1.5 6 Hebr. 11.6 for hee that wauers can haue no hope to obtaine at Gods hand Whosoeuer doubteth whether God will grant his requests or not can neuer pray for any thing earnestly and effectually This our Sauior teacheth Mar. 11.24 Whatsoeuer yee desire when ye pray Beleeue that ye shall haue it and it shall bee done vnto you And none can haue this assurance that GOD is ready to heare them and to grant their requests but onely the faithfull who haue first this assurance that their sinnes are pradoned and that they are reconciled vnto God in Christ Iesus Vse 1 How should this mooue vs all to labour to get sauing faith that so we might pray in faith and obtaine our requests pardon of sins wisedome the gifts of Gods spirit c. for hee that comes in vnbeliefe can looke for no mercy at Gods hands and therefore the prayer of many vnbeleeuers ignorant soules alas they be but babblings and can doe no good O then let vs labour to bee able to say my God giue mee this or that Vse 2 This must teach vs to moderate our desires and take heede we aske not any thing that is not warranted by the word for vnles it be warranted by the word wee cannot haue anie assurance hee will heare vs for there is no faith without the word and therefore when wee shall aske things at our lust and pleasure it is iust with Almightie GOD not to heare vs. Doctr. 6 When Dauid calles the Lord Praise of our saluation properly belongs to God Ro. 6. vlt. My God and the God of my saluation He acknowledgeth that saluation pardon of his sinnes life and all good things come from God and are his gracious gifts in Christ It is hee who at the first gaue vs life when wee were starke dead in trespasses and sinnes It is he againe that keepes our soules in life If we fall hee rayseth vs vp when wee wander he recalleth vs from iudgements past present and to come hee hath doth and will deliuer vs so that hee may well be called The God of our Saluation Vse 1 Let vs then acknowledge this that al the good things we inioy the fauour of God pardon of our sinnes iustification sanctification redemption c. all these are the free mercie and gifts of GOD in CHRIST and then wee shall learne to depend on GOD for the comfort of this life for if we know God hath giuen vs Christ and deliuered vs from sinne death and hell how then can hee deny vs the lesser things for this life Rom. 8.32 Vse 2 Seeing saluation is the gift of God we see that the Doctrine of the Papists is erronious who teach men that they may merite saluation and mercy at Gods hand pardon of sin saluation and life eternall Dauid acknowledgeth it to be the free gift of God Rom. 6. Dan. 9. Iob 42.6 Ephes 2. and therefore let vs abhorre their doctrine and our goodnesse or worthinesse and acknowledge that all wee may enjoy for saluation it is the free and vnderserued fauour of God in Christ Iesus Dauid hee felt now the heauie weight of Gods anger which pressed him downe exceedingly and brake his heart yet withall hee felt the mercie of God which made him bolde to goe to God for pardon so that hee could call him my GOD. Wherein we may note the difference of Gods children from infidells that haue no faith the child of God although he be touched at the quicke with the feeling of Gods displeasure yet he can by faith goe to his father and make his moane vnto him But a wicked man that hath no faith in Christ Note hee conceiueth nothing but GODS anger and iudgement and therefore flies from him and cannot giue one rap at Gods mercie seate cannot for his life cry My God and my Father but is faine to run from GOD and so in time to dispaire as Caine and Iudas And my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse THese wordes containe in them the reason of his request as if he should say If thou shalt O Lord pardon my sinne and in mercie deliuer me from the curse and punishment due to me for them my tongue shall be a Preacher and publisher of thy mercie vnto others And my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse By righteousnesse is not meant here the iustice of God whereby he takes vengeance for sinne but by righteousnesse is meant the mercifull dealing of God in keeping promise with all repentant sinners in pardoning and remitting their sinnes and receiuing them to mercy Doctr. 7 It is impossible for any man or woman Gods mercies must vntie our tongues to praise him Luke 22. 1. Chro. 19 Acts 11.18 1. The 2.19 who haue truly tasted of Gods mercy in CHRIST for life and saluation to keepe it in as it shall not breake foorth and appeare but he that hath his hart affected with Gods mercie in CHRIST it will vntie his tongue to speake of it and to praise God for it As it is not possible to keepe fire so close but it will smoke and flame in time so the feeling of Gods loue can not but break out and appeare to the good of others Wel by the rule of this doctrine wee may see that very few haue their hearts affected with the mercie of God in Christ Luke 17. because they seldome or neuer take occasion to speak of it and to prayse God for it The poore Leaper finding himselfe to be cleansed came to praise God for it and Naaman would giue Elisha a reward but our hearts haue no comfort in it therefore we open not our hearts to praise God And my tongue MArke how Dauid speakes that as in heart he will blesse God so in words hee will praise him Doctr. 2 Of all the partes of mans bodie the tongue serueth to honour GOD and to praise him that serueth to vnfolde the truth of God to blesse him to praise him and to instruct others Iames 3. Vse 1 Well seeing that God hath of all members of the bodie ordayned the tongue to be that member whereby we shall honour and praise him let vs gouerne our tongue so as it may serue to open his will to praise and blesse him to speake of his wonderous woorkes let vs vse it well in prayer in speaking of Gods mercie and iudgement to instruct others and in any case let vs set a watch before our mouthes that we sinne not in speeches Iames 3. If any man sinne not in his tongue he is a perfect man Of thy righteousnesse Doctr. 8 HE calles Gods faithfulnes and truth in keeping promise to repentant sinners His righteousnesse Gods rightteousnes what wherein note a wonderfull comfort to all repentant sinners that GOD auoucheth he should be vniust Note and vnrighteous if hee should not giue them mercie and pardon when they repent seeing hee hath tied himselfe by hiâ— promise so as if he should not shew
hee will cast them out of his presence make their names to rotte and stinke in the sight of men those that honour me I will honour 1. Sam. 2.3 But those that dishonour me I will dishonour them and therefore if you would not be dishonoured in the world prouoke the Lord to cast you out of his presence and fauour O then beware how you sin and rebell against God! for if thou be as deare to God as Ely which was Gods high Priest yet hee will bring shame vpon thy head Vse 2 This shews the madnesse of those man and women Folly of worldlings described who desiring to inioy their honours riches and dignities profits and preferrements they take a most preposterous and verie wrong course for how do men seek for preferment honor and promotion lands and liuings namely by oppression bribery vsury extortion the like now alas wee see that is a vaine course the next way to strip a man naked of all these things and to bring him to shame and reproch misery and pouerty for sin brings all these things vpon them But if you would come to honor and dignity riches preferment then seek to keep the fauor of God serue him worship him honour him and he will honor them that do so and if thou seekest these things by wicked and vnlawfull meanes certainely the Lord will cast dung in thy face Secondly when Dauid praies that God would not take his holy Spirit from him he meanes not the essence of the three Persons but his gifts and graces the vertues of GODS Spirit sanctifying his heart and renuing of him so then wee vnderstand these words we must consider this obiection Quest Whether that the giftes graces of the holy Spirit wrought in the heart of Gods children can be totally and finally lost as Dauids words seeme to imply Graces of God double For the cleare answer of this question wee must know that the gifts of GODS Spirit bee first temporarie for this life or else spirituall for the life to come now of the former there is no question but the temporary gifts of the Spirit may bee lost vtterly Againe the spirituall giftes and vertues of the spirit be of two sorts some common to the elect and reprobate some proper and peculiar to Gods Elect and chosen children now concerning the common giftes of Gods Spirit which be common to the wicked aswell as the godly to heare the word to preach the word and to do such like things they may be lost Thirdly the gifts of GODS spirit are such as eyther are essentiall to faith and without which faith cannot be or else the effects and fruits of faith which are not of the essence of faith such gifts of the Spirit as be not of the essence of faith nor absolute necessary to eternall life the Lord doth somtimes take away for a time as namely the purity of a good conscience that that inward peace which doth company it the sense feeling of Gods loue in Christ and his especiall fauour cheerefulnes of spirit in prayer hearing and such holy dueties ioy in the holy-Ghost patience the gift of prayer and such like because the loue of GOD and the saluation of the faithfull may stand without these for a time But to speake of the sauing graces of Gods sanctified spirit as faith in Gods promises hope of eternall life affiance in Gods mercie in Iesus Christ loue of G OD his word and children these graces can neuer be lost wholely true it is they may bee weakned and lessened and somtime◠seeme to bee lost for the time but yet certaine it is they can not bee wholy and finally lost they may be as the Sun vnder a cloud and as fire raked vp in the ashes or as the trees in winter but they can not be extinguished lost and taken cleane away but as the Sunne shines cleare the cloudes being scattered and the fire giues light and heate being stirred so faith hope affiance ioy comfort peace of conscience and feeling of GODS loue are renued and shew themselues cleare againe Vse 1 Seeing that the sauing graces of Gods holy and sanctified Spirit cannot totally and finally be lost Comfort to the godly that grace can not be lost this is matter of endlesse comfort to euerie true child of God in the time of tēptation and grieuous triall for if euer thou foundest and feltest in thy hart true faith in IESVS CHRIST sound repentance hope of eternall life loue of God howsoeuer these may bee much weakened and for a time in thy sence and feeling seeme be lost yet they can neuer be taken away yea if thou dost carefully attend the meanes as namely the sincere preaching of the word administration of the Sacraments continuall humble and earnest prayer the Lord will reuiue them and renue them againe Vse 2 This must serue to direct vs how to iudge of them who fall somtimes into pangs of dispaire vttering words of desperation that they are damned persons and reprobates and cry out of themselues truely if euer we saw in them the sound worke of grace and true repentance delight in the word care to leade a godly life loue to Gods children c. Wee are in charitie to hope the best of them to thinke that they belong to God and that they speake they know not what of themselues for they speake according to their present sence and feeling whenas indeede in time of temptation trouble of minde they be like a man that is sicke of an ague he can rellish no meate euery thing seemes bitter vnto him because his mouth is out of temper but when he comes to health hee iudgeth otherwise euen so these poore distressed soules in their trouble and affliction they speake they know not what not as their estate is in truth but as they thinke it to be according to their present sence and feeling Vse 3 Hence we see what to answer to that obiection that many men who haue made a faire profession of the truth had excellent giftes and yet haue fallen cleane away so Hebr. 6. A man may be inlightned tasted of the heauenly gift were partakers of the holy Ghost tasted of the word of God and of the powers of the world to come such men notwithstanding may fal away and that finally I answere that there is nothing spoken there of the true worke of grace and sanctification of sauing faith sound repentance hearty obedience and a new life but onely of such common giftes as may befall a reprobate and therefore Saint Iohn shewes the cause why they fall away namely they were neuer true and liuely members of the Church or of Iesus Christ neuer truly engraffed into his mysticall body Ioh. 2.19 they had knowledge and were inlightned tasted of the heauenly gifts and graces of Gods Spirit and had some glimmering of the ioys of the life to come which the childe of GOD inioyes but the sound
worke of grace a renued heart faith repentance obedience and a sanctified life was euer wanting they were but hypocrites They went out from vs but they were not of vs Mat. 7.21 22. for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs. And therefore it behoueth vs all to take heed that we content not our selues with the common giftes and graces of the holy Ghost which a reprobate may haue for it is certaine most excellent gifts will not auaile a man to saluation vnlesse there be the true worke of grace sauing faith sound repentance and heartie obedience VERSE 12.13 12. Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish mee with thy free Spirit 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes vnto the wicked and the sinners shal be conuerted vnto thee Partes of the verses THese words contain in themselues and earnest prayer of Dauid vnto GOD for the renuing Of GODS mercy and feeling of his loue againe in the 12. verse In the 13. verse he vses a reason to moue the Lord thereunto namely that if the Lord shall receiue him into fauor againe and testifie his loue vnto him in the pardon of his sins then he wil not be vnmindful of Gods dealing with him but become a Preacher and proclaimer of Gods mercy vnto others to draw them to GOD in shewing what GOD hath done for his soule and so that by the example of Gods mercy to him others should be wonne In the 12. verse he makes a twofold petition vnto God First for the former feeling and assurance of Gods loue and mercy for the pardon of his sinnes Secondly that God would vphold him with his free spirit so as now being deliuered out of the cursed thraldome and slauery of sinne hee might frankely and freely serue the Lord and runne the way of his Commandements Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation No ioy can comfort mans soule but the ioy of Gods saluation AS if he should haue said O Lord my GOD I acknowledge and confesse that all the while I serued thee and liued in thy feare ledde a holy and godly life and kept an vpright heart that I found wonderfull and exceeding ioy in the assurance of thy loue and mercy in Christ for my saluation but since I rebelled against thee and wilfully brake thy holy Commandements I haue depriued my soule of that heauenlie comfort and consolation and felt errours and griefe feares and cares and exceeding vexation Now mercifull GOD I humbly intreate thee to restore me againe to that ioy and comfort to assure me of thy loue and fauour that thou art graciously reconciled vnto me that I may receiue my former comfort And not onelie that but because I see how weake I am haue no power to stand without thy help and grace I humbly intreat thee to stay and strengthen me to stablish thy grace in me and so to vphold me in thy obedience that I may freely and heartily obey thee all my dayes Doctr. 1 The childe of God truely called iustified Fruit of sinne described Note and sanctified by GOD spirit if he once fall against GOD and prouoke him to anger by wilfull disobedience doth feele exceeding griefe and sorrow of heart great griefe and trouble of minde feares and cares lest the Lord should reiect him so that there is an hell in his poore soule and wounded conscience till hee be againe reconciled to GOD by faith and true repentance So long as Dauid walked with God in vprightnesse of his heart hee had exceeding ioy and comfort in the Lord his GOD was assured of his loue for pardon of his sinnes and eternall saluation but when he fell to adultery and murder and so rebelled against God it is wonderfull to see into what a gulfe of misery he plunged himselfe what feares and cares what doubts and troubles did vex his soule and wounded conscience Euen so it is with all the godly while they liue in the feare of God serue and please him and keep an vpright heart before the Lord leade a godly and christian life they feele find in themselues exceeding ioy and wonderfull comfort with assurance of Gods loue in Christ for their saluation but if as any time they breake out to sinne and rebell against God by wilfull disobedience then they shall finde an hell in their consciences troubles feares and cares for the time Who can tell what feares and cares Peter felt Luke 23. in what griefe and sorrow of heart hee was in when cowardly he denied his Lord and Master It cost him many a bitter teare The reason of this doctrine is because all peace and comfort to a poore soule springs from the sence and comfortable feeling of Gods loue in CHRIST IESVS for the pardon of sinne and eternall saluation and therefore when that is lost alas what peace or comfort can they haue Secondly they do by such wilfull sin and disobedience grieue the spirit and make the holy-Ghost sad within them and so doe what they can to expell the Spirit of God in them Now where the Spirit of God is made sad and grieued how can there be any true ioy Vse Seeing there is such sweete comfort in a godlie and Christian life while we walke with GOD and serue and please him in spirit and truth and when men sinne and rebell against God they pull downe vpon their heads such wofull misery troubles and cares how should this make euery man exceeding carefull of sinne which brings such woefull miseries and iudgements vnto our own soules such torments feares and cares To the ioy of thy saluation AS if hee should haue said ô Lord my God when thou diddest assure mee of thy loue and fauour for the pardon of my sinnes and eternall saluation I had exceeding ioy therein Now I doe humbly intreate thee to restore it to mee againe Doctr. 2 Fauour of God is a Christians chiefest ioy Hence marke what is the thing the childe of God doth most desire and craue at Gods hands and wherein they do most reioyce namely in the fauour of GOD and assurance of Gods loue in Christ Iesus that they know that God is graciously reconciled vnto them that they be in his fauour and shall neuer perish but shall euerlastingly bee saued Dauid was a King and wanted no temporall commodity comfort or delight whatsoeuer wherein worldly men reioyce but Dauid now conceiued no kinde of ioy at all in these things to bee out of Gods fauour And therefore prayes vnto God for the feeling of the true ioy and that is of His Saluation and that will minister vnto him matter of true reioycing indeed But alas most men being carnall desire riches honour pleasure Psal 4.6.7 But Lord let me see thy louing countenance thy fauour and grace and that shall do me more good and comfort then all the things in the world The poore Publican begges for this Lord be mercifull to me a sinner So
wept when wee remembred thee O Syon And when the people desired Samuel to pray for them 1. Sam. 12.32 hee said God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord and cease praying for you This Paul performed to the Romans Rom 1. vers 9.10 GOD is my witnesse whom I serue in my Spirit in the Gospell of his Sonne that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers So that we see here it hath been the practise of the Church and people of God to pray for the Church of God and that indeed for sundry reasons First it is Gods commandement that wee should pray for the Church of God Psal 12.22 6. pray for the peace of Ierusalem that is for the good and flourishing estate of Gods Church and people Secondly as it is Gods commandement so it is for our owne good because we shall fare the better for the common good of Gods Church they shall prosper that loue thee Thirdly we are or should be members of the Church of God whereof Christ is the onely head Now then members of the same body should procure the good one of another and therefore if it goe ill with the Church of God it cannot goe well with vs. How did Moses plead with God sundry times for his Church and people Exod. 32. So Nehemy he fasted prayed for the Church in misery Nehem. 1. and for the Citty of his Fathers Ierusalem And as it is the duty of all in generall to pray and procure the peace prosperity of Gods Church and people so especially ought Kings and Magistrates who are the gouernors and leaders of Gods people and his Lieutenants vpon earth Secondly Ministers are bound by especiall bond to pray for GODS Church Esay 6.21 Verse 6 For Syons sake I will not hold my peace and for Ierusalems sake I wil not rest vntill the righteoussnesse thereof breake forth as the light and the saluation thereof as a burning lampe I haue set watchmen vpon thy walles O Ierusalem which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease ye that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not silence Vse If this bee the duty of all men to labour to procure the wel-fare and happinesse of Gods Church and people then most wofull is the estate of all those that hinder the true worship and seruice of God when wicked men like bloudy SAVL shall breathe out threatnings and slaughter to the Church of God Well Acts 9.1 we shall reade in the Word of God as also in the Acts and Monuments wee shall euer finde the end of persecutors to bee exceeding fearefull some stricken downe with sudden death some dying desperatly and despairing of Gods mercy some run madde and the like fearefull ends which might admonish all persecuting Tyrants and bloudy enemies of the Church to change their minds and no more to persecute the poore Church and children of God lest they be plagued in the like manner Be fauourable Doctr. 3 That is Liberty of preaching one of Gods fauours so blesse thy poore Church that in it thy seruants the Prophets may euer preach thy holy word that thy worship and seruice may purely be performed and thy name called vpon the number of the elect may be increased and many soules saued Hence we learne that it is the great fauour and mercy of GOD to any Church or people when the word and Gospell of God is soundly and sincerely preached and the Sacraments duly administred when the people may with liberty and comfort come together to sanctifie Gods Sabaoth to call vpon the Lord in his Sanctuary to worship the Lord in his House And surely we see here what great cause we haue to blesse the name of GOD in this Land how gratious the Lord hath beene vnto vs aboue all Nations that are round about vs. So on the contrary part it is a great and grieuous iudgement of God to want faithful Ministers and holy seruants of God when God shall cause the golden Bels of Aaron to cease it is a token of Gods displeasure with any people town or kingdome then the Lord frownes vpon them and is exceeding angry with them then wo to that nation country or people when the Lord departs from them when he shal take a way their watchmen when he shall depriue them of their faithfull Ministers when hee shall take away his Word and Gospell The Lord threatens this as the greatest of all iudgements Amos 8.11 Reuel 2. then comes in sinne ignorance prophanetie impiety idolatry superstition and all manner of sinne till the Lord come with his iudgments to destroy them Vse 1 Seeing it is so great a token of the Lords dis-fauour of his anger and displeasure against any Church or Kingdome oh then let vs repent of our sins let vs intreate the Lord not to bring this iudgement vpon vs but rather to humble vs by any other meanes as it pleaseth his Maiesty Vse 2 This condemnes a plaine dotage and foolish dreame of ignorant persons Oh say some it was neuer a good world since wee had so much preaching but in time of Popery then all things were cheape and so they gather by outward peace and tranquility that GOD loued them and liked of them But wee see here howsoeuer many poore soules may deceiue themselues it is a singular fauour of God to a people when hee giues them his Gospell to bee truely preached taught vnto them when they may call vpon him in publicke and priuate This is a speciall fauour of God but where this is wanting Where prophesying failes Prou. 29. the people perish For where the word of God is not preached and the people taught there they are ignorant blinde and prophane and all manner of sinne abounds and where sinne abounds there the curse of God must needes hang ouer the heads of that people for where the word is not preached and the people taught though they abound in all prosperity yet it is not so great a fauour as they thinke it to be Nay it may be aiudgement vnto them for what are they the better to haue peace and plenty ease and liberty when as they want the fauour of God For euery blessing is not a benefite According to thy good pleasure These words containe the ground of his request namely the endlesse mercy and fauour of God in IESVS CHRIST not any goodness or worthinesse of their owne of Dauid or the people but hee builds his faith and petition of Gods meere and vndeserued mercy in Christ Doctr. 4 Hence wee learne Faith must not rest vpon others merits that wee must build our faith not vpon any goodnesse desert or worthinesse of our owne but vpon the alone mercy and good pleasure of GOD Dan. 9. He doth confesse it is true that they dare not appeare in their owne name or worthinesse but onely in the mercy of God in Christ To vs belongs shame Dan. 9.
Ministers must needes die in sinne without repentance who cannot indure themselues to bee admonished and reproued euen as a man hauing a long festered soare that is euen rotten putrified Note he can not abide the Chirurgeon should touch it or lance it alas it will be his bane in the end So if thy soule be sicke full of rottennes and corruption and yet thou continuest in sinne and liest in sinne and wilt not suffer the Lords Chirurgeons thou canst not indure Nathan to be so busie with thy sinnes what will follow but the vtter ruine of thy soule and the bane of it And therefore let all men be content to haue their hearts searched with the tents of the Law to be ript vp and launced til the bloud follow for that is the next way to be cured Doctr. 3 A feareful thing to liue in sin without repentaÌ„ce Note In Dauid obserue what a fearefull thing it is to lie in sinne without repentance it is that which maketh a grieuous wound in the conscience draweth downe many and grieuous iudgements of God as in Dauid hee felt the smart of this sinne a long time yea hee carried the skarre of it to his graue it was a heart-smart vnto sinne in denying his Lord and Maister yet he lying not in sinne repented presently went out and wept bitterly so had pardon but lying in sinne is that which wounds the conscience and drawes downe Gods Iudgements both in soule and body weakens our faith makes vs colde in prayer and in holy dueties Yea the wrath of GOD doth follow such as make no conscience of sinne giuing them ouer into a reprobate sence to a slumbering spirit and to hardnes of heart that they proue in the end to be past feeling Romans 1.28 and surely it is iust with GOD that hee should forsake them by his grace who haue forsaken him by their sins This is that which the Prophet declareth concerning the secret Iudgement of God vpon sinners that doe make shipwarcke of faith and a good conscience Psal 81.11 12. My people would not heare my voyce and Israel would none of me So I gaue them vp vnto the hardnesse of their heart and they haue walked in their owne Councels Whence he shewes that seeing they would not be reclaimed and reformed he suffered them to runne their whole swinge into all wickednesse Vse 1 Hence wee learne what a dangerous thing it is to giue entertainement vnto sin it is like to a shamelesse guest which if he be once inuited will be so hardy that hee will come againe vnbidden it is like the breaking in of water that can hardly be stopped we may see this in the example of Cain he was reprooued of God checked for his hatred against his brother and admonished to repent Gen. 4 8. But he hearkened not to the voyce of the Lord but hardned his heart and shead innocent bloud euen the bloud of his brother This appeareth in Iudas he entertained couetousnesse in his heart from couetousnes he fell to plot with the Pharises Mat. 26.15 from plotting he proceeded to practising in the end he brake out to treson against his Lord Master The like we may say of Saul That as he fell away from God step by step So did the Spirit of God forsake him For as amongst all the blessings that God doth bestow vpon the sonnes of men in this world a soft and tender heart is one of the greatest which is soone made to bleede and brought to repentance and amendment of life Ezech. 11.19 So there can bee no greater curse laid vpon man then to haue a stony heart which eueyr day doth heape vp wrath against the day of wrath Exod. 9. Vse 2 Well aboue all things let vs beware how wee lie Continuance in sin most dangerous and rest in sinne Indeede I confesse the Lord might iustly condemne vs for the least sin we doe commit but yet he doth not so much dislike vs for sinning as for lying in sinne without repentance whenas we sinne and lie in sin then we wound our conscience then all grace will decay let a man trie himselfe When Dauid had done this euill committed adultery and murther and lay without repentance how was his zeale quenched how was his prayers weakened how was his heart cooled Note how was his conscience wounded Euen so do but try thy hart if thou hast committed some euil either by adultery whoredome lying stealing c. When thou hast done this how vntoward and dull shalt thou be in holy duties in prayer and praising of GOD and thou shalt finde euen a hell in thy conscience for the present Vse 3 Seeing it is so dangerous to lie in sin without repentance it is the very cut-throate of the soule and of all good things Oh then if we do fall as the best fall daily yet let vs presently recouer our selues presently repent and cry out with the Prodigal child Luke 15. Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee And with Peter let vs hastily goe out and weepe bitterly and then we shall not so deeply wound our conscience nor draw downe Gods iudgements as when we lie and snort in sin securely without repentance The fourth Circumstance in the Title of the Psalme is the occasion wherefore this worthie Psalme was penned The occasioÌ„ wherefore this Psalm was penned which was this Nathans reprouing of Dauid for going into Bershaba of which story reade the second of Samuel the eleuenth and twefth chapters and you shall see both Dauids sinne and his repentance being reproued whence I pray you marke two things Dauids patience and Nathans holdnes Dauid was a mighty King a famous warriour yet when the Lords Prophet comes vnto him to reproue him he takes it patiently and most meekly endures it One would haue thought that Dauid should haue checked him and bid him holde his peace and bid him meddle with his equals But you see here though he were reprooued by Nathan a poore Prophet of God and that of a fowle sinne he most patiently endureth it Doctr. 1 Hence wee learne in Nathan and Dauid Ministers must reproue the greatest personagâ—s that the Prophets of GOD must not be afraide to reprooue the greatest Personages but they must lay open their sinnes Gods iudgements against them 1 Reg. 21. Elias reprooues Ahab Moses Pharaoh Paul Foelix Iohn Baptist Herod c. And so Marke 6. whatsoeuer thou art if thou wert as great a King as Dauid if the Lord send his Prophet to tell thee of thy sinnes thou art to take it as the Message of the Lord and not to storme against it And it is the thing which the children of God desire to haue their sinnes laied open and reproued Psal 141.5 Let the righteous smite me friendly and reprooue me for such smiting shall be good for me and nothing is more dangerous for Kings and great personages then to haue
granted But as Dauid did here pray againe and againe for mercy and fauour and reconciliation with God and neuer leaue the Lord till we obtaine mercy and fauour and till wee haue got some comfortable perswasion of GODS loue in Christ for the pardon of our sinnes for till wee doe so wee shall neuer haue peace nor quietnesse of conscience wee shall neuer haue sound comfort and ioy in Gods Spirit but euer anguish dolor sorrow and heauines yea either wee shall grow blockish and sencelesse Note or else in the end come to extreame desperation And therefore let vs labour with the Lord ply him with prayers and teares for pardon and neuer let him haue rest til we get one drop of mercie for the pardon of our sinnes Vse 2 Heere we are admonished not to flatter our selues in our sins as thogh no body sawe us As it is the maner of wicked men to say Eccles 23. who seeth mee I am compassed about with darkenesse the walles hide me no bodie seeth mee whom neede I feare And indeede there is scarce one of a thousand that makes any conscience of sinne so that the world do not take notice of it to condemne him But let vs not deceiue our selues though we thinke our selues neuer so secret committing adultery vnder a Canopy or in the darke Yet our owne conscience will reply I see thee and I will accuse thee And then what is a man the better for hauing no bodie priuie to his sinnes when hee hath a conscience within him which dogs him vp and downe in euery corner giuing him no rest Vse 3 This shewes the madnesse of carnall men when they feele the burthen of sinne pressing them and their consciences accusing them what do they runne to God and seeke him no no they runne to their sports and pastime to Cards and Tables to the Tauerne and Ale-house and merrie company And thus they thinke to put off the sence of sinne and to smoother and stoppe the mouth of their accusing conscience Doctr. 2 Marke the thing which thus grieued Dauids spirit Difference betweene the sorrow of the god lie and the wicked vexed his mind namely his sinnes and impieties his filthy sinnes wherby he had grieued his good God and louing Father he did not so much feare punishment as this to offend his mercifull and gracious God Two-fold sorrow Hence then marke the difference of Gods children and the wicked in repentance the childe of God is sorie for sinne because it is sin because it offends God displeaseth him and not so much properly for the punishment yea though there were none yet hee would feare to offend and be grieued for sinne because it is sin and breakes Gods commandements This we may behold in Dauid when he had committed those great sinnes of Adultery and Murder and was reproued for thē by Nathan the Lords Prophet 2. Sam. 12 13. Hee confesseth with griefe and anguish of heart in this Psalme verse 4. I haue sinned against thee euen against thee All the Iudgements which Nathan threatned against him from the Lord did not so much wound him as this that he had dishonoured his GOD. And when hee had numbred his people 2. Sam. 24.10 his heart smote him and hee cried out I haue sinned exceedingly in that I haue done The pestilence did not so much trouble him as his pride against GOD. And the Apostle Peter Matth. 26.75 seeing how grieuously he had sinned in denying his Master Went out and wept bitterly If there had beene neither heauen nor hell neither reward nor punishment yet this vnthankefulnes of his towardes so kinde a Maister would haue caused Peter to haue sorrowed so much as he did And when this godly sorrow is once wrought in mans heart then he beginneth to repent and neuer before The like we may behold in Abraham in Iob in Ioseph c. Genesis 18.30 Genesis 39.9 But wicked men they are grieued for sinne not because it is sinne and the breach of GODS Law but for feare of punishment Exo. 10.17 Pharaoh prayeth Moses to pray for him that the iudgement might be remoued but still he loued his sins so Saul praieth Samuel to pray for him 1. Sa. 15 30. and to honour him but still he would go on in sin Matt. 27.3 So Iudas repented and sorrowed for his sinne because he saw now he should be condemned and so for punishment hee was grieued Acts 8.24 Simon Magus prayes Peter to pray for him but how That none of the Iudgement threatned might fall vpon him Caine mourned exceedingly and cryed out saying Genes 4. My sinne is greater then can be for giuen mee but it was not for his hypocrisie in Gods seruice nor for the cruell murdering of his owne brother nor the sheading of innocent bloud but because of the punishment that God had inflicted vpon him Ahab also humbled himselfe and put on sacke-cloth as though hee had beene very penitent but Elias wrung it out from him denouncing Gods Iudgement against him 2. Reg. 2◠27 Vse Only godly sorrow causes true repētance Seeing this is the difference betweene the godly sorow of the faithfull and the worldly sorrow of the wicked one sorrowes for sin because it is sinne the other because of the punishment onely let vs heereby proue our sorrow Art thou grieued for sinne because it is sinne because it offends God And art thou more grieued for sinne because it grieues a mercifull God then for feare of punishment Yea wouldst thou bee grieued for sin though ther were no hell nor diuell to torment thee onlie for this very cause because it offends thy mercifull GOD then it is a certaine token of thy true repentance and godly sorrow But if thou finde thy heart onelie to bee lumpish and heauy Note in regard of the punishment of sinne in regard of hell and damnation and if it were not for that thou couldest be content to liue and go on in sinne surely then it is but a carnall sorrow it is not a godly sorrow that is only for feare of punishment and this deceiues many a man who thinkes he repents because he is grieued for sin in regard of the punishment But the vilest Atheist and reprobate in the world may be grieued for sin in regard of the punishment as hell fire and condemnation as Iudas Caine c. But the childe of God is grieued for sin because it is sinne and offends God though there were no hell to punish Doctr. 3 Dauid praies that the Lord would wash him Sinne defiles a mā therefore sin defiles and he was made foule and filthy by his sin And to wash him much and to rinse and bathe him to shew that sin had exceedingly defiled him and stained him both in soule and body made him loathsome and therefore he desireth to bee washed and cleansed and purged from the pollution of sinne Sinne defiles the whole mā Hence we may
Lord loueth well and taketh delight in and without this all that wee doe is loathsome and abhominable This honest and good heart our Sauiour CHRIST commendeth in Nathanael Iohn 1.47 Behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile This true Israelite this vpright heart the Lord loueth it Luke 8.15 and the Lord delighteth in it And the good ground are those which with an honest and good hart heare the word and bring foorth fruit with patience Vse 1 This serueth to cut the combe of all hypocrites and dissemblers who thinke God wil be pleased with outward shewes and colours although they be rotten at the kore like Apples of Sodome the Lord sheweth his dislike of these naughty and dissembling heartes Esay 19 13 This people come neare mee with their lippeâ— and honour me with their mouthes but their hearts are farre from me So the Lord telleth the Iewes Iere. 42.20 They did but dissemble with him in their hearts when you sent mee vnto the Lord to pray for you and that you would doe his will and hit word but now you will doe nothing but the cleane contrary euen after your owne lusts And amongst vs in these dayes there are many hypocrites and dissemblers painted toombs gay without making faire shewes and goodly colours but their hearts are rotten at the kore they are but counterfeit Christians and GOD abhorreth them and hath no liking of them for as hee loueth trueth and soundnesse of the heart so hee hateth and abhorreth all hypocrisie Let all such looke vpon the fearefull hand of God on Ananias and Saphyra Actes 5. who because they would seeme to be religious and somewhat forward to sell their land and giue to the poore because their heart was not sound and vpright but they dissembled therefore the Lord smote them both dead And to shew how the Lord hateth al hypocrites and dissemblers CHRIST in the foure and twentiâ—h chapter of the Gospel of Saint Mathew and the one and fifty verse saith All vile sinners shall haue their portions with hypocrites because of all men hypocrites shall haue the greatest measure of torment and condemnation Vse 2 Seeing that the Lord loueth and delighteth in trueth and sinceritie of the minde and affection let vs be carefull all our dayes to get a sound and vpright heart voyde of all hypocrisie and dissimulation so as iâ— all things wee finde our heart sound and sincere in all the dueties of thâ— worship of God in speaking hearing praying yea in all things Now this vprightnes and soundnes of thâ— heart will appeare as by many other things so by this when a man iâ— carefull to please God and to shunne sinne in priuate as in publique in secret as abroad and making conscience of sinne although no man nor Angell could accuse him of it then is it a signe his heart is sound and vpright But if thou finde that in secret thou daiest commit those sins which thou wouldest bee loath to commit abroad in the sight view of others it is a signe thy heart is not vpright with God Oh then let vs labour to get this honest and good heart this soundnes and sinceritie of our affections this truth in the inward affections Actes 15.9 which will bring peace vnto our soules and make all we doe acceptable when our heart is purified by faith When the Lord describes a blessed man he shewes who it is Euen in whose spirit there is no guile Psal 32.2 And whatsoeuer a man doth though neuer so excellent and glorious in the eyes of man though a man could â—peake with the tongue of Men and Angells could pray neuer so excellent for wordes or matter yet if the heart be not sound but hollow and full of hypocrisie all is not worth a button whereas if the heart be sincere and sound purified by faith in CHRIST though men haue many wants and weakenesses the Lord GOD regardeth the truth of the heart Doctr. 3 Last of all A sanctified sanctified heart the greatest blessing of god obserue hence what a singular fauour and grace of GOD it is when we haue sound and sanctified hearts sincere and vpright with God voyde of hypocrisie and dissimulation It is that the Lord so highly esteemes of that hee wisheth most earnestly for it Deuteronomy 5.29 O that there were this heart in them And the Prophet Dauid saith heere that the Lord doth loue Truth in the inward affection And againe Prouer. 11.20 They that be of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord but they that bee vpright in heart are his delight This vpright heart is in none but those that be truely regenerate which haue truely repented of their sinnes and beleeue in Christ Iesus Acts 15.9 Because faith alone doth purifie the heart and therefore those that doe not beleeue and repent can not haue this pure heart And it is such an heart as hath no purpose to liue in any knowne sin whatsoeuer but a desire and carefull indeuour to performe obedience to euery one of the Commandements Vse Well seeing that the Lord GOD so highly commendeth an honest heart and so earnestly desireth and wisheth it Oh how should wee labour for it to haue a sound heart purified by faith in Christ Iesus to carry no purpose to sin in any thing but in all things to please him and to do his will and therefore againe and againe I say let vs locke to our harts that they be sound and that as wee professe our selues to bee Christians in shew so we may proue our selues Christians in the sight of God That he may approue of vs in that we haue sound hearts to walke with our God and purpose in all things to doe his will Iohn 1.48 It is no small commendations that Christ giues of Nathanael that hee was a true Israelite in whom was no guile And nothing indeed doth more distinguish a true Christian from a counterfeit But this trueth and sinceritie of heart Esau Genes 27. can mourne like Ezechias And Ahab can put on sackecloth 1. Reg. 21. And Saul as well as Dauid can say I haue sinned but their hearts were full of Hypocrisie farre from sinceritie before God Doctr. 4 Seeing GOD loueth trueth in the inward affections Sinne is but a lying vanitie we learne where trueth doth not raigne sinne doth raigne which is but a lying vanitie And all those that haue beene in loue with it in the end haue found the same too true Achan through hiâ— couetous desire thought to enrich himselfe by the wedge of golde Iosua 7.25 and the Babylonish garment which hee had purloyned contrary to the Commandemenr of God but it fell our to his owne destruction Ahab rose vp and tooke possession of Nabaoth Vineyard but withall 1. Reg. 21. he purchased the wrath of GOD the destruction of himselfe the ruine of his whole house The like may be said of Iudas who through his couetous desite was led
a vertue of faith to doubt of GODS loue Rom. 8.38 Iob 13.15 19 25. Psal 125.1 but how did Paul doubt when he saith I am fully perswaded c. Alas how dares a vile sinner not iustified nor assured of GODS loue and the pardon of his sinnes how dares he come to call on God and make his prayer vnto him dares a traitour come to his King speake vnto him not hauing his pardon Well this Doctrine of doubting it is a racke for wounded consciences and torments afflicted soules when they can not tell whether God loueth or hateth them nor know not that their sinnes be pardoned Vse 2 And therefore that religion which teacheth doubtings and pronounceth them accursed who â—old that a man may be assâ—red of saluation we accurse it as a Doctrine enemie to faith and saluation And indeed it is strange to see that whereas they teach a man is able to fulfil the whole law of GOD and by his workes to merit eternall life yet they accurse him if hee say hee is sure to be saued so directly doth one point of their false Doctrine impugne another Indeede it is no maruâ—ll though their religion can yeelde no comfort for certainety of saluation seeing they draw men from off the foundation Christ Iesus in whom only it is promised that we shall find rest for our soules Seeing Dauid prayes for this assurance of Gods loue to bee assured of the pardon of his sinnes by his spirit and that vpon his true repentance This shewes that the confidence that most men haue is a fond presumption and securitie They would not doubt of GODS loue for all the world they beleeued euer since they were borne and thus they brag of their strong faith but they deceiue themselues for till a man do repent turne to GOD beleeue in Christ be a new creature hee can haue no assurance of Gods loue or pardon of his sinnes Let all true Christians examine themselues whether they feele and finde this blessed assurance and perswasion of Gods loue and the pardon of their sinnes if thou hast it make much of it loose it not If thou want it vse all meanes giue all diligence to get it repent turne to God begge mercy and pardon for thy sinnes embrace Iesus Christ beleeue in him that thou mayest bee assured and neuer be at rest till thou canst say I am perswaded of Gods loue in Christ Iesus I know my Redeemer liueth I am perswaded I am the childe of God else a man can haue no ioy peace nor comfort Doctr. 2 Though Nathan had told him his sins were forgiuen Mans testimony of the remission of sins is nothing without the testimonie of Gods spirit yet Dauid could not be assured till he felt the inward assurance and certificate of Gods spirit to perswade and witnes the loue of GOD vnto him for the pardon of his sinnes Hence we learne that it is not the testimony of all men Angels that can assure vs in our soules of Gods loue and pardon of our sins without the inward speciall certificate and perswasion of Gods Spirit who is called the Spirit of Adoption Ro. 8.15.16 because he doth reueale yea perswade and assure our soules that we be adopted If Peter Paul Nathan yea al the world nay if an Angell from heauen should tell me I am the childe of God Note yet vnlesse God doe farther certifie my conscience inwardly by his Spirit I should not be assured but doubt stil euen as Dauid did in this place although Nathan had said Thy sinnes are for giuen yet Dauid could not bee assured vntill he had the inward and comfortable perswasion of Gods holy Spirit Men cannot know the secret councell of God they may deceiue and be deceiued but the Spirit of Gods knowes all things and the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 1.10 Ro. 8.15 16 Ye haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage to feare againe But ye haue receiued the Spirit of Adoption whereby yee crie Abba Father The same Spirit beareth witnesse to our spirit that we are the children of God Galat. 4.6 2. Cor. 1.22 And because ye are sonnes therefore GOD hath sent foorth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Againe God the Father hath sealed vs and put into our hearts the earnest of his Spirit So that you see it is the proper worke of the Spirit to assure our harts and consciences of Gods loue and the pardon of our sinnes and without this inward certificate and assurance of the Spirit all the testimonies of men and Angells can not assure our consciences Vse Well then seeing that there can be no assurance in a mans conscience of the pardon of sinne and life eternall but by the inward certificate and testimony of Gods Spirit let vs pray for this labour to find and feele our hearts perswaded and assured inwardly by the holy Ghost of the pardon of our sins and the loue of GOD in Christ 2. Cor. 13.5 Proue your selues whether yee be in the faith And because men are deceiued generally with a fond presumption and foolish opinion that they be the children of God and shal be saued and this carnall presumption is more common then true sauing faith Markes of Gods Spirit I will shew how we may know this testimony and certificate of Gods Spirit when it is in our consciences First the Spirit of God assures no man of the pardon of his sinnes That Man repents of his sinnes but such as be humbled for them repent of them leaue and forsake them become new creatures and walke in newnesse of life and therfore if thou liue in sinne be not humbled for them nor bewaile them hast a purpose to liue still in thy sinnes ignorance lying swearing couetousnes vncleanenes c. Thou canst haue no assurance of Gods loue and this perswasion of thine if thou hast any it is meere presumption for where men doe not repent and turne vnto God and amend their liues there is no faith neither is the Spirit of God in them and therefore they can not bee assured of GODS loue and mercie Secondly Is perswaded of the Spirit the spirit of Adoption doth not onely tell a man that hee is the child of God but doth by sundry arguments and reasons perswade the childe of God that hee is elect that God loues him and that his sinnes be pardoned but wicked men haue no such perswasion in their hearts onely they haue a fond opinion and conceit which is no good ground neither did the Spirit of GOD euer perswade their hearts thereunto We shall know the testimony of Gods Spirit The effects will appeare that it is sure and sound by the fruits and effects of it for if the Spirit of God do truly testifie the loue of God for the pardon of our sinnes and life eternall then it will follow that we shall hate our sins loathe abhorre them because they grieue
our most gracions God louing father yea wee shall desire in all things to honour God to doe his will to please and serue him so that if wee finde and feele these things a true hatred and dislike of sinne because it dishonours our God a desire to liue in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all our dayes it is a certaine signe that the Spirit of God doth assure vs of our reconciliation with God But if men find not this no hatred of sinne no loue to obey his will and keepe his commandements but ignorance rebellion prophanenesse and the like let them bragge what they will of their strong faith feeling of Gods loue and I know not what yet it is certaine they haue not the testimony of Gods spirit which Dauid praieth for here but a sond and foolish opinion proceeding of selfe-loue carnall securitie and diuellish presumption which in the end will deceiue them Doctr. 3 Make me to heare of ioy and gladnes God conuaies confort vnto vs by the ministerie of his holie word In these words note a third point of doctrine namely whence and where Dauid looked for comfort namely from the word of God and hearing the same opened and preached vnto him So that in his example wee learne that all true comfort and spirituall consolation is to bee learned and fetched out of the word of God that is the store-house of heauenly comfort And therefore our Sauior Christ bids vs search there for comfort Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life Againe it is called Spirit and Life Iohn 6.63 because God vses the preaching and ministerie of the Gospel to beget spirituall life It is called The word of truth euen the Gospel of our saluation Ephesians 1.13 The Lord might haue illuminated the minde of the Eunuch Actes 8. by the mediate working of his owne Spirit and haue made him vnderstand that scripture which he was reading without any Interpreter but it pleased the Lord to doe it by the Ministerie of Philip hee might haue likewise communicated his Spirit to Cornelius Actes 10. But the Lord would not do it but by the ministerie of Peter According to that of the Apostle 1. Corin. 1.21 It hath pleased the Lord by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue so many as beleeue and so many shall beleeue as are ordained to eternall life If then thou be desirous with Dauid to heare of ioy and gladnesse and to haue assurance of the pardon of thy sinnes then reuerence the ministery of the word by which the Lord communicateth his Spirit to such as hee will saue And surely this must needes be an exceeding comfort to all the children of GOD that GOD doth not onelie freely forgiue them their sinnes but also telleth them of the forgiuenesse of the same sealing vp in their hearts the testimonie thereof by his holy Spirit Vse 1 Seeing God hath appointed the ministerie of the Word to bee the meanes to worke all true and spirituall comfort Oh then in all our needes wants and distresses let vs search the word of God ther is comfort to be found many heauenly and sweete promises of the gospell to quicken reuiue our poore distressed soules Psa 119.50 Psa 84.1 2 Psalme 43 Psalme 4. Reu. 22.2 and this the Prophet Dauid knew by good experience that there is more found comfort in the feeling of Gods loue then in all the world besides It may well be compared to the tree Saint Iohn speaketh of which beareth twelue manner of fruit and the leaues of the tree serue to cure and help diseased and wounded soules and the fruit of this tree of the word of God is most sweete and pleasant and therefore let vs if wee desire to desire true comfort indeed seeke it in the meanes namely in the word and ministery of the holy gospel Vse 2 This sheweth that all those be enemies to their owne soules thaâ— despise the ministery of the Word and preaching of the Gospel If euer thou finde one iote of true comfort thou must haue it in the meanes that God hath ordained namely in the ministerie of the Word let men seeke it else-where and they shall find none Men may seeke delight and ioy in their golde and siluer in merry companie in this or that as men vse to doe but alas they can not finde it there yea experience sheweth that distressed soules full of woe and miserie could neuer finde true comfort in anie thing else saue in the ministerie of the Word of GOD and there they haue found endlesse comfort by the hearing of the blessed and sauing promises of the Gospel and therefore it men shall neglect or despise the word preached how can they euer find ioy or gladness or anie dram of sauing comfort Doctr. 4 Whereas Dauid craues of GOD that he would cause him to heare of ioy and gladnes that is that his sins were all pardoned and be reconciled to God in CHRIST that so he might haue some good matter of ioy and gladness Wee learne hence that there is no sound ioy nor comfort to any man or woman Where sin is not pardond ther can be no true ioy but onely in the pardon of sinne and feeling of Gods loue in CHRIST and all other ioy which men do frame and deuise vnto themselues alas it is but from the teeth outward it is not sound nor durable it is but carnall and earthly and will easily be lost Thus saith the Lord Iere. 9.23 let not the wise-man reioyce in his wisdome nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches But let him that glorieth glory in this that he knoweth me to be she Lord And without this there can be no sound ioy as we see in Dauid and so in all distressed sinners till they feele the assurance of Gods loue for the pardon of their sinne Vse 1 This shews that the common ioy of most men and women is but a carnall ioy earthly vaine it is not spirituall it is not true ioy for al the while they eate drinke make themselues merry laugh and sing they liue in sinne in danger of Gods anger and condemnation no feeling of Gods loue no assurance of saluation and then how can they haue any true ioy for this proceedes from the assurance of Gods loue and the pardon of sinne The kingdome of God stands not in meate and drinke Ro. 14.17 but in righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost Esa 57.21 but vnto the wicked there is no peace Obiect Obiect But doe wee not see that wicked men that liue in sin that be notorious sinners swearers blasphemers drunkards c. that these liue in mirth and iollity in eating drinking in ease and idlenesse and the children of GOD haue much forrow and heauinesse griefe and wrong Answ Answ Yes it is true that wicked men that liue in sin passe their dayes in eating drinking
and wash them all away in the blood of his Sonne Now hee doth begge for regeneration and encrease of the blessed worke of sanctification which is begunne and continued by the holie Spirit of God for though the Lord shall pardon sinnes past yet if hee giue not power against sinne in time to come we shal marre all quickely and commit either the same againe or else some greater sinne there fore hee craues power against sin in time to come that he may not fall into the like againe Parts of this verse two In this tenth verse there be two things to bee confidered first hee craueth a sanctified heart because till the heart be pure no good motion can proceede from thence no more then sweete Water from a bitter Fountaine secondly he praies for the renewing of the worke of grace or new birth and sanctification which he had by his sinnes hindered yea greatly interrupted that so his soule and filthy heart being renued and sanctified thence might proceed good affections and holy actions with continuall and constant obedience Doctr. 1 Whereas the Prophet ioynes this petition of Sanctification vnto the former of Iustification we learne Iustification and Sanctification go together that these two graces of Gods spirit Iustification pardon of sinne and sanctification a godly life and conuersation are so knit and vnited together that they can not be seperated so as no man is truly iustified by faith in the bloud of Christ but he is also sanctified by the Holy-Ghost no man can haue the pardon of his sins but he must becom a new creature in Iesus Christ And this appereth plainely by the Apostle S. Paul Rom. 5. treating of Iustification and Chap. 6. vers 4 5. intreating of Sanctification he shewes that these two go euer together so as he that is not sanctified is not iustified and he that is not regenerate and borne anew by faith in Iesus Christ and the worke of the Spirit cannot haue the pardon of his sinnes Seeing Iustification Vse 1 and pardon of sins and Sanctification and new-nesse of life cannot be seuered in the children of God no more then fire and heate then men had neede to take heede lest they deceiue themselues while they say God is mercifull and they hope all their sinnes are pardoned in the bloud of Christ But vnlesse thou be truly sanctified vnlesse thou be a new creature in Christ Iesus thou canst haue no assurance of thy Iustification and pardon of thy sins therfore if thou liue in sin delight in sin no change no new birth no reformation of thy hart life certainly thou hast no pardon of thy sinnes as yet and thy hope is but a foolish and vaine fancy of thine own braine Hence to trie the assurance of our saluation Vse 2 by the fruit of our Sanctification for heereby wee may assure our selues that we are iustified if wee leade a sanctified life If wee haue our conuersation in holinesse wee shall haue in the end euerlasting life 2. Timoth. chap. 2.19 the Apostle sheweth there that the foundation of the Lord standes sure so that the Lord knoweth who are his He sheweth also how wee shall know that wee are the Lords euen this Euery one for his own assurance must depart from iniquity and this is confirmed by that of S. Iohn Ioh. 1.6 7. If wee say wee haue fellowship with him and walke in darkenesse we lie and do not the truth O then as we glorie in the name of Christians and would be accounted Christs let vs be carefull to bring forth the fruits of Christians and to leade a sanctified life for God hath ioined these two together so that not all the wit and pollicie of men whatsoeuer is able to seperate them Create in mee a new heart TO create is to make a thing of nothing as God created the world Doctr. 2 Gen. 1.1 that is he made all things of nothing Hence then learne that it is as great a worke to create a new heart Repentance is a new creation and so to saue a sinner as to create the whole world of nothing yea in some respects it seemes harder for in the creation of the world the Lord but spake the word and all was made there was no hinderance no resistance or opposition but in the creation of the heart a new there are many lets and hinderances First within a man euery man is an enemy to his owne saluation and the flesh resists this worke againe the deuill doth labour to hinder by all meanes possible so blessed a worke Yea and besides that it is a great work to create in a man a new heart It is also a worke of great difficulty not accomplished without great labour and paine and therefore is it called a Birth a Death a Circumcision so then euen as no birth no death no cutting off of the flesh can bee without paine and sorrow So the conuersion of a sinner is not wrought without paine and sorrow The Infant is not deliuered out of it mothers womb without paine and dost thou thinke ô man to part with sinne which is in thee was conceiued with thee and which since thy birth day vnto this present thou hast nourished with such delight and not to tast of paine in thy new birth no â—ssuredly it will not bee but it will cost thee much sorrow many a sigh yea and teares themselues before thou hast the same effectually wrought in thee Seeing it is so hard a thing to haue a new and sanctified heart V se 1 euen as to create the whole world then we had need to take the greater paines about it to vse all meanes that God hath appointed namely Ioh. 17.17 Acts 15 9. the word preached the Sacraments prayer meditation in the law of God and to cry vnto GOD for the same continually Wee see that there is nothing in man of himselfe that is pleasing vnto God Vse 2 for Dauid praies to haue a new heart created in him and therefore there is no will no motion in any man of himselfe to please God all must be new yea till the heart be created a new and sanctified it is a sinke of sin and all vncleannesse full of poisoned lusts and concupisence and therefore no freedome of will to any thing that is good til God create this new heart Seeing Dauid prayes to God to create a cleane heart within him Vse 3 it must admonish vs all to looke vnto our hearts that they be cleane for it is the fountaine of all life and motion Now such as the fountaine is such will the water bee such as the roote is such will the fruite bee and if thy heart be euill it will send forth filthy lusts and desires And as our Sauiour saith Mat. 15.19 Out of the heart commeth euill thoughts murthers adulteries thefts false testimonies slanderâ— these are the things which defile the man Oh! then let vs look vnto our hearts and labour
into them And I will take away their stony hearts and giue them hearts of flesh God the Father sanctifieth in giuing his Sou Christ vnto vs so Christ sanctifieth in washing vs from our sins in his bloud And the Holy Ghost in applying CHRIST IESVS his death and resurrection to vs. And thus the worke of Regeneration or Sanctification is by GOD alone wrought iâ— the Elect. Vse Well then this shewes that man hath no freedome of will in heauenly things pertaining to Eternall Life but all is of God faith saluation life eternall and comes from GOD and therefore let vs vse all good meanes appointed of GOD and seeke this at his hands who alone can and will do it Now followes the second part of the verse Part of this verse And renew a right Spirit within mee Wherein Dauid craues grace from GOD to become a new creature and withall that God wold inable him by his spirit to be faithful and constant in time to come and therefore requires of God a stable Spirit a firme Spirit that is not onely a constant purpose to walke vprightly with GOD but power and strength from his Spirit to become faithfull and constant as fearing his owne weaknesse if the Lord should leaue him to himselfe For as GOD giues grace to obey so he must giue grace to perseuer As if hee should haue said O Lord thou hast begunne this blessed work of regeneration new Birth by thy holy Spirit But I like a sinfull wretch by sin and rebellion haue hindred the same and broken off the gracious worke of thy holy Spirit Now I beseech thee O Lord lay to thy hand againe and a fresh begin to renew the work of thy Spirit euen the blessed worke of new Birth and withall grant that in time to come I may be strengthned in the inner man by thy holy Spirit and may bee made thereby firme and constant to continue yea to grow and hold out to the end in holy obedience Doctr. 1 Marke that Dauid acknowledgeth he had broken off the worke of God his Spirit in him Man by sinning breakes of the worker of Sanctification and interrupted the same and hindred the worke of Sanctification by his sinnes and disobedience And therefore wee learne that after God hath touched a mans heart to repent and sanctified him by his Spirit if hee sinne and rebell against God hee doth what lies in him to cut off the worke of grace to hinder the work of his saluation and breake off the gracious worke of Sanctification and new Birth and if the Lord should leaue him hee shold fal cleane away from grace for the Spirit of God is glad and ioyfull when as we are carefull to auoid all those waies which offend God and wound our soules when we seeke to keep good hearts faith vnfeigned a good conscience then the Spirit of God doth daily proceed with the worke of new Birth and Sanctification but after we shall rebell against God and commâ—â— sinne we gâ—â—eue the holy Spirit of GOD and vexe him that hee is compelled by our lewdnesse to leaue off the worke in the middest because wee suffer not our selues to bee wrought vpon Eph. 4.30 but we will follow our owne lusts and liking and when the spirit of GOD ceaseth to renue vs and to beget our hearts to God then there rises blindnesse of minde so as we cannot conceiue and feele the loue of God as in Dauid And then this gracious worke of the spirit being interrupted there arises griefe and sorrow of soule and conscience Vse 1 Well seeing this is the fruite of our sinnes against knowledge and conscience they hinder the worke of grace and new birth interrupt the blessed worke of sanctification begun by Gods Spirit bring blindenesse of mind and hardnes of heart Oh then let vs take heed of sinne intreate the Lord that hee would giue vs grace for euer to hide his word in our hearts that wee might not sinne against his Maiesty and that he wold not leaue vs to blindenesse of minde and hardnesse of heart but that hee would rather continue his loue and mercy vnto vs and that his holy spirit would daily proceede with the blessed worke of Sanctification and renuing of our soules vnto holinesse and true righteousnesse Vse 2 So often as we bee tempted to sin let vs remember that if we yeeld vnto it wee shall hinder the blessed work of Gods Spirit hinder our new Birth and Sanctication and thereby do what lies in our power to grieue the holy Spirit of God and cause him to leaue off the blessed worke of regeneration Vse 2 When Dauid intreates the Lord that hee would renue a constant and stable spirit in him Good to feare our weaknes he shewes that he was greatly affraid of his own weak nesse and therefore desires strength from God to hold out and perseuer in obedience euen vnto the end that God would by his Spirit giue him a constant purpose continuall indeuour both in heart and life to doe his will and therefore we learne from him to suspect our selues to feare our owne weakenes and infirmity if the Lord should leaue vs to our selues Blessed is the man that feares alwaies Pro. 28.14 but hee that hardeneth his heart shall runne into all euill waies For such is our weaknes that we are ready to fal into the selfe fame sinne from the which wee are escaped of the Lord doe but a little leaue vs to our selues This doth the Prophet teach Psalme 78. How oft dâ—d they prouoke him in the wildernes and grieue him in the desart Thus did Pharaoh Exod. 9. Chap. 27. I haue sinned and the LORD is righteous but I and my people are sinnefull But when the Iudgement was remoued his heart was hardened againe and hee continued in his sinne Wee see this in the example of the Israelites Iudges the third Chapter They commiteed euill againe and againe they fell into idolatry they knew it was a sinne yea and they had experience of Gods seueritie against it for all that they fell againe into the same sinne and so prouoked the Lord to punish them So Hebr. 6. Many sinne againe after the receiuing and acknowledgement of the truth So that except the Lord vpholde and holde men backe they wil fall into the same sinnes they before committed and so prouoke the Lord afresh to punish them O then let vs feare our weakenes If Dauid a holy Prophet a man after GODS heart prayeth thus that GOD would stablish him with his free Spirit that is giue him a constant purpose and indeuour to continue in obedience how much more haue we need to do the same knowing how weake we are how many inticements wee haue to sinne how cunning the Diuell is and vseth the world and the flesh as so many enemies to fight against vs well let vs feare the worst and doubt our weaknesse and it will make vs more carefull to
Mat. 24 24 that any man elected should perish False Christs should deceiue the very elect Math. 18. Rom. 8.30 if it were possible but that is impossible And the gates of hell that is all the power and malice of the deuill shall not preuaile against the least of GODS children to hinder their euerlasting saluation Againe this is proued Math. 16.16 Where Christ promiseth Peter and in him the whole Church That the gates of hell should neuer preuaile against him where Christ sheweth that indeed the deuill through his temptations might shew very much strength but they should comfort themselues in this that they should neuer preuaile or finally get the victory Againe Mat. 24. They shall deceiue if it were possible euen the very Elect Out of which words of our Sauiour wee may gather that the Elect of God should not be seduced and so fall away finally Againe Iohn 10.28 Christ saith his sheepe shall neuer perish adding this withall No man shall take them out of my hands And againe Rom. 8.30 Whom God Predestinateth hee Calleth Iustifieth Sanctifieth and Glorifieth Therefore not fall away finally for he that falleth away finally shall neuer be glorified But admit as the Papists would haue it that a man might fall away fily then hee must bee cleane cut off from Christ for hee must be cleane cut off from Christ and haue no coniunction with him before hee fall away finally then at his second reuniting he must bee Baptised for Baptisme is the Sacrament of Incysion or ingrafting into Christ But that is absurd that Baptisme should be any more then once adminstred therefore fore a man is but once vnited or once ingrafted and cannot bee revnited and neuer fall And therefore friuolous is that distinction of veniall and mortall sinnes with the Papists for if any sinne of the Elect should bee mortall Then there must needs bee a second renuing in the Elect vnto Christ which is most absurd to thinke Men must puta difference betwixt that they feele and that they haue for the Lord worketh this but once And Dauid though at this time hee lay languishing vnder the heate of the Lords wrath for those horrible sinnes of his adultery and murther yet in this verse he praies not to haue it taken from him which doth argue that hee had it euen at this time of his greatest extremity though hee felt it not with the same measure of comfort hee had done many times before Secondly besides these plaine testimonies of Scripture let vs consider a word or two to proue that in regard of God the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost that the elect cannot perish and fin ally fall away First if a man elected of God to eternall life called iustified and sanctified may fall away and finally perish then it is either because God wants loue or power to saue him but to say that God is vnwilling or vnable is meere blasphemy therfore all those whom he elects must needs be saued seeing God doth both will it and shew that hee is able to effect it First if God be willing and would haue them saued Rom. 11. Rom. 8. who hath resisted his wil If God be with vs who can be against vs but that he is most willing able to saue the elect it is manifest For his will Ioh. 3.16 his will God so loued them that he sent his Sonne to dye for them Now this is a great triall and proofe of his loue willingnesse that hee had rather see his only begottē son that was neere and deere vnto him to bee hanged on the tree to dye the cursed death on the crosse to shed his pretious bloud and to beare the curse of God and hellish torments then to see any one of his elect to perish Ioh. 6.39.40 And this is the Fathers wil that hath sent me that of all which he hath giuen me I should loose nothing but raise it vp at the last day Secondly for his power that he is able to saue all those whom hee will saue Esay 63.1 it is manifest God is omnipotent most righteous mighty to saue the Lord doth what hee will None can take them out of my Fathers hands which is greater then all Ioh. 10.27.28 And therefore seeing God is willing and desires that all the elect should be saued not onely decreed it but sent his Son to saue them Secondly those for whom Christ dyed and prayed that their faith might not faile they must needs bee saued and their faith cannot faile but he hath prayed for all true beleeuers Father keepe them that thou hast giuen me that they may bee one mee Luk. 22.23 Ioh. 17. as thou art one in mee Now then if Christs prayer bee of force and can preuaile and doe any thing with the Father as hee confesseth that the Father hath doth and will heare him in all things then certainely no true beleeuer can perish and finally fall away Thirdly no true member of Christ can perish for then Christs body should be imperfect but euery true beleeuer is a liuing Member of Christs body and therefore cannot perish yea it is as possible that Christ himselfe should perish as any true beleeuer that is truely ingrafted into his body by faith and the spirit Fourthly in regard of God the Holy Ghost who is the pledge and pawne of our adoption and saluation Rom. 8.16 the seale of our election and doth testifie Gods loue in Christ for our saluation Now then vnlesse we will say that the Spirit of God who is the spirit of Wisedome being of the very Councell of God and the spirit of truth that cannot lye that he testifies vntruths that the beleeuer that repents beleeues in Christ shall bee saued and yet hee shall not which is blasphemy wee must needs confesse it is impossible 1. Ioh. 3.9 Hee that is borne of God cannot sinne with full consent to death because the seed of the Spirit remaineth in him And therefore I conclude that the childe of God elected called iustified and sanctified cannot perish and for euer fall away cannot become a Reprobate and limbe of the Deuill but shall continue to the end and God will finish the good worke of grace in them Papists doctrine against the nature of faith till the comming of Christ Iesus Vse 1 This confutes that damnable doctrine of the Papists wbo hold all in vncertainty yea they teach and hold that a man truely elected may become a reprobate though to day a child of God and highly in his fauour yet to morrow by thy sinnes thou maist become a limbe of the deuill out of Gods fauour in his displeasure damned for euer though to day a member of Christ Iesus called iustified and sanctified yet to morrow loose all and bee damned for euer which indeed is the breake-necke of all comfort if a man know not whether he shall be saued or not Vse
that faile in the maner of doing of it to offer sacrifice was the Commandement of God but when the Iews thought by their sacrifices to appease Gods anger without the sacrifice of Christ they sinned and God abhorred them and cared not for them Againe to preach the word of God is his commandement but when Iudas shall preach the word to cloake his couetousnesse and treacherous heart it is a sinne in Iudas to giue almes it is a thing commanded and a sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased but if men shall giue to merite and to be seene of men the Lord careth not for it so as wee see a man may doe things which God commands men to do and yet be so farre from pleasing God that they shall sinne and prouoke him to anger because they doe them not in an holy manner Pro. 15.11 in faith repentance obedience and zeale of Gods glory Vse 1 This condemns almost the whole seruice of God amongst the Papists who do all to this end to merit and deserue at Gods hands pardon of sin and freedom from punishment but this is to a wrong end wee must doe good works not to merit but to honor God to giue good example to make our calling sure to our selues Vse 2 This must admonish vs all not only to doe that God commands as to preach the word heare pray receiue the sacrament c. but to do it as God commands or else he abhorres all we do vnlesse we do them in faith repentance and obedience all is in vaine Doctr. 3 If the Lord abhorre those sacrifices which hee commands for mans sinne Popish Sacrifices abhominable how much more those sinnefull sacrifices which haue beene inuented by man without any warrant from his word as the Idoll of the Masse Popish pilgrimages perpetuall chastity voluntary pouertie liuing in a cloister c. Vse 1 Wel then let vs take heed not only that we doe not abuse those sacrifices which the Lord commands by our euill doing and performing of them but much more that we be not so bold at any time to offer vnto the Lord such sacrifices as are condemned in the word of God to offer with strange fire as Nadab and Abihu and such as Paul calles Wil-worship and Christ calles The inuentions of men for these the Lord abhorres Vse 2 It condemns that bloody beastly sacrifice of the Papists who offer in Masse Christ daily for the quicke and dead an horrible abuse of Christ Iesus for Christ hath by his owne sufficient sacrifice of his bodie and bloud on the Crosse appeased his fathers anger for the sins of the world and put an end to all these sacrifices and if they offer vp CHRIST in the Masse for quicke and dead then Christs sacrifice was imperfect that must be patched vp with that abhominable Idoll Concerning these sacrifices which were Lambs Sheep Goats or Bullockes and were all slaine offered to God in fire let vs marke that they were all so many figures types and shapes of that euerlasting sacrifice of Iesus Christ which hee offered vpon the Crosse in his owne person Doctrine Christ an end of all other Sacrifices Then this doth commend vnto vs that blessed and most meritorious sacrifice of Christ the lambe of God seeing there was so many prophesies of it euen from the beginning of the world and so many shadowes and types of it as can not be numbered because there neuer passed one day amongst the Iewes from the time of the Law till Christs comming but they offered at least morning and euening sacrifice as shadowes of Christ Iesus to come and the people of God the beleeuing Iews and holy Fathers and Prophets did in them beholde Iesus Christ as slaine and crucified before their eyes And as Christ saith The holy Patriarkes and Prophets and famous Kings desired to see my dayes and would be glad to see and yet saw it not Vse Well seeing the sacrifice of Iesus Christ is so excellent meritorious of endlesse worth to procure Gods fauour to vs how should we often thinke vpon it neuer let it depart out of our mindes And to this end wee should be more willing to approch and come to the Supper of the Lord that so there as it were in a plaine Table and Picture and not painted on a woodden crosse as the Papists do we might behold Christ crucified and his bloud shed for our sins so often as we see the bread broken and the wine powred out So often as yee doe it 1. Cor. 11. doe it in remembrance of mee to shew foorth my death till I come For the remembrance of Christs sacrifices it is a sweete comfort to all wounded and distressed soules it is sacke and sugar to them all that truly beleeue in him it is an excellent means to kill sin and to humble our hard hearts that we should remember our sinnes were as the bloudie nailes and the speare which put him to death and a powerfull bridle to restraine vs from sinne because so often as wee sinne wee doe as it were pierce his heart afresh and as for those that care not for comming to the Sacrament nor yet for the word wherein Christ is liuely crucified they shew they haue no benefit by this sacrifice of Christ VERSE 17. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O God thou wilt not despise Dauid hauing shewed what be those Sacrifices wherein the Lord God hath no pleasure namely such as men shall offer with hope to merite or without faith and repentance Now he shewes what is that Sacrifice wherein the Lord takes great delight and is well pleased and that is in one word A broken spirit a heart truely wounded for sinne In this verse let vs first finde out what is the broken and contrite Spirit Secondly the commendations of it namely it is called the Sacrifice of God Thirdly that hee doth not despise By a broken and contrite spirit is meant such an heart as is truly humbled with sight of sinne wounded and pierced with feare of Gods anger grieued for offending so mercifull a God and louing Father and doth begge for mercie at his hands as for life and death besides the endlesse mercy of God in Christ which breaketh the heart of a poore sinner So then there be two things that wound and bruise the heart of sinners First the sight of sinne and knowledge of our misery by reason thereof Secondly the endlesse mercie of God in Christ so as it cuts vs at the heart to remember that wee haue offended so good and mercifull a Father Doctrine Broken hart most rare thing to be foūd Seeing this is that broken heart which is thus bruised with the sight of sinne and is humbled for them yea hath a most lowe conceit of it selfe as most vile and vnworthy wee shal see that it is a most rare thing to be found for generally men are so blinded