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-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
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
1. Iohn 5.4.5 Now we are come to touch upon the true cause of Davids heavinesse where I should willingly goe backward with Iaphet and by silent charity cover this one infirmity of him whom as Saint Matthew joyneth with Abraham Mat. 1.1 so wee may honour as a Father of the faithfull Yet because that hee testifieth as much against himselfe And his being thus cast downe may warne those that stand by faith to take heed lest they fall and may shew unto those that are downe the way how to rise againe I may not without prejudice passe it over David confesseth that his feete were almost gone his footsteps were well nigh slipt Psal 73.2.21 and his heart was grieved through distrust of Gods providence when hee saw the prosperity of the wicked In the time of persecution 1. Sam. 27.1 Labascentem inclinantem ipsius fidem exprimit Iun. he said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul And nere being surprized by the same wavering diffidence hee speaketh I shall now perish one day by the hand of Absalom whereas by faith hee might have beene perswaded that neither Principalities nor Powers Rom. 8.38 nor any other creature should bee able to separate him from the love of God who will not suffer the rod of a wicked son to rest upon the lot of a righteous father Wherefore let us not please our selves by any vaine conceits of our owne ability Psal 125. Rom. 15.2 but in lowlinesse of minde esteeme holy David much better than our selves Phil. 2.3 If this naturall branch so deepely rooted and established in all graces was yet notwithstanding thus tossed and carried about by the winde of infidelity in this dreadfull storme of Gods displeasure then how should wee poore unstable soules who were wild by nature Rom. 11.24 and are now graffed into the good olive tree feare and tremble lest when the winds doe blow and temptations arise wee who have not by faith laid sure hold that wee might partake of the root bee broken off from continuing in the goodnesse of God And yet how doe wee live like the people of Laish at quiet and secure Iudg. 18 27 not fortifying against the assault of the enemy In this our day of liberty and visitation Luk. 19.41 the things that belong to eternall peace are hid from our eyes which are dazeled with the bright sun shine of prosperity so that our sight is imperfect Mark 8.20 like unto the blind mans who saw men as trees walking But when Christ made him looke up the second time hee saw every man clearely At first sight wee thinke our selves to bee as strong as the oake but when God doth breake us with a tempest or wee doe frequently looke up in prayer Iob. 9.17 to have our darkenesse inlightened wee then come to discerne plainely that wee are fraile men our strength is not the strength of stones Iob 6.3.22 nor our flesh of brasse yea then wee complaine that our griefe is heavier than the sand of the sea and our soules are cast downe within us Now the same graces doe both prevent and cure this infirmity of the soule By faith wee are kept from this discouragement The prudent woman is not afraid of the snow Pro. 31.21 for all her houshold are clothed with scarlet So they that are of the houshold of faith and have their garments dipt in the bloud of the Lamb shall not need to feare the winter of persecution and trouble Also such as have beene overtaken in a fault and are ready to faint through weaknesse yet if their hope bee firme they shall recover And God will restore them to the joy of his salvation Act. 27.23 As the Angel stood by Paul in the night after hee had beene exceedingly tossed with a tempest when the sun in many dayes had not appeared and assured him of a gracious deliverance Assiditè nata mas inter spâ—metusque fluctus Lipsius So our hope doth stand by us in our greatest perplexity when the Lord doth seeme to hide himselfe and withdraw the beames of his mercy and sealeth unto our soule that notwithstanding our present calamity He will make his face Revel 10. â— which is as it were the Sunne to shine upon his servants And wee shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance psal 31.16 The enemies of David seeing him in misery were ready to say 3.2 41.8 That there is no help for him in God and now that hee lieth hee shall rise up no more So our corrupt nature being the greatest adversary doth suggest unto us when the soule is cast downe it is a signe that it is cast out of the sight and favour of God When it is disquieted it is a fore-runner of despaire by reason of our grievous sinnes as for our hope it is but the dreame of men waking Plato dicebat spec vigiâ—â—tium hoâ—â—num esse somnia and as hee that thinketh hee eateth is hungry when hee awaketh so thou thinkest to be sustained by hope which in the end will vanish away Call to mind thy former sinnes which have cryed for vengeance looke upon thy present afflictions and acknowledge thou dost receive the due reward of thy deeds Then what place is left for hope of deliverance Why shouldest thou adde to thy sufferings by thine expectation of freedome Can the Divine justice so highly incensed bee so soone appeased Shall not the God of truth bee just and righteous in multiplying his judgements upon thee who wouldest for ever have multiplieâ— thy sins against him What hope of favour to be shewed unto thee who hast deserved so great wrath and hast not merited the least mercy Doth not thine owne conscience accuse thee and thy sins beare witnesse against thee and shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right in thy condemnation Hast thou not served sinne and must therefore receive the wages of unrighteousnesse death and destruction Now in this combate the beleever is armed with hope of salvation for an helmet 1. Thes 5.8 Ephes 6.16 with faith for a shield and breast-plate wherewith hee is able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked Being stung by the old Serpent and feeling both the guilt and smart of his sinnes hee looketh with the eyes of Faith and Hope unto Christ Iesus being lifted up who powreth wine and oyle into our wounds and makes us inwardly glad outwardly cheerefull and then doe we praise him for the help of his countenance What a great encouragement is it to the servant when his Master doth looke upon him in the conflict And though in striving wee sometime take a foyle yet then the Lord doth turne and looke upon us as he did upon Peter Luke 21.61 and being sorrowfull for our infirmity wee become strong Also in our heavinesse either for sinnes past or present misery the Lord
in the overthrow of those that are good How did the heart of Herodias dance within her for joy that Iohn was put to death with whose head they sported as with a Tennis-bal How did the fire wherein the Martyrs were burned warme the very hearts of their persecutors unto whom the light thereof seemed more glorious than the Sunne in the firmament Confugiâ—nt ad homines Plini Cantu mulcatur animal stupidum Iul. Scal. Aut pâ—niccae septum formidine pennae Virgil. As the Hart seeketh reliefe from man when it is distressed and is deluded by a pleasant sound and readily driven into the nets and taken so there is nothing more easie than to deceive a good man who many times reposeth confidence in those that prove treacherous unto him in charity believing all things hoping all things not having that worldly wisdome that others have But as the best and surest refuge of the Hart when his might is empaired and hee beginneth to descend and bee spent then to proffer and desire the river so it is thy wisedome in affliction early to seeke unto the Lord who redeemeth thy life from destruction Psal 103.4.5 and satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles In the time of our necessity there is no helpe for us but onely in the name of the Lord. All other succour reliefe will prove as weake and impotent as the broken reed of Egypt was to the Israelites or the hornes of the Altar to Ioab where wee may be taken and utterly destroyed If we trust to riches we provide for our selves Luke 12.19 as the rich man did that bade his soule live at ease because hee had plenteous increase of the fruits of the earth whereas the soule of man liveth not by bread therefore being famished may that night bee taken from him If we trust to wisdome and policy when the houre of darknesse commeth wee may with Ahitophel set our house in order but what mansion have wee provided whereinto our soules may bee received In the time of our sicknesse if we seeke to the helpe of man alone as Asa did wee may well expect the same successe that he had If we thinke our house to be our castle to defend us from storme and violence know Iob 1. that Iobs heire had as good an habitation How soone may wee with Nebuchadnezzar be driven away exposed to the dew of heaven Dan. 4.33 Miserable comforters are they all for who is God save the Lord Psal 18 3â— but let my soule long after thee O God Observe the benefit wee have by affliction when the winter of persecution and trouble doth kindlâ— our affection and stirre up in us a desire and appetite towards heavenly things Iâ— poverty was to bee liked because it shewed the fidelity constancy of our friends then may we esteeme this to be a great commodity that wee have by our affliction discovering not other mens but which more neerely concernes us our owne hearts It makes us see our poore weake estate and to seeke for strength and a rich supply of heavenly graces Our want doth cure our wantonnesse and calleth us who are troubled about many things to seeke that one thing needfull which is yet wanting Before wee were afflicted wee went astray like the Prodigall and walked in our owne inventions But when wee come to suffer hardship and are ready to dye for hunger wee begin to thinke of returning to our Father Et sua quemque advigilare sibi iussit fortuna premendo Manil Our calamities lying heavy upon us doe awaken us out of the sleepe of security and are as beneficiall as the mighty tempest was unto Ionah bringing us to true confession of our sins to fervent prayer unto the Lord our God who doth restore us unto the joy of his salvation If our tryalls have this happy and comfortable effect wee may safely conclude It was good for us wee were afflicted as David here who being hunted as a Partridge in the mountain is thereby excited with the more vehemency to seeke after the Lord. To seeke after the Lord wee have great encouragement who is a God nigh at hand ready to heare and deliver us in the day of trouble who is found of those that sought not after him that asked not for him Then doubtlesse will he in mercy reveale himself unto us if we cry unto him And our extremity is Gods oportunity when all other helpe is vaine then we see it to bee the Lords right hand that our soule is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler Then we are bound for ever to be thankefull unto the Lord who saveth us out of all our troubles Then we are taught to put our whole confidence in him having tasted and seene how good the Lord is in assurance that wee shall not want any good thing if wee seeke him The ungodly are not so but are like the chaffe which the winde driveth away having no harbour of safety being more destitute than any bruit beast The foxes have holes the conyes have rockes the Hart desires the river no creature but hath some place of shelter when it is distressed whereby it is relieved But these men though they have beene unjust with the Steward Luke 16.4 yet wanting his providence have not any house whereinto they may be received living within the reach of Gods might Eucherius ad Valerian out of the protection of his love Being outlawed from his favour and custody they may feare with that fugitive and vagabond Cain Gen. 4. that every one that findeth them shall slay them When the sound of Gods justice shall bee more terrible than the voyce of thunder and their owne guilty conscience like lightening shall strike them with horrour and amazement will they with that unworthy Emperour which hid himselfe under the bed Ad maiora tonitrua fulgura sub lectum se condere solebat Caligula Sueton seeke a covert to keepe them from the presence of the Almighty No their nakednesse and shame will then appeare to God themselves Therefore acquaint thy selfe with the wayes of the Lord seeke him while he may be found let thy heart be fixed and prepared Mat. 25.6 that though at midnight there be a cry made though thy danger and trouble bee both great and sodaine thou maist with the wise virgins bee received into the favour tuition of the most high Art thou oppressed and disquieted by an evill sonne who in stead of fulfilling his name or thy hope in being the Fathers peace proves contrary like Absalom the Fathers war seeking to thrust thee forward unto thine end Eucherius and desires thy death though hee received his life from thee Quis non patrisuo supremum diem ut â—nnocens sit optat c. Senec. Quid enim maius dare numina possunt Iuven. Mat. 8.21 who would willingly joyne
I shall give him that is 6.35 hee that beleeveth shall never thirst but out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters 7. 38. 4.14 The water that I shall give him shall bee as a Well of water springing up unto life everlasting Then spring up O well sing yee unto it Num. 21.17 and let thy soule thirst after him Iohn 19.28 who in his passion said I thirst who thirsted after us our salvation who drank off the dregs of the cup of his Fathers wrath that we might drinke the cup of blessing By the cluster of grapes that the spyes brought they might judge of the fruitfulnesse of the land And by the first fruits that the Lord giveth us in this life wee may in part discerne what the whole vintage will be hereafter Even by tasting wee see how good the Lord is Psal 34.8 who doth sustaine us in this our pilgrimage 107.5 when we are hungry and thirsty and our soule faint within us if wee cry unto him hee will relieve us And as the Lacedaemonians doe never satisfie their children with food Ita liberos alunt ut nunquam satientur Heraclides that thereby they may learne to endure hardship So those blessings which God giveth if rightly used doe make us the more to thirst after him And to speake as the Church doth stay me with flagons Cant. 2.5 knowing that the best wine is reserved untill afterward Iohn 2.10 and the greatest comforts untill that better life For this kingdome wherein wee live wee may speake as the Lord doth of Canaan Deut. 11.10 that it is not like the land of Egypt which thou wateredst with thy foot as a garden of herbs But a good land a land of brookes of water of fountaines and depths that spring out of valleyes and hils wee have enjoyed the waters of life and the plenteous means of salvation True it is there was a time when the three yeares of Elijah his drought were doubled upon us and therein the burning heate of persecution But as Isaac repaired those wells of Gen. 26.18 water that had been stopped by the Philistims which Abraham his father had formerly digged so our Deborah of ever-blessed memory hath opened those fountaines which her father had digged Isai 12.3 since which time with joy may wee draw water out of the wells of salvation Then let us take of the water of life freely Revel 22.17 Milites religione pluviâ magis usi â—am rati sese dâ—ts immortalib curae esse Salust And as that army which would not drinke but only of the raine comming as they thought from the divine providence to relieve them So let our soules be enlarged in seeking of spiritual blessings thirst after the Lord â—sal 143.6 as a thirsty land which opens it selfe to receive the hevenly showers Eucherius We may reade how thankful great Kings have beene unto those that in their thirst did refresh them Caesar in Senec de ben Xerxes in AElian Artaxerxes in cod and give them water Then how should we praise the Lord for giving us his Sonne Christ Iesus the fountaine of all grace and comfort who came downe like raine upon the mowne grasse Psal 7â— 6 And though it be the commendation of David that mercifull King that he would not drinke the bloud of those three mighty men that went in jeopardy of their lives 2. Sam. 23.16 and brought water unto him when hee longed for it yet will it be our condemnation if wee doe not drinke the bloud of our Saviour which not by the hazzard but by the losse of his life hee hath given unto us And surely wee have great encouragemeÌ„t to thirst after the Lord For it is a blessed thing to thirst after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 and we have a promise that wee shall bee filled And as by outward thirst some are recovered from diseases of the body Miraberis quosdam fame ac siti curari Senec. so by this heavenly thirst wee are cured of all maladies and troubles both of soule and body Wherefore as new-borne babes let us desire the sincere milke of the word that wee may grow thereby It will bee as strong drinke unto us when wee are ready to perish Prov. 31.6 and as wine when our hearts are heavy But most of us are so farre from this happy thirst that we are ready rather with those stifnecked Israelites to murmur against the Lord Our stomacks are so full that wee loath the honey comb the word of life which should be sweeter unto us than the honey and the honey comb Like those that have the jaundies Mel omnibus dulce â—etericis tamen c Alex. Aphrodys that which is most pleasant seemeth bitter and offensive unto us And as the sheepe Oâ—e aperâ—o vento recâ—pâ—entes fâ—â—m suam se 〈◊〉 Val. Mâ—â— whose thirst is quenched by the winde we are better satisfied with vanities and more contented with our inventions than with the water of life How justly in regard of our contempt may the Lord remove those blessings from us turn our water-springs into dry ground Psal 107 â—4 and this fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein â—ai 65.13 When his servants shall drinke but ye shall bee thirsty and as the old Historian speakes of a people that perished for want of water Psylli interciderunt Auster eis omnia receptacula aquarum arfecerat Herodot so this nation may bee consumed for want of this living water which now wee so lightly esteeme at which time Nocturnum â—â—câ—pere roâ—em cogeâ—tutur Caesar bel Civil like those that have beene constrained to receive the dew of the night we may earnestly desire the least drop of heavenly comfort and not obtaine it Pandunt orasiti nocturnum que aâ—â—a captant Lucan If wee duely consider wee will approve the wisedome of David in this choise which hee made to thirst after the living God Whose mercyes never faile but they are renewed every day with whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of change whereas all things else are subject to alteration There is no life in them unlesse it proceed from the Lord If wee repose confidence in any worldly benefit wee may as soone be destitute as Hagar was Gen. 21.15 when her bottle was empty there had beene a worse casting out than the former unlesse the Lord had opened her eyes to see the wall of water Doe wee receive sustentation and comfort by any outward gift As the brooke Cherith dryed up 1. King 17.7 because there had bin no raine in the land so wee shall presently be at our wits end if the Lord withdraw his mercies from us Yea thougâ— wee have abundance of these things here below though our well bee deepe like Iacobs our river doth overflow the bankes like Iordane how soone
excited to seeke for heavenly blessings and spirituall graces VERSE II. When shall I come and appeare before God IT was Davids resolution One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seeke after Psal 27.4 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life Here you see the performance thereof He doth not grieve for the losse of any outward benefit nor so much as mention his former estate but onely desireth to appeare before God whereby he hoped to obtaine that for which his soule thirsted It is true that God seeth us in all places Whither can I goe from thy face O Lord or whither can I flee from thy presence But his favour and loving countenance is chiefly revealed in the assembly of the Saints Cant. 6.2 My beloved is gone downe into his garden to the beds of spices God is present in the congregation where the prayers praises of his children are offered up as sweet odours before him In it selfe the presence of God may seeme a cause of horrour and feare to us sinners who are as stubble be him a consuming fire Wee know that the Israelites were afraid to come nigh Moses Exod. 34.30 unto whom the Lord had appeared Naturally we are ready to hide our selves from the presence of the Lord God â—en 3.8 But in Christ we have confidence and free accesse and having found him a loving Father we for ever pray Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us Psal 4 which wee desire above any good above all the good in the world The father in the parable said Luk. 15.31 Sonne thou art ever with mee and all that I have is thine So we by presenting our selves before the Lord come to be made partakers of all his blessings Thereby wee are gathered under his wings of providence and mercy Mat. 13.48 Thereby wee are within the compasse of the net and shall be taken with the good Thereby wee have communion with God and his Angels and one with another Then let us come and appeare before God The children of this world are wise in their generation If they have hope of benefite or advancement from any superior how diligent will they be in their attendance Oâ—arem ut oâ—â—endas me 〈◊〉 esse hominâ—â— non ingâ—atum Poâ—â—â— an Nâ—â— indignus quâ—m tu alâ—qâ—â—ndo respicâ—â— How desirous to bee ever in view How politicke in that which they give chusing some Present of use and remembrance Happy were we if wee were thus provident for our soules Then would we set our selves before the Sunne of Righteousnesse the light whereof would be sweet and pleasant unto our eyes Our darke understandings should be illuminated and we made glorious within But if wee neglect such precious means of salvation our danger is greater than that of Queene Esther Esther 4. shee feared to perish by a temporall death because shee went unto the King not being called We may feare to perish both body soule unlesse wee doe come unto the great King who hath so often called us who hath held out the golden scepter of his word unto us Absalom having lived two yeares in Ierusalem and not seene the King shewed the dutifull affection of a good sonne in this particular 2. Sam. 14.32 that hee had rather bee put to death if there were any iniquity in him than to bee any longer deprived of the sight of his father By which example wee may learne to value this royall priviledge that wee have in appearing before God And to count it more deare unto us than life it selfe And yet most men do not value this singular prerogative that God hath given them even the whole world abideth in this sinne There was a day Iob. 1. when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord but the sonnes of men care not for the seaventh day nor any other day wherein to present themselves before him Some there are that be worse than the three guests invited to the marriage Luk 14.18 for they pretended that they could not come these absolutely deny and say they will not come and before that they will come they will pay the earnest peny here and reserve the greatest payment untill the last For with what comfort can they expect to appeare before God in that great day who never cared to appear before him in their life yea rather than they would then appeare they wil call to the hils to cover them There be others that are so encumbred with the affaires of this life that they little thinke of appearing before God untill that hee doth punish them for that neglect As the Law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ by instruction Gal. 3.24 so the judgements due by the Law for our sinnes have beene as our Schoolemaster to bring us unto Christ by correction When wee have beene as wanton children addicted unto play and omitting that which wee ought most seriously to intend the Lord hath dealt with us as hee did by Lot and his wife being mercifull unto them Gen. 19.16 while they lingred and were backward in departing from Sodom God sent his Angels which layd hold on them and brought them forth While wee have beene unwilling to forsake our sinnes and ascend up into the holy mountaine God hath sent his Angels with their swords drawne some great plague which hath cut off many thousands in the way that could not then come and appeare before God and hath scourged others into the TeÌ„ple which before were carelesse in that duty though formerly wee would not say with Samuel Speake Lord for thy servant heareth then wee have beene enforced to say Heare Lord for thy servant speaketh Being poore wee have spoken supplications wee have humbled our soules in fasting and mourning and the Lord in wrath hath remembred his wonted mercies Some there bee that come abruptly without due preparation as if they were brought thither unawares by some greaâ— strong wind 1. King 19 â— but the Lord was not in that winde They looke for the same immediate and miraculous assistance of Gods spirit which the Apostles had who tooke no thought what to speake Mat. 10.19 for it was given them in the same houre So they take no thought what they heare nor how they heare thinking it shall bee given them in the same houre Their customary performance in the first entrance I cannot relate without indignation how rude and insufficient it is doth appeare unto all men Will God regard that prayer which thou thy selfe dost so little regard Whereas thy Soliloquie then though performed with the best reverence should be but as the Amen to thy private devotions that went before judge in your selves is it comely so to doe Holy David who so earnestly desired to appeare before God when hee had that liberty granted unto him did hee rashly and unadvisedly thrust himselfe into
Gods presence Hee whose musicke was so coelestiall did he not first bring his instruments into tune and then praise the Lord upon them Psal 26 6. Hee first washed his hands in innocency then did compasse thine Altar O Lord. There bee many that doe lend their bodily presence but doe not give their soules unto God Some that have not entred into Iobs covenant with their eies and they gaze after vanity others that minde earthly things and they rob God of his honour making the house of prayer a denne of theeves Mat. 21.13 And â—hough Christ when he came as Man did correct those money-changers with the rods of men onely making a scourge of small coards to drive them out of the Temple Iohn 2.15 yet at his second comming hee will whip them with scorpions even with that woâ—me of conscience which never dyeth How shall any sinner presume to appeare before the Lord before whom all things are naked and manifest unlesse he resolve to abandon all wickednesse Hee seeth thee as if thou wert then acting thine hainous sinnes And if the Lord did threaten to punish a secret sin before all Israel before the sun 2. Sam. 12.12 then how terrible wil he be in taking vengeaÌ„ce upon those daring presumptuous sinners who make that most holy place a stage of wickednes a cage of all uncleannes Therefore let us renounce all sinne and with Cornelius present our selves before God to heare all things commanded of God Let me not seeme uncharitable I would be sorry to offend the least of those little ones There bee some that desire frequently to come and appeare before God which is a good gift and commeth downe from the Father of lights But then you must take heed lest that tares grow up in lieu of the good seed If any shall think the worke done that is being present in the Congregation to be a worke meritorious it proceeds from that old leaven of popery and must bee purged out So often as God suffereth thee to appeare hee giveth another talent which being well used will further thine accompt but otherwise increaseth thy condemnation Thinke that which thou hearest to bee of the nature of a prophecy which is never fulfilled but by thy practice Be not like he blinded horse that goeth â—lwayes in the same compasse 2. Tim. 3 7. It is good to bee ever lea ning but it is most dangerous to bee never able to come to the knowledge of the truth and if not to the knowledge then much lesse to the practice of it Though custome in sinning takes away the sense of sinne yet let not our ill doing of good have the same bad effect Cursed will hee be that doth the worke of the Lord negligently and a surfet by the abuse of Gods blessings must needs bee mortall The continuall sound of the Word hath beene like the Catadupes of Nilus to make us deafe And the frequent usâ— of it hath rebated the edge of our affection so that wee doe not hearken unto the Lord though the Lord hath beene pleased to hearken unto us As yet the Lord hath been slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Mal. 3.16 not rewarding us according to our iniquities Psal 103. For a long time we have enjoyed this freedome to come and appeare before God The Word hath continued as long as man liveth the years of the Gospel have beene threescore yeares and tenne and if those yeares be made up fourescore wee must wonder at the Lords mercy Now is the acceptable time and the day of salvation So long as wee have this blessing to approach into his presence there is hope of pardon and reconciliation Esther 7 8. 6.13 but if once our faces bee covered as Hamans was that we may not appeare before the King of Kings wee may feare that prediction of Zeresh will be fulfilled in us Ne amplius faciem regis videret ut sicbat apud Persas ris qui à gratiâ regis exciderant Iun. Wee shall not prevaile but shall surely fall into woe and misery It is true that God sometimes denieth this liberty unto his beloved children as here unto David that they cannot joyne with the assembly but then they are uncessant in their prayers to be restored and enlarged and their hearts are the more inflamed with the love of God and they learne more highly to prize those blessings which before were offered unto them As the Church refused to open unto Christ when hee knocked Cant 5.6 but after he had withdrawne himselfe shee sought him with all diligence And thus God prepares a table for us in the wildernes and relieves us in our greatest necessity Wee may see what assurance David had in saying When shall I come hee doth not say I shall never come but beleeveth there will bee a time of comfort Psal 27.4 when hee shall inquire in the Temple Nor is it without cause that hee so much desireth to appeare before God having ever found his eare open unto his prayer As for Saul the Lord was angry with him and would not answer him neither by dreames 1. Sam. 28.5 23 2 4 11 12 30.8 nor by Urim nor by Prophets but when soever David inquired of the Lord he received a gracious answer which made him say How amiable are thy tabernacles Blessed are they that dwell in thy house Psal 84. for a day in thy courts is better than a thousand and hee was glad when they said unto him 122.1 Let us goe into the house of the Lord yea in his greatest agony after hee had laine all night upon the earth and his head both was and seemed to be as a fountaine of teares even then in the beginning of comfort he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped before hee would eate any bread 2. Sam. 12.20 And now when he fled from his sonne he thought it the best testimony of Gods love that he might come and appeare before him 2. Sam. 15.25 If I finde favour in the eyes of the Lord hee will bring me againe and shew mee both the Arke and his habitation And although he were prohibited from building of the materiall Temple yet had hee dedicated his body being the Temple of the holy Spirit 1. Cor. 6.19 unto the service of God And hee erected a Church in his house wherein all the vessels were holy Rom. 16.5 for none that wrought deceit might dwell therein Psal 101.7 and there also God was honoured And lastly hee set up a Basilica a building well beseeming such a King when hee and all the house of Israel did bring the Arke into Zion which was an assurance of Gods presence among the people Wherefore let the same minde bee in you Philip. 2.5 which was in David and in Christ himselfe Psal 16.8 who foresaw the Lord alwaies before his face Act. 2.25 Let thy closet
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
but hee went with the multitude VERSE IIII. I went with them to the house of God BEcause the greatest number doe goe in the broad way that leadeth to destruction Mat. 7.13 and wee are forbidden to follow a multitude to doe evill Exod. 23.2 therefore upon the first mention he presently addeth the place whither hee went with them which was to the house of God Hee was not occasioned thus to doe in imitation of others which did the like though it were to bee wished that wee had attained thus farre that wee would be followers together of him Psal 3.17 and marke those which walke after this ensample But as it is more blessed to give than to receive Act. 20 35. so it is a greater happinesse to give this good example unto others than to take it from them Thus David shined as a Light in the world Phil. 2.15 that the people being illuminated by this pillar of fire might come to the estate of blessednesse And thus wee Vt sidera contrarium mundo iter intendunt ita sapiens Senec. Et qui exemplo aliis esse debetis aliorum exemplo peccetis potius quam alii vestro recte sacitis Livi. lib. 3. if wee desire to shine as the stars whose motion is contrary to the world wee should labour to rectifie others rather than to bee depraved with their vices Though wee faile of this holy ambition or want meanes and ability to bee as Leaders in this noble army yet wee may bee drawne by the example of the multitude which for the most part use to bee very powerfull to joyne with the assembly in all heavenly duties And not to do like unto those which stand convicted because they will not goe with the flocke to heare the voyce of the shepheard Nor yet like those which discover their backwardnesse by comming after the multitude to the house of God Whereas it were more commendable to goe with them or before them Such may feare to receive a curse in the end for their negligent sloth Occupet extremum scabies Horat. rather than the blessing in the conclusion In Carvans which goe unto the Temple at Ierusalem Sandys the hindermost are exposed unto the greatest danger of the free-booters And in this passage to the house of God they that are last may soone bee surprised by the enemy and hindered in their dull proceeding Whereas if wee were indued with the Spirit like those Worthies which brake through the hoste of the Philistims 2. Sam. 23. to draw water wee would overcome all impediments that wee may obtaine the water of life And as the chaines did fall from the hands of Peter so we should cast off all incumbrances wherewith our feete are bound that wee may runne the wayes of thy commandements Yea then wee would thinke Gods house to be like Goshen inlightened by his gracious countenance And to be debarred from it more grievous than all the plagues and judgements of Egypt There the frogges came into the house and chamber of Pharaoh Exod. 8.3 And thou hast noysome lusts and uncleane thoughts in thine heart which should bee the throne of the great King They had thick darkenes which might bee felt 1â— 2â— so that no man rose from his place But thy grosse darkenesse which hath overspread the whole man is the more fearefull because thou hast no feeling thereof whereby thou dost continue in the estate of wrath as at the first There was the death of the first-borne in whom pâ—rents seem to live even when they are dead â—2 29. And thou destroyest thine owne soule which in the beginning did give life to thy body and by which the righteous shall live for ever in blisse happinesse And yet though Gods judgements be so great and terrible upon those that want or neglect this meanes of perfect freedome and the mercy and deliverance so rich and plenteous that is offered thereby how foolish and carelesse are most men in their contemptuons vilifiing and disdainfull reiecting of this blessed liberty Mention is made of one that was slaine by the people which trode upon him in the gate 2 King â— ver 17. when with greedy violence they strove for their bodily sustenance but there is no such violence offered in seeking for that heavenly food and yet we live not by bread but by the Word which is exhibited unto us in the house of God And in the time of famine of warre 1. King 8. ver 37 38. of pestilence and any other calamity wee finde release by the prayers and supplications which are offered up unto the Lord. Come then and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob He will teach us of his waies Isai 2.3 and wee shall walke in his paths One day in his courts is better than a thousand How glad was David when they said unto him Psal 84.10 122 1â— Let us goe into the house of the Lord As here he testifieth that when hee went into the house of God it was VERSE IIII. With the voyce of joy and praise AND now wee would thinke that the whole world should follow him Omnes cendunt ad gaudium Senec. for what man is there that doth not labour for ioy But as some have put out the element of fire affirming that there is no other but this grosse terrestriall fire which wee use So most men thinke there is no other ioy but this which they find in their sensuall delights True it is that there may bee a confused sound of ioy in earthly pleasures but the voyce of ioy is onely in heavenly things And as that excellent musick of the voyce is to bee preferred before the harmony of instruments without life whether pipe or harpe though they give a distinction in their sounds So this ioy doth farre transcend all those vaine and empty delights which wee finde here upon earth It is reported of some that they have beene able to containe their greatest ioy within themselves Metellus summum gaudium intrase cont insit Val. Max. that none could take notice thereof Nec sunt grata tibi gaudia siqua atent Martial but Davids ioy was so great that out of the abundance of his heart hee could not forbeare to speake with his mouth And ever since in our best mirth and reioycing wee seeke to imitate the voyce of David in singing of Psalmes Iam. 5.13 whereby wee endeavour to bee composed and prepared for that life when wee shall alwayes bee lauding the name of the Lord Psal 108.1 2â— And as David saith I my selfe will awake early I will sing and give praise even with my glory Soe we that are dead in Christ shall then rise first out of those beds where wee have slept and rested that wee may for ever sing praises unto the Lord. These two Ioy and Praise are so ioyned togethâ—r
of God that no man can put them asunder Where God hath filled the heart with ioy it will breake forth in praise and thankesgiving And to offer the sacrifice of praise without reioycing were to offer a dead sacrifice without any life By both these wee are supported when wee walke in the wayes of salvation If David found such comfort in the passage then how was hee transported with ioy when hee came into Gods house If wee find such consolation in our pilgrimage then how great blessings are prepared for us in our long home If the first-fruits bee so precious how plentifull is the harvest When our lives are ended then begins our perfect ioy when our soules and bodies are againe united then there is fulnesse of ioy yea then both Ioy and Praise shall bee ioyned for evermore VERSE IIII. With a multitude that kept holy-day BEcause we should not be perplexed with the difficulty of these words in regard that our celebration of those dayes which wee call holy doth so far differ from that which is here intended I thinke it most needfull to represent the manner how this day was solemnized In which the desire of David and the people was like that of the Angel the multitude of the heavenly hoste praising God Luke 2.13 14. and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men So this blessed company did first seeke the glory of God in sacrificing oxen and fatlings in offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings in the sound of musicke lifting up the voyce with ioy And that there might bee peace upon earth when Gods Arke should bee placed in the midst of the tabernacle and his worship duely observed Lastly good will towards men when the King blessed the people in the name of the Lord and did distribute bread and flesh and wine Tanquam necessarium laboâ—ibus interponentes temperamentum Sen. So that hee did not exclude the outward refreshing of the body after the serious and devout performance of all heavenly duties The makers of lawes in ancient time did institute festivall dayes that the people might not bee overcharged with too much labour Quia aliquando nihil cum populo agi utile futurum erat T. Livi. Luce sacrâ requiescat humus requiescut arator Tibul. but re-gaining strength and vigour by the cessation might proceed in their worke with alacrity and diligence The best use and benefit that wee can make of any holy-day is to take off the minde from worldly cares wherewith we are naturally surcharged and to addict our selves to divine meditations and religious exercises Even among the Heathen Et adhuc Mincia proles Vrget opus spernitque Deum festumque profanat Ovid. those Sisters mentioned in the Poet were thought to bee iustly punished for being too intent to their domesticke labour which made them omit the publike rites 2. King 7.9 Wee doe not well this is a day of good tidings and wee hold our peace Wee may feare lest the leprosie of those foure men should cleave unto us if wee neglect to praise and glorifie God for his manifold blessings Livius Drusus dixit uni sibi nec puero quidem unquam ferias cont giâ—â—e Senec. Wee cannot complaine as Drusus did that from his child-hood hee never had a good day For though we should endeavour to keepe every day in the yeare holy yet we could not correspond in thankfulnesse with the riches of his bounteous love and plenteous mercy yea wee may rightly acknowledge that every day in our life hath beene an holy-day For as it was the custome of most nations not to punish malefactours upon dayes of festivity and reioycing 2. Sam. 19.22 Mar. 14. â— so the Lord hath beene gracious in pardoning our offences Observatum ne quoties introiret urbem Oct. Aug. supplicium de quoquam sumeretur Suet. not dealing with us after our sinnes nor rewarding us according to our iniquities And therefore wee must blesse his holy name who hath not only delivered us from evill but also hath bestowed so many blessings upon us who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse tender mercies who satisfieth thy mouth with good things Hilaritatis instrumenâ— a dâ—mesticâ—s prae bebat Causabon And as the master of the family upon such dayes did bring out unto his children and servants all things which might bee a meanes of delight and recreation so God like a good housholder hath accomodated us his servants with all things usefull and convenient for our cheerefull service of him that wee might make a ioyfull noyse unto the God of Iacob Psal 81.1 Omnia iam fesâ—a fervet domus utraque pompâ Stat. Tibia pro li. tuis c. Claud. Iste dies semper dapibus celebretur opimis Idem Pro 9.2 Upon those dayes they had instruments of musicke and what a sweet harmony is there when the will and the affections and every power and faculty of the soule doth consent in praising the name of the Lord They had plenty of provision and abundance of wine And hath not Wisedome killed her beasts and mingled her wine and furnished her table Doth not God give unto us that heavenly Manna the bread of life satisfying our soules as with marrow and making our cup to runne over They did then put on their costliest garments Quaeque semei toto vestis nâ—ni sumitur anno Ovid. Psal 45 13. 32.1 Revel 7 9. Aperta multa recta collucent face Senec. in Thyest And wee have a wedding garment at this feast which is as a clothing of wrought gold and as a white robe whereby our nakednesse is covered They did set up many lights And wee have many golden candlesticks and shining lights yea the word is a light unto our feete Therefore let us keepe the feast in sincerity and truth Let it be our chiefe aime and endeavour that the inward man as well as the outward may thereby bee renewed Pas iura sinunt Insidias avibus moliri Virgil. Among the Heathen it was thought to bee lawfull upon the best dayes to spread nets to take birds Sure I am that Satan who is a cunning fowler upon these dayes is most industrious in setting of snares In festis diabolus occupatissimus How circumspect ought wee to bee in avoyding this danger mounting up with the Eagle Iob 39.27 which makes her nest on high raising our soules by the wings of fervent prayer and heavenly contemplation Sine causâ educebat praecipuè pluviis festis diebus Suet. Sic Epaminondas And as Cesar did leade out his souldiers upon festivall dayes and have them in a readinesse lest that the enemy should get an advantage against him So ought we to exercise our selves and to stir up those gifts that are in us that our adversary may not bring us to destruction How happy is that man which doth thus
my selfe by giving an answer to Davids demand before I come to the question which is VERSE V. Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou dâ—squieted in me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the helpe of his countenance VVHerein hee makes further declaration of his sorrowfull and perplexed estate that his soule in this time of trouble did pant and thirst and was powred out and cast downe and disquieted not finding release from misery nor evasion out of these calamities Now if the light that is in thee be darknesse Mat. 6.23 how great is that darknesse and if the soule that is in thee be sorrowfull how great is that sorrow Pro. 12.25 When heavinesse in the heart of man maketh it stoupe yea to be cast down as Davids was And yet there is great cause that the soule bee lifted up with joy and not dejected with griefe if wee consider the originall of it Igneus est illis vigor coelestis origo Virgil. that it proceedeth from God himselfe Gen. 1.27 2.7 Psal 8.5 Mortalibus alti quantum coelicolae tantundem animalibus isti praecellunt cunctis Silius Eccles 3.21 12.7 who created us after his own image breathing into us the breath of life whereby wee became living soules So that wee who were made but a little lower than the Angels were made much higher than all other creatures For when the spirit of the beast goeth downeward to the earth our spirit shall returne to God that gave it Also there is cause of ioy unto the soule in regard of the body Deus dedit corpus animae ut illud in coelum eveneret Non dedita animam corpâ—ri ut c. God gave the body unto the soule that it might raise the body unto heaven Hee did not give the soule unto the body that it might presse the soule to the earth Admonet figura c. Boet Shall the body be erect towards heaven and the soule decline towards the earth Let us consider how helpfull the body is to the soule in the worship of God when our eyes wait upon him and our tongue is our glory to praise him and wee lift up pure hands and daily bow our knees before him when our feet doe carry us to his house and there wee prostrate our whole body in his presence Thus in our estate of grace there is an happy union and consent betweene them both But as Eve â—en 2.18 who was made a meete helpe proved a cause of the greatest woe and misery So the body which should assist the soule doth rebell against it and thereby becomes a great annoyance Like that kinde of torment when they did binde the dead and the living together Corpora ca daveribus ad versa adversis alligata Val. Max. So the soule that lives for ever and is willing to doe good is ioyned unto a body that is weake yea even dead to any holy duty And then the servant is upon an horse Ephes 2 5. Eccles 10 7. and the Prince doth walke as a servant upon the earth the hand-maide is advanced Eucherius ad Valeâ—ian and the mistresse brought downe to the foot-stoole The body doth bring the soule into captivity and make it of a king to become a servent Modo rex esâ— modo tyraâ—nus Sence oâ— else a tyrant Wherefore when wee finde a law in our members warring against the law of our minde wee must pray to be delivered froÌ„ this body of death Rom. 7. verse 23.24 It was observed that when the body sleepeth Anima dum corpori vires admâ—nistrat nequaquam vacat sibi c. Hippocrat the soule hath most liberty And wee know assuredly that when our bodies shall bee laid to sleepe in the grave our soules shall bee inlarged Terreno carcere resoluta caelum ibera petâ—â— Boet. and delivered from that earthly house wherein they were long pent and imprisoned Vt novus serpens pofitâ cum pelle senectâ c. Ovid. And as the serpent doth become young againe after it hath cast off the skinne so the soule shall bee clothed with maiesty and glory when this fraile body shall waxe old like a garment and bee folded up as a vesture untill the end of all things and then this vile body shall be fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ and being reioyned unto the soule shall enter into the ioy of our Master If that father did so reioyce when he saw his sonne to be alive Gen. 46.30 whom hee thought to bee dead then how excellent shall our ioy bee when the body which was dead shall bee alive and they both being knit together shall live in blisse for evermore 29.20 Did those seven yeares seeme to bee but a few dayes 31.40 for the love that Iacob had to Rachel though hee suffered the drought in the day the frost by night and watched both day and night Then how wonderfull ought the love of the soule be to the body cheerfully serving the Lord patiently enduring all tryals and afflictions not being cast downe as if it were without hope but looking for the Saviour who shall unite both soule and body And wee shall be as the Angels of God in heaven Mat. 22.30 Let us now take notice of Davids examination of himselfe that wee thereby may learne to iudge ourselves and wee shall not bee iudged Formerly hee had with his whole heart sought unto the Lord to shew him the light of his countenance He had earnestly desired to appeare before God Hee had humbled himselfe in sorrow for his owne transgressions and the sins of other men Now God accepteth the will for the deed And they that mourne have a promise of comfort Mat. 6. Why then art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted in me Psal 4.4 Also hee did commune with his owne heart and was no fugitive from it as many are who have greatest reason to bee sorrowfull and to feare lest their soules should bee cast downe lower than Davids was because they never looke home to examine and prove themselves and to know that Christ is in them 2. Cor. 13.5 except they bee reprobates But David did make diligent search in his owne heart Psal 77.6 and in all things desired the good and comfortable estate of it Then why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted in me Remember the workes of old how graciously the Lord hath dealt with thee Say not within thy selfe that his mercy is clean gone for ever for thou dost stil enioy many blessings and his grace doth now keep thee from fainting Consider that in this chastisement the Lord dealeth with thee as with a childe and it is not his good pleasure that thou shouldest have sorrow upon sorrow but that this light affliction working for thy good may bring thee to an
city where hee lived To be expelled out of his kingdome wherein he governed as unworthy to come within the borders of it and yet God had promised that his throne should bee stablished for ever and when his daies should bee fulfilled his seed should bee set up after him but not before him as Absalom desired building his house upon his fathers ruine Then to have his concubines defiled in the sight of all Israell And all this not by an enemy for then he could have borne it more patiently but by his owne sonne And one messenger brings word that the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom Another tels him that Ahitophel the Kings Counsellor was among the conspirators Moreover Shimei doth vex his righteous soule with malicious reproaches Now what could bee done more that was not done to make the measure of his sorrow to bee pressed down in heavinesse of soule and running over in the outward expressioÌ„ of his griefe How great and manifold are the dangers of them that goe downe to the sea in ships â—sal 107.26 that see the workes of the Lord For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof They mount up to heaven they goe downe againe to the depths So here Deepe calleth unto deepe David is exposed to the greatest perils that may be The windowes of heaven are opened â—en 7.12 as in the floud There is the noise of thy water-spouts but no Arke of deliverance like Noahs no not so much as that little Arke of Moses Exod 2.3 whereby he may hope to be drawn out of these miseries There is a mighty tempest but no ship to defend him nor yet any signe of a calme as to the Mariners neither any creature to waft him to the shore Ionah 1.4 as Ionah had There is a boystrous winde that made the billowes to goe over him but the helping hand of the Divine providence is not stretched out to uphold him Mat. 14.30 Psal 69.2 as unto Peter The flouds over-flow him the proud waters goe over his soule 124.5 Hee is cast into the deepe and all thy waves are upon him Ionah 2.3 Not one wave alone but many but all of them There was such a variety of his crosses and such a succession of his trouble that as the day was prolonged untill such time as Ioshuah had subdued his enemies so here the night of his misery was doubled untill such time as God had perfected the work of humiliation in him God who is most perfect will finish every good worke that hee hath begun in any of his children And being the author of time hee disposeth of all things for our good making us strong when wee are weake so that wee may take pleasure in infirmities 2. Cor. 12.10 in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake And by seeing our miserable and weake estate wee learne not to trust in our selves but in God who raiseth the dead When the water of affliction doth flow over our head we are thereby cleansed that we may be presented unto Christ without spot and blemish As Pharaoh and his host were covered by the depths Exod. 15.5 and sanke into the bottome as a stone so they that want faith to stand in temptation are ready to be swallowed up of despaire But every one that is godly hath this comfortable protection That in the flouds of great waters Psal 32.6 18.4 they shall not come nigh unto him and though the flouds of ungodly men make him afraid though he be compassed about with many tribulations Psal 130.1 yet out of the depth of his misery hee cryeth unto the depth of Gods mercy and prayeth unto the Lord on high who is mightier than the noyse of many waters 93.4 yea than the mighty waves of the sea to deliver him from them that hate him 79.14 15. that the water-floud may not over-flow him nor the deepe swallow him up And in conclusion hee finds this comfort that neither height nor depth shall bee able to separate him from the love of God Rom. 8.39 When Christ was asleepe in the ship that sailed over unto the other side of the lake Mat. 8.26 there came downe a storme insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves but when the disciples awoke him hee said Why are yee so fearefull O yee of little faith and rebuking the sea there was a great calme So in our voyage to heaven when the winde doth blow the raine doth fall and the waves doe beate upon us In strong temptations when wee are opposed on every side and looking up to heaven see nothing but the terrour of Divine justice ready to fall upon us looking downe wee see the horror of the pit ready to shut her mouth upon us and looking about wee see all the creatures armed for our destruction then through want of strength we are ready to sinke under the burthen of our calamities But when the quickning spirit shall revive our faith that slumbred within us and restore us to the life of grace wee begin to bee comforted in assurance that God will put an end to our trials and deliver us out of all affliction Such was Davids anchor which he cast out now in this storme and thereby hoped for safety Though the waves and billowes doe goe over me VERSE VIII Yet the Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night his song shall bee with me and my prayer unto the God of my life AS before his teares were his meate day and night Verse 3. So now hee finds cause of rejoycing both day and night for the loving kindnesse of the Lord who did put songs of praise into his mouth His misery and trouble were now present before him His comfort was only hope but not to bee discerned by sense and reason Yet such was the strength of his confidence which he had fixed upon Gods love that thereby he became as fully assured of deliverance as if he were already restored to his former liberty The wicked shall feare day and night Deut. 28.66 67. in the morning he shall say Would God it were Even and at Even he shall say Would God it were morning And his greatest woe shall then begin when time shall be no more But the righteous that like Anna serve God night and day Luke 2.37 shall at all times be refreshed by trusting in Gods mercy who will command his loving kindnesse in the day time as He hath promised to command the blessing upon them that observe his Lawes Deut. 28.8 And we know that all things obey the voyce of God Hath he spoken and shall he not performe it Do the souldiers come when the Centurian calleth Mat. 8.9 and shall not all creatures be ready prest to doe the will of God Though his loving kindnesse be as it were unwilling
to come and reveale it selfe unto us that have so highly offended yet when God commandeth it must yeeld obedience Yea he so commandeth as that we may therein discerne his favour vnto vs He sends the Angel to comfort Hagar in her distresse And he commands his kindnesse which is as his messenger bringing glad tidings of great joy unto his children His kindnes is not without love Pro. 12.10 The tender mercies of the wicked are cruell but the chasticements of God doe proceed from his love An if our chasticements then much more his kindnesse He is a Father of mercies they are as naturall and as deare unto him as a sonne to his father And though a mother should forget her child He will never forget his love to his children Mat. 5.45 Our heavenly Father causeth the sunne to rise on the evill and on the good and sendeth raine on the just and on the unjust He is kind unto the unthankfull and evill Luke 6.35 But as Hanun used the messengers of David disdainfully 2. Sam. 10.2 when he thought to shew kindnesse unto him So wicked men doe abuse the goodnesse of God and pervert it unto their owne destruction But they that are indued with wisedome from above doe sing praise unto his holy name and doe pray unto the God of their life for the continuance and increase of all his blessings The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in thâ— day time by restoring him to his former liberty of appearing before God And after he had in an holy manner performed the duties of the day he did in the night meditate upon the lawes of God and rejoyce in the gracious benefits which he had received Gen. 3.17 â—abor exoriâ—r durus omnes agitat câ—ras c. â—enec The day is made for man to labour It was the punishment upon Adam and his posterity to eate their bread in sorrow all the daies of their life Yet through the goodnesse of God we receive many blessings therein It is a time of salvation vnto us if we dothe works of righteousnesse while it is day and labour to know those things which belong unto our peace 1. Pet. 3.10 If we desire to see good dayes we must eschew euill and doe good 1. King 3.14 Then the Lord will lengthen our dayes Deut. 30.20 yea he himselfe will be our life and the length of our daies Wherefore let us ever remember the love of God 11.19 and speake to the praise of his name not only when we rise up in the day but when we lye downe in the night Then to call to remembrance our song as David did who remembred God upon his bed Psal 77 6. 63.6 and did rise at midnight to giue thanks 119 62. whose eyes prevented the night watches â—48 139.18 when he awaked he was still with him And howsoever the sons of perdition do turn night into day whose evill conscience hateth the light 1. Thes 5.7 and being by darknesse robbed of all shame Quippe omnem pudorem nox ademetat Tacit. Gravis malae conscientiae lux est Fastidio est lumen gratuitum Senec. doe scorne the day so freely given unto them And are drunken in the night committing all kinde of wickednesse and uncleannesse therein Forgetting that the darknesse hideth not from God but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light are both alike to him Psal 139.12 Nox faecundo operum pulchraeque accommoda fraudi Stat. Yet they that are godly doe receive much strength and consolation in the night to the refreshing both of soule and body It did discover the tinorous weaknesse of Nicolemus to come unto Christ by night Nox hominum genus duros miseraca labores Val. Flac. But it sheweth our holy confidence then to sing praise unto the Lord and with our soule to desire him in the night yea with our spirit within us to seeke him early Isai 26.9 In former times God appeared vnto his servants in visions of the night and therein revealed his good will vnto them God came to Abimelech by night Gen. 20.3 and with held him from sinning And surely we may make a profitable use of our dreames in the night Iob 33.15 16. whereby many times God sheweth us the great corruption of our deceitfull hearts wanting his grace to make resistance unto the assaults of Satan who wil not give us any time to rest from his temptations But as that great Commander did sodainly come upon the enemy Ma ius â—n Salust be l. Iugur by marching diverse nights so hee doth then beset us and seekes to wound us by casting his fiery darts evil thoughts into our hearts Sometime we offend by carnall affections sometime by uncharitablenesse carefull thoughts and vaine imaginations Psal 16.7 Dicetur merita nox quoque Naenia Horat. My reines also instruct me in the night seasons and such a night requires a song of lamentation But when the Lord hath proved our heart Psal 17.3 and visited us in the night and hath tryed us and shall find nothing then may wee have a song in the night and gladnesse of heart as when an holy solemnity is kept Isai 30 29. There is great cause of joy for that the Lord doth refresh and sustain us by quiet sleepe after we have beene wearied with the evill of the day And as hee giveth rest after labour so hee giveth ease and deliverance after affliction and trouble In the night Act. 12.7 a light shined unto Peter in the prison and the Angel of the Lord raised him when hee was sleeping betweene two souldiers bound with two chaines So the Lord doth looke graciously upon us in our most disconsolate estate when we are environed with many miseries and lifts us up by his favour making away for us to escape out of the greatest dangers At mid-night Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises and immediately Act. 16.25 by the earth-quake all the doores were opened and every ones bands were loosed In the midst of trouble if our mouth bee opened in prayer our hearts also shall bee inlarged in thankes-giving Even in the time of affliction there is cause of rejoycing in that it comes from Gods fatherly love who maketh us to trust in him for reliefe after the time of triall Shall a man that is miserable delight himselfe in musicke Philoxenu iâ— Alâ—iano and shall not wee bee comforted by singing praise unto the name of the Lord Iosephs brethren thought evill against him Gen. 50.10 but God meant it unto good that he being advanced might preserve life When wee thinke our selves to bee neerest unto destruction God may then intend our greatest happinesse and comfort As the heaven is high above the earth so the height and depth of his wisedome and love doe exceed the capacity of our shallow understanding Wee
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
hewers of wood and drawers of water or than that of the men of Rabbah who were put under sawes 2. Sam. 12.31 and harrowes of iron and axes of iron and were made to passe through the brick-kilne There is no act so vile and fordid that he doth not put them thereunto no torment so cruell that hee doth not inflict upon them How circumspect ought wee to bee that the wicked one may not touch us and whensoever we are overtaken in a fault how importunate should wee bee in our prayer unto God night and day to deliver us from that thraldome I am thine Lord save me and let thine eare bee attentive unto the prayer of thy servant Nehem. 1.11 who desires to feare thy name Thou knowest O Lord that mine enemy is thine enemy He first rebelled against thee and justly suffered thy fierce wrath by reason of his pride Hee assaulted our blessed Saviour with diverse and sundry temptations and would not leave him untill being vanquished hee was commanded to depart Mat. 4.10 But for ever hee continueth his malice against mee thine image and often too often hee prevailes against mee so that I am brought into subiection and the irons doe enter into my soule Arise O Lord Psal 105.18 for my deliverance Thou hast bought mee not with gold and silver but with the bloud of thy Sonne O then redeeme mee out of this captivity Why should this traitor destroy thy subiect that laboureth in all things to bee faithfull and obedient Why should Satan vex thy servant that endeavours to doe thy blessed will Why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy VERSE X. As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach mee while they say daily unto me Where is thy God VVHat grievous vexation and anguish holy David did endure by the reproaches of wicked men may appeare by the description thereof in this Psalme Before there was the outward expression in teares and here is the inward torment A sword in his bones Not some little hurt in the skinne onely nor some small wound in the flesh but the breaking of the bones which how deadly it is may appeare by the practice of the Iewes towards them that were crucified Iohn 19.32 This here mentioned is not much unlike to that which is spoken of the Word of God being sharper than any two edged sword Heb. 4.12 piercing even to the dividing asunder of the joints and the marrow But that sword doth cut downe sinne from the good with one edge and with the other it destroyes the soule of the ungodly Whereas this doth wound the righteous and like an Egyptian reed doth enter into the hand yea into the soule of him that useth it Had they spake thus unto him in sodaine anger and unadvised passion hee could the better have endured these disgraces But their obstinate continuance in the daily use of it did discover their inveterate malice that they were given over to a reprobate sense and living without God in the world they did scorn and vilifie all those that put their confidence in him wherefore hee had iust reason to say that they were bloudy enemies unto him There was a time when there was no sword found with the Israelites 1. Sam. 13.22 It were an excellent blessing if now in our Israel there were none that did strike at the good name of their brethren by slanderous reports and uncharitable censures But as then Gal 4.29 he that was borne after the flesh persecuted him that was borne after the spirit So it is now Many thinke they cannot better declare their freedome from vice than by reproching them that are vertuous Ephes 6. A good Christian shall have need of the whole spirituall armour that hee may be enabled to withstand the fierce assaults and to quench the fiery darts of the wicked He must have his loynes girt about with truth that he be not weakened and shaken by the dissolute and railing accusation that is brought against him He must haue the breast-plate of righteousnesse to oppose against their wickednesse and his feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace that he may not runne with them in the crooked paths leading to destruction And the Sword of the spirit which is the word of God that he may thereby disarme them of these instruments of cruelty There was a flaming sword Gen. 3.24 which turned every way placed to keepe Adam from reentring into Paradice These flaming swords these tongues set on fire from hell keepe many men from walking in the wayes of godlynesse and from approching unto the tree of life Christ Iesus who wanting a constant and firme resolution will chuse to halt betweene two opinions Psal 107.27 yea to reele to and fro and stagger like the ship mentioned in the Psalme in unknowne wayes rather than with Micaiah 1. King 22.24 to be smitten and reviled for their sincere profession of the truth Could that blessed Martyr endure the picture of the devill which was put upon on his head Iohn Hus in Fox and esteeme it a crowne of glory unto him And shall not we undergoe the termes of disgrace cast upon us by wicked men which being rightly considered are no other than be used in holy scripture So that their sinne is the greater by the profanation And it may be our greatest sorrow that we have not attained to be such as they accuse us to be Or as we our selves desire to be Now the successe which they shall find by this their violent carriage will be no other than Asahel had 2 Sam. 2.23 who ranne upon his owne destruction Mat 26.52 All they that take the sword shall perish by the sword Psal 64.3 They whet their tongue like a sword but it shall enter into their owne hart 37.15 Ier 9.3 They bend their tongue like a bow for lyes and shoot their arrowes Psal 11.2 even bitter words at the upright in heart 64.3.7 But God shall shoote at them with an arrow sodainly shall they bee wounded 52.2 Their tongue deviseth mischiefe like a sharpe rasor working deceitfully But in the end it will bring them to torment 79.12 They speake evill of those things they know not and persecute the faithfull Nehem 4.4 But God will render seven fold into their bosome their reproach and turne it upon their owne head We may demand the cause of this their inquisition Where is thy God He might have asked them one question Iohn 9.27 Will ye also be his disciples Had they intended to have taken his yoke upon them David would willingly have instructed them in the way yea hee would have beene their guide Come and see Him who hath told me all things that I know 4.29 and knoweth all things that ever I did is not this the only true God But they meant to honour him no
otherwise than Herod thought to worship Christ Mat. 2.7 when he enquired diligently after him He hoped to have killed the Lord of life and they purpose to doe no lesse comming out with swords Mat. 26.55 as against a theefe though they aime at the members yet they smite the head it selfe in their persecution Act. 9.4 5. What is done to one of those little ones is done unto Christ and what is done to Christ is done to one of them A servant of God cannot heare His holy name which wee ought not to use without great reverence to bee dishonoured but his righteous soule must be vexed thereat It was this which did strike so deepe into David and vexe him so sore See the coherence which hee makes in the same verse Psal 69.9 For the zeale of thine house hath eaten me up and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are falne upon me How free hee was from anger and revenge in his owne particular case may appeare by his carriage when Saul had a quarrell against him For though Saul had so highly offended God by his folly in offering a burnt offering for the which hee was told that his kingdome should not continue God having sought a man after his owne heart And againe hee rebelled by disobedience in sparing Agag the best of the spoile at which time the Prophet threatned him that his kingdome should bee rent away from him And though David was anoynted by Samuel and might have set upon Saul when hee cut the skirt of his robe privily and another time might have suffered Abishai to smite him and make him sleepe his last yet hee would not upon these pretences put forth his hand against him but lamented at his death and calls to the daughters of Israel to weepe over Saul But here when God was contemned he was pricked to the heart and his marrow was turned into the drought of Summer He was upon the racke and all his bones were broken when he heard their evill speeches whereby they infected the ayre and poysoned their owne soules Now between David and most men living in these daies there is as great a difference as betweene the King upon the throne and the meanest subject grinding at the mill Hee had a soveraigne command over him selfe and was slow to anger not sinning by wrath yet most sensible oâ—e malicious words tending to the dishonour of God Whereas many that in Gods cause are like dumbe idols which have eares and heare not as if it did not concerne them being never touched with inward compunction when his name shall bee blasphemed but will rather give some consent thereunto as if they were well pleased with such lewdnesse And yet when their owne reputation shall be brought in question they will whet their tongue like a sword in sharpe invectives and will whet their swords also that they may wash off the least disgrace with the bloud of other men But if God doth whet his glittering sword and his hand take hold on judgement Deut. 32.41 he will render vengeance to all those which are of that mercilesse disposition that Cain was who thought the life of his brother to bee the most acceptable sacrifice VERSE XI Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God VVHereas David so often repeateth these words we may observe the manifold troubles which befall us in this life Having mentioned his teates and his banishment in the beginning at the fift verse he rebukes his soule for sadnesse Having rehearsed his other afflictions he now againe chides himselfe for this distrustfull heavinesse As Peter Mat. 14.30 though he began to sinke the first time hee went to Christ upon the water Yet he was not thereby discouraged from casting himselfe into the sea againe Iohn 21.7 and then he passed safely to the shoare where Christ was So though the waves billowes went over David when hee hoped to approch unto God by faith yet here againe hee calls upon his soule and casting himselfe upon Gods mercy he arrives at the port of blessednesse Hee did not overcome these temptations and trialls at the first assault nor yet was he wearied with the continuance of them But whensoever he was molested with any evill he labours to strengthen his confidence in Gods love that he may be restored to comfort As Paul prayed thrice that the messenger of Satan might depart from him 2. Cor. 12. â— So our Author shutting up the next Psalme with the same conclusion doth the third time seek to be freed from this thorne in the flesh this heavinesse that was so offensive unto him By this we may learne that lesson which we shall have cause to remember and occasion to practice That through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdome of heaven Act. 14.22 2. Cor. 7.5 Without are fightings within are feares A wounded spirit who can beare What sorrow so neere what trouble so heavy as this when the soule shall be disquieted with doubt of Gods love or sense of his displeasure And yet wee must not faint and forsake our assurance but continue faithfull unto the death that wee may receive the crown of life In afflictions wee must not thinke some new thing doth come upon us which hath not beene before Wee will not compare our sufferings and trials with those which David endured Wee may take this one Prophet for an example of suffering affliction yet did hee not cast away his confidence but hoped in God therfore let us also hold fast the profession of our faith Iam 5.7 Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill hee receiue the earely and later raine let us also stablish our hearts that wee may bee refreshed with Gods favour As in water face answereth to face Pro. 27.19 so if wee looke unto the Lord Psal 42.5 we shall praise him for the helpe of his countenance who is the health of our countenance and our God The consideration hereof may be of speciall use and importance in all the casualties of this life but chiefly at the time of death Iob 18.14 when wee are brought to the king of terrors when this earthly house is dissolved we shall be conducted to the kings palace when these old garments be laid aside we shall be arraied in long robes I shall yet praise God yea I shall for ever praise God when I shall alwayes appeare in his presence Who is the health of my countenance who raised me from sicknesse to a sound estate who gave me strength after infirmity who filled me with plenty after adversity who revived me with comfort after sorrow and who will bring me to life after death Being then especially the health of my countenance when hee makes my face to shine as the sunne by beholding his glory And doth change this vile mortall corruptible body into a glorious body The lame man Act. 3.4 who was laid at the gate of the temple looking upon Peter received strength and entring into the temple praised God Though now our soules be cast downe yet if we trust in the Lord all our infirmities shall be cured entring into the holiest place we shall blesse the name of the Lord for evermore Then be not discouraged with present afflictions let thy hope be stedfast and sure Though in tempests sometimes they cut the anchors leave them in the sea Act. 27.40 that the men may be saved yet if we let our hope depart from us we perish The time of our life is but as sixe dayes of labour and sorrow and in this space we have so many nights of quiet and comfort yea we have an evening before the morning a time of strength before a time of triall But in the end there is the eternall Sabbath of blessednesse when we shall for ever magnifie the name of the Lord Amos 8.5 Though the carnall man doth with the Sabbath gone that he may set forth wheate and falsifie the ballances by deceit yet let not beleevers make hast by impatience but waite upon the Lord knowing that by this difficult ascent we come to sit upon the throne FINIS