how to be sanctified and after what manner the other commandements are to be obserued their ministery is not of credit ynough to be regarded but if false Prophets tell them that the Sabbath is abrogated and all the old testament abolished or broach any other pestilent points for a licentious course of life they are presently esteemed worthy and comfortable teachers And so Jusuiâ—es and Seminaries intising them to idolatry and disloyalty yea some of them many times to shamefull impurity are deuout and reuerend fathers And so stage-players and minstrels are teachers of good lessons and more edifie with their interludes and songs thaÌ„ the ministers doe with their sermons and preaching We wil not speake here of vncharitable persons which are prompt and ready to traffique with any that carrieth a pack of malitious reports against such as vnfainedly feare God those we shall deale with when we come to the seuenteenth chapter v. 4. where it is set as a note of the wicked to giue heede to false lippes and that a lyar harkneth to the naughtie tongue Instruction to shew our wisedome according to the direction here giuen vnto vs not to set a foot forward to follow any mans perswasion before it appeare vnto vs to be sound warrantable The Holy Ghost is frequent in exhorting vs to this heedfulnes 1. Thess 5 21. Trie all things saith S. Paul and keepe that vvhich is good Beleeue not euery spirit saith S. John but try the spirits whether they are of 1 Iohn 4. 1. God for manie false Prophets are gone out into the world VVe are not willing to be blindfolded at our meat nor to eate our supper without a light especially in strange places where we neither know well the fidelity of our host nor what dishes are set before vs and shall we be more prouident for the outward man than the inward Shall we keepe out of our bodies whatsoeuer is not wholsome and sauory and receiue into our soules such foode as will poyson vs But is it not contrary to charity to fift mens words and not to Ob. rest vpon the trueth and faithfulnes of their testimony Ans There is nothing contrarie to charity that is agreeable to Ans wisedome and no wrong is done to man by obeying the counsel and precept of God Sithence therefore he doth command it as a duty and commend it as a vertue for men to be circumspect in hearing who shall lay it to their charge as a fault VVhat iniury was done to Paul by the prudent Bereans which searched the Scriptures dailie whether those things were so as he taught VVe vse to tell siluer and to waigh gold and yet preiudge not them at whose hands we receiue them Jf the things which they speake to vs be true they shall be the more iustified and approoued after that they haue bin tried if otherwise themselues may by the discouery of their errour be better informed and others the lesse indangered by them Vers 16. A wise man feareth and departeth from euill but a foole rageth and is carelesse A Wise man he that is religious and truly godly when hee is rebuked or heareth Gods threatnings or beholdeth Gods iudgements or foreseeth plagues to come by the present view sight of sinne feareth his heart trembleth both in respect of Gods displeasure and the mischiefe like to follow and departeth from euill both purgeth his heart by humiliation and redresseth his way by reformation But the foole rageth and is carelesse a sinfull person scorneth when he is reproued and presumeth of impunity and freedom from all perils They which are in greatest safety are farthest from carnall Doct. security The godly haue not so many sinnes as the wicked and yet they feele them more and feare them more and flee from them faster And the wicked haue not more valour then the godly nor so much freedome from punishments and yet goe beyond them in audaciousnes and fleshly confidence VVhen Dauid was dealt with by Nathan he confessed his falt Psal 51. he craued pardon he set his heart to seeke helpe from heauen against his sinne but when Achab was spoken to by Micaiah he 1. Kings 22. persecuted the Prophet he proceeded in his purpose he promised himselfe a safe returne from his voyage And Amaziah also scorned and threatned the messenger that was sent to him from God 2. Chron. 25. 16. Iosiah hearing the law of the Lord read by 2 Chro. 34. 19 Saphan in regard of the threates therein contained did rent his cloaths in griefe and feare but Iehoiakim hearing the words of God read by Baruch in regard of the curses there denounced did Ier. 36 23. teare the booke and burne it in wrath and fury First the one sort haue faith seeing God in his word waies Reasons 1 and therefore tremble at his rebukes and follow his direction and the other are full of infidelity looking onely with a carnall eie and therfore despise his threatnings and contemne his counsels Secondly the one sort are of an humble spirit and that alwaies maketh the heart tender and tractable and the other of an high minâ— and that maketh it hard and obstinate Thirdly the one sort are prouident for themselues and therefore do heedfully preuent all perils that may befall them and the other negligent of their owne safety and therfore shun no mischiefe before they feele it And so he saith in another Chapter A prudent man seeth the plague and hideth himselfe but the foolish go Prou. 22 3. on still and are punished Consolation to them that attaine to this holy feare though they Vse 1 could not keepe themselues withouâ— fault that dare not persist still in their sins though they were too ventrous to fall into them at all It was their great folly to defile their soules by committing of them but it is their excellent wisedome to purge themselues by humiliation for them And albeit they had cause of feare and sorrow in respect of the daunger that insueth vpon the practise of euill yet they haue reason to take courage and comfort in regard of the pardon that followeth after the being of euill Confutation of them that take security for magnanimity and want of feare for greatnesse of faith they count it vnmanly to haue dread and a strong trust in God to doubt of no perills But be it knowne vnto them that Dauid was nothing their inferior in valiantnesse of heart and yet his heart was tender and fearfull of sinne It is to be obserued continually that none are so bold in wicked attempts as they which are most base minded Who are so ventrous to oppose themselues against God impiously to defraude him of his glory as they whose courage will not serue them to incounter with their equall in a iust cause for mainteynance of their own right Who are so fierce and violent like Lyons to oppresse their inferiours as they which are as submisse as spaniels to fawne
vpon their superiors And in making presumption and carelesnesse a part of strong faith they are strangely deluded for faith is the worke of Gods holy spirit and is founded wholly on the truth of his word but the diuell is the damme of presumption and it hopeth that the word is false so that nothing in the world doth more manifest their infidelity If that be faith what wicked man is without faith If that bee faith the curse of Deut 29. 20. God is due to faith and faith will bring men to destruction Verse 17. He that is hastie to anger committeth follie and he that plotteth mischiefe is hated HE that is hastie to anger is suddeinly moued to distempered passions before he hath aduisedly examined the cause of offence committeth folly breaketh out into some absurdity or iniustice by word or deed and he that plotteth mischiefe which dissembling his displeasure inteÌ„deth reueÌ„ge setteth his thoughts on work how to effect it is hated is abhorred of God and detested by those that find out his malitious practises They which are giuen to wrath doe bring a blemish vppon Doct. 1 themselues See Chap. 12. v. 16. He that plotteth mischiefe c They which are malitious and Doct. 2 hurtfull are commonly very odious and hatefull Doeg was delighted in doing of harme and thereto applyed his heart and tongue and all his power and therefore all good men were as glad of his downfall and reioyced at his destruction Behold say they the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted to the multitude of his riches and put his strength in his malice See chap. 11. v. 10. in the first doctrine amplified by the contrary and the second vse of it Vers 18. The foolish do inherit follie but the prudent are crowned with knowledge THe foolish such as will learne no wisedome nor practise anie goodnes inherite follie shame and other punishments are due vnto them for their ignorance and sinfâ—lnes and shall in time also light vpon them But the prudent are croâ—ned with knowledge such as are discreet and godlie wise shall receiue the glorious fruite of their vnderstanding and obedience For by beeing crowned is meant commonly in the scriptures honour and dignity and for the certainty of the reward on both sides hee speaketh of that which is to come as if it were presently performed A wicked man hath no certain state in any thing but in shame Doct. 1 and misery That is their inheritance and that remayneth for them that they shall surely possesse when they come to their yeares Many things they haue in the meane time as strength and titles and profits pleasures but they haue them onely owne them not nor shall be able long to hold them When Nabuchadnezzar was heaping vp all these to gether the Holy ghost derided his sottishnes and caused a tanting prouerb Hab 2 6. to be taken vp against him saying Ho he that increaseth that which is not his How long And he that ladeth himselfe with thicke clay Indeed he did also increase that which was his as ignominy to himselfe and ruine of his family and torment for the time to come but that was done against his will and without any purpose of hauing First they are borne to this wretched estate as being the children Reasons 1 of wrath by nature and therefore in that respect it is theire inheritance descended vpon them Secondly they haue strengthened their title and procured a more full confirmation of that their state by rebellion againste God and contempt of his word whereby it commeth to passe that all the curses of the law are due vnto them Thirdly they haue no right in Iesus Christ without whom no man hath right in any thing sauing in Gods wrath and his own destruction Terror for sinfull men which hope to be made happy by theire Vse 1 folly and not miserable which presume of perpetuall prosperitie by theire wicked courses and looke not for a downefall They dreame that lands and goods and honours and pleasures are setled vpon them and theirs by an eternall Intayle and neuer thinke that confusion is their inheritance and patrimony But the Lord who is to render them their due hath caused their coppy to bee published to all the world that in his court-roles of iudgement their right is recorded which they haue no more power to passe away or to passe from than an infaÌ„t hath to alienate his heritage It is better to be an inhabitant euen a tennant at will in a smoaky cottage or a prisoner perpetually in a dungeon how loathsome soeuer then to be heire of such an estate And why then will they not be perswaded while time yet serueth to alter theire hearts and behauiour that their condition may also be changed Folly seemeth their friend and flattereth now but folly will proue to be their foe and torment them heereafter Jf they would yet hearken vnto wisedome wisedome would vndoubtedly bee helpfull vnto them and turne their villeinage into the best kind of free hold and their hellish seruitude into the glorious libertie of Gods owne children But the prudent are crowned c. Euery one that hath godlie Doct. 2 wisedome is sure to attaine vnto true honour VVhich hath been already shewed partly in the tenth chapter v. 7. â—pon these words The memoriall of the iust shall be blessed partly in the twelfth v. 8. where it is said that A man shall be commended for his wisedome Verse 19. The euill shall bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous THe euill shall bow before the good sinfull persons shall be depressed and brought downe and godly men exhalted raised vp they shal crouch in token of submissioÌ„ these shall haue obeysance done to them in token of honour And the wicked at the righteous the meaning is that good men shall not onelie bee greater than the euill but such as the euill must be driuen to seeke vnto for helpe and fauour as suters vse to waite at the gates of a greate personage till eyther he come forth or they be let in and admitted to his presence Godlinesse is no cause of contempt and obiection Doct. Jt may not be denied but that many goodmen are in low place and for their goodnesse oppressed of the wicked but it is sometimes because they haue faults withall for the which the Lord doth humble them though their enemies enuy their graces and sometimes because they haue not strength enough to beare their prosperity with such loue to their brethren and humility in them selues as is needfull and alwaies because their pouerty and suffrings are a foundation lowe layed for an hie building of glory So that howsoeuer vngodlie men take occasion by religion to persecute the righteous yet it cannot be trulie sayed that religion doth cause the righteous to bee cast downe or the sinners to be set vp The promise which God maketh to his people in
and admonitions It is the stoutnesse of their heroicall stomacks and the vigour of their ripe wit that they will not be controlled at any mans hand But is it from their valure and courage that they will not beare a reprofe or from then impotency or bondage that they cannot is it the vertue of their wisedome that maketh them repell such wholsom instructions or the venome of their blindnesse as not knowing how to make vse of them As valiant as they be they are commanded and dealt with like seruile slaues by Satan and as wise as they be they are condemned plagued as most miserable fooles by the Lord. How frequent are places to this purpose in the scriptures Be no mockers least your bonds increase Instruction is euill to Isa 28 22 him that forsaketh the waie and he that hateth correction shall Prou. 15. 10 die Because ye haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction Prou. 1. 25. 26 I will laugh at your destruction and mocke when your feare commeth c. Consolation to them that disdaine not to heare of their sinnes though they were not carefull ynough to auoyde them Their case is not so desperate so long as they are not obstinate and no mans hurt is incurable if he be not incorrigible Verse 2. A good man shall eate the fruit of his mouth but the soule of the transgressors violence THe meaning of the first part of this verse is that godly men shall be blessed both for and by their gracious wise seasonable speeches and consequently for their religious and righteous behauiour and to this in the other part is opposed the condition of the godlesse that their soules that is themselues at least in their soules shall be required with violence for their cruelty and other euill deeds which they haue done and consequently for their wicked words which they haue spoken So it is all one in sence with the fourteenth verse of the twelfth Chapter where it is sayd that a man shall be saciate with good things by the fruite of his mouth and the recompence of a mans hands shall God giue vnto him Verse 3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but destruction shal be vnto him that openeth his lips wide HE that keepeth his mouth which is considerate and warie in his words neuer speaking but when he ought nor vttering any thing but which is true and conuenient he keepeth his life prouideth for his safety peace and quietnes But he that openeth his lips or strideth too wide to lewde speaking for so the word signifieth as a harlot prostitutes her selfe or spreadeth her body to filthy companions Ezech. 16. 25. destruction shall be to him he is like to meete with much trouble and at one time or other to be quite ouerthrowne The safety and happines of the whole life dependeth vpon the Doct. 1 well ordering of the tongue That is commonly a meanes when it is guided aright to lengthen the yeares of mens liues and that is vsually an occasion when it is misgouerned to lessen their daies make them shorter That being wisely and religiously imployed will procure supply of all their wants and that being rashly and sinfully vsed will quickly dispatch them of great abundance That being peace able discreete and modest will helpe to ridde them out of their troubles but that being boysterous hasty and arrogant is like to entangle them with molestations Death and life saith Salomon Prou. 18. 21. in the eight Chapter are in the power of the tongue And therefore it is both a prudent and holy direction which the Spirit of God doth giue vs in the Psalmes What man is he that desireth life and Psal 37. 12. 13 loueth long daies for to see good Keepe thy tongue from euil and thy lips that they speake no guile c. First it is proper only to good men to moderate and gouerne their tongues in due manner they that can do that are able to order Reasons 1 their actions iustly and they that do performe it will not fayle to make conscience of the rest of their waies If anie man sinne not in word saith S. Iames he is a perfect man and able to bridle all the Iames 3. 2 bodie And contrariwise If anie seemeth religious and refraineth not his tongue but deceineth his owne heart this mans religion is Iames i. 36 in vaine So that if it be peculiar to godly persons to keepe their mouthes and vnseparably annexed to religion it doth necessarily argue theyr happy condition which haue attayned vnto it and their dangerous case which be carelesse thereof Secondly all our actions are sutable to our speeches and a good tongue is the meanes whereby they are well managed And therfore S. Iames calleth it the rudder of the man by which his life is directed and he that wanteth it is in as great perill and is like to perish as a shippe in the roughest seas without either stearne or Pilote Jnstruction to set a guard of attendance and watchfulnes before Vse 1 our lips in euery place and at all times that pernitious words issue not out to other mens dammage and destruction It is as safe to let poyson come into our mouthes as pestilent speeches to goe out thence for that would worke on our selues alone but these will hurt our brethren with vs that would onely kill the body and take away naturall life and these will endanger both body and soule and depriue vs of eternall life Neither is it an easie matter to keepe them in vnlesse a continuall and serious care be had thereof There are no malefactors more ready to breake out of prison nor waters to flowe out of fountaines then lewd or foolish or fruitlesse words are to proceed out of mens mouthes How quickly shall the best forgette themselues in their talke if they be not very vigilant and warie How many vnfit at least friuolous and idle speeches will steale away and slip from them if they giue any passage vnto them without examination of their purpose and businesse The Prophet Isaiah was in good earnest and spake as he found and felt when he said that he was a man of polluted lippes and dwelt in the middest of Isai 6. 5. a people of polluted lippes Saint Iames was well aduised and knew what he writ and had the Holy ghost to warrant him when hee calleth the tongue An vnrulie euill more vntameable then the wilde beasts or any other liuing creature and if it were not Iam. 3. 6. 7. 8. well looked too Hell the Diuell that hellish fiende would fire it and it woulde set the whole course of nature on fire And Dauid did not without cause or neede directe his petition to GOD for helpe from heauen saying Sette thou O Lord Psal 141. 3. a watche before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lippes If it were a matter of no difficulty to gouerne the Tongue his
then shall be the condition of those which are subiect to a greater destruction than these First all the threatnings of the law be due vnto them and will Reasons 1 in time accordingly be executed as is sayd in Deuteronomie All these curses shall come vpon thee and shall pursue thee and ouertake Deut. 28 45. thee till thou be dectroied because thou obeiedst not the voyce of the Lord thy God Secondly they renounce the Lord himselfe from being their God and king they disclaime his crowne and scepter his authority and gouernment they actually deny his nature and attributes The rebellion of such vngodly persons the Lord complaineth of in the Psalmes saying My people would not heare my voice and Israel Psa 81. 11. would none of me The punishment of such contemptuous rebells our Sauiour doth foretell in the gospell saying those mine enemies which would not that I should raigne ouer them bring hither Luke 19. 27. and slate them before me Earthly Princes will not endure despite at their greatest subiects hands to haue their dignity defaced or their lawes violated or their gouernance trodden vnder foote and therefore much lesse will the Lord of glory of iustice power beare such indignities at the hands of sinfull men which are his most abiect and contemptible creatures Thirdly they cast from them all the remedies and medicines whereby they might be cured of their sins and deliuered from their euills What is the best way to be deliuered from pernitious plagues and punishments to pacifie Gods wrath and displeasure what is the way to pacifie Gods wrath and displeasure to haue a communion with Christ in his passion merits and graces what is the way to attaine to this communion in the passion merits and graces of Christ to bring a faithfull and humble heart to lay hold on his promises And by what meanes may the hart be seasoned with faith and humility by the efficacy and vertue of the word So then they that contemne the word refuse to be faithfull relinquish the promises loose all right in Christ liue in Gods displeasure and consequently expose themselues to pernicious plagues and iudgements And thus much the Scripture doth testifie by shewing vs a president of the peruerse and froward Israelites The Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers rising earlie and sending for he had compassion on his people and on 2. Chron. 36. 15. 16. his habitation But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets vntill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and till there was no healing Terror for the Papists whose religion is altogether confected Vse and made of seuerall sorts of contempt for what is there in it that tendeth not wholly to the disparagement of the holy Scriptures Are they not despised when mens writings and many of them mere forgeries are made of equall authority with them Are they not despised when the commandements and traditions of men when trifles and toyes when legends and fables and shamefull lyes are preferred before them Are they not despised when a sinfull man that man of sinne shall vsurpe authority ouer them and prescribe a meaning to them and not permit them to haue any other sense or power than he shall vouchsafe to giue Are they not despised when they are so violently impugned when doctrine and practice is directly against them when men wilfully refuse the knowledge and vnderstanding thereof when they labour with all their might that all the world might be kept close prisoners in the dungeon of darknes and depriued for euer of the light of the Gospell 2. This sentence will presse sore vpon the Brownists who are become bitter despisers of the ministery of Jesus Christ by seperating themselues from the churches of God and deprauing all the holy meanes of saluation Howsoeuer they pretend to stand for sincerity yet they resist it and taking vpon them to be champions for Christ his kingdome they fight against it and though their arguments seeme to be grounded on the word yet being well sifted they proue meere falacyes haue no agreement with the meaning of the Holy ghost in the word They are strongly illuded by Sathan and made his agents as much as may be to peruert the right waies of the Lord. 3. Jt generally condemneth all those which wish that Gods will might be put backe that their owne might be set forwards that would haue his word to giue place that their lusts might take place that be readier to breake all his commandements then willing to crosse any one of their carnall affections He shall rather lose his seruice then they will lose their sinfull pleasures his lawes shall rather be transgressed then ought of their commodities lessened they care not how low his glory falleth so that their name and credit may mount vp aloft Some therfore bitterly professe hostility against sincere preaching some scoffingly deride the faithfull preachers and some fainedly make semblance of loue to both but all these as Dauid saith Doe hate to be reformed and cast the Psal 50. 17. words of the Lord behind them and therefore all these as Ieremie saith shall be ashamed and afraide and taken and so destroyed Ier. 8. 9. Many hope for safety in regard of that which they are not as because they be not adulterers nor theeues nor grosse offendors against mans lawes but they neuer thinke of the perill in respect of that which they are being irreligious and prophane and impious contemners of Gods lawes But he that feareth the commandement c. Whosoeuer are religiously Doct. 2 affected to the word and worship of God are sure to speede well for it Though nothing be merited by desert of their part yet all happines is due vnto them by promise on Gods part And if any one of them should fayle to be blessed the whole body of the Scriptures should ceasse to be true For it is the current of all those holy writings and the couenant which is confirmed by the bloud of Christ that Gods people in whose heart his word is shall neuer want safety nor comfort nor glory They that loue thy lawe saith Psal 119. 165. the Prophet to the Lord shall haue great prosperitie and shall haue Psal 119. 165. none hurt And to him will I looke saith the Lord by the Prophet euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at Isay 66. 2. my words His looke to his whome he loueth is very effectuall and he will looke that nothing shall be amisse with them whome he in mercy beholdeth First this reuerence and feare which is here spoken of is compounded Reasons 1 of saith and humility two graces very acceptable to God and amiable in all godly Christians Secondly by this they manifest their loyalty to him and subiection to his kingdome they declare themselues to be his people and really acknowledge him to
aduancement credit if we will vse his meanes to attaine vnto it but shame will insue vpon it and confusion when we giue ouer our selues to be directed by him Wealth and riches he knoweth man naturally to hunger and hunt after and therefore he commonly doth feed their humour with hope of commodity but when they bite at his bayt they swallow downe the hooke withall and so are made his pray to their perdition And though they misse of the gaine which they looke for yet he misseth not of their soules which he fisheth for if he can fasten his angle vpon their desires and catch them by the gills For so the Holy ghost himselfe witnesseth saying They that will be ritch fall into temptation and snares into many 1. Tim. 6 9. foolish and noysome lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction If we be fallen into any sinne let vs seeke to this welspring for remedy against it for as it preserueth some from entring into Satans nets so it will be a meanes to others to bring them forth God thereby giuing them repentance that they may know the trueth and that they may come to amendment out of the snare of the diuell 2. Tim. 2. 25. 26. But it is sit that we make all possible speede to procure our liberty because the longer we continue in the net the more we shall be intangled and with greater difficulty get out This holy direction is giuen to rash sureties which are come Prou. 6. 4. 5. into the hands of their neighbours whose state is insnared with the words of their mouthes that they should hasten as fast to auoyde that danger as the nimble hart runneth from the hunter or the swift bird flyeth from the fowler and not sleep vpon it one night before they haue obtained their indeÌ„nity much more then it coÌ„cerneth them which are fallen into the hands of satan of Gods iustice and be subiect to eternall death to bestir them and not suffer one moment to passe before they labour effectually for their freedome Reprofe of their ingratitude and folly that contemptuously reiect this water of life those holy instructions which are deriued out of Gods word and louingly giuen vnto them to rescue their soules from death Is it not a currish part to snarle at and bite that hand which is offered to them for helpe to draw them out of the snares of destruction And yet few doe better requite them that deale vprightly and faithfully with them They account them their enemies because they tell them the trueth and they that most loue them are least beloued of them Vers 15. Grace giueth good successe but the way of the transgressours is rough GRace that is the worke of Gods holy spirit begetting true piety righteousnes doth giue good successe it maketh good men to deale wisely and prosperously in all their affaires But the way of the transgressors is rough Their life is vnhappy and full of many vexations The sense and opposition standeth thus Grace giueth good successe and therefore the way of the obedient is plaine and comfortable and sinfulnesse bringeth euill successe therefore the way of the disobedient is rough and troublesome So farre as any man is truely religious and godly in heart he is Doct. 1 sure to be prosperous and happy in his waies This is a point that is scantly beleeued of men and few will giue credit vnto it and therefore it is largely set downe by God and many Scriptures consent in the confirmation of it As in the first Psalme the man that delighteth in the law of the Lord and constantly meditateth in the same is promised that whatsoeuer he Psal 1. 3. shall doe shall prosper In the third chapter of this booke it is giuen for a commendation of holy wisedome that her waies are waies Prou. 3. 17. of pleasure and all her pathes prosperitie Jn the prophecy of Isaiah the carelesse Iewes are vpbrayded with their sinfull folly that had bereft themselues of so good an estate whereunto the Lord was most ready to haue promoted them Oh saith he that thou hadst harkned to my commandements then had thy prosperitie beene Isay 48. 18. as the floud and thy righteousnes as the waues of the sea First grace will conduct men to the right way of truth and equity Reasons 1 preseruing them from all vnrighteous causes restrayning them from all vnrighteous courses for bâ—inging of their purposes to passe Secondly it doth aswell make them prudent to deale wisely as righteous to deale warrantably in all their behauiour where wisedome and iustice ioyne hands in working the effect must needs be comfortable which they ioyntly produce But it commeth to passe commonly as is daily to be seene in Obiect many places that the most gracious are least prosperous and the best men seem to be in the worst state Many of them are poore many of them are despised many of them are oppressed and all of them are afflicted If they be free from troubles at one time they fall into them at another if they escape those crosses which other feele they feele those griefes which others escape if they be exempted from outward calamity and molestation they shall be assaulted with inward anxiety and temptations and how then can it truly be sayd that grace doth giue them good successe Ansvv As good men do faile in some duties and haue not so much grace as they might attaine vnto so are they many times corrected of God for the same whereby it commeth to passe that their faults and defects do worke their woe and not their faithfulnes and graces Moreouer it is not absurd to say that the afflictions and troubles of Gods children in regard of the end happy issue thereof are helpes of their prosperity as raine thunder are diuers times more seasonable weather for come and grasse then Sun-shine Well was it for Iacob at the last though maruailous bitter at the first that Ioseph was sould and sent away from him into Egypt And Ioseph was highly promoted by that way which seemed only to tend to his ruine The violence of his brethren to sell him the falshood of his mistrisse to defame him the rashnes of his master to imprison him all these were occasions and meanes to aduance him Thirdly they deuolue their waie vpon the Lord as he biddeth them and therefore he will bring it to passe as he promised them Psal 37. 5. They seeke the knowledge of his will for direction they craue the aide of his hand they propose the praise of his name for the end of their enterprises and how then should they miscarry in their affayres Fourthly he taketh delight to conuerse with them offereth his fauourable his helpfull and prouident presence vnto them according as he incourageth Ioshuah and all other that are faithfull Ioshua 1. 5. and obedient in Ioshuah his person saying I will be with thee I will not leaue
abhorre goodnes what though they loath not sinfulnesse with so great a detestation as Paul did What though they long not for grace with so ardent a desire as Dauid did Yet if they hate euill truelie though not so vehemently or praie for the spirite faithfullie though not so feruentlie they haue wisedome in the same nature and kind that these holy men had though not in the same degree and measure Verse 20. He that walketh with the wise shall be the wiser but he that vseth the company of fooles shall be the worse BY walking heere with the wise is meant the society conuersation with wise men and that is a meanes of knowledge and vertuous behauiour to them that haue and vse the oportunity of it and so thereby they are made the better whereas on the other side they that associate themselues with sinfull fooles and ioyne in fellowship with the wicked are more corrupted with sinne and folly and so become the worse Much help or hurt doth come to men by the company which Doct. they frequent All sorts of companions are market men and the vsually traffique together when they meete together whether they bee good or bad the wares beeing commonly precious or vile according to the disposition of the persons which vtter them Whē the Prophet would approoue himselfe to God to be diligent to seeke him and faithfull to serue him he sheweth it by this that Psa 119. 63. hee was a companion to all them that feared him and keep his precepts When he would cleare himselfe of falshoode and guile of rebellion and wickednes he vrgeth it as a forcible argument that Psal 26 5. he had not haunted with vaine persons neither kept company with the dissemblers When hee would professe his integrity and vprightnes with desire that the godly should not doubt of his standing nor the wicked haue hope of his falling hee maketh his Psal 119. 116 minde manifest in this manner A waie from me ye wicked for J will keepe the commandements of my God First the vnfained loue and faithfulnes that is in good mē maketh Reasons them mercifull and helpfull to their companions No men are so liberall as they and they are not more liberall of any thing than of wholesome counsaile and incouragements to piety and wisedome They are most ready alwaies to bestow that which is of greatest value and will yeeld their friends the largest comfort Such as are truely religious do esteeme it a greater gaine to procure soules to God and increase to the Church and grace to their brethren than to get wealth and promotion to their owne selues And the wicked on the contrary part are no lesse busie then they though not so well occupied for they bestir themselues about their masters worke to corrupt all that haue fellowship with them and to draw as many as they can possibly into their felowship It is noted in diuers that are infected with the pestilence or other foule diseases that they are very desirous to infect their neighbours and so is euery one that hath the plague sore of sinne running vpon him he wisheth and would worke it also if it lay in his power that all the world were ouerwhelmed with iniquity Our Sauiour condemning the notable wickednes of the sinfull Pharisies doth charge this vpon them as one marke of vngratious miscreants that they would compasse sea and land to make one proselite Mat. 13. 15. and when he was made they would make him two fold more the child of hell then themselues Secondly there is a certaine vertue in the words and behauior of men that are indued with heauenly wisedome which also by the blessing of Gods holy spirit doth worke effectually in many that liue with them That which they say is very forcible to illuminate the mind and quicken the heart and that which they do is of great importance as a president for their actions and a patterne for their waies The brightnesse of their shining vertues doth make them better sighted which see them with good liking and the looking vpon such examples is a meanes to make the beholders like vnto them And for this cause the Queene of Sheba did so much admire the preferment of Salomons attendāts 2. Chro. 9. 7. Happie saith she are thy men and happie are these thy seruants which stand before thee alwaie and heare thy wisedome And in like manner there is a venome in the workes and words of the vngodly which as the Apostle saith doe fret like a gangrena and mens soules are much more subiect to the contagion of sinne than their bodies are to any diseases Oh how many waies and by what degrees doth mischiefe and ruine growe to them which haunt their company The vse of hearing of lewd or blasphemous speeches doth quickly quench zeale and make them seeme to be nothing affensiue The custome of seeing of abhominable practises doth quell their hatred of them that they can be lookers on without dislike And so from the eare in time commeth contagion to the tongue and from the eye infection proceedeth to the hand that that which they heare they will speake and that which they see they will doe Moreouer though there were in them before some good opinion of godly men and Christian exercises yet when they shall dayly heare them spoken against and iested at and none to refute the slanders or reproue the scoffing it will at length estrange and vtterly alienate their affection from them When a brand is taken out of the fire and cast into the snow or raine it cannot but be extinguished at last though it blazed much at the first And adde yet this to all the rest that they shall not onely be peruerted by the grosse sinnes and vices of the wicked but also inchanted by their euill qualities and seeming virtues If there be any natural or counterfeit humility or patiēce or courage or liberality or such like these shall giue countenance to their filthiest corruptions and make them both tollerable and imitable Jnstruction to them that sincerely affect vnderstanding and Vse truly desire to be made wise to saluation that they do not onely read good books frequent diuine seruice heare good sermons but likewise keep good company for that is also one ordinance of God for the information of men in his waies He would haue Iosua prepared for gouernment by Moses and Elisha for prophetship by Elijah and the disciples for Apostleship by Christ The schooles of the prophets were fit seminaries for the ministery that was vnder the law and the vniuersities are meete nurceries for the ministery that is vnder the Gospell and godly society hath bin a forcible helpe to Christian conuersation at all times What is desirable that is not therein to be found They whose minds are ignorant may there haue a dayly market to buy knowledge and that good cheape with diligent attention without any money or charges They which are distracted with doubtes
to be an aduerbe is there a verbe and signifieth to rise timely in the morning and diligently to seeke so that it signifieth aswell the due care which good parents haue for the nurturing of their childreÌ„ as their prouidence to do it in good season whiles they be tender yong before they grow to strength and stomack and so either vtterly refuse or little regard all fatherly correction And that which we translate correction doth also signifie instruction so that the sentence may thus be well Englished He that loueth him hastneth chastisement and instruction to him And those are meet to be ioyned together somtimes stripes with admonitions and alwayes admonitions with stripes For the smart of the flesh and the paine of the body will bring small profit to the soule vnlesse they heare their fault declared and haue direction how to reforme it They are the best parents which shew loue to their children Doct. without fondnes Fond loue is cruell hatred a cockering father is a deadly foe and they that most faithfully exercise Gods discipline towardes their sonnes and daughters doe proue to be their surest friends The admonition which is giuen to parents in another Chapter of this booke tendeth wholly to this purpose Correct thy sonne Prou. 19. 18. while there is hope and let not thy soule spare which is to kill him The Holy ghost maketh them accessary to the destruction of their children which be so indulgent vnto them and tender ouer them as that their hearts will not yeeld to giue them correction The example of God himselfe the father of spirits doâ—h euidently confirme our point in hand His loue to euery one of his children doth infinitely surmount the loue of all the fathers in the world to theirs and he doth not only declare it vnto them by promises and blessings but likewise many times by chastisements and crosses insomuch that the Apostle saith to the Hebrewes Whome the Lord loueth he chasteneth and scourgeth euery Heb. 12. 6 8. sonne that he receiueth If therefore ye be without correction wherof all are partakers then are ye bactards and not sonnes First euery child whatsoeuer his estate or birth or disposition Reasons be hath need correction by reason of deprauatâ—â—â— of nature which is in all For frowardnes and folly would ouerrunne them if they were not awed and ordered by feare and stripes And therefore saith Salomon Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of Prouer. 22. 15. a châ—ld but the rodde of correction shall driue it awaie It is in vaine to bid foolishnes be gone vnlesse it be expelled and to as small purpose to perswade him to cast it out vnlesse you helpe to loose it Secondly the comfort and profite that insueth to children by castigation and stripes doth make their loue appeare that therein shall be friend them and discouer their vnkinde dealing which deny theÌ„ that benefit It is one of Gods ordinances wherby they are deliuered from many euils from hurts of bodies from ruine of state from blindnes of mind from sinfulnes of hearte from wickednes of life from destruction of the whole man And therfore doth the Lord testifie that the rod and correction giue Prou. 29 15. wisdome And therefore doth he also require that our children be not defrauded of it Withhold not saith he correction from the child if thou smite him with the rodde he shall not doe Thou shalt smite Prou 23 13. him with the rodde and deliuer his soule from hell Now what inhumanity is it for a man to see his son in daunger and will not succour him to see him plunged in a riuer and will not plucke him out to see him falling into the fire and will not preserue him to see him sinking into hell and will not helpe to saue him Reproofe of them that vse all the shiftes that they can deuise Vse 1 to exempt themselues from shewing this laudâ—ble loue and also their children from receiuing such wholesome correction Of all professions they are most vnwilling to become phisitions neither are so loath to minister to anie as to their owne whom God hath appointed to bee theire patients Though they lye and sweare and steale and bee stubborne yet theire faulâ—s bee not so greate they saie children will bee children and did not wee commit as grieuous offences our selues when we were yonge But are not childrens faults sinnes againste the Lord Are not childrens sinnes punishable by the lawe of the Almighty Are not children mortall and subiect to death aswell as men of grâ—â—â—â—â— age Shall not children appear before the iudgment seate of Jesus aswell as those which are elder And sithence we had the same corruptions our selues it should cause vs to bee more pittifull towards them and watchfull ouer them otherwise it is to be doubted whether as yet we be healed of the sins of our youth and pardoned for them But it is needelesse say they so far to trouble our selues yeares will bring wit and discretion or at least their owne rod will be ate them and make them to amend But who tould them that they shall liue to the yeras of discretion How if the sword of iustice cutte them off before for theire lewdnes and giue no time for theire owne rodde to worke anie goodnesse in them And though they should remaine and smart also for the sinfulnes of their childhood yet there is greater danger lest their hearts wil be more hardned and made worse than hope that they wil repent and be made better because Gods medicines haue beene deteined from them and his blessinges are not promised vnto them And who shall make any praier for them with comfort of good successe The sinfull sonne is neither able to doe it nor willing nor accepted if he shoulde and the negligent fathâ—r hath small incouragement to intreate the Lorde to doe that wherein hee himselfe hath vtterlie fayled of all dueties to serue his prouidâ—nce But graunting all this to bee true that so much euill proceedeth from the neglect of correction and so much good by the seasonable and moderate vse thereof yet one impediment hindereth them that they cannot bee broughte to exercise it Theire kinde hearte is so tenderly affected towardes theire little ones that they cannot endure to heare them crie or see them weepe and the rodde will make them doe both and therefore they muste needes forbeare it But you mistake the cause and miscall your affâ—ction it is not kiâ—dnesse but crueltie nor the tendernesse of your hearte but the hatred in it according to Gods testimony that can rather indure the diseases of sinne in your childrens soules then the curing of them with teares and sorow And yet this vnmercifull fauour doth rather prepare them to sorowe then priuiledge them from it because it will increase their misery in time to come If Dauid had moâ—â—â—rieued Adonitah with the rod rebukes when he was a child it is like that he might haue escaped the sinne
are there perswasions and reasons to that purpose declared Come with vs say they we will lay â—ait for bloud and lie priuilie Prou. 1. 11. 13 14. for the innocent without danger we shall finde all precious riches and fill our houses with spoile thou shalt put in thy lot among vs we will all haue one purse And the fellowship of faithfull Christians in fasting and prayer in participation of the word and Sacraments and in all holy exercises of religion doth asmuch refresh the hearts of them that addict themselues to the seruices of God and vnfainedly seeke eternall saluation They gladly come together they willingly stay together they coÌ„fortably conuerse together as it is sayd in the Acts of the Apostles that they coÌ„tinued Acts 2. 46. daylie with one accord in the temple breaking bread at home did eate their meate togither with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart Confutation of them that giue the Papists so high a commendation for vnity which deserue so deepe a condemnation for conspiracy Vse 1 They loue one an other most dearely but it is because one knoweth an other to hate religion Christians and Prince and country most deadly idolatry and superstition and treachery and treasons are the foundations of their amity and kindnes Instruction to try what vprightnes is in our heartes by our loue or righteous men for righteousnesse sake Whosoeuer doth trulie detest iniquitie will louingly imbrace the company of them that be enemies vnto it and all that soundly sette their affections on goodnesse will estrange themselues from them that walke in wickednesse Dauid built his comfort vpon the firmnes of this groundworke when he said for the assurance of his fidelity towards God that all his delight was in the saints that were in Psal 16. 3. the earth and in the excellent And when he appealed to the lords owne testimony of his holy zeale saying Doe not I hate them O Lord that hate thee and do not I earnestly contend with those that Psal 139. 21. 22. rise vp against thee I hate them with an vnfained hatred as they were mine vtter enemies Consolation to them whome no vngodly man can fancy but euery one maligneth and speaketh euill of and setteth himselfe against What maketh this enmity and opposition but folly and malice on the one side and saithfulnes and well doing on the other It prooueth that themselues are too spirituall for fleshly fooles to fauour and their wayes too righteous for sinfull men to like of If they were of the world they should finde more friendship at worldly mens hands if they would runne to the same excesse of riot and sinne with the wicked they should be lesse traduced by wicked mens tongues In regard whereof on the contrary side it is not a credit but a blemish not for comfort but for terror to be magnified and much made of among them of whom God and his best seruants are despised and lewde men of worse behauiour are most countenanced Verse 10. The heart knoweth the bitternesse of his soule and a stranger shall not meddle with his ioie THe heart of a man that part of him which is the fountayne of life and seate of affections knoweth the bitternesse of his soule feeleth inward anguish and hath experience of pearcing sorrowes the meaning is that the feares and heart griefe of them that haue a troubled conscience are more felt of themselues than known to others And a stranger any other besides himselfe shall not meddle with his ioye cannot discerne how great his comfort 1. Pet. 1. 8. is being the same that Saint Peter calleth an vnspeakable ioye No griefe is so great as that which lyeth vpon an afflicted conscience Doct. 1 It is not only bitter but bitternesse it selfe more vnpleasant than gall or wormwood it is an vnknown burden and grieuously crusheth euery one which lyeth vnder it And therefore it is said that the spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmitie but a Prou. 18. 14. wounded spirit vvho can beare The mind of a man may beare out with patience the paines and diseases of the body or any outward crosses but what strength besides the power of Gods holy spirit is able to make a man without fainting or shrinking to endure the torment of a bitter afflicted soule No health no pleasures no comforts of this life can cheare it vp no might can enable any to stand firme and sure vnder such an intolerable waight Dauid compareth the horror of it not to stripes on the body or breaches on the skinne or wounds in the flesh but to the very breaking of the bones as he saith Make mee heare ioie and gladnesse Psal 51. 8. that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice First the sight of sinne is very hideous for a wakened conscience Reasons 1 to behold and that doth therefore pierce the heart with miserable pangues and terrors And hereupon was Dauid mooued with such importunity to sue for mercy at Gods hands that the booke might be crossed and all his iniquities pardoned because saith he my sinne is euer before me The memory and guiltines of Psal 51. 3 it pursued him euery where continually by night and by day abroad and at home in bed and at boord no time could free him from it no place could ridde him of it no power could preuayle against it Secondly the apprehension of Gods displeasure of all things is most terrible and fearfull and that is it which doth so much dismay the wounded consciences Iob had afflictions vpon afflictions and losses vpon losses losse of sheepe and Oxen losse of Asses and Cammels losse of seruants and children losse of foundnesse and good estate of his owne body and yet for all these his heart was not troubled vntill God seemed to be offended and then he was presently much perplexed The Prophets knew well that rebukes were wholsome and chasticements necessary and yet they pray earnestly that the Lord would not rebuke them in wrath nor correct them in anger but only chastise them in iudgement least they should be brought to nothing Psal 6 1. Ier. 10. 24. Our Sauiour Christ himselfe could easily endure both paines and pouerty and hunger and thirst and contempt and reproche and all other crosses from his youth vpward but when our transgressions brought vpon him Gods indignation when for the sins of his people he was to sustaine the wrath of his father then though he was most perfectly patient yet he could no longer forbeare to bemone his importable burden that lay vpon him My soule saith he is heauie euen vnto the death then he praieth Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me then in a bitter agony he falleth a sweating and that of drops of bloud and lastly after all this at the finishing of his passion and the perfecting of our redemption he sendeth vp a patheticall complaint to his father My God my God why hast thou forsaken me
Admonition to be heedfull continually that we expose not Vse 1 our hearts to these dirall and bitter terrors by prouoking the Lord to wrath with any presumptuous offences If we will walk in such waies as whereby his spirit shall be grieued he will bring our waies vpon our owne heads and cause our heartes to be affâ—ighted Hardnes may happily hold possession of them and make them senselesse without all feeling for a time but howsoeuer it keepeth out grace yet it cannot alwayes keepe out feares and though it put men in hope of peace and safety yet it conspireth against them and hastneth their dread and dangers If they belong vnto the Lord this horror will be a working medicine to cure them of their security and sinfulnesse if they be children of destruction it will be a cleere euidence of God his iustice that others may beware of being secure and sinfull Oh how wise therfore be they and prouident for their owne happines which preuent this burden of misery by timely eschewing of vice and wickednesse which vpon examination of their wayes doe feare themselues with the threatnings of the lawe that God may imbolden them with the promises of the Gospell which afflict their soules with sorrow for their sins that he may refresh them with the pardon of the same Instruction to be pitifull to them whose hearts are wounded at the sight of their sinnes and the feare of Gods iudgements if we know how to succour them their case calleth for our helpe if we can giue them any direction their distresse requireth our counsaile and it is a seruice very acceptable to God to declare our compassion to them and be a meanes of their comfort It would haue bin asmuch for the commendation of Iobs friends to the end of the world as it is now for their dispraise if they had dealt like skilfull and mercifull physitions as through indiscretion they shewed themselues miserable comforters But they that mocke at their mourning and deride their griefe as though it grew from melancholie or childishnesse let them know that their owne heartes will one day be bitten with gripings and griefe vnlesse they repent they shall bee stung with the guiltinesse of an euill conscience eyther before they come to the end of their race or vpon their death-bed or in place of destruction They now scoffe at their brethren which groane vnder a burden that they feele not who knoweth but that heereafter they maie sinke and perish vnder a burden which their brethren shall neuer feele Incouragement to those of Gods people which feare their case to be desperate because as they thinke it is singuler No man saith each of them was euer assaulted with such feares temptations or oppressed with such anguish or agonies as I am And why do you deem your owne terrors and griefes to be greatest but because you haue no experience of other mens So euery other man whose heart knoweth the bitternes heere mentioned doth thinke that you were neuer so greatly afflicted as he is for because euery mans taste whereby he vsually measureth his state in feares and temptation is onely in himselfe But if it were yeelded that your trouble is not only greater then your neighbours know but farre more grieuous then they susteyne yet ye are not without remedy so long as the Lord faileth not of al sufficiency He knoweth how much you suffer how long you can indure Doct. 2 and is able to helpe and readie in due time to ease you And a stranger shall not meddle with his ioy c. Gods people feele their greatest comfort after their bitterest griefe When they haue tasted more gall then others were ware of they shall be satisfied with hony aboue that which any canue coÌ„ceiue of Heauines coÌ„meth before to soiourne in their harts for a short time but gladnes followeth after to inhabit thee foreuer Many testimonies doth the Scripture yeeld for confirmation of this point because most men being carnall a few are perswaded of it In Matthew Christ in a word pronounceth them blessed that mourne because they shall be comforted Math. 5. 4. In Iohn he more largely dwelleth vpon it affirming it by promise and confirming it by proofe Verâ—ie verilie I saie vnto you that you shall weepe and lament and the world shall reioice and yee shall sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into iâ—â—e A woman when Iohn 16 21 she trauelleth hath sorrow because her houre is come but as soone as shee is deliuered of the child shee remembreth no more the anguish for ioâ—â— that a man is borne â—â—to the world c. Jn Isaiah he foretelleth it auouching the same aswell in the old testament as the new The Lord saith he hath sent mee to preach Isay 61. 1 2 3. good tidings vnto the poore and to binde vp the broken hearted to preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord and to comfort all that mourne to appoint vnto them that mourne in Zion and to giue vnto them beutie for ashes the oile of ioie for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirite of heauines First godly sorrow is caused by faith and causeth repentance Reasons 1 vnto saluation not to be repented of and so remission of sinnes and peace of conscience and ioie in the Holie ghost insueth vpon it They which haue beene pressed with the burden of sinne will be much refreshed with deliuerance from it they which haue bin terrified with the guiltines of sin and the horrible sight of damnation cannot chuse but hee ioyfull at the pardon thereof when their soules are assured of saluation Hence groweth greater gladnesse than from discharge of debtes to them that stand in state of bankrupts then from the princes pardon graunt of life to them that are condemned to dye Secondly great afflictions compell the godly to poure out many praiers before God and the multitude of praiers is very mighty and faileth not of force to bring marueilous much consolation to the conscience Thirdly where the soule is huÌ„bled by sorrows feares the Lord delighteth to be preseÌ„t in goodnes fauour and so much meant Dauid when hee said The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirite a Psal 51. 17. contrite and a broken hart O God thou wilt not despise And so much himselfe most gratiously professeth when hee saith I dwell in the Psal 57. 15. hie and holie place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirite of the humble and to giue life to them that are of a contrite heart Now is it possible for comfort to bee absent where his kindnesse is present or can that heart bee voide of consolation which is inhabited by the God of consolation or may he which hath the fountaine and sea of gladnesse within him remaine a dry pitte and be vtterly empty of gladnes Jnstruction when griefes and troubles disquiet our heartes to examine of what sort they be
Deuteronomy ruÌ„neth in this maner The Lord shall make thee the heade and not the tayle and thou shalt be aboue onelie and not beneath Deut 28 13. if thou obeiâ— the commandements of the Lord thy God which I command thee this day to keepe and to doe them And thus much doth Dauid acknowledge to be verfied to himself the Lord performed this good promise vnto him Thou hast saith he deliuered mee from the contentions of the people thou hast made me the head of the heathen a people whome I knew not doth serue me Assoone as they heare they obeye me strangers be in subiection to me First there are manifold occasions whereby vngodly men are often brought to be so submisse to the seruants of the Lord as in Reasons 1 respect of the authority and greatnesse which diuers are aduanced vnto as all the Egiptians bowed to Ioseph and all the Persians to Mordecay and because distresses make many to seek help and counsell at their hands whom formerly they haue maligned and hated as wicked Iehoram at Elisha Balshazzar at Daniel 2. King 3. Dan. 5. proude Pharaoh sundry times at Moses Secondly if godlines were a cause of contempt and vilenesse theÌ„ as the godly were more multiplied so they would bee more contemptible eÌ„vile and the whole body of them would be basest of all whereas the contrary is euidently to be seene fithence the Church is the most glorious company that euer was oâ— shall be in the world There is no state nor kingdome nor empire that hath bene or can be comparable to it And to this purpose heare what the holy spirit of God testifieth of her in the songs of Salomon There are threescore Queenes and fourescouâ—â— Concubines of the damsels without number But my done is alone my vndefiled are shee is the onlie daughter of her mother and she is deere to her that bare her the daughters haue seene and counted her blessed euen the Queenes and the concubines and they haue praised her Who is she that looketh forth as the morning faire as the moone pure as the sunne terrible as an armie with banners How many nobles how many princes how many kings how many natioÌ„s do yeeld obedieÌ„ce vnto the Church Yea the very wicked also euill men do bowe before her though they loue her not yet they pretend loue and hypocritically make femblance of reuerence to her their mouth giueth her testimony with their lips they would make meÌ„ beleeue that they haue her in estimatioÌ„ EueÌ„ the very Atheists theÌ„selues scarce dare grow so andacious as to professe that they are none of Gods people nor meÌ„bers of the Church And that did Dauid vse as an argument of his greatnes predominatioÌ„ ouer his enemies that straÌ„gers did fainedly Psal 18. 44. subiect themselues vnto him Thirdly if piety and religion did make men abiect despised then as their grace did grow their credit would decrease the riper they waxed in goodnes the deeper they would sinke into basenes perfect holines would bring theÌ„ to a perfectioÌ„ of ignominy which who seeth not to be otherwise Especially at the end of the world wheÌ„ the saints shall be replenished with the fulnes of grace shall they not be beautified with the brightnes of glory and haue power committed vnto them to bee iudges of all the reprobates both of men and Angels Confutation of that error which is in the mouthes of monie Vse 1 and the mindes of more that hee which will bee religious must needes bee contempâ—â—ble and the waie to become greate is to growe sinfull and godlesse Flesh and blood Indeede woulde haue it so and therefore fleshly men imagine it to be so they cary an enuious heart against the righteous and therefore bee grieued that the righteous should either rise or stand but he that setteth vp establisheth and he that casteth down and depresseth declareth his purpose which his power also accomplisheth that his seruants shall be made honourable with preferment and his enemies made vnderlines with debasemenâ— Daniels faithfulnes did neuer bring him to reproch nor his aduersaries falshood did euer winne them credit Mordecay could not be kept downe because he was a godly Iewe nor Haman could not bee held vp because he was an impious Amalekite Read through the whole book of the Scriptures it will appear that of al the kings they which were most holy and zealous for the worship of God did alwaies best prosper in their owne estate That which is spoken in the Psalme concerning the happines of them that feare God wil infallibly be verified of euery one of them in due season His Psal 112. 9. 10. horne shall bee exhalted with glorie The wicked shall see it and bee angry hee shall gnash with his teeth and consume a vaie the desire of the wickedsh all perish Admonition to vngodly persoÌ„s that they be not too fierce violent against their poore brerhren when they haue a superiority ouer them their course will come in time to bee their inferiours and to stand vnder their sentence and to fall vnder theire hands and to lie vnder theire feete and therfore let them not bee extreamely rigorous to them least their measure be returned to themselues Yf Iosephs brethreÌ„ had asmuch beleeued his dreames that they should come and bow to him as they euuied him for them they would haue vsed him with more mildnesse Jf Shimei had thought that Dauid would haue recouered again the crowne and kingdome and soueraignety ouer him he woulde haue spared his cursed speeches against him Verse 20. The poore is hated euen of his owne neighbour but the friends of the rich are manie THe poore he that is fallen into pouerty or disgrace with great personages is hated of his neighbour they that dwell by him and his kinsfolkes and old acquaintance and such as were wont to be familiar with him being yet but carnall men wil altar their countenance and behauiour towards him and picke quarrels against him and take any occasion to alienate themselues from him But the friendes of the rich are manie diuers fawne on the wealthy and flatter them and make a faire shew of loue good will when as notwithstanding they beare no such affection to them in their hearts The friendship of fleshly men is grounded on the state of them Doct. whome they shewe kindnes vnto and not on their graces Be they neuer so religious and godlie yet wanting wealth and countenance they contemne them as abiects be they neuer so impious prophane and yet hauing titches and dignity they admire them as Angels While Job was in prosperity and held the weapon of authority in his hand euery one respected him a chaire was set for him in the streete to rest him by the waie well was he that could doe any good office to shewe how much hee honoured Job but when his goods were gone his bowstring was cutte as he saith no