other Therefore doth David ioyne light and saluation together because that without that light there is no saluation for light goeth with or before saluation for without the light of knowledge there can bee no faith and without faith no saluation Dauid through faith was bold to affirme that the Lord was his light and consequently his saluation and hee that would defend him from all his enemies and therefore resolueth not to feare what man could doe vnto him Our owne naturall light the light of our eyes is an especiall blessing of God yet for vnruiinesse it may bee compared to the tongue for as the tongue is an vnruly euill in setting as it were the whole world on fire so are the eyes extrauagant and set the heart on fire and therefore saith Dauid Turne away mine eies from regarding vanity for he found by wofull experience that the light of the eye doth administer vnto the minde diuers dangerous obiects as to himselfe the nakednesse of Bershaba with the sight of whom he was so enflamed with the fire of lust which first entred by the eie that he committed grieuous sinnes in the accomplishment thereof Yet was Dauid himselfe reputed as it were the light of Israel which hee assumed not vnto himselfe but attributed the true light that he had vnto the light of lights saying Surely thou art my light O Lord and the Lord will lighten my darknesse And againe the Lord is my light and my saluation By his owne naturall light hee could not sée his owne error of adultery and marther vntill hee was inwardly enlightned then hee could confesse it neither could he see and consider how the Lord had defended him but by that dim light which gaue him courage strength against the â—eare and the Lion the ouercomming of whom gaue him assurance of the victory against Goliah his experience of Gods fauour towards him grew daily more and more encouraging others also to depend on the power prouidence and loue of God by his example saying and assuring them that the Lord would be a sure refuge vnto them in their afflictions for hee faileth none that faithfully séeke him and how can we séeke him but by Prayer I will call vpon the Lord saith Dauid who is worthy to be praised so shall I bee safe from mine enemies though they haue many meanes to hurt yet God that is our light and our saluation hath many more meanes to helpe and to defend vs therefore saith Dauid whom should I feare the Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and hee that deliuereth mee my God and my strength in him will I trust my shield the horne also of my saluation and my refuge of whom shall I be afraid If I haue Iehouah on my side what can man doe vnto me If he be my light I shall liue in light and walke in light for in him is no darknesse at all he offereth light by his liuely Word and enlightneth our inward parts by the bright beames of his heauenly Spirit Being then inwardly armed howsoeuer outwardly endangered wée néed not feare but as Dauid did let vs cast our burthen vpon the Lord and hee shall defend vs and let vs commend our care vnto him for he careth for vs of whom or of what then need we to bee afraid Saluation commeth not of flesh nor by fleshly meanes as the true light is not of the world nor of worldly men Therefore séeke not thy light nor safety through the policy or strength of the flesh neither dreame of saluation by worldly meanes but breake through the walls of flesh and mount vp in true contemplation of that sauing light that shineth from aboue from thence commeth the strength against which no carnall force shall preuaile and beware of such as promise vnto themselues safety and saluation without this true light as the wise by their policies the rich by their wealth the mighty by their much strength and multitudes and as some by their owne workes All which are broken réeds vaine props and weake meanes to saue the outward man much lesse the inward soule How then can they say whom shall I feare of whom shall I bee afraid when indéed they cannot but bee afraid euen where no feare is Could Achitophels counsell Nebuchadnezzars greatnesse Pharaohs stoutnesse Goliahs strength Senacheribs mighty army Hasaels swiftnesse or the Pharisies workes saue them yet doth foolish flesh and bloud account this weake and feeble meanes their glory their life and their saluation But as Achitophel whose counsell was like the Oracle of God did hang himselfe as Nebuchadnezzar in his greatest pompe became as a beast of the field as Pharaoh in his hot pursuit was drowned and his army as Senacherib was slaine by his owne sons as Goliah for all his great strength was slaine with a small stone as Hazael for all his Roe-like swiftnesse was slaine in his running and as the Pharisies for all their workes were condemned by Christ the light So neither the wisest of the world the greatest and most glorious in the world the strongest in strength nor he that iustifieth himselfe most by his best workes worke not onely no saluation vnto themselues as of themselues but their owne destruction But the Lord of Hosts is my light my strength and my saluation therefore will I not bée afraid Consider well the benefit of thy light in the Lord embrace the Lord thy light and thy saluation embrace him in his Word for God is the Word the Word that light that light thy life and thy saluation Here then is the light that guideth the blinde and happy is the soule that hath this glorious light he needs not feare she secret practises of the wicked which this light discouereth nor the force of the mighty which this strength withstandeth for God is his saluation Feare not man then who killeth but the body feare not the fire that consumeth but the body feare not the Sea that drowneth but the body feare not sicknesse that toucheth but the body feare not the sword that pierceth but the body feare nothing that can preuaile but against the body for the Lord is thy light and thy saluation O feare this Lord and reuerence this light he séeth in darknesse feare him that can kill both body and soule and can cast both into vtter darknesse feare this great God feare none but him that can saue and kill that can cast downe and exalt that can with his Word worke what he will when he will and as he will feare him in loue and loue him in feare call vpon him despaire not in him he is thy saluation Feare not the world nor worldly things feare onely firme in the world and flie from euill which this true light hateth then feare not man for if a thousand assaile thee feare not but pray and beléeue and trust in the Lord thy saluation he will open the eyes of thy faith and thou shalt sée with Elisha millions of meanes to defend thée
set thy glory aboue the heauens where he sitteth and séeth the troubles and afflictions of his and is néere them when they call vpon him he turneth his face and louing countenance towards them to cheare them and comfort them as for the wicked he beholdeth them a farre off I haue set the Lord saith Dauid alwaies before me for he is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide As if he had said I sée the face of God continually and hée it is that preserueth me from danger so that mine heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope The tongue of men or Angels cannot sufficiently expresse what God is onely the heauens doe shew vnto vs his glory the Sunne the Moone and Starres fixed in the Firmament the Earth the Sea and all that are therein all being the works of his hands This God did Dauid séeke to this God did Dauid pray and hée turned his face vnto him and deliuered him out of all his feare To him I will pray A Praier that God will neuer hide his face from vs. THY fauour O Lord which thou shewest vnto vs weake and vnworthy creatures is as an vnfathomable Sea of loue who becommest as it were a suter vnto vs to come to seeke and to see thy face Thou the most beloued seemest to make loue vnto vs Thou the most mighty creator callest vs vnto thee thy weake creatures And shall we hatefull deformed and vile wretches stand therefore in conceit that wee are louely and beautifull because thou great Iehouah absolute in all perfection doest thus intreat vs Thou saiest Seeke my face And what is it but as if thou saidst Come and see me come and receiue me come and dwell with me It seemeth to be rather the voice of a familiar friend than of the Creator of heauen and earth But when I consider thy greatnesse thy Maiesty and glory thy power and omnipotency I cannot but feare considering what I am and rather desire to hide me from thee as Adam did than to intrude my selfe into thy presence in my deformities and to couer my nakednesse of all goodnesse with the fig leaues of shamefull absence than to come into thy presence being naked of all spirituall vertues Should I come into thy presence O most powerfull and holy Lord God in the bespotted garments of mine owne corruptions Then maist thou well stand with the burning sword of thy fury to keepe me from the sweet Paradice of thy louing and amiable presence amiable in deed to them whom thou makest worthy but most fearefull vnto such as haue not on the wedding garment of the righteousnesse of IESVS CHRIST If thou obserue the selfe-deseruings of the best men and deale with them accordingly who can see thy face and liue Who dare to seeke thy face as of himselfe worthy But sith it pleaseth thee to call me though vnworthy and to accept me as worthy how can I but giue all diligence to attend thy call Should I stand consulting with flesh and bloud whether I should seeke thy face and liue or remaine out of thy fauour and perish eternally Thou saist Seeke my face O that my heart could truly answer and faithfully performe the seeking of thy face for I cannot say of my owne power I will seeke thy face Though my spirituall part bee willing my carnall part is weake I desire yet to seeke and to finde thee for with thee is the well of life Thine eies are vpon them that feare thee and thine eares open vnto their cry Shew me therefore the light of thy countenance and turne thy face towards me that I may see it in thy fauour and louing kindnesse Thy face is no way so liuely to be seene as in the Image of thy Sonne who although he were here in the earth in the forme of a seruant he had the inuisible forme of thine owne Essence and is now ascended and glorified in the heauens endowed with that absolute glory which hee had from the beginning with thee whose visible forme cannot bee seene with mortall eyes whose face yet shineth more gloriously than it did vpon the holy Mount which Peter Iames and Iohn to their vnspeakable comfort beheld with their eies that visible glory of his cannot bee here seene it is hid from vs vntill the time but he vouchsafeth vnto vs his Word wherein we see him through faith O seeke his face euermore my soule seeke his Word beleeue his promises obserue his Will Grant Lord that I may flie sinne and embrace righteousnesse that I may pray continually loue all men beare with the weake bee patient in troubles and thankfull vnto thee for all thy mercies and grant Lord that I may seeke thee while it is to day let mee omit no time in seeking thy face thou saist Seeke my face let me cast off all impediments and clogs of worldly occasions and cast my care vpon thee for thou hast promised to care for mee what thou hast said is true what thou hast promised is Yea and Amen as sure as if I were possessed of what I aske I am in danger I will seeke thy face as Dauid did who found it in the Wildernesse pursued by Saul I haue enemies I will seeke thy face as Eliah did being threatned by Iezabel If I bee in prison I will seeke thy face as Ioseph did who was deliuered and aduanced what misery or danger trouble or affliction soeuer it shall please thee to inflict vpon mee I will seeke thy face so shall I not bee confounded in the perilous time and in whatsoeuer calamity I am be thou neere vnto me and saue me VERSE 9. Hide not thy face from mee nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast beene my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation BY this prayer of Dauid it may appeare that God sometimes hideth his face from his dearest children and séemeth as if hée had cast them away in his anger which yet though it be fearefull it is not small for he continueth not long in his displeasure though the weaknesse of men bée they neuer so sanctified will many times shew it selfe and produce such corrupt fruits as may incense God to displeasure and inforce him to absent himselfe from them for a time in so much as he may seeme to haue left them quite to their owne corrupt wills as it séemeth holy Dauid felt some alteration as it were of Gods dealing towards him that he cried out hide not thy face from me wherby it séemeth Dauid had not that comfort of Gods presence as in times past he had especially when hée was afraid that God had cast him away in displeasure It may be the weaknesse of Dauids faith which is not at all times alike strong could not so well apprehend Gods mercies as before or that he felt his owne infirmities to grow stronger and his spirituall powers weaker so that in the combat betwéene the flesh and
and comfort in affliction 359 An effectuall Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes 370 A Prayer for the morning with thanks for rest and safety 382 A Prayer to be vsed before a man goes to his rest 387 A MOTIVE to the Reader touching Meditation and Prayer First of Meditation MEditation is an inward action of the soule wherin the faithfull exercise themselues especially vpon the Word and promise of God vpon Heauen and heauenly things arising by the attentiue hearing or serious reading of the same Word deliberate consideration of the truth and infallibility of Gods promises contained therein and the assured performance of them touching their future blessed and glorious being after this life whereof the faithfull heart being assured through the testimony of Gods holy Spirit it delights in nothing so much as continually to thinke and meditate of the same according to the words of Christ Where our treasure is there are our hearts and thereof wee continually thinke DAVID had his heart set vpon his treasure hid with Christ aboue which made him to meditate cheerefully to sing O how loue I the Law of the Lord It is my continuall meditation yea I will meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies So did Salomon cry out Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel who spake with his mouth to Dauid my father and with his hand hath performed it 1 King 8. 15 16. All the promises of God in Scripture doe administer vnto the faithfull matter of continuall meditation and serious consideration and among many of his promises his promse of defence and deliuery of his in the time of danger trouble and affliction is to be often considered for that it concerneth especially the children of God that are most afflicted who considering the waies of God to be mercy and truth and that what he promiseth he will assuredly performe cannot but worke patience and patience hope and how can he bee without continuall holy Meditation whose heart is with God from whom he hopeth his helpe will come but in Gods owne time and therefore though wee hope we may not make haste though he promise to defend vs from danger deliuer vs in trouble he will not so answer our expectations as if wee knew the time when or the manner how to be releeued or defended better than he He will exercise his owne children awhile to proue their patience faith and obedience to cause vs to meditate and ponder his word and promise till hee haue sufficiently tried our constant assurance of his timely deliuery for it is his property to come to helpe his when they thinke hee hath most forgotten them How suffered he Dauid a man chosen after his owne heart to bee enuironed with infinite dangers in so much as he thought God had forsaken him altogether and forgotten him and therefore cries out How long wilt thou forget me Lord for euer and againe hee confessed that God had giuen him his hearts desire and that hee had not denied the request of his lips whereby appeareth that the sorce of liuely faith holy meditation and diuine prayer are able to make God offended God appeased suddenly to remoue sorrow and so bring ioy God hath promised to be a defence to the faithfull in whatsoeuer dangers yet if we wel weigh and consider the course of Gods dealing with his owne children and duly meditate of his power prouidence and wisdome wee shall finde that hee doth not alwaies come immediatly at the call of his dearest children DAVID was banished and persecuted long Ioseph was imprisoned long they both prayed for deliuery yet continued in a hard estate which was an argument in humane reason that God cared not for them and aboue them both was innocent Iob long and many waies afflicted God saw his miseries and heard his prayers but he left him yet to be an example to vs of like expectation of Gods timely releeuing vs and in his good time he made Dauid a King and Ioseph the chiefe vnder Pharaoh in Aegypt and restored Iob to his former yea to farre greater glory Thus doth God try his dearest children to occasion them to know and acknowledge that howsoeuer hee seeme to absent himselfe from them in their deepest dangers and to seeme deafe as it were vnto their prayers he yet hath an eie both on them and their enemies hee was a shelter vnto Dauid and curbed Saul he saw Ioseph in prison but with his liberty prepared his aduancement He saw Iobs afflictions but kept a hooke in Satans nosthrills that all that he did against Iob serued to his finall comfort Though therefore it happen the faithfull to be straited and enuironed with so many and mighty enemies and troopes of troubles that there appeareth no euasion no deliuery by any visible meanes yet there remaineth holy Meditation patient deliberation and serious consideration of Gods wonderfull deliuerances of his in all like dangers Consider Dauid and all his troubles and you shall finde hee fainted not but depended onely vpon the promises and prouidence of God with a godly resolution to wait the issue of his hope onely meditating on Gods promises and considering his waies and how he had before dealt with Abraham Izaak Iaacob Noah Lot Moses and other faithfull fathers before him the meditation and consideration of whose wonderfull deliueries cannot but work assurance in any beleeuing heart in like manner though by vnlike and hidden meanes in good time to be deliuered and therefore saith Dauid by way of meditation and confirmation of his and consequently our faith in God Our Fathers trusted in thee they called vpon thee and were heard they prayed vnto thee and thou deliueredst them out of all their troubles as if hee should say in himselfe by way of Meditation I finde by the Word of God that he hath deliuered many before my time that trusted in him called vpon him in greater dangers than I am in why then should I doubt or despaire of like deliuery I trust in him as these fathers trusted I call vpon and pray vnto him as they did therefore surely hee will heare me and helpe me in time conuenient thus did Dauid meditate in his troubles God commanded Iaacob to returne from Laban his Vncle into his countrie and Kindred from whom and whence he fled promising to doe him good Gen. 32. 9. Could Iaacob doe lesse than meditate and tâ—inke seriously of this command and promise of God considering hee was to returne to his desperatly malicious brother Esau who sought to murther him yet vpon due Meditation and consideration of Gods faithfull promise of defending him and doing him good hee ouercame feare by faithfull prayer and the Lord appeased his brothers malice towards him Examples of like nature are plentifull in holy Scriptures as of Mordecay and the Iewes Ester 7. of the Bethulians Iudith 7. and many others Holy meditation is most necessary and an especiall Motiue to faithfull prayer and prayer can neuer be so powerfull as vpon holy
of presumption though he were a King whose examples in some cases is not fit for inferiours to imitate But in matters concerning holy duties to God there ought to be no difference betweene Princes and people for God is no accepter of persons but hee that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse be he high or low rich or poore King or vassall is accepted of him And hee that commeth neerest in the imitation of the holy life of a godly King hee neerest resembleth the King of Kings who is holy and would haue all men without exception to become holy as hee is holy and to beare all troubles crosses and afflictions with a godly resolution for his sake that willingly suffered infinite miseries and torments for ours and hee that endureth most with most resolute and godly patience becommeth likest vnto Christ our Redeemer This consideration comming into my minde and feeling the heauy burthen of this worlds miseries crosses and afflictions of diuers kinds I could not but for mine owne satisfaction and comfort search the Scriptures the Register of things of old written for our learning where finding that all our holy fathers the dearest children of God in all ages from the beginning haue suffered and patiently vndergone infinite and grieuous troubles with most godly and constant resolution I tooke counsell and courage to imitate as farre as by the assistance of the same grace of God whereby they suffered I might some worthy preceding patterne of faith and constancy And among many most worthy I finde none in generall troubles and dangers for constant resolution faithfull prayer and patience more fit for imitation than godly Dauid whom although hee were a King and a man chosen after Gods owne heart yet was hee not without his variety of afflictions especially enemies both before hee came to his Kingdome by Saul and his vngodly instruments and after also not onely by forraine enemies as the Philistines the Amonites the Moabites the Amalakites the Edomites and others but by his owne subiects nay by them of his own house as by Ahitophel his owne priuy Councellor and Absolon his owne son He was enforced to flie and to hide himselfe in the Wildernesse in the time of Saul who sought his life and was discouered vnto Saul by faithlesse Doeg He suffered hunger and was denied to be refreshed by sottish Nabal His wiues were taken prisoners and with great danger he recouered them He was like to be stoned of his owâ—e people He was derided and mocked by Michâ—l his owne wife for praising God in a dance before the Arke His seruants were shamefully intreated by Haman to whom hee sent them to congratulate him in loue Hee was forced to flie bare footed from Absolon his sonne He was railed on and causlesse cursed by wicked Shemey with many other extremities of all kinds yet fainted hee not but through faith hee tooke courage and comfort by his prayers vnto and dependance on GOD who neuer failed him noâ— forsooke him but alwaies and in all his perills deliuered him and returneth the praise and glory to God The example of this most worthy King among many other godly fore-fathers doe witnesse vnto vs that it is no new thing to see the dearest children of God afflicted in this life yea most worthy Kings and that not without the speciall prouidence and loue of God who will consecrate his owne through many troubles which yet deserueth not the glory which shall follow Dauid in all his troubles was neuer destitute of Gods assistance inward comfort for he depended vpon diuine prouidence in faithfull praier the strongest armour against enemies the safest Castle against dangers and the best assurance to obtaine whatsoeuer we need And therefore as Dauid beleeued in and prayed vnto this powerfull and preuailing God so may all Gods afflicted childreÌ„ imitate his faithfull and godly resolution in all their dangers with like patience and hope and they shall be safe as he plainly and plentifully testifieth in sundry most sweet and comfortable Psalmes especially in this 27. Psalme wherein being in the middest of his troubles he sheweth the force of his saith to bee such as though hee were in danger and forsaken of all his friends he was as fully assured to bee deliuered in due time as if he had beene euen then out of all danger This blessed example then of a liuely faith and the successe thereof laid thus before our eies cannot but stirre vp in vs if we haue any faith a holy desire to imitate him according to the measure of that spirit which guided this godly King and made him as it were the pen of a most diuine Scribe whose Scripture hath left vs such heauenly learning as may teach vs all things both for this life and that which is to come and happy is the man that truly followeth his worthy example MEDITATIONS and Prayers vpon the 27. PSALME VERSE 1. The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I bee afraid AS God hath giuen vs outward and corporall eyes to see and behold the workes of his hands here below so hath he giuen vs inward and spirituall light to sée himselfe and spiritually to behold the wonderfull things hee hath done for our soules saluation therefore when we looke vpon his creatures with our corporall eies wee should lift vp the eyes of our mindes to behold him that hath made framed and preserued these visible things The Sunne is a visible creature by whose beames our bodily eies are enlightned for the eye it selfe giueth not but receiueth the light which the Sunne giueth for if of it selfe it gaue the light wee should apprehend â—no darknesse at all but take away outward light and the eye is darke So the eye of the minde the eye of the soule cannot of it selfe apprehend that spirituall light which is Christ that lighteth euery man that commeth into the world And without him the minde is darke and runneth and rusheth vpon diuers stumbling blocks of errors and dangers But he that is guided by that light which was Dauids light séeth and walketh the way of safety and saluation in that light Christ is the well of life he is the light in whom all the Elect sóe the true light and walke in it The ordinary meanes to apprehend Christ the light is the word which he taught and left vnto vs yet not of it selfe that light but onely sheweth it for euery man that heareth the word séeth not the light comprehended in the same but they onely whose inward eies the Lord openeth to behold Christ the light and they walke in the light Many saw Christ but not as hee was the light and their saluation for they delighted in darknes more than light working wickednesse euen against that light in whom and by whom and through whom they onely that truly séeke that light haue assured saluation neither is there safety or saluation in any
generation to generation Preserue vs therefore O God from these cruell men and the praise and glory shall bee thine the comfort ours And the example of thy so fatherly protecting vs shall be a motiue to others in like danger to call vpon thee So be it VERSE 4. One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to visit his temple GReat is the difference betwéene the worldling the true Christian betwéene a carnall and a spirituall minded man The one coueteth to dwell and to haue his continuall abode here below the other soareth and aspireth vpward the one resembleth the Swine the other the Eagle the one is neuer satisfied with earthly and carnall things for hee hath as many desires as he hath senses and euery pleasing thing that offereth it selfe to any of them he coueteth for euery sense hath its particular delights as many senses so many fantasies numberlesse yet neither of them can be satisfied for the heart of a carual man ingrosseth them all and the more vanities it apprehendeth the more desire increaseth for the eye is neuer satisfied with seeing nor the care with hearing pleasing things But the spirituall minded desireth onely one thing namely to be assured of his saluation and the glory to come And therefore holy Dauid desired as all true Christians ought this one thing for this only one thing is necessary Bershaba the wife of Dauid and mother of Salomon desired but one thing of her sonne and hee promised her faire but performed it not according to her desire But Dauid the father of Salomon desired one thing which hée longed for of a King greater than Salomon and a matter of far greater moment than was Bershabaes and his Petition was accepted both their Petitions séemed to procéed of loue but the difference of their issues was great the one procured hatred and death the other a most blessed successe Shée made her request to man in whom to put confidence is vaine He made his request to God the holy one of Israel in whom there is mercy and truth To whom also Salomon made one especiall request only for wisdome and obtained it and with it many earthly blessings which he asked not So bountifull is God as if wée aske that one thing necessary namely the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof he will also adde blessing vpon blessing though we aske them not Dauids only Petition was y t he might dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of his life A blessed yet a strange request of a King in the opinion of worldly men who might thinke Dauid not to be so wise as some ambitious and carnall polititians are at this day who had rather be in Kings Courts to take their pleasures than to bee restrained in a Temple for a day And Dauid being a King might haue retired himselfe in his Palace and haue taken what pleasure and delight hee would hauing a Kingdome to supply whatsoeuer might haue pleased any of his senses But these delights hée found not answerable to his affection which was seasoned from aboue hauing tasted so swéetly of the loue of Iehouah who of a Shepherd made him a King and who had so often deliuered him from his enemies he had rather bée conuersant with him in his house one day than a thousand in the Court of Saul or in his owne Court among his Gallants Nay he would choose rather to be a doorekéeper in the house of God than to command an earthly kingdome and to be depriued of his heauenly exercises in the house of God It is a most glorious estate indéed to be a King but farre more glorious to be a godly King He is Gods Uice-gerent in that part of the earth wherein God in his prouidence hath set him yet must he looke to haue some discontents mixt with his greatnesse and necessary too otherwise greatnesse might cause forgetfulnes that he is a man as former examples haue discouered And therefore did God visit Dauid chosen after his own heart with many troubles to the end he should not be vnmindfull what he was whence and from what estate God had raised him to that place of eminence and that hée should serue the Lord and maintaine his lawes and defend his people cherishing the good and chastising the euill And therefore was Dauid to forward in calling his people to serue the Lord and himselfe to be the leader of them to the Temple of God to which he had so sincere a desire that hée requested of the Lord that hee might dwell therein all the daies of his life or at least haue frée liberty often to visit it to the praise of God and exercise of prayer This desire is commonly the last and least in great men for the most part though no doubt they desire as Balaam did to die when necessity requireth the death of the righteous and greater glory would it be vnto them if they would practice while they haue time the life of the righteous as they seldome doe yet few or none of whatsoeuer quality are so irreligious in shew but they will looke into the house of God peraduenture once it may be twice in a Sabbath And peraduenture thinke it long as loth to spare their pleasures delights or profits to liue a whole day in the Temple of God with fasting and prayer Some would thinke it as hard a taske as the bondage of Aegypt or the captiuity of Babylon But blessed bée God some there are that haue Dauids desire though not to dwell really in the Temple yet to bee comfortably conuersant among Gods people in hearing God speake vnto them and they to speake vnto God This is that that great men should principally desire for their example in well doing much moueth inferiours to imitation for it is commonly obserued that example doth draw more to good or euill than documents or dehortations The godly life of a great man is as a Towre séene a far and many especially his followers will imitate his steps at least in shew and euen that shew of a godly life is a good motiue to others to liue godly indéed and as a good life giues comfort encouragement to others to be good so the president of euill makes many euill If greatnesse and goodnes goe together it is the swéetest consort y t a mortall man can make in this life 〈◊〉 the contrary as harsh hellish This holy desire of Dauid was not for a day for hée speakes of the time past I desired which implies a continuall inward Petition and argues his constancy in desiring though he were often in such straits and distresses as he could not visit the materiall temple as he desired yet wheresoeuer he was driuen by the malice and rage of his enemies he euen there found Bethel the house of God in the
Wildernesse of Ziph in the holds of Engedy in Maan and Gath vncoth and solitary places hee found the Lord his God euen in his holy Temple for where God is present there is his Temple In the Lions den Daniel found him in the Furnace the three children in the Dungeon Ieremy in the Prison Peter vnder the stones Stephen in Sodom Lot in the floud Noah God is euery where where hée is called vpon faithfully Euery faithfull childe of God is alwaies in Gods house where Dauid desired so earnestly to dwell yet though he found God euery where where he called vpon him he had an earnest desire to bée conuersant euen in that materiall temple where the children of God did assemble to celebrate the praises of God and to heare his Word and though he were their King thought it no disparagement but the greatest part of his duty to accompany his subiects according to conueniencie in the holy exercises of Religion whereof being preuented by meanes of his enemies hée complaineth that hée was as a Pelican in the Wildernesse and as an Owle in the Desert And déemed the Sparrow more happy than he because that silly Bird could at all times resort vnto that holy place to which he could not come Lord saith Dauid who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle and who shall rest in thy holy Mountaine that is who shall worthily enter into thy holy Temple and behold thy beauty he answereth Hee that worketh righteousnesse c. for God is holy and requireth holinesse of life walking vprightly in a liuely faith And therefore though it be the duty of all men to frequent the materiall Temple of God to accompany the congregation in prayer praising of God and hearing his Word yet all come not with that holy desire that Dauid did nor qualified as Dauid was yet hée that is vnprepared to day may bée fit to morrow for the Word of God is as a Net and often times catcheth men ere they bee aware therefore ought all men to desire as Dauid did to visit Gods Temple where this Net of the Word is spread for being once taken hee will then with Dauid require that one thing namely to dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of his life and often to visit his Temple Dauid did not onely make a bare request vnto God but did euen presse him hée required him as if he had béen familiar with him as the faithfull may vse a holy familiarity with God in their prayers praying God to afford him that blessing of blessings as to admit him into his holy presence wherein is the fulnesse of ioy and at his right hand are pleasures for euermore not for a day a moneth or a yéere as worldlings haue and then perish but begun here and shall neuer haue end To dwell in the house of Iehouah is to dwell abide in his fauour to be partaker of his sanctifying grace to haue the true knowledge of his diuine will and to practice it by faith obedience zeale prayer and to beare about vs the markes of the Lord Jesus in patient vndergoing the burthen of the Crosse and in continuall exercise of holinesse and righteousnesse whosoeuer is in this case is safe in the holy Temple of God as in a safe Sanctuary and is a true member of the mysticall body of our conquering Christ the head of that Church which is the true Temple neither made with hands and which hands cannot pull downe Out of which are barred all such as trust in lying miracles and workes that cannot profit such as steale commit idolatry adultery such as sweare falsly and such as fall downe and worship false gods or the true God after a false and idolatrous manner Though these stand in the materiall Temple or seclude themselues in Cloisters in séeming deuotion to sequester themselues from the world to God and yet commit many barbarous sinnes and grosse impieties thinking themselues safe and to be reconciled to God by a confessory penance God will not onely not heare them but reiect them their prayers for they seeme religious and are not obedient to God and are not faithfull and are not but are méere Hypocrites who resorting to the Temple of God commit rather sacrilege than offer sacrifice acceptable to God These visit not the Temple but rather defile if with their counterfeit holinesse who would séeme in shew Saints but in heart enemies to Christ and Christians yet cry they the Church the Church and yet farre from being members of it So many séeming-good Christians cry out Preach Preach and séeme neuer satisfied with Sermons this desire is good if their hearts desire it to profit and practise the word but if it be but to séeme religious and inwardly retaine their corrupt desires if they amend not their waies and their workes séeme they neuer so holy they are but Hypocrites for this is to bée in the Temple of God by his Word preached to learne to execute iudgement not to oppresse the poore nor the stranger the fatherlesse nor the Widow not to deceiue nor to walke after other gods after riches and pleasures If this fruit of hearing appeare in them they are no doubt of the family and house of God and shall dwell in his Tabernacle and rest securely vpon his holy Mountaine for they are of the generation of the iust but there is a generation saith Salomon that are pure in their owne conceits and yet are not washed from their filthinesse they follow the deuices of their owne hearts And assume vnto themselues a peculiar manner of seruing of God not according to the sincere truth but as God abhorreth all sacrifices of vncleane things so doth hee all counterfeit showes of sincerity God admitteth not sinners namely such as make no conscience of sinne to come into his holy presence much lesse to dwell in his holy Temple though they may séeme to honour him with their lips He detesteth their forged sacrifices and their very praiers are abhominable though they pertake of the holy Sacraments and performe outwardly other diuine duties Hee is not pleased with them neither behold they the beauty of the Lord but his seuere and fierce countenance is bent against them But such as desire with the like affection as Dauid did to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visit his Temple are such as the Lord enuiteth and willeth to come and louingly embraceth them They come not for a spirt and away but desire to make their continuall abode where they may still behold his beautie and his glory his louing kindnesse and mercies towards them shewed in his word as in a glasse which appeareth more swéet and amiable to the cies of their sanctified soules than the most beautifull feature of Angels This most heauenly beauty Dauid desired to sée saw it as Paul teacheth saying That God cōmanded the light to shine out of darknesse euen in our harts that the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God might shine in the face of Iesus Christ whose glory we sée in the preaching of his word wherein he declareth the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared vnto glory This glory the more the spirituall man beholdeth the more is he moued with desire to sée more and more and can neuer be sufficiently filled with that heauenly Contemplation Much were the Disciples moued at the sight of Christs transfigured glory in so much as they desired to haue enioyed the sight of it still so glorious it was that their minds were euen rauisht with the beauty thereof So Dauid desired to dwell in the Temple of the Lord not for a day but all the daies of his life to behold the beauty the goodnesse and mercies of God reuealed in his Word and to exercise himselfe in prayer Where God is duly and truly called vpon by a holy Congregation there appeareth the glory and beauty of Iehouah There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mighty God of Iacob whose glory filleth the Temple which the faithfull man séeth with a spirituall eye but the carnall man though bodily present in the same Temple apprehendeth it not As when Paul was conuerted he saw the glory of God shine vpon him but they that iournied with him though néere him saw nothing So that God is onely séene of them to whom hée pleaseth to reueale himselfe This beauty of the Lord shineth in the hearts of Gods elect children by the reuelation of the holy Ghost which none séeth but themselues And they take such sweet delight in the beholding of the face of God in Christ as they doe receiue in their soules the very Impression of the Image of the glory of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth euen as Moses receiued thorow the splendor of the glory of God vpon Mount Sinai in his countenance such an impression of that glory that the children of Israel could not endure to behold with their eies the glory of his countenance What remaineth then but that we neglect not the continuall visitation of the temple of God to accompany the Congregation in the hearing of that heauenly Word to pray vnto God for his blessings and to giue him praise for his benefits And the Lord open our spirituall eies that we may euen here behold his beautie and bee hereafter pertakers of his glory A Praier for spirituall knowledge and increase of our holy desires to visit the Temple of God to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him O Gracious Lord God most louing who reiectest none that come vnto thee with a perfect heart and none can come vnto thee vnlesse thou call him as well by thy inward Grace as by thy outward Word Vouchsafe according to the riches of thy Grace to grant that I may be strengthned by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and that my whole spirit soule and body may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus For thou knowest Lord what I am by nature a man vnworthy to enter vnder thy roofe or to presse into the place where thine honour dwelleth For thou art a God that louest righteousnesse and acceptest of such as are of cleane hearts and whose conuersations are vpright before thee but I am a sinner and corrupt as all my fathers were Cleanse me therefore O gracious Lord God in the bloud of Iesus Christ and make me fit to approach thine holy Temple that I may see thy beautie and behold thy glory Open mine eares that I may heare prepare my heart that I may vnderstand what thou teachest in thy word Enlighten mine inward eies the eies of my soule that I may see thee and take comfort in thy presence And open my lips that I may speake vnto thee in faith and answer mee againe in loue Teach mee that celestiall language that may moue thee to heare me For what booteth it me to come into thy house with deafe eares not to heare thee without attention to vnderstand thee mute and not be able to speake vnto thee Yet I know good Father that thou hearest them that cannot speake and thou teachest them that vnderstand not and thou openest the eies of them that see not such is thy loue towards vs as thou acceptest euen of the language of heartie sighes whither they be for sinne or for want of spirituall graces Thou knowest the inward desires of the heart tending to good or euill I am sorry good Father that any corruption lurketh in my defiled heart to keepe out that blessed guest thy Spirit I cannot of my selfe abandon corruption I cannot of my selfe so mortifie my sinne but that the dregges therefore will still remaine But cast me not out of thine holy Temple because I am a sinner but rather because I am a sinner admit to visit thy Temple to heare thy Word that I may learne to liue more and more obediently vnto thee Make thou my heart cleane and I shall bee all cleane so shall I visit thine house to honour thee and comfort my selfe by thy holy presence and shall take spirituall pleasure in thy beautie and be finally pertaker of thy glory Thou louest righteousnesse O make me righteous Thou hatest iniquity abandon my sinnes Knit my heart vnto thee that I may both feare and loue thy name Giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to serue thee both in the materiall Temple with thy people and in all places at all times for thou art euery where to be found And where thou art there is thy house for thou dwellest not in Temples made with hands but in the heauens and in the hearts of them whom thou hast sanctified Turne thy face vnto me O Lord for thy face I seeke Shew me thy beauty and glory of thy countenance and change mee into thine owne Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit admit me continually to visit thy holy Temple Make my heart stable and vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure heart and conscience vndefiled That I come not into thine house onely to seeme religious but in true faith and due reuerence and giue thou a blessing vnto my godly desires Amen VERSE 5. In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide mee and set me vpon a Rocke THe very name of Trouble is fearefull to a worldly man for he loues pleasure ease and when trouble commeth he is cast downe and is as it were at deaths doore but the true childe of God being fore-warned that if he will liue godly he must looke for and prepare himselfe to suffer trouble and affliction in this life Trouble therefore doth little or nothing moue him when it commeth because when he first entred into the schoole of christianity he learned that
or abuse vs to complaine to him and he will redresse it If we bée sicke he knoweth our diseases he is our Physician and knoweth whether life or death be fittest for vs. If we die he will restore vs to life eternall therefore may wée fréely cast our care vpon him for hee careth for vs. Fathers saith Salomon are the glory of their children How much more shall the God of all glory our heauenly Father be a glory to vs his children who hath prouided for vs an inheritance which no man can depriue vs of yea a Kingdome whose glory shall haue no end The remembrance of our futurâ— enioying it is as a most deepe Sea of comfort in this inferiour Kingdome of crosses It cannot bee fadomed with the line of mans capacity what hee hath promised hee will performe for his children therefore may we stand assured and boldly affirme that though the fathers and mothers of the faithfull doe forsake them that God will take charge of them A Prayer that God will shew himselfe our father in all our troubles and afflictions when all other helpe faileth O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing Father from whom proceedeth euery good and perfect gift and who of thine owne will hast begotten vs with the Word of truth shew thy selfe a father vnto mee who am depriued of father and mother from all helpe and comfort in this life beset on all sides with troubles dangers and many afflictions relying only vpon thy prouidence shew thy selfe vnto me a father a powerfull and protecting father as thou diddest vnto Ioseph who being depriued of father and mother hated of his brethren sold as a slaue falsly accused sharply imprisoned hauing none to helpe him or to comfort him forsaken of all his friends yet when all helpe failed thou tookest him into thy protection and directedst him in thy waies he became louing vnto thee as a sonne obedient vnto thee as a seruant he waited on thee as vpon a most faithfull father hee called vpon thee and thou heardest him and gauest him the honour of a sonne euen in this life holinesse and honour testifying vnto him that thou his father hadst a respect vnto his faith constancy and wrongs neuer leauing him nor forsaking him to teach vs O Lord faithfully to depend vpon thy mercy power and prouidence in whatsoeuer danger I was left vnto thee as soone as I was borne and thou like a most louing father tookest me vp hast hitherunto kept me O forsake mee not for if thou my father leaue me and forsake mee who will or can take charge of me I am many waies afflicted and full of sorrow not so much for my troubles as for that I haue sinned and offended thee so louing a God as thou Hast beene vnto me euer vnto this day but now louing Father I seeme destitute of thy fauour of thy releeuing hand I am he â—ily oppressed and what I endure is not hid from thee and thou onely knowest how to releeue me my father my mother and all my friends haue forsaken me Dauid being thus destitute he resorted vnto thee confessing that when his father and his mother forsooke him thou tookest him vp and is thyr fatherly affection dead and discontinued in Dauid No no louing art thou still powerfull art thou still and helpfull art thou still for thy faithfulnesse and thy truth and thy power and thy prouidence are for euer and happy yea most happy is he that hath thee his releeuing and helping father for nothing is wanting to him that is thus cast vpon thee He hath not only the promise but the assurance of thy presence and loue both in this life and the life to come Yet gracious Father among all men it goeth hardest with thine owne children often troubled much abused deeply distressed falsly accused scoffingly derided and many crosses cruell calamities and great afflictions follow them I am enforced to vndergoe the burthen of infinite trialls as if thou hadst not onely not taken mee vp but vtterly cast mee off And were it not that I truly know thee to bee my father in that thou so fatherly yet sharply correctest me I could not but faint but thy grace sustaineth mee and doth inwardly comfort mee else should I vtterly despaire O my father take mee into thy protection leaue me not forsake mee not for I am brought very low and there is none that careth for mee there is none willing to adde any comfort but sorrow vnto my soule there is neither father nor mother neither friend nor helper to commiserate mine estate but thou whom I only trust for thy promises tend to mine encouragement to cast my care vpon thee who hast willed all that are oppressed to come to thee and be eased But Lord what booteth it mee to seeke thee when I cannot finde thee to pray vnto thee when thou seemest to refuse to heare me Haue I so deepely offended thee that neither my repentance can pacifie thee the mediation of thy Sonne reconcile thee nor my faithfull prayers preuaile with thee Is thy mercy come to an end Hast thou no more blessings for thy children O wretch that I am Why doe I thus reason with thee am I able to ouer-rule thee with my words Shall I teach thee what thou shouldest doe No Lord I only bewray mine ignorance by my words which can no further preuaile with thee than thou in thy wisdome and mercy thinkest fit for mee Therefore will I close my lips I will keepe silence and wait both thy pleasure and leisure for thou hast a time to be angry and a time to hee pacified I will rest with patience and commit my selfe vnto thee in obedience and if thou lay a greater burthen vpon mee then yet I beare if thou suffer mee to sinke and to bee cleane ouerwhelmed with more bitter waters than yet I feele I will yet trust in thee though my body perish and all outward helpe faile mee preserue my soule O Lord for thou art the father of it and respectest it farre aboue my carnall parâ—â— yet both make but one body yet may the one prosper when the other may perish But I know that such is thy care of both that rather than thou wilt permit me vtterly to bee confounded thou wilt euen send from Heauen and saue me Be it vnto me euen as thou wilt O God my strength and my saluation VERSE 11. Teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies IT is the property of an enemy to bée alwaies prying into the life of him hee hates and to obserue whatsoeuer faults hée doth commit though he himselfe bée quilty of more and to publish and proclaime them to the world to his vttermost disgrace And therefore it behooueth all men especially a man that hath enemies as Dauid had to looke vnto his waies lest by the errors of his life they take aduantage and so make his cause otherwise good séeme the worst
colour and therefore as long as none but wicked men scandalize vs and condemne vs we néed not be ashamed no though they raile reuile and curse vs wee néed not feare it for in stead of their curses God will blesse vs yet let vs pray Teach me O Lord thy way and leade me in thy path aright because of mine enemies None but enuious and wicked men are malicous enemies vnto such as feare God and they indéed cannot sléepe vntill they haue contriued some mischiefe against the innocent whom they would disgrace taking all occasions and aduantages to worke them any violence though they be already afflicted they will afflict them more if they bee already fallen they will euen tread vpon them to kéepe them downe that they may not rise It is their glory if they can adde more sorrow to the sorrowfull and more griefe to the grieued they are continually trauelling with wickednes conceiuing mischiefe but they commonly bring forth a lie for the mischiefe y t they intend to others fals in the end vpon their owne heads and their cruelty vpon their owne pates they are snared euen with the works of their owne hands for God hath euer he doth and euer will preserue his owne from these wicked men though he suffer them somtimes bodily to perish vnder their tyranny it is but to aggrauate the sins of their persecutors and the sooner to bring his vnto their finall glory Therefore behoueth the most godly to bée wary of their waies for how much the more godly religious and zealous they are in walking with God so much the more malicious is Satan to raise vp troubles slanders and reproaches against them by such as he can stir vp against vs who howsoeuer inwardly enuious they are yet haue they learned of their master to speake plausibly though deceitfully flattering with their lips hauing a venomous heart within whereby they oftentimes allure the innocent without suspicion to bewray vnto them their secret thoughts and intentions and in simplicity by their inchanted subtilties discouer that which these wicked serpentine wretches worke vpon and wrest to bring not only their names reputation and credit but their estates and liues in question By their wicked counsell they compasse our steps they set their enuious eyes vpon our waies If they finde wée walke vnblameable they wil plot to haue some blockes to be laid in our waies that if it be possible we might stumble though they could not make vs fall altogether If we erre on the other side neuer so little they will insult ouer vs they will blow the trumpet of our defamation and cry There there so would we haut it But these deuices of theirs God séeth and what they practise against such as feare him therfore let vs only say Teach vs O Lord thy way and leade vs in the right path because of our enemies As long as wee walke in the way of God truly and be lead that path that is right let vs not feare Heare what Dauid said vnto Salomon his sonne whom he exhorted to walke in the waies of the Lord to keepe his Statutes and his Commandementes his Iudgements and his Testimonies We must endeuour to haue Gods lawes euer before our eies and neuer depart from his precepts This is the way walke in it Though it bee a strict way and vnpleasant to a carnall minde it is a most swéet and comfortable way a way that leadeth here to happinesse and after to Heauen There is another way a common high way much beaten by diuers passengers all carnall men traffike this way a very pleasant way wherein yet many haue walked for a time but they haue found that as a man that eateth too much hony may surfet through the swéetnesse of it so they were euen glutted with the vanities that are strewed in the way It is a way full of carnall content indeed but it is but short men are at their waies end many times when they think themselues not halfe way there and are grieued their iourney is so soone done But when they come to the end of the race they suddenly finde a most fearefull gulph which they cannot auoid turne backe againe they cannot as ordinary trauellers often doe when they haue mistaken their way and take another but they that walke this high and pleasant way must bée enforced to stay and to take vp their hideous Inne not for a night as waifaring men doe but remaine there for euer with the Deuill and his Angels A Prayer that God will be pleased to direct vs in his waies and leade vs vprightly because of our enemies O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing father in Iesus Christ vouchsafe to looke in mercy vpon me teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies Giue mee grace that I may walke aright and pray aright and beleeue aright and in all mine actiōs be guided by thee aright Reframe me from the way of the wicked and guide me in the paths of righteousnesse make thy way plaine before my face for of my selfe I am blinde I cannot see the right way direct and guide me that I stumble not to cause mine enemies to laugh and reioyce at my fall Send out thy light and thy truth let them leade me and bring mee to thine holy mountaine where I shall be safe from mine enemies order and direct my goings O Lord aright according to thy word reclaime me from euery euill way and direct my feet in the way of truth in that way that leadeth to life preuent mee of that forbidden way which is pleasant yet perillous seeming plaine and delectable but the end thereof is death Lord let my walkings bee vpright because of mine enemies who watch euen the course of my life they pry into all mine actions they obserue my conuersation and if they see mee but slide or slip neuer so little awry they sound the trumpets of my disgrace If they see mee to fall into any sinne through my frailty they cry out and say That there is no feare of thee before mine eies O my God consider this and in mercy remember I am but dust by nature subiect to great infirmities which I doe acknowledge O Lord reclaime mee from my euill inclination by thy grace set me in the way of truth and obedience and leade me therein for euer and learne mee to liue after thy Commandements and yeeld mee thy feare and thy direction that I may walk in them for mine owne waies are as my will is by nature euill euermore but thy waies are mercy and truth and such as truly feare thy name thou teachest the waies of perfect obedience and reducest euen sinners to walke aright reclaiming them by thy grace from their euill waies Guide me that I may know thee and thy waies and leade me aright in them let me neuer goe astray from them lest mine enemies take occasion by my transgressions to say that I haue
no feare of thee before mine eies deliuer me out of their hands O Lord out of the hands of euill and cruell men and from their slanderous and false tongues that are set on fire against the innocent They hate them that offend them not they persecute them that resist them not let them haue no iust cause to condemne my waies Thou hast set before vs a blessing and a curse a blessing for them that walke vprightly in thy waies and a curse to them that wilfully fotsake the way which thou hast appointed thy children to walke in O shew mee the good and right way and euermore leade me therein Giue me grace to take heed of that way which seemeth right the end whereof is death Draw me O Lord out of this way and leade me by thy right hand so shall I abandon this way full of carnall pleasures and sinfull delights Teach me thy waies the waies of obedience and repentance the waies of righteousnesse and peace which tend to eternall life It is not in my power or wisdome to finde out or walke in this way It is hid from humane vnderstanding and therefore euen Moses though otherwise of deepe knowledge being by nature ignorant of this way sought to be and was instructed by thee therein How much more good Father need I to intreat thee to learne me this way for I haue beene long lead awry be mine owne corrupt affections not knowing the way of truth and righteousnesse wherein I beseech thee to guide and leade mee now at the last and for euer because of mine enemies O Lord my God my guide and my Redeemer Amen VERSE 12. Giue me not ouer to the lust of mine enemies for there are false witnesses risen vp against mee and such as speake cruelly WHat man is he that liueth is frée from enemies Of what estate condition or quality soeuer If he be good the wicked will hate him the world will disfauour him and the Deuill will maligne him If he be euill the vertuous will dislike him the godly cannot affect him God cannot blesse him yet ought euery man to endeuour to be godly howsoeuer Satan will doe what he can to raise enemies against him as he did against godly Dauid and against all the holy men of God from the beginning as first against Abel against Iob and aboue all against Christ himselfe whose enemies séemed to haue their full lust fulfilled against him neuer leauing him vntill they had crucified him And yet then were they néerest to their owne confusion when they had their wils of him Dauid in this Psalme séemeth to haue béene much troubled with enemies and yet sheweth in the second verse of the same that when his enemies and his foes came vpon him to eat vp his flesh they stumbled and fell In the third verse hee sheweth such faith and confidence in God that though an Host pitched against him his heart should not be afraid Yet in this twelfth verse he séemeth to feare againe lest his enemies might yet preuaile against him and therefore praieth that God would not giue him ouer to the lust of his enemies which may teach vs that when we thinke our selues most frée from and as it were out of the reach of all enemies not to be secure for a reconciled enemy may harbour secret mischiefe which although hée will not for his counterfeit promise sake execute by his owne publike violence yet he may suborne such secretly as may renew either the open quarrell againe or falsly accuse the innocent party And this as it séemeth did Dauid finde for when hée thought all his enemies were at peace with him he obserued some secret practises against him By false witnesses which were risen against him who accused him afresh and procured him new or moued his old Aduersaries against him which séemeth to afright him more than before an Host of enemies could doe For now hée praieth that God would not giue him ouer to the lust of them that before he feared not which sheweth that a second danger is more fearefull than a former And which also sheweth our too much securitie after our deliuery from a danger as though we néed no more to feare another to follow But if we obserue well the course of the waies of wicked men we shal see that they seldome giue ouer to prosecute them they once desired to persecute And God hath likewise such an eie vnto his owne children that he will not haue them idle hee will exercise them as long as they liue heere they must bee partakers of his crosses they must haue enemies as hee had they must suffer pouertie ignominy and disgrace in the world as hee did Though he being Lord of all and could command all hée was poore yet all the world and the things in the world were his when he was hungry he could haue plentifully supplied his hunger being disgraced by the reprobaâ—e Jewes he could haue done as Peter did with Annanias and Saphira haue spoken but the word and his enemies should haue fallen dead at his foot But he patiently suffered all to teach vs that are but seruants to imitate him that is our master and Lord. If they called him Belsabub and he suffered them why should we take scorne to bée despised reproached and ill intreated and our enemies to insult ouer vs and to haue their lust fulfilled against vs euen to take away our liues We are but seruants hée was our Lord yet he endured and shall we thinke our selues better or deserue to be more frée than he that was guiltie of no offence against them that thus abused him We being culpable of a thousand sinnes against him and yet hath fréed vs from the guilt and punishment of all Yet it behooueth vs to pray as Dauid did Giue mee not ouer vnto the lust of mine Aduersaries For as there were against Christ so there are false Witnesses risen vp against vs and such also as speake cruelly Cruell and wicked men haue commonly attending them such as will speake and practise what they will haue them for gaine if they will haue them to accuse any man falsly they can coine matter This man said If they did destroy the Temple of Ierusalem which was made with hands he would build it in three daies without hands Whereas indéed hée said that if they did destroy the Temple of his body hee would raise it againe in three daies as he did But by this may be obserued the cunning and subtilty of the Deuill that can and doth prompt his wicked Instruments how they may peruert the words and actions of the innocent to a sense cleane contrary to their meaning and make so false a Glosse vpon it as if it were truth it selfe and will set such an audacious face vpon it as if God deale not with the falsly accused as hée did for the defence of innocent Susanna they will haue their lust of them Such a false witnesse was perfidious Ziba against
Lord I dismay not for thou art my defence and in thine appointed time wilt lift vp my head againe for saluation belongeth vnto thee O God and thou wilt destroy the bloudy and deceitful men But blessed and preserued shall they bee that truly feare and trust in thee thy power is seene in weaknesse and thy helpe in affliction therefore O Lord let not mine enemies haue their lust of me I know thou wilt performe thy promise of my defence in thy good time therefore will I rest in hope I will patiently wait for yet a little while and these wicked men shall not appeare In the meane time I will commit my cause vnto thee my Lord my God my strength and my Redeemer VERSE 13. I should haue fainted except I had beleeued to see the goodnesse of thee in the land of the liuing ENemies troubles and afflictions are heauy to bee borne of such as are weake in faith and haue not perfect patience to beare them as may appeare by godly Dauid himselfe who acknowledgeth that himselfe though he were a man chosen after Gods owne heart should haue fainted vnder the malice and fury of his enemies and other afflictions but y t he beléeued to sée the goodnes of God namely his timely deliuery in the land of the liuing euen here before the sonnes of men where if hée had not found the goodnesse of God towards him all men would haue thought as his enemies did that God had vtterly forsaken him for euer and therfore prayed God in a liuely faith that his defence might here appeare before he were taken hence no more to be séene although he knew that after this life hée should bee in a farre more happy and blessed estate than his enemies but that hee might finde Gods fauour here to the end that other godly afflicted men séeing the mercies of God towards him in deliuering him out of his troubles might by his faith and patience take like godly resolution to depend vpon the power and prouidence of God for their like deliuery Why art thou cast downe O my soule saith Dauid in his troubles and so vnquiet within mee which argueth that troubles and afflictions euen to a faithfull man doe at the first much disquiet his heart like as they that first are committed to prison they are much disquieted their hearts faint and are much cast downe vntill they haue béene for a time enured to their restraint and then come by little and little to themselues againe so doe they that vpon a sudden fall into any affliction as Dauid did but hauing a little considered that it is the Lords doing hee could then say vnto his sad soule Wait on God for I will yet giue him thanks for the helpe of his presence This sheweth the strong faith and confidence of Dauid who although his troubles were so many and heauy euen at the present that he was ready to faint vnder them yet hee waited with a firme assurance that the time would come wherein hee should reioyce againe and praise God againe for his helpe and certaine deliuery which hee knew was not farre off This teacheth euery faithfull man in his afflictions and troubles to repaire vnto God in prayer not to bée daunted or dismaid nor to disquiet himselfe but in patience to possesse his soule waiting the time wherein God hath appointed to deliuer him for it is a vaine thing and vnprofitable for a man in affliction to goe before the Lords prouidence strugling and striuing by sinister and vncommanded meanes to frée himselfe he doth by that meanes the more intangle himselfe as the Bird in the Net warranted meanes hee may vse and those with faithfull prayer vnto GOD to blesse the meanes for lawfull meanes profit not vnlesse they be also lawfully done and that is when and where God is made not onely a party but the principall in the meanes It was a very weake weapon that Dauid vsed against Goliah who was compleatly armed from the foot to the head there was but one small part of his whole body vnarmed and that was the fore part of his head but God so directed the stone that came out of his sling that it found that open way to cast that monster of men to the earth If God had not added strength to Dauids armes and by his prouidence carried the stone aright Dauids aime might haue failed the marke so whatsoeuer means we vse either in preuenting or easing our selues in any kinde of affliction if our hearts be not seasoned with faith in God ioined with praier we may misse of our hope and so faint in the expectation of our deliuery and therefore saith Dauid I should haue fainted except I had beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord. Except I had depended on his prouidence for my deliuery from mine enemies and had taken hold and beene assured of the true performance of his promises to ease me of mine afflictions I should haue sunke vnder the burthen of my troubles God who is our Father is goodnesse it selfe of whom and from whom wee obtaine all things through faith in his Sonne by him we liue moue and haue our being and therefore there is none in whom or by whom wée should séeke helpe in troubles but in God alone He is our hope and strength and helpe in troubles ready to bee found Therefore saith Dauid I will neither faint nor feare and againe my defence is in God who preserueth the vpright in heart He is God and none besides he is mighty and none else Why then should we faint in any troubles Why should wee bee daunted though enemies rise vp against vs Séeing this God is our God whose goodnesse helpe and deliuery if we beléeue we shall sée and our very enemies shall sée it euen here here in this vale of misery amongst the sons of men he shall be our guide and defence vnto death Unbeléefe is a most dangerous disease in the heart of man nothing succeedeth comfortably vnto them that beléeue not in God good things vnto vnbeléeuers turne to euill As vnto a raw crude a stomack ouercome with superfluous humors the best meat turnes to increase their disease so to an vnfaithfull man all things worke together to the increase of Gods iudgements against him As to the sonnes in law of Lot in Sodome who would not beléeue the Word of God declared by Lot for the confusion of the City perished So the children of Israel to whom God had promised to giue the Land of Canaan in their iourney towards it did not onely not beléeue the Lord but murmured against him saying Who shall giue vs flesh to eat would God we had died in the land of Aegyt or in this Wildernesse would God wee were dead were it not better for vs to turne into Aegypt With many such reproachful murmurous faithlesse obiurgations as well against God himselfe as against Moses and Aaron but for their infidelity faintings murmurings God answered their impious
desires to die he destroyed them in the Wildernes in his heauy displeasure The frailty of a faithlesse man is great he can beare no troubles hee can endure no afflictions with any kinde of patience because hée hath no true and sound vnderstanding of God and his prouidence He thinkes if he prosper and by his naturall policy and meanes can preuent dangers and troubles or hauing them can vse sinister meanes to ease them hée ascribes it to his owne carnall wisdome but when that preuaileth not but that hée is pinched and déeply plunged in distresses and miseries which he cannot ease then hee begins to faint and to murmur and cry Who shall giue mee flesh to eat How shall I get mony to supply my wants Would God I had died when I was young would God I were dead and the like The troubles and afflictions of the wicked and the godly differ not in the outward shew the wicked may bee poore so may the most godly they may haue like outward crosses and afflictions but their bearing of them is vnequall the wicked as before is said faint and fume and murmur and grudge at euery small crosse or affliction and although they heare the promises of God who is ready to helpe yet they beléeue them not They can bee assured of nothing that hangs vpon Gods promises they would think and speake and obiect against God as that Prince in Samaria did when Elisha foretold from the mouth of God plenty to that distressed and besieged City Though the Lord said hee would make windowes in the Heauen could this come to passe So incredulous are men without sound faith that once downe they thinke they shall neuer rise once in trouble they shall neuer haue ease and this is the cause that men séeming faithfull faint vnder their crosses and despaire in their afflictions but it is otherwise with the truly faithfull indéed who know by the foretelling of the Spirit of God in his Word that troubles attend the godly as the shadow the body and therefore prepare themselues before hand for them and reioyce in them in as much as they are partakers here of Christs sufferings So they are likewise assured that when his glory shall appeare they also shall appeare with him in glory yet the most faithfull may haue a kinde of fearefulnesse and fainting for a time but not such as shall preuaile but they will soone ouercome all such faithlesse qualmes by a liuely apprehension of Gods ready helpe through faith and then they may indéed say as Dauid did I should haue fainted except I had beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing There is none of himselfe so strong but when troubles and afflictions come will faint if faith in God faile them A Prayer that God will not forsake vs in our troubles and that our faith faile not HAd I not taken hold O God of thy louing promises and beleeued thy Word I should haue fainted and yet should faint vnder my troubles if I did not beleeue that thou O Lord knowest my troubles and that mine afflictions are not hid from thee thou hast promised to be a refuge for the poore a refuge in due time euen in affliction keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye according to thy promise hide me vnder the shadow of thy wings from the wicked that oppresse me I haue called vpon thee in my troubles O Lord and cried vnto thee my God and thou hast heard me and holpen mee yea when I haue beene ready vtterly to haue fainted I haue cried vnto thee and thou hast redeemed mee and deliuered me Those mercies of thine O Lord remember still renue them euermore towards mee for I stand in continuall need of thy continuall presence Thy goodnesse is great O Lord which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee and done to them that trust in thee euen before the sonnes of men I haue felt thy fauour and formerly tasted of thy loue How could I but haue fainted but that I still beleeued to bee partaker of thy goodnesse and mercy in my troubles Thou O Lord art my secret place thou preseruest me in trouble and compassest me about with ioyfull deliuerance therefore will I not faint knowing that thine eies are vpon mee and thine eare open vnto my prayers I trust in thee I will not bee afraid what man can doe vnto me Thou Lord hast said concerning the faithfull hee shall call vpon mee and I will heare him so that both my prayers and thy hearing are both thine owne gifts Nay thou addest further Lord I will bee with him in trouble I will deliuer him and glorifie him O why should I feare then or faint seeing thou art pleased to be with me in my troubles as to take part as it were with me of mine afflictioÌ„s wonderfull and vnspeakable O Lord is the extent of thy power and wonderfull the limits of thy loue impossible it is to finde out the depth of thy compassions towards thy children thou hearest vs before we call thou giuest before wee aske thou helpest vs before wee cry thou giuest vs power to call thou teachest vs what to aske and thou euen meetest vs when we are but euen comming vnto thee Thus gracious hast thou euer beene O Lord thus gracious thou art and thus gracious wi lt thou shew thy selfe vnto them that beleeue to see and taste of thy goodnesse euen vnto the end of the world and as thou art gracious so art thou absolute in wisdome thou knowest how to releeue the distressed and how to comfort the afflicted yea when they are ready to faint and to giue ouer any more to call for helpe being as it were hoarse with crying as Dauid was thou giuest them of thy water of life and it reuiueth the fainting soules and strengthneth the weake spirits that gâ—oane vnder the burthen of any calamity or trouble Strengthen mee therefore with thy grace O Lord I shall not then faint nor feare for my sure defence is in thee who wilt in time bring the malice of mine enemies to an end and as I beleeue so shall I see thy goodnesse in the land of the liuing for thou that hast promised it art iust of thy promises and powerfull to performe what thou hast said Therefore euen here I doe meerely beleeue to receiue at thy hands free release and pardon of all that hath beene the ground of my troubles and cause of my miseries Grant mee Lord freedome from mine enemies and restitution of what I haue beene depriued of by any of them then shall they finde that I haue not onely not fainted but beleeued to see and haue seene thy goodnesse O Lord euen here in the Land of the liuing where euen mine enemies and my soes shall witnesse that I haue not beleeued in thee my God in vaine VERSE 14. Hope in the Lord be strong and he shall comfort thine heart and trust in the Lord. THis
Pauls hope and patience aimed to heauenly not to earthly accomplishments not looking for the euent of his hope in this life How then may his hope of heauenly glory and Dauids hope to be defended and reléeued here in the land of the liuing concurre They may well stand together Euen as Christ by healing of corporall diseases made men heauenly minded and cleane by forgiuing their sinnes so Dauid praied not so simply for corporall deliuerie but he praied also for the light of the truth that he might dwell in the Temple of God for mercy and the like And although Paul séemed by his words to hope onely for heauenly glory necessaries for this life were necessarily included He that duly and truly praies for heauenly cannot be frustrate of earthly and he that praies faithfully for earthly cannot but therewith ioyne heauenly blessings for true and sincere hope includes both He therefore that through faith in Christ doth hope in the Lord and becommeth strong in him Hee will comfort his heart with the supply both of heauenly and earthly blessings As it is lawfull for vs to pray vnto God for corporall necessaries so are wée bound to hope and wait for them Without hope of victory Dauid would neuer haue entred the combat with Goliah Wée must therefore hope in the Lord and bee strong trusting in God and our hearts shall bee comforted We may not looke backe or about vs for helpe our helpe commeth from heauen therefore must we not hope and hope a hope partly from aboue and partly from beneath but our hope must bée in God alone yet not to contemne or despise the inferior meanes that God vseth here below as his Instruments for our good in whom wée may haue a kinde of hope as Dauid had in Ionathan that he would deale faithfully with him in the matter of Saul his father so may wée hope in man but our confidence must be in God alone What God hath promised in his Word he will assuredly performe to them that truly beléeue And that did Dauid finde euen when the Crowne was like to bée taken from his head Hee fainted not but held fast by the accustomed loue and help of God and became strong in faith euen when his enemies were in their fiercest fury against him He waited still vsing little or no other resistance against his enemies than feruent praier to God and his counsell and his expectation in patience was not in vaine for the Lord subdued his enemies without the great force of Dauid and thereupon he tooke courage he hoped in the Lord he was strong in faith and the Lord did comfort his heart He sought not as the wicked doe sinister and forbidden meanes to be deliuered For when Saul his mortall enemy pursued him with deadly malice to take away his life yet when Saul fell into his hands and had him twice in his power and might haue ended the quarrell and fréed himselfe of danger he would not doe it no though he might haue made present way for himselfe to the kingdome whose it was after Saul yet neither his owne perill wherein hée daily stood through the malice and fury of Saul nor his owne future right to the Crowne could moue him to touch the Lords anointed contrary to the minds of many ambitious men both of former and latter ages who are loth to let slip any opportunitie offered be it neuer so vniust to aduance their greatnesse But Dauid staid himselfe vpon hope that God who had so often deliuered him would still doe it without any vnlawfull meanes of his owne and in his time appointed would aduance him as he had promised and therefore waited the time with patience comforting his heart in the middest of his dangers And long it was not before he came lawfully to that which before he might and would not because hée hoped in God whom he knew he should haue offended if he had taken the counsel of some that aduised him There is no hope to that hope whereunto Dauid encourageth himselfe others no strength to that strength and no mans heart can bée truly comforted but by the comfort wherewith he affirmeth his heart was comforted therefore chéereth he vp his owne soule with this holy resolution to hope in the Lord with this heauenly strength to be strong in the Lord and with that comfort wherewith he was comforted of the Lord. There is a hope that is vaine a strength that is weake and a comfort that is but counterfeit Let vs then take hold of that hope that strength and that comfort that is of God and trust in him So shall we not néed to be afraid of enemies to faint in afflictions but shall be sure to finde comfort in all our troubles Salomon saith that hope that is deferred is the fainting of the heart but that is but to the faint-hearted For if we wait not it is no hope but if we abide with patience Gods appointed time we shall enioy what we hope for And when the desire commeth it is a tree of life And Dauid hauing often gathered the fruit of this trée and fed thereon when he fainted he giues here of the same fruit to others Hope saith he in the Lord bee strong be not faint-hearted though hope be deferred for comming the thing we hope for will tarry no longer than a conuenient time and then it will comfort the heart Hope groweth strong by the effects of Gods goodnesse formerly hoped for and had which Saint Paul affirmeth encouraging the Corinthians as Dauid did himselfe and others To hope to be strong to trust in the Lord and to lay hold vpon the hope that is set before vs which hope we haue as an anker of the soule sure and stedfast And this is the comfort of the heart that Dauid meaneth euen our faith in God whereby wée take hold of the assured performance of his promises not onely of temporall and corporall but of spirituall and celestiall blessings And the patient waiting for them is our Hope How then can it bee that God who hath promised vnto the faithfull the life to come that with patience in hope wait for it vnder the crosse should not consider regard their dangers troubles afflictions euen in this life For if he haue giuen his Sonne to die for our sinnes how should he not with him giue vs all things to enioy Though wée must wait his time he is not slacke as some men count slacknesse but is alwaies ready and at hand he that hath promised hee is faithfull and true Though the vnfaithfull will not take his word not his hand not his oath the faithfull know and are assured that he will neuer faile them nor forsake them Therefore hope in the Lord be strong and he will comfort thine heart And trust in the Lord. A Prayer for strength patience and hope in troubles O Father possessor of Heauen and Earth and the disposer and preseruer of them and of all things
within the same the fountaine of all perfect hope the giuer of patience and maintainer of our strength thou knowest my troubles and beholdest mine afflictions and what and how many they are and how burthensome vnto mee thy weake creature in stead therefore of my weake ability giue mee thy preuailing strength giue me hope in thee let mee be strong in thee let my comfort be of thee and let me truly trust in thee then shall I with patience beare these and whatsoeuer troubles it shall please thee to lay vpon me Arme mee with faith O Lord that I trusting in thy defence may not sinke vnder the weight of my troubles importable to flesh and bloud thou hast promised to bee the God of my saluation so shall nothing hurt mee my glory so nothing shall disgrace me my rocke and my strength so nothing shall moue mee nor remoue mee from my trust in thee I am thine saue mee keepe me as the apple of thine eye hide me vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings then shall no enemy annoy mee no trouble dismay mee nor affliction or feare shall cast mee downe by thee I shall withstand or escape the fury force fraud of all my foes by thee I shall bee timely releeued in all my necessities and in thee shall I bee comforted in all mine afflictions I will not feare thou art my God I will not faint thou art the comfort of my heart Let mee still taste of thy goodnesse and behold thy saluation in hope let mee hold fast by thee in faith let me be strong in thee with comfort let mee reioyce and be glad in thee Continue thy mercies towards mee O Lord for my soule trusteth in thee knowing and confessing that I haue no other Comforter but thee no Defender but thee nor any Helper but thee Forsake me not therefore O my God in my greatest need send from Heauen and saue me for all power belongeth vnto thee therefore doth my soule cleaue vnto thee it longeth and thirsteth for thy saluation O let mee plentifully taste how sweet thy goodnesse is thy goodnesse appeared in my creation more in my redemption but most in mine election thou formedst me in the wombe thou broughtest me thence giuing me hope euen from my Mothers brest and I was euen then cast vpon thy prouidence therefore leaue me not nor be farre from mee now trouble is befalne mee but as thou hast taken charge of me from the beginning so continue still to defend me for I haue none besides thee to helpe me therefore cast I my burthen vpon thee for thou hast taken vpon thee to nourish me In thee O Lord I trust let mee neuer be ashamed nor confounded deliuer me according to thy promise for thou art my hope O Lord in thee haue I trusted from my youth Let my prayers O Lord enter into thy presence heare me and helpe me let nothing hinder the worke of thy mercies towards me not mine vnworthinesse O Lord but accept me worthy in thy most worthy then shall not the weaknesse of my faith diminish my hope nor extenuate my strength nor depriue me of my comfort in thee but my faith hope strength and comfort shall increase more and more and patience shalâ— haue it perfect working in me to wait vntill thine appointed time come for my deliuery out of some of my troubles for I endure many O Lord and the least of them of weight more than sufficient to presse mee downe vnlesse thou support mee yet I acknowledge them easie in comparison of my euill deseruings O pardon mine offences cleanse me of my sinnes and make mee vpright in thy waies then shall I with perfect patience beare my troubles and rest in hope vntill it shall please thee to ease me of my troubles or to bring them to an end which grant gracious Lord God in Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be honour power and praise for euermore Amen A Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes reformation of life and comfort in affliction O My God my God hide not thy face from mee stop not thine eares at my prayers and refuse not to heare the words of my complaint though I cannot but confesse O Lord against my selfe that by reason of my sins I haue deserued thy displeasure and that in so high a measure as if thou shouldest vtterly confound me yet were there no iniustice in thee for the euills that I haue committed and the good duties I haue omitted in thy seuere iustice deserue the same but Lord looke not so narrowly into my waies as to obserue and register against me euery sinne committed and euery duty omitted by me knowing that I am by nature corrupt and sinfull as all my fathers were Lord what were Abraham Izaak Iaacob Iob Noah Lot Moses Eliah or Dauid though a man chosen after thine owne heart Paul that elect vessell but men by nature carnall and euen sold vnder sinne vntill thou of thine owne free mercy vouchsafedst to infuse heauenly wisdome into their hearts and diuine graces into their soules vntill thou diddest fully season them aboue others by thy holy Spirit yet Lord thou knowest that euen these select vessels of thine were not without their owne naturall infirmities They stood not vprightly by their owne strength but by thee if they had had will and power of and in themselues to worke righteousnes they might haue had whereof to boast but not with thee but being only supported by thee they gaue the sole glory to thee Seeing then gracious Father that all our most godly fore-fathers had their defects by nature and their perfection through thy grace I being corrupt as they were by nature borne corrupt and brought forth the fruits of corruption vntill thou begattest them anew by thy Spirit what differ I from them by nature And therefore Lord as they became holy not of themselues but by thee so canst thou make me holy as they were holy by the same grace There is none O Lord that by his owne wisdome is capable of that wisdome whereby to know thee aright how much lesse able by his owne power to performe that obedience which may make him accepted of thee If then it be as indeed it is of thine owne free mercy and grace that any man becomes wise in thee and righteous before thee who hath cause to boast of his owne merit Or who needs despaire of his owne vnworthinesse seeing thou art equally mercifull to all whom thou hast called and accepted into the number of them that shall be saued O send downe send downe from Heauen that thy sanctifying Spirit into my heart that that liuely faith whereby our most godly fore-fathers were accepted of thee may be more and more inkindled and breake forth into a holy flame of godlinesse and zeale and my whole man be changed into the same image of sanctity which appeared in them in whom thou most delightest then thou my God now deseruedly offended with me for
world if I say Satan inticed me and I did sinne thou hast commanded me to resist Satan and his tentations so that though I plead with Adam that my Heuah my carnall part that thou gauest me did moue me and I did sinne it will be no excuse for mee if I say the world allured or Satan tempted me it booteth me not and therefore Father I cannot but freely confesse against my selfe that I euen I haue sinned and done all these euills against thee against thee O Lord I haue sinned against my selfe and haue deseruedly stirred vp thy displeasure against me and in thy displeasure is death This this O Lord is the gaine that my sinnes haue gotten not onely a dissolution of the soule and body due to all flesh but the death of body and soule due onely to impenitent sinners among whom I euen I acknowledge my selfe worthy to bee numbred without thy mercy For who hath power Lord by his owne corrupt nature to repent By nature Lord I sinne How can I by the same sinfull part repent of that wherein nature it selfe delighteth A fountaine bringeth not forth bitter water and sweet How then Lord can I bring forth true repentance out of a corrupt heart as it is corrupt Yet Lord though my heart bee corrupt by nature being made in part sincere and holy by thy grace it shall so farre forth worke repentance as is thy grace powerfull and effectuall in me So that though sinne by nature dwell in me by thy grace may sanctity also as Esau and Iaakob in Rebeccahs wombe striuing for superiority Therefore good Father as Esau the elder gaue place and became seruant to Iaakob So let sinne which is in me the first borne giue place in mee vnto sanctity And let sanctity haue the sole dominion in my heart then shall my heart bring forth the good fruits of a godly life though while I liue here the weeds of corruption will also grow but Lord let them not ouergrow the good seed of thy spirit but let them wither and die before they grow vp to beare any fruit vnto death But feed me now at the last with the most wholesome fruits of thy spirit and giue me grace to expresse my sorrow for my sins that I haue done with an inward relenting heart grieued that euer I contriued sin in my inward thoughts that euer I acted it or consented vnto it Lord see and behold my sorrow for my sins if it bring not forth sincere repentance water it so with thy mollifying spirit that it may worke in mee that which may testifie that I repent indeed so that sinne may become loathsome vnto me and sanctitie sweet And although while I carrie about me this vnholy lump of earth my best exercises cannot but sauour of the fountaine from whence they flow if of corruption corruptly if of thy spirit heauenly O season therefore my heart O Lord my soule and whole man with thy spirit that whatsoeuer I thinke speake or doe may sauour from aboue that I may feele in my heart and soule a true and liuely detestation of whatsoeuer sauoureth of the loue of this world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life Giue me strength to performe all perfect obedience in all righteousnesse euen to the forgetting of sinne And yet to remember my sinnes past and to repent them that thou my louing Father before whose presence I presently stand maiest bee pleased to turne thy louing and fatherly countenance in mercy towards me in the merits and mediation of Christ my Reedeemer Let these mine humble petitions O Lord ascend vp vnto thee and let the infallible tokens of thy mercies appeare towards mee that my heart now cast downe for feare of thy iudgements may bee againe lifted vp feeling the inward testimonies of thy mercies in Christ. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory A Praier for the morning with thankes for rest and safetie O Father mercifull and euermore louing in Iesus Christ who this night past hast beene a powerfull and prouident Watch-man ouer me euen when by the deadnesse of sleepe I was depriued euen of sense care or feare of any danger which yet without thy preseruation and prouidence might suddenly haue seized vpon me and that by infinite meanes For Lord thou knowest what a malicious and watchfull Aduersary we haue who is attended on by a troupe of infernall Ministers that hourely seeke by some meanes to surprize vs Besides the corruption of our owne nature that is alwaies working in vs sinfull thoughts vncleane desires and most vngodly affections mouing vs in our night-wakings in stead of holy meditation and godly praier to purpose the committing of infinite sorts of sinnes when we enter into the day hauing no meanes to preuent the execution of most sinfull actions but by thine owne most gracious working holy feare and godly obedience in our hearts Wherefore louing Father I come this morning into thy holy presence from which I cannot hide mee and vpon the knees of my heart I vnfainedly intreat thee that as it hath pleased thee this night to preserue me and giuing me comfortable rest and sleepe in safetie so thou wilt be pleased to watch ouer mee this day that no danger befall me either in body soule or any thing belonging vnto me But that I may be so led vnder the pauilion of thy protection guided by thy spirit that neither in thought word or deed I may offend thee endeuouring to performe all holy and heauenly duties vnto thee my God who for all thy mercies requirest onely pure and sincere obedience which is also thy gift for none by his owne power can thinke a good thought much lesse Lord worke any thing pleasing vnto thee but the contrary therefore disclaime I all mine owne merit and cleaue onely vnto thy mercy in Iesus Christ Humbly beseeching thee for his sake to take charge of me this day preuent the malicious intentions of Satan and his ministers mortifie mine owne sinfull affections and infuse into my heart all diuine graces that my waies this day may nothing sauour of sinne but of sanctitie And as I haue by thee safely passed this night so I may begin continue and end this day and all the daies of my life in thy faith feare and obedience And that in all mine actions whereunto I am bound by my place and calling I may so walke and so performe them as that thy blessingâ— may accompany whatsoeuer I endeuour Giue me Lord an vpright heart asking and let me euer receiue counsell from thee to be guided in whatsoeuer I purpose that so prospering the glory may bee thine to whom all power wisdome strength and glory belongeth Amen A Praier to be vsed before a man goes to his rest LOrd as it hath now pleased thee to bring mee in safetie to the end of this day and hast therein by many blessings testified thy fatherly care