that in the firste place none of vs all shoulde bee proude of our good wittes ne yet of our other excellent aydes nor too be hautie in that wee haue greatly profited at Schole haue vnderstood all the liberal sciences and to be men of greate experience When then a man shall be the moste perfect in science and knowledge that it is posibly to be imagined yet ought we to learne to humble our selues and to cast all our pride cleane vnder fote that the worldly knowledge which God hath giuen vnto vs to serue him bee subiect vnto his worde Shall we finde a man that shall be moste eloquent most cunning and most excelling in euery condition all others That man I say ought to doe homage vnto God for that which he hath receiued frō him knowing that no worldly science or knowledge ought to shadowe or darken him who farre surpasseth the same because the Heauens are farre aboue the earth In very deede both two proceed from the meere goodnesse of God But to this point must it be brought That whatsoeuer he be that shall attayne to the true and heauenly light must say I am nothing O Lord For all that which thou hast giuen me commeth also from thee receiue thou then the same as the most speciall thinge aboue the rest And since thou haste shewed mee that grace and fauour to be instructed by thy worde worke so in mee I beseech thee that all the rest yeelde such honor and homage as appertained to this wonderful knowledge which I haue learned in thy schoole See then what it is that Dauid meaneth to learne vs by his example And besides when he sayth That he is become wiser then his auncients It is to shewe vs that wee ought too haue such a certaintie of our fayth as that when there shall bee layde before vs what soeuer shall bee alleadged of this worlde that it be sayde And what I beseech you muste not the auncient men bee wise They lyued thus in the olde time There are a great number of persons And wee see a great many to be of the contrary opinion to this If then they shall alleadge vnto vs men for their age for their long experience and all their study and whatsoeuer else that may bee sayde What of all this All that can bee sayd is nothing in respect of this word of God So then wee see howe Dauid after he hath taught vs the way vnto humilitie to the end we should present before God all the knowledge that is in vs he sheweth againe that the word of God ought to be of that authoritie with vs as that wee shoulde not feare too walke the way which hee hath taught vs although we see all the rest of the world to go cleane cotrary Whē as we shal heare that that may be said And what I pray you Is it possible that they which are helde and accounted to be so wise should erre like poore and miserable beastes yea and that the same hath continued so many yeeres wil any man say that it hath no reason for it in all the whole worlde Is it possible that this may be so we ought not to trouble our selues for all these speeches And why so I answere hath god spoken the word Then I say let mans reason wit stay there let it humble make it selfe nothing worth and let vs confesse with Dauid that there is one onely word of God which ought to beare rule ouer all that this woorde hath such an excellent wisedom in it selfe as that it shall consume all the knoweledge and wisedome whatsoeuer that men thinke they haue Nowe like as the faythfull ought to scorne that which men on their behalfe shall alledge to the ende too diuert them from the obedience of God and the certaintie which they haue in his woord so also let vs learne that the olde men ought not too bee opinatiue against God vnder this shadowe that they haue seene much that they haue seene many thinges euen before their eyes as many of them there are which in this poynte vnder the shadowe of their age would goe beyonde God and remaine in their opinion stiffe and obstinate saying What I beseech you I haue lyued thus longe and thus many yeeres and would you haue mee nowe too chaunge my condition and manner of dealing It is for wilde headed young Gallants so to doe which knowe not what it meaneth But since I haue liued thus long bee it as be may I will ende my life so See then howe aged men will go beyond God But in this place Dauid sheweth vnto vs that when as we shall be young as hee hath before treated that although we haue hot boyling affections that our wittes are troubled with many hard matters that wee be without all consideration yet if we be ruled by the word God no dout it wil make vs peaceable quiet cause our life to be rightly gouerned And thus much forthe younger sort As touching the ageder it is folish arrogancy in thē to build vpon that which they haue seene and passed through their hands but let them know that true wisdome which is to be ordered by God is common to all that therefore they ought to apply and giue them selues therto in all ages And for this cause it is that S. Iohn in his Canouical Epistle 1. Iohn 2.12.13.14 after that hee hath made a generall exhortation vntoo all men sayeth I speake vnto you fathers to the ende you shoulde haue regard vnto him who is the Father of all the world I speake vnto you yong men to the end you should cal vppon your heauenly father And you olde men I sende you againe vnto him which is from the beginning To beshorte Dauid sheweth vnto vs by this place that the faithfull haue wherein too reioyce when as they are taught in the worde of God that they haue whereon too stay and assure them selues knowing that they shall neuer want any thing that they ought not to be drawen neither this way nor that way because they follow him of whome they helde the doctrine So then they beeing settled heerevpon may be able too make their parte good without any great a doe and when they shall see euery man goe aboute to withdrawe them let them pray vnto God that hee will giue them the grace to holde them selues simply vnto him Loe heere Dauid his meaning Nowe hee addeth soone after I haue refrayned my feete from euery euil way that I might keepe thy woorde Heere Dauid teacheth vs that they which are desirous to serue God and to stick to his worde are neuer without afflictions But what is then to be doone We must be of a good courage to withstand all the temptations which Satan can any way assayle vs with to withdraw turne vs frō that which is good I haue sayth he refrayned my feete from euery euill way And had Dauid neede of this hee that was an
al our owne fantasies and lustes we must thrust out frō vs all whatsoeuer for the loue which we ought to beare to the lawe of God we must also forget all hawtines or pride yea euen studying howe too separate our selues from those which any waye might drawe vs too euill and not too communicate with the vngodly whiche are double hearted full of hypocrisie or else such as are but vaine glorious and of that pryde which euen moueth thē to lift thēselues vp both against God and men For their company will so corrupt vs as that being uuzzeled amongst them our heartes can neuer be so ordered and ruled in the loue which wee ought to haue to the lawe of God Now then let vs kepe wel in mind this admonitiō as a thing most profitable for vs to wit as before I haue said that as we are enclined to committee a great number of offences and villanies which will withdrawe vs from the loue that we ought to beare to the word of God let vs so much the mere flie from whatsoeuer draweth vs away backward Yea and let vs vnderstand that looke howe many our imaginations and affections are that they are euen so many cartropes to hale pull vs away from this loue or els they are so many poysons which Satan giueth vs to the ende we should not once taste of the word of God neither to be so amiable and pleasant vnto vs as it ought but rather that we might be greeued lothed therwith so to leaue it as if it were a grieuous matter an occasion of heuines Since then it is so let vs be well aduised too purge our heartes of all earthly affections if we will take in hād to loue the word of God And yet it is not enough that wee haue fought against our vngodly lustes and fleshly fantasies but we must also as it were gather our wittes together for hardly can we open our eies to looke about this waye and that waye but that Satan will laye before vs some euill and wicked stops and encountries It is very true that so long as we liue here in this worlde wee can not but both see and heare a great many of things but yet must wee bridle our senses And aboue all the rest we ought to fight against these strange counterfait hypocrisies and affectiōs wherein we are nuzzeled We must euen hate deadly al this in our heart to the ende wee bee not hindred from the loue of the worde of God And thus much for the first verse Now in the second Dauid sheweth howe wee should finde the woorde of God pleasant and gratious that we might loue it that is when as we shall trust to his worde Thou art sayth he my refuge and my shield and I trust in thy word This is not added hereunto without iust cause For if there be none other doctrine in the lawe but too say vntoo vs Loe this must you do wee can neuer bee comforted For we shal find nothing in it but condemnation When as god sheweth vnto vs what our duety is we must needs be confounded and knowe that before him wee are condemned and accursed seeing that no man performeth that which hee ought So then the worde of God shoulde bee both bitter and grieuous vnto vs if there were nothing else conteined in it but a rule too liue well But when God is a testimonie and witnes vntoo vs of his goodnes and mercy and declareth vntoo vs that from him wee must looke too receiue our chiefe felicitie that hee is prest and ready too helpe vs that the treasures of his infinite goodnesse are open vnto vs when I saye this shall be in vs then may wee sauoure and taste his woorde and conceiue the loue of it when as we knowe that therein consisteth and lieth all our health and ioye Nowe then when as wee would profite in the worde of God and exercise our selues in it let vs learne to receiue the promises therein contained And let vs not be like vnto them which thinke that God saieth nothing else vnto in all the whole scripture but doe this or doe that for then this were a very thinne and feeble doctrine For if God were there as a Philosopher to preache vnto vs of vertues and to declare vnto vs that we must be thus gouerned we shoulde haue but a pitifull colde pull of it and bicause we are altogether and wholy contrary to the rightuousnesse of God it is impossible but that wee should bee grieued and troubled with whatsoeuer shal be said vnto vs. But I haue already shewed that the principall matter which God declareth vnto vs in his worde is this that hee protesteth howe well he loueth vs in alluring vs vnto him selfe to the ende we should not doubt but that he will bee our father in all and through all and that wee shoulde bee bolde to come before him that when there is any question of our saluation and of whatsoeuer els we haue neede off we should not doubt but that hee is ready to heare all our prayers that his hande is alwayes liberally bent to the end to giue vs whatsoeuer we want When we shall once knowe this to bee true then as I haue already saide the worde of God shall bee pleasaunt vnto vs. Loe nowe why Dauid by by addeth My trust is in thy worde O Lord. This is also in summe our faith which bringeth vs to the obediēce of God when I saye that it is faith which bringeth vs into the obediēce of God I meane that after we haue vnderstood of his good wil that we are thē stirred vp to yelde our selues vnto him And vntill such time as hee hath imprinted in our heartes the testimonie of his loue and the benefite which hee meaneth vnto vs wee shall flye from him as much as may bee and as often as this woorde of God shall sounde in our eares so often shall it grieue and torment vs as wee see howe the faithlesse doe feare when the worde of God is spoken vnto them it bringeth vntoo them nothing but terrour and feare as if a theefe or murderer were brought before a iudge But when as we haue faith to stay our selues vpon the goodnesse of God too call vppon him as Dauid doth here our succoure and shielde we may call vpon him with such a confidence as that hee will neuer bee deafe too heare our prayers when then wee are thus assured wee are forthwith wonne to loue him then delight we to yelde our obedience vnto his lawe Nowe in following that which wee haue already declared Dauid againe addeth Away from me yee wicked for I will keepe the commaundementes of my God Here hee speaketh of the temptations which come vnto vs by reason of the vngodly who allure vs as much as in them lieth too make vs too contemne God and worke so many offences as that they breake all good order yea euen to leaue the worlde
with Dauid Alas howe is it possible that I should be euer able to come to the perfect seruing of my God to trust vpon him and wholy to settle my selfe vpon that rule and order which hee hath set downe vnto me Loe I say these should be our wishes and desires But this is not sufficient enough to haue a desire that we might serue God But there is yet much more as when we shall desire that God will pushe vs forward and stirre vs vp thereto and yet we must not stay there neither What must we then do Let vs step forth with Dauid and protest that we will keepe the commaundements of God to wit when wee haue fought against our inordinate affections and that wee are assured to haue victorie ouer them that we then make this conclusion God shall so conduct me that I shal be able to keepe his Statutes As for the rest bicause we can not haue this as of our selues we are alwayes to pray as Dauid did O Lord forsake me not vtterly For if God withhold his holy hand from vs alas what shall become of vs Is it possible for vs to haue one good desire or thought in vs No it is impossible but we shall wholy decline to all euill and mischiefe yea and we shall become his enemies and aduersaries We must therefore hauing all our refuge from God beseeche him with Dauid that he wil not forsake vs. When he saith O Lord forsake me not ouerlong He signifieth vnto vs that God many times suffereth vs to go wrong suffereth vs to fall or els to stūble And why doth he so Because hee would humble vs for what is he which goeth not out of the waye or at the least halteth not and which oftentimes falleth not flat downe But yet for all that hee would not haue vs discouraged When then we see our weakenes and that there are many faultes and imperfections in vs. Let vs beseech the Lorde our God that hee will not forsake vs for euer for there is no difficultie which Dauid woulde not but that we shoulde knowe and hee knew a great many of faultes in himselfe But yet he hoped that God would not forsake him for euer And he knewe also that though he happened oftentimes to fall yet that he would relieue him by his grace And this is his meaning also what we must doe for we knowe this that there is no man which wholy keepeth the lawe of God we are al transgressors thereof we are all miserable sinners We must therefore runne vnto our good God and beseeche him that when we are fallen that he wil relieue vs through his fatherly goodnes as hee is alwayes ready to doe and that he hath promised hee will gouerne vs in supporting of vs vntill such time as he hath despoyled vs of all the imperfections of our fleshe And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good God in confessing our faultes beseeching him that it would please him to giue vs a tast that we may feele what a pleasure he doth vs when he communicateth his word familiarly among vs and that hee will instruct vs thereby not onely to vnderstand to discerne betwixt good and euill but that we may also be sure and certaine of his loue and good will towardes vs to the ende that we liuing vnder his charge and conduction might runne vnto him that in the middest of the miseries and wretchednes of this world he will make vs blessed that wee may come to euerlasting blisse and the glorie immortall which hath beene purchased for vs once for all by our Lord sauiour Christe Iesus his sonne And that when he hath once set vs into the right waye that he would keepe vs therein more and more vntill the time that he hath brought vs into his heauenly kingdome That not onely c. The second Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme BETH Wherewithal shall a yong man redresse his waye in taking heede thereto according to thy word With my whole hearte haue I sought thee let mee not wander from thy commaundementes I haue hidde thy promise in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy statutes With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth I haue had as great delight in the waye of thy testimonies as in all maner of riches I will meditate in thy commaundementes and consider thy wayes My delight shal be in thy statutes and I will not forget thy wordes VPon Sunday last past I declared vnto you in summe the argument of this Psalme the vse thereof and the instruction that we may gather by it to weete that a faithfull man is here taught to stirre vp himself to the reading of Gods word and thereby to confirme him selfe accordingly Dauid him selfe hath doone this who of all others was the most excellent how much more then ought we to do the like euen we I say which are so rude and ignorant and farre from so much profiting in the schoole of God as he But bicause we are so colde and haue need to be spurred forward like Asses Beholde why Dauid here sheweth vs what profite and commodity we may receiue by this continual study if euery of vs wil apply our selues to see and heare that which God hath manifested vnto vs in his lawe and in the holie Scriptures As here he sayeth Wherewithall shall a young man redresse his way in taking heede thereto or stāding vpon his gard according to thy word He sheweth vs here that if we be desirous to order ou◠life as it becommeth vs to haue it rightly gouerned and to be pure and simple we must holde that way which GOD hath set before vs. For wee must not trust vnto our owne wits Neither frame fashion vnto our selues such a way as shall to vs seeme best but to suffer God to rule and conduct vs and to obey him simply and playnely To bee short Dauid signifyeth vnto vs that all the wisedome and perfection of our life is to followe GOD and cleaue vnto his will True it is that this sentence at the first sight may seeme to vs too to common and as it were more then needeth For we will say what is he that knoweth not this wil not confesse it I will not deny but that it is an ordinary thing to confes it But in the mean while how few are ther which are persuaded of that which is here spoken or if we imagine such a thing in our head where is the practise of it I feare me we shal finde it in a very smale number of vs. Let vs not therefore thinke that this rule which the spirit of God hath set before vs is in vaine for it is for the amendement of our life according to his worde and to make vs to vnderstande that without it all is but doung filth that we haue al erred
men And whence then proceedeth this Verily from their owne securytie and negligence because they thought them selues to bee very perfect But Paule is c1eane contrary to this for thus he sayth I haue not attained as yet to that ful perfection neuerthelese I haue done what in melyeth Phil. 3 12. When he sayth I haue doone what in me lyeth he declareth that there was that humilitie in him whereof he spake in the place before by me already alleaged and this humilitie importeth that we should call vpon God as Dauid did as he sheweth vnto vs heere in this place It followeth I haue hid my promise within my heart that I might not sinne against thee When Dauid speaketh after this manner I haue hid thy word or promise in mine heart he wet declareth that if we haue but only a wandring knowledge that the same wil not holde vs in but that the Deuil hath by and by woone vpon vs to oppresse vs with temptations and in the ende to cast vs downe hedlong What must wee then doe It is not inough that we haue beene at church and heard what hath bin there said vnto vs and that euery of vs hath mumbled vp vnto himselfe some one thing or another but the word of God must be setled in vs and be hid in our heart to wit that it may there be resiaunt and continually abyding and to haue receiued it with such an affection as that it bee as it were imprinted in vs. If this be not so sinne will reigne in vs for it hath by nature his habitation with vs For all our senses are wicked and corrupt all our willes and desires are enemyes vnto God vnlesse Gods woord be wel hidden in our heartes Moreouer we are to vnderstande that Dauid heere vaunted not him selfe of his owne power strength as though he were in admiration thereof but the spirite of God speaking by his mouth entendeth to giue vs a glasse wherein we must be confirmed to weete that we must not haue onely our eares beaten with the Doctrine of saluation and receiue it in our braine but that it should be hidden in our heart to wit that we should lay it vp as in a Treasure house For this saying to hide importeth that Dauid studyed not to be ambitious to set foorth him selfe and to make a glorious shew before men but that he had God for a witnesse of that secret desire which was within him Hee neuer looked to worldly creatures but being content that he had so great a Treasure he knewe full wel that God who had giuen it him would so surely and safely garde it as that it should not be layd open to Satan to be taken away Saint Paule also declareth vnto vs 1. Tim. 1.19 that the chest wherein this treasure must be hid is a good conscience For it is said that many beeing voyde of this good conscience haue lost also their faith and haue beene robbed thereof As if a man shoulde forsake his goods and put them in aduenture with out shutting of any dore it were an easy matter for theeues to come in and to reaue and spoyle him of all Euen so if wee leaue at randon too Satan the Treasure which GOD hath giuen vnto vs in his word without it be hidden in this good conscience and in the very bottome of our hearte as Dauid heere speaketh we shal be spoiled thereof He addeth immediatly after Blessed art thou O Lorde O teach me thy statutes After he had fayd I haue sought thee with mine whole heart hee addeth Blessed art thou O Lorde O teach mee thy Statutes Dauid sheweth in this verse that the request which he made here afore is not founded or grounded of any merite or desert which he pretended to haue In very deede at the first sight it might be said that Dauid ment that God would not for sake him because he had sought him thervpon conclude that man must first beginne to goe on too preuent Gods grace and then that God wil afterward aide him Yee see here what men may imagine but this is not Dauids meaning and purpose And to proue it to be so it is moste sure hee attributeth it not to his owne power and strength that he had sought God with his whole heart for we must first be touched with the spirite of God when as we haue any such affection And why so For by nature we haue all strayed from God and all our force power and study bende them selues to estraunge vs from him And therefore wee must come vnto him in such sorte as is declared unto vs in many places of the holy Scripture Dauid then was preuented already by Gods grace and hee onely requireth of God to continue the same in him which hee hath begunne for he knewe right well that hee had greate neede thereof As if he should haue said I know very wel O Lord that thou hast already mightily put too thy helping hand by thy holy spirit when as I sought thee in very deed I had neuer done it without I had beene conducted by thy holy hand neither is this yet inough except thou continue the same in me when thou shalt so doe O Lord all praise and glory shal be thine for the same because thou hast done it of thy meere fauour and grace By this then we may see that Dauid heere meaneth not to glorifie himselfe as beeing puffed vp with his owne vertues and merites But because God deserueth to be blessed and exalted to the end that we shoulde render vnto him all honor and glory See now wherefore hee assureth himselfe that he will teach him and that he shall be more and more confirmed in that doctrine which he hath already learned For when he sayth Teach me thy Statutes O Lord it was not because that he was altogither rude and ignorant that hee coulde bee nowe a Nouice which was a Prophet had charge to instruct others and was also a King Dauid then spake not as one that was vnlearned but hee knewe well inough that all this was not sufficient without hee profited still more and more Now if Dauid spake after this manner I beseech you what ought we to do When soeuer then that we would obtaine this grace at Gods hands to be instructed in his statutes let vs bring this reason vnto him ground our selues vpon this to wit that he be blessed and praysed And aboue all things let vs vnderstand the great neede we haue heereof that is that although wee haue already beene instructed in the holy Scripture that wee must be Scholers vnto the ende and too pray vnto God dayly to encrease our fayth I meane such chiefely as are appointed too preach the woorde True it is that it were a meruelous great presumption for any man too come into the Pulpit and to vsurpe the office of a Preacher excepte hee were well studyed in the holy Scripture But so it is that wee goe vpp
in the Pulpit dayly with this condition too learne when as we teach others And beeing thus I doo not onely speake that I might bee hearde but for mine owne parte I must also bee the Scholer of God and that the word which proceedeth from my mouth might profite my selfe likewise otherwise cursed am I. Let vs then note this by the way that they which are moste perfecte and ready in the Scriptures are arrogaunt fooles except they acknowledge that they had neede too haue God for their Schoolemaister all the dayes of their life and to bee more and more confirmed after the example of Dauid In very deede these things very well deserue to bee spoken of more at large but that I respecte one thing that in handling of this Psalme by parcels it may be imprinted the better in our memory For as I haue sayde in the first Sermon which I made on Sunday last past that it is not without cause that the spirite of God would haue this Psalme to be made according to the Letters of an A.B.C. because euery one should learne it as perfectly as their Pater Noster as wee commonly say Seeing then that our Lorde God would that we shoulde haue this Psalme perfectly and for our owne vse it is also good and necessary that the handling of it be pure and simple and so to follow the plainnesse of the text as that wee might vnderstand as it were worde by worde whatsoeuer is contayned therein It remayneth now that euery of vs vnderstand what hath byn handled without looking after any longer repetition Neuerthelesse I will so endeuour my selfe to be shorte as that God willing the woords which I shal vtter shall not bee very darke especially to those which be attentiue It followeth With my lippes haue I declared all the Iudgementes of thy mouth Dauid sheweth heere the accorde which ought to be betwixt God vs to wit that god hath instructed vs when we haue heard that which hath bin saide vnto vs that euery one should say Amen that there bee a sweete harmony accorde betwixt him vs without iar or contradiction Loe heere in summe that which is ment in this verse Nowe in the meane while we haue to note that Dauid declareth that he contenteth not himselfe alone with following of God and cleauing vnto him but that he laboureth and desireth asmuch as in him lyeth to stirre vpp his neighboures likewise and to bring it so to passe as that God might bee serued with a common accorde throughout the whole worlde He then that will haue a true zeale to honor God will not thinke onely of himselfe but will haue an eye euery where and seeke by all meanes possible that he can too redresse those which are wickedly giuen to stirre vpp those which are colde and negligent to strengthen those which are weake and feeble to entertaine those which are already in a good forwardnesse and to make them more forwarde Loe heere whereunto all the faithfull haue an eye For the Lord our God teacheth vs vpon this condition that euery of vs thinke not onely particularly of himselfe but that wee should also haue a mutuall care one of another and whensoeuer we shall haue this zeale let vs vnderstand that God hath created the whole worlde vppon this condition that we all should be obedient vnto him But we must wel way the order that is heere set downe For Dauid beginneth not with this sentence That with his lippes he hath tolde of all the Iudgementes of the Lordes mouth For he hath sayde before that he hath hid them in his hart The thing which Dauid said to be hid in his hearte he soone after declareth it with his mouth wherin he sheweth that euery of vs ought to beginne with himselfe When wee meane too instruct and teach our neighbours we must not say vnto them Go you before but Come next after me or else harde by me and hauing care all to goe the right way wee should all at-once labour to goe togither to our God to be conioyned vnto him in true fayth And I speake it too this ende because wee shall see many who in this behalfe can very well prattle and babble and would seeme to be the greatest doctors in the world But what of all this Let vs in the meane time looke into their liues and conuersation and wee shall finde in them nothing but infection and stench nothinge else but mocking of God in all they goe about and doe We must therfore followe the order which Dauid here holdeth to witte that the word of God bee hid as a Treasure in the bottome of our heart and afterward when as we shall haue this affection let vs indeuour our selues to draw others also thereto and goe altogither with one accorde to honour our Lorde God and that hee which hath beene better taught then any of his neighboures haue beene let him confesse that hee is so much the more beholden and bound vnto God to doo that which is heere shewed vnto vs by Dauid For although wee are not all Prophetes as hee was yet for all that this was spoken to vs all in general 1. Thessa 5.14 Collo 3.16 Heb. 3.13 Admonish ye one another Saint Paule speaketh it too all the faithfull and to all Christians And that we should also knowe that this belongeth and appertaineth too vs and chiefely as I haue before sayde that they which are moste forwarde shoulde lay foorth the grace which was giuen vnto them for the common building vpp of the Church and instruction of their neighbours It followeth I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonyes as in all manner of riches Heere Dauid declareth that hauing wayned him selfe from his earthly affections wherwithall we are ouer greatly intangled he wholly traueleth to come to God For it is impossible for vs too taste the sweetenesse conteyned in the worde of God to take pleasure in this doctrine of our saluation and to bee altogither giuen therevnto before such time as we haue cut off from vs all our wicked lustes and affections which reigne too too much in our mortall bodyes It is like as if a man woulde haue land to bringe foorth Corne which were altogither full of thornes and weedes Or what is he that would haue a Vine growe vpon stones and rockes wherein is no moysture For what is the state of the nature of man Forsoth it is as barrē land as possibly can be What are al our affectiōs but bushes thornes and weedes which choke and make all the good seede of God nothing worth So then it is not without cause that Dauid heere matcheth riches with the worde of God and this auarice wherwith we are led and inflamed against the desire that hee had too followe God and too walke after his word As if he should haue sayd Alas Lord it is true that I am giuen to the vanities of this world aswel as others are
not O Lorde to liue for my selfe alone in this worlde to receiue heere my pleasures and commodyties but desire it too an other more precious and excellent end than that to wit that I might serue thee Euen so then as often as we are desirous to liue we must remember vs of this request which Dauid maketh That is that we shoulde not be like vnto brute beastes lyuing wee knowe not to what end but that we should alwayes ayme at this make to honour GOD. For without this wee are more miserable then all the rest of his creatures Euery creature will followe his owne naturall inclination and albeit that brute beastes haue an hard and irkesome life yet notwithstanding they are not in their kinde so tormented greeued as we are We know feele by experience that our euil desires and lusts are like hot burning furnaces so that we neede no body to persecute and vexe vs for ther is none of vs all but can tel wel inough how to greeue vex our selues one with ambitiō another with couetousnes some with fornication adultery So thē our life should be very accursed if we looked no farther But we must alwayes aime at this marke to serue God to keepe his word For when as all our affection and loue shal reste in it then shall our life be blessed But contrariwise when we are so brutish as to desire nothing else but to liue heere a long time to haue none other care but of our body and this temporall life the longer we liue heere in the world the more do we heape vppon vs the malediction and curse of God Let vs then keepe in minde this prayer which Dauid heere maketh to wit that he beseecheth God to bestowe that benefite vpon him that he might keepe his commandement all the dayes of his life As if he should haue said Alas my God I see vs to bee so peruerse and frowarde as that none of vs all thinketh to what ende we liue And we are so giuen to all sinne and wickednesse that wee doo nothing else but more and more prouoke thy heauy wrath and indignation against vs. Suffer me not O Lorde to be one of that company but graunt vnto me thy grace that my life may bee ruled and gouerned as it ought to bee that is That I may employ my selfe wholy to serue and honour thee It followeth by and by after Open mine eyes that I may see the woondrous things of thy lawe Heere he declareth that it was not without cause that he made this request vnto God For if it were in our power to follow the word of God and keepe it it were meere hypocrysie and feyned holinesse to make any such prayer For we craue at Gods hand that which we haue not and in our Prayers we must alwayes confesse our pouertie and want Were it not a mockery thinke you too craue of God the thing which I haue already I shall beseech him to giue it me and I haue it already in my possession It is moste true that wee must craue that at Gods hande which already wee haue And why so Because wee are certaine that wee cannot inioy it nor yet vse the same without his grace and fauour And that the vse thereof shall neuer profite vs without he blesse it euen as we desire of him our dayly Breade And although the table be couered and the meate sette ready on the boorde yet we desire of God to make it nourishment for our bodyes Wherby as I haue before sayde it shall profite vs no whit at all without God blesse it through his grace and liberalitie It is very so that we doe craue it by reason of our continuall confessing of our want and neede So then it cannot possibly bee that this was in Dauid his owne hand and power to keep the woorde of God And he sheweth it to be so in this which followeth O Lorde open thou mine eyes As if hee should haue saide Alas deere father it is so farre off that I am able to keepe thy worde as that I should not be able to vnderstand any whit thereof if thou guidest mee not thereto For it is thou which must both beginne the same also performe it wholy in me This is the way and meanes for vs to vnderstande what to doe For many there are which knowe the thinge that is good and yet for all that they vtterly refuse it Nowe Dauid declareth that he is not onely voyde of all power too keepe the word of God but also that hee is without all vnderstanding except it be giuen him by the holy Ghost Let vs note well who it is that speaketh Euen Dauid a most excellent Prophet And yet for all that wee see that hee declareth yea and that boldely him selfe to bee ignoraunte without GOD iustructeth him Neither dooth hee heere speake of any worldely iustruction as wee woulde imagine of the thinges whiche wee knewe nor of before Dauid confesseth that all that would serue him to no purpose at all without God added therunto a notabler or more excellent thing to wit that hee did enlighten him with his holy spirite Sithens then it is so that Dauid who was an excellente Prophet did knowe that hee could neither by reading nor preaching vnderstand that which was requisite vnto saluation what shall become of vs which are yet farre from that forwardnesse that was in him And let vs not thinke that through our owne labour and industrie and by our owne sharpnesse of wit to come so farre as to vnderstande the secretes of God but let vs knowe that wee had neede to be inlightned with the grace of his holy spirit to open our eyes for without it we are poore blinde soules Nowe if this were wel vnderstood we should neuer see such a pride amongst vs as is that euery of vs is wise inough too gouerne himselfe It is an easy matter for vs to make protestation that God hath giuen vs his word and yet for all that we shall still be blinde and knowe nothing vntill such time as he openeth our heartes and mindes For when nothing else shal gouerne vs but our own sense and naturall reason what beastes and Calues shall wee then bee See then how we shall be better instructed in humilitie when as the doctrine shal be imprinted in our heartes True it is that this was not spoken in vaine but to the end that we shoulde be admonished after the example of Dauid too present oure selues before God and in confessing our selues that we are not capable to vnderstande any thing without that he put to his helping hand let vs beseeche him too open our eyes by his holy spirit And bicause it should not seeme straunge that Dauid desired to haue his eyes open he declareth that the wisdom conteined in the lawe of God is too high for our capacities yea although we think oure selues to haue neuer so sharpe and fine wittes And therefore
and handled hee maketh his complaint vnto God and sayeth O Lorde the Princes and Gouernours them selues doe sit and speake euill against me And yet for all that I haue kept thy Testimonies Herein summe we are to gather out of this place that if it so fall out when as wee haue walked vprightly and in a good conscience to bee falsely slaundered to bee accused of this and that whereof we neuer once thought yet ought we to beare all thinges patiently for let vs be sure of that that we are not better then Dauid although we would make neuer so great protestation of our integritie and puritie Dauid walked both before God and men so faithfully as none of vs all is able to doe and yet wee see that he was subiect to these slaunderous reportes Let vs then be patient when the like shall happen to vs. But let vs also follow his example in that hee sayeth that is that wee shoulde not be discouraged seeing our selues to be so euill and vniustly recompensed at mens handes that we forbeare not for all that to exercise our selues in the commaundementes of God And howe should we come by that patience wee must come to that which he there speaketh off to wit that wee take all our whole delight and pleasure in the commaundementes of God It is the thing which hee often beateth vpon before by me touched and therefore it shall not be needefull to staye vpon it any longer Let vs onely vnderstand this when Dauid sayeth that all his pleasure was in the commaundementes of GOD that we after his example must doe the like Hee added They are my Councellers Loe here a sentence worthy to be wayed of vs when Dauid calleth the commaundements of God his counsaylers for in the first place he meaneth that he might scorne at all the wisedome of the most able and most expert men in the worlde howe goodly and gay shewes soeuer their counsailes seeme to be to those which so exceedingly commend them and are also commended of all in that he was conducted by the word of God gouerned therby Lo what he meaneth here by the first point The second is That when he shal be so gouerned by the word of God he might not onely saye that hee was truely wyse but that it was so much as if he had all the wisedome of all the men in the worlde yea and a great deale more put euen in one man When any one man mistrusteth his owne witte hee will aske councell and arme him selfe the better and when he shall haue vsed such counsell as euery one shall soundly giue him hee will holde him selfe a great deale the better resolued Dauid then declareth vnto vs that if wee will not bee without good counsell and aduise we must follow the statutes and ordinances of God But what fewe men at this day are able in truth thus to saye Euery man will saye the best for him selfe he can and yet it shal be all but a mere mockerie Howe many of vs are there which will be contented to be gouerned as hee was by this counsell Wee shall hardly finde one amonges an hundreth Howe do we iustly promise our selues rightly to knowe that GOD hath spoken vnto vs And let it be that we are in the right way what assurance haue we of it It cannot be chosen but that the least let in the world will trouble vs Our spirite alwayes greatly desireth to be contrary to God we haue greater regarde to the vayne opinions and fantasies of men then to the heauenly doctrine so that we lende out eares to whatsoeuer men bable and are so caried with euery wynde that we knowe not what it is to holde our selues to the counsell of God And so let vs bee aduised to make out profit of this sentence beseching the Lord to graunt vs that his grace that we may be gouerned by him and that with such humilitie and reuerence as that whatsoeuer is set before vs in this world we may alwayes go on our wayes in true and inuincible constancie And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate out selues before the face of our good God in acknowledging our faultes beseching him that it woulde please him to gouerne vs in such sorte as that we looke not downe here on the earth ne yet stoope downe to the corruptible things of this world but that we might continually aspire vnto this heauenly life where unto hee daily calleth vs by his worde And for performance thereof to suffer vs to be truely vnited to our Lord Iesus Christ yea and that with an inseparable bond as wee may alwayes followe the waye which he hath shewed vnto vs vntill such time as wee be come to that immortall glorie whereunto he hath gone before vs to gather vs all vp vnto him and to make vs partakers of that blessednesse which hee hath gotten and purchased by his death and passion and where of he will make vs enheritours with him in the kingdome of heauen That he will not onely graunt vs this grace and fauour but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The fourth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme DALETH My soule cleaueth vnto the dust quicken me according to thy word I haue declared my wayes and thou heardest mee teache me thy statutes Make me to vnderstand the way of thy commandements and I will meditate of thy wonderous workes My soule melteth with very heauines rayse me vp according vnto thy word Take from me the way of lying and graunt me graciously thy lawe I haue chosen the way of truth and thy iudgements haue I laid before me I haue sticken vnto thy testimonies O Lord confound me not I will runne the way of thy commaundements whē thou shalt enlarge mine heart DAuid sheweth vnto vs in these eight verses what the ioye and contentation of the children of God ought to bee And this is a doctrine for vs most profitable For there is not that man which longeth not too haue the thing that may content and delight him but there is none of vs which holdeth the true meane So much the more therefore ought we rightly to recorde the lesson heere conteined to wit that all our reioyring is accursed and will come to an euill end if wee looke not to God and to his worde Loe wherefore here he sayeth My soule cleaueth vnto the dust quicken me according to thy word Dauid confesseth here that hee was driuen to an extremitie For behold what hee meaneth by this saying That his soule or life cleaueth vnto the dust As if hee shoulde haue said O Lord there is nothing that I more looked for then my graue I am like to a poore castaway and forlorne creature Nowe whether or to whome should he haue recourse Euen vnto God hee desireth to be restored And how may that be according to the promisse which he hath receiued We see then whether and to whom we must haue
recourse in all our necessities And thus much for the first point The Second is when that wee shall haue had our refuge to God we might finde in him wherewith fully to reioyce vs. Thus much then for the second The third is That if we will obteine tobe restored at Gods handes wee being as it were dead and confounded should looke vnto his promises For behold he will giue vs encouragement to come vnto him We haue here then a good admonition and very profitable that is That as often as we shall be ouerwhelmed with all the miserie that can be we should yet looke vnto God bicause that then hee will seeke after vs more then euer he did before willing vs to come vnto him But here we are to note that there is not any so great a miserie which ought to let and stay vs from cōming straight on vnto him For Dauid confesseth that he was become as a dead man When then wee shal be euen as it were at the last cast as we say that we can no more that we should bee as a man would saye oppressed and ouercome with sorowe and griefe yea and that the graue euen gapeth to swallowe vs vp let vs not for all that ceasse to beseeche God to restore vs. For it belongeth properly vnto him when he hath appealed and brought vs to deathes dore to restore and quicken vs againe But we are to vnderstande that we must not come vnto him after an hypocritical maner we must not require him too restore vs and yet haue our mindes wandering here and there neither yet must we seeke for that thing in the worlde which wee make countenance to seeke for at his handes We must not make vs two wayes to the woode as we saye but our whole delight and contentation must bee in God and in his grace that it suffiseth vs to haue him only and to feele his mercie and compassion towardes vs and when wee haue gotten that to bee contented onely therewith But bicause we can not come vnto God without he him selfe draweth vs when as wee desire him to restore vs and to stretche out his hande vnto vs wee must adde thereto this saying here expressed to wit that he will quicken vs according to his word Now by this as I haue already sayde wee are taught that in the middest of death we finde saluation and health bicause the promises of God neuer fayle vs. It followeth in the second verse I haue declared my wayes and thou heardest mee teache me thy statutes Here Dauid alledgeth another reason that GOD heareth him to wit that this is not the first time that he had heard him neither yet that God is mercifull and liberall to graunt vnto his faithfull their petitions and requestes But wee in very deede must in continuing the matter which wee are here in hande to open be throughly assured and resolued that it is not in vayne when as we make our prayers vnto God neither yet that wee lose our labours but that our prayers shall profite vs. We must therefore be fully resolued herein And howe must that bee Forsooth Dauid euen very now alledged vnto God his promises assuring him selfe that hee receiued them through his meere mercy and goodnesse And this is no foolehardinesse Euen so then let vs in no case feare to come vnto God boldly and cherefully vpon this condition yea so long as wee builde vpon his promises We must not come vnto him according to our owne fantasies neither must we allege and saye my God I present my selfe here before thy maiestie bicause I thinke or suppose that thou oughtest to heare me this were too too fonde and lewde arrogancie but to saye Alas my good God it is very true that I am not worthy to come neare vnto thy presence and although it shall seeme to me that I might approche to thee yet must I pull back that foote againe Neuerthelesse since thou biddest me to come vnto thee and hast commaunded me to call vpon thee and promised also for to heare mee Loe here my God the cause which maketh mee so bolde not to doubt to come vnto thee bicause I beleeue thy worde And now O Lorde I stand in no doubt that thou wilt not receiue mee when as I thus buylde vpon thy promisse After Dauid hath vsed this kinde of speech to stirre him selfe vp to praye vnto God and also to obtaine his request he addeth O Lorde I haue acknowledged my wayes and thou heardest mee As if he should haue saide Ouer and besides thy promise my God there is another reason which enboldeneth and encourageth me to come vnto thee to wit the experience which thou hast shewed vnto me of thy great goodnes I neuer required any thing of thee in mynecessitie but thou diddest heare me to witte but that thou satiffiedst my request but that I haue felt howe thou hast relieued thy seruauntes and hast alwayes beene ready to succoure them in their distresse Yea O Lorde and that thou hast not tarried nor wayted vntill they came vnto thee but hast euen offered thy selfe first vnto them Seeing then it is so that thou hast shewed thy selfe to be so good and liberall O I nowe doubt not but that thou wilt continue the same thy goodnesse Wherefore I beseeche thee teache mee thy statutes See here a text worthy the marking For as I haue before sayde wee must not come vnto God doubting and wauering but with full resolution that hee will heare vs. And howe is that O we haue a most sure and infallible testimonie too wit he hath promised too bee neare vnto al those which shal craue and begge of him in trueth we may then say wee beseeche thee O Lord to haue regarde vnto vs according too thy woorde It is very true that wee are vnwoorthy that thou shouldest bee careful ouer vs But so it is that hauing thy woorde and promise wee may boldly come vnto thee and besides let vs adde there too the experience which God hath already shewed vntoo vs that hee neuer forgetteth his but preserueth and keepesh them and alwaies watcheth ouer them And why so That wee ought to be much more heedful then wee are of al the benefits of God too the ende wee might come too this consideration of the reason which Dauid heere bringeth in too wit that wee might say vntoo God that hee hath hearde vs. Nowe there are very fewe of vs that can doo this And why so Bicause that when we are in any distresse wee neuer thinke to cal vpon God yea although the griefe or disease presse and grieue vs neuer so much And yet if wee doo then cal vpon him it is so that assoone as we haue escaped the danger we wil not acknowledge it too bee God that hath had pytie and compassion vppon vs but is quyte out of memory and troden cleane vnder foote By cause then we remember not the benefites of God Loe what is the cause why we cannot
and to communicate them vnto such as they may doe good vnto to the ende that God may be honoured and that they all may serue to the common saluation of the members of our Lord Iesus Christ But heere we haue in this Texte too note that it is impossible for vs to instruct others except we haue beene before the disciples and Scholers of God There area greate many which will put foorth them selues as if they were sufficient and able Clearkes inoughe too teach others And in so thrusting in them selues they haue not once knowen what they ought to vnderstand either for themselues or yet for any others Let vs then consider the order which is heere obserued to wit that euery of vs doe acknowledge our owne ignoraunce Dauid was a moste excellent Prophet and yet notwithstanding he besought God that he woulde make him too vnderstande the way of his commaundementes Yea but had not he the Lawe written Wherefore then desired he that which hee had already in his handes For he knewe well inough that to read to preach and to heare was not all that was needfull For vnlesse God open our eares we shall neuer be able to vnderstaÌ„d it And therfore it behoueth that he inlighten vs or else we shall neuer be able to see the brightnesse thereof albeit it lye wide open before our eyes If Dauid made this request as we haue already heeretofore intreated I beseech you what shall we doe then Let vs then euen so confesse our ignoraunce and beseech God that it would please him to teach vs. See now that we must needes bee first scholers before we vsurpe the office of a Maister and before wee thrust our selues in too speake vnto others that we heare God first speake vnto vs and that we bee grounded in his woorde that we may protest as Saint Peeter telleth vs 1. Pet. 4.11 that it is the woorde of GOD which commeth out of our mouthes Who soeure speaketh sayeth hee let him speake the woord of God For it is rid reason that a mortall man shoulde extoll him selfe and preferre his owne dreames and fantasies And although that this sacriledge be ouer-common in the worlde it behoueth vs too haue greate regarde therto that we al keepe silence that both great and small ignoraunt and wise the simple and learned giue eare to the word of God suffer them selues to be taught by him and after that euery man according to those graces which he hath receiued to communicate them vnto his neighbours And when any of vs shall be better instructed in the word of God then any of our brethren we ought so much the more to exhorte them that haue neede therof to reprehende and rebuke those which make defaulte and to instruct the ignoraunt and vnlearned For our Lorde God bestoweth not his graces liberally vpon vs to the end we should holde them fast locked as it were in a chest but that we should make them common to others to set forth and commend them to other according as opportunitie shall serue and also according to the dispositions of those to whome we addict our selues to teach are contented to heare vs. Moreouer when Dauid sayth That hee will speake of the woondrous woorkes of God Let vs marke that he dooth it not of any ambition or vaine glory as many doe which could be very wel contented that we should heare them when as they shall doe nothing else but babble at randon of the worde of God And why is that It is because they prophane it without hauing any reuerence thereto For wee see that the moste ignoraunt will be most bolde according to the olde saying None so bolde as blinde Bayard or A foolish man doubteth no perill When soeuer any would goe about to teach them O by and by the word of God shall be nothing with them For ye shall haue them alwayes to haue answeares ready coyned in their sleeues There are then which woulde be accounted great Clarkes who notwithstanding shewe them selues not to knowe what holynesse and Maiestie the worde of God carryeth with it But contrarywise Dauid telleth vs that if we will instruct and teach our neighboures that wee ought firste to vnderstand the lawe of GOD to be full of woonderfull and straunge secrets to be so high a wisdome as that we ought not to presume to take on hande too handle it without all modestie and sobrietie Let vs then learne if we will be good Doctors and teachers to proceede in all hunblenes and feare knowing that the least sentence in the scripture surmounteth our vnderstanding and that wee are too too dull and blockish to attaine vnto so high wisdome except the Lord our God guideth and leadeth vs thereto Lo how that both scholers and maisters as many as are hearers and speaker ought to come with great reuerence when as they meane to handle the word of God It followeth soone after My soule melteth with very heauinesse raise me vp according to thy woorde Heere Dauid more cleerely expresseth that which wee haue already touched to witte that the abundaunt ioy of the faythfull consisteth wholly in this that God is merciful vnto them and knowing him to be such one they are comforted by his grace nothing douting of his good will And to proue it to be so Dauid saith in the first place My soule melieth away with very heauinesse as if hee should haue said that all his power and vertue was cleane gone from him For this similitude heere is also very well set downe in diuerse places of the Scripture We haue gushed and burst out like water So then see how Dauid is heere become as a forlorne man so throwne downe and humbled as that he is cleane voyde of all strength and all other things whatsoeuer and therevpon beseecheth God to comfort him Now heere we are to note that he speaketh not of the feeblenes of his body to say that he was humbled by sicknesse yet his soule to be lusty and strong but he sayth that he is melted away with very heauinesse as if he should haue said that he was vtterly ouerthrowne And therevpon he desireth to be comforted and that by the worde of God Heere then we see that when God shall mortifie vs we shall be as men forlorne and that not onely all our force and strength in this present life shall be of no value but also our soules and spirites shal be as it were humbled and cast downe too this ende that we might boldely call vpon God after the example of Dauid Let vs not feare then that God wil forsake vs but let vs rather learne to beseech him to comforte vs for Dauid hath shewed vs the way vnto it neither went hee so on of his owne proper motion but it was the spirit of God which pusâ—hed him forward thereto Wherefore hauing so good a guyde let vs not feare to be frustrate and voyde of our petitions and demaundes so long as wee
followe the doctrine heerein conteyned Nowe returneth hee to the firste Argument which we haue already touched to wit according to the woord of God Wherein we see that all the assurance and certaintie which we ought to haue in our prayers to God is to looke vnto that which hee hath promised vs. For they which trust vnto themselues and think there is sufficient in them why God should heare them it is most sure that they shal neuer open their mouthes to desire any thing of God or if they doe it shall be all but meere hypocrisie As in Popery where wee are not taught the promises of God True it is that they wil babble much mumble ouer a number of Pater Nosters with a mixture of Aues yea and will also direct their Pater-noster to the Puppet of S. Agatha or some other Saint as if it were too God Nowe this is nothing else but beastly to profane the name of God And therefore I haue sayde that the principalest poynt that we ought to vse in praying vnto God is to lay before him his promises saying O Lord God it is true that we rightly deserue to be reiected of thee but seeing thou inuitest and callest vs shall wee goe from thee Is it not meete that we should doe thee this honour as to giue credite vnto thy worde and to holde it for stedfast and sure Sithens then it is so that we haue thy promises we may boldely trust vnto them considering that they are true and because wee cannot but haue them graunted vnto vs we onely rest and stay our selues vpon them Loe heere the meaning of Dauid in this verse Nowe hee goeth on and sayth Take from me the way of lying and graunt mee gratiously thy Lawe Heere he acknowledgeth that although hee were already exercysed in the lawe of God and in his knowledge and that although he were a Prophet to teach others neuerthelesse that he was yet subiect to a number of wicked thoughtes and imaginations which might alwayes wickedly leade him from the right way except God had helde him with his mightie and strong hande And this is a poynte which we ought heere rightly to note For wee see howe men greatly abuse them selues When any of vs shall haue had a good beginning we straight wayes thinke that wee are at the highest we neuer bethinke vs too pray any more to God when as he hath shewed vs that fauour too serue our turnes but if we haue doone any small deede wee by and by lift vp our sayles and woonder at our great vertues To be shorte wee thinke straightway that the Deuill can winne no more of vs. This foolish arrogancie causeth God to let vs goe astray so that wee fall mightily yea that wee breake bothe armes and legges and are in greate hazarde of breaking our neckes I speake not now of our naturall body but of the soule Let vs looke vpon Dauid him selfe For he it is that hath made proofe heereof It came too passe that he villanously and wickedly erred when as hee toke Bethsabe the wife of his subiect Vry to play the whoremonger with her 1. Sam. 1◠that hee was the cause of so execrable a murder yea that of many for he did asmuch as in him lay to haue the whole army of the Lorde and all the people of Israell to bee vtterly ouerthrowne Loe then too too great negligence and securitie in Dauid and see also wherefore hee sayth Alas my good God I beseech thee so to guide me that I may forsake the way of lyings This is the whole summe that Dauid although he exceedingly profited in the lawe and word of God acknowledged that he was subiect and apt to be carryed away and abused that the deuill might sundry wayes beguile and deceaue him that hee might bee seduced through many temptations allured by the lustes of the fleshe and oftentimes fall were it not that God did take from him the way of lying Loe heere a poynte which we ought thorowly too mark O Lord saith he take from me the way of lying It is spoken to this ende that euery of vs might knowe our owne wante to wit that we should enter into our selues and meditate after this manner Goe to now I am as a poore wretched and so fraile a creature as is possible my faith so very weake and the lustes of my fleshe so stronge as that they might haue sudenly oppressed me Alas my God sithens I am so weake and feeble I must needs be assisted by thee and by thy power and might And againe howe many are our enemyes which molest and greeue vs howe mightie and strong is the Deuil How great and infinite are the meanes wherewith he assayleth vs and when hee shall assayle vs with his Dartes and arrowes it is impossible for vs too escape them we shall become then like vnto the Lambe in the throte of the Lyon Whē we shall thus haue vnderstood these our wantes and needes then may we say with Dauid O Larde take from me the way of lying Nowe he sheweth the remedy when he sayth Cause me to make much of thy Lawe or graunt me thy grace that I may keepe thy law For the word which Dauid vseth importeth meere fauour and free gift As if the should haue said it commeth of thy meere fauour and grace that thou giuest me thy lawe See heere the remedy which our lord and Sauiour vseth when he would withdraw vs from the law of lying to wit that we should keepe his truth For the truth of God is sufficiently able to encounter al the subtelties and slye practizes of Satan to withstande al temptations and to vanquishe and ouercome al the lustes of our flesh The trueth of God then wil suffice against al this And this is it whiche Saint Paule speaketh of Ephe. 6.10.11 12 c. that when we shal be str doctrine of the Gospel that then we shal haue wherwithall too bee Iusty and strong and become valiant Champions too fight vnder thensigne of our Lord Iesus Christ and triumphe ouer al our enimies So then wil we bee farre from hypocrisie wil we be deliuered from lying from al the subtelties of Satan and from al the deceits of the world Let vs beseeche God then to graunt vs his law and to doo vs that good that we might be instructed therein as wee are heere taught by the example of Dauid Now after al this he maketh his protestation That he hath chosen the way of trueth and hath cleauen vnto the testimonies of God that he hath folowed his iudgements and heerevpon he beseecheth him not too bee confounded Heere now we see that when we beseech God to giue vs his law to deliuer vs from temptations to suffer vs not too be deceiued neither by Satan nor the world that we doe it with such a true desire as Dauid sheweth vs heere in this place For there are many which may say with their mouth O Lord I
Stablish thy promise to thy seruant because he feareth thee Take away thy rebuke that I am afrayde off for thy Iudgementes are good Beholde I desire thy commaundements quicken me in thy righteousnesse THese eight Verses heere conteine the Prayers which wee haue already before seene to witte that Dauid prayeth too be taught in the lawe that he might the better serue God Nowe vpon this wee haue to note that this is not all to heare and to be taught by preaching vnto vs that the same is as it were from the trueth of GOD but wee must also be taught by the holie Ghoste yea and that twoo manner of wayes For when God shall haue inlightened vs to the end we might knowe that it commeth from him it behooueth that he imprinte in our heartes a desire too cleaue vnto it for without that wee shall doe cleane contrary as naturally we are enclyned So then although it bee not superfluous too reade and heare yet wil it profite vs nothing at all excepte the holy Ghoste teacheth vs yea and that to discerne aswel betwene good and euill as also to be wel and rightly affected too walke according to the Commaundementes of GOD. Which thinge is sufficiently confirmed vnto vs in the person of Dauid For as wee haue heretofore declared hee was a moste excellent Prophet Nowe it appeareth that hee was not onely sufficiently instructed for him selfe but GOD hadde also ordayned him too gouerne and instructe others this was the Doctor of the whole Church And yet notwithstanding hee confesseth him selfe too be vtterly ignoraunt and blinde except God directed him by his holy spirite Yea and hee declareth vnto vs moste plainely that hee had neede of these twoo partes of the grace of GOD heere by vs touched to witte to bee taught too knowe that which is good and afterwarde too haue his minde framed to continue therein This circumstaunce also is specially too bee noted that Dauid in making his requestes heerein conteyned was no Nouice For God had already instructed him by his holy Spirite And that which is more he declareth that hee had already desired too followe God and too obay his Commaundementes Wherefore then is it that hee prayeth afreshe but onely that hee felte in him selfe greate weakenesse in this point and that hee was but in the mid way Let vs thē vnderstand that euen they which are inlightened by the spirit of God are wel affected ought not to content themselues heerewith as if they were already come to a ful perfection but rather to acknowledge their weakenes that they are not growne to that forwardnes but that they may faile and that it is God which causeth thē to perseuer and to be more and more confirmed Loe heere what wee haue yet to obserue by the example of Dauid Nowe let vs follow the words which he vseth to the end the effect of this doctrine may the better be imprinted in our memoryes Teach me O Lorde the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it vnto the end Heere Dauid declareth that he hath well begun to serue God but he right wel feeleth that we are so frayle that wee can neuer come home to the mark without God strēgtheneth vs wherfore he hath recourse vnto this high mighty power by which God remedieth the vices that are in his chosen which he knoweth not to be in their nature We see then that when God stretcheth out his hande vnto vs so that we haue alredy bin instructers teachers of our neigh bours yet that we must not presume of our owne power strength but stand alwaies vpon our garde beseeching god with all humilitie and reuerence that as he hath wel begun in vs so he wil performe go through with the same Dauid said not O Lord I haue strayed But he hath very well said heretofore that he was by nature a wandring shepe so shall we see him to be And yet notwithstāding our Lord had already brought him into the way of saluation yea and had bestowed vpon him excellent graces But yet he knowing that he might erre an hūdreth times in a minute without God held him with a mightie hand prayeth to be instructed anew as if all the rest which hee had done had bin nothing So then when as God shal haue bestowed vpon vs his graces let vs not be negligent secure to lul our selues asleepe as though our state and condition were not to bee amended But let vs rather think with our selues and consider that he which hath bin taken and holden for a good vertuous man for the space of ten or xx yeeres might bee seene ouercome in a matter of nothing were it not that God assisted him Loe here how the faithfull after that God hath liberally bestowed vpon them great graces ought alwaies to walke in feare and humblenes knowing that they are subiect to many temptations which they are neuer able to resist if God continued not the same in them as well to instruct them as also to ayde them with his power and strength to fortifie them more and more as before I haue said And here we are diligently to marke this saying And I will keepe it vnto the end As if he should haue said My God I haue already followed thy commaundementes for a certein time but what shall become of it if thou doest not alwayes put too thy helping hand vnto me as thou hast already done I may in one minute fall into a great and horrible confusion O Lord I beseeche thee therefore that as thou hast begunne well in me so to perfourme the same throughly By this we see what a diuelish arrogancie that of the papistes is wherewith they are puffed vp when as to their seeming that a man after God hath once stretched out his arme vnto him can by and by worke wonders of him selfe and is sufficiently able too ouercome all temptations But let vs rather vnderstand and knowe that euen as it is God that must beginne to set vs in the right way so likewise that we cannot continue and abide therein without he alwayes holde vs by his mightie hand and neuer to suffer Satan to seduce vs neither yet to bee wickedly led by his subtelties and wyles And thus much as touching the first verse Now it followeth Giue me vnderstanding and I will keepe thy lawe yea I will keepe it with my whole hart Here Dauid declareth vnto vs in the first place what our true wisedome is to wit that we should walke in the feare of God as also it is said in the scripture That the feare of God is true wisedome In summe wee haue here the confession of Dauid that al they which withdrawe themselues from the obediēce of God are people voide of wit iudgement wisedome and reason In very deede wee shall neuer haue the worlde to iudge thus of it For wee will saye loe this is a witty fellow this man is very wyse when hee is able to
vs it is good reason that hee take them from vs and set vs cleane without them yea and that hee take his holy spirite from vs although we had bene before endued with the same He added soone after Enclinemy heart vnto thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse Here we see how it hath already byn taught that God must haue the gouernement of all the partes of man that it is not enough that he giue him a good witt to the ende to iudge that which is good but his courage and minde must also be tied thereto He hath said before Giue me vnderstanding and by and by Encline my heart vnto thy testimonies And to what ende should he encline it Let vs here note that it is the office of God to encline our heartes vnto his ordinances or els they would goe cleane against the haire For if we were disposed of our selues to walke according to the wil of God to hold conceiue whatsoeuer is written in his worde Dauid needed neuer to haue made this request or els he should speake it faynedly and after a lying maner When then the besought God to encline his heart to well doing it is as much as if he had confessed said It is not in me O Lord neither yet in any mortal creatures to walke as thou hast commaunded for our heartes are altogether peruerse and wicked There is nothing in vs but rebellion and treason against thee wee shall neuer be able to walke in thy obedience nor neuer place ourselues therein except thou puttest to thy hand and enclinest our mindes and heartes thereto We see then what the condicion and disobedience of mans nature against God is vntill such time as hee hath softened our stony and flinty heartes and that we haue learned to beare his yoke to bee short that our heartes be so abased and humbled as that wee haue learned to hate that which is euill and to desire that which is good Loe what is declared vnto vs in the first place Nowe when Dauid speaketh here of couetousnes hee sheweth vnto vs that these thinges can abide no fellowship together as to followe the word of God to be giuen to the goodes of this world In very deede he putteth in here one kinde for al the whole But in the first place let vs note that in opposing against the keeping of the commaundements of God that which he knewe to be cleane contrary vnto it he meaneth to declare that wee are intangled with so many vices and desires as is most lamentable And to say the truthe what are the appetites and desires of men when as we shall haue called out euery of them by their selfe we shall finde nothing in them but a mere contrarietie to resist die Lorde our God For looke howe many thoughtes and affections are in vs they are euen so many mē of warre to fight against God So then Dauid acknowledged that he can not serue God vntil such time as he be clensed from all his euill desires and vitious affections and therefore he beseecheth God to expell out of him that peruersenesse which he felt in him selfe that he was ouermuch giuen to couetousnes and to such other like things And thus much for this first point Euen so when as wee would followe God let vs vnderstand that we can not do it without great conflict to wit vntill such time as all our passions are mortified For out heart will neuer place it selfe rightly vntill such time as our nature be brought vnder True it is that wee must not serue God either by force or constraynedly Yea but let vs see howe wee doe serue him Are wee thereunto enclined as of our selues Alas it is nothing so vntill such tyme as he hath renued in vs our minde and will For so long as we remaine in this our nature all our senses are stirred vp to doe euill so that as I haue before said wee shall neuer bee able to serue God in captiuing our affections and holding them in as prysoners to the end wee be not letted to followe that which God hath commaunded vs. Let vs now come to the second point Bicause that some vices are greater then other some and sithens that euery man may be giuen more to one vice then to an other let vs keepe good watche and warde and stande vppon our garde If there be any man that feeleth a vice to reigne in him selfe let him vnderstand and saye loe a combat euen ready at hand and so let euery other man doe the like As how If a man haue a great number of seruants vnder him he wil appoint euery one his taske hee will appoint to one man this thing to another that thing and euery of them must bestowe him selfe accordingly as hee is appointed Euen so is it in an army Some are appointed to wayte vpon the ordinaunce some other are harquebuziers some are horsemen and other some armed pykes or otherwise Now euery of these must haue regarde whereunto to applie him selfe and the same is looked for at his hand Euen so it is with vs when as any vice warreth against vs for it is as much as if God addressed vs to be exercised therewith to the ende wee might fight against it No doubte there is not that man which hath not in him selfe some one roote of all kinde of wickednesse and this is a bottomlesse pitte wherein we are all confounded But yet as I haue before saide there are vices which more plentifully doe abounde in one more then in another Euery man therefore ought to haue great regarde whereunto his nature is most enclined and so much the more enforce him selfe to resist all those temptations wherewith hee may bee most crusshed and shaken And that which is more wee must haue respect to those wicked affections and thoughtes which might in any wyse deceiue vs by occasions offered vs. It is not like to be true that Dauid was naturally couetous neither yet do we finde that he was so But wee reade that he was a king that he had a fertile and plentifull countrey and that he might haue gathered together excedingly as we also see he did When men come to wealth and riches after that maner it is great perill but that they will giue them selues too too much thereto where before they had them in contempt Euen so then it may be that Dauid had a care to desire to be more welthy thē he was although as the scripture witnesseth that Gold and siluer was then little set by For he had such plenty of them as that golde and siluer were no better accompted off thē leade or earth He then seeing him selfe to haue so great occasions to bee giuen and drawne vnto couetousnes was the more carefull to pray vnto God to deliuer him from it Wee haue now to gather out of this place a good and holsome doctrine that they which are chosen to dignitie and honour ought to haue great regard that
they bee not ouertaken with ambition whereby they might shew thēselues to be both mightie and noble touching the worlde And againe that they which are welthy and riche bee not giuen ouer vnto their wealth as in another place of the Psalme is said If thou abound in riches set not thine heart on them And also that they which might bee ouertaken with their pleasures and delightes should keepe an hard hand on the bridle and be well aduised that they abuse not the goodes which GOD hath bestowed on them Loe here say I in the first place how euery man ought to bridle his nature to the ende to resist and withstande the vices and sinnes whereunto he is enclined And next as euery one hauing lettes or occasiōs to cause thē to exceede they ought to keepe so much the better watche ouer them selues For as I haue already saide albeit that euery of vs is giuen more to one vice then to another yet for all that we are euery of vs contagiously infected with them all there is not that man which can exempt him selfe from the same Now it is true in deede that Dauid here speaketh namely of couetousnes And why so Bicause it is a vice which breedeth exceeding many mischiefes And it is not without cause that S. Paul calleth it the roote of all euill For after that a man is once giuen to the pestilent couetousnes of the goodes of this world 1. Tim. 6.10 he maketh an Idol of his money riches and possessions He is so violently carried away with them as that he will neuer be satisfied Hee is like vnto a bottomlesse depth which neuer wil be filled And afterward it maketh him to be full of crueltie hauing neither pitie nor compassion of his neighboures making neyther conscience nor doubt to fal out with God and the worlde so that he may haue them al shal be one to him Let vs note then that if there bee any vice which hindreth vs from the seruing of God this is it to wit this couetous desire of getting worldly goods Now Dauid after he hath spoken specially of couetousnes saith Turne away myne eyes from beholding of vanitee and quicken me in thy way When as Dauid prayeth that his eyes might bee turned away least he beheld vanitie It is as if he should haue saide Alas my God I had neede too withstand a thousande tēptations yea and they are infinite which may come before me and that the deuill may present me with to the ende I might bee wickedly ledde from seruing of thee if there were nothing els but this it must needes bee that I must haue beene vanquished a thousand times if thou haddest not instructed me and that I had beene strengthened with thy mightie hand And yet O Lord behold two gates open to receiue in the enemies I beseeche thee O Lorde that whensoeuer we shal be assailed with an huge armie and beeing not of our selues able to resist them and that in steade to be in some most sure place where we might repulse and beate backe our enemies the gates shall stande wyde open to let them in to what purpose were all this Euen so is it in this case for the two eyes of man are as it were the twoo gates whereat the enemies enter And to what ende shall it be when as wee shall haue neither power nor abilitie too resist and goe out against them And so since we haue enemies euen lurking within our selues and that wee are not onely weake but that there is nothing els but weakenes in vs and are also thrust out as it were for a praye too Satan when we shall see these twoo gates stand so wyde open vnto all the assaultes wherewith he assaileth vs wee haue very great neede to praye vnto God after the example of Dauid to turne away our eyes least they behold vanitie Let vs then vnderstande that the meaning of Dauid is to declare vnto vs in this place that the eyes of men are alwayes bent to beholde vanitie that is to saye that they are euer carried away to all euill to all wicked concupiscenses vntill such time as God turneth them away Yea and our eyes are not onely gates to receiue all euill but are euen messengers also As if the gates were not only open but that there were also traytors within to giue intelligēce to instruct the enemies Loe where and which waye you must come and which waye you must enter Euen so is it with our eyes our eyes receiue on the one side the enemies and on the other side they sende messages euen from the bottom of the heart to enuenime and poyson vs all ouer So then we see howe necessarie this request is for vs all as Dauid hath made before vs. But according as euery man most profited in the knowledge of God so much the better comprehendeth he this doctrine and they which knowe and vnderstande least herein shall be they which will presume greatliest of their owne power and strength But contrariewise when God shall haue giuen and liberally bestowed vpon vs many of his graces it should be to this ende that wee might so much the better vnderstande our miseries and calamities beseeching him to remedy the same and too make prouision for vs against all our euils and vices Nowe he addeth Quicken thou me in thy wye as in the ende hee sayeth quicken thou me in thy rightuousnesse This may be interpreted twoo maner of wayes Quicken thou mee in thy waye to witte O Lorde make me to walke in thy woorde that I may lyue Or els O Lorde giue mee strength to the ende I may followe thy woorde We knowe that when we withdrawe our selues from God we can not but committe all iniquitie for which is the waye of life but euen that which God sheweth vs and calleth vs vnto All they then which forsake the worde of God goe astraye and runne headlong vnto death and into euerlasting destruction Euen so it is not without cause that Dauid desireth to bee quickened in the waye of the Lorde as if he shoulde haue sayde that all they which forsake the Lorde and the waye which hee sheweth them are vndone and vtterly ouerthrowne But according to the true meaning of the place wee are to note that Dauid his meaning is rather to signifie vnto vs that all men of them selues are as it were dead that they haue no power nor strength when there is any question of walking according to the will of God True it is that in all euill wee are therein too too puissaunt and strong and so diligent in it as in nothing more to be short there is not that hee which is not therein too too able But when wee meane to walke according to the commaundementes of God wee are not able once to remoue a finger our armes and legges shal be cleane broken to be short wee are not onely weake in this but also vtterly dead therein The Papistes will confesse
that men are weake and not able to satisfie the lawe of God except they be ayded and thinke it sufficient enough if God giue them a signe to ayde their weakenesse as if a man shoulde reache his hande to a young infant and saye vnto him come hether my prety childe and hee commeth and the other maketh semblāt as though he would take him by the hād to leade him yet suffereth him to go alone by himselfe Loe howe the Papistes haue diminished the graces of GOD. But contrariwise the scripture telleth vs that we are as dead men to witte that there is in vs no strength nor habilitie at all And therefore Dauid desireth to be quickened in the way of the Lord. As if he should haue said O Lorde my life is altogither giuen to wickednesse For all my power and strength bendeth and displaieth it selfe thereto Euen so O Lord since thou grauntest vnto mee a cleane contrarie kinde of life to witte that I endeuour my selfe to serue thee graunt me now O Lord that I be earnest and feruent where before I was very slow and dull yea euē altogether weake and impotent Nowe hee goeth on and sayeth Establishe thy promise to thy seruant bicause he feareth thee When as he desireth God to establish his worde in him and with this addition that he may feare God hee confirmeth the requestes which he had before made Nowe wee ought to carie this point alwayes in minde that when wee meane to praye vnto God wee must laye our foundation vpon his promises We must desire nothing of him but that we are already assured that hee will giue it vs that hee hath of his owne good will promised vs without our requiring thereof first For it were foolehardines to present our selues before the Lord our God and to make our petitions after our owne pleasures but it is mete that God him selfe preuent and speaketh first vnto vs. Herevpon then we may assure our selues to praye when as wee haue his woorde for it According to which reason Dauid after he had made his requestes as we haue heard addeth O Lord establishe thy worde in thy Seruant As if he shoulde haue saide O Lorde I desire nothing of thee but that which thou hast promised And loe it is it that maketh mee so bolde too come vnto thee bicause I knowe that thou art faithfull and wilt too doe vnto mee euen as thou hast promised Wherefore as the promisses of GOD ought to giue vs an entrance into our prayers and alwayes to go on euen soo also after that wee haue prayed lette vs call too minde his owne promisses to the ende wee may bee assured that it shall not be in vaine that wee haue required of him And why so Bicause that God of his owne free good will hath bounde him selfe vnto vs there is no doubt but that we shall obtaine considering that he will accomplishe whatsoeuer he hath saide for he can not fayle vs. Loe then the meaning of the beginning of this verse Nowe when Dauid saieth that he may feare the Lord he meaneth not that he would here alledge his merites but he doth it to this ende to declare that hee hath followed the same vocation whereunto he was called and yet notwithstanding hee sheweth that hee coulde not walke in the feare of God but by the vertue and power of the holy ghost which was continually in him And euen so must wo also do For whensoeuer we shall feele any good zeale in vs wee must not bragge vpon it for what haue wee that wee haue not receiued according to the saying of Paul For what is it that should separate vs that we should not be like vnto the most wicked commeth it of our owne nature no surely It must needes be then that it is God which hath put to his helping hand And so whatsoeuer goodnesse is in vs it is a testimonie of the good will which God beareth vs and that he wil be our father and Sauiour Loe here why Dauid setteth this foremost as though he would ratifie the promisses of God Now he concludeth Take away my rebuke that I am afraide of for thy iudgements are good Behold I desire thy commandements O quicken mee in thy righteousnesse We shal neuer be able to knowe what the rebuke which Dauid here speaketh of is except we haue regard whereunto all his whole drifte heretofore tendeth and too what ende to witte that God would defende and keepe him and also guide him as it were with his hande to the ende that as he had begunne well hee might also in like maner perseuer and continue Nowe the shame which all the faithfull ought to feare is that God suffereth them not to be confounded that when they haue for a certaine time walked well they might not in the ende giue them selues to wickednesse that the latter part of their life might manifest that it was not well and surely rooted within but was hypocriticall and dissembled Behold the rebuke which Dauid feared to wit that after he had walked well that God would not leaue him as a confounded man And namely he sayth For thy iudgements are good As if he should haue saide Alas my God so that I followe the same which thou hast commaunded mee although that men speake euill of me and slaunder me for it all is one to mee when as my conscience shal be pure and cleane and that thou art my warrant and witnesse it is enough\ for me Behold then O my God the rebuke from which I desire to be deliuered to witte that thou suffer me not to be wickedly giuen nor that I depart from thy commaundements but let my life and conuersation be agreable to thy worde O that suffiseth me and let men speake what them liste their iudgement is false and I appeale from them Then to conclude he saieth My delight is in thy commadementesse O quicken me in thy righteousness The righteousnesse of God oftentimes is taken for the grace which God vseth towardes his children or at the leastwise wherewith he conducteth them But he setteth downe righteousnesse here for right and equitie Hee hath saide before quicken me according to thy woorde Nowe by and by after followeth righteousnesse Neyther must we thinke this to bee straunge for we haue shewed here before that Dauid speaking of the commaundementes of GOD after that he hath vsed his terme namely of these woordes ordinaunces and statutes he taketh other wordes As in this place after he hath said quicken me in thy worde he sayeth soone after In thy righteousnesse And he maketh also this request that hee might bee conducted in the way of the Lord. Whereby hee would shewe that it is not enough that we be wel affected but that God must encrease the same in vs yea hee must conduct and quicken vs as here he telleth vs. For it is so farre off that of our selues we can doe any good that we are not able once to thinke a good
thought as S. Paul saith Loe then how Dauid desired to be quickened but that was in protesting that he was as touching him selfe and his owne nature but as it were a condemned man And herein must we also do the like For wee must goe vnto our good God as men condemned in our selues beseeching him that he would quicken vs. And when he shall haue caused vs to feele his grace and that wee haue stayed our selues thereon let vs say we beseeche thee O Lord that since it hath pleased thee to beginne in vs well doing that thou wouldest also perfourme the same in vs. And according to this doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our faultes Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs feele our miserie and wretchednesse whereunto wee are giuen whiles we liue here in this world to the end we may walke so fearefully and carefully as that wee may be able to perceiue that wee haue receiued some fauour and grace from our God and that in following the right way which hee hath shewed vnto vs wee may daily more and more aspire to the ende which he hath set before vs which is to attaine to that immortall glorie to conioyne vs vnto our head and captaine our Lord Iesus Christ after that he shall haue despoyled vs of all the vices and imperfections of our flesh and cloathe vs with his righteousnes And that he will not onely graunt vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the world c. The sixth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme VAV And let thy louing kindnes come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation according to thy promisse So shall I make answere vnto my blasphemers for my trust is in thy word And take not the worde of thy truth vtterly out of my mouth for I waite for thy iudgements So shall I alwaies keepe thy lawe yea for euer and euer And I will walke at libertie for I seeke thy commaundementes I will speake of thy testimonies also euen before kinges and will not be ashamed And my delight shall be in thy commaundements which I haue loued My handes also will I lift vp vnto thy commaundements which I haue loued and my study shal be in thy statutes THE beginning of these eight verses cōteine a request which Dauid made vnto God that he felt the accōplishment and performance or the promises which god graūted vnto him and after which he hoped As if he should haue said O Lord declare vnto me that the promisse which thou hast made vnto me to do me so much good be not in vaine but that thou wilt make me feele in deede that thy word and promise is most certaine and true Now that he founded him self vpō the promises of God appeareth by his thus saying And let thy louing kindenesse come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation according to thy promise So shall I make answere vnto my blasphemers for my trust is in thy worde Wherein also we see that Satan craftely goeth aboute to ouerthrow his faith as if God had made it nothing worth So then First of all we are to note that Dauid feeling him selfe pressed downe runneth vnto the promises of God And this is a poynt very profitable for vs. For beholde how we must put the word of God in practise when as we haue learned it that when we come to the fight and Satan assaileth vs on euery side in such sort as that it might seeme that all the worlde had conspyred against vs and that wee see nothing but destruction rounde about Euen then I say must we run vnto the promises which God hath made vs and make accounte of them and so apply them to our own vse that then wee may feele the power and strength of them Nowe it shall be an easy matter for vs when as wee are at rest and quiet to receiue whatsoeuer God hath saide vnto vs. And why so Because our Faith all that while shall not be exercised and troubled so that we shall neuer bee able to feele whether we haue beleeued in good earnest vntill such time as we are tryed Loe Why I haue said that this place is worthy the marking that Dauid speaketh not with out cause when he sayth So shall I make answere vnto those that go about to shāe me For by these words he protesteth that the wicked contēned despised mocked him as if he had bin a very foole in trusting so much vnto God but yet for that his faith was not shaken And see how Satan assayleth vs with temptations when as the wicked and vngodly speake reprochfull woordes of vs insomuch as wee haue thought it to be woonderfull straunge geere because that we hauing hearde the so honourable excellent promises of God thought our selues straightwayes to bee rapte and caryed aboue the cloudes and yet this same our persuasion proued nothing at all so as it made a shewe to the outward apparance Euen so likewise came it to passe in Dauid as we may especially see in the twentie and twoo Psalme And our Sauiour Christ also who is the very true patern and mirrour of all the Children of God hath sustained abiden such combates Very well said they vnto him hee trusteth in God Let him nowe see whether God will heare him or not Let vs then note that Dauid hath not deuised and made here any vaine speculations as an idle body might doe which neuer had beene tempted nor distressed But beeing so mocked by his enemyes that his faith seemed to be ouerthrowne and he him selfe in great hazarde vtterly to be destroyed then came he for refuge to the promises of God saying My God thou haste giuen mee thy worde which cannot fayle me Loe wherein is all hope and trust Euen so also ought we to followe this doctrine too wit when the worlde on the oneside shall deride and scorne vs because we haue ouer lightly credited God and that Satan shall trauel all he can too turne vs cleane away from the certaintie which wee haue had yet let vs not cease too say O Lord it is thou which hast spoken and in thee is all our hope and trust Moreouer as wee are to call too minde the promises of God when as wee are assayled by Satan and the vngodly Let vs also note as hath beene heeretofore treated of that this is it whereon we must builde al our requests For if we will earnestly pray vnto God and obtaine that which wee pray for we must not pray in the ayre say O Lord I pray vnto thee for such a thing and I would it might so come to passe For this were ouer rash and too too great boldenesse to think to make God subiect to our willes to briddle him as we list and to desire him to graunte vs whatsoeuer shall please our appetites but it is his worde that must leade vs and be our Cresset and we must referre
our selues wholy to it and altogither rest thereon Beholde say I after what sort our prayers are allowed to wit whē as we pray not to God for that which seemeth best in our owne eyes but when as we be fenced with that which he hath promised vs. And this is it wherein we differ from the Painimes and Infidels For wee see that the Turkes and Idolaters doe greatly pray vnto God But after what manner pray they Forsooth euen at all aduenture so that they knowe not what they doe But contrariwise wee must pray vnto him with full assuraunce that he will heare vs. But from whence shall this certaintie proceede if wee haue not the trueth to goe before vs and say beholde the Lorde who calleth vs vnto him And then when wee come vnto him this is no foolish presumption But we come in such sorte vnto him as he hath commaunded vs. Let vs then see what wee haue yet to note in this place when Dauid setteth downe heere the promises of God by which he is bounde vnto him O Lorde sayth he let it bee doone vnto me according to thy worde Nowe heere is a very profitable poynt to be considered off to witte after that we are once assured that God hath promised too doe that for vs which we shall aske of him we must no more doubt that it shall be so but that the thing is fully concluded vpon so that we are euer sure and certaine thereof For when God speaketh vnto vs we are very sure that he will not deceiue vs hee will not giue vs faire woordes and then deceiue vs as men many times doe dealing very liberally with their tongues but yet notwithstanding very close fisted But God dealeth not in such sorte Let vs then come before him without distrust Haue wee his woorde Let vs then holde the thing as already performed And so when Dauid sayth according to thy word hee signifieth vnto vs that hee was not onely assured that God is faithfull and liberal that he meaneth not to abuse vs when as wee truste to him but sheweth vs that this certaintie which wee haue of the trueth of God should not make vs weary to say that wee bee as it were euen ouerwhelmed But wee must rather be carefull and diligent to pray vnto him There are some men which will in deede say that they beleeue the promises of GOD but since say they hee knoweth what wee haue neede of what neede wee to bee importune vppon him Nowe these men indeede very well declare that they neuer vnderstood what faith and hope are For if we receiued the promises of God without hypocrisie we ought to be thus earnest and zealous to pray and haue recourse vnto him saying O Lorde God when as thou hast assured mee of thy bountie and mercie it is to this end that I should call vpon thee in my neede And that I see the necessitie which vrgeth and presseth mee I muste needes come vnto thee as thou haste called mee by thy worde Beholde then that all the promises of God should serue vs in stede of so many spurres to prick vs forwarde in making our prayers vnto him Let vs nowe come to the woords of Dauid Let thy louing mercyes or thy graces come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation After that he hath layde his foundation wherevpon too builde he desireth one selfe same thing in two words which to the outwarde apparance are diuers and sundry to wit the graces of God and his saluation And yet notwithstanding Dauid meneth nothing else but that god would shew him selfe to be his Sauiour Neither is there any thing heere spoken superfluously For it is asmuch as if he had sayd O my God I besech thee that according to thy promise thou wilt make me feele thee to be my sauiour and father But yet in the meane while he expresseth vnto vs whence this saluation which we must wayte for and whiche God hath promised vs cometh and that is of his meere good will For men cannot otherwise choose but that they wil euer wrongfully take vpon them some thing or other which appertaineth nothing vnto them and alwayes to be foolishly and arrogantly bounde vnto them selues Nowe Dauid cleane contrary sheweth heere that all the saluation which he hopeth after desireth commeth from another spring-heade then from the vertue and dignitie of men to wit euen from the meere goodnes of God So then wee see that as before he hath spoken of the promise euen so also hee heere addeth and expresseth the cause which moued God to bind himself so vnto vs to wit his meere mercy By this we are admonished that when we are to call vpon God we should alwayes haue regarde vnto these twoo things to wit the grace of God and his free mercie and after that his promise God is good and liberall and see why it is that he with pitie looketh vppon vs and beholding vs with his eyes of cōpassion vouchsafeth to receiue vs yea and calleth and allureth vs vnto him and also imboldeneth vs to craue of him to the end he would help and succour vs in all our needes and necessities Now this goodnesse should lye hidden in God were it not that hee made vs to feele it by his promise For God sheweth himselfe vnto vs to be such a one as in deede he is he layeth his heart wide open when he rendreth vs a testimonie of the loue hee beareth vs. Loe heere why I haue said that in all our prayers wee ought to haue these two considerations The one is that God is so good and louing that although wee bee poore and miserable creatures and nothing else but doung and stench yet for all that hee ceaseth not too loue vs and to haue greate care of our saluation And since wee are come too the promise which is a sure testimonie that God is such one we should no more doubt what affection he beareth vs whether he be our friend or enemie seeing it is so that he is very well willing to bee bounde vnto vs in declaring vnto vs that he is our father and taketh vs to bee his Children Nowe Dauid maketh such a request as we haue already touched to the end he might answere those which wrought him shame Although he sayth word for word To the ende I may answeare these which woorke me shame Heere Dauid declareth that when God shall haue ayded him that then he shall be able to withstand all his enemyes put by all the iniuries scornes of the vnbelieuers and faythlesse which they did lay before him to the end too shake and crush the faythful and to destroy them yea and vtterly to make their fayth nothing woorth if it were possible for them to do it By this we are let to vnderstande that if we make our prayers to God whensoeuer it shal happen al the world too assaile vs and that it might seeme wee shoulde be plunged in hel an hundred thousand tymes yet
wee might stande sure against al our enemies yea verely for God wil neuer fayle vs whensoeuer we shall desire pray him to performe his promises vnto vs and make vs feele his goodnesse for our saluation Moreouer if we haue wherewithal too resiste the wicked and vngodly which come vppon vs too daunt and quaile our fayth we shall haue also wherwith to withstande Satan For whē men shal persecute vs or deride the promises of God and labour al they may to turne vs away from them it commeth not of themselues but it is the Deuill which pusheth them foreward Euen so then wee may fight and winne the victorie against al the combats of Satā if we wil pray vnto God after the example of Dauid This is also to be considered and noted which heere hee addeth when he sayeth My delight is in thy woorde Hee declareth what signes and tokens he desired of God here before that he would doo vnto him as he had promised For I haue delight therein saith hee would wee then haue God his promises to take place in vs to open the gate that wee might come vntoo him that they might bee as keyes too giue vs in entree too the ende our requestes and petitions might bee receiued wee must then ioyne hope therewith And loe what is the cause why wee feele not the power of the promises of God as wee ought the reason is for that we haue no hope nor trust in them It is most true that god for his parte is alwaies true of his woord and although we are miserable faythlesse people yet wil hee neuer falsify his fayth which he hath giuen to vs. But what Surely wee are vnwoorthy ones too feele such a pleasure In very deed god hath promised to powre his grace vpon vs as also hee offereth it vntoo vs But yet are wee vtterly vnworthy thereof without we belieue his promises would we that god shold do vnto vs according to his word we must then receiue his word and imbrace it by fayth Heb. 4. 2. as also the Apostle treateth thereof And thus much as touching these two first verses Nowe it followeth Take not the woorde of thy trueth vtterly out of my mouth for I waite for thy iudgementes When Dauid sayth O take not the woord of thy trueth out of my mouth He meaneth not that it sufficeth too magnifie God with his toung and to make many goodly protestations before the worlde but he presupposeth that when he hath witnessed of the trueth of God with his mouth that it must also be graffed within his hearte And in deede Dauid speaketh not heere like an hypocrite as they do which would seeme to make a goodly shew before him and think them selues wel inough and in good case when as they are openly supposed too bee very faithful well thought off and taken to be very honest men this think they is all that is to be required But Dauid hath not proceeded after this manner For when he sayth Take not the word of thy trueth out of my month O Lord It is asmuch as if hee had fayde O Lorde doe me not onely this grace that I trust secretly in thee that I stay me vpon thy promises that I stand sure against all the assaultes of mine enemyes but namely and chiefely euen before the face of men that my faith might declare it selfe that by this meane I might guide and instruct all those which would come unto thee contrarywise that I might withstand all those which shall goe about to ouerthrowe this spirituall hope of mine which I have in thee and in thy trueth And when thou O Lorde shalte haue deepely rooted thy worde in mine hearte let it also bee often times in my mouthe that I may magnifie thy name before men Wee haue to learne out of this place that in the first place we must be assured of the trueth of God yea although that men perceiue it not vs And againe although euery man would keepe it so secrete too him selfe as that no man in all the worlde knewe thereof yet GOD and his Angels doe knowe how true and certaine we esteeme it to be and also how we yeelde therto the honor which vnto it appertaineth and to be such in deede as deserueth to bee holden for true and faithful And thus much for the first poynt Now for the seconde Let vs aduisedly consider to edifie our neighbours that they might be confirmed by our example and all with one accorde to trust in God that the wicked and vngodly might bee ashamed that we might vexe them that we haue wherin to glory notwithstanding all their windelasses priuy deuises and whatsoeuer mischiefe else they are any way able to imagine against vs and thinking to make vs as prophane as themselues yet that we may be able to cast them of after the example of Dauid Lo then the worde which he desireth to haue alwayes in his mouth too confirme all those which would trust in God and to confound all them which deride and scorne his worde and trueth But what meaneth he by this saying For euer That is that he beeing as it were forsaken of God in all his afflictions was as one that were dumbe and coulde not speake as he complayneth in another place And in deede so long as God sheweth vnto vs no token of his grace although our enemyes deride vs with open mouth yet we are not at that libertie to confute them and stop their mouthes Dauid then beeing thus tempted a long time desireth that the confession wherewith hee might be able to magnifie God might not to be taken frō him for euer Wherein we are to obserue that if God sometimes leaueth vs confounded after the maner of the world in steade of beeing dismayed wee ought too beseech him that hee woulde not suffer our mouthes too be stopped for euer Nowe he repeateth it ouer againe For my hope is in thy iudgementes It is not without cause that Dauid stil maketh this protestation For as I haue already saide behold what power and efficacy the woorde of God causeth vs to feele according to that place which I haue alledged out of the Epistle too the Hebrues when wee haue therewith hope also which hangeth vpon faith It is true that God stretched out his hand vnto his people when he brought them out of the land of Aegypt to the ende hee woulde bringe them into the promised land But what the people stayed not them selues vpon God and therefore it was meete that that promise should be voyde yea and that iustly vnto such a faythlesse people God had no long time to finde out such a woonderfull meruaylous straunge meane as that man could not possibly cōceiue how that might be brought to passe which hee had spoken But this auayled them nothing which were faithlesse For loe they beeing excluded from such a benefite are depriued of that promised inheritaunce Let vs then learne that when wee woulde haue God
from many doubtes and griefes that we cannot bee vtterly ouerthrowne and caste downe although we happen to be pressed with some griefes because we alwayes conclude thus that wee cannot bee ouercome seeing God holdeth vs with a mightie and stronge hande And in very deede what is the cause I pray you that men are so oftentimes tormented but only that they submit not them selues vnto God It is very true that there are very fewe which knowe this but this is the very cause For when as wee shall haue looked somewhat neerer the matter wee shall find that nothing so much hath hindred vs as our owne vnthankfulness But because we wil be ouerwise in not yeelding vnto God the honor to gouerne vs wholy to rule our life ne yet become his subiects it is meet we should receiue the hier due for the same For men whē any thing is in question that they haue to do wil straight wayes enter into their owne speculations they neuer make question to haue recourse vnto God nor to cal vpon him but euery man wil doe what semeth best to himself And therfore it is meete that God pay vs in such mony as we deserued that he put vs I say in such doubt as that wee shall neuer be able to knowe what shall become of vs so that the anguishes shall force vs too say What shall become of this matters Which way shall I beginne And what shall bee the ende and issue heereof Beholde howe wee see the miserable and wretched worlde dayly so fast shutte vp in streights as that it seemeeth that wee are more then cast away And what is the cause heereof Euen the men which haue built vnto them selues such Mazes For it is euen they them selues that are the cause of their so greate tormentes For Dauid hath heere declared vnto vs that as many as seeke the Commaundementes of God doe walke at libertie It is very true that the faithfull although they indeuour themselues all they can to obey God and suffer him to gouerne them yet for all that they are not voyde of merueylous griefes vexations that they are many tymes at their wittes end and knowe not what to doe but yet they come vnto God and lay all their care vpon him as it is written in the thirtie and seuenth Psalme And there they finde them selues discharged and vnburdened And so goe they dayly on for they are assured that God can neuer fayle them Beholde then howe we may bee very well tempted with many sorrowes and griefes neither can wee be exempt from a great number of disquietnesses but yet God will alwayes vnburden vs of them as it is sayd in an other place of the Psalme that when we haue beene for a while fast shut vpp yet God will set vs at libertie as also Saint Paul sayth in the second to the Corinthes It is very true sayth hee that wee are oppressed with many tormentes and griefes but yet we continue not in sorrowe and payne For God will alwayes deliuer vs and will giue vs a good and ioyfull issue so that in the ende wee shall bee able to ouercome them See then what is declared vnto vs in this place where it is sayde I will walke at libertie O Lorde because I seeke thy Commaundementes Euen so let vs knowe that when our life is miserable and wretched and that we must needes liue in payne torment and sorrowe that all commeth by reason of our sinne because wee present not our selues before GOD suffer vs not to be conducted by him put not our liues into his handes neither doo wee come willingly too seeke for remedie after wee haue once knowen out griefe that is too say too desire God that it woulde please him to take vs into his custodye without hoping or wayting for any other thing but for that which he telleth vs out of his woorde For when wee shall so doo there is no doubte but that he will make vs too walke at libertie Nowe it followeth I will speak of thy Testimonyes also euen before Kinges and will not be ashamed Beholde a declaration of the matter which wee haue already touched heere before For Dauid making this request not to haue the woorde of trueth to bee taken out of his mouth for euer had regarde to twoo thinges that is to say beeing able too speake after that GOD in bestowing his grace vpon him had opened his mouth had confirmed the Children of GOD by his example and brought them vnto him in shewing them the way and in the meane whyle had foyled the wicked and despisers of God and of the Lawe the scorners of his hope and the blasphemers of God yet was hee able I say too beate them backe and make his parte good againste them all And this matter hee manifestly declareth whereas hee sayeth I will speake of thy Testimonyes because GOD shoulde no more take the woorde of trueth out of his mouth Nowe besides this that God giueth vntoo vs matter whereof to speake freely yet must that come from him as we heare that our Lord Iesus Christe hath spoken off that it is the holy Ghoste which guideth our tongues that it cōmeth not of ourselues to be able to answere our enemies that there neded but a small gale of wind to ouerthrow vs. So then it is meete that God shoulde vse his power that we might be confirmed by him For when as he shal put his woorde in our mouth we may speake before Kinges and Princes and neuer be ashamed As if he should haue sayde O Lorde thy woorde ought to be of such power vnto vs as that wee may foyle our enenemyes yea howe greate and mightie soeuer they bee albeit they should bee suche as were able to astonish and feare all the whole world yet let our Fayth be ouerthrowne through their mightinesse and pompe knowing that when as they shall thinke too swallowe all vp yet that we be left stil alwayes as Conquerors yea euen because we haue regarde to it Nowe heere wee are too note that when God maketh his trueth forcible in vs it shall bee sufficient too holde vs vpp yea notwithstanding all the Combates that the Deuill shall stirre vpp agaynst vs and that the whole world opposed it selfe too the contrary And it is not without cause that this is spoken for whereon is our fayth setled Euen vppon the trueth of God Let vs nowe compare God with men and with all their woorkes and vertues Let vs take Emperours and Kinges and let all their glorie and pompe bee set foorth too the shewe and let God be set right ouer agaynst them too witte whether men with all their mightinesse and great boasting are able too surmounte God too reuerse his will or too make voyde his power and vertue Oh it is very sure they can neuer be able to doe it So then let vs consider with whome wee haue too deale and remember this saying of Saincte Paule Thou knowest sayeth hee to
what ende thy beliefe serueth When then wee shall haue our eyes so fixed vppon GOD who hath armed vs with his infallible trueth wee may bee able too withstande and fall out with all whatsoeuer that lifteth it selfe vpp too the contrary Wee shall haue no occasion too feare the worlde for GOD is sufficiently able too ouercome all the scruples and griefes which the Deuill shall rayse vppe agaynste vs. And thus muche as concerning this poynte Moreouer we see that when there is any question to make confession of our faith it cannot be that men shal be able to abash and feare vs with al their power and might As at this day we see when as they woulde gladly make vs too tremble What I beseech you Sir wil they say you are but euen a handfull of people Doe you thinke your selues wiser then all the Kings and Princes of the world You see that all the world are against this doctrine which you holde professe and what doe you thinke to doe True in deede that at the firste sight this were euen inough too shake vs yea were it not that we knewe and were very certaine but when we looke vnto God then all this geere vanisheth intoo smoke these are but Bladders pufte full of winde and the leaste pinnes poynte will emptie them In very deede these will bee greate fraybugges but yet it will all prooue nothing Beholde these Frogges beholde these Pismeres yea beholde these Flyes and Gnattes for they are all no better then very vermine and wormes when as they shall lifte them selues vp thus against God So then let vs learne yea let vs learne to stay our selues so vpon God as that when we shall be called too make confession of our faith since it is so that it is GOD whiche hath spoken let all the creatures in the worlde be nothing to vs warde let vs not bee ashamed and let nothing hinder and stoppe vs from mainteining of his woorde In the ende Dauid concludeth and sayth My handes also will I lifte vpp vnto thy Commaundementes which I haue loued and my study shall bee in thy statutes These twoo verses heere neede no long declaration for wee haue already had the same sentences and yet notwithstandinge Dauid sheweth vs that it is not inough to thinke of this Doctrine for a time but wee muste all the course of our life profite our selues therein more and more Loe here the principall point which we haue to note that we must take pleasure in the commaundementes of God which we haue loued to wit that wee ought to learne to conceiue such an affection and desire to followe the worde of God and to sticke thereto as that we should be fully resolued to say In very deede this is the most sweete and amiable thing that possibly can be to subiect our selues vnder the yoke of our God and to beare it and therefore wee must drawe in it and obey him Haue we done this Wee must then in steade of a number of foolish vanities wherevnto we are enclined yea and in place of the wicked affections and allurementes of Satan learne to take pleasure in the worde of God so that we may protest in trueth after the example of Dauid that they are the commandements of God which we haue loued Moreouer let vs marke well this sentence when he saith My handes also wil I lift vp vnto thy commaundementes For this is as much as if he had said O Lord I will not onely protest with my mouth that I loue thy word but I will also lift vp my hands yea as wee commonly say I will lift vp my handes to the caky God By this he letteth vs to vnderstande that if we would serue God as becommeth vs that it is not enough for vs to witnesse the truthe of God with our mouth but we must also shewe by our good and godly life that which wee protest with our mouth and that there be an accorde and sweete harmonie betweene the one and the other True it is wee shall finde some doubtes when as there shal be any question of following God but this sentence is to bee noted when hee sayeth I will lift vp my hands And to know that when God shall see that it shall surpasse our force and strength let vs pray vnto him to graunt vs that grace that we may lift vp our handes vnto his commaundementes to witte so high as we can possibly to the ende wee may take holde of his grace and vertue better then heretofore we haue done Lo in what maner we ought to doe in this case that not presuming of our owne power and strength we might praye notwithstanding this good God to make his grace so forcible in vs as that it may settle and reigne there and to haue vs know that it is not in vaine that hee calleth vs vnto him giueth vs his truthe Which thing no doubt he will doe so that wee reiect not his grace which hee so freely offereth vnto vs. And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our faultes beseeching him that it would please him to open our eyes to the ende wee may know our wretchednes the miserable conditiō wherein we stande that wee might returne to him yea and that with a certaine confidence that hee will perfourme that which he hath promised vs that we be not frustrate of our hope when as it shall stay vpon him and in his truthe but that hee will more and more strengthen vs therein vntill such time as we come to the perfect knowledge of thinges which we yet knowe not but in parte That not only he will grant vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the world c. The seuenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme ZAIN Remember the promise made vnto thy seruaunt wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust The same is my cōfort in my trouble for thy worde hath quickened me The proud haue had me exceedingly in derision yet haue I not declined from thy lawe I remember thine euerlasting iudgements O Lord and receiued comfort I am horribly afraid for the vngodly which forsake thy lawe Thy statutes haue beene my songes in the house of my pylgrimage I haue thought vpō thy name O Lord in the night season and haue kept thy lawe This I had bicause I kept thy commandements DAuid here maketh a request vnto God which wee are all wonted to make but not with such affection as hee deeth For wee can not protest after his example that all our ioye in the middest of our aduersities is in meditating and studying of that which God hath shewed vnto vs by his woorde And that it is so we see that whensoeuer any of vs shall endure and abide any grief whether runne wee then for refuge and ayde Forsooth euery of vs faineth him selfe a comfort as best pleaseth him For very fewe of
when any mention is made of the woorde of God which vnderstand and knowe that it is spoken to them and without they knowe that all is to no purpose Wee may reade the Bible an hundreth times ouer but wee shall neuer haue any taste of the promises of God or certainly if we learne any thing out of it that shall no whit assure vs to conceiue a true certaintie of our saluation except we knowe that it is to vs which God speaketh that it is wee euen wee I saye whome hee woulde make to feele his mercy and fatherly loue If we conceiue of the promises of God as hanging in the ayre that God hath spoken we know not to whom to what purpose shall this bee What benefite shall wee reape by this So then let vs throughly consider of this doctrine Be mindful O Lord of thy seruant according to thy word Dauid applieth vnto him selfe the promises which he had receiued for he knew that they appertayned vnto hym bycause he doubted not that he was the childe of God for hauing receiued them with such a faith hee sayeth O Lorde Thou hast not spoken to this body or to that body as though I knewe not to whome but I am out of all doubt that thou meanest to call me vnto thee and hast declared vnto me that I shal be partaker of all the benefites which thou hast promised vnto the faithfull Loe then after what maner we must do herein So likewise when it is said in the holy scripture 1. Tim. ◠that this is a true and vndoubted saying that God hath sent his only begotten sonne to saue all miserable sinners wee must include it within this same ranke I saye that euery of vs apply the same particularly to him self when as we heare this generall sentēce that God is merciful Haue we heard this Then may we boldly call vpon him and euen say although I am a miserable and forlorne creature since it is saide that God is mercifull to those which haue offended him I will runne vnto him and to his mercy beseeching him that hee will make me to feele it And since it is saide That God so loued the world Iohn 3.16 Rom. 8.32 that he spared not his onely begotten sonne but deliuered him to death for vs. It is meete I looke to that For it is very needefull that Iesus Christ should plucke mee out from that condemnation wherein I am Since it is so that the loue and goodnesse of God is declared vnto the worlde in that that his sonne Christe Iesus hath suffered death I must appropriate the same to my selfe that I may knowe that it is to me that God hath spokē that he would I should take the possession of such a grace and therein to reioyce me We see now how we must practise this sentence that we may say vnto God Thinke vpon thy seruant O Lorde according to thy word If any man wil reply that it can not be said that God hath spoken to him when as he speaketh to al in generall let vs consider that God offereth his grace too men in common to the ende that euery man might afterward enter into him selfe and not to doubt being a member of the church but that hee hath a part and portion of that which is common to all the faithfull And where it is sayd Reioyce thou daughter of Syon for behold thy king commeth towardes thee Zach. 9.9 all the faithfull in generall ought to receiue this promise that al also euē frō the greatest to the least might knowe that God offereth him selfe vnto them and allureth them to the ende that this promise might be performed and perfited vnto them And see why the sacraments are not administred vnto vs in common but to euery one seuerally We will neuer baptize the whole Churche with one baptisme but euery one wil be baptized in the name of our Lord Iesus Christe And what other thing is meant by baptisme but a cōfirmatiō of al the promises of God which he hath giuen in common to the whole body of his churche See then howe the promises are speciall in the vertue of baptisme And so is it in the Supper For when we come to receiue the bread and wine in the Supper our Lord Iesus declareth vnto vs that as hee once for all shed his most precious blood for our redemption and saluation that his body also is our meat and nurriture Lo then howe wee ought to be fully assured that it is to vs which God speaketh and that he also offereth his mercie to vs in common And see why Dauid also addeth and sayeth The same is my comfort in my trouble for thy worde hath quickened me For this is the right and true vse whereunto wee ought to applie the promises of God to wit that where it might seeme that wee were discomforted and cast away yet should wee not but haue a firme courage and an inuincible constancie For els we should greatly dishonour God since he hath tolde vs that we should not dispaire but that hee would be our sauiour vnto the ende Whereupon we must conclude that so often as wee conceiue any distrust in our aduersities so often do we blaspheme his maiestie For we can not do greater iniurie and despite vnto God then to accuse him to be a lyer thinke him to be disloyal or vnfaithfull Now if we thinke God to bee true and faithfull we must holde it for a full conclusion that hee will neuer suffer vs to be frustrate so long as we put our trust in him Now by this meane we shall liue euen in death Let vs therefore throughly consider of this sentence which Dauid hath here couched that God hauing promised him to be his sauiour hath quickened him in this yea in the middest of his afflictions as if he had saide O Lorde since it is so that I haue a testimonie of thy good will and loue I ought not to be discouraged nor faint hearted for whatsoeuer may come to passe Now it followeth The wicked or proud haue had me exceedingly in derision yet haue I not declined from thy lawe Here Dauid sheweth his constancie in resisting the temptations and combattes wherewith Satan assayled him For beholde howe our faith shal be rightly and duely approued to wit when as we sbalbe assailed and when as the deuill shall thinke that he hath gotten the better of vs yet must wee perseuer and still continue to trust in God lo I say a good proufe of our faith And this is it that Dauid meaneth to signifie in this place for it is an easie matter when as we shall haue no temptations to trouble vs to take a tast of the promises of GOD and to hope that hee will doe that which he hath spoken But when as we shal be tormented with afflictions then the deuill commeth and putteth vs in minde of many irksomenesses and fantasies as if God were retired and gone farre
mortally to wounde vs. And to put by these blowes wee had neede to bee armed with the woorde of God which is our sword with the buckler of faith and the Helmet of hope euen as Saint Paul exhorteth vs to doe Marke well this point we must not bee too too tyed vnto men when as they shall thus grieue and vexe vs but wee must looke a great way farther to witte vnto Satan who by such assaultes cōbattes goeth about al hee can too ouerthrowe our sayth Ephe. 6.16.17 if it were possible for him to doo Now the protestation which he maketh is well woorthy the noting for after hee had complayned of these rebukes and mockeries of the vngodly hee addeth yet haue I not shrinked from thy way O Lorde Let vs then conclude that since wee haue the word of God that if al the world shoulde conspire against vs too turne vs from it we ought too abyde stedfastly in it and too bee fast tyed thereto and too cleaue so harde vntoo it as that wee might neuer bee pulled away from the same To this ende ought this protestation to serue vs to witte to strengthen vs in constancie that wee might knowe that if Dauid was so stedfastly setled in the hope which he had that the truthe of God is not at this day diminished or decreased It behoueth vs then to make the promises of God forcible and to be so sure and certaine as that wee be not shaken nor moued for all the scornes and mockes which the wicked can make at vs. Let vs also marke that Dauid speaketh not here of one combat or of a woorde cast out at randon as sometimes it may escape from the mouth of a Scoffer or Iester among the wicked But it must needes bee that the holy Prophet was throughly sooked in them as hee him selfe declareth that they derided and scoffed at him and that exceedingly Let vs applie this too our selues that we quaile not nor faynt for one conflict wherwith Satan shall assayle vs by his substitutes but that wee perseuere in all conflictes that when we shall haue made an ende with the first to bee ready and prest to enter into an other neuer altering or chaunging our determination nor will come there whatsoeuer shall come that the scoffes scornes of the wicked yea and whatsoeuer Satan shall craftily inuent against vs hinder vs not from stedfastly abiding and continuing in faith without turning or writhing vs awaye from the lawe of God after the example of Dauid as here wee haue heard him make thereof protestation And if there were such constancie in Dauid hauing the lawe onely wee that haue the doctrine which is giuen by him and by the Prophetes after him by our Lorde Iesus Christe and his Apostles wee then which haue a great many moe conuenient helpes then Dauid had should wee be shaken and crusshed when as the deuill the wicked and all the girnardes and firebrandes of hell shall assayle our faith There remaineth nowe no excuse for vs seeing hee hath done thus Let vs then learne too helpe our selues with the meanes which God hath giuen vs and putteth in to our hande so that his woorde bee not vayne and vnprofitable vnto vs but that it serue vs in deede as it ought Nowe hee addeth For I remembred thine euerlasting iudgement O Lorde and haue receiued comfort Here Dauid declareth that hee is confirmed ouer and beside the worde in all the iudgementes of God which is the thing that we must also do after that we haue meditated vppon the promises of GOD by which hee testifieth that hee is nere vnto all those which call vppon him after that wee haue knowne that which hee declareth and pronounceth to humble and ouerthrowe the wicked in shewing them to be their iudge that ouer and besides this we would acknowledge as at all times we haue neede how he hath holpen and sustained his howe hee hath deliuered them out of all the miseries they were in and besides how he hath stretched foorth his arme against the wicked and contempners of his iustice See I say howe wee must linke together the woorkes of God with his word for the more notable confirmation of our faith And this is it which Dauid meaneth in this place for he speaketh not here of the iudgementes of God as hee hath done before and as he will hereafter to witte for his statutes and commaundementes but hee meaneth the actes and deedes which GOD in all ages hath done to shewe him selfe to be iudge ouer all men It is very true that such judgements as God hath put in execution are conteined in the Scripture But by this which is here spoken of them we are warned how we ought to reade such histories that is that God neuer forsaketh his faithfull and although for a while he slacketh yet will he not leaue the wicked vnpunished in the ende Dauid then meditated on these iudgements and exercised him selfe in them And so we are to remember that when we haue made the word of God forcible to resist Satan and al the assaultes wherewith he shal assaile vs we must also know that God hath not only spokē but hath likewyse shewed by experience that his worde is no vayne thing but that the execution thereof is at hand And therefore when as wee shall see that God shall put to his helping hande before our eyes and shall giue vs so many testimonies of his iudgementes it is no reason that wee should ouerslippe it but should haue our eyes open and acknowledge these thinges as they are declared vnto vs when as also wee shall feele any of GOD his grace towardes vs that wee ought to imprint the same surely in our myndes Loe howe wee must followe Dauid in that which hee sayeth O Lord I haue remembred thy iudgements Moreouer when it is said that hee hath called to mynde the iudgementes of GOD from the beginning of the worlde I praye you what excuse shall wee bee able too make if wee ouerslippe that which hee setteth before our eyes For when as at this daye GOD shoulde holde him selfe as if hee laye hidden that wee should haue no token nor proufe that hee shoulde bee the iudge of the wicked and vngodly for to confounde them and the Sauiour of those which trust in him and call vppon him yet that which is conteined in the holy Scripture and that which we reade too bee done before wee were borne the same I saye might suffice But nowe since God declareth him selfe vnto vs and sheweth vnto vs his presence and all this to bee cast vnder foote through our vnthankefulnesse must not wee needes be more then culpable or blameworthy In summe let vs marke that here the holy Ghost accuseth vs of negligence for if wee were such as in deede wee should be wee should applye our studie to reade the holy Scriptures where God sheweth vs his iudgementes as it were in beautifull glasses and all for our
cease to perseuer and cōtinue in the lawe of God And namely he sayeth That they haue robbed him which is yet the most grieuous and sharpe thing that can come to a man and which might soonest make him to quaile For it may be that the wicked will go about to molest vs and yet come not to the ende of their enterprise but Dauid saith that he was put out for a pray that he was as a wretched forlorne creature and assayled on euery side and yet that he forgot not the lawe of God And in so saying it is as if he should haue protested and sayde that hee had alwayes one selfe and the same affection to followe the lawe of God Now let vs returne vnto that which we haue before touched For this is no small temptation that God suffereth vs to be so molested greeued and tormented When GOD suffereth Satan and his suppostes too take this course this should as it were discourage vs an hūdreth thousand times And in very deede this is Satan his policie as we see in Iob. For when Satan ment to shewe that it was an easie matter for Iob to serue God O saieth he he is wel at libertie and liueth quietly he is rich and therefore it is a very easy matter for him to prayse God but whensoeuer he shall haue lost all that hee hath all his substance and be vexed with many anoyannces and tormentes we shall then see whether he will blesse God yea or no. Loe then howe God proueth vs when he suffereth the wicked to molest and trouble vs that they are euen come to this point to set their foote vpon the very throat of vs. By that he meaneth to proue vs whether we loue him in good earnest or not And therefore wee are the rather to marke this doctrine For it is impossible for vs to serue God as we ought without wee haue this constancie whereof Dauid here speaketh to wit that when we shal be afflicted in any sort whatsoeuer wee must not cease to praye alwayes vnto God that we may be able to yeld our selues wholy to him Loe what is the summe and effect hereof And by this wee are taught that neither afflictions nor any such other like things ought to stay vs from praying vnto God to the end we might alwayes walke in his obedience For if he permit vs to be afflicted in our flesh we must not therefore say that his loue is diminished towardes vs neither that hee hath litle care of our saluation let vs onely attend and wayte to see the ende and issue of our afflictions and in the meane while continue to walke according to his word and neuer forget his lawe howsoeuer Satan soliciteth vs to the contrary Nowe it followeth by and by after At midnight will I rise to giue thankes vnto thee bicause of thy righteous iudgements Loe here an excellent protestation which also hangeth vppon that whereof wee haue already treated in the first verse For there Dauid protesteth that this is our true and very perfect felicitie when as wee giue our selues to GOD and too his woorde Nowe hee sayeth heere that hee rose at midnight too giue thankes vntoo God euen bycause of his rightuous Iudgementes As if hee shoulde haue saide I haue already declared O Lorde that my portion is too haue thy woorde and too haue possession thereof which if I haue I am blessed and most blessed And nowe O Lorde suffer mee not to be vnthankeful for such a benefite and priuiledge whiche thou hast giuen mee He alledgeth also vntoo him his rightuous Iudgements We haue here before declared what the meaning of these wordes importe too wit the Statutes of God which are to gouerne vs in such soundnes as that oure life shal bee playne and honest Dauid then saying that he praysed God bicause of his rightuous Iudgementes signifieth that hee thanketh him for that that he was taught in his word knowing it too bee a singular benefite Wee are nowe too note this saying For wee see what our vnthankefulnesse is not onely for al the benefites of GOD but principally and chiefely for this that God hath so declared himself vnto vs by his lawe Prophetes and Gospel and yet wee neuer thinke of al this and that which is worse that although he meaneth too ouercome our malice through his goodnesse and offered himself vnto vs as a father and Sauiour yet do wee fly as farre from him as wee possibly can It is very true that we will make semblāce to seeke him as it were for our discharge yea and that shal bee too when as wee shal bee theretoo forced But yet if wee were at oure owne libertie and choyse wee woulde come as farre aloofe as were possible Nowe when wee seeke God in this wyse it is not too come directly vntoo him but onely too say Loe I am well affected vntoo GOD I am one of those which seeke him And in deede when God goeth about to drawe vs vnto him by his worde how may we be able sufficiently enough to vnderstand so notable a benefite Wherefore let this doctrine be well marked seeing it is so very necessarie to correct and amend our so great villainous malice and vnthākfulnesse and that wee might hereafter learne to praise God bicause it hath pleased him to make vs partakers of this inestimable treasure to wit the doctrine of saluation that his meaning is to rule order our life that we might not be like wretched strayed sheepe to be cast downe hedlong into the bottomlesse pitte of hell Here is likewise an ardent affection expressed in this saying That Dauid arose at midnight As if he should haue said that the daye was not sufficient enough for him but that in the time of his quiet test he lifted vp his minde into heauen to giue thankes vnto God In this he signifieth that he continued praysing of God without weerisomnesse Nowe then if wee will rightly followe the example of Dauid we must not giue GOD thankes when wee thinke good and when we shall haue remembred him ones in fiftene dayes or I knowe not when or els when as it shal be for fashions sake as when the Bell ringeth to cause vs too come to the Sermon But it must be alwayes for wee must both in the euening and morning and also at midnight haue our minees waking to giue him thankes He addeth I am a compaignion of all them that feare thee and keepe thy Commaundementes By which hee signifieth that hee hath sought all the meanes possible too giue him selfe to walke in the feare of God We haue here to note that Dauid was an excellent man euen like an Angell amonges mortall creatures and yet for all that it was needeful for him to accompanie him self with faithfull men men of good example and pure and holy in life and conuersation And why so To the ende he might be alwayes the better confirmed in his vocation and calling and not to be withdrawne
shall proceede out of his holy mouth Loe here what is the first part and condition of faith Now there is a second part condition to wit the instructiō which God giueth vs after that we are come vnto him with that reuerence that Schollers ought to come to their maister for we are more fullie and soundly taught of him This is it that Dauid desireth He protesteth That hee hath beleeued the woorde of God that is to say to haue knowne the maiestie conteined therein to haue obeyed it and to haue yelded himselfe subiect vnto the same When hee had made this protestation O Lorde sayeth he now that I haue felt the power and vertue of thy woorde and haue chiefly beene desirous thereof graunt mee this grace that I may comprehended it Loe here a notable place and worthy the noting For in the first place we are aduertised that wee shall neuer profit our selues either in the Gospel or yet in any parte of the holy Scripture if wee haue not this modestie with vs as too yeelde our selues too God with this persuasion that the same which wee accompt too bee good and faythfull with vs is nothing in respect of that which he meaneth too doo therein on his behalfe considering that hee hath shewed it vntoo vs For wee are simple and ignorant and cannot conceiue the thinges which are necessary for our saluation vntil such time as we haue yeelded our mindes to this reason And loe wherefore there are so fewe schollers of God at this day in this poynt For howe many shal we find at this day which haue their mind so humbled as it ought But the greater parte are arrogant fooles wee shall find very many in this behalfe that wil make no more accompte of the woorde of God then if a mortall and seelie man had spoken Forsomuch then as men come thus too God with such a pryde let vs not woonder although hee leaueth them without wit or reason and although the Sunne shyneth bright before their eyes yet remaine they continually blinde and groape about as it were in the darke and wander about euen too the hazarde of their necke breaking We must not be abashed at this although God depriueth them of his grace since they wil not submitte themselues vntoo his woorde Euen so when as this shal be in vs to attribute vnto God the authoritie and honour which he is worthy off wee may after the example of Dauid hope that he will instruct vs more and more and also make this request vnto him For this is the first degree and steppe of all Christian wisedome to witte to humble them selues in such sorte as that they be euer ready to receiue whatsoeuer God shall say vnto them When as they shal be thus prepared they can not do amisse nor yet feare that God wil euer forsake thē but that he will spred furth his power to mainteine thē as he hath therein promised thē to doe And thus much as touching these two verses Now it followeth Before I was troubled I went wrong but nowe I keepe thy worde Here Dauid signifieth that he was more daūted then euer he was bicause God corrected him As if hee had sayd In very deede O Lorde amonges all the rest of the benefites which I haue already alleaged this is one that thou hast made me to know my self through affliction loe it maketh me to keepe thy commaundements Nowe when wee tell God thus of the graces which hee hath bestowed vpon vs that we might bee prepared to serue him it is for this cause that he might encrease and augment them more and more in vs vntill such time as he hath brought thē to their perfect end Now we haue to note in this matter the order which Dauid keepeth O Lorde saieth hee I confesse that I haue erred The first point is this confession which he maketh for when God findeth vs to be vntamed and hard to be kept in aray it is meete that this our stubburnesse should be pulled downe and hee to shewe his authoritie ouer vs to the ende we might soone after feele his clemencie And therefore Dauid knowing that hee was once very wylde and vntamed and had not walked in such feare of God as became him confesseth that although hee had beene taught yet that it was needefull for God to set him in aray and to keepe him in good order O Lorde saith hee I confesse that I haue erred yea and that was before thou haddest chastised me but now I keepe thy commaundementes By this hee signifieth in effect that which I haue touched to wit that he was already prepared in this wisedome of the knowledge of God yet he alwayes prayed that hee would augment this grace in him and confirme him therein vntill such time as he were throughly made perfect In the meane while we haue to note that Dauid was not a man altogether wickedly bent ne yet so vntamed as a great number of the contempners of God are It is very true that hee committed very grieuous and extreeme offences were it but this adulterie which hee committed with Bethsabe Vrie his wife which was so horrible an acte as that he deserued euen for that to be vtterly forsaken of God And after that he became so proude when he woulde haue mustred the people as that he was violently carried with a vayne and foolish arrogancie cleane forgetting who it was that had aduaunced him vnto this royall seate and in steade of dooing homage vnto God for such a notable benefite hee determined with him selfe to haue escaped away on horsebacke Loe what grieuous and shamefull faultes these are But if we looke into the course of his life wee shall finde that he was a man of a continuall singlenesse very teacheable and full of curtesie following the vocation of God and wholy giuen thereto Nowe herein appeareth a great difference betweene a man which outrageth all the dayes of his life and him which committeth some particular euill shewing neuerthelesse in all the rest of his life a feare of God As it may happen that a man shall serue God all his life and yet in the meane while may somewhat fall and perhappes very grieuously as we see to haue come to passe in Dauid Nowe wee shall see others to be very wicked and to despise God all their life long delighting altogether in wickednesse But Dauid neuer was such one and yet for all that he confessed that hee had erred before such time as God had visited him with afflictions And if this came so to passe in Dauid alas what shall become of vs poore wretches So then let vs vnderstand that afflictions are more necessarie for vs then bread and drinke We craue of God that he will feede and nourishe vs. It is very true and hee giueth vs leaue for to make such request but yet we must not leaue out the principall point to wit we must beseech him not to make vs so fatte as we make pampered
and so fatted Euen so fareth it with these cursed contēners of God which haue no regarde vnto euerlasting life but are wholely giuen vpp too their God the belly They wallowe them selues in their owne greace as a Swine which hath his groine alwayes in the trough Nowe contrariwise Dauid sayth that all his delight hath beene in the woorde of God Whereby hee doth vs to witte that although God had made him fatte yet that he wallowed not for all that in his owne greace but delighted in that spirituall gifte which was giuen him because that God had taught it him in his Schoole Loe then what we haue to gather out of this place that although wee see the greater parte of the worlde contemne God yet must we not be abashed thereat And why so Let vs well consider wherein men doe put their chiefe felicitie and wee shall finde them too be lyke vnto Oxen and Swine desiring naught but to liue heere in this world without looking any farther Nowe wee must haue a farther regarde if we will serue God as too him appertayneth to witte that wee take such pleasure and delight in the worde of God that wee bee no more giuen too the worlde as we are ouermuch And although God giueth vs aboundaunce yet that wee haue our ease and commodities in this worlde let vs not settle our mindes on them but knowe that all these are but pety small meanes and necessaryes but let vs labour to goe too the principall and acknowledge him too be our Father and Sauiour And when we knowe him too be so then let vs clime vpp vnto him and too that euerlasting life wherevnto hee inuyteth and calleth vs. Loe I say what wee haue heere too retaine Moreouer if God tameth vs by affliction Let vs come to that which Dauid addeth to witte That it was good for him that he had beene in trouble Although then that God pulleth back his hand and that in steade of gently intreating vs hee handleth vs roughly in steade of sending vs plentie of wealth he causeth vs to suffer hunger and thirst in steade of giuing vs health hee greeueth vs with diseases that beeing vexed with many anguishes and tormentes so that wee knowe not what too doe yet must wee alwayes looke to the ende to be comforted with Dauid in saying It is a good turne for mee O Lorde that I haue beene in trouble That I may learne thy Statutes Nowe since it hath so fallen out that Dauid was afflicted to the ende he might be the better disposed too learne the ordinaunces of God what shall become of vs which are full of worldely vanities Let vs then knowe that wee had neede to be corrected by the hand of God and to be tyed short if we will profite in the doctrine of saluation Loe then how we must practice the admonition of Dauid And when we shall haue so done we may conclude and say with that which is set downe in the laste verse to wit That the lawe of God is more deere vnto vs then Golde or Siluer And this is it that we must doe in this point wee must esteeme and make much of the worde of God as it is woorthy and not to stay our selues on the thinges of this worlde but to looke alwayes farther off to wit vnto heauen When then wee shall haue profited our selues thus by the afflictions which God shall send vs hee will bestowe his grace vpon vs by little little that we shal so esteeme of his word as that we shall wholy stick to it And let vs beseech him that it would please him too dispoyle vs of all our wicked fleshly desires and affections to cause vs to craue none other thing but that he wil reigne and liue in vs. According too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences Beseeching him that it woulde please bim too take from vs the wicked affections whiche might turne vs away from him and from his seruice and that wee might forget all whatsoeuer might turne vs from the right way of saluation that we desire nothing but that wee may attaine too that euerlasting life which we looke for in heauen That it would please him not too suffer vs to liue heere like brute beastes not knowing to what end we were created in this world but that we might acknowledge him to be our Creator our Father and Sauiour that wee might subiect our selues vnto him as his creatures and obey him as true and faithfull Children vntill such time as hee shall take vs out of this world to make vs partakers of that euerlasting blisse immortall inheritance which he hath prepared in Heauen and which is purchased for vs by our Lorde Iesus Christe That hee will not onely graunt vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations in the worlde c. The tenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme IOD Thine hands haue made and fashioned mee O giue me therefore vnderstanding that I may learne thy Commaundements So they that feare thee when they see mee shall reioyce because I haue put my trust in thy word I knowe O Lorde that thy Iudgementes are right and that thou hast affficted me iustly I pray thee that thy mercie may comfort me according to thy promise vnto thy Seruant Let thy tender mercies come vnto mee that I may liue for thy lawe is my delight Let the proude be confounded for they haue dealte wickedly and falsely with mee but I meditate in thy Commaundements Let such as feare thee and know thy Testimonyes turne vnto mee Let my heart bee vpright in thy Statutes that I bee not ashamed WEE ought to holde and keepe this rule and order in our praiers to God not too measure his affection and loue after our own imaginations thoughts but to acknowledge him to be such one as in deede he is as he sheweth himselfe vnto vs to be And loe why he saith by his Prophet Esaiah after he had declared that he would haue compassion to saue his church Thinke not sayth he that I am like vnto you for there is as great distance betweene my thoughtes and yours as is betweene Heauen and Earth Let vs then measure the goodnesse of God after our vaine imaginations But as I haue already sayd let vs knowe that it is not in vaine which he declareth and testifieth vnto vs that the good will and loue which he beareth vs are infinite thinges which wee must beholde by faith onely And it is to the ende that we should come vnto him with greater boldenesse too call vpon him not doubting but that we shall obtaine whatsoeuer wee craue at his hands yea euen asmuch as shall be expedient for our saluation And according to this Dauid heere setteth downe that God had made him As if he had said I come not vnto thee O Lord as we commonly come vnto men I set not downe any merite or
can be able to submit our selues to God in such humilitie as for to knowe say that he is onely wise But yet they which knowe this think not his chatisements too be gentle and gratious but are impacient and conceiue some griefe that maketh them too grinde their teeth Nowe Dauid ioyned these twoo togither to wit that he did not onely make much of the word of God but also of the punishment which he sente him as if hee had saide O Lord I do not only suffer my self to be taught by thy word but to bee chastised also with thy hand and I beseech thee to scourge and beate mee with thy rodes so often as thou seest mee too doe amisse and too cause mee too amende shewing thy selfe a moste louing and pittifull Father towardes mee Wee haue heere nowe a very good admonition to wit that first we must learne to be ruled after the will of God to receiue his woorde without contradiction that wee reply not according as it pleaseth our owne wittes and affections neither too make any noyse when wee heare God speake But let him haue such authoritie ouer vs to make vs so silent as that wee may knowe that whatsoeuer hee sayth vnto vs is iuste and true And thus too doe let vs learne not to be so sleepy and sluggish as wee are by nature in our vices and sinnes and specially in this vice of ambition hauing alwayes a gready desire to be aduaunced Let vs rather knowe that God is the Mayster of the humble and lowely and let vs therfore humble our selues not looke so bigge and bee so foolish hautie which doth nothing else but cast vs hedlong into destruction when as wee aduaunce our selues higher then becommeth vs. Let vs rather be aduised to bridle all our Lustes and that which holdeth vs as it were captiues as Saint Paul sayth For what is the cause that so many people at this day doe set them selues against the Gospell It is not because they know not this doctrine too be good and that they iudge not so of it But yet are they not therein thorowly perswaded too say Loe howe we must liue Euery man will doe whatsoeuer himself thinketh to be good We must then needes confesse that the iudgements of God are right that wee learne to holde all our passions in bondage that we suffer our selues to be condemned by him and to be rebuked for all our vices and imperfections as becommeth vs. Now can we doe this to wit are we become subiect obedient to the word of God We must also submit our selues vnder his hand to strike vs when it shall please him and liuely to vnderstande that wee haue doone amisse confessing that he hath iustly chastised vs or as heere it is sayde of very faithfulnesse This is the summe and effect that he is iust in punishing of vs as he is wise in teaching of vs the one hāgeth on the other that is to say the second hangeth vpon the first For whosoeuer shal come to this humilitie that Dauid speaketh off to knowe that in the worde of God there is but one holy doctrine one infallible truth one so perfect equitie as can be no perfecter hee that shall haue knowne this shall by little and little haue wherewith too bee fortified too receiue the corrections with a meke spirite and not to bee grieued and to kicke against the pricke as wee are wonted to doe Let vs nowe then suffer God to rebuke vs yea and to correct vs seeing hee doeth all this for our profit and health And this is the summe and effect of this verse It followeth next after I praye thee that thy mercie may comfort me according vnto thy promise vnto thy seruant Here Dauid maketh and more generall request then that which before we haue seene Hee desireth God to instruct him and now he addeth O let thy mercifull kindnes bee my comfort As if he had said O Lord I haue besought thee for a speciall and particular thing but I adde nowe that thou wilt be mercifull vnto me in all and through all that thy mercie bee extended vpon me that I faile in nothing Thou knowest what is necessarie and profitable for me O Lord let mee feele thee to bee gratious and pitifull all maner of wayes Loe what difference there is betweene the first request which we haue already seene and this second Now this is a point worth the noting For as wee haue before said see the first which we ought to haue in a singular recommendation and that is that wee may bee taught by God and not to be taught onely by wordes but that hee will also lighten vs with his holy spirite to make vs knowe that it is his worde which guideth vs. See here I say the very right way to saluation Nowe haue wee made this request we may craue of God that hee will not let vs fall in anything whatsoeuer that his mercy may comfort vs. But yet here we se how that Dauid was not comforted nor yet reioyced but onely in God knowing that all the ioye that we haue here bilowe shal be accursed when as wee haue no regarde vnto our Creator And yet for all this se how commonly wee are wonted to reioyce and comfort our selues that is euen to forget God to turne our backs vpō him Now accursed be such ioy for the issue thereof can be none other but as our Lord Christ Iesus sayeth That it shall bee turned into weeping and gnasshing of teeth Howbeit the worlde is waxen dronke for whatsoeuer is saide vnto it it maketh no reckoning thereof but vtterly refuseth al good sound doctrine In deede this is true that this same was not written in vaine but that we shal be so much the more inexcusable when as we shall haue the example of Dauid except we folowe it See then for this first point that after Dauid had compassed the whole worlde both aboue and beneath he founde no rest to comfort his spirite and soule but at such time as he made his repaire vnto God And there I say he found wherwith to reioyce and comfort him selfe finding nothing els but vnquietnesse in all liuing creatures Now he soone after setteth downe how we ought to reioyce and to be comforted in God to wit through his mercie for if God shoulde deale with vs according to our desertes we should haue no cause wherefore to reioyce but rather be confounded with very horrour and feare When as God shal declare him self to be our iudge alas which way shall wee be able to turne vs Must wee not needes bee cast headlong into the deepe pit If it be said that wee must appeare before the maiestie of our God what shall become of vs which sucke vp iniquitie euen as the fishe sucketh in water as it is written in the booke of Iob Wherefore let vs know that if we will rightly reioyce and finde sure rest in our consciences wee must betake our selues to
this free mercie of our God that he declareth him selfe pitifull vnto vs in that he seeth vs to be miserable wretched creatures and to put foorth our hand vnto him to receiue his mercie Nowe Dauid in the ende sheweth whereuppon he buildeth him selfe in making such a request According vnto thy worde made vnto thy seruant Loe whereupon we must builde and settle our selues when as we will come vnto God to be heard of him to wit vpon his meere mercie as we haue here aboue said But are wee already come thus farrefurth And if wee be yet is there an other point farther required to wit wee must assure our selues that the graces of God shall adorne and garnishe vs so we seeke them according to his word And to proue it to be so marke I beseeche you for it were marueilous great presumption in vs to come vnto God without we had his promises for it and to desire of him any thing and say O Lord I haue neede of this and that Go to now here is already some occasion which causeth vs to come vnto God And againe O Lord thou art good and gracious loe this is an other thing also which augmenteth our courage and boldnes But bicause we are so farre from God that we are not able to come nere his maiestie without he come down vnto vs we must then before wee can haue any accesse to make our prayers vnto him lay this foundation which is here set before vs that is to say the word of God when as thereby God witnesseth vnto vs that his mercie is alwayes readie that he there laieth it before vs and offereth the same there vnto vs. There remaineth now nothing els but that wee receiue it by faith and that there wee declare our faith through our calling vpon him So then we see the order which Dauid here setteth downe that is that hee bringeth vs to God to the ende we might take our whole contentation repose and reioysing in his meere goodnesse And since that he hath receiued vs through his mercie let vs beseeche him that he would looke vnto vs with his eyes of pitie For the third point he sheweth vs how we ought to make such our petitions that is bicause God hath bounde him selfe vnto vs of his own good will and hath witnessed vnto vs that he wil be neare vs. When then we shal come vnto him in this sort let vs not doubt but that he wil heare vs graunt whatsoeuer we shall desire according to his will And namely he sayeth thy woorde made vnto thy seruant to th ende he would declare to euery of vs that euery man should apply the promises of God particularly vnto him selfe And not to vse the maner of the Papistes to saye It is very true that God hath promised this and that but we know not whether the same belongeth vnto vs or not And these are no fooles which say thus but this is the doctrine which they teache in all their Satanicall and deuelish Schooles and Synagogues Loe here the very doctrine of popish doctors that the promise of God are vncertaine that we must receiue thē as things hanging in the ayre not to take them generally to say I doubt not but that GOD speaketh the same vnto me But contrariwise we must conclude as Dauid here doth and O Lord let it be done vnto thy seruant according to thy word He saith not according to thy word I knowe not to whom nor vnto such mē of which number I am not so that I can not builde vppon it but he saith according to thy promise O Lord made vnto me Let vs then learne by his example that when we desire the Lord God to assiste vs to charge him with his promises yea let vs apply them vnto our selues and beleeue that they are also spoken to euery of vs in particular and generally vnto all I meane vnto all the faithfull When as the Lord our God saieth I receiue all sinners to mercy let euery one saye O Lorde I am one of those miserable and wretched creatures and therefore I come vnto thee charging thee with thy promise made vnto me Loe howe wee must behaue our selues herein for els we shall but wander in the holy scripture all the daies of our life It followeth immediatly after Let thy tender mercies come vnto me that I may liue for thy lawe is my delight In this verse we may very well see that Dauid was as it were estranged from the mercie of God Now this is a very notable point to be considered off for what is the cause of our distrust yea euen to close vp the gate against God for that we would not come vnto him but onely bicause wee thinke that God hath estraunged him selfe from vs and that we should be thereby confounded It is very true that he will sometimes cause vs to feele them as if he had cleane turned him selfe away from vs and all bicause we first forsooke him but yet we must notwithstanding returne vnto him and not be discouraged but followe the example of Dauid that although the mercies of God to the outwarde apparance and in our iudgement bee farre from vs and in such sort as that we may well perceiue it yet must we neuer cease to say O Lord let thy louing mercies come vnto me surely to the outrward shew so farre as I can iudge they are farre of me but yet O Lorde I knowe that thou wilt in the ende make me to attaine vnto them yea and although thou manifestly shewest me them not yet notwithstanding I will wayte and surely looke for them with an assured faith and hope Moreouer when he sayeth that I may liue that is to signifie vnto vs the same which I haue already said to wit that although his wit and spirite stayed it selfe vpon creatures yet that he was but as a dead man whiles he thought God not to be neare him hee supposed him self to be but as a forlorne man And in deede although we had all the world on our side and had GOD against vs and were sure that he neither loued nor fauoured vs all the rest would turne but to our ruyne and destruction And if wee esteeme not thus of him must it not needes be but that we must bee bewitched by Satan and caried violently away when we shall content vs onely with these worldly things and neuer haue regard vnto the spring head and fountaine of all goodnesse to wit the bounty of God But in the meane while let vs note this that although we bee dead for a time after the example of Dauid yet shall wee be quickened so that we come to God beseeching him not to holde backe his mercies farre from vs. Now he saieth in the ende For thy lawe is my delight By this we are admonished what it is that we must craue at the handes of God in good earnest forsooth that his mercies may remaine with vs
the promises of God in our afflictions and miseries it were sufficient enough too make vs pacient And by this meane we should render a true proufe of our fayth but so soone as we are grieued with any affliction we by and by waxe fainte hearted bicause we forget all the promises of God which to our seeming we had long before very well vnderstand and learned Now we should not at the least be forgetfull of them when neede requireth yea and that when wee are thereby enforced And for that cause wee haue here a very excellent lesson for the purpose worthy the noting for Dauid doth not only teach vs as a Prophet of God what our dutie is what the power and vertue of our faith ought too bee but sheweth vs also the way by his example howe wee must bee pacient in all our aduersities and howe we ought not to fal from that to wit that we alwayes haue our eye fixed vpon the promises of God For that shal be enough to entertaine and keepe vs in such sort as that we should paciently waite for his sauing health yea euen in calling vpon him But that we might the better profite by this doctrine wee are here to note that the twoo first verses are both of one and selfe-same substance saue that the order of the wordes are changed Hee saieth in the first place My soule fainteth for thy saluation That is to say O Lorde I haue longed albeit the afflictions and miseries which I haue abidden were very great and lasted long and that I see neither ende nor issue of them yet neuerthelesse I rested altogether hereon that I alwayes trusted that thou wouldest bee my supporter and aider Nowe hee addeth the reason howe hee coulde so faint to wit bicause he trusted vnto the promises of God In the second verse he saieth That he hath failed for the promise of God yea euen looking for this promisse and that he hath said When wilt thou comfort me And in the third he handleth that which before hee had spoken of to wit that although he had beeene as it were parched and dried euen as a skinne bottle in the smoke so that there remained neither moysture nor substance in him but dried vp with verie miseries yet that he had not forgotten the testimonies of God We see then nowe what the summe and effect of this is which is here shewed vnto vs to wit that there is but one onely meane too cause vs to bee constant and pacient when as we are afflicted and that our aduersities doe euer long last as wee imagine that is too bee mindefull of the promises of God and to haue them depely imprinted in our hartes For if that bee so it wil not cost vs much to be patient and although it bee an harde matter yet wee shall at the last come too the ende of it Let vs then now marke from whence our impatience springeth and what the reason is why wee are so oftentimes ouercome with temptations or else when as wee shal haue for a tyme resisted them yet in the ende wee are confounded and faintharted Truely it is bicause wee forget the testimonies of GOD and turne away from his woorde In very deede this at the first sight may seeme too bee a common matter with vs. And to say the truthe euery man wil say that we ought to remember them and that it is the onely remedy too comforte vs. But wee shal the oftener doo it when as wee shal haue learned this lesson which is heere set downe vntoo vs and that wee recorde it al the dayes of our life For this is one of the principallest pointes that is too bee required in al Christians that when they perceiue that God hath laide his hand on them that they bee as it were almost cast downe yet that they might comfort themselues in staying of the promises of saluation which God hath promised them But yet let vs throughly consider the worde which Dauid here vseth I haue longed sayeth hee after the saluation and I haue hoped or after that I had hoped bicause of thy woorde The seconde parte of this verse is as it were the foundation whereon Dauid buildeth Let vs vnderstande then this hope which wee ought to haue in the worde of God as Dauid had for without that it is impossible but that wee must bee confounded for although it seeme in the iudgement of menne that there is in vs some vertue and soundnesse too indure and suffer patiently yet shal it not be such a true patience as GOD alloweth And why so For wee shal neuer beare him that affection too obey him without wee comforte our selues that hee loueth vs and that we trust to his bountie A man I say shall neuer be disposed to obey God and to glorifie him in afflictions except hee haue a taste of the bountie and fatherly loue which he beareth vs. Now how can it be that wee should bee fully persuaded that God loueth vs and procureth our wealth and health when as he afflicteth vs without we be armed with his promises For it is impossible for vs to knowe the truth of God except he declare the same vnto vs in his word Let vs learne then as I haue already said that the pacience of the faithfull can not be built but vpon faith and hope in the promises of God Loe then what we haue to note in this place Now Dauid hauing laid such a foundation buildeth thereon saying that his soule longed after the saluation of God when he saieth that his soule longed he meaneth not that he was so forlorne as that hee had in the ende giuen him cleane ouer ne yet that Satan had gotten any aduauntage of him but that worde to long is taken in the scripture for that which notwithstanding is conioyned with such obedience as we ought to yelde vnto God staying and setling our selues vpon him As howe Saint Paul sayeth That we ought to hope beyond all hope as Abraham did to wit we must surmount all our wittes and imaginations when there is any question of our beliefe in God For if wee will measure the promises of God by our owne wittes what shall become of it our faith then must exceede and goe beyond all the wisedome of men as here it is sayde That his soule hath longed which is as much as if Dauid had said it is true O Lorde that according to mans reason I was vtterly forlorne yea I was so oppressed with miseries as that I could beare no moe but when I was in the middes of death I ceased not for all that vntill I was arriued at a sure hauen to wit thy ayde and helpe Now he namely speaketh of Gods succour bicause it shall goe very hard but that we wil wander looke aboue and beneath both before and behinde to see if wee can finde readie helpe But if the trouble last long we see not which way to get out of it but that
not too flatter our selues when as the Lorde our God shall visite vs with any little affliction that wee thinke too haue doone euen sufficiently if wee call vppon him But if wee shall haue doone so an hundreth thousande times more yet that wee muste not giue ouer praying and calling vppon him And heerein may bee seeene the hypocriticall dealing of men For they are so womannishely minded and tender hearted that they thinke themselues too haue wrought a million of miracles when as they haue sustained neuer so little aduersitie no not woorth the value of an houre Moreouer if they be ouer loden with any aduersity they may be bolde as they thinke cleerely too forget both God and his woorde But our good God wil not haue vs to proceede in this sorte For he setteth before vs heere the example of Dauid for our instruction but yet hee hath set it forth vntoo vs for this ende and purpose that wee shoulde not cease to continue too cal vpon him in our aduersities yea were our afflictions neuer so great lasted neuer so long yet that we shoulde notwithstanding continually perseuere in prayer To be shorte let vs vnderstande that Dauid made this prayer at such tyme as hee thought not too haue liued any longer but that hee was as a dead man when hee sayeth O quicken mee Moreouer we may see that his constancy was not lyke a puft of winde but that he perseuered therein For although his troubles conteined that he was as it were in a very depe pit whereout he was not able too get yet ceased hee neuer but to trust that god would deliuer him out of it and there vpon called on him and receiued greate courage Namely he desireth too bee quickened according to the louing kindnes of God For wee must also bee at that point if we will bee hearde to knowe that God is bounde vntoo vs of his meere grace and fauour and that wee also must haue recourse vnto him if wee wil haue him too accomplishe his promises vnto vs. Men must not then abuse themselues too looke vntoo their owne dooinges ne yet too haue regarde vntoo worldly meanes But that they seeke for the same in GOD and in his meere goodnesse and free gifte for the which he wil heare them and receiue them also vntoo himselfe In the ende Dauid protesteth that he wil kepe the testimonies of the mouth of God Now let vs not vnderstād hereby that hee had not kept them before For wee haue seene the cleane cōtrary But this is to signifie That seing in the midst of the afflictiōs which I haue susteined thou hast alway giuē me the grace to perseuere in faith that I haue continually vpon thee Satan hath not shaken me to cause me too doe wickedly since then O Lorde thou haste giuen mee such constancy at the time that thou wast estraunged from me by a more strong reason when thou shalt be mine ayde and succour shalt restore me I shall haue a farre greater constancy to keepe the testimonyes of thy mouth See then howe that in the middest of all our afflictions wee must glorifie God not doubting of his faithfull dealing that he will performe whatsoeuer hee hath promised haue pittie on vs in the end and confirme vs more and more too keepe the testimonyes of his mouth knowing that hee wil continue to doe that vnto vs which he hath already once shewed vs. And according to this doctrin let vs prostrate our selues in the presence of our good God in acknowledging our offences Beseeching him that it would please him to open our eyes better that we may beholde the power and vertue of his worde and thereon to stay vs in bereauing vs of all the lightnesse and inconstancy which might turne vs away from it desiring him also not to suffer vs too wander this way and that way as commonly we are woonted to turne vs from the right way as we are by nature ouermuch inclyned therto but beeing fully resolued that it is not in vaine which he hath declared vnto vs that hee will assist vs in all our necessities which wee shall craue of him in true fayth yea not onely in our small and meane afflictions but euen when as he thinketh wee shoulde be vtterly ouerthrowne knowing that he will accomplish for our profite health whatsoeuer we may hope after and beholde with the eyes of fayth Let vs beseech him that hee will not onely graunte vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the Earth c. The twelfth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme LAMED O Lorde thy woorde indureth for euer in Heauen Thy trueth is from one generation to another thou haste layed the foundation of the Earth and it abideth They continue euen to this day according too thy ordinaunce for all are thy seruauntes Except the Lorde had beene my delighte I shoulde nowe haue perished in my trouble I will neuer forget thy Commandements For by them thou hast quickened me I am thine saue me for I haue sought thy Commandementes The vngoodly layd waite for mee but I will consider thy testimonyes I haue seene an ende of all perfection but thy commaundement is exceeding large WEE see howe chaungeable men are It is very true that when wee shall talke of the shadowe wee may say that it remooueth and chaungeth euery minute of an houre so that it resteth not but if wee looke well and thorowlye search out that which is in the minde of man wee shall see there a great deale more vanitie and chaunge then is too be seene in the very shadowe And that which is more Dauid sayth in an other place that if man were laide in one schole vanitie in an other that vanitie which is nothing would way downe man greately And wee shall not neede too stande longe disputing of this For euery man by his owne experience can testifie what it is and what it can do albeit there were nothing written nor yet any thing thereof conteined in the Scripture What resteth there then for vs to doe Forsooth wee must seeke for our constancy else where then in our selues Nowe God giueth vs a very good meane if we will take it which is to builde and settle our selues vpon his word And for this cause it is Isai 40.8 that the Prophet Esaiah sayth That the worde of God indureth for euer Hee had spoken before of the frailtie and ficklenesse of men as that nothing could be more although it might seeme that there was some strength in them it is yet incontinent cleane parched and dryed vpp that it vanisheth away into lesse then nothing But he concludeth and sayth That the woorde of God abideth for euer So then see the meane howe that men although they be transitory and haue constancie at all in them shall notwithstanding haue a perfect constancy and sure estate to witte when as they shall stay themselues vpon the trueth of God and his worde
According to this it is heere sayd Thy worde O Lorde abideth for euer in heauen Some expounde this as if it had beene sayde That because the heauens haue continued long they render a good testimony of the trueth of God But heere Dauid namely speaketh of the heauēs because we see by them a more manifest signe of the Maiestie of God then we see here belowe on earth And in deede in that we are rude and earthly we had neede to haue God to guide vs and too lifte vpp our mindes when that he would haue vs to thinke on him too the ende we might forget the world all the corruptible things heere beneath See thē the reason why Dauid in this maketh the seate and house of the word of God in heauen because we had nede to looke a great deale more hyer then into our owne senses when wee would comprehend howe God is true and faithfull When wee woulde feele the certaintie and assuraunce of his woorde we must enter into a more deepe consideration then our sense is able too beare and not looke so into the visible thing or into that which we conceiue on earth Hee addeth That the trueth of God it from generation to generation As if hee shoulde haue sayde It is true O Lord that men are heere very circumspect and aduised and we see also howe thinges haue their alterations so that there is nothing which is not wauering and inconstant wee are as it were in the whirlewindes and tempests and if at some time thinges bee in peace and at quiet it lasteth not longe and although the creatures bee peaceable and at quiet yet are the men neuer at rest but are continually chafed and troubled But thy trueth O Lorde is sure and certaine which can neuer be shaken through the alterations and chaunges which heere we see no otherwise but by the lightnesse and inconstancy of men when as they doe nothing else but wander heere and there True it is O Lorde that all this impayreth no whit the certaintie of thy trueth and woorde Loe heere in summe the meaning of Dauid in this place Nowe hee bringeth in a proofe of this sentence too witte That God hath layd the foundation of the earth and it abydeth that is to say That the order of nature hath her course and so continueth without ende And why so Forsomuch as God hath appoynted them because that hee hath so declared it and that al creatures are subiect vnto him This disposing ordering must needs continue in his estate And although wee see all things to turne on this side and on that yet God alwayes giueth vs some visible signe too shewe vs that hee neuer altereth nor chaungeth his purpose And chiefely that his trueth is neuer subiecte too any chaunge We see nowe in summe what the substaunce is that is contayned in these three verses Nowe that wee may apply all this too our vse and too make our profite heereof let vs learne too haue recourse vnto the woorde of God so often as wee shall bee astonyshed and knowe not what shall become of vs too witte all the dayes of our life For there passeth not one quiet day ouer our heads wherein wee are not mooued too thinke either of this thing or of that Sometimes the temptations are easie too ouercome but after wee shall see some apparaunce of daunger that shall trouble vs a great deale more yea and some one threate or other we shall haue that shall euen abashe vs. And if that were not so yet shoulde wee haue occasions enough in out heads too make vs vnquiet that we should not nede to be otherwise troubled but euery one of vs hath in himself store of tempests stormes so that if there were nothing else but our owne very fantasyes they would be so many whyrlewindes too make vs neuer to haue quiet mindes Nowe see then a good remedy that is Let vs knowe that although wee are enuironed with a great number of daungers although there bee no certayntie in our life although there is alwayes an hundreth deathes before our eyes yea that we thought the deuill shoulde swallowe vs vpp euery minute of an houre yet must we be peaceable and holde our selues quiet and stil because that God hath layde the foundation of our saluation in his woord and that he hath promised to keepe our life When then wee shall haue the worde of God to certifie vs that he hath care both of our soules and bodyes let vs knowe and be certainly assured that heerein consisteth all our constancy So then let vs rightly applye this doctrine for our instruction that when it is sayde that the worde of GOD is permanent in Heauen that his truethe sheweth it selfe from age to age so continueth that it is namely spoken to the ende that we should be patient in the middest of all the troubles giefes and anguishes which wee may haue beeing shaken amidst so many daungers and also seeing the endlesse and incessaunt chaunges which are heere beneth and nothing else but all vnquietnesse Let vs then see what is heere to be considered for the first point wee must not seeke to take our rest in this worlde for wee shall neuer haue it heere But let vs alwaies haue our recourse too the trueth of God Moreouer let vs see if we can rightly practise this doctrine that nothing hinder vs but that wee may liue in peace and tranquilitie in the middest of the most great and dangerous confusions which may light vpon vs. Let vs also see that whether the windes blow in this corner or in that that there be garboyles of war that there bee pestilence famine and such like that it seemed wee should perishe a thousand manner of wayes yet all they which settle them selues vpon the woorde of God wil neuer be but certaine For they shall feele bothe in life and death that they are in his hande and protection And hauing this confidence with themselues they will make no reckoning of all whatsoeuer shall come vnto them as wee see Saint Paule commaundeth vs too exalte our selues against all thinges present and too come so that wee be fully resolued that God loueth vs. When this shall be in vs Rom. 8.38.39 and we shall haue heereof a good testimonie in our owne consciences through Fayth and the woorde of God Loe howe wee may assure our selues and solace our selues in the middest of all our troubles and confusions which heere wee see and by that meanes be neuer at peace and reste and not too be greatly turmoyled for any thinge that may come vnto vs the next day And why so For hath God who hath declared him selfe vnto vs too be our Father spoken it but for a day onely where as hee hath testifyed vnto vs that hee will haue our saluation in his hand is heere any time lymitted Nowe we see too the contrary that God sayeth That hee will neuer forsake vs. Our hope then
vnto the word of God In summe it is asmuch as if he had saide that no man is able rightly to feele howe God is faithfull and his worde certaine and sure without he hath a true faith and beliefe thereof within his heart the same to bee discharged of whatsoeuer is contrary to his saluation As namely he saieth that he should haue perished in his trouble if he had not delighted in the word of God Dauid here sheweth what experience he had to wit that he was so afflicted that he was as it were euen in the gulfe of death Now if the worde of God bringeth vs out of the graue quickeneth vs in death preserueth our health notwithstanding that it seemeth to be swallowed vp in the gulfe do we not see a good proufe giuen vs from God how firme sound it is So then let vs well consider as we haue already said that since we haue knowen the power of the worde of God to be such as it is here shewed vs wee may in such sort resist all the greatest temptations which the deuill is able craftely to worke against vs so that we shal be able to escape as it were both from death and the graue And thus much for this Now for the second point Dauid sheweth vs howe it is that we are preserued in all our afflictions by the worde of God how our life shal be saulfe our health assured thereby And that is if we delight therein to wit that wee bee so comforted with the loue which GOD there sheweth vs and wherewith he certifieth vs that since he hath adopted vs for his children he will therefore alwayes shewe him self to be our father Wherefore we may boldely recommende our soules vnto him and he will receiue them so that wee shall not perishe hauing all our refuge so vnto him If wee then content our selues so the worde of God will giue vs life in the middest of an hūdreth thousand deaths But if we heare it without hauing any such affectiō that we taste not of the promisses of God or els that wee alwayes somwhat distrust and doubt to reason how it goeth and afterwarde wander after creatures or els builde vpon our selues if wee bee so changeable wee shall neuer feele any vertue of the worde of GOD but may bee ouerthrowne an hundreth times the lead affliction in the world shal be as a gulfe to swallowe vs vp that we shall not neede the mayne sea but euen a finger depth of water too smouther and drowne vs if it were not that we had learned of Dauid to bee assured of the loue which God beareth vs and that by his worde So then let vs vnderstand what the true delight of the faithfull is and that which preserueth them from death quickeneth them that is when they are contented with the loue of God to set their whole felicitie there to haue him to be mercifull and fauourable to haue this priuiledge to haue recourse vnto him being assured that he will heare them See I say how we should be quickened by the worde of God Nowe when that Dauid hath declared the profit which he receiued by the consideration of the lawe he addeth That he will neuer forget it Wherein hee protesteth that he will not bee vnthankefull to GOD as wee are accustomed Now although wee are not without a great number of vices yet is this one of the greatest that we doe not onely so oftentimes suffer the benefites of God to escape out of our mindes but we are also so wicked as that we desire nothing more then for to burie thē we thinke we should haue neuer time enough vtterly to forget them See I saye the state and condition of our vile and corrupt nature And therefore Dauid in this place protesteth that he will neuer forget the commaundementes of God bicause he hath bin quickned by them And moreouer he speaketh it not only for him self but sheweth vnto vs by his example what our office dutie is When God then shall haue thus aided vs in our afflictions that he shall haue raised vs vp euen from the graue through the might and power of his worde and that wee shall feele such a benefite let vs neuer forget it but be alwaies mindfull thereof And yet Dauid meaneth to shewe vnto vs a farther point to wit that bicause the woorde of God hath already profited him that hee will esteeme of it and haue it in great price for the time to come Knowing that it is is not for a time onely that we must bee preserued and comforted by the word of God but for euer and euer This might seeme for vs to be very obscure were it not declared vnto vs more at large See now then what Dauid his meaning is If a man be as it were cast downe not tasting of the promises of God and when it shall be laide before him that although God afflict his childrē yet that he doth it not vtterly to ouerthrow destroy thē but to the end to calthē to repentance that afterward they might feele his mercifull goodnesse If a man then be thus admonished by the word of God it may be that this admonition will serue him to no purpose bicause he him selfe seeketh not after the remedy which is set before him and so is made voyde of this cōfort which is here touched and by that meane the power of the woorde of God turneth into all euill to himward What is thē to be done Let vs marke wel that which Dauid here speaketh that he wil neuer forget the cōmandements of God bicause he hath bin quickened by them As if he should haue said when as thou hast once preserued me by meane of thy word that thou hast giuē vnto it this power property that I being as one dead out of the world haue bin therby fully restored to helth thē hast thou taught me what I ought to doe all the daies of my life that is I must meditate vpon thy worde I must exercise my selfe therein and I must continually study to thinke vppon the testimonies which thou of thy fatherly loue hast bestowed vppon me to the ende I might hold mee contented and bee sure that thou wilt neuer forsake me The vse O Lord then that I feele by thy worde hath caused mee to applie the same to my profite all the dayes of my life to the ende I might bee able to resiste whatsoeuer Satan shall craftely goe about to worke against mee and too perseuer in thy feare and loue whensoeuer the wicked and vngodly shall make warre against me Thou then O Lorde haste shewed mee that thy worde ought alwayes to be before mee For that neuer loseth his power and strēgth neither is it a thing that is consumed and worne by much wearing A man may soone make an ende of a loafe in eating it but when hee hath so done he must looke for more bread And in continuall drinking of wyne the
hoggeshead wil be empty but when as the woorde of God hath serued to quicken vs it still remaineth sound and whole without diminishing any whit at al. So then let vs learne after the example of Dauid too make estimation of the vertue and power which God hath giuen to his worde and neuer forget it Nowe hee addeth by and by after I am thine saue me for I haue sought thy commandements The vngodly layde wayte for me to destroye me but I will consider thy testimonies After that Dauid had made such protestation hee committeth him selfe to GOD euen declaring that hee hath sought his commaundementes And so hee speaketh not only of the time past but remaineth alwaies cōstant in this purpose Now we haue here to cōsider of three points the one is the request which Dauid maketh to God O saue me The second is the reason why he desireth God to saue him Bicause saith he I am thine And afterward he sheweth how he is gods that is for I saieth he haue sought thy commandements And thus we see in the first place how God offereth him selfe vnto vs and that hee desireth nothing els but to holde vs in his protection to haue care of our saluation yea so that we come vnto him after the example of Dauid And I beseeche you what priuiledge is this that we haue such libertie to come vnto God and to commit our selues into his handes whether we wake or sleepe whether wee labour either in the towne or in the fieldes that God is as it were a watchman ouer vs to keepe vs Yea and that he hath not care ouer our soules to keepe them from the ambushes of Satan but also that his fatherly prouidence and loue extendeth it selfe euen to our bodies When God thē I say giueth vs the libertie that we may make such request vnto him I pray you tell me is not this an inestimable priuiledge But we neuer a whit thinke of this as may well be seene by our slackenesse and wearinesse in prayer to God at this daye And yet for all that it is not without cause that Dauid setteth downe here this request but to the end that we should knowe that in praying to God he will graunt vs the grace to commēd our selues wholy vnto him no more also should wee haue too top great a care ouer our life for we being assured of his loue should bee contented with all the rest whatsoeuer And thus much for the first point Now for the second we are rightly to consider that if we will haue God to be our warrant and to be vnder his protection we must needes be his and may say truly as Dauid here doth It is very true that God keepeth his creatures who are not worthy thereof as hee also causeth the Sunne to shine as well vppon the good is on the bad and that it is of his owne goodnesse and mercie that the wicked doe liue but yet to their vtter destruction And when it is here said to be kept by God it is such a keeping and preseruation as that the issue thereof is both good and healthfull And this is not done saue onely to such as are truely the possession and inheritance of God and his true housholde seruantes and children Will we haue God then to receiue vs into his protection and to be our protector Wil we haue him to take care and charge both of our soules and bodies Let vs first be his And howe shall we be his Forsooth we must come to the third point to wit to seeke his testimonies Loe then how God will take vs for his possession for hee euen then alloweth vs for his children when as wee put our whole trust in him seing that he hath so familiarly called and bidden vs and hath certified vs by his word that he will neuer forsake vs. If then we so seeke the testimonies of God and sticke vnto them with a sure faith let vs neuer doubt but that he wil allowe vs for his houshold meiny and children And then we may well say with Dauid saue me O Lord. See I say in what maner we ought to come vnto God if we will be sure to haue him to protect vs. Now Dauid addeth The vngodly haue laid wayte for me to destroy me but I wil consider thy testimonies Whereby he doth vs to wit that although God is stedfastly purposed to be the protector of the faithfull yet that they are not without a great number of griefes and troubles subiect to many sorrowes and bee maruelously encrapped and thereby thinke that they can not chose but to fall into the snares of the vngodly And besides the subtelties of Satan are great and againe all the vngodly which serue Satan and are lead by his spirite cease not to inuent subtelties and deceiptes to entrappe the childrē of God by lying in wayte for them Dauid his meaning then here is to declare vnto vs that although God preserueth vs it is not therefore to be said that we are without molestations and temptations But what So it is that the woorde of God ought to suffise vs as he faieth I will consider thy testimonies As if he should haue saide O Lorde I haue made this my buckler and fortresse which is that thou hast promised to be my sauiour and hereupon haue not forced for all the treasons that all the vngodly can conspire against mee It is very true that they haue layde a platforme to betray me yea and it seemeth that I am already within their clawes and teeth ready to be deuoured but thy testimonies O Lorde haue so strengthened me as that I haue not fainted Let vs learne then to fight in this sort against all the subtelties of Satan and malices of men and notwithstanding that they shall goe about to destroye vs yet let vs fasten our eyes vpon the worde of God attende vpon it and therein perseuer vnto the end Nowe for cōclusion Dauid addeth I haue seene an ende of all perfection but thy commaundement is exceeding broade or large The word then which Dauid vseth signifieth sometimes perfection and sometimes accomplishment bicause that the things which are come to a perfection haue an ende Now he saith in summe that when he hath throughly considered of all things that there is nothing in this worlde which hath not an end and that is not consumed by continuance but that the word of God is plentiful that is it extendeth it selfe vnto all the creatures of God and ouer all whatsoeuer wee are able to see See here a sentence very like vnto that which we haue seene in the first verse Dauid then by this conclusion confirmeth the saying which before hee held to wit that the word of God is euerlasting Although that we here see maruelous alteratiōs that we se the world tossed with so tempestuous whirlewindes as that there is nother end nor measure of thē yet shal we haue in the midst of al those troubles an euerlasting
holy Prophet yea and such a one as wee see the holy Scripture too haue reigned in euen from his youth Hee then hauing receiued so excellent graces of God beeing a mirror of all perfection was it needefull that hee shoulde keepe him selfe frō euery euill way It should seeme that he was alredy vtterly past going any euil way Yea but because he was a mortall man he was not for all that without beeing incompassed with many vices and euill lustes againste which he was to fight And in deede we see how God suffred Dauid to fall once so greeuously as that his fall ought to be an horrour vnto vs all Moreouer let vs well consider that if it was needefull for Dauid too fight against the temptations which might withdrawe him from the right way and that hee was with much to doe turned away from euill wayes to serue God euery of vs verily ought a great deale more too enforce our selues For we are nothing so forwards as he was For if hee hath gone on an hundreth paces wee haue hardly gone on that way three or foure So much the more then ought we rightly to practise this doctrine when it is saide that we ought to refraine our feete from euery euill way And too doe this let vs a little beholde howe naturally wee are inclyned to wickednesse We neede neuer once too remoue our armes legges head nor any thing else within vs to doe wickedly For we are altogither giuen therto And besides we are as it were vpon the yse I pray you tell mee when a mā is not able to hold himself vp that he shal haue neither feete nor legges but that all shall tremble and be afrayde and shall be set vpon the yse and in a steepe place howe is it possible for that man to hold him self vp In like sorte is it with vs for first formost there is nothing in vs but debilitie and weakenes besides what is our life in this world Haue we any firme or certaine place to holde or stay vs in We are alwayes vpon the yse considering the temptations which assayle vs on euery side And Dauid also vseth this similitude in another place and yet this is not all that wee are vpon the Yse but the place is also steepe too bring vs downewarde The more therefore haue we neede too pray vnto God that he will strengthen vs to the ende wee bee not ouercome of the euill For otherwise wee shall neuer come to that ende and perfection constantly too abide by his worde Nowe when Dauid sayth that He kepte him selfe from euery euill way Hee meaneth not that hee was so throughly preserued from all but that he might be amended For as we haue already saide hee fell so horribly as that the very thought thereof should make the hayres of our heade too stand vpright He meaneth not that his life was so perfect as that he was able to say that hee fayled not in some one pointe and that he had wholely fulfilled the law of God That is not the intent of Dauid What is then his purpose he meaneth simply that for the holding of himselfe in the obedience of God and keeping of his woord it was needeful for him too resiste a number of temptations too stand vpon his guarde and to be watchfull or else that hee should be throwne downe hedlong an hundred thousande times And hereby he admonisheth vs that if we wil follow the way of saluation and take good heede that wee be not turned therefro that there is no question of bending nor of leading vs heere and there but that wee must remaine constant in the vocation of God whē we are once brought into it by him It followeth anon after I haue not declined from thy iudgementes for thou haste taught mee Lo in summe what Dauid heere sayth that because God hath instructed him he hath not turned away frō his commaundements When he saith That hee hath bene taught by God he meaneth not that he hath learned any such simple knowledge as is with vs when God sheweth vs that fauor and grace to haue his word faithfully handled amongst vs his Gospel to be preached or that wee haue Lectures reade vnto vs which are requisite to our saluation For we shall haue a great many hearers which shall yet profite nothing at all because it pearceth not their eares Dauid therefore speaketh heere of such a manner of instruction as specially belongeth to Gods chosen For this grace is not common to all but God bestoweth it on them on whome it pleaseth him neither must we say that we are giuen thereto as of our selues But when as it shall please God to instruct vs the same proceedeth from his meere good will and mercie So then Dauid saith not simply in this place that hee was taught because he had a Booke of the lawe and that it was made plaine vnto him but his meaning is that hee was inlightened by the spirit of God And for this cause declyned he not from the right way Nowe he addeth in the end for a conclusion O how sweete are thy woords vnto my throte yea sweeter then hony vnto my moath This sentence hath beene already handled and therefore we will no longer stand vpon it There are two things in the woorde of God which we ought rightly too keepe The one is the maiestie which God sheweth vnto vs therein to the ende we should be brought to a reuerence whereby euery one should humble himselfe and say It is meete O Lord that we tremble and fall downe before thee As also it is said by the Prophet Isaiah that the spirite of God shall rest vpon those which tremble at the woorde of God The firste duetie then that wee owe vntoo the woorde of God is this reuerence and feare Because I say that God sheweth there his maiestie vnto vs that we might be thereby abased and humbled to be short that we should haue it in great admiration The seconde is that it is sweete and amiable vnto vs. For we might in some sorte very well feare the worde of God and yet for all that wee should not bee touched therewith as was meete And in very deede you shal se very many which wil not stick to say Loe God which speaketh therfore it is good reason that wee should lay our eares vnto him But that they should bee subiecte vnto him in all and through all they make thereof no noueltie but caste that farre inough off And that which is more They woulde if it were possible pluck him but of his Throne and make voyde and caste of all instruction to the end they would not be so straightly kept in to be short that they would neither be subiect to God nor too what soeuer else might bee sayde vnto them Nowe in the ende he sayth Through thy commaundements I get vnderstanding therefore I hate all the wayes of falshoode Wherein hee signifieth vnto vs that wee shall neuer hate
that which is euill vntill such time as wee know what goodnesse is It is very true that we shall somtimes see men to haue a great desire to doe good forsooth as they thinke But indeede that is nothing all is but hypocrisie vntil such time as God hath so taught vs that wee might knowe and discerne in good earnest and say Loe it is God that speaketh and therefore let vs see what it is that hee sayeth vnto vs. And so after that we are fully resolued in his truth then shall we beginne to hate all the wayes of wickednesse For it cannot otherwise be but whatsoeuer is against God wee must needs detest and abhorre For howsoeuer Satan indeuoreth himselfe to carry vs to doe wickedly we ought too haue this by and by in our mindes What shall we estrange our selues from our creator whose we are Shall the deuill beguile vs too make vs renounce him who hath so dearely bought vs And besides we also knowe that the health of our soules and all our felicitie consist in the obedience of our good God Whē thē we shal be thus taught by the word of God we shall hate all wicked wayes Without this contrariwise it must needs be that we should be wholy inclined thereto and that the deceits of Sathan shall please vs as we see it come to passe emongst the infidels vnto whom we shal be very like without God restraine vs with a bit For if we walke after our owne nature and fantasie what shall beecome of all our wicked wayes And so let vs learne that we shall neuer be brought to that which Dauid heere speaketh of vntil such time as wee are instructed and vnderstande it by the word of God and the testimonyes of his lawe And according too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledging of our faultes beseeching him to make vs so to feele our wretchednesse as that we may learne too seeke our felicitie in him onely And because hee so familiarly instructeth vs by his woord let vs not bee so accursed as too reiect this inestimable treasure whereof wee may be possessed but that beeing in possession thereof wee might increase dayly more and more in the knowledge which hee hath giuen vs and continue therein vnto the ende and vntill such time as wee shall attaine vnto that Heauenly inheritaunce and too the full possession of that eternall reste which he hath promised vs after that we shall be deliuered from all the assaults of this fraile and transitory life That he wil not onely bestowe this grace vpon vs but also vpon all people and nations of the earth c. The xiiii Sermon vpon the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme NVN. Thy woord is a Lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my pathes I haue sworne and will performe it that I wil keepe thy righteous Iudgements I am very sore afflicted O Lord quicken me according vnto thy worde O Lord I beseech thee let the free will offeringes of my mouth please thee and teach mee thy iudgemeates My soule is alwayes in mine hand yet doe I not forget thy lawe The vngodly haue layde a snare for mee But yet I swarued not from thy commaundements Thy testimonies haue I claymed as mine heritage for euer for they are the very ioy of mine heart I haue applied mine heart too fulfill thy statutes alwayes euen vnto the ende IF we did throughly consider that it were very requisite for vs too reade the worde of God and to listen vnto the doctrine taken out of it wee should not neede to haue the mater to be so much preached off what profite and vse we receiue by it For euery of vs should feele the same by experience But because wee are so colde blockishe in reading and hearing of that which God declareth vnto vs it is meete we should be stirred vp therto som other wayes and be shewed for what cause the word of God shall profite vs when as we shal be thus wise and of this mind throughly to exercise our selues to apply our whole study therein And see why Dauid pursueth this matter so diligently For besides that which we haue already seene heere before hee addeth saith Thy word is a Lantern vnto my feere a light vnto my pathes Wherby he sheweth that it is an inestimable treasure which we shal receiue when as we be taught by the word of God to wit that we shall neuer erre al the dayes of our life as the vnbeleeuers do who know not whether they go but walke at randō Dauid sheweth vnto vs that whē as we shal be guided by the word of God we shal be without al danger of falling Now because it is a very easie thinge for a man to say thus it seemeth at the first sight that this saying is so common as that we neede not to stay any longer vpon it But in the meane while let vs se how the world practizeth that which is heere spoken In deed we shall see it all cleane contrary for there are very fewe that wil abide to be guided by the word of god but the more part reiect it like rather to follow their own wills and desires or rather can be contented to be gouerned as it pleaseth men so that they will not suffer God to beare any rule or authoritie ouer them Therefore let vs well mark what this importeth when as it is said That the word of God hath bin as it were a Lantern vnto the feete of Dauid as a light vnto his pathes Nowe hereby he signifieth that he meaneth not to bee wise in his owne conceite but hath sought how he ought to be gouerned by the word of God so wholy held him self thereto Now if this hath beene a necessary poynt for Dauid let none of vs thinke that we can go beyond him And see also why S. Peter writing too all the faithful in generall telleth them that they should doe very well to be attentiue and to take hede to the word of God as to a light shining in darke places 2. Pet. 1.19 By this S. Peter declareth vnto vs that it is not without cause that Dauid hath vsed this similitude of a Lanterne And why so For he sayth that we being in the world are as mē in the darke to proue it to be so I beseech you what wisdom is in any of vs Although that euery of vs estemeth of him self inough a great deale more thē needeth yet for all that when as wee shall be throughly knowne we shall finde all our vnderstanding too be full of vanitie and follie and although we think our selues to haue a goodly light yet are we in a deepe dungeon of darkenesse And besides let vs seeke all the meanes possible too guide and gouerne vs well heere in this worlde yet shall it be alwayes but darkenesse Let vs then vnderstand that it cannot be chosen but
promises it is saide that God will circumcise the heartes of his children He sayth that he wil so liuely touch them as that he will bring them into his obedience So then as we haue already said the faithfull binde not them selues to God to do any thing of their owne power strength but they desire him to fulfil what soeuer is wanting in them to supply their weakenesse and to send such remedy as hee knoweth best to be most needefull and expedient for them See then with what confidence Dauid hath sworne too obserue the Testimonyes of God hee did it not I say of any vaine presumption that he had conceiued of his owne power and strength ne yet that he was able to doe it no he attributed nothing to his owne strength But sweareth and doth it by reasō of the promise of god by which promise he declareth that he wil by his holy spirit gouerne al those which are his Loe whervpon Dauid stayed himselfe Now by by followeth the second point to wit that Dauid hath sworne too obserue the testimonies yea euen staying himself vpon that which God hath promised that he wil vpholde vs through his mercye that although wee halte and that all the obedience which we go about to yeeld vnto him be weake and faultie because it is done but by halues yet he not hauing respect to al our faults meaneth to make a taste of the desire which we shall haue to please him in effect wil accept our seruice as it is dispensing with all the faultes which shall be mingled amongst them Which thing Dauid considering was able to say that he would obserue the cōmandements of God So then let vs note that when the faithfull binde themselues to obserue the word of God they must not trust to them selues ne yet be puffed vp with a foolish opinion that they haue the power to do it but they must say Accōplish thou this O Lorde and then I will followe it write thy lawe O Lorde in mine hearte and then shall I haue a desire to serue thee and besides Let the faithful alwayes remember that God wil not handle them sharply yea although they faile in a great number of pointes so that they are not able to obserue one only point nor iot perfectly yet wil he spare them through his free goodnes mercie Whē the faithful childrē of god shal haue knowen thus much and shall sweare that they will obserue the cōmandements of God yet let them not cease for all that too flie vnto the forgiuenes of their sinnes that they may feele the same too be a necessary remedy agreeable to the will of God for the fulfilling of one parte of his commandements We see now then why Dauid hath sworne to keepe the Commaundements of God and that he wil neuer chaunge this purpose in his hart Now he maketh two requests immediatly after whereof the one is to be quickened and restored Wherein he sheweth that which I haue alredy touched which is that hee was not ledde with a foolish presumption of his owne power stregth For he which desireth god to be restored confesseth that he liueth not as of himself but that he must needs liue by the grace goodnes of God And yet Dauid maketh this confession more expresly when he addeth the reason why he vseth to make such request For I am very sore afflicted O Lord saith he See then Dauid who confessing him self to be troubled and as it were vtterly made nothing besecheth god for to restore him Shal we say that he trusted to owne strength or that hee attributed any thing whatsoeuer vnto him selfe we se the cleane contrary So then according to that which we haue already declared let vs vnderstand that he sware not vpon any vaine presumptiō but because he knewe that God would neuer fayle him And this is the reason why he toke vpon him this boldenes And that is it which he addeth According to thy word that is according to thy promises Now we ought throughly to consider all what soeuer that is heere said Quicken me O Lorde saith he And thus much for the first point Wherin he sheweth that he liueth not as of him self but defiereth it of God And afterward he addeth the reason saying after this manner I am very sore aflicted Whereby hee declareth vnto vs that we are not able too releeue and maintaine our selues when as our strength fayleth vs but that it is God which must put to his helping hand And besides we may be assured that he will helpe vs and be ready to restore vs so that we will desire him and call vpon him haue recourse vnto his goodnesse Loe heere a mightie comforte for all the faithful when as they finde them selues to bee so without strength as that they feele them selues too fainte too be cleane cast down and to see nothing else in them selues but death yet may they be fully assured resolued that God will alwayes be their watchman too restore and quicken them And why so To wit according to that which Dauid addeth when he sayth According to thy promises Then it followeth that God hath promised too restore and quicken his when as they shall be in death And therefore wee shall neuer be able too make our request in faith as Dauid heere hath doone if that wee haue not the promises of God For as we haue before said it is a foolehardines in men to put foorth them selues too pray vnto God as they liste without beeing sure and certaine of his will before See then the cause which mooued Dauid so expressely too sette downe here the promise of GOD. Nowe this promise was not made too him alone this is no personall Priuiledge as wee say appertaining to one man only But it is a generall rule which we must holde that God wil raise vp againe from death those which are throwne down and as it were made nothing yea euen when as they doe call vpon him and acknowledge that it commeth of his owne pure grace that they ought to be so restored and not otherwise Nowe here is yet another request which hee maketh O Lord I beseeche thee let the freewill offringes of my mouth please thee and teach me thy iudgements Here Dauid desireth God to accept the praises which he shall render vnto him For the oblations whereof Dauid speaketh are nothing els but prayse and thankesgiuing by which Dauid acknowledgeth the benefites of God And yet for all that he in very deede looketh vnto the common order of the lawe For when a man hath beene cured of a disease or hath beene deliuered from some daunger or els that God hath indued him with prosperitie hee commeth to the Church to make his oblation or offring for an especiall testimonie and too acknowledge howe greatly hee is bounden vnto God Dauid had small regarde to any such ceremonies but yet he noteth and expresseth the ende and the vse
My God It is true that the faithfull will often say thus But when there is any question to make these comparisons with contrary thinges the scripture vseth not this saying My God so that it is to declare vnto vs that nothing ought to make vs wauer when we see the thinges confused in the worlde when we shall see all whatsoeuer to be there peruerted and ouerthrowne that there is neither any more lawe nor order that it seemeth vnto vs as it were an Hell let vs not for all that bee shaken Abac. 1.12 Let vs stande still vppon our guarde as the Prophet Abacuc thereof speaketh our faith must serue vs in steade of a Tower wherein we keepe good watch and yet too say notwithstanding no no God will tarry with me and then I neede not to care for the whole worlde See then that no temptations ought to quaile vs being euen in closed amidst the impieties and abhominaons of the faithlesse seeing we cannot otherwise chose but to bee conuersaunt amongest them It followeth nexte after Establist me or stay me in thy worde that I may liue and let me not be disapoynted of mine hope Although Dauid protesteth heere aboue that he trusted in God and that this hope proceeded vnto him from his worde yet prayeth hee his maiestie notwithstanding too establish him Wherin he sheweth vs that we shal neuer haue so well profited neither in faith nor yet in hope but that there shal be alwayes some want and remnaunt of incredulitie and weakenesse in vs so that whensoeuer there shall be any question of comming to God yet shall wee goe as it were halting vnto him Now if Dauid hath made such a request I beseech you haue not wee a greate deale more neede to doe it aswell as hee It is moste sure that he neuer spake it hypocritically When he saith Vpholde me or establish me in thy word this is not too make a shewe that his fayth was imperfect and that hee needed not be strengthened no not so but he knewe well inough his owne infirmitie If he then who was as it were an Angell of God had need to profite in fayth and in hope and that hee had beene moulten and beene quite consumed had not God throughly confirmed and established him I pray you what shall we doe So then when as God shall haue already shewed vs this fauour too bee surely grounded in his woord so that wee are able to say that we trust in it let vs not cease notwithstanding to continue this request and say O Lorde establish and confirme mee For when wee shall well consider our weakenesse wee shall finde that a very small thinge will quayle vs if God holdeth vs not vp with his hand and power And afterwarde let vs consider howe boysterous the assaultes of Satan are what violence he bringeth against vs and are we euer able too withstand them if that wee bee not dayly strengthened They then which shall haue conceiued a true hope in the woord of God let them knowe that they are yet but in the midde way and that they must alwayes march furtherforward vntill such time as they are come to the ende thereof Which thing shall neuer be vntill they are vncased of this fleshe and are departed out of this present life Seeing then wee cannot goe forwarde as of our selues nor yet be strengthened without God assist vs Let vs beseech him after the example of Dauid that hee will confirme vs in his woorde And afterwarde hee addeth and sayth That then he shall liue and disappoint me not saith he of my hope When he sayeth that he shall liue It is to shewe vs that all our felicities lyeth in this that wee are thoughly confirmed and fully setled in the word of God When this shal be so let vs then feare no more It is very true that we shal neuer be but subiect to a greate many of myseryes and afflictions for it cannot be otherwise but that this life muste be full of afflictions and many griefes and vexations Wee are then to fight whiles we liue in this worlde And so wee shall finde a great number of miseryes and yet we shall not choose but to liue still when we shall bee throughly founded vppon the woorde of God that is to say our saluation shall be sure and certaine euen amidst all the afflictions which may come vnto vs. And so shall wee haue wherewith to be contented For vnder this woorde to liue Dauid comprehendeth all whatsoeuer concerneth the welfare and felicitie of men He sayth then Although O Lorde I shal be taken as a miserable creature and that in deede I shall abide many troubles which shall be greeuous vnto me yet shall I haue true life and saluation so I be thus established in thy word Now he addeth a little more Let me not be disapoynted of mine hope wherein his meaning is to signifie that God neuer suffereth his Children to be disapoynted when as they put their trust in him But yet the case so standeth as that wee must so beseech him by reason of our weakenesse For although we trust in God yet for all that we goe coldely vnto him and wee shall finde our faith to be alwayes too too weake and feeble To be short our hearte shal be so shutte vp as that the graces of God as touching our selues shall hardly water it by dropmeale It is very true that God for his parte poureth vppon vs his graces abundauntly but we therein are nothing capable for the receiuing of them Wherefore wee are not worthy to tast and feele his ayde in our neede What should this then be if he surmounted not our hope to help that which therein is wanting And besides we knowe that the Deuill would soone ouerthrow al our hope were it not that it is very well kepte by an heauenly power as also S. Peter maketh thereof mention 1. Pet. 1. For when he speaketh of faith he sayth not that men are the Gardians or keepers of it For if that were so it should oftentimes bee violently taken from them But that is a treasure which God keepeth in his own hands and that by his owne inuincible power and strength See also why our Lorde and Sauiour Christ in the 10. of Iohn for our comforte saith Ioh. 10 24. That the father who hath vs in his hand and through whome wee are committed vnto him to be kept is mightier and greater then they all Accordingly then as wee knowe the power of God to be infinite so must we also assure our selues of our saluation And therefore it is that wee are to require of God as Dauid hath done that we be not disapointed of our hope Nowe in summe when we make such requests it is too the end that the promises of God should be so much the more certaine and better ratified vnto vs. See then what God sayth vnto vs. Feare you not when as you shall put your trust in me for
iudgements vpon the obstinate and vpō all those which were altogether stubburne And see also howe we ought to temper our affections that when we see men go to do mischief let vs haue compassion vpon them if we se them giuen to sinne and wickednesse if we see them to be in the way of perdition let vs trauell too bring them againe into the right way to procure their saluatiō as much as in vs lieth and we ought to desire and to pray for it haue we had any such affection Then let vs neuer cease to pray vnto God to stretch forth his hand vpon those his enemies whom he knoweth to be altogether desperat It is very true we must not condemne them But wee ought rather as I haue already said to vse the effect of charitie towardes all and pray vnto God that he would saue them but bicause there are a great number which are stubburne and without amendement we ought to beseech God to shewe him selfe a iudge ouer those whome hee knoweth to bee such And why so Bicause they drawe the simple and ignoraunt vnto wickednesse and are an offence vnto them bicause also they make the worde of God to be euil spoken of and are the occasion that libertie is giuen to al euil When then we see the name of God to be euill spoken of that there is no reckening made of his word that all doctrine is cast vnderfoote we are to praye vnto him to remedie it It is time saith he for God to lay to his hād for they haue destroyed thy lawe O Lorde He here speaketh in the third person after directeth him selfe to God And why doth he so Although that this order is not alwayes to bee obserued that he which prayeth vnto God is to continue in one self same person yet it is so that in this place it seemeth that Dauid meant to speake with a greater vehemency when he sayth O Lord lay to thy hand As if he should haue shewed what the office of God is for if hee had simply saide It is time O Lord that thou diddest looke vnto the matter bicause thy lawe is destroyed this had not beene spoken with the like vehemencie as when he saide it is time that thou O Lorde lay to thy hande for by this saying hee declareth what the office of God is to wit to be iudge of the worlde and beseecheth him to lay foorth his iustice in punishing the offences and horrible wickednesses committed here below that after he had suffered them a long time he desireth him to prouide for the punishing of all those which had beene so obstinate and hard hearted against him Now by this we are admonished when as we see that the law of God is as it were vtterly cast vnderfoote his doctrine to be a reproche amongst men and all right and equitie ouerthrowne so that there is nothing but confusion throughout that then we ought to pray vnto God the more earnestly to the end it might be known that he doth his office If this euer were necessary it is at this present most necessary For let vs cōsider the estate of the world I beseeche you what hauocke is there made of the lawe of God Are wee not come to the very extremitie to contemne all doctrine of saluation When God at this day speaketh vnto vs what eare giue we vnto him and how reuerently See heere hee hath bestowed vppon vs a singular grace at this daye when as his worde hath beene once againe published Let vs beholde our vnthankefulnesse Let vs lay all these things together and we shall see that the maiestie of God his woorde is no more esteemed then the very pyll of an onion as wee saye See I pray you too what a point wee are growne and come euen vnto such an horrible and brutishe impietie as is most lamētable Moreouer let vs looke into the maner of our life and the order of gouernement shall we finde either iustice loyaltie reason or modestie no but cleane contrary wee shall see the whole state of our life and order of gouernement full of treason malice crueltie and violence al full of blasphemie against God plentie of drunkennesse gluttonie and dissolutenesse store of lecherie and all other vyllanies whatsoeuer To be short it seemeth that the whole world hath conspired to exceede euen vnto the highest degree of wickednesse When then wee see the lawe of God to be thus ouerthrowne euery maner of waye ought not wee to giue our mindes a great deale more then wee doe to beseeche God to take order to prouide for the same Now when we shall haue such a zeale to pray vnto God as wee see that Dauid had let vs not doubt but that he wil remedy all the confusions which we see to be at this day And now he concludeth and sayeth Therefore loue I thy commandementes aboue gold yea aboue most fine golde Therefore I esteeme all thy commaundements most iust and all false waies I vtterly abhorre See here what a notable protestation he maketh such one as we ought throughly to marke For whē Dauid hath said here before that the wicked haue destroied the lawe yea speaking of no small number of men but as of all in general seeing al the world to exceede to be corrupt hee addeth for this cause O Lord I haue loued thy cōmandements aboue all gold yea and aboue most fine gold I haue loued them in all through al haue vtterly abhorred all false wayes Nowe I haue saide that this is an excellent protestation considering the circumstances For if Dauid had dwelt amongest the godly faithfull ones which had serued God and walked in his feare then it might haue beene said that it was an easie matter for him to haue conformed him selfe vnto them For although we see men alwayes enclined to euill yet they are many times reduced and framed to goodnesse through good examples But I pray you in what time was it that Dauid liued Forsooth in such a time as that he was compassed with the despisers of God hee see nothing but following of euill throughout the worlde hee see as it were a madde and diuelish impietie he see euery thing full of all infection to bee short there was neither iustice nor equitie no feare of God nor yet any religion And yet notwithstanding he saith that he loued the word of God and his commaundements and that hee made more accompt of them then of all the most precious things in the world Let vs thē learne to loue the word of God not only whē as wee shall be stirred vp by those which keepe vs company to serue God all with one accorde but also when we shall bee amongest peruerse and frowarde people that wee bee as it were in hell amiddest all the deuilles yet to perseuer in this affection and not to leaue following of the worde of God that whatsoeuer offences wee shall see committed by men that they withdrawe vs
For wee shall not neede to be greatly learned for our right and perfect walking if wee truely and earnestly desire to be his schollers to preferre his word before all other things Dauid might very wel say O Lord I haue desired to vnderstand that which thou hast shewed me by thy law and yet contented not hee him selfe with this onely saying But saith namely that he opened his mouth as a forepined ghost who was no longer able to abide it And afterward he saieth that he drew in his breath that he was so zelous as that it tooke away as it were his very speach from him There is no doubt that Dauid meant here the very single affection wherewith hee was touched not for any desire he had to commēd him self but to shewe vnto vs by his example what our office dutie is towardes God that is that we should seeke too profite our selues by his word Now then we haue here to note that euen thē we shall be enflamed with the word of God when as wee shall haue yea euen such a vehement desire as hereof is mention made and as hath byn before spoken off That the word of God ought to be more deare and precious vnto vs then all the riches of the world more sweete then al other sweetnesse in the earth When then we shall haue such a desire as this we shal finde God to bee alwayes ready to accomplish that which is saide in the song of the holy virgin that hee hath filled and satisfied the hungry and empty God wil satisfie and fil those that hunger after the thinges which concerne but this present life And do you thinke that when we shal be desirous of his doctrine knowing it to bee the most principal benefite that we can possibly wish whereunto we ought to apply our whole hart that he wil let vs famish Do you suppose that he will not graunt vs so holy a desire and such a one as he approueth aboue all the rest But by the way let vs consider that we perceiue not at this day the profit and edifying which Dauid bringeth vnto vs in this place bicause in deede we are ouer colde to seeke after the will of God And to say truly I beseech you can we find one amongst an hundreth which desireth it I say yea such a one as onely hath that affection to be taught of God We see to the contrarie that wee shall not neede the very least trifling toy to keepe vs at the gaze bicause we are so full of all vanitie as is lamentable neither can the deuill no sooner set any thing before vs which wee will not runne after and take occasion to bee withdrawne from all whatsoeuer is good godly Now then when as we shall see our selues to be thus cold is this to come with such a feruencie as is here declared vnto vs by Dauid Alas where shall wee finde it ought we not then euen to be abashed when as we shal see so few to be truly taught of God considering that so small a number of people are touched to the quicke with a true desire of his doctrine But we ought rather to thinke it more straunge when as we seeing God to be so full of louing kindnes as too beare with our negligence that in steede of opening our mouthes and to desire his heauenly doctrine as Dauid hath done wee open our mouthes too craue such things as do nothing els but offende and grieue the maiestie of God for in that is our whole delight and vpon it bestowe we all our power and strength When then wee shall after this sort forsake God and seeke after the transitorie things of this worlde yea the which cannot but hurt and leade into euerlasting destruction are we not worthy that God should leaue and forsake vs as most miserable and wretched caitifes And therefore this doctrine is not heere set downe in vayne Let vs then vnderstande that God meaneth here to exhort vs by the exāple of Dauid that if we wil be wel instructed by his worde we ought with such an humilitie as here mention is made of too come vnto him with an earnest desire zeale knowing this to be such a benefite as deserueth to be preferred aboue all the rest euen too knowe the will and loue of God towardes vs considering that in it consisteth and resteth our whole saluation Nowe it followeth in the fourth verse Looke thou vpon me and be mercifull vnto mee as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy name Heere Dauid right well sheweth what the desires and petitions of all the Children of God ought to be to witte that they must hang vpon the meere mercyes of God and to knowe that all their felicitie consisteth therein and so to stay them selues vpon this ground and foundation That God looketh with his eye vppon them too guide and gouerne them Nowe this thing is greatly to be obserued because that men commonly make them selues beleeue that they shall bee blessed if they may obtaine that whiche their fleshe desireth As when the Glutton shall haue wherwithal to fill his filthy paunch so that it may stand astrout the Whoremonger to inioy all his foule villanyes beastly lecheryes the Couetous man to be so scraping as that hee careth not what he getteth nor howe he commeth by his goods to lay Land to lande and too bee filled with an other mans blood Loe these are the men as they thinke which are blessed Yea and although they were not so giuen to wickednes as openly to greeue the maiestie of God yet for al that ye shal haue very few which wil acknowledge them selues to be accursed but that God hath care ouer them and their saluation that there is none other blessednesse nor felicitie but euen this that they are in the hand of God and vnder his protection And so much the rather ought wee too recorde and haue often in minde this lesson when as Dauid sayth O looke vpon me O Lord and be mercifull vnto me For by this hee signifieth vnto vs that if we will haue our life to be blessed if we will haue good successe in all our affaires Lo from this fountaine muste wee drawe all our felicitie which is the prouidence of God because we should in no wise dout but that he careth for vs and bestoweth imployeth himself for our preseruation When it is thus with vs all the reste cannot but goe well with vs but if this point be wanting we are very miserable although it seemeth to vs to haue euen asmuch as can bee wished Nowe by the way let vs note that Dauid in beseeching God to be merciful vnto him declareth that so long as we are in this worlde that we are subiecte too a number of calamities and afflictions And so we haue greate neede of the mercie of God or else wee shall carry away all the blowes as we say amongst so many greeuous encounters as
monsters to make no account of God nor godlines must we not needs be greeued as Dauid was Let vs know that God wil blesse our crying and groning when we shall haue this godly sorrowe as too see his law thus destroyed and ouerthrown not to bee regarded with that reuerence that it deserueth And yet notwithstanding the contemners of God must one day come to an account when as they shal be mery after another sorte then they shal be assured to make a reckoning for the grones and lamentations of the childrē of God when they do not only vexe the mortall creatures of God but euen the liuing God him self and his holy spirit which dwelleth in vs frō whome all such sighes and grones doe proceede And so when as we lament to see the law of God to be so destroyed by the wicked let vs put them ouer too the iudgement of God before whome they shall make an accounte of all the grones and sighes whiche wee shall haue powred out which they thought by their gibinges and laughinges too strangle and choke For although they treade vnder foote the lawe of God so much as in them lyeth yet the sorrowe and griefe which we abide for it shall ascend into the heauens to cry for vengeaunce of them According to this holsome Doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it woulde please him to make vs better to feele our miseryes then we haue heretofore felt them yea to the end we may lay them open vnto him and to seeke for remedy where it is too bee founde that is that after this our good God hath inlightened vs in his knowledge that it would please him more and more to increase the brightnesse thereof in vs and so to confirme vs as that wee neuer chaunge from the right way And although we are too withstand a great number of assaultes and that the Deuill neuer ceaseth craftely too goe about infinite wayes too trouble vs yet notwithstanding let vs beseech him too giue vs an inuincible power to resist them vntill such time as we beecome fully Conquerors and bee conioyned vnto him selfe too liue in his kingdome in euerlasting ioy and felicitie The xviii Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme ZADE. Righteous art thou O Lorde and true in thy Iudgement Thou hast commaunded iustice by thy testimonies and trueth especially My zeale hath euen consumed me because mine enemyes haue forgotten thy words Thy word is proued moste pure and thy seruant loueth it I am small and of no reputation yet doe I not forget thy commaundements Thy righteousnesse is an euerlasting righteousnesse and thy lawe is the trueth Trouble and heauinesse haue taken holde vpon mee yet is my delight in thy commaundements The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue IT is certaine that there is no man but will easily graunte the lawe of God to be bothe good and holy and that wee ought not onely to allowe of it but also to receiue it with all feare and reuerence Notwithstanding there are very few touched with this affection to vnderstand that there is such a perfection in the word of God as that nothing can bee founde therein but all puritie and sinceritie and too be so infallible a trueth a righteousnesse so certaine as possible can not be more certaine and sure But very fewe there are which vnderstand this or at the leaste which are very greatly touched heerewith And therefore it is not without cause that Dauid in this present psalme vseth such a repetitiō that he so highly magnifieth the doctrine which hee hath learned out of the lawe of God to the ende too declare vntoo vs that wee haue greatly profited when wee shall haue such a sauour and iudgement throughly imprinted in our heartes When as I say this righteousnesse this wisedome and this sinceritie which is contayned in the woorde of God shall be very well and throughly knowen vnto vs then may we be able to say with Dauid Righteous art thou O Lord and true in thy iudgements Now as the holy spirite of God speaking by the mouth Dauid hath set down here no superfluous matter but such as he knewe to be profitable for our instruction Let vs also dillgently weigh and consider all the wordes which are heere touched In the first place he sayth Righteous art thou O Lord and true in thy Iudgements We haue already heretofore handled that the iudgements of God in this Psalme are called the commandements of the law which he giueth vnto vs to rule our liues by Euen so when Dauid saith that God is righteous true in his iudgemēts It is asmuch as if he had said That god hath declared what his nature is in his law that we might behold him in it as in a glasse This then is asmuch as if he should haue said O Lord wee haue thine Image truely and liuely pictured and expressed in this doctrine which thou hast deliuered vnto vs in thy law there we see thee to be righteous and also that thou hast commaunded nothing therein which tendeth not to the same ende Wil we thē magnifie God aright We must know him to be such a one as he sheweth himselfe to be by his word not to fashion our selues like vnto a great number of scoffers which wil not stick to say that god is altogither good wise and righteous but yet they wil separate them selues frō his word forge thēselues a God in the aire or else they would bee contented that there were such a medley as that there were no more diuinitie known Now see how god sheweth himself as I haue said by his word We must then if wee intend to cōfesse him to be righteous good true faithfull to giue these cōmendarions vnto his word wherin he hath once for all declared vnto vs his wil. Now after Dauid hath vsed this word righteous he addeth Thou hast commanded iustice by thy testimomes and trueth especially See thē how Dauid handleth it him selfe shewing that the lawe of God is wholy righteous because saith he that it leadeth vs to righteousnes and trueth Now when these two thinges are in it what may we say but that which hath already beene before said What is that It is so far of with a greate number that when they are cōuinced heerof are perswaded in good earnest to say Amen without dessēbling And to proue it to be so how many men shal we see submit thēselues in this point to the trueth of God whereunto he desireth to leade vs by his word How many I say shal we find which wil yeeld thē selues teachable vnto it But contrariwise we shall finde the greatest part cleane contrary It is very true we shal be ashamed yea euen horribly affraid to say that there is any thing in the law of God which is not true iust yet for al
afflict vs so that wee be grieuously vexed vntill we can no more Loe heere a good tryall to make vs feele that we haue willingly and in earnest honored him in his word And we shall shew it too bee so when as we shall not chaunge our mindes but constantly perseuer in it and say whether shall I now runne see how I am afflicted well it is my God that must restore me It is very true that I am not without great stoare of sorrowes and griefes which trouble mee But yet I will content my selfe with this that God loueth me It is true that as touching the worlde I am tormented but I will comfort my selfe that my God hath called me vnto him that he sheweth vnto me in deede that he will haue compassion vpon mee that he taketh me for one of his children and will extende his fatherly goodnes towardes mee See here a very good proufe and triall that we take the woorde of God to bee true and righteous that is that if wee bee grieued with trouble and aduersitie yet that we do neuer forget him nor it But what let vs once come to the practize thereof and then we shall see howe it fareth with vs. For it is a matter of nothing too lende our eares and saye surely this is a very good sermō that there was nothing taught in it but very good and holsome doctrine and truely if wee haue once sayde but euen thus much wee will by and by thinke that God is greatly in our debte A man that commeth thus euen with the eares of an Asse to playe the hypocrite thinketh verly that God is bounde vnto him bicause hee hath done him thus much honour Now this is an ouergrosse and impudent kinde of dissembling in this maner to thinke to please the maiestie of God But yet the case so standeth as that the greater part is euen so giuen nowe what is the next way for vs too bee ridde of all togither Forsooth euen this That when wee for a time shall make a showe to giue diligent eare vnto the worde of God that all whatsoeuer we haue heard will incontinent melt and vanish cleane away from vs. And hereby wee very well shewe that the truth and righteousnesse which is in his word is not so imprinted in vs as it ought to be Now Dauid addeth in the ende Yet my delight is in thy commandements Whereby he aduertiseth vs that it is not enough that we cal to minde that we haue vnderstoode the word of saluation too the ende to profite our selues in the time of affliction but it must be of this strength and power euen to gladde vs in the middest of our sorrowes It is very true that we shall not be senseles and without feeling And Dauid also hath very well experimented how greatly affliction and anguish tormented him He felt then both harde and bitter passions and yet this hindered him little to reioyce and to be glad And although he was greatly vexed as touching the flesh yet felt he such spiritual ioy in the testimonies of God that sorrow ouercame him not Now if Dauid as before wee haue declared tooke such pleasure in the law wheras God only shewed himself to the ancient fathers as it were in shadowes I beseeche you how ought the word of God at this day to glad vs Where as he sheweth him self so familiar a father towards vs euē opening vnto vs the very botome of his heart hiding nothing from vs When thē our Lord God poureth out the treasures of his infinite loue and goodnes vpon vs so aboundantly haue not wee a farre greater occasion to reioyce then the fathers who liued vnder the lawe Yes verely but our vnthankefulnesse so hindreth vs as that in knowing we know nothing and in seeing we see no whit at al. And yet is not this written without cause Euen so when as we shall feele the griefes anguishes and afflictions of this worlde to trouble vs let vs haue recourse vnto this word of God for in it we shal finde him to stretch forth his hand to drawe vs vnto him declaring that he will helpe the afflicted haue pitie of the miserable and vexed ayde the wretched desireth nothing els but to bring back againe poore sinners which wil yeld them selues vnto him lay all their cares in his lappe and that hee will vnburden vs of them all When then wee are sure and resolute of such God his goodnesse towardes vs by his promises wee ought to come vnto him to call vpon him and to reioyce in him so that we may say with Dauid O Lord my delight hath byn in thy testimonies that they might glad me in the middest of my afflictions Loe how the children of God win all the time of their affliction may continually doe reioyce in the assurance of their saluation yea when as they shal settle them selues vpon his promises and receiue them in such sort as that they may turne to their benefit Now for a conclusion Dauid saith The righteousnes of thy testimonies is euerlasting and afterward he maketh his prayer saith graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue See yet againe this worde righteousnes which is here repeated and that to very good purpose For this is according to that which I haue already said that they which dare not openly rayle iangle against God to blaspheme his word yet will they be for all that ful of malice and treason or els they wil be so nusseled in their vanities as that the righteousnes of God shall not appeare in them So then Dauid yet setteth it down to bee an euerlasting righteousnesse signifying that we ought not to take them as puftes of wynde as a great number of men haue done to magnifie God and after in the turning of an hand to go cleane backward As at this daye wee shall haue them which will make a shew of great deuotion and say O what an excellent sermon O what notable doctrine was taught this day But I beseeche you what wil they say the next day Forsooth they will not for all this sticke too mocke God make one iest or other at his word or els if God send them any aduersitie they wil be grieued and angry with him so that if they be put in minde of that which they before had heard they will answere that they haue cleane forgotten it Dauid therefore meaning to shew that wee must not bee so slacke as at sometimes to commende the worde of God sayeth that it is an euerlasting righteousnes As if he should haue said it is very true that men are chaungeable and this present life also is subiect to very many chaunges as to daye we shall haue some griefe or other and to morrowe be well againe oftentimes many troubles shall come vnto vs and wee shall see them at last too haue an ende and yet for all these continuall chaunges men must not in the meane while be carried away with euery
blast of wynde to bee inconstāt and vnstedfast but whiles they are sayling through the waues of the sea they must holde them selues firme and sure in this righteousnesse and sinceritie which is in the woorde of God See then howe me must know the euerlasting stablenes of the righteousnesse of the lawe And in deede wee shall haue thereof a full feeling and declaration in the worde of God when as wee shall receiue it as wee ought but for so much as wee faile herein and that wee haue not as of our selues the spirite to comprehend this righteousnesse wherof in this place mention is made ne yet to attaine thereto yea and if that we should attaine therto so that there were nothing to leade vs to iniquitie yet let vs pray with Dauid that it would please God to giue vs vnderstanding Now it is most true that Dauid had already receiued some portion and measure of vnderstanding for els he could neuer haue saide I haue beene grieued and troubled and yet my delight was in thy lawe Hee coulde not possibly bee carried with such an affection but that the word of God had touched the very bottome of his heart but when he besought God to giue him vnderstāding he meāt to haue God to encrease that grace which before he had receiued Nowe if he who was so greatly aduaūced yea that had receiued the spirite of prophecie to instruct others which is the principall spirite to gouerne the people of God If hee I saye had neede to make such a prayer what shall wee do which haue scarsely any one sparke of vnderstanding in our myndes ought not we I beseeche you to praye with a more feruent desire to haue God to graūt vs vnderstanding And a great deale the more ought wee to bee stirred vp thereto when as Dauid sayeth that wee are not able too lyue vntill such time as GOD hath so enlightened vs too the ende wee might conceiue this truthe and righteousnesse which is in his lawe See here I saye howe that the life of men cannot be but accursed vntill such time as they are come euen vnto this point And so let vs not learne too please our selues as these miserable wretched worldlinges doe who are euen drunken in their pleasures and pastimes and thinke that there is no pleasure nor felicitie without they exceede and outrage in all vanities and follies But lette vs looke a great deale higher lette vs seeke after God know that then our life shal be blessed when as God shall haue deliuered vs from these vayne allurements of this wicked worlde to make vs feele truth and righteousnes which is in his word that it may be the onely ende of our life of all our councelles and our onely exercise and study To be short the very summarie of all whatsoeuer we take in hande According too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it woulde please him to make vs to feele them better then heretofore wee haue that we knowing our owne wretchednesse and miseries what neede we haue of his assistance might haue recourse vnto him hauing our whole refuge to his goodnes and mercy and stay our selues vpon his promises not douting but that as he is true and faithfull in all that he sayeth so also that he will fulfill whatsoeuer hee hath shewed vnto vs in his worde to wit that he wil so vnite vs vnto him self as that after he hath separated vs from all the filthinesse of this world he will make vs partakers of his righteousnesse and finally of his glorie That he will not onely graunt vs this grace but also all people and nations of the earth c. The nineteenth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme COPH. I haue cried out with my whole heart heare me O Lord and I will keepe thy statutes Yea euen vpon thee haue I called helpe me and I wil keepe thy testimonies Early in the morning I cried vnto thee for in thy word is my trust Mine eies preuent the night watches that I might be occupied in thy wordes Heare my voyce O Lorde according vnto thy louing kindnesse quicken mee according too thy iudgement They drawe nigh that followe after malice and are farre from thy lawe Thou art nigh at hande O Lorde for all thy commandementes are true I haue knowne long since by thy testimonies that thou hast grounded them for euer FOrasmuch as the most requisite thing that wee can possibly desire for our saluation is praier vnto God and bicause we are so slacke and colde therein or els that a very small matter will make vs colde we are to consider of the examples which the holy scripture setteth forth vnto vs of the children of God of the faithfull in deede how they continually were exercised in prayer Euen as in this place Dauid his meaning is to set before our eyes not that he meant to glorifie him selfe of his owne strength thereby to get him estimation but to the ende that this example might direct vs the right waye We see then howe carefull Dauid was to call vpō the name of God how he applied his whole affection and continued therein bicause that euery of vs might doe the like Nowe in the first place he sayeth I haue cried out with my whole heart Wherety he signifieth vnto vs that he babbled not euē as the hypocrites doe or els that he cried not out vppon God for a fashion or coldely but prayed with a true earnest zeale Neither do we any otherwise but euen prophane the name of God when as wee pray vnto him without attentiue mindes hauing our thoughts wandring this waye and that waye and on euery side Let vs then consider what it is principally to be required in our prayers which is that we must not only wagge the tongue and open our mouth with an intent to pray vnto God but we must pray sincerely and purely also vnto him from the bottom of our harts Now in very deed we ought to bring this into a more plaine order But yet according to the manner which wee haue heretofore kept in handling of this Psalme it shal suffice that we set down euery thing briefly in certain articles It remaineth then for this tyme that euery one priuately by himself doth more diligently meditate bestow his whole studie herein Nowe let vs see how we ought too make our prayers to God to wit our prayers must not proceed from the midst of our mouth but from a godly minde and pure truth This word to cry out importeth vehemency as shall again soone after be spoken of Nowe Dauid meaneth not that he strained his throate to cal and cry out but he rather signifieth that he went not coldly vnto it as they do which pray vnto God they know not why nor wherfore without it be for a fashion or if they be pressed through any neede yet are
here giueth vs is very necessary to wit that the commandementes of God are true As if he should haue said O Lorde I haue already said that thou art neare vnto vs for as much as thou seest vs to bee persecuted and troubled by the wicked and how they come vpon vs to destroye vs and that thou arte right before them and against them to beate them backe and to beare their blowes All this do I confesse O Lorde But yet I vee not this after a visible worldly maner Howe then It is bicause thy commaundements are true Dauid then knewe that God was neare vnto him bicause hee settled him selfe vpon the lawe and the promises which were giuen him And euen so must we do although it seeme very hard as we haue already touched It followeth I haue knowne long since by testimonies that thou hast grounded them for euer In this latter verse for a conclusion Dauid sayeth that he was not like a nouice to bee nowe too learne to knowe what the commaundements of God were but hee was resolute that God was neare him bicause hee had his worde from which he could not starte He sheweth then that the faithfull ought not too bee as it were in their A. B. C. but must bee long time exercised as Dauid protesteth of him selfe I haue knowne them sayeth hee long since Now here he setteth downe a woorde which signifieth continuaunce From the beginning haue I knowen saieth hee long since thy commaundements which thou haste grounded for euer So then let vs learne that if wee will boldely striue against all the assaultes wherewith wee may bee assayled wee muste continue in this knowledge of the woorde of God and we shall alwayes finde him ready to be neerehand vs so that we may be sure of his protection not for a day onely but all the dayes of our life And so let vs throughly recorde this lesson to the ende we may say with Dauid that wee haue the testimonyes of GOD so deepely imprinted in our heartes as that wee haue longe time since knowen what is already in them too witte that God hath established them That is to say that although we shall see a great number of chaunges in this world that all things are chaunged and turned yet that God is no chaungeling that hee neuer altereth his minde that his woorde is as it was from the beginning and as it shall continue for euer that it shall neuer be subiect to al the turnes and chaunges of this worlde but shall euer abide in his ful strength and vertue because that God hath established it for euer And this is euen so as that we ought to bee prepapared to call vpon God to witte when as we shall be setled vpon the true confidence of his promises that we shall haue knowne the euerlasting power strength which he hath giuen to his woorde that is that he will remaine alwayes like vnto him selfe When I say wee shall haue knowen this we may boldely come and present our selues before him beeing assured that hee will make vs feele by proofe that which he promiseth vs so oftentimes as wee shall haue recourse vnto him trusting heerein that he hath rendered vnto vs a testimonie of the loue which hee beareth vs. Nowe let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God and father in acknowledging our innumerable offences which wee dayly commit against him Beseeching him that he will so touch vs as that in steede that wee haue beene ouer much giuen to our fleshly affections and vanities of this world that nowe we seeke none other way but wholy too order our selues according to his good will beeing assured that although we bee feeble and weake yea and vtterly voyde of all strength so that wee cannot stepe one foote forwarde without stumbling or else in going backwarde we bee farre from him yet let vs not doute but that hee will be neere at hand too helpe vs And also that when hee hath made vs too feele his helpe that he will giue vs that grace that wee may bee so thankfull vnto him as hee deserueth desiring nothing else but too glorifie him all the dayes of our life for so many his benefites as he dayly giueth vs and liberally bestoweth vpon vs. That hee will not onely graunt vnto vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The xx Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme RESH Beholde mine affliction and deliuer mee for I haue not forgotten thy lawe Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy woorde Saluation is farre from the vngodly because they seeke not thy statutes Great are thy tender mercyes O Lord quicken me according to thy iudgements Many there are that trouble me and persecute mee yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies It greeued mee when I sawe the transgressors bee cause they kept not thy lawe Consider O Lorde howe I loue thy Commaundementes quicken mee according vnto thy louing kindenesse Thy worde is true from euerlasting all the iudgements of thy righteousnesse inudre for euermore IF wee might haue whatsoeuer we would desire wish in very deede wee should bee the better at ease and without any griefe And this is it that man naturally desireth But in the meane while wee are to consider that God wil exercise vs with diuerse afflictions so long as we are in this worlde Wherefore such is the condition and state of Christians so long as they shall liue heere vpon the earth That is they must striue be exercised with diuerse sortes of greeues sometimes of the body and otherwhiles of the soule And therefore for this cause must we arme our selues to the ende we be not ouercome in the midest of our conflicts Now the principal peece of our armour is to pray vn-God and to call vpon him to helpe vs. And to bring this about we are throughly to consider howe all the faithfull which liued long before our time proceeded heerein too the ende we might order our selues after their example as in this texte heere we see howe Dauid was euen extreemely afflicted Againe wee see also howe he behaued him selfe in all his afflictions which although they were very vehement yet did they not hinder him too haue recourse vntoo God and of him he was rescued and saued See then what we haue to meditate vppon too the ende that wee might doe the like Beholde mine affliction and deliuer me for I doe not forget thy lawe When as he desireth God to looke vnto his afflictions it is euen the same which wee haue already saide too wit That although God loued him yet would he not but that he should be subiect too a greate number of miseryes torments and griefes Let vs not think then to be priuiledged so long as we are to walke heere bilowe on the earth but that God will exercise vs and assay and proue our patience as he hath prooued Dauids
like as a Dauid maketh here such a request so also we are to consider that he made it not of his owne head nor at aduenture but he knewe it to bee the office of God That is That he will auenge all outrages Exo. 15. as it is said in the song of Moyses That if men oppresse any vniustly our Lord sayeth that it is be which auengeth the cause of the innocent and of him that is troubled without a cause Dauid then knowing that God hauing taken this title vnto him selfe and declared that he will not suffer the throates of the righteous too bee thus cut to be tormented and troaden vnderfoote but that hee will stretche foorth his hand too helpe them hee hauing knowne this calleth vpon God with a sure constancie that will receiue him Wherefore it is meete that we looke vnto this promise when as wee praye to the ende wee praye not doubtfully but in full assurance that God will be incontinent ready to helpe our necessities And this is it why Dauid by and by after sayeth Quicken mee according vnto thy worde It is not without cause that this saying was added For as I haue already said when as we will beseeche the the lorde our God to take vpon him our quarrell and too assiste vs in our afflictions and then we in the meane time shall stand in doubte of his so doing wee shall profite our selues little in so praying But we must bee fully assured that he will deliuer vs. And whensoeuer it shall come too passe that we shal be destitute of all mens ayde yea that it shall seeme that all the whole worlde had conspired our destruction and decay then should we chiefliest assure our selues that God will auenge our cause and not onely serue vs in steade of a proctour but will be altogether also our iudge aduerse partie against our enemies and against all those which haue vniustly afflicted vs. For he it is that must take in hand all iust causes Wee had neede then too assure our selues of this But from whēce shal we learne this euen out of the worde of God bicause hee hath lefte vnto vs a testimonie thereof in it as wee see that Dauid speaketh not here at a wilde aduēture but hath already groūded him self vpon a good foundation whereon he hath settled him self Now it followeth Saluation is farre from the vngodly bicause they seeke not thy statutes And afterwarde hee sayeth Great are thy tender mercies O Lorde quicken me according to thy iudgementes Nowe here are two thinges to bee considered off The one is that Dauid telleth the reason why all the contemners of God and all that rebell against his maiestie runne headlong into destruction and that hee forsaketh them that they feele no taste nor ease in their afflictions but that God clerely forsaketh them Dauid setteth downe here the cause of all this it is saith he bicause they haue not sought after thy lawes and therefore are farre from thy saluation Nowe he cleane contrary protesteth of him selfe that hee followed the lawe of God and kept it in his heart So then we must needes conclude that he could not be estraunged from it In very deede this sentence at the first sight is somwhat darke but I will make it plaine in three woordes and then by little and little shewe what doctrine wee are too gather out of this When any telleth vs of our saluation wee must in the first place know whence it proceedeth to wit from God and that there is no saluation but in him in so much that so long as God is good and gracious vnto vs it must needes be that all must goe very well on our side and be assured that our life is blessed and that we shall want nothing that is meete for our welfare and felicitie So then our saluation and all fulnesse and perfection of benefites consist in this one onely pointe that God loueth vs and receiueth vs vnto himselfe And since it is so let vs nowe consider what he is whome God will forsake Once we are his creatures and euen as he hath created and fashioned vs so also will he continne his goodnesse towards vs. Now seeing that his mercie extendeth euen to brute beasts euen to the moste vile and abiect thinges yea euen which wee contemne and disdaine once to looke on seeing the mercie of God extendeth so farre as the holy Scripture teacheth vs how can it be that he wil forsake vs yea vnto whom he hath graunted so great dignitie and excellencie For wee haue a thing excelling all other his creatures which is this that God hath imprinted-his owne similitude and likenesse in vs Now when as he hath exalted vs vnto so highe a degree of honor will he thinke you now forsake vs Hee will not without all doubt What is the cause then that wee see so many caitifes and miserable wretches which are euē giuen ouer so that God sendeth them not so much as the leaste ayde and comfort that it seemeth that he hath set them as it were vpon a stage to be a shame and rebuke to the whole worlde Whence commeth this Forsooth because they withdrawe them selues from God for when as they withdrewe not them selues from him it is most sure that then he shewed him selfe vnto them such a one as indeede hee is of his owne nature that is louing kinde pitifull gentle mercifull To be short so long as we will be ordered by him as his children it is most sure that he will play the parte of a father towards vs so long as we will yeelde our obedience vnto him he wil intreate vs gently But when we are so peruerse as that wee will not submitte our selues neither vnto him selfe nor yet vnto his word but contemne his loue grace offered vnto vs is it reason that God should put forth his hand to helpe vs is it meete he should entreat vs as his children and accompt vs in the number of those which wholy dedicate them selues vnto his maiestie No not so But we rather are worthy to be set farre from him and too haue nothing at all to do with him Loe here the meaning of Dauid in this place when he saieth O Lord helth is farre from the vngodly bicause they regard not thy statutes As if hee should haue said we ought not to be abashed O Lorde although thou giuest vs ouer and that we feele no succoure of thy goodnes but that we languish in al miserie and calamitie And why so Bicause wee haue forsaken and refused thy grace and therefore of very right we ought to be confounded and come to naught Now I pray you tell vs what meaneth it that God will not be nigh vs but by meanes of his word we must needes feele his goodnes by the effect yea forsooth and yet God commeth nigh vnto vs by his word for that is a preparatiue by which he fashioneth our heartes to the ende he might shewe him selfe
that in this worlde he hath care ouer vs and our life is as it were committed vnto him so that herein lieth the whole substance that after hee hath pardoned vs of our sinnes hee alloweth vs for righteous and will also gouerne vs with his holy spirite See then what it is that is conteined in the testimonies of God And so Dauid in summe protesteth in this verse that he alwaies walked in this loue of God which hee founde in his promises This is it which he protesteth and thereupon sayeth Quicken me according vnto thy mercy If Dauid then loued the commaundement of God and his testimonies wherefore desireth he not to be quickeâ—â—ed according to his merites And if it be so that he hath deserued why hath he recourse to the mercie of God Nowe he very well sheweth that he meant not too boaste of his vertues neither yet of any such I know not what perfection to haue fulfilled the lawe of God but he had a speciall regard as I haue already saide to the content of God his promises He alledgeth not here that he had deserued to bee holpen but he desired to bee defended according to the mercie of God In this point he setteth before vs his example to the ende wee might followe him as this is also the meaning of the holy Ghost when as he spake by the mouth of Dauid Now he goeth on for a conclusion and saieth Thy word is true from euerlasting and all the iudgementes of thy righteousnes endure for euermore That is to say thy iust iudgementes are euerlasting or els thy iudgementes are alwayes righteous Heere Dauid in summe meaneth to signifie that hee so stayed him selfe vpon the worde of God as that he had set his heart vppon it yelded him selfe wholy vnto it and bestowed all his thoughtes wittes on it And why did he so sayth he The beginning of it is true and the righteousnesse thereof endureth for euermore As if he should haue thus said Thou O Lord art true in thy word shalt alwayes bee found so afterward It is nothing but righteous it is true from the beginning thy righteousnes shall endure vnto th end and with out end See how the two borders or limittes of the worde of God are layde out When as we shall seeke for this word wee must make a destinction and difference betweene truthe and righteousnes with this resolution see how God sheweth him self true and righteous And the farther we go on the better shall we finde his worde to bee such so that after we haue throughly vnripped and examined it we shall not haue one syllable where righteousnes truth wil not shewe them selues Euen so may wee alwayes attribute this title to the woorde of God as Dauid here sheweth vs. In summe when as wee would haue a perfect assurance to be confirmed and strengthened in all temptations so that the deuill shall neuer be able to take fast holde vppon vs let vs haue this regard to stay our selues chiefly vpon the worde of God and therewith to arme vs attributing thereto these true titles which are here set downe that there is nothing in it but all truthe and righteousnesse And therefore this ought greatly to content vs to assure our selues of God not doubting but that hee will graunt vs the grace that when he hath once brought vs into the waye of saluation that he will continually conduct and gouerne vs and hold vs with a mightie strong arme vntill such time as hee hath brought vs to that ende whereunto he hath called vs. According too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better to feele our miseries then wee haue heretofore felt them to the ende we may laye our selues open vnto him And that we may in the meane while attaine too that remedy as to craue pardon of him for them not douting but that he will graunt vs pardon for them according to our desire through the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ albeit we are miserable sinners And also that he wil through his holy spirite so purge vs froÌ„ our sinnes as that we desire nothing els but to be coÌ„firmed vnto his righteousnesse to come vnto him to aduauÌ„ce vs thereunto daily more and more vntill such time as he hath coupled vs vnto that holinesse of life whereunto he continually exhorteth vs. That hee will not only graunt vnto vs this grace but also vnto all people nations of the earth c. The xxi Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme SCHYN Princes haue persecuted me without cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy worde I am as glad of thy worde as one that findeth great spoiles I hate falshood and abhorre it but thy lawe doe I loue Seuen times a daye doe I prayse thee bicause of thy righteous iudgementes They that loue thy lawe shall haue great prosperitie and they shall haue no hurt Lord I haue trusted in thy sauing health and haue done thy commaundements My soule hath kept thy testimonies and I loue them exceedingly I haue kept thy commaundementes and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee WHen as men shall trouble vs and do vs many iniuries or els any waye griue and vexe vs yet are there twoo thinges too leade vs too walke wickedly without the feare of God The one is that it wil seme that God hath not compassion of vs to helpe vs. The other that wee will bee more afearde of men then in deede wee ought For we imagine that all is in their hand and that they may doe all thinges at their owne pleasure and as them selues liste doe God what he can to the contrary Lo heere I say what it is that he hindereth vs froÌ„ perseuering in the feare of God That is That when men trouble vs with iniuries violences extortions we are straightwayes discouraged And so we are heere throughly too consider of this place where Dauid saith that hee stoode in awe of the woorde of God although princes persecuted him without a cause in deede wee ought euen then most specially too weygh it when as we fee the mightinesse of men to astonish vs our enemies to be in great credit and authoritie yea that it seeme we are euen as sheepe in the iawes of woulfes that we haue no meane too resist their violence but that they may do whatsoeuer seemeth good-vnto them in so much that no man dareth once to open his mouth against them When as I say our enemies shall haue all this and bee thus highly lifted vp ouer vs that wee knowe not what shall become of vs then it is a harde matter for vs too conceiue what the helpe which God hath promised vs is worth so that we are ouertaken with this feare to say O see wee are vtterly vndone all our cause is cleane cast to the
commaundements Heere Dauid more liuely expresseth and declareth that which I haue already touched to wit that our affection in seruing of God proceedeth of the trust which wee haue in him in beleeuing his promises If then we conceiue not that God is our sauiour and so by that meanes truste that hee will help vs it is impossible that we should be inflamed too serue him It is true we may very well haue some feeling of the duetie which we owe vnto him and be some what touched therewith although in deed few there are which think therof but admit it be so yet will no man for all that freely and of his owne accord say O come Let vs serue yea let vs serue our God euen vntill such time as we are fully assured of the good which he meaneth and is ready to procure vs and of the true and full hope of our saluation throughly imprinted in our heartes And so let vs rightly consider that they which remember no more of that which is preached vnto them but this to say Loe this is it which GOD commaundeth vs we must either doe this or that Truely this is no pointe of true Christianitie And why so Because the principallest pointe of Christianitie is to knowe the goodnesse of God and the mercie which hee vseth towardes vs. Loe this is I say the true knowledge which wee muste learne in the Schoole of our Lorde Iesus Christe and holde vs to that which he hath declared vnto vs. And besides we are also to consider of that which he commaundeth vs but his promises must be preferred haue the cheefest place And by this also we are shewed that in the popish religiō the principall doctrine of Christianitie is put out made nothing Because that when the Papistes creake and chatter their prayers making as though they presented their supplications vnto God they say that they must neuer assure them selues of that which they pray for And the cause is for that they looke not vnto the free promises of God And how so Beholde an hypocrite shall step vp and preach nothing else but that which euery man is bounde to doe Hee will preach vnto you of Chastitie he will make you another Sermon of Almes one of this matter another of that and yet for all this we knowe not what it is to beleeue in God Then doe we a great deale lesse know what it is to call vpon him in full assurance to say God is our father he alloweth vs for his children because he hath vs as he would wish that our sins are forgiuen vs through the grace of our lord Iesus Christ There is no whit of this in popery therfore it is impossible that there should be one word of good and sound doctrine in it and profitable vnto saluation Let vs then well consider of this saying of Dauid O Lorde I haue trusted in thy sauing health and haue doone thy Commaundements Nowe in the ende he sayth My soule hath kept thy testimonyes and I loue them exceedingly I haue kept thy commaundements and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee After that Dauid hath sufficiently protested that hee loueth the word of God that it was so sweete and pleasant vnto him as that all his study and delight consisted therin he concludeth and saith That his soule had kept it as if he should haue said O Lord in that I was giuen to serue thee it was not with my hands and feete onely but because I loued thy word yea and that with all my soule and I take my whole delight therein For when the Hebrewes meane too shewe a pure and sounde lyking they say My soule hath done this or that that is asmuch to say as I haue doone it with all mine hearte Loe then an heartie seruice which Dauid heere expresseth this is yet a point which ought throughly too be considered of For wee see howe men are giuen to play the hypocrites euen too set a very fayre outwarde shewe of the matter and by that meanes thinke them selues to be discharged before God Nowe wee must beginne farder of as Dauid heere sheweth vs that is wee muste keepe the woorde of God in our heartes Wherein hee confirmeth the matter which we haue already heeretofore handled to witte that the question is not to haue GOD simply to teach vs whereby wee might know what he requireth at our hands what our duetie is towards him but he buildeth vpon his promises Howbeit Dauid hauing said that his soul kept the cōmādemēts of God because he loued thē by this which he addeth sone after he ioyneth the promises with the cōmandemēts saying For al my wayes are before thine eyes It is true that he sheweth by these words that except he had byn sure that god protected him it had not byn possible for him to haue had that true lyking to haue serued his maiestie And herevpon hangeth the seconde pointe that God helde him alwayes in his presence because hee should not haue leaue to doe euill as if hee shoulde haue saide O Lorde because I knowe that no man is able too hide him selfe from thee Loe why I giue my selfe wholly too feare and serue thee And too say the trueth what is the cause that the vngodly take such libertie to commit and deuise such vilanous and greeuous Actes as that they them selues are ashamed off yea that it maketh the very heares of their head to stand vpright What is the cause of this The reason is for that they knowe not that God seeth them for if they were sure of that they would be somwhat moued with the feare of his maiestie So then in that the faithles war thus against God and take libertie too doe wickedly it is bicause they think that God seeth them not according too that saying in the Scripture The wicked man hath said God seeth not hee knoweth nothing of that which is doone heere on the earth I meane not that the wicked doe thus openly speake yet for all that they think no lesse as by experience wee see for they thinke that God marketh not all their iniquities neither yet that it is needefull for them once too make any account of their sinnes Howbeit Dauid sayth cleane contrary That because hee knewe that all his wayes were before God therefore he kept his commaundements See also why the scripture in speaking of the holy fathers which liued sinceerly sayth That they walked before God to wit they had this consideration that they knew that God did see them and therefore they walked as if they had beene in his presence And this importeth that they toke not such liberty as they thēselues thought good but that they wholy ordered them selues according to the will of God as hee had declared it by his worde See then Dauid his meaning And euen so must we also doe if wee will haue our life and conuersation to be well ordered to witte to know that God seeth
vs and therefore that we cannot flye from his hand but must submit our selues vnto it albeit wee wil not doe it freely and of our owne accorde And so let vs willingly be contented to be ruled by him beeing certifyed of his loue and goodnesse towards vs to the ende wee might in trueth make this protestation which Dauid heere maketh According too this holy doctrine let vs humbly prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good god in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it woulde please him to make vs to feele the power of his woorde in such sort as his holy Prophet heere sheweth vs and so too feele it as that wee may wholy submitte our selues vnto it Knowing that when it shall come in question for vs too remitte our selues and cleaue vnto him as hee requireth that wee must forsake the whole worlde and all our carnall affections which any way hinder vs from comming vnto him to the ende wee may so climbe vp vnto his maiestie as that not fearing the world nor all his assaultes wee may putte our whole confidence in his mercifull goodnesse and boldly present vs before his face to the ende the may receiue vs so that wee might alwayes bee gouerned through his holy spirit vntil such time as he hath brought vs vnto that perfectiō wherevnto he calleth and biddeth vs. That hee will not onely graunt vntoo vs this grace but also c. The xxii Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme THAV Let my complaint come before thee O Lorde and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Let my supplication come before thee and deliuer me according vnto thy worde My lippes shall speake of thy prayse when thou hast hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shall treate of thy worde for all thy cōmandementes are righteous Let thine hande helpe me for I haue chosen thy cōmaundementes I haue longed for thy sauing health O Lorde and in thy lawe is my delight Let my soule liue and it shall prayse thee and thy iudgementes shall helpe me I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruaunt for I doe not forget thy commaundementes THese eight last verses which arche knitting vp of the whole Psalme do shew vnto vs that which we oftentimes haue before seene to wit that Dauid his chiefest desire was this to be duely and truely instructed in the word of God and therin to be cōfirmed for he tooke such pleasure in it as that all the rest was little or nothing worth vnto him in respect of the same Now it is very true that he hath already sufficiētly spoken of this matter and yet that which he presently addeth is not supperfluous especially if we consider in what sort our carnall desires rule vs. For that is it which letteth vs that we can not onely haue that feruency which Dauid had to seeke throughly to profit in the schoole of God but we scarsely haue so much as any small desire And therefore as I haue already said we are too too much nuzzeled in our earthly affections Wherefore this is a lesson which ought many times too put vs in minde that if wee will pray vnto God according vnto his will wee must not come vnto him with a desire of our owne to saye whatsoeuer commeth in our brayne yea and to leaue out the most principall parte but we must beginne with this saying to wit that it would please God so to instruct vs as that our life may be squared according to his law and we to cleaue so vnto it as not to come with a double and twyfold heart Although we are to striue against the worlde and our owne nature yet must we remaine constant in this chiefly to loue the woorde of God And therefore for this cause Dauid here sayeth Let my Complaint come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according vnto thy word When he speaketh of his complaint which hee maketh vnto the Lord he sheweth that he made no cold prayer vnto God as we many times and as it were daily do but with great vehemency I can not deny but that an hypocrite may very well make complaint with a loude noyse and thrust out his weasaunt But Dauid hauing here consideratiō of God meaneth not to make an outward shew before men Wherefore That he cried out aloude importeth as much as an earnest testimonie wherewith hee was pricked forward Now by this we see that he chiefly desired that which he craueth to wit to haue God to instruct him and to giue him vnderstāding And in desiring this gift of God he cōfesseth that he was of him selfe a very wretched blind soule that hee neuer vnderstoode any thing yea although he had the lawe in his hands which he might reade wherein was conteined a true perfection of all wisedome yet that he still continued euē like a poore miserable blind wretch except God enlightened him So then let vs vnderstande that this is an especiall gift which God bestoweth vpon vs when hee openeth our eyes too make vs vnderstande that which is shewed in his word whether we reade it or that it be preached vnto vs. Yea and let vs not here make any exception thinking our selues to bee more sharpe witted or abler then Dauid was but let vs rather knowe that if hee needed to beseech God to giue him vnderstanding that we for our partes haue as great neede So then it can not bee chosen but that whē God hath deliuered vnto vs his word and declared his will therein conteined and for performance hereof inlighteneth our hearts by his holy spirite for other waies we shal haue our cares beaten in vaine and then the doctrine which we haue heard will do vs no good Now that which followeth According vnto thy worde may two wayes beset forth According vnto thy word that is to say that thou wilt make me wise And after what maner That I be altogether ruled by thee and do that which thou commaundest This is a very true saying for by this wee are admonished to heare God speake and we againe must suffer him to haue dominion ouer vs and not to be ouertakē with this fooolish arrogancie and saye I haue knowledge inough I neede not so much teaching Wherefore when as God shall haue spoken the worde let vs passe it simply and without gainesaying This sentence then which I haue spoken is very true but yet it agreeth not with the meaning of Dauid he yet with the plamenesse of the text For he craueth here two things the one in the first verse the other in the second He sayeth in the first verse Let my complaint come before thee that I might be instructed according vnto thy worde And afterwarde he addeth 〈◊〉 my supplication come be fore thee and deliuer me according vnto thy worde It is very true that he vseth two sentences but yet they are not without a marueilous grace in one selfe same signification and by this repetition we
may the better perceiue that Dauid meant not but to haue God to graunt either obboth his requestes according to the promises which he had made him See then what the naturall sense is of the first verse O Lord giue me vnderstanding as thou hast promised And this is according vnto the rule which wee haue heretofore touched that wee ought not too craue of God any thing whatsoeuer without it bee that which hee hath promised yea so that we be assured of his wil. It is very true that God dealeth very familiarly with vs when as hee calleth vs to come vnto him as the father calleth his childrē suffereth vs to poure abroade all our affections vnto him and to vnburden them as it were in his lappe as the scriptune maketh mention and yet hee meaneth notwithstanding that wee should holde this modestie not too craue of him any thing whatsoeuer that seemeth good in our owne eyes but to discerne of that which best liketh him And howe shall wee knowe that Forsooth by his promises Wherefore we must be well assured of our prayers and not to craue of God at a wilde aduenture this thing or that but we must beseeche him and be certaine and sure that he will heare vs. And how may this bee done seeing that no man hath beene of his counsell too saye that wee haue any such certaintie except hee his selfe had tolde vs that it is his pleasure to graunt vs So then it is requisite that al our prayers be conformable vnto the promises of God that we gather together I say out of the holy scripture al whatsoeuer he hath promised vs to the ende wee may that waye haue an entrance to make our supplications and prayers vnto him Now it remaineth for vs to knowe whether Dauid had the promise alone made vnto him by God or els whether it bee common vnto vs all No doubt of it God spake not to Dauid as to a priuate man but too declare in generall that he would not misse to instruct all those which come vnto him in humilitie and to aske nothing but according vnto his worde Since then it is so that God hath spoken to vs in generall declaring that he is ready to playe the part of a schoolemaister if we will become as his schollers we may then say with Dauid O Lorde giue me vnderstanding according to thy promise Now we are here briefly to marke two notes The first is that we are aduertised to acknowledge our ignorance and rudenesse For if we craue of God to bee made wise and then we thinke to become wise through our owne industrie and power this is a meere mockerie We muse then acknowledge our selues to be vnprouided both of wit and reason if wee will make this request in truth to wit to haue God to giue vs vnderstāding And thus much for the first point For the rest we ought to know that God desireth but to receiue vs with this condition to wit euen when we shal be humbled and cast down For otherwise we will neuer abide to bee instructed whatsoeuer holy scripture we haue bicause that in it hee sayeth that it is his office to teach the humble and meeke that it is as it were his very proper nature to open the eyes of the blinde and to instruct those which are altogether ignorant to gather together the strayed sheepe and to bring them to the hauen of saluation when as they are in the way of perdition Since then it is so that God taketh all this vpō him selfe let not vs doubt but that he will heare all our requestes But what We see howe colde we are For we are so hindered with the things of this worlde as that wee leaue out the principal Now after that Dauid had declared what he chiefly desired he goeth on and sayeth My lippes shall speake of thy praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes Here he prosecuteth that which he began withall at the first that is to shew that he would not be vnthankefull but that he would acknowledge the benefites of God It is very true that whē we come vnto God it is not any thing nedefull for vs to make great outwarde shewes as though hee knew them not perfectly inough as of him selfe but thus he meaneth that when we pray hee would haue vs to saye that we will neuer hereafter be vnthankefull vnto him and this needed not neither but to the ende the better to stirre vs vp to do our dueties And this also maketh vs to praye with a boulder courage to feele the fruite which shall come vnto vs when as we shal haue obtained that which we haue craued and desired Dauid then in saying here My lippes O Lord shall speake of thy prayse when thou hast taught me thy statutes hee meaneth that hee shal be disposed to praise God with open mouth Nowe why speaketh Dauid after this maner In thus doing he taketh vppon him and stirreth vp him selfe too such an acknowledgement as hee protesteth to make and it is as if he had said Goe to nowe when as God shall haue shewed me this fauour to instruct me what is then my dutie to do Forsooth I must euen thē prayse him for that I ought to be thereto the more stirred vp and to be greatlier occasioned therein And since I desire God too teach mee what fruite shall I reape thereby when as he shall haue called me vnto the waye of saluation I shall then haue wherefore too sing prayses vnto his holy name knowing the grace which hee hath bestowed on me See then how that in this protestation Dauid speaketh not to bynde God through any recompense or seruice but onely stirreth his selfe vp and pricketh him selfe foreward as it were with a spurre to the ende he might be the better disposed too receiue the benefite which God had promised him and that he might knowe that this benefite ought not to be an occasion to make him vnthankefull vnto him from whom he receiued it Howebeit we are here briefly to consider of two pointes The one is that as God hath liberally bestowed vppon vs his graces so much the more ought we to be ready to prayse and magnifie him for euer For furely this is all the recompense that wee are any way able to yelde him if so bee Psal 116. it may bee called recompense howebeit hee accepteth it thankefully vnder this title as the scripture thereof maketh mention Since then it is so if wee will not that the benefite which God hath bestowed vpon vs turne it selfe into condemnation by reason of our vnthankefulnesse let vs be well aduised to discharge our selues towardes him and so when as hee shall haue layde open his goodnesse vpon vs let vs not bee forgetfull of it neither yet let our mouthes be closed vp but euen to acknowledge the same vnto him And thus much as touching the first point The secōd is That he which shal be wel and duely instructed in the
But yet haue I chiefely desired thy word haue euen striuen with my self to subdue al the euil affections of my flesh Here we see what doctrin we haue to gather vnto our selues out of this place to wit that if we wil be the good scholers of God and take delight in the way of his testimonyes we must first subdue the lustes of our fleshe not learne to be giuen to worldly things neither yet to bee nousled in that which we imagine to be the highest pointe of our felicity but that we might vnderstand to contēne riches al other things whatsoeuer which might withdrawe vs from our God and our sauiour Iesus Christ Phil. 3.8 to make no more accoūt of it then of doung and dyrt as S. Paule saith And yet it is most sure that Dauid contemneth not the riches which he had For beeing a mightie rich king as we know yet he cast not his Golde siluer into the bottō of the sea but vsed of the abundance store which God had giuen him yea wee see what an excellent and beautiful house he had as the holy history telleth vs. But yet he followed the rule which the Scripture setteth downe vnto vs which is that hee so vsed the goods of this world as though he neuer had them We must therfore passe through this world 1. Cor. 7.31 without staying our selues altogether in it as S. Paul exhorteth that if God giue vs abundāce of riches we might know how to vse thē with out hauing our harts imprisoned in them yet notwithstāding to be pore in spirit to wit to be redy to forsake all whatsoeuer as often as god would haue vs to be rid of thē to haue alwaies one foote redy lifted vp to go vnto him whēsoeuer it shal be his wil pleasure to take vs out of this world But it is not without cause that Dauid hath spoken heere of the abundaunce of riches For wee see it maketh men couetous which is the springhead of all mischiefe as Saint Paule saith 1. Tim. 6 1◠Forasmuch then as we are so much giuen to the goods of this worlde and that we holde our selues accursed if we haue not wherwithall and them to bee blessed which are wel furnished with them let vs keepe well the lesson which is heere taught vs to wit that all our desier must be in the way of the testimonyes of God as in all manner of riches to wit that all our delight and contentation be wholly in them Now in the end Dauid goeth on and sayth I will meditate in thy Commaundementes and consider thy wayes My delight shal be in thy statutes I wil not forget thy words This is the conclusion to confirme the matter which we haue already spoken off For Dauid heere speaketh of no newe matter but protesteth as he hath begun That his delight shal be alwayes in the commandements of God in the doctrine conteined in the holy Scripture and that hee wil bestowe his whole study therin so continue the same and neuer forget the desires which he hath to profite in the obedience of God If Dauid nowe hath thus saide let vs vnderstand that it is not inough for vs to be wel affected to serue God and that for the performing thereof that wee haue already sufficiently traueled but we must also be pricked forwarde that we might alwayes goe on For euen the very faithful neuer runne with so feruent and hote a desire but that they continually draw one leg after them neuer come vnto God but in halting wise What is there then for vs to doe Forsooth wee must protest with Dauid neuer to forget that which God hath once declared vnto vs and also neuer to cease to pricke our selues on to the ende there might be greater vehemencie in vs to goe vnto him with a more seruent desire and boulder courage So that at the last we may growe to this perfection whereunto God calleth allureth vs that is that beeing vncased from out of our flesh and nature hee might fully conioyne vs vnto his righteousnesse that thereby his glory may shine in vs. And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good god acknowledging our innumerable sinnes by which we continually prouoke his heauy wrath and indignation against vs. Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs to feele our sinnes and iniquities more then euer to fore we haue done to the end we might seke for such remedies as he hath ordained for vs in exercising our selues about the reading of his holy word and the dayly Preaching thereof which hath graunted vnto vs. And furthermore not to forget to stir vs vp to call vpon him to the end that by his holy spirite he might to put his helping hande euen in our heartes and not too suffer the doctrine which we heare by the mouth of his Preachers to become vnprofitable vnto vs but that it may haue the full power strength so that we may from day to day be confirmed therein and more and more learne to forsake the worlde and all whatsouer may withdrawe vs from the vnion and coniunction of our Lord and Maister Iesus Christ who is our heade And that hee will not onely shewe vnto vs this fauour and grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The third Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme GIMEL Bee beneficiall vnto thy Seruant that I may liue keepe thy woorde Open mine eies that I may see the wondrous things of thy lawe I am a straunger vpon Earth hide not thy commandements from me My hart breaketh out for the desire vnto thy iudgementes alwaies Thou hast destroyed the proude cursed are they that doo erre from all thy Commaundements Remoue from mee shame and contempte for I haue kept thy Testimonyes Princes also did sitte and speake against mee but thy Seruant did meditate in thy statutes Also thy Testimonyes are my delight and my counsaylers IT shall greatly haue profited vs if so be wee haue learned what the ende of our life is For for that cause hath God placed and bringeth vs vpp in the worlde and yet fewe there are which thinke vpon it True it is that euery man will say that it is good reason wee should doe homage too GOD for our life and beeing because wee holde all of him and that wee should glorifie him with so much of our goods as he hath largely bestowed vpon vs. But what of all this When as wee haue confessed that it is but to shewe our ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse and yet no man maketh any account heereof Loe heere wherefore the holy Ghoste seeing vs so tyed to the worlde putteth vs in minde too what ende wee liue heere As heere Dauid maketh this request to God too obtayne that benefite of his Maiestie That hee mght liue and keepe his woorde As if hee should haue sayde I desire