persons there remaineth much inbred corruption and many not only bodily but also and especially sinful infirmitiâ—s diseases and maladies of our soules whereby we become unable to do the good which we would or to eschew the evil which we would not do and of these diseases God becometh a Physician to heale them all by his Spirit of Sanctification bestowed upon all whom he justifieth Who healeth all thy diseases Vers. 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies The third reason of thanksgiving is for delivering of him graciously from perishing and the fourth reason is for giving unto him mercifully many good things By destruction here he meaneth not only the danger of being killed by his enemies but also and especially the state of condemnation and perishing in Gods wrath from which the man justified is redeemed by the Mediator Whence learn 1. The benefit of preservation from eternal death is given unto the man to whom all iniquity is forgiven for here these benefits are joyned the one with the other 2. The deliverances which are given to believers as well bodily as spiritual temporal as well as everlasting do come to us in the way of Redemption made by our kinde and faithful Kinsman Jesus Christ Who redeemeth thy life from destruction 3. A man must be sensible of the merit of sin and see himself in the state of perdition for sin before he can put a right estimation upon his delivery he must count himself a lost man till the LORDS Redeemer deliver him as we may perceive in the Prophet saying He hath redeemed thy life from destruction 4. The favour which God bestoweth upon a believer is not in giving unto him one or two or some few evidences of his love and mercie but in a constant compassing of him on every hand in every thing so that he shall turn him about to what Aâ—t he will he is circled round about with love and mercy supplying wants preventingâ— or mitigating and seasoning his troubles reclaiming him from sin and directing him in Gods way Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies 5. The evidences of Gods kindnesse and mercie to a man is not only a meanes to glorifie God but also a meanes to put respect and honour yea and a crown of glory on the head of the believer in the sight of all who look upon him therefore saith he Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies Ver. 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles The fifth reason of thanksgiving is not only for blessing the use of the creatures unto him but also and especially for feeding him with spiritual food and giving comfortable refreshments to his Church set forth under the similitude of corporal â—eeding upon dainties The sixth reason is for comforting his spirit and reviving it in its dead condition as the Eagle is revived and renewed after casting her bill Whence learn 1. The blessing of God upon the believer maketh the use of Gods benefits and his ordinary meales and morsels savourie and sweet because he hath all that is given to him with Gods allowance and good-will Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things 2. The Lord after spiritual hunger and thirst giveth such satisfaction to the soul of the believer as banquet-chear and dainties do give to a hungry and thiâ—sty man as the similitude here sheweth Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things 3. As the Eagle decayeth and groweth lean when her bill or beak groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it and when she casteth her bill and her beak is now fitted better to take her food then she is revived and strengthened and as it were groweth young again so fareth it with the soul of the believer which sometimes is so exercised and troubled as it refuseth comfort and lieth in a dead condition but when the Lord reneweth the sense of his love it is a new life and the inner man is revived again Thy youth is renewed as the Eagle 4. It is an act of thanksgiving unto God to give account to our selves and to reckon over to our own soules what the Lord hath bestowed on us and done for us as appeareth in the Prophets practice here speaking all this to his own soul in reckoning over the benefits Ver. 6. The LORD executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed He goeth on in his thanksgiving and ascendeth from the mercies shewn to himself unto the praising of Gods righteousnesse and mercifulnesse toward all believers as well as toward himself according as every ones need doth require and here is the seventh reason of Gods praise for maintaining the cause of all his oppressed people Whence learn 1. The sight of Gods goodnesse towards our selves should lead us to the observation of Gods goodnesse to all his children in common and unto his righteous holy and gracious nature as the example of the Psalmist teacheth us 2. As to be oppressed was not Davids lot alone but is the common condition whereunto the godly in all ages are subject so to have God the defender and the avenger of those that oppresse them was not the priviledge of David alone but common to him and all Gods children For the Lord executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed Ver. 7. He made known his wayes unto Moses his acts unto the children of Israel The eighth reason of Gods praise is for his revealing of his will and works to his Prophet Moses and to the people of Israel Whenee learn 1. The knowledge of Gods will of his way of dealing with men and of his works are mysteries which men cannot understand till the Lord reveal all to them It is he who maketh his wayes known 2. As God hath the choosing of people to whom so also of the men by whom he will reveal himself and his wayes He made known his wayes unto Moses his acts to the children of Israel 3. As the revealing of Gods way wherein he will walk with us and of his way wherein he will have us to walk before him is no small mercie to his Church so is it no small obligation put upon his people and matter of praise and thanks unto God for this is made here the matter of the Churches thanks and of Gods praise That he made known hâ—s wayes to Moses and made Israel to see that he wrought as he had spoken He made known his acts to the children of Israel Ver. 8. The LORD is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy The ninth reason of Gods praise is for his merciful and gracious nature expressed in sundry titles Whence learn 1. The Lord is compassionate toward us in our miseries and ready to pardon our sins The Lord is merciful 2. The Lord is not hindered by our unworthinesse to do us good when we come unto him but is ready
perplexed and overwhelmed with trouble cannot long endure the Lords withdrawing of his presence from it In the day when I call answer me speedily Ver. 3. For my dayes are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt as an hearth 4. My heart is smitten and withered like grasse so that I forget to eat my bread 5. By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin 6. I am like a Pelican of the wildernesse I am like an Owle of the desert 7. I watch and am as a Sparrow alone upon the house top He setteth down his affliction more particularly First in the effects and signes of his sorrow to be seen in his body to v. 8. Then in the causes thereof to v. 11. Thirdly in the consequence and chief effect therof repeated which is the apparent utter undoing of him v. 11. As for the first we may take the signs of sorrow expressed in a number of simiiitudes to describe both the condition of the Prophets natural bodie and also the condition of the body politick of â—he tribe of Iudah now in captivity Whence learn 1. The Lords children are subject to such sad conditions as may bring their very natural body to a sort of decay as those similitudes here used do expresse 2. The condition of a visible Church may seem and really be in its own kinde in such a weak sorry and sick condition as the comparisons here do hold forth 3. As smoke is extracted by fire out of a moist body and doth vanish when it is evaporated so may the life and vigour of a Saints body be spent and consumed by trouble and sense of Gods withdrawing or of his wrath My dayes are consumed like smoke 4. As fire heateth the hearth and the hearth once hot with fire is able to kindle and burn timber or coales or any combustible matter cast on it so is the sense of Gods wrath in long lasting trouble able to spend the strength of the strongest man My bones are burnt as an hearth 5 As grasse withereth when it is cut so is the courage of a man cast down when he findeth Gods anger pursuing his Church or himself My heart is smitten and withered as grasse 6. When God is seen to be angry the comforts of this life aâ—e tastelesse and can yield no pleasure I forgot to eat my bread 7. Heavie sorrow can hardly be suppressed sighes and groans must of necessity give some vent unto it for here is the voice of groaning 8. The exercise of the spirit of Gods dearest children may endure long even till their flesh faile them and their leannesse may be such as here is spoken of My bones cleave to my skin 9. As in sad troubles familiars use to draw back from and leave a man alone so also a sad soul loveth to be alone rather then to be a spectacle of misery to others I am like a Pelican in the wildernesse I am like an Owle in the desert 10. Trouble of minde is able to bereave a man of nights rest and then his readiest ease of minde is to vent his grief to heavenward I watch and am as a Sparrow alone on the house top chirping Ver. 8. Mine enemies reproach me all the day and they that are mad against me are sworn against me The causes of his grief are three First the reproach and desperate cruelty of the enemy against the Church ver 8. Secondly the sense of Gods anger appearing in his dispensation which drew him not only to frequent fasting and teares but also to an uncomfortable life Thirdly the comparison of times of the former prosperity of the Church with the present adversity ver 9 10. Whence learn 1. The men of this world use to meet with pity in their calamity but the godly are subject to reproaches in their troubles which mockerie and calamity doubleth their misery Mine enemies reproach me all the day 2. The enemies of Gods people are reasonlesse and implacable in their indignation against the godly They are mad against me 3. Albeit the miseries of Gods people may be such as the wicked enemie of Religion when he would curse any person shall wish no worse to them then to say Let him be like such a people and such a godly person yet will the wicked not be satiated with this except he bring more mischief upon the godly They that are mad against me do curse by me or are sworne against me Ver. 9. For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10. Because of thine indignation and â—hy wrath for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down The second cause of his grief was the signes of Gods indignation appearing in the Churches misery which made him sit desolate many times in the dust weeping when he should have taken some refreshment to his body Whence learn 1. The condition of the godly sometime may make them miserable not only in the eyes of the world but also in their own eyes for a time I have eaten ashes like bread c. 2. Not only may the godly be driven to frequenr fasting and prayer but also to have gray dustie bread for their ordinary diet and that joyned with such grief as they can take no food with comfort I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping 3. The sharpest ingredient in the trouble of the godly is the sense of Gods indignation I mingled my drink with weeping because of thy indignation 4. The troubles which the Lord doth bring upon his own children should lead them to the sense of their sin and of Gods just displeasure against them for the same I mingled my drink with weeping because of thy indignation and wrath 5. As it is the Lord that maketh changes of condition and giveth now prosperity in his indulgence and anon adversity for the abuse of prosperity so should he be acknowledged in his bounty and justice good and holy For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down 6. Comparison of past prosperity with present adversity maketh the present afflicted condition the heavier and Gods just indignation the more evident for thus doth the Psalmist prove Gods wrath pursuing him and the Church For thou hast lifted me up and cast me down Ver. 11. My dayes are like a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grasse Here he repeateth the apparent sad consequence and effect of his own and the Churches affliction he and the Church of the Jewes now in captivity were like to be cut off without comfort or hope of deliverance Whence learn 1. Not only the visible face of a Church but also the scattered parts thereof may be near to disappearing and to utter decaying under long continued trouble My dayes are like a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grasse 2. The miseries of the godly and the extreme danger of the Church being laid forth before God are good arguments of hope that God shall shortly
it is called here The law of thy mouth to direct and inforce our obedience 2. The spiritual advantage which a holy man doth make of Gods VVord is more worth then all earthly riches The law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver IOD Ver. 73. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments 74. They that feare thee will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in thy word In this section is set down the example of the right carriage of a believer brought out of one calamity and cast into another his good behaviour consisteth in these six duties The first is to guard well against sin by seeking wisdome from God to bear well the tentation of new trouble Whence learn 2. Albeit nothing can satisfie misbelief yet true faith will make use of the most common benefit of Creation to strengthen it self Thine hands have made me and fashioned me 2. It is a good way of reasoning with God to ask another gift because we have received one and because he hath given common benefits to ask that he would give us also saving graces Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments 3. Seeing God is our Creator and the end of our Creation is to serve God we may confidently aske whatsoever grace may enable us to serve him as the Psalmists example doth teach us 4. As the afflicted Petitioner for grace to obey Gods Commandments is strengthened in his faith by the hope of the glory which may come unto God by his holy behaviour so also is he strengthened in his prayer by the hope of the edification which others the Lords children may have by beholding his carriage They that feare thee will be glad when they see me 5. It should be the joy of all believers to see one of their number sustained and borne out in their sufferings for in the proof and example of one sufferer a pawne is given to all the rest that God will help them in the like case They that feare thee will be glad when they see me 6. The Lord shall so work for the man that hopes in his Word that both he and others shall have cause to be glad for the grace of faith and hope bestowed on him They shall be glad when they see me because I hoped in thy word Ver. 75. I know O LORD that thy judgements are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me The second duty of the suffering beleever is to â—ustifie God in afflicting of him Whence learn 1. Albeit we see not the particular reasons of Gods dispensation yet the belief of the Lords righteousnesse and wisdome should quiet our mindes from all murmuring and disputation and suspicion about the Lords doing as here is done I know O Lord that thy judgements are right 2. It is not sufficient that we justifie God and forbear to murmure against Gods afflicting of us but we must believe that God out of love doth afflict us by way of performing of his Covenant unto us I know that thou in thy faithfulness hast afflicted me Ver. 76. Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness be for my comfort according to thy Word unto thy servant 77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live for thy law is my delight The third duty of the afflicted servant of God is to seek comfort from God according to his promise Whence learn 1. Albeit we know that our sins have drawn on our affliction yet that must not hinder us to seek comfort from God in that afflictionâ— and nothing can comfort the afflicted except the sense of Gods kindnesse and mercy to him Let I pray thee thy merciful kindnesse be for my comfort 2. Albeit full remedy be promised in the Word and albeit salve for every sore be treasured up there yet the sweet effect of these promises we cannot have without dealing with God by prayer to apply in particular what faith in the Word beleeveth in general Let thy merciful kindnesse be for my comfort according to thy Word 3. To the end we may have the benefit of the promise it is wisdome to thrust in our selves among those to whom the promise is made under one title or other as we can and to put our name in Gods Writ Let comfort come into me according to thy Word to thy servant that is the Word of Promise which is made to servants and so to me and so let it come to me 4. The sense of Gods tender mercy to the beleever is the very life of the beleever it is death to him to want it Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live 5. As we love the sense of Gods mercy so must we love Gods Word and studie the obedience of faith and he who hath the one may pray and hope for the other Let thy tender mercies come unto me for thy law is my delight Ver. 78. Let the proud be ashamed for they dealt perversly with me without a cause but I will meditate in thy Precepts The fourth duty of the afflicted servant of God especially by persecution is to pray against his enemies and then to go on in his way of serving God VVhence learn 1. Proud gracelesse impenitent men will not prove friends to the godly but unreasonable persecutors of them as they finde occasion The proud have dealt perversly with me without a cause 2. When the proud and wicked in the world are our party God will be a friend to us who do seek for relief from him and will disappoint them of their plots against us Let the proud be ashamed for they dealt perversly with me without a cause 3. Persecution by the wicked maketh and should make the godly studie to understand the Word of God more clearly and fully then before Let the proud be ashamed but I will meditate in thy Precepts 4. The best defence against persecution is to stand fast in a good cause and studie obedience to Gods Word for by this meanes the afflicted do remain Gods servants and the Lord is engaged to do for them as his servants for this is the course the Psalmist taketh Ver. 79. Let those that feare thee turne unto me and those that have known thy testimonies The fifth duty of the afflicted and persecuted is to labour to know friendship and fellowship with others who are godly which may both strengthen themselves and others VVhence learn 1. As it should not seem strange unto us if the godly forsake our fellowship when we are persecuted seeing God doth suffer this for the humbling and trying and turning us to believe in God alone so it is our duty to recover them who have deserted us and to draw them in unto us again and to pray to God to further us Let those that feare thee turne unto me doth teach all this 2. As God when
comfort can be abated and diminished by affliction the renewed sense of Gods love and friendship to us which we should seek after always can easily restore and recompense it Quicken me after thy loving kindness so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth LAMED In this section he sheweth first how he was comforted under persecution by faith in Gods Word and to this end he commends the worth of the Word of God or of the Scripture for foure reasons The first is because of the stability of it in heaven v. 89. The next for the durable usefulness of it in every age of the Church v. 90. The third is because by Gods Word the earth is established v 90 91. The fourth is because of his own experience of comfort and strength by it in his affliction v. 91. And in the next part he expresseth his thankfulnesse in the rest of the verses of this section Ver. 89. For ever O LORD thy word is setled in heaven 90. Thy faithfulnesse is unto all generations thou hast established the earth and it abideth 91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances for all are thy servants 92. Vnlesse thy law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction In his setting down his comfort which he had by faith in the Word and what estimation he had of the Scripture Let us learn 1. God hath given unro us his Word to bear up our faith in every hardest condition and it is a sure rock which wil not fail us whatsoever appear or howsoever we do faile or faint For ever O Lord thy word is established 2. Albeit the effect of Gods Word doth not appear sometime but is over-clouded with trouble and tentations yet it is sure and fixed by Gods decree unalterable in heaven and cannot want the effect in due time For ever O Lord thy word is setled in heaven 3. The stability of the Lords Word depends upon the stability of Gods truth and faithfulness which because he is absolutely unchangable his VVord is so also Thy faithfulness is unto all generations 4. The truth of God is not alwayes hid up in heaven but in all generations the truth of the VVord and the faithfulness of God who hath spoken it is from age to age made manifest among men Thy faithfulness is unto all generations 5. The stability of the earth is nothing but the effect of Gods VVord and the stability of the earth and frame of the world is a pawne of the stability of Gods VVord Thou hast established the earth and it abideth 6. As heaven and earth do continue in their motion and station and do serve God as his Word hath ordained so should we do They continue this day according to thy Ordinances for all are thy servants 7 Affliction draweth forth the worth of Gods Word which otherwise could not be known and lets it be seen that the Word of God is able to save a sinking man in tribulation Unlesse thy law had been my delight I should then have perished in my affliction 8. The Word of God being received by faith is able not only to save the believer from desperation in trouble but also to make him rejoice as he who is feeding on delicates as experience hath proved Unlesse thy law had been my delight I should have perished in mine affliction Ver. 93. I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickened me 94. I am thine save me for I have sought thy Precepts 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me but I will consider thy testimonies 96. I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Commandment is exceeding broad In the latter part of this section he sheweth his thankfulness first by engaging his heart to the faith and obedience of the Word v. 93. Then by dedication of himself unto God as his servant to be saved by him v. 94. Thirdly by engagement of his heart to continue against all persecution in the obedience of the Word v. 95. And fourthly by commendation of the Word above all things in the world v. 96. Whence learn 1. The worth of the Word of God is found so excellent in the experience of the believers that their experience doth sixe and settle their estimation of it their love to it and their purpose to make use of it alwayes I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickened me 2. The believer is the Lords peculiar servant bound to him by the bonds of Creation Redemption and Covenant and it is his duty thankfully to reckon his interest and right in God and Gods interest in him for his own encouragement and for Gods praise I am thine 3. When a mans faith is strengthened about his own interest in God then may he be confident to pray to God and to expect for salvation temporal and eternal from him I am thine save me 4. Honest endeavour to obey Gods commands how weak soever doth prove the believers interest in God and confirmeth his hope to be saved by him I am thine save me for I have sought thy Precepts 5. Persecutors of Gods servants for obedience to Gods Word are in effect murtherers both of soul and body in driving them to forsake Gods commands The wicked have waited for me to destroy me 6. The trouble which the godly sustain by persecutors should drive them to search more deeply into the Word of God and to harden themselves against all that the persecutors can do and every comfort given to them from the Word should do the same But I will consider thy testimonies 7. The use of all things visible is temporal but the use and benefit of the Scripture is everlasting all things visible have their own perfections in their own kinde and do extend some of them to one temporal use others of them to another use but the Word of God extendeth in its kinde to all uses which may bring blessedness in this life and in the world to come A man may satisfie himself in the contemplation of the worth and vertue of any thing which is visible in the world but the riches of the Word of God is unsearchable the deep wisdome of God in the Scriptures is unscarchable and the perfection of the Scripture is above all comparison I have seen saith he an end of all perfection but thy Commandment is exceeding broad MEM. Ver. 97. O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day He goeth on in this section to commend the VVord of God and to shew his estimation of it for eight reasons The first is because it hath gained the affection of his heart unto it so as he cannot but continually dwell upon the meditation of it VVhence learn 1. As the Scripture in it self is most lovely for the Author matter and use thereof so is it most affectionately loved by the beleever and none can either expresse or judge how great is his affection to it
he pleaseth diverts the comfort of the fellowship of godly friends so he can bring them back again to us as the prayer doth import 3. Only they who with feare to offend God have the sound knowledge of Gods Word are fit comforters and strengtheners of the godly under persecution Let those that feare thee turne unto me and those that keep thy testimonies Ver. 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed The sixth duty of the afflicted is to studie above all things to be sincere in his carriage and in his defence of a good cause uprightly aiming to do what is right rightly and for the right ends Whence learn 1. Minde and heart in the best men are so perverted by natural corruption which is not fully abolished in any that not mans free will but Gods free grace must help this evil for this prayer Let my heart be sound in thy statutes doth import so much 2. Sound knowledge of the statutes and sound affection toward the statutes and a sound purpose in the following of the statutes must be joyned together in the Lords Martyrs Let my heart be sound in thy statutes 3. As the unsound heart will not bear out the good cause nor keep up with the godly in their good way but will fall off to his own shame so the upright man fleeing unto God in the fear of his owne weaknesse and suspicion of the deceit of his own heart shall be preserved from shame as this prayer importeth Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed CAPH In this section is shewen how deep the persecuted servant of God may draw in his affliction before God give him comfort in the first foure verses thereof and how he should behave himself in that sad condition in the last foure Vers. 81. My soule fainteth for thy salvation but I hope in thy word 82. Mine eyes faile for thy word saying When wilt thou comfort me 83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoak yet do I not forget thy statutes 84. How many are the dayes of thy servant when wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me As for the first there are foure degrees of his deepnesse in distresse to wit fainting of faith almost failing of hope failing of the body and longing for death Whence learn 1. It is not strange to see God breaking the heart of his own childe with affliction even when he is suffering persecution that so his faith may be tried and trained unto more strength My soule fainteth 2. A beleever in God how afflicted soever he be seeketh not to be delivered but in a way allowed of God My soul fainteth for thy salvation or till thou deliver me in thy good way 3. The strength of the faith of the strongest of Gods servants will prove but small when affliction is great and Gods help is delayed My soule fainteth for thy salvation 4. Albeit the faith of the Lords children seem to faint yet it cannot die it cannot faile altogether for it looketh to the Word and thereby gathereth strength and hope My soule fainteth but I hope in thy Word 5. Albeit hope keepeth the eye of the minde so fixed upon the promise as it is ever looking for deliverance yet long delay of help maketh hope weak and ready to faint Mine eyes faile for thy word 6. Hope and patience and complaining unto God may stand altogether but they must never be severed from prayer Mine eyes faile for thy word saying When wilt thou comfort me 7. Longer exercise by trouble may affect the bodie of Gods dearest children so as wasting leanness may be seen on it I am become as a skin-bottle dried in the smoak 8. No trouble should drive us to sin but we should choose rather to pine away in affliction then to be freed from it with sin I am become like a bottle in the smoke yet I do not forget thy statutes 9. It is good in time of persecution or affliction whatsoever to have an eye both on the Promises and on the Precepts for the looking to the Promise doth encourage to hope and the eyeing of the Precepts doth prove the hope to be sound The Psalmist hoped in the word v. 81. and v. 83. He forgate not the statutes 10. Albeit long affliction be able to make the believer weary of life and to desire to die yet must he yield unto God to live so long as he pleaseth How many are the dayes of thy servant 11. The delivery of the persecuted is ordinarily joyned with the punishment of the persecutors and the afflicted must wait till their cup be full When wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me Ver. 85. The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy law 86. All thy Commandments are faithful they persecute me wrongfully help thou me 87. They had almost consumed me upon earth but I forsook not thy Precepts 88. Quicken me after thy loving kindnesse so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth He sheweth yet further how he carried himself in this condition he layeth out his enemies carriage before God v. 85 86. and his owne stedfastnesse in extream danger v. 87. and prayeth for comfort that he may in his trial beare out v. 88. Whence learn 1. The course of persecutors is full of traps and snares whereby they studie to overtake the godly without fear of sinning in so doing The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy law 2. As the common quarrel of the wicked against the godly is for keeping of Gods commands so the common comfort of the godly is that they have a good cause to defend All thy Commandments are faithful they persecute me wrongfully 3. The worse the cause and course is which our adversaries do follow the more hopeful may we be to be helped of God They persecute me wrongfully help thou me 4. It is a good meanes of courage and comfort and strength in persecution to lay the carriage and cause of us and of our adversaries before our eyes and compare them together by the Word and then lay them forth before God as the Psalmist doth here 5. Albeit the godly may run the hazard of losing all things they have in the earth yet that is the height of their hazard in defence of Gods truth for what they have in Heaven cannot be taken from them They had almost consumed me upon earth 6. No hazard of whatsoever we have in the world life lands goods friends liberty or what else can warrant a man to depart from the obedience of Gods command controverted between the persecutor and him They had almost consumed me upon earth but I forsook not thy Precepts 7. Through the infirmity of the flesh the feeling of the comforts of Religion and the freedome of following Gods service chearfully may be interrupted as quicken me here doth import 8. Whatsoever measure of spiritual life strength or