phil. 3.7.8 that he esteemed all things but dung in comparison of CHRIST IESVS and the fauour of God in him And the reason is plaine because if a man had all the world and wanted the loue and fauour of GOD was in his displeasure Mat. 16.26 and vnder the curse of God what good could it do him Euen as if a Subiect should haue ten thousand pounds and yet the King cannot abide him but seeke his death And therefore the childe of God if hee were asked what is the thing hee desires most in all the world would answer Mercy and the loue of GOD in IESVS CHRIST hee would despise honours lands Psal 32.1.2 liuings gold siluer pleasures and delights and preferre one dramme of mercy and the least drop of Christs blood for saluation before all the world Vse 1 This may serue to reproue thousands in the world carnall men and women so they haue the world at will and may lieu at ease eate drink and bee merry they feele no want of Gods mercy no need of Christs bloud they esteeme not Gods fauour and loue desire not reconcliation but say Who will shew vs any good Well diddest thou neuer feele the want of GODS mercy no hungring and thirsting after IESVS CHRIST and his righteousnesse it is manifest thou dost not belong to GOD thou waste neuer yet truely humbled Vse 2 Let this Doctrine admonish vs to labour with our heartes to bee affected with this namely to esteeme more of GODS loue and fauour and assurance of his mercy then all the world let vs desire it more let vs reioyce more in it so as if the question should bee asked what is the thing that thou doest most desire and affect and what thou dost most delight and reioyce in of all the things in the world wee may be able in truth to answere and say with feeling and comfort I desire nothing more vnder Heauen then the mercy of GOD in IESVS CHRIST to be in his fauour to be reconciled vnto his Maiesty and with Paul to esteeme all things but dung in comparison of that And till this be in vs in some measure we can neuer finde true comfort to our soules and bee assured that we haue true saving-sauing-faith in Christ For this is a certaine fruite and note of an humble and beleeuing heart to hunger and thirst after Gods mercy in Christ and to esteeme more highly of the least drop of Christ his precious Bloud for our saluation then of all the world if it were offered vnto vs. Vse 3 Wee must labour to manifest this our earnest desire and great account of Gods mercy by vsing all blessed meanes to attaine vnto it wee must repent and bewaile our sinnes leaue and forsake them wee must embrace Iesus Christ by faith and cry with teares vnto GOD for mercy Knocke Seeke Aske Math. 7.7 Acts 13.20 And let vs doe as the men of Tyrus and Sydon when Herod tooke a pitch against them and intended to warre against them they came all with one accord and besought Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine to haue peace So let vs go vnto IESVS CHRIST the Peace-maker desire him to speake to GOD the Father for vs that there may bee an euerlasting peace Doctr. 3 When Dauid prayeth that God would restore vnto him State of Gods children not alwaies alike The ioy of his Saluation those sweet comforts he was wont to feele and finde in Gods mercy and feeling of his loue in Christ wee learne that the state of Gods children is not alwaies alike full of ioy comfort and gladnesse but sometimes full of griefe misery cares and trouble For the dearest children of God who are replenished with the greatest measure of ioy and comfort in the feeling and assurance of Gods loue in Christ when as the Lord leaues them to fall into some sin against knowledge conscience they shall finde not onely a great decay but an vtter losse of ioy and comfort for the time Thus it was with Dauid who though he was a man after Gods own heart enriched with great blessings and spirituall mercies most deerely beloued of God sanctified in great measure yet now hauing fallen into these two filthy sinnes of Adultery and Murder see how he if perplexed in great distresse and trouble of minde and now the feeling of Gods mercy and ioy in Gods Spirit seemed to bee cleane lost So it was in Peter Luke 23. and so it is in euery childe of God Didst thou euer sinne against knowledge and conscience since thou wast conuerted thou shalt finde then a wonderfull deadnesse of heart trouble of minde and feeling of Gods anger with the losse of comfort for a time Vse 1 Seeing sinnes against knowledge and conscience wound the soule exceedingly and depriue vs of the peace and comfort and ioy of GODS Spirit and bring terrours feares and gripings with them Let vs as to auoid all sinne so especially auoid sinne against knowledge and conscience and labour in all things in all places and at all times to liue and walke so vpright with GOD that thou neuer wound thy conscience though thou mightest get the greatest gaine honour or pleasure yet if it bee sinne and that against knowledge and conscience abhorre it and commit it not if thou louest thy owne soule for if sinnes of ignorance shall not escape punishment vnlesse men repent much more sinnes against knowledge and conscience for these prouoke the Lord exceedingly to turne away his fauour from vs draw downe his iudgements vpon vs wound the conscience depriue vs of the feeling of Gods loue and fauour bring trouble of minde and a wounded conscience oh then would you inioy this great blessing of peace of conscience which is a continuall feast would you be loath to loose the feeling of GODS loue and comfort of Gods spirit auoid all sinne but especially presumptuous sinnes against knowledge and conscience they wound especially and depriue vs of peace of conscience Vse 2 If the Lord doe at any time leaue vs to sinne euen presumptuous sinnes against knowledge and conscience which is a fearefull thing yet let vs not despaire vtterly of Gods mercy but seeke to renew the feeling of Gods loue againe intreate the Lord to restore vnto vs the ioy of his saluation and that wee may obtaine the fauour of God againe and renew the feeling of his loue let vs renew our repentance bewaile our grieuous and heynous sinnes seeke earnestly for grace and pardon and giue the Lord no rest at all till wee finde and feele him to bee reconciled vnto vs in IESVS CHRIST Doctr. 4 Marke what was the speciall thing wherein Dauid this holy seruant of GOD did reioyce Pardon of sinne the soundest ioy not in gold or siluer not pleasures and carnall delights not in lands and liuings not in a Kingdome but in the saluation of GOD in his loue in pardon of his sinnes and saluation of his
that faile in the maner of doing of it to offer sacrifice was the Commandement of God but when the Iews thought by their sacrifices to appease Gods anger without the sacrifice of Christ they sinned and God abhorred them and cared not for them Againe to preach the word of God is his commandement but when Iudas shall preach the word to cloake his couetousnesse and treacherous heart it is a sinne in Iudas to giue almes it is a thing commanded and a sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased but if men shall giue to merite and to be seene of men the Lord careth not for it so as wee see a man may doe things which God commands men to do and yet be so farre from pleasing God that they shall sinne and prouoke him to anger because they doe them not in an holy manner Pro. 15.11 in faith repentance obedience and zeale of Gods glory Vse 1 This condemns almost the whole seruice of God amongst the Papists who do all to this end to merit and deserue at Gods hands pardon of sin and freedom from punishment but this is to a wrong end wee must doe good works not to merit but to honor God to giue good example to make our calling sure to our selues Vse 2 This must admonish vs all not only to doe that God commands as to preach the word heare pray receiue the sacrament c. but to do it as God commands or else he abhorres all we do vnlesse we do them in faith repentance and obedience all is in vaine Doctr. 3 If the Lord abhorre those sacrifices which hee commands for mans sinne Popish Sacrifices abhominable how much more those sinnefull sacrifices which haue beene inuented by man without any warrant from his word as the Idoll of the Masse Popish pilgrimages perpetuall chastity voluntary pouertie liuing in a cloister c. Vse 1 Wel then let vs take heed not only that we doe not abuse those sacrifices which the Lord commands by our euill doing and performing of them but much more that we be not so bold at any time to offer vnto the Lord such sacrifices as are condemned in the word of God to offer with strange fire as Nadab and Abihu and such as Paul calles Wil-worship and Christ calles The inuentions of men for these the Lord abhorres Vse 2 It condemns that bloody beastly sacrifice of the Papists who offer in Masse Christ daily for the quicke and dead an horrible abuse of Christ Iesus for Christ hath by his owne sufficient sacrifice of his bodie and bloud on the Crosse appeased his fathers anger for the sins of the world and put an end to all these sacrifices and if they offer vp CHRIST in the Masse for quicke and dead then Christs sacrifice was imperfect that must be patched vp with that abhominable Idoll Concerning these sacrifices which were Lambs Sheep Goats or Bullockes and were all slaine offered to God in fire let vs marke that they were all so many figures types and shapes of that euerlasting sacrifice of Iesus Christ which hee offered vpon the Crosse in his owne person Doctrine Christ an end of all other Sacrifices Then this doth commend vnto vs that blessed and most meritorious sacrifice of Christ the lambe of God seeing there was so many prophesies of it euen from the beginning of the world and so many shadowes and types of it as can not be numbered because there neuer passed one day amongst the Iewes from the time of the Law till Christs comming but they offered at least morning and euening sacrifice as shadowes of Christ Iesus to come and the people of God the beleeuing Iews and holy Fathers and Prophets did in them beholde Iesus Christ as slaine and crucified before their eyes And as Christ saith The holy Patriarkes and Prophets and famous Kings desired to see my dayes and would be glad to see and yet saw it not Vse Well seeing the sacrifice of Iesus Christ is so excellent meritorious of endlesse worth to procure Gods fauour to vs how should we often thinke vpon it neuer let it depart out of our mindes And to this end wee should be more willing to approch and come to the Supper of the Lord that so there as it were in a plaine Table and Picture and not painted on a woodden crosse as the Papists do we might behold Christ crucified and his bloud shed for our sins so often as we see the bread broken and the wine powred out So often as yee doe it 1. Cor. 11. doe it in remembrance of mee to shew foorth my death till I come For the remembrance of Christs sacrifices it is a sweete comfort to all wounded and distressed soules it is sacke and sugar to them all that truly beleeue in him it is an excellent means to kill sin and to humble our hard hearts that we should remember our sinnes were as the bloudie nailes and the speare which put him to death and a powerfull bridle to restraine vs from sinne because so often as wee sinne wee doe as it were pierce his heart afresh and as for those that care not for comming to the Sacrament nor yet for the word wherein Christ is liuely crucified they shew they haue no benefit by this sacrifice of Christ VERSE 17. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O God thou wilt not despise Dauid hauing shewed what be those Sacrifices wherein the Lord God hath no pleasure namely such as men shall offer with hope to merite or without faith and repentance Now he shewes what is that Sacrifice wherein the Lord takes great delight and is well pleased and that is in one word A broken spirit a heart truely wounded for sinne In this verse let vs first finde out what is the broken and contrite Spirit Secondly the commendations of it namely it is called the Sacrifice of God Thirdly that hee doth not despise By a broken and contrite spirit is meant such an heart as is truly humbled with sight of sinne wounded and pierced with feare of Gods anger grieued for offending so mercifull a God and louing Father and doth begge for mercie at his hands as for life and death besides the endlesse mercy of God in Christ which breaketh the heart of a poore sinner So then there be two things that wound and bruise the heart of sinners First the sight of sinne and knowledge of our misery by reason thereof Secondly the endlesse mercie of God in Christ so as it cuts vs at the heart to remember that wee haue offended so good and mercifull a Father Doctrine Broken hart most rare thing to be foūd Seeing this is that broken heart which is thus bruised with the sight of sinne and is humbled for them yea hath a most lowe conceit of it selfe as most vile and vnworthy wee shal see that it is a most rare thing to be found for generally men are so blinded