are not able to apprehend the manner of his gracious dealing with us When the Lord turned againe the captivity of Sion Psal 116.1 they were like them that dreame Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing The Apostle himselfe in his gaole-delivery Act. 12.9 wist not that it was true which was done but thought hee had seene a vision At what time soever God is pleased to inspire his grace and comfort into us we ought to rejoyce therein and by night on the bed to seeke him whom our soule loveth Cant. 3.1 Circumscribatur nox aliquid ex illa in diem transferatur Senec. abridging that time of rest and ease that it may become as beneficiall unto us as the day it selfe David was not satisfied by offering the sacrifice of thankesgiving in the courts of the Lords house Psal 116.17 and paying his vowes in the presence of all the people But in the night also he would continue his song of Gods mercy Siquis adest auditor luâ—ciniae prius al imus quam cantus deficiet Like that excellent bird which is never weary or spent by continuing her delightfull notes So this sweete singer of Israel was uncessant in praising the Lord not giving sleepe to his eyes untill hee had blest his holy name In time of affliction hee made his bed to swimme praying unto the Lord to returne and deliver his soule Now in prosperity hee gives thankes for the blessings hee doth receive When our bones are vexed and our sleep departeth from us wee pray unto God to deale mercifully with us But when our diseases are healed wee doe not returne to give thankes being soone overtaken with heavinesse and security And yet David did endeavour to watch in the night that hee might sing praise unto the Lord. He did not then onely meditate in the Law of God when he could not take any rest as Ahasuerus had the booke of the records of the Chronicles read before him Esther 6.1 when hee could not sleepe for now hee might lye downe in peace and sleepe when God made him to dwell in safety Much lesse did hee intend to procure sleepe by a sinister performance of any good duty which notwithstanding is a corrupt practice of many men who by singing or reading or hearing or meditating will have an unworthy aime to bring themselves asleepe and yet confessing that the enemy is most busied when they are best exercised And therefore David saith Psal 149 5. Let the Saints sing aloud upon their beds Thereby to testifie their cheerefull devotion and also to prevent that spirit of slumber Such as shall thinke to obtaine quiet rest by performing any such action in it selfe commendable they doe like unto that people which followed Christ not because of the miracles Iohn 6.26 but because they were filled with the loaves So these seeke him not that their faith may bee strengthened but that their bodies may bee refreshed The words then used by them being as a charme to gaine their purpose Wee know how dangerous the fall of Eutichus was Acts 20.9 and yet he was overcome by a deepe sleep against his will whereas these men doe addresse themselves thereunto stretching out the arme to welcome sleepe rather than to declare any fervent zeale And therefore as their offence is more hainous so their fall will bee greater And they also offend in an high nature who in publike are not able to watch one houre but doe settle themselves to their repose With what horror may they feare to be awakened by the sound of the last trumpe who have despised the voyce of God And how can they sleepe without suffering many things Mat. 27.19 because of that Iust Man whom they so unjustly contemne in their neglect of his Word exhibited unto them This example may be very forcible to convince the sluggard that folds his hands to sleepe Shall David improve the night to so happy an use and wilt thou consume both day and night in drowsinesse and sloth Also this good act here mentioned doth confute them that neglect the frequent use of so heavenly a duty Whereas the Apostle doth call upon us to sing with a grace in our heart Ephes 5 29. Col. 3.16 making melody unto the Lord. Quod essent soliti stato die antelucem convenire câ—â—menque Christo quasi Deo dicere secum invicem Plin. Iun. And in former time Christians were so fervent in spirit that they would not forbeare their spirituall songs in the night though their lives were brought in danger thereby Vide Tertullian in Apologet Buâ— now excepting that generall exercise in the congregation where there be too many abridgments of abridgements the use thereof is not so common as it ought to be In some families it is rare in other it is never thought upon In Societies and Colledges where friends meeting privately in the end of the best day Luke 24.32 perhaps their heart may burn within them while they talke about the Scripture but yet this holy duty is much omitted which if it were conscionably performed in a religious manner would bring comfort unto the soule by letting the servants of God to depart in peace Mat. 26.30 That hymne which Christ sang with his Apostles may bee a president unto all that are in authority to doe likewise David saith that the Lords song shall be with him in the night Psal 118.14 And that the Lord is his strength and his song which doth confound the foolish love-songs and unreasonable poems which are too much in request Songs in praise of Venus and the great Diana to the dishonour of their Creatour the shame of the maker striving to get a name though it be by their owne confusion This their way is their folly yet their posterity approve their sayings Of these we may say as Ronsard spake of the famous Du-Bartas He hath done more in a day then I have done in my whole life So David hath done more by this song in the night than they by the writings of their whole life Wherefore let them forbeare any longer to exceed their bounds in loose dittyes and wanton catches whereby youth is soone taken as appeares by the lewd songs so common in their night-walks more harsh to every good eare than the voyce of the raven or any prodigious bird VERSE VIII And my prayer unto the God of my life BEfore he spake of the blessings received God commanding his loving kindnesse in the day time Of his thanks-giving for those blessings singing praise unto God in the night And now he betakes himselfe unto Prayer for the continuance of those blessings and supply of all graces needfull Wee see our poore and weake estate in this life If God withdraw his right hand we fall and perish If he stop the fountaine of his mercies we dye for thirst Wee cannot say that we are rich
doth behold us as hee did his servant David delivering us out of all afflictions And in the performance of holy duties hee seeth us as he did Nathaneel Ioh. 1 48. sending his grace to prevent accompany and follow us Lastly when that which is perfect is come wee shall with Paul see him face to face 1. Cor. 13.12 Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11.7 If this outward light bee so delightfull then what an excellent blessing is it Num. 6. verse 25 26. when the Lord doth make his face to shine upon us and is gracious unto us and doth lift up his countenance upon us That wee may obtaine this benediction wee must bee obedient unto his Word When hee saith Psal 27.8 Seeke yee my face Our heart must answer Thy face Lord will I seeke Not for a short time 105.4 but continually And though a man beholding his naturall face in a glasse goeth away Iam. 1.24 straightway forgetteth what manner of man hee was yet wee when the Lord hath in mercy revealed himselfe unto us must not forget his benefits but ever bee mindfull of his gifts that are without repentance and alwayes praise him for the help of his countenance Wee cannot expect deliverance out of trouble unlesse God doth helpe us and when wee have received many blessings wee shall neither desire nor yet bee able to praise him without the helpe of his countenance So that God doth provide both the altar and the sacrifice Hee freely bestowes his benefits and he doth enable us to offer our thankes-giving and to praise him for the help of his countenance VERSE VI. O my God my soule is cast down within mee VVHen the disciples could not cure him that was lunaticke Mat. 17.15 they bring him to Christ himselfe So when David could not by his owne endeavours cast out this spirit of heavinesse hee seeketh unto the Lord of life to speake the word and this disease of his â—oule shall bee healed Haâ— he recovered his life of comfort by a stedfast hope in Gods mercy which hee laboured for in the formeâ— verse yet then hee must have confessed that it was the grace of God whereby iâ— was effected But that which is obtained by prayer doth come more immediately from Gods right hand and for such blessings wee are most thankfull Wee come with confidence unto the throne of grace when wee have used and doe use all good meanes to recover strength and assurance Doth God bid us doe some great thing we doe it willingly Doth hee command some small thing therein also we yeeld our cheerefull obedience I cannot give sufficient testimony unto these two so excellent duties serious examination of the soule and fervent praier unto the Lord The former like Mount Sinai full of terrour when by looking into our selves wee feare and tremble because of our guiltinesse having offended against the lawes of God The latter like Mount Sion Heb. 12. bringing consolation through Iesus the Mediator of the New covenant whose bloud speaketh better things than that of Abel In the right performance whereof our griefe is asswaged if we prostrate our selves before the Lord in prayer hee will raise up our soules with spirituall comfort This is the best refuge of every beleever whereby he hopeth for these sure mercies of David And this is the Sanctuary of a Christian from whence hee cannot bee taken and wherein hee shall not perish Our sorrow may often cause us to call upon the Lord but the soule is never cast downe so low as to bee wholly disabled from prayer Being of a sorrowfull spirit though wee cannot expresse our misery yet wee can speake in our heart unto the Lord. David being dejected by griefe and heavinesse doth yet lift up his soule in prayer and beleeves that God is his God though now hee seemed to forsake him When the winde doth blow wee wrap our garments more close about us in trouble wee draw neere unto God and labour to apply his promises unto our soules The childe walking in the darke doth adhere unto his father and takes hold upon him that hee may guide him and preserve him from danger So wee in the most disconsolate estate doe cleave unto the Lord and repose our whole confidence in his love Our Author in speaking of God and his soule doth thus plead for himselfe Thou art my God and I am thy servant Let the wicked bee clothed with shame and dishonour let their heart dye within them But redeeme my soule that I may not bee desolate because I trust in thee Deliver mee from all my feares and thou Lord shalt bee magnified which hast pleasure in the prosperity of thy servant My soule is thy gift it came from thee and I have given it unto thee How can it ascend towards thee when it is thus pressed downe by manifold troubles The waters are come in unto my soule Psal 69.1.2 I sinke in deepe mire where there is no standing My soule abiding in this darke house of earth lyeth prostrate upon the ground and is not able to rise Lord heare the poore and despise not thy prisoner Let thy salvation O God set me up on high let thy light and thy truth lead mee and bring mee unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles VERSE VI. Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Iordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Missar ANother help which David used to sustaine himselfe in this time of trouble was by calling to minde the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of Iordan Iosh 3. where God provided a passage for the Israelits preserved him when he passed over to shun Saul So now going over the river 2. Sam. 17.22 hee hoped that God would make a way for him to escape the danger that might come by Absalom Whereas hee nameth the land of Iordan and of the Hermonites he suggesteth to our remembrance the victory which God gave unto his people when they tooke the land that was on this side Iordan from the river of Arnon unto Mount Hermon at which time Og Deut. 3.8 who was of the remnant of the giants was overthrowne And thereby his hope might bee confirmed that although high-minded Absalom was swoln with proud conceits 1. King 20.11 and girding on his harnesse diâ— boast himselfe as if hee had put it off yet the right hand of God was not shortned noâ— his power diminished Buâ— hee will save and deliver all them that put their trust in him Now these three places here mentioned being the bounds of that countrey inhabited by the Israelites Iordan towards the East Hermon the North and the hill Missar the South hee might from thence have this comfortable assurance that God who was pleased to give unto his people so fruitfull a land after their tedious passage through the wildernesse would likewise in
And in the pursuite of any of them wee may well consider that wee our selves are pursued by the enemy of our soules Sed maiori cum fastu Vbi aspexit venientem ad retia cervum Venator tacito â—audia corde premit Bal. Castâ—â—o who doth more desire to take us than wee to take the Hart in our toyles And wee may at the same time both take and be taken as many are who turne their liberty into licentiousnesse If after this manner our thoughts be lifted up in the time of refreshing Meditabar aliquid ut si manus vacâ—as plenas tamen ceras reportarem Plini Iun. Vt quamvis nihil â—â—perim non nâ—hil â—eferam Idem though wee get nothing wee may gaine something and both the outward inward man may be renewed Wee deny not this exercise of hunting to bee very commendable Romanis solemne viris opus utâ—â—etan ae vitaeque membris Horat. venatâ—o Suevorum vtres alit Caeâ—ar the which was much used by many nations in ancient times who beside that helpe of sustenance found many other benefits thereby Their health was preserved their bodies were strengthened Hoc se labore durant adoâ—escentes Gormâ—â—â— Idem and themselves by the hardship endured the better fitted enabled for more serious employment especially for military discipline Venatu extendere vitam abnuit Silvis Non me ulla vetabunt fâ—â—gora Virgil. Manet sub Iove frigido Venator Horat Iugurtha in Salust Olim certabant cum â—â—gacibus feris cursu cum aâ—dacibus râ—bore cum cailidis astâ— Pli. â—â— in Panegyr Pâ—al 32.9 Illa iâ—sa 〈◊〉 delectant nâ—cesse est â—vâ—cent ab intentione operis destâ—nati Quintiâ—an lib. â—o cap. 1. Maleficium â—oâ—â—us quam artific um Io. Sarisb when by those beasts which they hunted they may learne from such as were swift-footed speed and agility from such as were daring valour and courage from such as were crafty stratagems and policy Moreover the minde being surcharged may thereby find some release BUT in the use of them wee must not bee as the horse which hath no understanding Our affections must be restrained that our delight therein bee not either inordinate or immoderate God created us for his owne service we must not bee so re-created by our sports as if we had beene framed for nothing else Heb 11.25 In so doing wee make them pleasures of sinne for a season and that very short and it is folly in any man to place his chiefe contentment in that which he cannot constantly enjoy Also it doth discover the unsufficiency of these sports to satisfie the heart of man when wee shall see many being satiated with their former delights to be ever desirous of new esteeming that to be tedious and irkesome which before seemed most pleasant Great forrests and wide desarts for beasts of chase have proceeded from undigested riches and boundlesse luxury Barbarae opulentiae haud ulla sunt maiora indicia quam magnis nemoâ—bus â—altibusque nâ—bâ—lium ferarum grâ—ges claâ—si Quin. Curt. Camden in Oxon. And it is a strong presumption of the vaine and riotous prodigality of this Kingdom The having more Parkes than all Christendome beside That prophecy of the Apostle may strike terrour and examination into every one of us where he saith That in the last dayes perillous times shall come 2. Tim. 3. â— when men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God Such as are too violent therein doe renounce that which is of more consequence and ought chiefly to bee sought after And those that are ravished with the pleasures of this pilgrimage Qui bestâ—arum cubiliâ—â—ndagat potiora deserit Segec Heb. 11.14.16 Cui peregrinatio duâ—â—â—non amat â—atriam Gen 25. â—7 declare plainly they doe not desire a better Countrey that is an heavenly Profane Esau is described to bee a cunning hunter and was thereby occasioned to sell his birth-right And afterward while hee was hunting he lost the blessing also finding no place of repentance though hee sought it carefully with teares Quam nunc â—ncâ—gnita vellent lustra sibi nuâ—losque datos venatibus annos Val. Flac. O pereant sylvae deficiantque canes Tibul. Take heed lest while thou art wholly devoted to thy delights our heavenly Father doth confer his blessings upon those his children which formerly sought unto him and so thy vanities end in vexation of spirit Then let your moderation herein bee knowne unto all men Phil. 4.5 Veloces iaculo cervos cursuquae satigat Acer an helaâ—ti similis Virgil. Spend not your whole strength and best endeavours so wastfully so unfruitfully Let not thy soule pant after the Hart but as the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so let thy soule pant after the Lord. There are two naturall causes of panting Wearinesse through overmuch labour Defatigatio ex laboris nimietate vel propter pulmonis parvitatem Causabon and so we being wearied with the restlesse troubles of this life should thereby bee excited to pant after the Lord. The other cause of panting is when the lungs are strait and small and not able to receive much breath which is differing from this for we pant after the Lord not when we are straitned in our owne bowels like the Corinthians 2. Cor. 6 12. but when our mouthes are open to cry unto him and our hearts are enlarged to seeke after him Then be you also enlarged and imitate this holy man David whom you may heare speaking of himselfe Psal 63.8 84.2 My soule followeth hard after thee My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal 119.20 My soule breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times Thus should wee from the beginning of our lives unto the end thereof pant after the Lord who is Alpha and Omega 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who breathed into our nostrils the breath of life Gen 2.7 That wise man among the Heathen Dici suspirium potest Hoc est aniâ—am agere Medici hanc medâ—tationem mortis vocant facit aâ—quando spiritus ille qâ—â—d saepe conatus est Senec. epâ—st â—5 being tormented with the disease of short breathing which he thought to be most painfull doth call it the Meditation of death wherein the breath doth often attempt to doe that which one day must bee done Then well may wee so often as we draw our breath bee put in mind of our latter end when the spirit doth returne to God that gave it And yet the greatest part of men are never sufficiently instructed to pant after the Lord untill extreme sickenesse and the pangs of death doe teach them whereas it the former part of our life had beene spent in numbring our dayes and remembring our Creator with what assurance and comfort might wee expect our dissolution Worthy Calvin Dâ—spâ—aeâ— Assidu è eâ—pâ—â—â—o dum me aâ—heliâ—us dâ—â—icâ—at who laboured of this
bee as an Oratory and therein doe thou appeare before thy Father who seeth in secret and will reward thee openly Mat. 6.6 Let thine house bee like a Church wherein thou and thine daily and duely in the day may serve the Lord and not like those Chappels in great buildings which are roomes of greatest necessity but of least use VERSE III. My teares have beene my meat day and night while they continually say unto mee Where is thy God BEfore he thirsted for the living God and now he saith That his teares were his meat So that untill such time as his soule shall bee filled with heavenly comfort he doth continue mourning My teares have beene my meate Whereby wee may understand the greatnesse of his sorrow which held him from taking his bodily sustenance My heart is smitten so that I forget to eate my bread Psal 102.4 And wee know that in the time of griefe the Elders of his house could not perswade him to eate meate with them 2. Sam. 12.17 Haec itaque sibi recordata est Postquam satigata â—uerat lacrymaudo Sc. Niobe Homer Il. 24. whereas the chiefe mourner in outward sorrow desired meate Or else his teares were his meat that is hee received the same strength and comfort by his teares that others did by eating He was fed with the bread of teares Psal 80.5 had teares given him to drinke in great measure And he had teares for his meate they were his whole repast so that no part of his food was wanting in them and that not onely in the day when others use to eate Psal 102.9 and when hee himselfe did mingle his drinke with weeping but his teares were his meat both day and night As Christ said to his Disciples I have meate to eate that yee know not of Iohn 4.32 so may every good Christian say I have meate to eate that the world know not of He findeth great comfort by the teares hee sheds which are the best evidence of Gods favour and love unto him For as it appeared that Elijah his sacrifice was accepted by the fire that fell 1. King 18.38 so it is evident that our sacrifice is accepted by this water that falleth downe Man is borne unto trouble as the sparks fly upward The crying of the child after birth is but the beginning of sorrowes Naturally wee are inclined to remorse in our selves Mollissima corda humano generi c. Iuvenal and compassion towards others And there bee many that have not power to retaine their teares Excidunt etiam retinentibus lacrymae Senec. Act. 22.28 but as the chiefe Captaine said that hee was not free borne but with a great summe hee obtained his freedome So wee by our birth are not able to shed such teares as David did but with many prayers wee obtaine this freedome that wee can mourne before the Lord. It is a signe of life in the childe if it cryes and it is a blessed testimony that wee are borne againe and have the life of grace in us when we cry unto the Lord and doe humble our selves in weeping and lamentation Teares doe accompany any vehement commotion Lacrymae omnis fere gravioris commotionis com tes Causabâ—â— and perturbation of minde True it is that any vaine and unworthy occasion doth produce teares sooner than godly sorrow which alone deserves them If wee knew rightly how to bestow them Nulli parcendum est rei magis quam huic cuius tam frequens usus est Sen. wee would not lavish them so fondly as wee doe In our selves wee are as withered branches having no sap nor moisture but from the root Christ Iesus The manifold troubles and miseries of this life doe make us to be obdurate Quantum est Helena quod lacrymat malum Sen. in Tro. and our hearts thereby come to bee harder than stones which give against the weather As Moses did smite the rocke twice Num. 20.11 Lam. 2.18 Terque quaterque manu pâ—ctus percussit honestum Vâ—rgil and the water came out abundantly so wee must often strike our hearts that teares may runne downe like a river day and night And wee must pray unto God who turneth the flint into a fountaine of waters Psal 114.8 to take out our hearts of stone and to give us hearts of flesh He it is that raiseth the springs from the depth of the earth Psal 104.10 and causeth them to run among the hils that worketh in us a broken heart and maketh the eye to runne downe with rivers of water Lam. 3.48 Wherefore as Achsah having received a South-land of Caleb her father Iosh 15.19 did sue unto him to give her also springs of water and hee gave her the upper springs and the neather springs so wee should pray unto our father to give us the upper and the neather springs even an heart bleeding for our sins Lam. 3.49 and an eye trickling downe with teares of repentance yea wee should resolve not to give rest unto our eies nor slumber unto our eye-lids untill that we have mourned for our transgressions And although those Iewes were accursed of God and themselves being bound neither to eate nor drinke till they had killed Paul Act. 23. v. 12. yet we shall bee blessed yea thrice blessed shall wee bee if wee bind our selves neither to eate nor drinke untill wee have fervently sued for this meate which was Davids diet most comfortable to the soule And as Adam in the sweat of his face was to eate his bread so wee by our importunate and effectuall prayer should seeke for this food of our soules which may bee compared unto Manna that came downe from heaven Exod. 16.14 and it is God that giveth this unto us that came with the dew of the night and this we receive with those teares which wee shed that ceased when they came to Canaan Iosh 5.12 and this shall cease when we come to the heavenly Canaan Revel 21.4 for then shall all teares bee wiped from our eyes Lastly as there was a golden pot of Manna kept in remembrance thereof so there is a bottle of our teares Psal 56.8 which God keepeth in remembrance thereof And that of it selfe may be the most powerfull argument to make us distill some teares because they are not as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up againe but God hath provided a flagon to put them in Also wee may consider the necessity of them Nec non etiam precor lympham Quoniam sine aqua omnis arida ac misera agricultura Varro that as the labour of the husbandman is vaine and fruitlesse without a plentifull raine to water the ridges thereof abundantly so other actions will be of small purport without these heavenly showers to refresh us when wee are weary Gen. 43.30 Wherefore as Ioseph sought where to weepe and he entred into his Chamber
and wept there so let us seeke some retired place Ier. 13.17 Nemo sibi tristis est Sen. that our soules may weepe in secret as Ieremiah did Worldly sorrow desireth to be manifest and appeare unto men but this godly sorrow is hidden from the eyes of men Siquis adest iussae prosiâ—unt lacrymae Martial none but our heavenly father seeth it And these our teares must not bee like the morning cloud or the early dew Hos 13.3 but as the former and the latter raine they must begin in our first conversion and they must continue so long as wee continue ever running down plenteously like Aarons oyntment Psal 133. which went down from his head to the skirts of his garments so wee should wish our head to bee a fountaine of teares Ier. 9.1 Cur non oculâ—s plures â—â—bis naâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Sen. in Tâ—â—b Cumâ—us fier didedertâ—n â—â—um duâ—taxat diem Senec. and that wee had many eies that we might sufficiently bewaile our iniquities And that not onely for a day which was the time set apart for sorrow but untill our eyes doe faile with teares weeping untill wee have no more power to weepe Lam. 2.11 1. Sam. 30.4 It is said of David that hee lift up his voyce and wept So wee when wee weepe must lift up our voice and our hearts also unto the Lord in prayer that so the teares which wee powre out may be as a drink-offering acceptable before him And though by reason of our teares wee bee not able to speake unto the Lord yet as Perseus wrought compassion in the people by his teares which stopped the passage of his speech Sed aliquoâ—ies dicâ—re incipientem cum lacrvmae praepeaâ—â—â—ent Livâ— so will the Lord have pitty upon us when through the greatnesse of our sorrow wee are not able to speake unto him Vocisque repens singulens apertum inercepit iter â— at yea then wee cry unto him with best successe when wee seeme to bee over-whelmed with our sighs and teares that we cannot distinctly utter our complaints before him Then also the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for Rom 8.26 as wee ought but the spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be expressed Omnia Iugentium officia solerter finxit sed lacrvmae procedere nolucrunt Apul. Lacrymaâ— non sponte cadentes effâ—dit gemâ—tasque expressque pectoâ—e laeto Lucan Other gestures of sorrow may bee acted but teares are not so easily forced and though they sometime bee drawne out to make some appearance of outward griefe yet in godly sorrow wee know they bee alwayes sincere and just wherein they doe as much excell the other as orien pearle doe common glasse But let us thinke them to bee serious without guile yet how superfluous are they for the most part as one spake of a sorry Comaedian Rhodophili comaedia adeo infulsa est ut misericordiam potius quam risum excitet Iâ—l Scal. Quanto risu proâ—equenda sunt quae nobis lacrimas educunt Sen. Quae causa indâ—gna serenos faedavit vulâ—â—s Virgil. that hee did stirre up compassion rather than mirth So we may affirme the contrary That the teares of many deserve thus to bee reproved rather than to be pittied And unto others that are more passionate and dolorous yet not squaring their sorrow according to the rule of the Word wee may speake as Paul did What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart Acts 22.13 as having a fellow-feeling of their weaknesse who for want of comfort and courage are weighed downe under the burthen of any calamity Wee should not bee ignorant of the devices of that wicked one who seeketh to deale by us as Cyrus did by those whom he besieged Herodot li. 1. hee divided the great river into diverse currents by the which hee passed over and subdued Babylon So our Enemy hopeth for victory by turning that streame of our teares which ought to bee for our sinnes into new passages If wee have any losse wee lament with unfained teares In the death of children wee refuse to bee comforted because they are not In the departure of our friends wee mourne as those that have no hope yea though wee part but for a time wee strive who should exceed in weeping whereas it would be our wisedome to keepe this river of teares within the proper bounds that it may not exceed the limits as Iordan doth in time of harvest and thereby hinder us from reaping our bâ—st benefit Canst thou mourne at some dolefull story yea it may be at some slanderous and malicious fiction Invida cur in me stimulasti musa Maronem Auson Qâ—od commentus est in odium Cartha ganiensium Foâ— Scal. as that of Dido killing her selfe And canst thou not mourne for thy sinnes both desperate and presumptuous whereby thou hast laboured to destroy thine owne soule Quod puduislet ipsum histrionis incommodis affection buâ—â—isericordem videri c. AE â—an As that cruell King arose and went from a Tragoedy confounded with shame and sorrow that hee should seeme to be touched with remorse at the false semblance of an Actor and yet be without any commiseration towards his owne subjects So wee may abhorre our selves that wee can dissolve into teares upon some frivolous occasion and yet bee without any contrition when it is most needfull Christ saith Mat 20.15 Is thine eye evill because I am good What eye so evill and so full of malice as that which is an enemy to the soule Wilt not thou mourn because God is gracious in giving his blessings in forgiving thy sinnes Rather let the bounty and long sufferance of God lead thee to repentance Strangulat inclusus dâ— lor atque â—or aestuatâ—ntus Ovid Doe wee finde such inlargement and quiet by those common teares wee let fall when we are surcharged and ready to breake for want of vent Fletus aerumnas levat Sen. then how great consolation may wee find by our godly sorrow when wee are as good grapes troden in the wine-presse and doe yeeld that precious liquor whereby the heart is cheered Est quaedam delendi volupâ—â—s prae ertimsi in amici sinu defleas Plin. Iun. Magis exurunt quos secretae lacerant curae Sen in Agam. Doe we receive solace and release in the sympathy of a friend unto whom wee powre out our complaint who pittieth us mingleth his teares with ours then how shall wee value these which wee shed in the presence of the Almighty Psal 39.12 who is not silent at our teares but speakes comfortably unto our soules Who is not like our friend that bids us bee warmed and filled not being able to give us those things we want But he doth warme our hearts with his blessings and fill our soules with comfort He hath delivered my soule from death Psal 116.8
may bee compassed about with that brazen wall of a good conscience and secured from the censures of uncharitable men as Mithridate is made of the viper so let us make that to bee our Antidote which is here spoken by those that had sharpened their tongue like a serpent Psal 140 3 judging our selves that wee may not be condemned by them In the time of prosperity let this bee ever sounding in thine eares Where is thy God And thou shalt bee kept from wrath and misery when they do wound thine heart while they continually say unto thee Where is thy God Had Eve thought upon these words they would have bin an ornament of grace unto her head and chaines about her necke Shee would not have beleeved the father of lyes before the God of truth but for want thereof shee miscarriâ—d by eating that forbidden fruite for which her soule longed Had David thought upon these words being on the roofe of his house hee would have said as hee did at another time The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy-worke Then would he not have defiled himselfe with her that was purified from her uncleannesse Neither should these his enemies have said unto him Where is thy God And although this affliction be grievous for the present yet wee receive many benefits thereby which may bee sufficient to deterre an evill speaker from that outrage Thereby wee are put in minde to examine our selves and to humble our soules for our former sinnes We know they could not speak thus without Gods permission Wee hope that the Lord will requite good for their cursing We mourn before him wee duely consider his dealing with us and fervently pray to be set at liberty as David when they spake thus unto him he had teares for his meate hee remembred these things and hee powred out his soule in him VERSE IIII. When I remember these things I powre out my soule in me FOrmerly hee powred out his teares and now hee powreth out his soule For as the body without the spirit is dead so our teares without the soule are dead also Wee know that young Ptolomy being in Cesars custody he wept before him Regius animus disciplinis failacisâ—imiâ— cruditus Hirt. But when hee was dismissed hee warred against him So there be too many that while they be under the rod of correction doe lament greatly feeling present anguish and fearing future torment But being set at liberty they return to their pollutions which sheweth plainly that though they shed many teares they did not with holy David powre out their soules Hee remembred the reproach of the wicked for how could hee forget that which was so often objected against him and this made his soule melt for heavinesse Psal 119.28 Iob 30.16 and be powred out upon him as Iob speaketh Hee remembred his happy estate which compared with the misery now suffered did augment his sorrow Lam. 2.19 and made him powre out his heart like water before the face of the Lord as Ieremiah doth counsell And hee hoped to bee restored unto his former joy and to finde comfort by prayer and therefore hee powred out his soule before the Lord as Hannah practised 1. Sam. 1.15 And hee was inlarged by trusting in Gods mercies Hee received a twofold benefit by considering the dayes of old the yeares of ancient times The one was to sustaine him in his trouble Psal 77.5.10 by remembring the yeares of the right hand of the most High who had dealt bountifully with him Heb. 11.21 And as Iacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his staffe So he in this weak estate did repose himselfe upon the grace and favour of the Almighty The other was to makâ—â—â—â—e sinnes to be as detestable unto him as they were abominable before God by calling to minde how gracious the Lord had beene towards him how unworthily hee had requited the Lords goodnesse and how great blessings hee had lost by the sinnes hee committed For I had gone with the multitude even with all the house of Israel being of one heart and of one minde But now I am constrained to flee with my houshold with strangers and exiles I went with them to the house of God But now I goe from the house of God Nor dare I suffer Zadok who should be a Seer to carry the Arke which ought to abide in the city with mee in this my private condition lest that anger of the Lord which smote Uzzah bee kindled against mee also I went with the voice of joy and praise playing upon all maner of instruments with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet blessing the people in the name of the Lord But now we weepe and have our heads covered I went with a multitude that kept holy-day unto whom I gave bread flesh and wine Yea I danced before the Lord and offered burnt offerings peace offerings But now I may feare that I am appointed as a sheepe for the slaughter and that the Lord will have no delight in me In this disconsolate estate hee flyes unto God by prayer And as he powred out his complaint before the Lord when hee was pursued by Saul Psal 142.2 and was delivered so now hee powred out his soule and thereby became more imâ—râ—gâ—â—ble than hee should â—ave beene by abiding in the strong hold of Zion Having found such safety therein he commends the use thereof unto others Trust in him at all times yee people Pâ—â—l â—1 8 Powre out your heart before him God is a refuge for us In the time of trouble wee must renounce all strength and worthinesse of our owne and then God will have mercy upon us Wee must empty our selves that so wee may be filled with heavenly comfort How glorious things are spoken of Prayer in the holy Scripture Moses would not let God alone untill hee had quenched that wrath which waxed hot against the Israelites Exod. 3â— 10 Iacob would not â—et Him goe Gen 32 28. untill hee had obtained a blessing and was â—â—â—refore called Israâ—l It is â—â—ported of Archimedes â—hat hee vainely presumed by â—is art hee could move the whole earth if he might have beene lifted up from it But wee know assuredly that righteous Elijah being cast downe upon the earth 1. King 18 4â— did move the heavens themselves Iam. 5 7. hee prayed earnestly that it might not raine Hee prayed againe and the heaven gave raine So that prayer may bee compared to the ladder which Iacob saw in his dreame Gen. 28.12 It was set upon the earth and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the Angels ascending and descending on it By prayer men made a little lower than the Angels doe ascend and the Angels doe descend for our protection to pitch their tents about us As Ionathan climbed up the sharpe rocke and subdued his enemies 1. Sam. 14.13 So by prayer wee overcome principalities and powers
reclaime himselfe and laboureth to bee righteous as Lot was Nisi forte his maximè dâ—ebus animo imperandum est ut tunc voluptatibus solus abstincat cum in illas omnis turba procubuit Senec. 1. Chro. 15.13 in a sinfull generation When the whole Herd of the vulgar people doe runne violently into the greatest dangers David and the multitude did begin to keepe this holy-day when Uzzah was smitten at which time the Lord made a breach upon them for that they sought him not after the due order Most men doe not seek after the Lord upon such dayes or if they doe it is rather with confusion than good order and therefore may feare a curse for doing this worke so negligently The Lord may now speake as hee did by the Prophet Isai 1.14 Your appointed feasts my soule hateth for you chuse your owne wayes and delight in your abominations It was the policy of the Benjamites to catch the daughters of Shiloh Iudg. 21.22 when they came out to daunce in their daunces at the feast of the Lord Iuventus Romana ad rapiendas virgines discurrit Livi. The like policy was used by Romulus upon the same occasion And thus very many both men and women are captivated and brought into bondage at that time when we celebrate our greatest deliverance who being carnally minded doe loosen the reines Nam remittere animum est amittere A. Gell. and walke after their owne lusts sinning that grace may abound and using their liberty for an occasion to the flesh The carriage of most men in our chiefe holy-daies may be compared to that of the Romanes in their Saturnalia But wherein they testifie their joy and thankesgiving for the nativity of Christ I am not able to discerne when as the pipe and harpe and wine are in their feasts But they regard not the worke of the Lord Isai 5.12 neither consider the operation of his hands If musicke bee so needfull at such a time then that people may bee coÌ„mended which did chant to the sound of the Viole Amos 6. â— and invented to themselves instruments of musicke like David But they profanely depraved his holy example for hee used them as helps to devotion not as provocations to luxury and wantonnesse We know that the minstrels were put forth before the dead was raised Mat. 9.23 And wee may bee assured that by them wee receive no furtherance towards our new life of grace If dauncing be so pertinent at this time Mat. 6.22 the daughter of Herodias may seeme to bee well nurtured but you remember what an evill effect was produced thereby If costly garments and outward ornaments bee the best expression of our joy then let us joyne her that tyred her head 1. King 9.30 Luke 16 1â— unto him that was clothed in purple and fine linnen as a fit couple for such an occasion If variety of meate can suffice to cheare the soule then that wicked nation might have beene spared which offended in fulnesse of bread Ezech. 16.49 If gaming and pastimes must necessarily be annexed hereunto then let us view that people which sate downe to eate and drinke Exod. 32.6 and rose up to play But wee have not thus learned Christ 1. Thes 4.6 being taught not to goe beyond and defraud our brother Nor to suffer filthinesse foolish talking or jesting Ephes 5.4 nor drunkennesse and revellings which are works of the flesh Let no man mistake mee as if in any of these above-named particulars which may bee used without mixture of evill I would derogate from the freedome and bounty of that man Psal 112.5 who doth guide his affaires with discretion But if wee ought to bring againe our brothers oxe Deut. 22.1 when it goes astray then much more our brother himselfe and to shew him a more excellent way that so hee may not bee lord of mis-rule by letting him that is unjust to bee unjust still Rev. 22.11 and him that is filthy to bee filthy still When his house which at all times and especially at this time ought to bee a Church shall rather be like unto Golgotha a place of rottennesse where Christ shall bee crucified afresh by all manner of loosenesse and profanation Wee are exhorted to hospitality because thereby some have entertained Angels Heb. 13.2 But in receiving such a dissolute company there is little hope of harbouring either Angel or Saint Most that come are not worthy and others would bee compelled to come in who in a modest sobriety doe forbeare that bold intrusion Wherefore when thy fountaines bee dispersed abroad Pro. 5.16 and thou dost draw out thy soule to the hungry Isa 58.10 remember especially the houshold of faith and them that bee industrious that their bowels may be refreshed by thy liberality which will bee as sleepe to the labouring man Eccles 5.12 sweet and comfortable Such was the practice of this man of God which hee now recordeth who after the people had joined with him in the service of the Lord hee gave unto them for the reliefe and sustentation of their bodies Also at another time when hee offered towards the building of the Temple after that hee and all the congregation had worshipped the Lord 1. Chron. 29. verse 22. and sacrificed sacrifices they did eate and drinke with great gladnesse It was a iust complaint in ancient times Olim mensis December fuit nunc annus Senec. that December was changed from being a month to be a yeare Wee cannot boast of any amendment in our dayes which would bee more usefull than the Gregorian reformation Some doe presume to prognosticate of the twelve months by their observation of the twelve dayes but we may with more safety iudge what the conversation of some men will bee the following yeare by marking their carriage during these festivals David speaketh here but of one holy-day which hee and the multitude kept whereas these men are willing to keepe a multitude of holy-dayes being fit to live in a common-wealth like unto that of the Athenians who had more daies of pleasure than of imploymeÌ„t I lures voluptat bus dicati quam negotiâ—â—si iâ—â—â—dâ—ci Causabon V tam sicut peregr nantes transiêâ—c Saâ—ist Such doe greatly offend in abundance of idlenesse passing their time as strangers here but without preparation for their long home Never calling to minde how many good dayes they have lost Amici diem perdidi Suet. without the least benefit either to themselves or others And yet as the rich man in the Parable who had many flockes and herds could not bee satisfied unlesse he might take that little ewe lambe of the poore man 2. Sam. 12.3 So these men are not contented with the great number of profane holy-dayes as they make them unlesse they may incroach upon the Lords Sabbath Whereof I will forbeare to discourse lest I might seeme to prevent
everlasting weight of glory wherefore acknowledge this to bee thine infirmity rebuke and smite thy selfe saying Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted in mee It must not bee denied that the soule is sometime disquieted when wee are not able to give any reason of it But then it behoveth us to make strict inquisition into our selves and to see if there bee any root of evill Iosh 7. like Achans wedge which is the cause of our trouble If there bee any Ionas lurking in the bottome which may be sufficient not only to cast downe the soule but also to cast away the soule by a tempest of Gods wrath When we find our selves to bee innocent from great offences and acquitted from regarding iniquity wee must with patience wait upon the Lord How unsearchable are his iudgements Rom. 11. verse 33.34 and his wayes past finding out For who hath knowne the minde of the Lord Iob. 11. Loe hee goeth by me and I see him not Hee passeth on also but I perceive him not Behold hee taketh away Deut. 32.39 who can hinder him Hee woundeth and hee healeth hee bringeth low and hee lifteth up Shall wee receive good at the hand of the Lord Iob 2.10 and shall wee not receive evill Have wee learned to abound and be full of spirituall comfort Phil. 4.11 and have we not learned to suffer need and be abased in the sense of our wants and confession of our unworthinesse who are lesse than the least of all his mercies God will have us to see that wee are not able to merit any of his blessings which are wholly in his own disposing It is not in man that walketh Ier. 10 23. to direct his steps There may bee many devices in his heart neverthelesse the counsell of the Lord that shall stand Pro. 19.21 Also wee must know that wee are now in our passage through the vast wildernesse of this troublesome world unto the heavenly Canaan And we were of all men most miserable if our greatest comforts were not reserved for a better life God doth first cast us downe and then raise us up to a glorious estate Though wee walke in the midst of trouble hee will revive us Light is sowne for the righteous Psal 138.7 97.11 and gladnesse for the upright in heart That which thou sowest is not quickned except it dye first 1. Cor. 15. verse 36. So although wee seeme to be without the life of ioy yet we hope to reape everlasting consolation As sorrowfull wee alwayes reioyce 2. Cor. 6.10 There is an outward apparence of griefe There is an inward substance of true ioy But I may well desist from speaking of this sadnesse whereof wee can give no reason when there are so many causes of heavinesse whether we looke upon the sinnes of other men with charitable compassion or upon our own offences with sorrowfull compunction Psal 119.136 How did David lament for the transgressions of the people And may not we take up the complaint of the Prophet Isai 1.6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundnesse in it How great is the number of them that have sold themselves to worke wickednesse and never thinke of their redemption by Him who paid the ransome for us Quibus contra naturam corpus voluptati anima oneri fuit Salust whose bodies serve them for pleasure and their soules are as a burthen such a burthen as will bee greater than they can beare ready to sinke them to the pit of destruction Yet who doth repent of his wickednesse saying What have I done Every one turned to his course Ier. 8.6 as the horse rusheth into the battell Which of them doth search their heart by the light of the Word as with a candle and say as justly they may inverting these words of David Why art thou not cast down O my soule and why art thou not disquieted within mee Wherefore leaving them unto this examination let us reflect upon our selves and as the Circle Circulus fortitudinâ— atque capacitate caeteris figuris praecedit Clavius which doth returne upon it selfe is the strongest and most capacious figure and may bee resembled by the shape of a mans body Vmbilicum esse centrum c. Iul. Scal. So if wee doe returne unto our selves and search our owne hearts wee shall become more strong and capable of grace The opinion of Aristotle is to bee preferred before that of Plato The one held Visio fit recipiendo Arist Emittendo spiritum animalem Plato Keckerm that our sight was by receiving the image of the object into the eye The other by sending out those opticke rayes unto the object It will be our wisedome to keepe within our owne bounds and to looke into our selves rather than to exceed in curiosity to discover the blemishes of other men Like her whom they feigned to have used her sight onely when shee went abroad Lamia in vimineum cophinum oculos exemptiles inâ—iciâ—bat Erasmus but not when shee returned to her owne house Wee ought rather to look into our selves with David who seemeth here to strike his hand upon his breast saying Why art thou full of heavinesse O my soule God onely knoweth the hearts of all the children of men but by this private search 2. Chron. 6.38 1. King 8.38 every man may know the sore and the griefe and the plague of his owne heart and may find that his foule is cast downe when it is surcharged with thorny cares which choke the good seed O curvae in terris animae coelestâ—um inanes Persius and maketh him to become unfruitfull Can that souldier fight the good fight of faith who intangleth himselfe with the things of this life Habak 2.6 Woe to him that ladeth himselfe with thicke clay Such a man may in vaine beate the ayre but hee cannot runne with patience unto the race that is set before him Heb 12.1 unlesse hee doth cast aside every weight that may hinder him therein At the time of death wee see how dangerous and offensive it is by clamour to interrupt the soule in its departure from the body O that wee could as heedfully practise this during our whole life 1. Cor. 15.31 Every good man with Saint Paul doth dye daily being at all times ready to yeeld up his spirit How prudent should wee bee to avoyd all meanes of disturbance that our soule may not bee vexed and disquieted within us as it is oftentimes through distrust and infidelity when there is an inward combat betweene the flesh and the spirit the one lusting against the other Gal. 5.17 and being contrary the one to the other Gen. 25.22 like Iacob and Esau strugling in the wombe Whereas if Christ did dwell in our hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 wee should overcome the world and bee delivered from this vexation
Revel 3.17 and increased in goods and have need of nothing For in our selves wee are wretched and miserable Going out full in the morning we may be brought home againe empty in the evening Having in the day given thanks unto God who filleth us with his blessings before night we pray unto him for our dayly bread In our thankfull acknowledgment of the benefits we doe enjoy we humbly pray unto God to renew his wōted mercies and to multiply his favours upon us How can we testifie our due valuation of the bounty and goodnesse of the Almighty but by ascribing all glory unto him when our soules doe blesse the Lord and all that is within us doe praise his holy name How can we better declare the sincerity and devotion of our thanks-giving than by our fervent prayer for the increase of those graces for which we desire to give thanks He that is in want may move compassion He that is gratefull will soone obtaine reliefe Can we presume to beg any thing of God not having rightly priced those blessings which we have formerly received from his bountifull hands David was so far from forgetting any benefit that God had bestowed upon him that in this prayer he doth insinuate a dutifull remembrance of Gods gracious dealing with him in that he calleth Him The God of his life who breathed into him the breath of life who in sicknesse healed his diseases and brought up his soule from the grave Who delivered him from the Beare and the Lion and that lion-like man Goliah and that Fox who sought after the blood of this Lambe and yet confessing him to be innocent And here from this ravening Woolfe Absalom who in the morning devour'd the prey slew his brother Amnon And now thought to divide the spoyle by casting his father out of his throne into his sepulchre laboured to have the Sun turned into darknesse that himselfe might have shined like a blazing meteor But God was the God of his life The living the living he shal praise thee as I doe this day Having received so great a blessing he doth use it to the praise of his name And from Him he hoped for that better life when this should be finished for which Bathsheba prayed That the King might live for ever Our life being a good gift doth come from the Father of lights In him we live and move and have our being And whether we live or dye we are the Lords Then let us live to his glory and bee willing to forsake all things to follow Christ and to lose our lives that we may save them at the last day not like the unregenerate who wil preserve their lives though they destroy their soules and will keepe their goods though they spend their lives as Ananias did Act. 5.5 Mat. 21.19 being like the fig-tree which brought forth the broad leaves of outward profession whereby hee thought to cover his nakednesse Gen. 3.7 But wanting sound fruit he was blasted by the breath of divine justice and withered away By this example of David we may be taught unto whom to direct our prayers Even unto the God of our life who hath given us so great a blessing is able to give us all things requisite for our good How voyd of all sense and understanding are they that neglect praying unto the eternall and everliving God and doe pray unto Saints which are dead which never were living and doe represent their prayers unto images in a language equally unknowne to the idoll and themselves Psal 115 8. They that make them so is every one that trusteth in them VERSE IX I will say unto God My rocke why hast thou forgotten me why goe I mourning because of the oppressions of the enemye DAvid doth here premeditate what he should say when he comes to speake unto the Lord in prayer And in so doing he becomes a good example unto us duely to consider our necessity that we may performe this holy duty with the more reverence and thereby obtaine the more comfort As wee use to examin our selves before we come to the Lords supper where we are made the partakers of the body blood of Christ So likewise we ought to search our hearts before prayer at which time we partake of the benefit of his sufferings Mat. 6.7 And then we must omit vaine repetitions for we are not heard for our much speaking A few words with fervency zeale are better than ten thousand without importunity holinesse The Pharisee made a great sound in his prayer But the Publican like a vessel full of pretious liquor strikes himselfe upon the breast drawes out these few words God be mercifull to me a sinner Our care must be to fitt our prayer unto the present occasion And that estate wherein we then are Sometime the soule is lifted up with joy and then there is cause of thanksgiving and praysing the name of the Lord for his manifold blessings Sometime it is weighed downe with sorrow and then we must be humbled in confession of our owne vnworthinesse and labour to strengthen our selves by trusting in Gods mercyes All helps are good that may either assist us therein or enable us thereunto But above al the Holy Spirit which teacheth all things and sheweth unto every man the griefe of his owne heart leading him in the way of life By the which we must be guided instructed all the dayes of our lives In comparison whereof all other are but blind guides And not fitted to every particular exigent Paul being unable to see was led by the hand Act. 9.8 But after the scales fell from his eyes he needed no such helpe And that other blind man cured by Christ Iohn 9.21 being of age was able to speake for himselfe They that are strong men in Christ doe poure out their complaint before the Lord Yea the new-borne child doth cry though not able to speake In the beginning we cry unto the Lord in sighs and grones And afterward growing from milke to strong meate as the flax which at first did but smoke in the end doth burn bright wee are able to make expression of our want When Zacharias his mouth shall bee opened Luk. 1.63 and his tongue loosed that hee could speake to the praise of God the writing table may bee laid aside Naturally wee are all borne with this infirmity and unlesse God put forth his hand and touch our mouth as hee did Ieremiahs Ier. 1.9 wee are not able to speake unto him Let us then covet this excellent endowment and pray unto God to open our lips and to touch our tongue with a coale from the altar that we may obtaine this originall and fundamentall blessing whereby so many graces are derived unto us and wee come to bee built up in our most holy faith In our voyage to heaven take heed of these two dangerous rocks Either to withdraw the shoulder Nehem. 9.29 laying