30.5 mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling Weeping may endure for a night Vt levis quaedam moderata humâ—ctatio terrae affundatur Kecker and bee like unto the dew whereby a gentle moisture is spread upon the earth but joy commeth in the morning In the beginning of that great day when the Sun of righteousnesse doth arise Mala. 4. Isai 25.8 he will wipe away teares from off all faces In the meane while during this disconsolate estate wee receive light and comfort by that day-starre arising in our hearts 2. Pet. 1.19 the glad tidings of the Gospel So that as sorrowfull wee alwayes rejoyce 2. Cor. 6.10 It is most just that teares should bee our meate when as the eyes did at first offend in desiring to eate the forbidden fruite Gen. 3.6 which seemed pleasant unto them and to be desired for food where we must observe the Lords gracious dealing with us who hath taken out the sting out of our sorrow turned that into a blessing which might justly have bin a curse and a punishment For as meate came out of the eater so we receive comfort by our sorrow which might have beene as a lyon to devoure us And as Paul provided for the excommunicate person 2. Cor. 2.7 that hee should not be swallowed up with overmuch heavinesse So the Lord in mercy receiveth us that deserve to be cast out of his presence and giveth us this savoury meate better than all the delicious fare in the world for the which our soules doe blesse him both in life and death As it was a testimony of Iosephs love unto Benjamin Gen. 43.34 that his meale was five times as much as any of his brethren so it is a most sure pledge of God his love when hee giveth us a large portion of this heavenly meate It was a great honour unto Mephibosheth to eate continually at King Davids table 2. Sam. 9.13 but it is much more honourable unto us to eate the same spirituall meat and to drinke the same spirituall drink which David did Then let us covet this heavenly gift and as the Disciples said Lord evermore give us this bread so let us say Iohn 6. Lord evermore give us this meate that wee may live for ever Non in sacris tantum sed etiam in penore tangendo observavêre veteres Turneb Mar. 7.3 4. It was the tradition of the Elders to wash diligently before they did eate And Christ blamed the Pharisees for their superstition therein who made cleane the outside but within were full of wickednesse But this meat doth cleanse that which is within and the outside is cleane also Hereby we our selves are cleansed and all things are cleane unto us We have right unto the creatures to sustaine our bodies and this meate is a preparative unto that spirituall meat By the teares which we shed in our examination wee become in some measure worthy receivers of that food of our soules I may produce some examples of those that have mourned that we being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses may likewise breake into a shower of teares And first behold how our blessed Saviour loved Lazarus Iohn 11.35 weeping for him being dead And hast thon no love to thine own soule Canst thou not weepe for thy selfe being dead in sin Did hee weepe Luk. 19 41. foreseeing the destruction of Ierusalem And canst not thou mourne to foresee yea to behold before thine eyes the miserable estate of Gods people Doth not the bloud of the Saints and servants of God that is shed move thee to shed some teares Shall Mary Magdalen weepe enough to make a bath for Christs feet And wilt not thou weepe that thine owne soule may bee washed and cleansed Did Peter weepe bitterly And dost thou delude thy selfe as Agag did 1. Sam 15.32 thinking the bitternesse of death to bee past without the bitternesse of sorrow And what shall I more say For the time would faile me to tell of Iob Iob 16.20 Act. 20.19 2. Cor. 2.4 whose eye powred forth teares unto God of Paul who wept with many teares of Ieremiah his Lamentation and of the rest of the Prophets Onely looke upon David who were it not for the disparagement Sic parvis c. may be compared to Heraclitus Et ipse inter deplorandos erat Senec. ever weeping But the one was to be pittied for weakenesse the other to bee imitated for holinesse His eyes were consumed because of griefe Psal 6.7 32.10 His life was spent with griefe Hee mourned because of the oppression of the enemy 43.2 88 â— 55 â— and by reason of his affliction 119.136 38 6. 6.6 Hee mourned in his complaint and rivers of waters ranne down his eyes because they kept not thy Law Hee went mourning all the day long and all the night hee made his bed to swimme His teares were his meate both day and night Let this move us to weepe with him that wept so much Rom. 12.15 knowing Psal 6.8 that God heareth the voice of our weeping Thereby we cast aside every weight both of sinne and sorrow And our eies being throughly washed by the teares of repentance wee come to see those things which the eare hath not heard nor is the tongue able to utter Psal 126.5 And at last after this wet seed time we reape in joy Now let us behold the doubtfull estate of those whose hearts are hard as the Adamant being yet in the bond of iniquity who thinke that this expression of sorrow doth arise out of an effeminate tendernesse But wee may say of laughter it is mad Eccles 2.2 The mirth and jollity of the wicked being like the laughter of a mad man for the which all his friends doe grieve Such being in subjection to the Prince of the ayre Neque solum linguam nutusque servituâ—e constringeret sed etiam oculis à naturâ tributam libertatem eriperet Aelian hee dealeth with them as that tyrant did who having interdicted private conference and discontented gestures and hearing of some that wept mourned he sought to forbid that also lest thereby some conspiracy might begin against him So Satan fearing lest that by the teares of contritioÌ„ they should cast off his heavy yoke and not suffer sinne to reigne in their mortall bodies his chiefe practice is to keepe them from godly sorrow And therefore hee dealeth with them as the Fox doth by the Goose which he taketh by the necke and so hindreth from crying out Hee stoppeth our complaint and prevents our crying unto the Lord Like a thiefe he climbeth up and entreth in at the windowes of this our earthly house and robbeth us of all grace and comfort Hee keepeth the eies for his owne passage making them instruments of wickednesse and brethren in cruelty Whereas if they were like the poole of Heshbon
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
thirst for the living God and shall thy soule thirst for many gods for dead gods for idols that are no Gods but the works of mens hands Shall he thirst for God who doth satisfie us with all good things and wilt thou desire that thirst whereby thou canst never be satisfied Abstemious men without question For when God hath commanded to keepe a feast they will keepe a fast When God hath given unto all the cup of blessing yet they will refuse it as counting themselves unworthy of so great salvation What can they merit by this their abstinence even to drink of that cup in the hand of the Lord Psal 75.8 which he powreth out for them If they shall plead that the use of the cup is freely given to some of them yet then there must bee a miracle in the change which among the Heathens themselves was thought to bee prodigious Insusum paterae Xerxis vinum in sanguinem conversum est Val. Max. But were not that woman drunken with bloud Revel 17 6. shee could not think that to be bloud which shee drinks 2. King 3. â—3 But now both shee and her followers by thinking that to bee bloud which is not as the Moabites did they run upon their own destruction Now if any shall object that David might well thirst after God who had dealt so bountifully with him who looked upon his poore estate and exalted him when hee was of low degree unto the highest dignity who gave him victory over all his enemies and made a way for him to escape out of the greatest dangers So that it had beene unthankefulnesse in him to have done otherwise As for themselves they desire first to compose their outward affairs settle their estates that they may not appeare to be worse than Infidels and then afterward to devote the remainder of their lives to the service of God Whereunto let mee answer That thy petition is the same with Balaams Let me dye the death of the righteous Thou art therefore unexcusable O man who in thy Testament dost in the first place commit thy soule to God and then dispose of thy estate But in the former part of thy life by a confusion without any good order thy chiefe care hath beene about thy worldly possessions and now in thine end it is not the love of God but the love of thy selfe that constraineth thee to take care of thy soule Whereas such as have alwayes used a cloke of covetousnesse a garment well knowne to Iudas but never worne by S. Paul how can they ever expect to put on the Lord Iesus 1. Thes 2.5 or to be clad with the rich robes of his righteousnesse No that thine unsatiable greedinesse will in the end bee as deadly uncomfortable unto thee as the Babylonish garment was unto Achan Iosh 7 11. And such as addict themselves to voluptuousnesse rejoycing in their youth Eccles 11 9. walking in the wayes of their owne heart and in the sight of their eies but intending to rejoyce in the Lord that their soules shall thirst for the living God in the time of age and trouble when they can find no rellish in vaine delights At last when God doth bring them to judgement can they expect to heare that comfortable saying Well done thou good and faithfull servant enter into thy Masters joy No Luke 16.25 they may feare to bee told that in their life time they received their good things but now there remaines no comfort for them Also such as are ambitious to make themselves a name laying a sure ground-worke as they thinke of honours and titles here upon earth intending with those foolish builders which had begun that they could not finish that the top of their tower should reach up to heaven hoping at last to obtaine a crowne of glory But that their Babel will prove their confusion Gen. 11. for they invert the order of Christ who hath commanded us in the first place to seeke the Kingdome of heaven And as in the creation Gen. 1.1 heaven is named before earth so our best endeavours should be to obtaine that estate of happines not casting our anchor of hope upon earth Heb. 6.19 but into heaven as David here did whose soule thirsted for the living God who did not then begin to serve God when he had received many outward blessings from him Such an objection came from Satan Iob 1. Doth Iob feare God for nought For who ever feared God for nought wee being lesse than the least of all his mercies De antiquâ—s illustrissimus quisque pastor erat Varrâ— But in his first estate in that most ancient kinde of life made famous by so many worthyes as Abel Iacob Moses and the like hee put his whole confidence in the Lord who delivered him out of the paw of the Lion 1 Sam. 17.37 and out of the the paw of the Beare which he remembred with thankesgiving 16.16 And having that leasure which shepheards have Pastor otiosâ—s Otium voluptatis ac lasciviae pater In Scal. he did not abuse it to wantonnesse and folly as they were wont for the most part to doe but being a cunning player on the Harp and a divine Poet Videtur autem modulatâ—o in pastroâ—â—b inventa prâ—mum Id. that art of poetry having its beginning from shepheards as the song of Moses doth testifie who formerly had led the flocke of Iethro Exod. 3.1 who at that time led the people like a flocke Hee composed most heavenly and melodious pastorals in praise of his Creator After that being lifted up by the right of the Almighty who loveth a cheerefull giver and not by his owne pride whereof hee was unjustly taxed by Eliab who foresaw that the elder must serve the younger he kept in tune still and did more excell the best of his nobles in gratitude and zeale than in regall dignity And here in his distresse a time of sufficient triall you see with what patience hee endured the cursing of Shimei and what confidence hee placed in God Hee doth not aske the life of his enemies you know the charge hee gave to the contrary and how hee was blamed for too much love of them 2. Sam. 1â— 6 Hee doth not aske long life that hee might bee restored unto his Kingdome and many yeares added unto his reigne But having a wise and understanding heart hee seeketh for God himselfe his soule thirsted for the living God hee knew if his prayer were acceptable God would give him more than hee asked as hee did afterward to Salomon 1. King 3. â—3 And if God gave himself he would give all things also Wherefore let us bee followers of him as hee was of God Phillip 3.8 And with S. Paul suffer the losse of all that wee may winne Christ It will be our best advantage and greatest gaine by any outward losse or imminent danger to be
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
tongue blesse wee God even the Father Iam. 3.9 and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God So those men will speake to the praise of God that they may bee reputed the children of the most High and yet will vilifie such as they in scorne and the Scripture in honour call Brethren who labour to repaire that image which was defaced by the fall of Adam and doe give unto the Lord that which is the Lords But envy hath ever beene like unto fire which ascendeth unto that which is highest David Invidiam tanquam ignem summa petâ—re Livi. whom God exalted to bee head of the people had many enemies And the men of this world doe hate those whom God hath chosen out of the world unto whom hee will give a crowne of life Yet their owne consciences doe tell them that they are more righteous than themselves Wherefore those servants that shall thus smite their fellow-servants for many Mat. 24.49 stripes are more tolerable than evill words their Lord shall come in a day when they looke not for him Qâ—i mortem ac verâ—era toleâ—â—biliora câ—â— aâ— quam 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—osa verba Sence and appoint them their portion with the hypocrites As for our selves 〈◊〉 2.20 if we suffer for doing well and take it patiently it is acceptable with God And hereunto were wee called because Christ also suffered for us who when hee was reviled reviled not againe Let us consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners Heb. 12 3. lest wee be wearied and faint in our minds Yee know how the whole band of Souldiers mocked him saying Haile King of the Iewes And they that passed by reviled him saying If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse Yea the chiefe Priests like whited walls contrary to the law spake evill of the Ruler of the people of the Lords Christ of that high Priest that offered up himselfe for us Hee trusted in the Lord let him deliver him if hee will have him And the theeves themselves to make the cause of their suffering to bee more just thought they could not spend their last breath better than by casting the same in his teeth All which reproaches were but as so many variations of that which was here spoken to David Where is thy God True it is that our blessed Saviour did seeme to bee forsaken of God for a time that wee might for ever enjoy the presence of the Almighty If we love him both He and the Father will come unto us Mat. 28 20. Iohn 14. and make their abode with us even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him But yee know him for hee dwelleth with you and shall bee in you How then can wicked men object Where is thy God seeing he is graciously present with us at all times and neerest unto us in any trouble as hee hath promised to bee with us in fire and water In gravescente rerum adversarum moleâ—ta frangitur piorum animus ut etiam ipsi dicant sibi c. Flamiâ— and the greatest danger Yet we our selves in the time of afflictioÌ„ through weakenesse want of faith may thinke that wee are cast out of his sight not clearely discerning his love towards us But as Iacob when he awaked out of his sleepe said Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not Gen. 28.16 so when the Lord doth raise us from our deadnesse and heavinesse of spirit we then find that hee was present with us in our disconsolate estate disposing all things for our future good And therefore wee may answer them as David doth Psal 115.3.4 Our God is in the heavens he hath done whatsoever hee pleased Their idols are silver and gold the worke of mens hands Such are the idols of all those that serve Mammon who keepe their gold and silver safe as being their onely gods that must defend them Gen. 31.34 But as Laban sought for his gods and could not finde them so they may hope for comfort and not finde it And then we may say unto them Where are thy gods Wee know that no man can see God and live The people said unto Moses Exod. 23.20 20.19 Let not God speake with us lest wee dye Gideon and Manoah feared death having seene an Angell And the souldiers themselves Mat. 28. became as dead men when the Angel of the Lord descended And yet such is the perverse corruption of mans nature that they neglect the worship of God the Creator of all things and doe bow downe to such Gods as they see with their eyes The Israelites having formerly seene the Egyptians worship Apis which is the same with Osyris in the likenesse of an oxe Sandys they forgat God their Saviour and began with a calfe saying These bee thy gods Num. 32.4 O Israel which in a short time would have multiplied into many gods The love and reverence which little children beare to their babies are evident seeds of Idolatry Moulin in buckler Imagines statuae deorum nâ—hil aliud sunt quam grandes pupâ—e and the Images of the gods are nothing else but babies come to the full growth Such as have blotted out that second commandement may justly feare that God will take away their part out of the book of life If in the time of affliction when God punisheth us for our offences it be a great addition to our misery the harsh censures and malignant speeches of wicked men Then it is our best wisedome so to walke with God that hee may be unto us a sunne and a shield bringing all good and defending from all evill And as Enoch pleasing God Heb. 11.5 was translated that hee should not see death which is the wages of sinne So if wee bee in all things obedient unto Gods Word hee will take us into his favour and wee shall bee delivered from unreasonable men Rom. 3.13 whose throate is an open sepulchre Wherefore as the lamp went not out in the Temple before the Lord called Samuel 1. Sam. 3.3 so the light both of good workes and also of joy should ever ascend untill God call us unto himselfe That others beholding the same may bee ashamed that they have falsly accused our good conversation and may be stirred up to glorifie God 1. Pet. 3.13 For who is he that will harme you if yee bee followers of that which is good Also our owne guilt doth set an edge upoÌ„ the reproaches of wicked men and make them to bee like a sword in our bones Whereas if wee were innocent wee should like the daughter of Eli neither answer nor yet regard what is spoken unto us Bitter invectives being contemned doe vanish away but by anger wee confesse them to be true Sâ—reta exoleseunt si irascar agnita vidâ—ntuâ— Tacit. Wherefore that wee
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
reclaime himselfe and laboureth to bee righteous as Lot was Nisi forte his maximè dâ—ebus animo imperandum est ut tunc voluptatibus solus abstincat cum in illas omnis turba procubuit Senec. 1. Chro. 15.13 in a sinfull generation When the whole Herd of the vulgar people doe runne violently into the greatest dangers David and the multitude did begin to keepe this holy-day when Uzzah was smitten at which time the Lord made a breach upon them for that they sought him not after the due order Most men doe not seek after the Lord upon such dayes or if they doe it is rather with confusion than good order and therefore may feare a curse for doing this worke so negligently The Lord may now speake as hee did by the Prophet Isai 1.14 Your appointed feasts my soule hateth for you chuse your owne wayes and delight in your abominations It was the policy of the Benjamites to catch the daughters of Shiloh Iudg. 21.22 when they came out to daunce in their daunces at the feast of the Lord Iuventus Romana ad rapiendas virgines discurrit Livi. The like policy was used by Romulus upon the same occasion And thus very many both men and women are captivated and brought into bondage at that time when we celebrate our greatest deliverance who being carnally minded doe loosen the reines Nam remittere animum est amittere A. Gell. and walke after their owne lusts sinning that grace may abound and using their liberty for an occasion to the flesh The carriage of most men in our chiefe holy-daies may be compared to that of the Romanes in their Saturnalia But wherein they testifie their joy and thankesgiving for the nativity of Christ I am not able to discerne when as the pipe and harpe and wine are in their feasts But they regard not the worke of the Lord Isai 5.12 neither consider the operation of his hands If musicke bee so needfull at such a time then that people may bee coÌ„mended which did chant to the sound of the Viole Amos 6. â— and invented to themselves instruments of musicke like David But they profanely depraved his holy example for hee used them as helps to devotion not as provocations to luxury and wantonnesse We know that the minstrels were put forth before the dead was raised Mat. 9.23 And wee may bee assured that by them wee receive no furtherance towards our new life of grace If dauncing be so pertinent at this time Mat. 6.22 the daughter of Herodias may seeme to bee well nurtured but you remember what an evill effect was produced thereby If costly garments and outward ornaments bee the best expression of our joy then let us joyne her that tyred her head 1. King 9.30 Luke 16 1â— unto him that was clothed in purple and fine linnen as a fit couple for such an occasion If variety of meate can suffice to cheare the soule then that wicked nation might have beene spared which offended in fulnesse of bread Ezech. 16.49 If gaming and pastimes must necessarily be annexed hereunto then let us view that people which sate downe to eate and drinke Exod. 32.6 and rose up to play But wee have not thus learned Christ 1. Thes 4.6 being taught not to goe beyond and defraud our brother Nor to suffer filthinesse foolish talking or jesting Ephes 5.4 nor drunkennesse and revellings which are works of the flesh Let no man mistake mee as if in any of these above-named particulars which may bee used without mixture of evill I would derogate from the freedome and bounty of that man Psal 112.5 who doth guide his affaires with discretion But if wee ought to bring againe our brothers oxe Deut. 22.1 when it goes astray then much more our brother himselfe and to shew him a more excellent way that so hee may not bee lord of mis-rule by letting him that is unjust to bee unjust still Rev. 22.11 and him that is filthy to bee filthy still When his house which at all times and especially at this time ought to bee a Church shall rather be like unto Golgotha a place of rottennesse where Christ shall bee crucified afresh by all manner of loosenesse and profanation Wee are exhorted to hospitality because thereby some have entertained Angels Heb. 13.2 But in receiving such a dissolute company there is little hope of harbouring either Angel or Saint Most that come are not worthy and others would bee compelled to come in who in a modest sobriety doe forbeare that bold intrusion Wherefore when thy fountaines bee dispersed abroad Pro. 5.16 and thou dost draw out thy soule to the hungry Isa 58.10 remember especially the houshold of faith and them that bee industrious that their bowels may be refreshed by thy liberality which will bee as sleepe to the labouring man Eccles 5.12 sweet and comfortable Such was the practice of this man of God which hee now recordeth who after the people had joined with him in the service of the Lord hee gave unto them for the reliefe and sustentation of their bodies Also at another time when hee offered towards the building of the Temple after that hee and all the congregation had worshipped the Lord 1. Chron. 29. verse 22. and sacrificed sacrifices they did eate and drinke with great gladnesse It was a iust complaint in ancient times Olim mensis December fuit nunc annus Senec. that December was changed from being a month to be a yeare Wee cannot boast of any amendment in our dayes which would bee more usefull than the Gregorian reformation Some doe presume to prognosticate of the twelve months by their observation of the twelve dayes but we may with more safety iudge what the conversation of some men will bee the following yeare by marking their carriage during these festivals David speaketh here but of one holy-day which hee and the multitude kept whereas these men are willing to keepe a multitude of holy-dayes being fit to live in a common-wealth like unto that of the Athenians who had more daies of pleasure than of imploymeÌ„t I lures voluptat bus dicati quam negotiâ—â—si iâ—â—â—dâ—ci Causabon V tam sicut peregr nantes transiêâ—c Saâ—ist Such doe greatly offend in abundance of idlenesse passing their time as strangers here but without preparation for their long home Never calling to minde how many good dayes they have lost Amici diem perdidi Suet. without the least benefit either to themselves or others And yet as the rich man in the Parable who had many flockes and herds could not bee satisfied unlesse he might take that little ewe lambe of the poore man 2. Sam. 12.3 So these men are not contented with the great number of profane holy-dayes as they make them unlesse they may incroach upon the Lords Sabbath Whereof I will forbeare to discourse lest I might seeme to prevent
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
doth behold us as hee did his servant David delivering us out of all afflictions And in the performance of holy duties hee seeth us as he did Nathaneel Ioh. 1 48. sending his grace to prevent accompany and follow us Lastly when that which is perfect is come wee shall with Paul see him face to face 1. Cor. 13.12 Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11.7 If this outward light bee so delightfull then what an excellent blessing is it Num. 6. verse 25 26. when the Lord doth make his face to shine upon us and is gracious unto us and doth lift up his countenance upon us That wee may obtaine this benediction wee must bee obedient unto his Word When hee saith Psal 27.8 Seeke yee my face Our heart must answer Thy face Lord will I seeke Not for a short time 105.4 but continually And though a man beholding his naturall face in a glasse goeth away Iam. 1.24 straightway forgetteth what manner of man hee was yet wee when the Lord hath in mercy revealed himselfe unto us must not forget his benefits but ever bee mindfull of his gifts that are without repentance and alwayes praise him for the help of his countenance Wee cannot expect deliverance out of trouble unlesse God doth helpe us and when wee have received many blessings wee shall neither desire nor yet bee able to praise him without the helpe of his countenance So that God doth provide both the altar and the sacrifice Hee freely bestowes his benefits and he doth enable us to offer our thankes-giving and to praise him for the help of his countenance VERSE VI. O my God my soule is cast down within mee VVHen the disciples could not cure him that was lunaticke Mat. 17.15 they bring him to Christ himselfe So when David could not by his owne endeavours cast out this spirit of heavinesse hee seeketh unto the Lord of life to speake the word and this disease of his â—oule shall bee healed Haâ— he recovered his life of comfort by a stedfast hope in Gods mercy which hee laboured for in the formeâ— verse yet then hee must have confessed that it was the grace of God whereby iâ— was effected But that which is obtained by prayer doth come more immediately from Gods right hand and for such blessings wee are most thankfull Wee come with confidence unto the throne of grace when wee have used and doe use all good meanes to recover strength and assurance Doth God bid us doe some great thing we doe it willingly Doth hee command some small thing therein also we yeeld our cheerefull obedience I cannot give sufficient testimony unto these two so excellent duties serious examination of the soule and fervent praier unto the Lord The former like Mount Sinai full of terrour when by looking into our selves wee feare and tremble because of our guiltinesse having offended against the lawes of God The latter like Mount Sion Heb. 12. bringing consolation through Iesus the Mediator of the New covenant whose bloud speaketh better things than that of Abel In the right performance whereof our griefe is asswaged if we prostrate our selves before the Lord in prayer hee will raise up our soules with spirituall comfort This is the best refuge of every beleever whereby he hopeth for these sure mercies of David And this is the Sanctuary of a Christian from whence hee cannot bee taken and wherein hee shall not perish Our sorrow may often cause us to call upon the Lord but the soule is never cast downe so low as to bee wholly disabled from prayer Being of a sorrowfull spirit though wee cannot expresse our misery yet wee can speake in our heart unto the Lord. David being dejected by griefe and heavinesse doth yet lift up his soule in prayer and beleeves that God is his God though now hee seemed to forsake him When the winde doth blow wee wrap our garments more close about us in trouble wee draw neere unto God and labour to apply his promises unto our soules The childe walking in the darke doth adhere unto his father and takes hold upon him that hee may guide him and preserve him from danger So wee in the most disconsolate estate doe cleave unto the Lord and repose our whole confidence in his love Our Author in speaking of God and his soule doth thus plead for himselfe Thou art my God and I am thy servant Let the wicked bee clothed with shame and dishonour let their heart dye within them But redeeme my soule that I may not bee desolate because I trust in thee Deliver mee from all my feares and thou Lord shalt bee magnified which hast pleasure in the prosperity of thy servant My soule is thy gift it came from thee and I have given it unto thee How can it ascend towards thee when it is thus pressed downe by manifold troubles The waters are come in unto my soule Psal 69.1.2 I sinke in deepe mire where there is no standing My soule abiding in this darke house of earth lyeth prostrate upon the ground and is not able to rise Lord heare the poore and despise not thy prisoner Let thy salvation O God set me up on high let thy light and thy truth lead mee and bring mee unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles VERSE VI. Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Iordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Missar ANother help which David used to sustaine himselfe in this time of trouble was by calling to minde the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of Iordan Iosh 3. where God provided a passage for the Israelits preserved him when he passed over to shun Saul So now going over the river 2. Sam. 17.22 hee hoped that God would make a way for him to escape the danger that might come by Absalom Whereas hee nameth the land of Iordan and of the Hermonites he suggesteth to our remembrance the victory which God gave unto his people when they tooke the land that was on this side Iordan from the river of Arnon unto Mount Hermon at which time Og Deut. 3.8 who was of the remnant of the giants was overthrowne And thereby his hope might bee confirmed that although high-minded Absalom was swoln with proud conceits 1. King 20.11 and girding on his harnesse diâ— boast himselfe as if hee had put it off yet the right hand of God was not shortned noâ— his power diminished Buâ— hee will save and deliver all them that put their trust in him Now these three places here mentioned being the bounds of that countrey inhabited by the Israelites Iordan towards the East Hermon the North and the hill Missar the South hee might from thence have this comfortable assurance that God who was pleased to give unto his people so fruitfull a land after their tedious passage through the wildernesse would likewise in
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
Revel 3.17 and increased in goods and have need of nothing For in our selves wee are wretched and miserable Going out full in the morning we may be brought home againe empty in the evening Having in the day given thanks unto God who filleth us with his blessings before night we pray unto him for our dayly bread In our thankfull acknowledgment of the benefits we doe enjoy we humbly pray unto God to renew his wōted mercies and to multiply his favours upon us How can we testifie our due valuation of the bounty and goodnesse of the Almighty but by ascribing all glory unto him when our soules doe blesse the Lord and all that is within us doe praise his holy name How can we better declare the sincerity and devotion of our thanks-giving than by our fervent prayer for the increase of those graces for which we desire to give thanks He that is in want may move compassion He that is gratefull will soone obtaine reliefe Can we presume to beg any thing of God not having rightly priced those blessings which we have formerly received from his bountifull hands David was so far from forgetting any benefit that God had bestowed upon him that in this prayer he doth insinuate a dutifull remembrance of Gods gracious dealing with him in that he calleth Him The God of his life who breathed into him the breath of life who in sicknesse healed his diseases and brought up his soule from the grave Who delivered him from the Beare and the Lion and that lion-like man Goliah and that Fox who sought after the blood of this Lambe and yet confessing him to be innocent And here from this ravening Woolfe Absalom who in the morning devour'd the prey slew his brother Amnon And now thought to divide the spoyle by casting his father out of his throne into his sepulchre laboured to have the Sun turned into darknesse that himselfe might have shined like a blazing meteor But God was the God of his life The living the living he shal praise thee as I doe this day Having received so great a blessing he doth use it to the praise of his name And from Him he hoped for that better life when this should be finished for which Bathsheba prayed That the King might live for ever Our life being a good gift doth come from the Father of lights In him we live and move and have our being And whether we live or dye we are the Lords Then let us live to his glory and bee willing to forsake all things to follow Christ and to lose our lives that we may save them at the last day not like the unregenerate who wil preserve their lives though they destroy their soules and will keepe their goods though they spend their lives as Ananias did Act. 5.5 Mat. 21.19 being like the fig-tree which brought forth the broad leaves of outward profession whereby hee thought to cover his nakednesse Gen. 3.7 But wanting sound fruit he was blasted by the breath of divine justice and withered away By this example of David we may be taught unto whom to direct our prayers Even unto the God of our life who hath given us so great a blessing is able to give us all things requisite for our good How voyd of all sense and understanding are they that neglect praying unto the eternall and everliving God and doe pray unto Saints which are dead which never were living and doe represent their prayers unto images in a language equally unknowne to the idoll and themselves Psal 115 8. They that make them so is every one that trusteth in them VERSE IX I will say unto God My rocke why hast thou forgotten me why goe I mourning because of the oppressions of the enemye DAvid doth here premeditate what he should say when he comes to speake unto the Lord in prayer And in so doing he becomes a good example unto us duely to consider our necessity that we may performe this holy duty with the more reverence and thereby obtaine the more comfort As wee use to examin our selves before we come to the Lords supper where we are made the partakers of the body blood of Christ So likewise we ought to search our hearts before prayer at which time we partake of the benefit of his sufferings Mat. 6.7 And then we must omit vaine repetitions for we are not heard for our much speaking A few words with fervency zeale are better than ten thousand without importunity holinesse The Pharisee made a great sound in his prayer But the Publican like a vessel full of pretious liquor strikes himselfe upon the breast drawes out these few words God be mercifull to me a sinner Our care must be to fitt our prayer unto the present occasion And that estate wherein we then are Sometime the soule is lifted up with joy and then there is cause of thanksgiving and praysing the name of the Lord for his manifold blessings Sometime it is weighed downe with sorrow and then we must be humbled in confession of our owne vnworthinesse and labour to strengthen our selves by trusting in Gods mercyes All helps are good that may either assist us therein or enable us thereunto But above al the Holy Spirit which teacheth all things and sheweth unto every man the griefe of his owne heart leading him in the way of life By the which we must be guided instructed all the dayes of our lives In comparison whereof all other are but blind guides And not fitted to every particular exigent Paul being unable to see was led by the hand Act. 9.8 But after the scales fell from his eyes he needed no such helpe And that other blind man cured by Christ Iohn 9.21 being of age was able to speake for himselfe They that are strong men in Christ doe poure out their complaint before the Lord Yea the new-borne child doth cry though not able to speake In the beginning we cry unto the Lord in sighs and grones And afterward growing from milke to strong meate as the flax which at first did but smoke in the end doth burn bright wee are able to make expression of our want When Zacharias his mouth shall bee opened Luk. 1.63 and his tongue loosed that hee could speake to the praise of God the writing table may bee laid aside Naturally wee are all borne with this infirmity and unlesse God put forth his hand and touch our mouth as hee did Ieremiahs Ier. 1.9 wee are not able to speake unto him Let us then covet this excellent endowment and pray unto God to open our lips and to touch our tongue with a coale from the altar that we may obtaine this originall and fundamentall blessing whereby so many graces are derived unto us and wee come to bee built up in our most holy faith In our voyage to heaven take heed of these two dangerous rocks Either to withdraw the shoulder Nehem. 9.29 laying
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