also in parte of the night See heere what we are in very deede to gather out of this place But first we must mark the proceeding of Dauid For after hee hath spoken of the hope wherein he was setled to pray vntoo God without doubting that he would heare him hee sayeth That he carefully meditated on his woord And why did hee so Shall that which was necessary for Dauid to doe bee superfluous for vs God forbid For if such a Prophet as hee had neede too arme himselfe against the temptations of his fleshe against the infirmities wherwith he might be assayled I pray you how quickly shal he be ouerthrowne if we haue not the same remedy which we vsed and the courage also which he heere exhorteth vs vnto Let vs then consider that if we will be stayed vpon the promises of God because we would call vppon him in the time of neede we ought many times to meditate vpon his woords both day and night and to set all our study and affection therein And see what the cause is why there are so fewe which be disposed to pray vnto God Yea and when they are thereto inforced they knowe not which way too beginne because they cannot he fully resolued to say It is very requisite that when I shall call vpon my good God that I be fully assured that hee will not refuse to heare me What is the cause of this vncertaintie It is because they are not wel acquainted with the promises of God For a man will thinke that it were euen inough sleightly and lightly to beleeue that God will heare those that are his And when we come to prayer with this thought we thinke that if we haue said but a word or two that it is too much Yea and if wee come to a Sermon and heare the promises of God spoken of we thinke it by and by too bee an vnprofitable speach and will say that it is more then needeth for what is he that vnderstandeth not that well inough And in the meane while beholde a mightie great temptation like vnto a boysterous whirlewinde and tempest euen at hande and then he which thought him selfe so able a man is become a very Milkesop He wil looke whether God wil haue pitie of him He will possibly imagine that he hath turned his back yea or else hee will doubt of his prouidence whether he hath any care of the worlde or no there are a thousand fantasies which the Deuill goeth about to put in our mindes And when we are in this case see we are so astonied as that there is no comming for vs too pray vnto God And what is the reason It is because wee haue not beene carefull to meditate vpon his promises And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of this lesson when as it is said That Dauid his eyes preuented the night watches too meditate vppon the promises of God Let vs nowe compare our selues with him But it is so farre of that any of vs in particular hath this care whereof mention is heere made as that wee cannot by any meanes possible bee trayned vnto it And although God biddeth vs to come vnto him yet cannot wee be brought to come any thinge neere him See howe the Bel shal ring euery day to moue vs to come to the Sermon God there telleth vs of his will hee declareth vnto vs that he is ready to receiue vs to his mercie as often as wee shall call vpon him Nowe euery of vs may very well see that wee passe not of his helpe one minute of an houre And yet howe many are there notwithstanding which will vouchsafe too steppe one foote too come to occupy them selues aboute the promises of God that their memoryes might be refreshed in them to th end they might so much the better be remembred of them Nay we shall sarcely haue a number of them com to it on the Sunday yea and if percase they come once they thinke it too bee as it were ouer much And forsooth they muste not come thither neither euery Sunday because their eares will bee ouer much filled with noyse and againe such as doe come too it with what affection come they thinke you Verely because that they cannot deny but that there must bee one day in the weeke for them to meete togither and besides they will for once come thither but it shall be to sleepe so that they vnderstand and carry away asmuch as these pillers or else the stoles whereon they sit Loe heere howe a great number of the people come to the Sermon Yea and there are no small number which wil come thither euen to mock God as we see these scoffers and gibers who come to none other ende but too dispite him bring with them whorishe and shamelesse faces and such a beastly impudencie as cannot bee greater All this we see Nowe let vs consider that it is so farre of that our slouthfulnesse should be excused as that God cannot but iustly punish vs in that we shall be depriued of the abilitie to call vpon him in our neede and shall haue our mouthes also stopped And afterwarde the mischiefe shall increase dayly more and more vntill such time as we are come euen to the deapth of the bottomlesse pittes that is to say wee shall be vtterly excluded from the help of our good God that he will retire him selfe from vs and cleerely banish vs his kingdome Beholde heere the fruite which commerh by our negligence when as we shall make no accounte of the exercising of our selues in this study of the promises of God Nowe Dauid addeth Heare my voyce O Lord at cording vnto thy louing kindenes quicken me according to thy iudgement Heere Dauid declareth yet more plainly vppon what ground he layde his foundation of praying vnto God to wit he brought no kinde of presumption with him thinking to make account of this or that and so to be thought very woorthy that God should heare him but he preferred the goodnesse and faithfulnesse of God aboue all his owne woorthinesses Loe heere wherevnto wee must looke if wee wil haue God to be merciful vnto vs. And whē as we would profite our selues by our prayers wee must not once talke of bringing in of any thing of ours with vs ne yet alledge this thing nor that as thinking too binde God vnto vs for some good turne that wee haue doone him but too haue this principall regarde with vs God is good and faithfull and iust See then wheron it is that we must settle our confidence if we will be resolued that he will heare vs. And this is such a doctrine I tell you aswe ought well to holde and keepe For in very deede vnder this worde Promise this must altogither be vnder stoode For what is it that induceth God to helpe vs and to saye come vnto me without hee looke that wee would craue something at his handes What is the cause that our
not too flatter our selues when as the Lorde our God shall visite vs with any little affliction that wee thinke too haue doone euen sufficiently if wee call vppon him But if wee shall haue doone so an hundreth thousande times more yet that wee muste not giue ouer praying and calling vppon him And heerein may bee seeene the hypocriticall dealing of men For they are so womannishely minded and tender hearted that they thinke themselues too haue wrought a million of miracles when as they haue sustained neuer so little aduersitie no not woorth the value of an houre Moreouer if they be ouer loden with any aduersity they may be bolde as they thinke cleerely too forget both God and his woorde But our good God wil not haue vs to proceede in this sorte For he setteth before vs heere the example of Dauid for our instruction but yet hee hath set it forth vntoo vs for this ende and purpose that wee shoulde not cease to continue too cal vpon him in our aduersities yea were our afflictions neuer so great lasted neuer so long yet that we shoulde notwithstanding continually perseuere in prayer To be shorte let vs vnderstande that Dauid made this prayer at such tyme as hee thought not too haue liued any longer but that hee was as a dead man when hee sayeth O quicken mee Moreouer we may see that his constancy was not lyke a puft of winde but that he perseuered therein For although his troubles conteined that he was as it were in a very depe pit whereout he was not able too get yet ceased hee neuer but to trust that god would deliuer him out of it and there vpon called on him and receiued greate courage Namely he desireth too bee quickened according to the louing kindnes of God For wee must also bee at that point if we will bee hearde to knowe that God is bounde vntoo vs of his meere grace and fauour and that wee also must haue recourse vnto him if wee wil haue him too accomplishe his promises vnto vs. Men must not then abuse themselues too looke vntoo their owne dooinges ne yet too haue regarde vntoo worldly meanes But that they seeke for the same in GOD and in his meere goodnesse and free gifte for the which he wil heare them and receiue them also vntoo himselfe In the ende Dauid protesteth that he wil kepe the testimonies of the mouth of God Now let vs not vnderstād hereby that hee had not kept them before For wee haue seene the cleane cōtrary But this is to signifie That seing in the midst of the afflictiōs which I haue susteined thou hast alway giuē me the grace to perseuere in faith that I haue continually vpon thee Satan hath not shaken me to cause me too doe wickedly since then O Lorde thou haste giuen mee such constancy at the time that thou wast estraunged from me by a more strong reason when thou shalt be mine ayde and succour shalt restore me I shall haue a farre greater constancy to keepe the testimonyes of thy mouth See then howe that in the middest of all our afflictions wee must glorifie God not doubting of his faithfull dealing that he will performe whatsoeuer hee hath promised haue pittie on vs in the end and confirme vs more and more too keepe the testimonyes of his mouth knowing that hee wil continue to doe that vnto vs which he hath already once shewed vs. And according to this doctrin let vs prostrate our selues in the presence of our good God in acknowledging our offences Beseeching him that it would please him to open our eyes better that we may beholde the power and vertue of his worde and thereon to stay vs in bereauing vs of all the lightnesse and inconstancy which might turne vs away from it desiring him also not to suffer vs too wander this way and that way as commonly we are woonted to turne vs from the right way as we are by nature ouermuch inclyned therto but beeing fully resolued that it is not in vaine which he hath declared vnto vs that hee will assist vs in all our necessities which wee shall craue of him in true fayth yea not onely in our small and meane afflictions but euen when as he thinketh wee shoulde be vtterly ouerthrowne knowing that he will accomplish for our profite health whatsoeuer we may hope after and beholde with the eyes of fayth Let vs beseech him that hee will not onely graunte vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the Earth c. The twelfth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme LAMED O Lorde thy woorde indureth for euer in Heauen Thy trueth is from one generation to another thou haste layed the foundation of the Earth and it abideth They continue euen to this day according too thy ordinaunce for all are thy seruauntes Except the Lorde had beene my delighte I shoulde nowe haue perished in my trouble I will neuer forget thy Commandements For by them thou hast quickened me I am thine saue me for I haue sought thy Commandementes The vngoodly layd waite for mee but I will consider thy testimonyes I haue seene an ende of all perfection but thy commaundement is exceeding large WEE see howe chaungeable men are It is very true that when wee shall talke of the shadowe wee may say that it remooueth and chaungeth euery minute of an houre so that it resteth not but if wee looke well and thorowlye search out that which is in the minde of man wee shall see there a great deale more vanitie and chaunge then is too be seene in the very shadowe And that which is more Dauid sayth in an other place that if man were laide in one schole vanitie in an other that vanitie which is nothing would way downe man greately And wee shall not neede too stande longe disputing of this For euery man by his owne experience can testifie what it is and what it can do albeit there were nothing written nor yet any thing thereof conteined in the Scripture What resteth there then for vs to doe Forsooth wee must seeke for our constancy else where then in our selues Nowe God giueth vs a very good meane if we will take it which is to builde and settle our selues vpon his word And for this cause it is Isai 40.8 that the Prophet Esaiah sayth That the worde of God indureth for euer Hee had spoken before of the frailtie and ficklenesse of men as that nothing could be more although it might seeme that there was some strength in them it is yet incontinent cleane parched and dryed vpp that it vanisheth away into lesse then nothing But he concludeth and sayth That the woorde of God abideth for euer So then see the meane howe that men although they be transitory and haue constancie at all in them shall notwithstanding haue a perfect constancy and sure estate to witte when as they shall stay themselues vpon the trueth of God and his worde
that we must be as strayed wilde beastes without the woorde of God and that without it there is neither way nor stay for vs. And although wee thinke our selues to be wise inough yet shall wee be altogether abused and when as wee shall thinke vs to be fully resolued yet shall all our case estate be but smoke When then we shall knowe this too be true we may very well say with Dauid that the woorde of God is in steade of a Lanterne vnto vs. For what is the cause that we will not be ordered ruled by God but either by reason of our pryde or else because we know not our own want Some of vs are hindered through a vaine foolishe opinion which we haue of our selues that wee are sufficiently learned too iudge of that which is good and profitable Loe heere is the very cause why wee will not giue place vnto the worde of God There are other some of vs that although wee truste not so much vnto our owne wisdome yet knowe wee not what a misery it is to be heere as it were in a place of confusion and that there is no stay of all the whole course of our life And heerevppon wee contemne the woorde of God and make no accounte of it So then wee must come too this humilitie that beeing wholly throwne downe as touching the presumption of our wittes we must suffer our selues too be taught of God And besids that we might also know that our state condition is too too miserable vntil such time as we are lightened with this lantern Now then like as Dauid sheweth vnto vs by his example that we ought not to haue any other guide nor stay but that which proccedeth frō the word of God Euen so also sheweth hee vnto vs that if so be we bee teachable of God accept him as our scholmaister submit our selues to him that we shall finde light inough in his word that we nede not to feare to be confoūded as though we knew not which way to turne vs. For God will giue vs sufficient light in his word to lead vs to saluation And this is such a comfort as cannot be sufficiētly inough expressed For as it is declared that we are miscrable blind soules and that whilst we walke in this world we are but in darkenes see how God putteth a remedy into our hands that is that we should heare him speake and that we should learne to be ordered by his word that then although this same world be a maze although we haue many troubles in our life although the deuil neuer ceaseth crastely to inuent many deceits to turn vs from the right way yet we shal be assured to go straight to attain vnto saluatiō And by this wee may see how Satan hath possessed the papists when as they say that the word of God is so darke that wee are neuer able once to bite at it and that we ought not to stay our selues thereon because it is so vncertaine a thing besids that it is also a nose of wax which a man may turne what way he listeth They shame not to spue out such horrible blasphemies But contrariwise let vs trust vnto the spirit of God speaking by the mouth of Dauid to wit that if we be lightened by the word of God we neede not to feare falling that there is no rule so certain For although the deuil went about with a thousand deceits to turne vs this way and that by crooked bypathes yet must we be fully assured that the word of God is a lantern vnto our feete to lead vs the right way Neuertheles Dauid sheweth vnto vs howe we shonlde seele such a cōmoditie comming vnto vs by the law of god to wit when as we shall receiue it with harty affection For he saith I haue sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements Nowe heere hee sheweth that if there bee a wauering minded spirit which readeth the Scripture for curiosities sake the same must needes remaine and continue alwayes blinde and ignoraunt as we shall see many of them which doe nothing else but turne ouer the leaues and wander in such sorte as that there is neither firmenesse nor yet soundnesse in any of them And what is the cause thereof For sooth it is because they seeke not God with a right earnest affection If we then will haue the commoditie which Dauid heere speaketh of we must come back againe to the woord of God and apply all our study so couragiously as that wee desire nothing else but too bee instructed in this trueth and to submit our selues wholly vnto it And yet Dauid was not contented to say that this was his onely determination But sayth that hee had sworne and was stedfastly purposed to obserue it For the word which he vseth signifieth that I will establish it to wit I will wholly giue my self vnto it for I am so resolute in this matter as that I will neuer be turned away from it Wherby he sheweth that there is no question but that we haue certaine small motions which slip vs but wee must haue such a feruent zeale as possesseth our whole minde and after we must with this zeale be constant because then we shal be able rightly to see those men which so trimly and fairely pus and blowe at vs. But what This is but a false fire as we say Nowe if wee bee truely affected to serue God the same our affection muste be firme and sure that we may vnfaignedly say with Dauid that we haue sworne and are fully purposed too stand and abide by this matter In very deede heere may some question arise For it should seme that Dauid hath too too much presumed of him self to sweare that he wil keepe the testimonies of God For we are not able to promise any thing which is not in our power and strength If a man shal thrust in himself to promise that which he hath not he of right is to be accused of follie for euery man wil say that it is great arrogancy in him because he hath passed his bounds Now when as wee shall haue throughly considered heereof we shall finde that it is impossible for any mortall man perfectly to obserue the Commaundements of God This should seeme then at the first sight that the othe which Dauid heere speaketh of ought rather too be reprehended then commaunded But heere are two things too be considered of The one is that when the faithfull binde them selues so vnto God they lay not this foundation in their owne proper strength they looke not into their own abilitie but they desire of God to accomplish that whiche they haue promised him And why doe they soe Now let vs note that heere he speaketh of the commaundementes of God And we haue here already declared that when Dauid nameth the lawe hee looketh not simply too the Commaundements but also to the promises and in these
to be a mercifull father vnto vs. And so he maketh an entrance into our heartes for his mercie that we might be capable to enioye his benefites Seeing then it is so that God by his worde sheweth him selfe and also commeth nigh vnto vs we must not be abashed although they which refuse his worde yea which so vilananously and contemptuously reiect it as wee see we must not I say thinke it straunge although that they feele no help at the hand of God in their afflictions that his mercifull goodnesse stretcheth not it selfe vnto them Now Dauid returneth to this sentēce which we haue seene and desireth to be quickened according vnto the worde of God It is very true he vseth the word Iudgement but al cōmeth to one as we haue already heretofore declared Quicken me then according to thy iudgements sayth he yea which I have loued But yet notwithstanding he sheweth vs how it is that God hath promised to quicken vs and why hee attributeth it vnto his onely mercie Nowe this is a saying which importeth a very good and excellent lesson for they which confesse that they can not be saued but by the grace of God yet notwithstāding how soeuer it is they cease not to ouerthrow the grace of God in extolling their merites or els in making them selues beleeue that God hath promised them to bee so kinde vnto them bicause they haue deserued it It is requisite then that we know with Dauid what it is that hath moued and stirred vp God to promise to quicken vs to wit to mainteine vs. For this worde to Quicken importeth all whatsoeuer concerneth our estate saluation It is bicause he is good and neuer sought the cause otherwise but in his goodnesse When then we are enforced to cōfesse that it is God which mainteineth vs we must also forthwith confesse that God hath done it for his promise sake and for that he hath reueled it as a testimonie in his worde Moreouer see wherein a great number of people are too too grossely deceiued that is that God promiseth too mainteine and conserue vs accordingly as we are worthy thereof or accordingly as euery man shall deserue And herevpon as I haue already said we darken the grace of God and faine through arrogancie I know not what presumption that it seemeth that wee our selues are the cause why God fauoureth vs and that the same commeth at the least partely of our selues And therefore we ought so much the more throughly to consider of that which Dauid speaketh of in this place Thy mercies O Lord are great O quicken me according to thy testimonies He sayeth not onely O Lord I am conserued by thee bicause thou hast promised but meaning to declare that it commeth altogether freely hee sheweth that God was not moued too make any such promise ne yet was induced by any occasion that he found in vs or that he tooke it on our behalf No no but bicause his mercies are great So then by this saying Dauid teacheth vs that the promises of God are altogether free that they hang not of our worthinesse ne yet bicause God found some thing in vs why to loue succour vs so but bicause he is good pitieth our miseries Loe what made him to offer himselfe so liberall to vs consequently to perfourme his promise Wee must learne then to glorifie our selues in the meere grace of God and not to attribute any thing whatsoeuer either to our owne persons or yet to our merites for there is nothing at all in vs. Nowe it followeth Many there are that trouble and persecute me yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies Here Dauid maketh a protestation and complaint too the ende God might the rather encline him selfe to heare and helpe him And that is according too that which hee hath already said For if we will haue God to helpe vs it is good reason that wee should patiently attende his leisure And in very deede hee that shall presume to aduaunce him selfe or thinketh that God will haue mercy vpon him and then letteth him selfe to be ouercome with temtation and becommeth altogether desperate hee by this meanes suffereth not God too exercise his goodnesse as he hath promised but in thus doing shutteth the gate against God as it were Wherefore if wee be moued to be reuenged of our enemies to be our owne caruers as we say in reuenge and not tary vntill God doth his office doe we thinke that hee ought to helpe vs Hee that will doe iustice with his owne hand and of his owne priuate authoritie will hee come to craue aide of the Magistrate after that hee hath killed his enemy If so be then there be any man which thinketh to be saued of him selfe and yet sayeth vnto God Saue me O Lorde this a very mockery And therefore for this cause Dauid saieth in this place Many there are O Lorde which trouble and persecute me yet do I not swarue from thy statutes Dauid speaketh not here to boast him selfe but it is to declare that he wayted for the help of God and putting him selfe vnder his protection trusted to obteine his request bicause he might boldely craue it of him See then what a full boldnes we may conceiue to haue in calling vpon God not to dout but that we shal obtain whatsoeuer we pray for vnto him according to his wil that is he hath pitie of vs so that I say we must alwayes stay our selues vpon his promises as we see Dauid here hath done So then let vs here consider in the first place that so often as we come vnto God we must come vnto him attending his good leysure and not to be shaken with what soeuer temptations shall come vnto vs but we must alwaies seeke after God meditate continually vpon his promises haue them alwayes in minde we must I say haue all this if we will haue God to help and defende vs. Now as I haue already said Dauid bragged not here of his vertues but meaneth onely that hee was not caried away with the iniquitie of men to be euen with them or to crie quittance as wee say that hee was not in haste to haue that which was promised him but helde him selfe continually quiet and still attending paciētly to haue God to accomplishe that which he had promised touching the reuenge of his enemies euen so when as any shall grieue trouble vs yet must we not leaue to followe our vocation and to perseuer in the feare of God For the greater part of vs will alwayes be full of malice and vnthankefulnesse vntil such time as God hath refourmed vs. So then when as wee shall not haue hurt any man if they ryse vp against vs in armes let vs not be astonied thereat And thus much for this Nowe the other is that when our enemies shal be infinite in number wee must not be troubled for all this but let vs knowe what the power of God is
commaundements Heere Dauid more liuely expresseth and declareth that which I haue already touched to wit that our affection in seruing of God proceedeth of the trust which wee haue in him in beleeuing his promises If then we conceiue not that God is our sauiour and so by that meanes truste that hee will help vs it is impossible that we should be inflamed too serue him It is true we may very well haue some feeling of the duetie which we owe vnto him and be some what touched therewith although in deed few there are which think therof but admit it be so yet will no man for all that freely and of his owne accord say O come Let vs serue yea let vs serue our God euen vntill such time as we are fully assured of the good which he meaneth and is ready to procure vs and of the true and full hope of our saluation throughly imprinted in our heartes And so let vs rightly consider that they which remember no more of that which is preached vnto them but this to say Loe this is it which GOD commaundeth vs we must either doe this or that Truely this is no pointe of true Christianitie And why so Because the principallest pointe of Christianitie is to knowe the goodnesse of God and the mercie which hee vseth towardes vs. Loe this is I say the true knowledge which wee muste learne in the Schoole of our Lorde Iesus Christe and holde vs to that which he hath declared vnto vs. And besides we are also to consider of that which he commaundeth vs but his promises must be preferred haue the cheefest place And by this also we are shewed that in the popish religiō the principall doctrine of Christianitie is put out made nothing Because that when the Papistes creake and chatter their prayers making as though they presented their supplications vnto God they say that they must neuer assure them selues of that which they pray for And the cause is for that they looke not vnto the free promises of God And how so Beholde an hypocrite shall step vp and preach nothing else but that which euery man is bounde to doe Hee will preach vnto you of Chastitie he will make you another Sermon of Almes one of this matter another of that and yet for all this we knowe not what it is to beleeue in God Then doe we a great deale lesse know what it is to call vpon him in full assurance to say God is our father he alloweth vs for his children because he hath vs as he would wish that our sins are forgiuen vs through the grace of our lord Iesus Christ There is no whit of this in popery therfore it is impossible that there should be one word of good and sound doctrine in it and profitable vnto saluation Let vs then well consider of this saying of Dauid O Lorde I haue trusted in thy sauing health and haue doone thy Commaundements Nowe in the ende he sayth My soule hath kept thy testimonyes and I loue them exceedingly I haue kept thy commaundements and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee After that Dauid hath sufficiently protested that hee loueth the word of God that it was so sweete and pleasant vnto him as that all his study and delight consisted therin he concludeth and saith That his soule had kept it as if he should haue said O Lord in that I was giuen to serue thee it was not with my hands and feete onely but because I loued thy word yea and that with all my soule and I take my whole delight therein For when the Hebrewes meane too shewe a pure and sounde lyking they say My soule hath done this or that that is asmuch to say as I haue doone it with all mine hearte Loe then an heartie seruice which Dauid heere expresseth this is yet a point which ought throughly too be considered of For wee see howe men are giuen to play the hypocrites euen too set a very fayre outwarde shewe of the matter and by that meanes thinke them selues to be discharged before God Nowe wee must beginne farder of as Dauid heere sheweth vs that is wee muste keepe the woorde of God in our heartes Wherein hee confirmeth the matter which we haue already heeretofore handled to witte that the question is not to haue GOD simply to teach vs whereby wee might know what he requireth at our hands what our duetie is towards him but he buildeth vpon his promises Howbeit Dauid hauing said that his soul kept the cōmādemēts of God because he loued thē by this which he addeth sone after he ioyneth the promises with the cōmandemēts saying For al my wayes are before thine eyes It is true that he sheweth by these words that except he had byn sure that god protected him it had not byn possible for him to haue had that true lyking to haue serued his maiestie And herevpon hangeth the seconde pointe that God helde him alwayes in his presence because hee should not haue leaue to doe euill as if hee shoulde haue saide O Lorde because I knowe that no man is able too hide him selfe from thee Loe why I giue my selfe wholly too feare and serue thee And too say the trueth what is the cause that the vngodly take such libertie to commit and deuise such vilanous and greeuous Actes as that they them selues are ashamed off yea that it maketh the very heares of their head to stand vpright What is the cause of this The reason is for that they knowe not that God seeth them for if they were sure of that they would be somwhat moued with the feare of his maiestie So then in that the faithles war thus against God and take libertie too doe wickedly it is bicause they think that God seeth them not according too that saying in the Scripture The wicked man hath said God seeth not hee knoweth nothing of that which is doone heere on the earth I meane not that the wicked doe thus openly speake yet for all that they think no lesse as by experience wee see for they thinke that God marketh not all their iniquities neither yet that it is needefull for them once too make any account of their sinnes Howbeit Dauid sayth cleane contrary That because hee knewe that all his wayes were before God therefore he kept his commaundements See also why the scripture in speaking of the holy fathers which liued sinceerly sayth That they walked before God to wit they had this consideration that they knew that God did see them and therefore they walked as if they had beene in his presence And this importeth that they toke not such liberty as they thēselues thought good but that they wholy ordered them selues according to the will of God as hee had declared it by his worde See then Dauid his meaning And euen so must we also doe if wee will haue our life and conuersation to be well ordered to witte to know that God seeth
the moste wicked wil confesse and say that they desire too bee saued but yet in the desire thereof they cleerely flye from it and goe as cleane away from it as they can for their liues But what is the cause whye they so greately withdrawe them selues from that which they so highly proteste too loue Yea they drawe as neere vnto it as they can possibly flye from it By this it seemeth that they haue conspyred too reiecte and make little accounte of that good which GOD meaneth to doe for them And heere we are too note that Dauid in this firste verse accuseth vs of horrible blindenesse as if he should say Surely you are all senselesse and without witte And to say the trueth if there were but one droppe of reason in vs without doubte wee would not so reiecte and refuse our saluation of a sett purpose as wee doe See heere howe mercifully our good God dealeth with vs who sheweth vs howe and in what manner we may be blessed and yet we for all that drawe altogither backwarde Doth not Dauid then of very right iustly condemne vs But because euery of vs protesteth to knowe the right way hee addeth They which walke in the way of the Lorde Hee hath sayde Blessed are they which are vndefiled in their way that is whiche walke aright And who are they It is very true in deede as before I haue sayde that there are a greate number which will boast them selues too walke aright and that in such sorte as that it can not be much amended and yet notwithstanding if they be asked who made their way and who it is that assureth them that they shoote at the true marke they knowe not what aunswere to make For there is but one way which leadeth to saluation which is the law as Dauid heereof speaketh wherefore as many as walke in the Lawe of the Lorde sayth he goe not out of their way We haue in this firste verse twoo notable lessons The one is that God heere acuseth vs that euery of vs strayeth and erreth from the way of saluation and although wee proteste that we are willing and desirous to bee saued yet for all that our wicked affections doe in such sorte carry vs away as that we desire nothing else but that wee may bee farre from that felicitie and blessednesse which is set before vs. For there it is sayde Blessed are they which walke in the right way And thus much for the first poynte The seconde is That wee may inuent and deuise many and sundry kindes of life and so think that we go the best surest way that may be and by this meane deceiue our selues for there is but one way that leadeth to saluation What way is it It is not that which wee of our owne braine doe imagine For when Isaiah sayth Esay 53.6 that euery one hath declined from his way he meaneth that we all runne into euerlasting destruction The Law of God then is the way which must rule and order our life and when we will hearken vnto it all thinges shall goe well with vs but whosoeuer swarueth from that the same is like vnto a sauage and wilde beaste which can doe nothing else but gallopp and flinge ouerthwart the fieldes There is none of vs all but that may haue many motions which may seeme good to vs as wee may see by the poore and filly vnbeleeuers which are very feruent and earnest to doe this or that which too their thinking seemeth very good and profitable but yet the spirit of God is not their leader and guide Nowe it is sayde That when wee haue the lawe of God before vs it shal go wel with vs that without it it is impossible but that our life must needes bee confounded and come to naught He sayth a little after Blessed are they which keepe his Testimonies and seek him with their whole heart Dauid now vseth another worde then this word the law to wit testimonies This word in it self importeth a couenant or cōtract it is not to be vnderstood otherwise than to be ayplyed to this end to wit that God couenanting with vs declareth that his meaning is to pull draw vs vnto him and also howe we ought to order our life because cause it is a mutuall Contract betweene him and vs. As if he should haue saide Goe to now vnderstand you that heere I make a couenaunt with you that you acknowledge mee to bee your GOD That you doubte not of my loue towards you and in louing you that I am your Sauiour and that you call vppon mee in this affiaunce and trust and besides that you bee also my louing obedient Children that I doo protect and gouerne you and that you are my householde Seruauntes When the Lorde our GOD thus abaseth and offereth him selfe vnto vs and that hee vseth suche famyliaritie and gentlenesse towardes vs as to talke with vs It is sayde that hee giueth vs his Testimonyes of his loue and fauour towardes vs. Heere nowe Dauid declareth That they are blessed which keepe the Testimonyes of GOD and seeke him with their whole hearte As if hee shoulde say that the Lawe of God consisteth not onely in this that it shewweth vnto vs what wee ought too doo but that it carryeth also with it another speciall Doctrine too weete to assure vs that hee will bee our Father that hee loueth vs so deerely that hee desireth none other thing of vs but that wee woulde bee his sonnes and heyres And heerevnto tende all the Ceremonyes whereof wee shall speake hereafter more at large Yet this is true that aswell in this place abouesayde as also by the reste of the names couched in this Psalme as of Statutes Decrees and Ordinaunces Dauid alwayes meaneth the doctrine of the Lawe Howbeit it is to be noted that this diuersitie of woordes it is not heere sette downe without good cause For it expresseth moste plainely vnto vs what varietie of consolation wee receiue by that which GOD sheweth vnto vs in the Lawe of Moyses and in all the Prophetes who are as it were Expositors thereof For many times when wee speake of the Lawe wee suppose that there is nothing else meant but that which GOD commaundeth vs to do But there is a great deale more to be considered to witte hee assureth vs of his fauour and grace and willeth vs to staye our selues thereon that wee might be assured of our saluation and that also we might be certaine of his loue by his sacraments therein ordeined Moreouer that wee shoulde addresse our selues to Iesus Christ and by that meanes be instructed to runne vnto him who is our onely and alone Sauiour When God then speaketh vnto vs we must consider that hee saith not onely doe this or that but declareth himselfe vnto vs what manner of one wee should thinke him to be and what one also he sheweth him selfe on his parte too be towardes vs both by experience and effecte
can be more and is much subiect to the temptations of Satan and of the flesh And on the other side ouer and besides that there is neither iudgement nor wisedome in yongmen in so much that they are so stirred vp with heate as that their boiling affections breake out Yet in steade of hauing some modestie to take in good part the admonitions which might be giuen them they will be the more loftie and stubborne which might take better occasion to be more grieued in beeing reprehended or rebuked And that this is true we see at this day howe all things are out of order This is sure that the true vertue which should be in youth is modestie and that the younger sorte ought to knowe that since they are not furnished with wisdome and discretion as the elder sorte are they ought to heare them and not to be giuen ouer to their owne will and wit This is the moste principall wisedome that ought to bee in young men But what they are at this day past all shame By this we may see that the worlde is euen as it were vtterly desperate and that we are growen to the fulnesse of all mischiefe and iniquitie For wee shall see these beastly and gracelesse boyes and wenches which scarsely are able too wype their owne noses as we say yea and that might yet be vnder the rod ten yeeres like peeuish wretches as they are that when so euer they shal be spoken vnto wil make no reckoning of whatsouer is said but poute and mowe at it counterfaiting the very Apes and Monkeyes as dayly wee may see And when we see such extreame pride in this people what shall wee say but that Satan hath euen possessed them and that they will shewe themselues as in deede they are to weere without all amendment So then this point is so much the more to be wel considered of when as hee saith Wherwithall shall a young man addresse his way by taking heede thereto according to thy worde True it is that a great many which haue neede heere to be tolde this geere care not for filling of their eares with any such matter they haue knowledge inough too keepe them selues from the Church For they haue the thing which they desire when they may be at the Tauerne playing and Dauncing But what It is certaine that this doctrine will not leaue them vncondemned when as God cryeth vnto them as hee witnesseth by Solomon Prou. 1.20.21 22.23 where he bringeth in Wisedome saying I haue cryed out and put foorth my voyce in the streetes I haue bidden both great small to the end that men might heare mee and none hath vouchsafed too receiue me ne yet to giue me lodging When God declareth vnto vs that our life shall be well ordered if wee keepe his word surely as many as flye from this doctrine and admonition shall render an account at the last day because God hath called them And also because they haue not only bin deafe but also haue added this mischiefe to flye from the admonitions which Gods word admonished them off to bring them againe into the way of saluation from whiche they were strayed It is especially sayd Tea by taking heede thereto according to thy worde Dauid his meaning is heere to expresse vnto vs that we may make our selues beleeue that we haue wisedome and discretion inough But yet it shall profire vs no whit at all without we will bee gouerned and ruled by God according to that which hath beene before saide Nowe it followeth With my whole hearte haue I sought thee let mee not wander from thy Commaundementes Dauid heere maketh a notable confession which is not common to all men That hee bath sought God with his whole heart For although we haue a desire to goe to God yet it is so feeble as is lamentable seeing we are with drawn with so many vanities by reason the world hath such dominion ouer vs and yet ought not to retire our selues frō any good deuotion whē as we haue had a through feeling therof There are very few of vs that are able to say with the prophet Dauid that we haue sought God with our whole hart to wit with such integritie and purenesse that we haue not turned away from that marke as from the most principall thing of our saluation It is very true that Dauid had not yet any such perfection but that hee slacked in the fight against the prickings of the fleshe and went back Saint Paule also confesseth that hee went too God as it were halting that he did not that good which hee woulde desired Rom. 7.19.20 but that he was encompassed with his naturall vices to doe the euill which he condemned Dauid was not without such temptations but how soeuer it was it is most certaine that the principall matter wherto he bent himself was to serue God Now as I haue before said we are all farr from this example For as many of vs as at this day are best affected may be letted and hindered by a number of vices vaine cares of this world with lusts desires of the flesh that if we should remoue our foote euery day too goe one pace forward it were much and yet it may come so to passe often times that we would drawe back againe to the place from whence we came And yet notwithstanding Dauid after hee had protested that he sought God with his whole hearte besought God that he would not suffer him to decline from his Commaundementes Heereby let vs see what great neede we haue to call vpon God too the ende he may holde vs with a mightie stronge hand Yea and although hee hath already mightely put too his helping hand and we also knowe that he hath bestowed vppon vs great and manifolde graces yet is not this all But there are so many vices and imperfections in our nature and wee so feeble and weake as that we haue very greate neede dayly to pray vnto him yea and that more and more that hee will not suffer vs to decline from his Commaundementes For although Dauid protested that hee sought God with all his heart neuer thelesse hee addeth yet suffer mee not O Lorde too goe wronge from thy Commaundementes What shall we doe then Let vs also learne to walke carefully for since hee is the God which giueth vs that good minde to wil and that also giueth vs the power too performe and all of his meere fauour and grace wee ought sayth Saint Paule to walke in feare and to keepe good watch too the ende that Satan taketh not vs vnprouided Phil. 2.12 and that he enter not within vs. And loe what is the cause that wee haue seene some men which haue made a greate shewe of holinesse for a time and haue seemed too bee more like Angels then men which at length haue growne too outrage and haue so greatly exceeded their boundes as that GOD euen forsooke them like desperate
in the Pulpit dayly with this condition too learne when as we teach others And beeing thus I doo not onely speake that I might bee hearde but for mine owne parte I must also bee the Scholer of God and that the word which proceedeth from my mouth might profite my selfe likewise otherwise cursed am I. Let vs then note this by the way that they which are moste perfecte and ready in the Scriptures are arrogaunt fooles except they acknowledge that they had neede too haue God for their Schoolemaister all the dayes of their life and to bee more and more confirmed after the example of Dauid In very deede these things very well deserue to bee spoken of more at large but that I respecte one thing that in handling of this Psalme by parcels it may be imprinted the better in our memory For as I haue sayde in the first Sermon which I made on Sunday last past that it is not without cause that the spirite of God would haue this Psalme to be made according to the Letters of an A.B.C. because euery one should learne it as perfectly as their Pater Noster as wee commonly say Seeing then that our Lorde God would that we shoulde haue this Psalme perfectly and for our owne vse it is also good and necessary that the handling of it be pure and simple and so to follow the plainnesse of the text as that wee might vnderstand as it were worde by worde whatsoeuer is contayned therein It remayneth now that euery of vs vnderstand what hath byn handled without looking after any longer repetition Neuerthelesse I will so endeuour my selfe to be shorte as that God willing the woords which I shal vtter shall not bee very darke especially to those which be attentiue It followeth With my lippes haue I declared all the Iudgementes of thy mouth Dauid sheweth heere the accorde which ought to be betwixt God vs to wit that god hath instructed vs when we haue heard that which hath bin saide vnto vs that euery one should say Amen that there bee a sweete harmony accorde betwixt him vs without iar or contradiction Loe heere in summe that which is ment in this verse Nowe in the meane while we haue to note that Dauid declareth that he contenteth not himselfe alone with following of God and cleauing vnto him but that he laboureth and desireth asmuch as in him lyeth to stirre vpp his neighboures likewise and to bring it so to passe as that God might bee serued with a common accorde throughout the whole worlde He then that will haue a true zeale to honor God will not thinke onely of himselfe but will haue an eye euery where and seeke by all meanes possible that he can too redresse those which are wickedly giuen to stirre vpp those which are colde and negligent to strengthen those which are weake and feeble to entertaine those which are already in a good forwardnesse and to make them more forwarde Loe heere whereunto all the faithfull haue an eye For the Lord our God teacheth vs vpon this condition that euery of vs thinke not onely particularly of himselfe but that wee should also haue a mutuall care one of another and whensoeuer we shall haue this zeale let vs vnderstand that God hath created the whole worlde vppon this condition that we all should be obedient vnto him But we must wel way the order that is heere set downe For Dauid beginneth not with this sentence That with his lippes he hath tolde of all the Iudgementes of the Lordes mouth For he hath sayde before that he hath hid them in his hart The thing which Dauid said to be hid in his hearte he soone after declareth it with his mouth wherin he sheweth that euery of vs ought to beginne with himselfe When wee meane too instruct and teach our neighbours we must not say vnto them Go you before but Come next after me or else harde by me and hauing care all to goe the right way wee should all at-once labour to goe togither to our God to be conioyned vnto him in true fayth And I speake it too this ende because wee shall see many who in this behalfe can very well prattle and babble and would seeme to be the greatest doctors in the world But what of all this Let vs in the meane time looke into their liues and conuersation and wee shall finde in them nothing but infection and stench nothinge else but mocking of God in all they goe about and doe We must therfore followe the order which Dauid here holdeth to witte that the word of God bee hid as a Treasure in the bottome of our heart and afterward when as we shall haue this affection let vs indeuour our selues to draw others also thereto and goe altogither with one accorde to honour our Lorde God and that hee which hath beene better taught then any of his neighboures haue beene let him confesse that hee is so much the more beholden and bound vnto God to doo that which is heere shewed vnto vs by Dauid For although wee are not all Prophetes as hee was yet for all that this was spoken to vs all in general 1. Thessa 5.14 Collo 3.16 Heb. 3.13 Admonish ye one another Saint Paule speaketh it too all the faithfull and to all Christians And that we should also knowe that this belongeth and appertaineth too vs and chiefely as I haue before sayde that they which are moste forwarde shoulde lay foorth the grace which was giuen vnto them for the common building vpp of the Church and instruction of their neighbours It followeth I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonyes as in all manner of riches Heere Dauid declareth that hauing wayned him selfe from his earthly affections wherwithall we are ouer greatly intangled he wholly traueleth to come to God For it is impossible for vs too taste the sweetenesse conteyned in the worde of God to take pleasure in this doctrine of our saluation and to bee altogither giuen therevnto before such time as we haue cut off from vs all our wicked lustes and affections which reigne too too much in our mortall bodyes It is like as if a man woulde haue land to bringe foorth Corne which were altogither full of thornes and weedes Or what is he that would haue a Vine growe vpon stones and rockes wherein is no moysture For what is the state of the nature of man Forsoth it is as barrē land as possibly can be What are al our affectiōs but bushes thornes and weedes which choke and make all the good seede of God nothing worth So then it is not without cause that Dauid heere matcheth riches with the worde of God and this auarice wherwith we are led and inflamed against the desire that hee had too followe God and too walke after his word As if he should haue sayd Alas Lord it is true that I am giuen to the vanities of this world aswel as others are
But yet haue I chiefely desired thy word haue euen striuen with my self to subdue al the euil affections of my flesh Here we see what doctrin we haue to gather vnto our selues out of this place to wit that if we wil be the good scholers of God and take delight in the way of his testimonyes we must first subdue the lustes of our fleshe not learne to be giuen to worldly things neither yet to bee nousled in that which we imagine to be the highest pointe of our felicity but that we might vnderstand to contēne riches al other things whatsoeuer which might withdrawe vs from our God and our sauiour Iesus Christ Phil. 3.8 to make no more accoūt of it then of doung and dyrt as S. Paule saith And yet it is most sure that Dauid contemneth not the riches which he had For beeing a mightie rich king as we know yet he cast not his Golde siluer into the bottō of the sea but vsed of the abundance store which God had giuen him yea wee see what an excellent and beautiful house he had as the holy history telleth vs. But yet he followed the rule which the Scripture setteth downe vnto vs which is that hee so vsed the goods of this world as though he neuer had them We must therfore passe through this world 1. Cor. 7.31 without staying our selues altogether in it as S. Paul exhorteth that if God giue vs abundāce of riches we might know how to vse thē with out hauing our harts imprisoned in them yet notwithstāding to be pore in spirit to wit to be redy to forsake all whatsoeuer as often as god would haue vs to be rid of thē to haue alwaies one foote redy lifted vp to go vnto him whēsoeuer it shal be his wil pleasure to take vs out of this world But it is not without cause that Dauid hath spoken heere of the abundaunce of riches For wee see it maketh men couetous which is the springhead of all mischiefe as Saint Paule saith 1. Tim. 6 1◠Forasmuch then as we are so much giuen to the goods of this worlde and that we holde our selues accursed if we haue not wherwithall and them to bee blessed which are wel furnished with them let vs keepe well the lesson which is heere taught vs to wit that all our desier must be in the way of the testimonyes of God as in all manner of riches to wit that all our delight and contentation be wholly in them Now in the end Dauid goeth on and sayth I will meditate in thy Commaundementes and consider thy wayes My delight shal be in thy statutes I wil not forget thy words This is the conclusion to confirme the matter which we haue already spoken off For Dauid heere speaketh of no newe matter but protesteth as he hath begun That his delight shal be alwayes in the commandements of God in the doctrine conteined in the holy Scripture and that hee wil bestowe his whole study therin so continue the same and neuer forget the desires which he hath to profite in the obedience of God If Dauid nowe hath thus saide let vs vnderstand that it is not inough for vs to be wel affected to serue God and that for the performing thereof that wee haue already sufficiently traueled but we must also be pricked forwarde that we might alwayes goe on For euen the very faithful neuer runne with so feruent and hote a desire but that they continually draw one leg after them neuer come vnto God but in halting wise What is there then for vs to doe Forsooth wee must protest with Dauid neuer to forget that which God hath once declared vnto vs and also neuer to cease to pricke our selues on to the ende there might be greater vehemencie in vs to goe vnto him with a more seruent desire and boulder courage So that at the last we may growe to this perfection whereunto God calleth allureth vs that is that beeing vncased from out of our flesh and nature hee might fully conioyne vs vnto his righteousnesse that thereby his glory may shine in vs. And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good god acknowledging our innumerable sinnes by which we continually prouoke his heauy wrath and indignation against vs. Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs to feele our sinnes and iniquities more then euer to fore we haue done to the end we might seke for such remedies as he hath ordained for vs in exercising our selues about the reading of his holy word and the dayly Preaching thereof which hath graunted vnto vs. And furthermore not to forget to stir vs vp to call vpon him to the end that by his holy spirite he might to put his helping hande euen in our heartes and not too suffer the doctrine which we heare by the mouth of his Preachers to become vnprofitable vnto vs but that it may haue the full power strength so that we may from day to day be confirmed therein and more and more learne to forsake the worlde and all whatsouer may withdrawe vs from the vnion and coniunction of our Lord and Maister Iesus Christ who is our heade And that hee will not onely shewe vnto vs this fauour and grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The third Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme GIMEL Bee beneficiall vnto thy Seruant that I may liue keepe thy woorde Open mine eies that I may see the wondrous things of thy lawe I am a straunger vpon Earth hide not thy commandements from me My hart breaketh out for the desire vnto thy iudgementes alwaies Thou hast destroyed the proude cursed are they that doo erre from all thy Commaundements Remoue from mee shame and contempte for I haue kept thy Testimonyes Princes also did sitte and speake against mee but thy Seruant did meditate in thy statutes Also thy Testimonyes are my delight and my counsaylers IT shall greatly haue profited vs if so be wee haue learned what the ende of our life is For for that cause hath God placed and bringeth vs vpp in the worlde and yet fewe there are which thinke vpon it True it is that euery man will say that it is good reason wee should doe homage too GOD for our life and beeing because wee holde all of him and that wee should glorifie him with so much of our goods as he hath largely bestowed vpon vs. But what of all this When as wee haue confessed that it is but to shewe our ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse and yet no man maketh any account heereof Loe heere wherefore the holy Ghoste seeing vs so tyed to the worlde putteth vs in minde too what ende wee liue heere As heere Dauid maketh this request to God too obtayne that benefite of his Maiestie That hee mght liue and keepe his woorde As if hee should haue sayde I desire
hee sayeth O Lorde open myne eyes that I may see the woonderous thinges of thy Lawe Wherefore vseth hee this woorde woonderous It is as if he would haue saue saide Although the world taketh the lawe of God to be but a light thing and seemeth to be giuen but as it were for simple soules yong children Yet for al that there seemeth such a wisedom to bee in it as that it surmounteth all the wisedome of the worlde and that therein lye hidde wonderfull secrets Asmuch is saide of the Gospell and that not without great cause And in very deede that which at this daye is most plainely declared in the Gospell was before conteined in the lawe onely these were darker shadowes then they are which were since the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ And yet notwithstanding there is no chaung or alteration in this wisedome as God also is not mutable Ephes 3.10 1. Pet. 1.12 It is not then without cause that all the holy scripture is called wisedome and that the Angels of heauen theÌ„selues do woÌ„der thereat If then the Angels be astoyned at the secrets conteined in the holy scripture I beseeche you tell mee what reuerence deserueth it to haue among vs mortall men For we are but poore wormes vpon earth creeping here belowe If there be comparison made betwixt vs and the Angels what shall it be See howe the Angels are wonderfully rauished to see the wisedome of the word of God and yet we make no accompt of it but esteeme of it as a base and childish thing The more therefore ought wee throughly to marke this saying of Dauid that the doctrine of the lawe is not as wee take it to bee to wit a thing of small valure or a common and ordinarie doctrine but a wonderfull wisedome wherein are such secrets as ought to rauish vs with admiration bicause they farre surpasse our wit and reason But what is the cause that we so lightly esteeme of the lawe of God that is to say his whole word Herein the common prouerbe is verified when we saye A foole regardeth nothing Which prouerbe we declare to be rightly verified in vs For many of vs make no estimation of the holy scripture it seemeth to vs that that which we reade there is too to coÌ„mon and this is the reason bicause we know not what it is â—â—e yet the great and abundant treasure hidde therein But such as haue once knowen what the Maiestie of God is which hee sheweth and declareth him selfe to be there and do see whether it is that God calleth and allureth them and do also vnderstand and knowe the large and sweete promises offered vnto them therein such I say will say with Dauid O Lorde thy law is wonderfull And so consequently will desire that their eyes might be lightened confessing them selues to be blind vntill such time as God hath ayded them with his holy spirite Now it followeth I am a stranger vpon earth hyde not thy commandementes from me When Dauid did put to this verse he ment to confirme the matter which before he touched that is to say that he desired not simply to liue as if his life had beene deare and precious vnto him without any other respect but he had a further meaning For he saith by a by after I am a stranger in the world therefore hyde not thy commandements from me They which make their continuall nest here according to their owne fansie and thinke to make their heauen in this world these men I say haue nothing to do with the commandementes of God for their saluation For they are safe enough if they may eate and drinke to be glutted that they may take their pleasures and delightes that they may be honoured that they may be in estimation and credit loe here is all that they desire or wysh to haue Yea forsooth For they looke no further but to this corruptible and transitorie life These men I saye are not greatly troubled ne yet haue any care of the commaundementes of God but when as they shal be taken from them all shall be one to them When as the couetous man the whoremonger the dronkarde the ambitious person shall heare no preaching of the word at all neither any talke of God ne yet of Christianitie nor of life euerlasting He in the meane time ceaseth not to pursue his owne waye Yea and it is to them a lothsome and vnpleasant kinde of speach to heare God spoken of but had rather haue no mention in the whole worlde made of him And therefore it is not without cause why Dauid requireth not to haue the coÌ„mandements of God taken from him this is his reason to wit bicause he is a stranger on the earth As if he should haue sayd O Lord if I had none other consideration but of this present life I should be euen accursed and it had beene better my mother had beene deliuered of me as of a dead body and that I had beene an hundred times plunged in hell And why so For we are here in this world but as pilgrims and wayfaring men and we passe to a more excellent life as to that also wherein we repose our whole trust Seeing then O Lord that I am a stranger in the world let not thy commandementes be taken away from me Nowe in this part is conteined a very profitable doctrine and exhortation for vs for we knowe how cold wee are where in deede we ought to haue an ardent desire to be taught the worde of God and to be more and more confirmed therein And I beseeche you how carelesse are we But what is the cause hereof No doubt of it we must alwayes euen searche and looke into the depth and bottom of this corruption and mischiefe for when we see any vice in our selues we ought to enquire from whence the cause proceedeth to the ende we might finde remedy for the same Now the reason is bicause we are blynde and do suppose our abode should bee here still vpon earth and euery man imagineth him selfe to haue here euerlasting life Wherefore when we are thus giuen to the world thinke our selues to haue here an euerlasting enheritance loe this is the cause of our thus conteÌ„ning of God and his word or rather that we care no whit at all for the seeking out of the doctrine of our saluation What must we then do Forsooth wee must looke a great deale further then to the world if we will come vnto God and be exercised in this study wherof meÌ„tion is here made and to say with Dauid O Lord bicause we are strangers in this world to wit that we are to passe here only that nothing can be shorter then our life is here let not thy commandements be taken away from vs. On thother side Dauid his meaning here is to signifie vnto vs that he was but as a poore pilgrime and wandring man without he were conducted and guided by the worde of
God And this is a very fit similitude for the purpose We know that a man in a straung countrey will thinke him self to be a straung and forlorne man so that if he hath not a conduct and guide he knoweth not what shall become of him Euē so fareth it with vs if we be not directed and conducted by the hand and power of God And why so Bicause we are as strangers here in this world It is very true that wee are but too too much tied vnto our affections and wil and yet out alas our sense and wittes are so confounded that wee know not what way to take or holde except we be shewed it Loe here the meaning of the similitude which Dauid here vseth in saying that he is a strāger in the world which is that he complaineth that he is a strang and forlorne mā and therefore beseecheth God to guide him by his worde Now it followeth My hart breaketh out for the desire vntoo thy iudgementes alwaies When hee sayeth that his soule breaketh out it is too protest that hee desired not that thing of God which wee haue hearde either for fashions sake or countenance as many doo which beseeche God very often too inlighten confirme and guide them in the trueth of his woorde but in the meane tyme they neuer seeke after it as they should do Now this is but after a sorte and God wil not be thus mocked For in thus doing we doe nothing els but profane his holy name whē as we make such requestes as proceede not from a true affection and desire Loe here wherefore Dauid saieth that his soule brake out For this worde emporteth as much as if his soule had vtterly fainted My soule then fainteth for the desire which it had to thy cōmaundements Wherfore here are three things to be cōsidered off The one is that if we will obtaine at Gods handes to be conducted by him and to haue his worde to be our waye and direction we should not make such an hypocritical nor cold prayer vnto him with mocking of him thereby But with such a true desire as carieth vs euen out of our selues and to make no such accompt of this present life but to be well aduised to shoote at an higher matter And thus much as touching the first point which here we haue to note The second is that this desire ought not to be onely as a wauering desire but an ardent and an hoat desire For he saith That his soule hath fainted And why so Let vs here a little consider what our appetites and lustes are when wee turne our selues away from God and giue our selues wholy to worldly things They are so excessiue and inordinate that it is euen pitifull being without end and measure But if we haue a leane desire such a one as I know not what to walke according to the will of God this desire woulde be as soone alayed as a droppe of wine put into an hundreth times so much water I beseeche you what shall that be shall it taste any more as wine Euen so forcible should the good affection of a faithfull man be If this affection be not feruent and very vehement it shal be soone choked by the corruptions of our carnall passions affections which as I haue before said haue neither measure modestie nor temperance See then for the second point what we haue here to note in this behalf to wit that it is not enough that we haue a meane desire to serue God for that woulde bee very soone quenched in vs and be made nothing woorth But we must be so attentiue thereto as that we may able to say that our soule fainteth and languisheth that our power and strength droppeth and melteth away as it were vntill such time as God relieueth vs in graunting that vnto vs which we require of him The third point which we haue here to note is the firmenes and constancie in this our desire And see here why Dauid is not contented with this saying that his soule is broken out but he saieth Alwayes As if he should haue saide this was not a blaste of wynde but a rooted affection in his heart and that he perseuered therein Nowe these three things are most necessarie For we see in the first place that we are as it were by nature enclined to vanitie bicause that being so addicted vnto the world we thinke no whit at all of heauen We ought therefore to bee so much the more very attentiue to this doctrine to haue a burning desire to follow the word of God and besides this our affection ought to be so vehement as that it might be able to haue the dominion ouer all our affections which hinder vs to cleaue vnto our God and euē to be marueilously rauished therewith Now it had neede to be mightely strengthened with the power of the spirite of God For our lustes beeing too too mad and furious if God stretched not foorth his arme vnto it what should become thereof And put the case that we had a good desire surely it woulde very soone vanish away in vs. We must be wōderfull feruent therin and afterward when wee hall haue such a good and stedfast affection we must be wonderfully in loue with the word of God not for a day nor yet for a short time but euen so long as we liue It followeth soone after Thou hast destroyed the proud cursed are they that do erre from all thy commaundementes Dauid addeth hereto an other reason whereby hee is more enflamed to praye vnto God and to addresse him selfe vnto him to be taught in his word to wit when hee seeth that he hath so rebuked the proude For the chastisements and punishementes which God layeth vppon the faithles and rebellious shoulde bee a good instruction for vs As it is said That God hath executed iudgement and that the inhabitantes of the land should learne his righteousnes It is not without cause that the Prophet Esay also hath so said for he signifieth vnto vs that God hath by diuers and sundrie meanes drawen vs vnto him and that chiefly when he teacheth vs to feare his maiestie For without it out alas we shall become like vnto brute beastes if God laye the bridle in our neckes what licence we will giue vnto our selues experience very well teacheth vs. Now God seeing that we are so easily brought to runne at randon sendeth vs examples bicause he woulde bring vs to walke in feare and carefully And for our part when wee see God to chastise the wicked and disobedient we should by them take example and instruction Loe here in summe what Dauid saieth Thou O Lorde hast chastised the disobedient as if hee shoulde haue saide True it is O Lord that I haue desired euen with a vehement affection and true constancie to cleaue vnto thee and to thy holy cōmandementes But yet had I neede to be more throughly instructed that I might beware of the punishementes
thought as S. Paul saith Loe then how Dauid desired to be quickened but that was in protesting that he was as touching him selfe and his owne nature but as it were a condemned man And herein must we also do the like For wee must goe vnto our good God as men condemned in our selues beseeching him that he would quicken vs. And when he shall haue caused vs to feele his grace and that wee haue stayed our selues thereon let vs say we beseeche thee O Lord that since it hath pleased thee to beginne in vs well doing that thou wouldest also perfourme the same in vs. And according to this doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our faultes Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs feele our miserie and wretchednesse whereunto wee are giuen whiles we liue here in this world to the end we may walke so fearefully and carefully as that wee may be able to perceiue that wee haue receiued some fauour and grace from our God and that in following the right way which hee hath shewed vnto vs wee may daily more and more aspire to the ende which he hath set before vs which is to attaine to that immortall glorie to conioyne vs vnto our head and captaine our Lord Iesus Christ after that he shall haue despoyled vs of all the vices and imperfections of our flesh and cloathe vs with his righteousnes And that he will not onely graunt vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the world c. The sixth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme VAV And let thy louing kindnes come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation according to thy promisse So shall I make answere vnto my blasphemers for my trust is in thy word And take not the worde of thy truth vtterly out of my mouth for I waite for thy iudgements So shall I alwaies keepe thy lawe yea for euer and euer And I will walke at libertie for I seeke thy commaundementes I will speake of thy testimonies also euen before kinges and will not be ashamed And my delight shall be in thy commaundements which I haue loued My handes also will I lift vp vnto thy commaundements which I haue loued and my study shal be in thy statutes THE beginning of these eight verses cōteine a request which Dauid made vnto God that he felt the accōplishment and performance or the promises which god graūted vnto him and after which he hoped As if he should haue said O Lord declare vnto me that the promisse which thou hast made vnto me to do me so much good be not in vaine but that thou wilt make me feele in deede that thy word and promise is most certaine and true Now that he founded him self vpō the promises of God appeareth by his thus saying And let thy louing kindenesse come vnto me O Lord and thy saluation according to thy promise So shall I make answere vnto my blasphemers for my trust is in thy worde Wherein also we see that Satan craftely goeth aboute to ouerthrow his faith as if God had made it nothing worth So then First of all we are to note that Dauid feeling him selfe pressed downe runneth vnto the promises of God And this is a poynt very profitable for vs. For beholde how we must put the word of God in practise when as we haue learned it that when we come to the fight and Satan assaileth vs on euery side in such sort as that it might seeme that all the worlde had conspyred against vs and that wee see nothing but destruction rounde about Euen then I say must we run vnto the promises which God hath made vs and make accounte of them and so apply them to our own vse that then wee may feele the power and strength of them Nowe it shall be an easy matter for vs when as wee are at rest and quiet to receiue whatsoeuer God hath saide vnto vs. And why so Because our Faith all that while shall not be exercised and troubled so that we shall neuer bee able to feele whether we haue beleeued in good earnest vntill such time as we are tryed Loe Why I haue said that this place is worthy the marking that Dauid speaketh not with out cause when he sayth So shall I make answere vnto those that go about to shāe me For by these words he protesteth that the wicked contēned despised mocked him as if he had bin a very foole in trusting so much vnto God but yet for that his faith was not shaken And see how Satan assayleth vs with temptations when as the wicked and vngodly speake reprochfull woordes of vs insomuch as wee haue thought it to be woonderfull straunge geere because that we hauing hearde the so honourable excellent promises of God thought our selues straightwayes to bee rapte and caryed aboue the cloudes and yet this same our persuasion proued nothing at all so as it made a shewe to the outward apparance Euen so likewise came it to passe in Dauid as we may especially see in the twentie and twoo Psalme And our Sauiour Christ also who is the very true patern and mirrour of all the Children of God hath sustained abiden such combates Very well said they vnto him hee trusteth in God Let him nowe see whether God will heare him or not Let vs then note that Dauid hath not deuised and made here any vaine speculations as an idle body might doe which neuer had beene tempted nor distressed But beeing so mocked by his enemyes that his faith seemed to be ouerthrowne and he him selfe in great hazarde vtterly to be destroyed then came he for refuge to the promises of God saying My God thou haste giuen mee thy worde which cannot fayle me Loe wherein is all hope and trust Euen so also ought we to followe this doctrine too wit when the worlde on the oneside shall deride and scorne vs because we haue ouer lightly credited God and that Satan shall trauel all he can too turne vs cleane away from the certaintie which wee haue had yet let vs not cease too say O Lord it is thou which hast spoken and in thee is all our hope and trust Moreouer as wee are to call too minde the promises of God when as wee are assayled by Satan and the vngodly Let vs also note as hath beene heeretofore treated of that this is it whereon we must builde al our requests For if we will earnestly pray vnto God and obtaine that which wee pray for we must not pray in the ayre say O Lord I pray vnto thee for such a thing and I would it might so come to passe For this were ouer rash and too too great boldenesse to think to make God subiect to our willes to briddle him as we list and to desire him to graunte vs whatsoeuer shall please our appetites but it is his worde that must leade vs and be our Cresset and we must referre
voyde As at this day it is in Popery for when they pray vnto God they pray at all aduenture And especially this is one of the poyntes that the Papistes striue most about that wee must not assure our selues when wee pray vnto God that hee heareth vs but remaine in suspence Forsooth but the scripture telleth vs that it is not possible that the man which is thus floating as the waues which are tossed with the winde and tempest shoulde obtaine any thing It telleth vs that when we come vnto God that we must come with faith hope and boldenesse And so then as I haue already touched this is an holy and a commendable presumption that when wee stay our selues vppon the worde of God to set downe in summe that hee will accomplish that which hee hath promised vs For we hold him as one bound vnto vs not that he is any thing in our debte but because that of his meere liberality he stoupeth so lowe as to declare vnto vs that hee woulde that wee should haue this libertie and leaue to present our selues so before him with such boldenesse and assuraunce as already I haue declared And thus much for the second verse In the thirde it followeth I haue considered myne owne wayes and turned my feete vnto thy Testimonyes This protestation is woorth the noting For wee are admonished why it is that men so greatly flatter thē selues in their own follyes and deuices and make thēselues beleue that they will make their Prayers vnto God albeit they rest not vpon him trust not vnto him neither yet followe that which hee hath commaunded them but onely their owne imaginations And that forsooth in such sorte as that they thinke a man should offer them great wrong if hee sayd that all is loste labour which they haue bestowed that they greatly tormented themselues to no purpose except they did knowe that God hearde them It is most true that euery one will say And howe so I beseech you wherefore wil not God think wel of that which I doe since it is my finall intent to to serue him no no God forceth not of all this And what is the cause that men so arrogauntly striue and spurne against God It is because they call not their wayes too remembraunce For it they had this consideration and wisdome to looke narrowly vnto their dooings and to think thus with them selues Howe shall I doe In what case am I I must not goe astray but keepe a sure and certaine way and good meane and to consider how to liue and aboue all I must do thus much as that God be not disappoynted of the soueraintie which he hath ouer his So then when as men looke well to their wayes it is very certaine and sure that they will wholely giue themselues to followe the woorde of God and therein take all their delight And this is it that he sayth on the contrary part that he would turne his feete too the testimonyes of God Wherein he sheweth too all men by his example that they shoulde walke as God hath commaunded them and not too be ruled after their owne head and brayne For see from whence this madnesse cōmeth which possesseth as it were all the whole worlde that euery man will serue God as he thinketh best It is because we turne not our feete vnto his Testimonyes Nowe wee ought so much the more too practize this which is heere declared to witte to looke too our wayes that wee shoulde knowe that seeing that God hath placed vs heere in this worlde that he hath not doone it too that ende that we should doe whatsoeuer our senses would lead vs vnto But our life must be ordered ruled And whence must wee haue this rule Euen from the woorde of God And when as wee shal be so carefull as too order and rule our life there remaineth no more for vs to doe but to followe euen whether our God calleth vs. Loe the testimonyes of God loe his trueth which hee hath declared vnto vs Loe there must we place and set our selues Wee must neuer heereafter make any more question too wander any longer and to discourse and say why shoulde not this bee good and commendable No forsooth not so let not vs followe our owne fantasies neither let vs bee wise in our owne conceits but let vs consider with our selues to heare our God and obey him loe then the effecte of this thirde verse where it is sayde That Dauid looked vnto his wayes and that he turned his feete to the testimonyes of God to witte to the lawe where God hath declared his will Now hee addeth I made haste and prolonged not the time to keepe thy Commaundementes He continueth his purpose but he sheweth that this his affection was not slowe I made haste sayth he yea and that without delay Nowe it is not without cause that Dauid putteth to this for we see howe straightly wee oughte too deale against our owne appetites yea euen they I say who are best affected to serue god do yet com as it were halting trayling either an arme or a leg after them as wee cōmonly say And what is the cause heereof We carry about with vs such a number of corruptions as that the very weight of them maketh vs to goe exceding slowly so that we haue much to doe to go on And we know and haue too too greate experience howe weake our nature is when as wee intende to doe well Let vs then vnderstand and knowe these twoo thinges and we shall neuer thinke it straunge that wee are so slowe and slack to followe God as in deede we are yea euen these two things I say For behold Satan wil neuer cease craftily to go about to imagine whatsoeuer he possibly can to cause vs to drawe backe he will set barres and pitch Hayes before vs hee will lay Bushes Thornes and euill fauoured stumbling blockes whatsoeuer which any way may hinder and let vs that if we meane to march on but onely three paces we shal be violently carryed away to turne on this side and on that not knowing what shall become of vs. Againe wee shal be solicited and moued by our inordinate appetites to drawe vs cleane awry For if we will wholly put our trust in God the Deuil will drawe vs too the contrary and make vs to giue our selues vp too this wordly pelfe and so consequently to all the rest Seeing then that we are drawen and haled with so many Cart ropes yea and are of our selues so feeble to doe good euen burning after wickednesse Alas no maruell though wee be slowe too followe God but yet for all that we must needed fight It is no question but that we flatter our selues when as wee see such slacknesse in our selues and say in deed it is very true such is the state condition of our nature and againe our infirmities are so great as that it is an impossible thing for any man too discharge
from the same by euill example Nowe as I haue already touched if Dauid had neede hereof what shall become of vs who are so inconstant and mutable in al our doings Lo then the first point which we haue to note in this place to wit that Dauid protesteth that although the holy Ghost assisted him and that he felt him selfe confirmed as wee haue seene neuerthelesse he yet sought other helpes to coÌ„tinue and hold him in the feare of God as the companies which were most meete for him to cause him to followe his vocation and not to withdrawe him from it seeing there must be nothing that must pull vs aside from the right way Now he meaneth to signifie further that he ioyned him selfe with men that feared God to the ende also that hee might serue him as hee ought For we are bound to stirre vp one another through mutual exhortations and good ensamples It is meete then that we haue these twoo considerations in the first place we are to consider to followe those which can aduaunce further vs in the right waye who can profite vs more and more in the feare of God and after that wee must also labour to to profite those with whome wee shal be likewise conuersant inciting them by all meanes possible to followe the right trade wherein God shall haue set them to the ende he may be honoured with one accord and that euery of vs might say come let vs goe and let vs trauell and take paines to cause to others to goe with vs that wee may altogether honour the Lord our God Now the conclusion of the eight verse is the second request The earth O Lorde is full of thymercie O teach mee thy statutes Here we see howe necessarie a thing it is for vs to bee alwayes praying to God beseeching him more amply to instruct vs that we may acknowledge him better then heretofore we haue done yea and that specially when as wee thinke we knowe al that is to be knowne that we throughly consider that wee haue yet great neede to profite continually more and more For which of vs I pray you dareth be so bolde as to compare with Dauid Loe so excellent a Prophet as that he is like vnto an Angel of God wee see also how God hath reueled vnto him his secrets as if he had bin taken vp into the heauenly kingdom yet he hauing such excellent gifts as we know desireth notwithstanding to be instructed in the statutes of God And which is hee amongs vs that hath not greater neede of theÌ„ So then wheÌ„ as we shal be greatly learned in the word of God not onely for our selues but also to instruct our neighbours let vs for al that be coÌ„teÌ„ted to yeld our selues to be taught of him to beseech him to grant vs his grace that we may daily profit more more And therefore we ought the better to note the reason which Dauid setteth first down For the earth O Lord as ful of thy mercie As if he should haue saide thou O Lorde spreadest abrode thy fatherly goodnes ouer all creatures we se how of thy mercy thou feedest the beasts of the field we se the trees florish the earth bring forth her increase thy goodnes spreadeth through heaueÌ„ earth how is it then possible that thou shuldst not do good vnto thy children I am one of that nuÌ„ber which call on thee that put their trust in thee Seing thou art so louing mercifull to al creatures thou shalt not forsake me The reason here set down serueth Dauid for a confirmation that he should not dout to obtaine the request which he had made And so as oft as we desire God to instruct vs in his statuts the good nes dout to obtaine the request which he had made And so ost as we desire God to instruct vs in his statuts the goodnes wherwith he ouerspreadeth al his creatures serueth vs as a foundation wheron to build al our petitioÌ„s And since that God hath giuen vs this grace to allow vs in the nuÌ„ber of his children and to shew him selt to be our father let vs be sure that he wil not refuse to giue vs those things which he hath promised And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie c. The nienth Sermon of the hundredth and nineteenth Psalme TETH O Lorde thou hast dealte gratiously with thy seruant according to thy woorde O teach me good iudgement and knowledge for I haue beleeued thy commaundementes Before I was troubled I went wrong but nowe I keepe thy worde Thou art good and gracious teach me thy statutes The proud haue imagined a lie against me but I wil keepe thy coÌ„mandements with my whole heart Their hart is as far as grece but my delite is in thy law It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble that I may learne they statutes The law of thy mouth is better vnto me then thousandes of gold and siluer IF we be oftentimes foolish vnaduised in a great many causes it may chiefly appeere wheÌ„ we meane to pray to God for theÌ„ if there be but one drop of wit or reason in vs it wil shew it selfe but we discouer our owne folly in that behalf more then in al the rest of our actions And what is the reason For sootli we wil behaue our selues more modestly whensoeuer wee shall craue any thing at the handes of men then when we come before the maiestie of God for we go on hedlong thereto not knowing what we ought too desire of him but euen powre out at all aduenture whatsoeuer shall come into our mouthes And we should then tâ—e rather call to minde our lesson to the end we might know the order rightly how to pray For we profane the name of god shew ourselues too much to conteÌ„ne his maiestie if we beg at his hands any other thing theÌ„ that which he hath declared vnto vs to haue liking off in such sort as that his will be alwayes preferred and our desires thereby chiefly ruled Now we are heere aduertised that aboue all thinges we ought to pray vnto God that he wil teach vs cause vs to vnderstand his wil accordingly as he hath declared vnto vs in his worde to open our eies that we may doe it so that wee might vnderstand that which is comprehended therin And this is the summe and effect of these eight verses which here we haue nowe to handle For Dauid demaundeth of God none other thing but to knowe the contents of the lawe and the doctrine thereof that he might be ruled thereby and his whole life framed thereafter But in the first place he remembreth God of all the benefites which he had already receiued from him For that it which must giue vs trust and confidence when as wee come to make any prayer vnto God And in deede there is nothing in the world which giueth vs a better
hand of GOD but are hardened and lifte them selues vpp against him It cannot bee chosen but that this muste needes be an horrible pride Euen so then this infidelitie is it that giueth too man as it were Hornes which he so naturally esteemeth although in deede it bee lesse then nothing and thinketh the same to be wonderfull And contrariwise let vs marke that it is onely Fayth that muste induce vs to humilitie and which frameth and fashioneth vs therein considering this swelling of our hearts our growing in presumption like vnto swelling Toades There is nothing I say that can amende this vice but Fayth alone The reason is because that Fayth bringeth vs vntoo God Nowe when as wee knowe what the righteousnesse of God is Let vs then come vnto our selues and wee shall finde in vs nothing else but iniquitie when wee shall consider of the Wisedome of God we shall see that all whatsoeuer we thought too be good reason to be nothing else but vanitie and follie So then when men doe wonder and looke at the brightnesse of God they then learne that they are no better but doung and filthy stench are euen angry and displeased with them selues and greately ashamed of their owne filthynesse See then that humilitie proceedeth from faith And therefore Dauid sayth that the proude to witte the wicked and Infidels imagined a lye against him Let vs then knowe that pryde is ingendred of men and that they bringe it with them into the worlde so soone as they are borne that it groweth and increaseth vnto ful age vntill such time as God correcteth it by his holy spirit and by Fayth And so when as wee shall see the contemners of God and the wicked who knowe not what it is too be ordered by GOD when wee shall see them I say thus outrage let vs not think it straunge seeing it is the course of nature Moreouer let vs well note that Dauid speaking of the neede which hee had of God sheweth vs by his example that the more wee are vexed with temptations that so much the more bolde wee ought too be too beseech him of his ayde that he will reach out his hand too vpholde vs and not to suffer vs to be ouercome And this is specially too be noted for when wee are greeued with any temptation we knowe not that the same is to make vs runne too God who is the onely remedie by which wee must be deliuered And so the Diuell may very easily enter into vs too ouerthrowe our faith since it is as it were put out there vnto him as a pray and besides we vouchsafe not once too receiue the remedy which is offered vs for our helpe So then let vs keepe the order which Dauid heere setteth downe to witte that if we be assayled with great and very strong temptations that then it is high time for vs to haue recourse vnto God beseeching him to saue vs and too remedy our faultes which else would leade vs too euerlasting destruction And thus much for this Nowe wee haue soone after too note that we shall make good proofe of our well willing to serue God if wee resist the temptations If the wicked goe about too drawe vs vnto wickednesse and yet wee stand fast and sure then is our Fayth and constancy well approued And this is spoken to the ende that no man shoulde flatter him selfe for wee thinke this to be a sufficient excuse and that God should also bee well contented therewith too say that wee were drawne to doe wickedly by the meane of some other See I pray you will euery one say I was once in a very good forwardenesse and desired to liue according too the will of God But when I see the worlde so peruerse and wicked and that all men were giuen to so many vices it was impossible for mee too escape but that I muste doo as other men did When wee shall alledge for our selues such excuses wee thinke that God shoulde holde himselfe well contented therewith But contrarywise we see heere that the faithful neuer cease for all that to serue God when all the whole worlde goe about to hinder and let them that although the wicked inuent neuer so many lyes lay neuer so many stumbling blockes in their way to cause them too turne and decline from the right way yet doe they still stande firme and sure And see also how we must be faine too doe that if wee will faithfully serue our good God wee must not cease too pursue our vocation yea although the wicked bente all the force they were possibly able to make against vs too turne vs cleane from the way of saluation Nowe if this admonition hath beene alwaies necessary it is more needefull at this day then euer it was For wee see that the worlde is growne too a monstrous heape of all iniquitie that we are not able too step foorth one step but that we shall meete with great store of euil and daungerous incounters which might weary and withdrawe vs and carry vs to doe wickedly in all kinde of thinges Therefore we ought so much the rather to practise this doctrine That the wicked haue imagined lyes against vs but yet that wee haue kept the lawe of God For the lyes which the proude and the enemyes of God doe imagine against vs are not of one kinde For sometimes they wil seduce vs vnder the colour of Friendship sometimes they will charge vs with a great many of thinges to make vs faint harted sometimes they will make such a confusion of all that we shall not be able to discerne betweene white and black We must then be so much the more well aduised and stand the surer vpon our garde And although the deuill transforme himselfe so into diuerse manners let not vs leaue to keepe the lawe of God yea and that with out whole hearte which is a thing that we ought diligently to mark For if we haue but only some little and feeble affection too followe God wee shall soone be very weary thereof Our heart therfore must be wholy addicted thereto for els we shall neuer be able to make our parte good againste Satan Nowe it is sayde a little after Their hearte is as fatte as greace but my delight is in thy lawe Heere Dauid maketh a comparison betweene the contemners of God and those which desire to serue him And why doth he so He sheweth that the cause which so induceth the Infidels too contemne GOD is the dissolute and brutishe life which they leade because they are as fatte as an Hogge in his stye that hath beene fed with Accornes and Barley and that lyeth wallowing on an heape in his owne greace Hee is so very fatte and heauy that hee is not able to get vp and although hee bee already a meruelous fatte and â—â—auy beast which desireth nothing else but draffe and swill yet will hee bee farre fatter and heauyer when as he shall be styed vpp
this free mercie of our God that he declareth him selfe pitifull vnto vs in that he seeth vs to be miserable wretched creatures and to put foorth our hand vnto him to receiue his mercie Nowe Dauid in the ende sheweth whereuppon he buildeth him selfe in making such a request According vnto thy worde made vnto thy seruant Loe whereupon we must builde and settle our selues when as we will come vnto God to be heard of him to wit vpon his meere mercie as we haue here aboue said But are wee already come thus farrefurth And if wee be yet is there an other point farther required to wit wee must assure our selues that the graces of God shall adorne and garnishe vs so we seeke them according to his word And to proue it to be so marke I beseeche you for it were marueilous great presumption in vs to come vnto God without we had his promises for it and to desire of him any thing and say O Lord I haue neede of this and that Go to now here is already some occasion which causeth vs to come vnto God And againe O Lord thou art good and gracious loe this is an other thing also which augmenteth our courage and boldnes But bicause we are so farre from God that we are not able to come nere his maiestie without he come down vnto vs we must then before wee can haue any accesse to make our prayers vnto him lay this foundation which is here set before vs that is to say the word of God when as thereby God witnesseth vnto vs that his mercie is alwayes readie that he there laieth it before vs and offereth the same there vnto vs. There remaineth now nothing els but that wee receiue it by faith and that there wee declare our faith through our calling vpon him So then we see the order which Dauid here setteth downe that is that hee bringeth vs to God to the ende we might take our whole contentation repose and reioysing in his meere goodnesse And since that he hath receiued vs through his mercie let vs beseeche him that he would looke vnto vs with his eyes of pitie For the third point he sheweth vs how we ought to make such our petitions that is bicause God hath bounde him selfe vnto vs of his own good will and hath witnessed vnto vs that he wil be neare vs. When then we shal come vnto him in this sort let vs not doubt but that he wil heare vs graunt whatsoeuer we shall desire according to his will And namely he sayeth thy woorde made vnto thy seruant to th ende he would declare to euery of vs that euery man should apply the promises of God particularly vnto him selfe And not to vse the maner of the Papistes to saye It is very true that God hath promised this and that but we know not whether the same belongeth vnto vs or not And these are no fooles which say thus but this is the doctrine which they teache in all their Satanicall and deuelish Schooles and Synagogues Loe here the very doctrine of popish doctors that the promise of God are vncertaine that we must receiue thē as things hanging in the ayre not to take them generally to say I doubt not but that GOD speaketh the same vnto me But contrariwise we must conclude as Dauid here doth and O Lord let it be done vnto thy seruant according to thy word He saith not according to thy word I knowe not to whom nor vnto such mē of which number I am not so that I can not builde vppon it but he saith according to thy promise O Lord made vnto me Let vs then learne by his example that when we desire the Lord God to assiste vs to charge him with his promises yea let vs apply them vnto our selues and beleeue that they are also spoken to euery of vs in particular and generally vnto all I meane vnto all the faithfull When as the Lord our God saieth I receiue all sinners to mercy let euery one saye O Lorde I am one of those miserable and wretched creatures and therefore I come vnto thee charging thee with thy promise made vnto me Loe howe wee must behaue our selues herein for els we shall but wander in the holy scripture all the daies of our life It followeth immediatly after Let thy tender mercies come vnto me that I may liue for thy lawe is my delight In this verse we may very well see that Dauid was as it were estranged from the mercie of God Now this is a very notable point to be considered off for what is the cause of our distrust yea euen to close vp the gate against God for that we would not come vnto him but onely bicause wee thinke that God hath estraunged him selfe from vs and that we should be thereby confounded It is very true that he will sometimes cause vs to feele them as if he had cleane turned him selfe away from vs and all bicause we first forsooke him but yet we must notwithstanding returne vnto him and not be discouraged but followe the example of Dauid that although the mercies of God to the outwarde apparance and in our iudgement bee farre from vs and in such sort as that we may well perceiue it yet must we neuer cease to say O Lord let thy louing mercies come vnto me surely to the outrward shew so farre as I can iudge they are farre of me but yet O Lorde I knowe that thou wilt in the ende make me to attaine vnto them yea and although thou manifestly shewest me them not yet notwithstanding I will wayte and surely looke for them with an assured faith and hope Moreouer when he sayeth that I may liue that is to signifie vnto vs the same which I haue already said to wit that although his wit and spirite stayed it selfe vpon creatures yet that he was but as a dead man whiles he thought God not to be neare him hee supposed him self to be but as a forlorne man And in deede although we had all the world on our side and had GOD against vs and were sure that he neither loued nor fauoured vs all the rest would turne but to our ruyne and destruction And if wee esteeme not thus of him must it not needes be but that we must bee bewitched by Satan and caried violently away when we shall content vs onely with these worldly things and neuer haue regard vnto the spring head and fountaine of all goodnesse to wit the bounty of God But in the meane while let vs note this that although we bee dead for a time after the example of Dauid yet shall wee be quickened so that we come to God beseeching him not to holde backe his mercies farre from vs. Now he saieth in the ende For thy lawe is my delight By this we are admonished what it is that we must craue at the handes of God in good earnest forsooth that his mercies may remaine with vs
nothing to be found in their life and conuersation of the thing whereof they babble Hee then was exercised in the word of God and that not onely for his owne particular vse but to th ende also to instruct his neighbours and to communicate to them the matter which he had heard and learned Now we see the summe and effect of this first verse He protesteth that he hath loued the word of God that not after a common manner but with a vehement zeale in such sort as that it hath beene his whole purpose and drift as when we haue liking of any one thing we cannot holde from talking thereof continually to be thinking of it As we shall see a miserable couetous man neuer but hunting after his wealth occupied about his lands possessions marchandise cattle must make prouisiō for this and that In like sort also is it with the whoremonger and the glutton and accordingly as euery mans desire leadeth him so must the tongue speake euery one apply him self wholy to that Se wherefore Dauid addeth that he was continually exercised in the word of God meaning thereby to shew howe greatly he hath loued it as he hath in deede said And nowe we see what thexample is which is here set down before vs for Dauid speaketh not this for himself but telleth vs what we ought to be if we will haue God to instruct vs and too haue him to make vs partakers of his truth wherein consisteth our whole felicitie and welfare for if wee wax colde make no accōpt of the word of God we are not worthy that he should giue vs the least taste thereof And for this cause we must not marueile much though so small a number at this daye haue profited in the scripture Although euery man desireth to be praised and esteemed amongest men to bee very able and sufficient yet for all that wee see what ignoraunce is in the greater number And therefore it is good reason that God should shut the gate vpon vs so that we might not haue so much as the least entraunce into his woorde And why so For where is the loue and desire that Dauid here maketh mention of Nowe when we shall know such a vice to be within vs we ought by and by to seeke to amende it and beseeche God to put this coldnesse from out of our heartes and that it would please him to enflame vs in such sort as that wee might learne to preferre his worde before all our fleshly desires that we be no more so much giuen to all these vayne follies of the world but that we may looke vnto the principal thing Let vs now come to that which followeth He sayeth Thou through thy commaundementes hast made mee wiser then mine enemies teachers and auncientes He setteth down here three sortes of people with whom he compareth him selfe and saith that God hath bestowed this grace vpon him to surpasse them all Now here Dauid sheweth vnto vs what profit shall redounde vnto vs when as we shal reade the word of God after his example to wit that we shall get thereby such wisedome as shall defende vs from our enemies to be better learned then our teachers and those which otherwise should haue byn in stead of our instructours To be short that all the men of the world shal not haue that which wee shall finde there and that all the wisedome which is in al the creatures of God deserueth not to bee egall and comparable too it Loe here in effect that which he meaneth Now we ought alwaies to cal to minde that which we haue already touched When as Dauid here setteth downe him selfe in the first ranke and sayeth that hee hath surpassed his enemies teachers and those which were the moste wyse and of greatest vnderstanding that this is not too attribute anye thing vntoo him selfe and to his owne persone but to the ende that God might be glorified in him and that we might knowe what profit shall redound vnto vs by the word of God when as we shal giue our selues vnto it We see then that Dauid had no regarde to him self but meaneth rather to giue vs occasion to glorifie God And besides his purpose is to stirre vs vp to the loue as we haue already touched which hee had to the word of God knowing the same to be so profitable for vs. For what is the cause that wee are so very negligent as in deede wee are in giuing our selues to the study of the holy scripture that we thinke it to be euen labour and time lost if we onely spend but one houre of the day therein What is the cause of such contempt Verely bicause we know not the profit that might come vnto vs thereby for if we were thus persuaded that all our wisedome is and consisteth in the worde of GOD and that without it we are like vnto miserable beastes so that Satan hath caught and holdeth vs fast bound in his grinnes and snares and that we cannot erre in all the whole course of our life if we know this and againe that it is sufficient that God hath taught vs and so haue thereby such a cleare light as that will neuer faile vs that we be fenced against all the ambushes of Satan and against all the villanies and deceiptes of the world if then we were thus throughly persuaded that the worde of God were sufficient against all this it is most certaine that wee should be a great deale more in loue without all comparison with the studie thereof then now we are And therefore let vs well recorde this lesson which is here set downe vnto vs by Dauid to wit that in the first place wee shall be wyser then all our enemies if that wee haue the woorde of God alwayes remayning with vs. Nowe when he sayeth that hee was made wyser and had more vnderstanding then his enemies hee meaneth that hee had so excellēt a knowledge as that God would not suffer him to fall into the ambushes priuie engines which the vngodly had layde for him suddenly to bee entrapped caught by their subtill traines and pollicies Loe already a wonderfull profit which we receiue by the worde of God that although wee be encompassed with the wicked which seeke nothing but our destruction when as wee doe thinke that we should perishe euery minute of an houre yet that we shall bee guarded from all whatsoeuer that they may any way attempt and priuily laye in wayte against vs so that we be instructed in the worde of God Lo say I an inestimable treasure but we must cōsider who they be that are our enemies For we haue not onely to do with men which seeke our hurt dishonour or that which might grieue vs as touching this present life but wee haue Satan and all his fauourers and mainteiners which are deadly enemies too our soules who seeke nothing els but our destruction yea not onely as concerning the worlde
holy Prophet yea and such a one as wee see the holy Scripture too haue reigned in euen from his youth Hee then hauing receiued so excellent graces of God beeing a mirror of all perfection was it needefull that hee shoulde keepe him selfe frō euery euill way It should seeme that he was alredy vtterly past going any euil way Yea but because he was a mortall man he was not for all that without beeing incompassed with many vices and euill lustes againste which he was to fight And in deede we see how God suffred Dauid to fall once so greeuously as that his fall ought to be an horrour vnto vs all Moreouer let vs well consider that if it was needefull for Dauid too fight against the temptations which might withdrawe him from the right way and that hee was with much to doe turned away from euill wayes to serue God euery of vs verily ought a great deale more too enforce our selues For we are nothing so forwards as he was For if hee hath gone on an hundreth paces wee haue hardly gone on that way three or foure So much the more then ought we rightly to practise this doctrine when it is saide that we ought to refraine our feete from euery euill way And too doe this let vs a little beholde howe naturally wee are inclyned to wickednesse We neede neuer once too remoue our armes legges head nor any thing else within vs to doe wickedly For we are altogither giuen therto And besides we are as it were vpon the yse I pray you tell mee when a mā is not able to hold himself vp that he shal haue neither feete nor legges but that all shall tremble and be afrayde and shall be set vpon the yse and in a steepe place howe is it possible for that man to hold him self vp In like sorte is it with vs for first formost there is nothing in vs but debilitie and weakenes besides what is our life in this world Haue we any firme or certaine place to holde or stay vs in We are alwayes vpon the yse considering the temptations which assayle vs on euery side And Dauid also vseth this similitude in another place and yet this is not all that wee are vpon the Yse but the place is also steepe too bring vs downewarde The more therefore haue we neede too pray vnto God that he will strengthen vs to the ende wee bee not ouercome of the euill For otherwise wee shall neuer come to that ende and perfection constantly too abide by his worde Nowe when Dauid sayth that He kepte him selfe from euery euill way Hee meaneth not that hee was so throughly preserued from all but that he might be amended For as we haue already saide hee fell so horribly as that the very thought thereof should make the hayres of our heade too stand vpright He meaneth not that his life was so perfect as that he was able to say that hee fayled not in some one pointe and that he had wholely fulfilled the law of God That is not the intent of Dauid What is then his purpose he meaneth simply that for the holding of himselfe in the obedience of God and keeping of his woord it was needeful for him too resiste a number of temptations too stand vpon his guarde and to be watchfull or else that hee should be throwne downe hedlong an hundred thousande times And hereby he admonisheth vs that if we wil follow the way of saluation and take good heede that wee be not turned therefro that there is no question of bending nor of leading vs heere and there but that wee must remaine constant in the vocation of God whē we are once brought into it by him It followeth anon after I haue not declined from thy iudgementes for thou haste taught mee Lo in summe what Dauid heere sayth that because God hath instructed him he hath not turned away frō his commaundements When he saith That hee hath bene taught by God he meaneth not that he hath learned any such simple knowledge as is with vs when God sheweth vs that fauor and grace to haue his word faithfully handled amongst vs his Gospel to be preached or that wee haue Lectures reade vnto vs which are requisite to our saluation For we shall haue a great many hearers which shall yet profite nothing at all because it pearceth not their eares Dauid therefore speaketh heere of such a manner of instruction as specially belongeth to Gods chosen For this grace is not common to all but God bestoweth it on them on whome it pleaseth him neither must we say that we are giuen thereto as of our selues But when as it shall please God to instruct vs the same proceedeth from his meere good will and mercie So then Dauid saith not simply in this place that hee was taught because he had a Booke of the lawe and that it was made plaine vnto him but his meaning is that hee was inlightened by the spirit of God And for this cause declyned he not from the right way Nowe he addeth in the end for a conclusion O how sweete are thy woords vnto my throte yea sweeter then hony vnto my moath This sentence hath beene already handled and therefore we will no longer stand vpon it There are two things in the woorde of God which we ought rightly too keepe The one is the maiestie which God sheweth vnto vs therein to the ende we should be brought to a reuerence whereby euery one should humble himselfe and say It is meete O Lord that we tremble and fall downe before thee As also it is said by the Prophet Isaiah that the spirite of God shall rest vpon those which tremble at the woorde of God The firste duetie then that wee owe vntoo the woorde of God is this reuerence and feare Because I say that God sheweth there his maiestie vnto vs that we might be thereby abased and humbled to be short that we should haue it in great admiration The seconde is that it is sweete and amiable vnto vs. For we might in some sorte very well feare the worde of God and yet for all that wee should not bee touched therewith as was meete And in very deede you shal se very many which wil not stick to say Loe God which speaketh therfore it is good reason that wee should lay our eares vnto him But that they should bee subiecte vnto him in all and through all they make thereof no noueltie but caste that farre inough off And that which is more They woulde if it were possible pluck him but of his Throne and make voyde and caste of all instruction to the end they would not be so straightly kept in to be short that they would neither be subiect to God nor too what soeuer else might bee sayde vnto them Nowe in the ende he sayth Through thy commaundements I get vnderstanding therefore I hate all the wayes of falshoode Wherein hee signifieth vnto vs that wee shall neuer hate
I will nether deceiue nor abuse you ne yet shall you be destitue of mine ayde but be you assured that my hande shall alwayes be streatched out too succour you We haue this promise made vnto vs which can neuer faile vs. Mow it behoueth that it be ratified and sealed in out heartes And how is that That in our prayers and supplications we beseech God to accomplish and performe that which he hath promised which shall be in steade of a seale sealed within to the ende we might haue such a certaintie as is requisite and anon after God sheweth in effecte that he speaketh not in vaine vnto vs. Loe say I what wee ought to note of the accorde that is betwixt the promises of God the prayers which we make vnto him in desiring to make vs feele by experience that he is faith full in what soeuer he speaketh Nowe Dauid by and by addeth Holde thou me vp and I shall be safe yea and my delight shall be continually in thy statutes Nowe the word which he vseth signifieth somtimes to meditate sometimes to speake therfore it may bee said I wil recite ouer thy Statutes But the most proper sense meaning is I will meditate or study in thy Statutes and therein take delight In steade that before he hath sayd Establish me O Lord or stay me in thy worde Heere hee sayth Holde mee vp Nowe this is no simple and plaine prayer which heere he maketh but hauing spoken of the woorde of God he speaketh of the power which hee sheweth towards his faithfull It is very true that when wee thinke that wee haue not one foote of grounde too stand vppon that there is nothing but the sea vnder vs and darkenesse ouer vs that we should be as it were in a bottomlesse pitte and ouerwhelmed yet we ought to stay settle our selues on the worde of God But when as our hope shall be thus cxercised and that we haue doone God this honor to hold him for faythful although we do not perceiue any succour to come from him hee will adde a second grace to wit he will giue vs his hand to be releeued by his powre and to be vpholden by him and wil preserue vs all the dayes of our life Loe heere thē the meaning of Dauid whē he desired God to stay him in his woord he sayth Holde me vp yea by thy hand and power So then let vs learne to to flye vnto God when as we would be in any good safetie For with out it as I haue already sayde wee may very wel for a while assure our selues and thinke no euill can come vnto vs But when as we shall be thus foolishly persuaded too say peace and assuraunce destruction must needes suddainly come vpon vs 1. Thess 5.3 and we to be vtterly confounded But after we haue wayted and seene God too haue appeared in very deed let vs learne to seeke all our assuraunce in his woord to walke in his cōmandements to take our whole delight in them and in them to bestowe all our study In summe Dauid in this place declareth That when as God shall haue bestowed any benefites vpon vs that wee haue prooued his mercie and fatherly affection It is to cōfirme vs more and more in his word to tye all our senses therto to learne to forsake all vanities which hinder and occupy our spirits in these wilde affections wherewith wee are carryed hither and thither That we then beeing retired from them might be inflamed with such a zeale as Dauid was to meditate in the commaundements of God and in them too take our whole delight Nowe it followeth Thou haste troden downe all them that departe from thy statutes for their deceiteis vaine Heere in this place Dauid considereth of the iudgementes of God which hee executeth vpon the wicked howbeit we are not alwayes able to perceiue them For we shall oftentimes see as it were against all Gods forbod as wee say the wicked to beare aucthoritie and in such sorte to triumph as that they think it cannot be possibly amended and suppose them selues to be the most blessed people in the worlde And then for the while we shall see all things goe cleane against the haire But after that the Lorde God shall long time paciently haue abidden all these abusers of his mercifull louing kindenesse it cannot bee chosen but that at the last hee must vtterly destroy them And so let vs consider not too be so blockish as too forget the iudgements of God but let them rather instructe vs after the example of Dauid to walke in his feare and to loue his Commaundementes Now he say thin the first place Thou haste troden the vngodly vnder foote and all them that departe from thy statutes for they imagine but deceite sayth hee He addeth one reason which we ought throughly too weigh For what is the cause that the vngodly hearkē not vnto God so outrage against him beyond all measure For if at any time GOD mooueth them too repentaunce through the admonitions of his woorde they doe nothing else but scoffe and laugh at him yea they are so shamelesse as it is pitifull too see What is the cause of this It is because the wicked haue their heartes faste shutte vpp in their backe warehouses thinking thereby to beguile GOD too escape his hand through their starting holes and subtile deuises and they seeing them selues too be brasen faced to couer their villanyes before men thinke that they shall easily inough put of the plagues and punishmentes of God See howe the wicked doe increase in their willes that they are euen come too this poynte that they feare nothing at all of what soeuer they ought too bee affrayde And this is it why the Prophet Isaiah also sayth Isaiah That they digge Caues in the earth for their defence thinking that when their eyes are shutte vppe that their sinnes shall be no more seene and that God shall not bee able too finde them Accursed bee you sayth hee which thus digge deepe pittes Now Dauid sayth in this place that all the subtiltie of the vngodly is nothing else but vanitie It shall bee forsooth to great purpose for them when as they thinke they shall through their hypocrisies shroude them selues and couer their wiles and subtilties yet shall their deuises bee but vanitie for they shal be taken in the tripp as it is sayde in the other place yea and in the ende shall be fast shutte vp in all their deceits and inuentions Heerevpon he sayeth Thou hast taken away all the vngodly of the earth like drosse therefore I loue thy testimontes Heere Dauid declareth vnto vs in breefe by his example That when God punisheth the Godlesse he layeth his hand vpon them in such sort as that we may perceiue that he sheweth him selfe to be their Iudge to the ende that wee thereby should be the rather stirred vp too loue his Commaundemens and to be ruled by them in
intermedle himselfe with a naughtie cause which is an impossibilitie and altogither contrary to his nature See then wherefore it is saide in this place I haue executed iudgement and iustice giue me not ouer vnto mine oppressors Dauid heere maketh a request vnto God that he might not bee deliuered into the handes of his enemyes which sought to destroy him Nowe for the obtayning of that which he demaunded he maketh this protestation That hee hath walked rightly before God yea euen with them which went about to destroy him Moreouer these twoo wordes Righteousnesse and Iudgement when they goe togither importe asmuch as too doe wrong too none but too proceede in equitie and in good fayth as we say for too maintaine euery good cause and not to suffer any wronge to bee doone For it is not inough for vs too abstaine from hurting and greeuing of our neighbour Neither is it enough for vs to goe aboute to discharge vs of our dueties But when wee shall see any man vniustly troden down and a good cause goe too wrack wee ought too oppose our selues against euery such wicked acte and iniury and as it were to take parte with God who as he is the commender of all equitie so will hee also haue vs to maintaine it forasmuch as we are his children We see then in summe the protestation which Dauid heere maketh that is that he did not only abstaine from hurting his neighboures go about to render to euery man that which was his But ouer besids al this he set himself against al violences extortiōs which were cōmitted he would not suffer the innocent to be oppressed to be put forth for a pray or spoyle but payned him selfe to doe what in him lay to helpe them Whē we may be bolde too make such a protestation in trueth Let vs not dout but that God will stretch foorth his hand that if men went about to trouble vs yea and that wee were as it were in great daunger too fall into their hands Let vs not doute but that God will haue pittie on vs and ayde vs. For this Prayer which Dauid heere maketh was not made at aduenture but the holy Ghoste put it into his mouth to the end to teach vs to walke as he hath doone so soundly perfectly And heerevpon if men should lifte themselues vpp against vs and vse all the outrages and malice they can against vs Let vs haue recourse vnto God be assured that he will be our defendor and protector Now we very well see by this that Dauid made no mention of his merites vnto God as if he should haue sayde I haue right wel deserued O Lord that thou shouldest keepe and defend me against the wicked because I haue doone that which is lawfull and right Dauid spake it not too any such end But he had regarde as I haue already said to the goodnesse of God and to his promisses which are contayned in the lawe and imprinted in his heart too wit That God will vpholde all those that are vniustly troden down and alwayes helpe those which are outraged and iniuryed Because that they for their parte haue taken great paine to be at peace withall the world that they haue not giuen occasion for any to greeue and torment them and yet that the vngodly haue rysen vp against them See what a regarde Dauid had Nowe he addeth Answere thou for thy seruant in that which is good and let not the proude doe me wrong The saying that Dauid heere vseth signifieth sometimes a man to giue his woord as we say in this countrie that is to become a mans suretie and his pleadge and some there are which doe so expound it but the true sense and moste naturall meaning of it is this that Dauid prayeth that hee might be giuen to doe good and to delight therein Wherin wee see this to be a woorke of GOD and a grace proceeding from him when we shall desire too be giuen too doe good so that we haue pleasure in it and doe taste therof For this is very certaine that notwithstanding that men followe the very inclination of their flesh to hate the good and loue the euil and when any thing shall be tolde them of God we see howe it maketh them Melancolique and sorowfull So then it is God that muste chaunge and reforme vs or else we shall neuer attaine to this affection here spoken of to take pleasure in wel dooing and so to loue it Nowe Dauid was no hypocrite too make a faire shewe to desire a thing at the handes of God which was in his owne hand But he knewe this too be the manner of men that it was impossible for him to come to the ful perfection of that except it were giuen vnto him from aboue See heere in summe what we haue to learne and keepe by this For whē he addeth that the wicked or the proude outrage against him he sheweth that when we shall be so giuen too well dooing we must trust too the protection of God according to that which I haue already saide Let vs also note that Dauid in this verse confirmeth the matter already handled He hath heeretofore very well said O Lorde I haue done the thing that is lawfull and right and yet hee ceaseth not to beseech God too graunt him such courage and strength And howe is that Forsooth that he woulde increase it in him giue him the grace to stande stedfastly therein vnto the ende We see then that whensoeuer wee shall be the moste desirous in the worlde to followe sinceritie equitie we must vnderstand for all that that we may yet be amended and that we are nothing neere that perfection which is requisite Wherfore it remayneth that we desire this performance with the graces that Dauid hath heere demaunded Thy graces O Lord had neede to increase in vs graunt vs therfore that we may come too the accomplishment of them Wee haue O Lorde walked purely so farfoorth as thou hast giuen vs the power But wee flye vntoo thy promises to the end thou mightest make vs to perseuer in well dooing See I say how wee ought too craue the thing at the handes of God which he hath already giuen vs and that we haue receiued from him that is that it woulde please him to conserue and increase it considering that we are very farre from such a perfection as is most requisite in such sorte as that wee neuer decline from well dooing which we should doe if he shaked his hande See then too what end this petition tendeth which is heere placed Nowe we must turne againe to the matter to wit that Dauid heere repeateth that they which haue beene thus perfect haue loued well doing should be vnder the hand and safegarde of God neuer to be deliuered into the power of their enemyes so that the proude shall neuer be able to doe them that excceeding great wrong which they had pretended Not that
these contemners of God which will euen lift them velues vp against him and powre out their blasphemies is it meete that we dissemble this No not so but let vs rather stirre vp our selues to groaning yea to crie out with a loude voyce beseeching GOD too stretch forth his mighty and strong arme against such villaines fier brādes of hell such vpholders of Satan which thus come too defile the sacred and holy things of God which his maiestie hath set before vs for our saluation And thus much for this point And againe let vs not onely bee grieued and sorrowefull bicause there are in vs rebellious affections which so hinder vs as that wee cannot take any such taste as is to be wished for in the worde of God but also when as we see that men so lightly esteeme and forget this word of God that they outrage in all wickednes it can not be but that we must be grieued and sorrowefull for the same And yet there is a further matter to bee required at our handes which is this that when wee shall see and heare the name of God to be blasphemed and his maiestie violated we should be tormented and feele a greater griefe for the same then for all the euill that might come vnto our selues for it is very good reason that the maiestie of God should be more deare vnto vs without all comparison then our owne persons and liues Nowe since it is so that if wee ought to be sorrowefull when as we see the worde of God to be forgotten by others euen to beginne at the best end if the euill be founde in vs as Satan moueth vs to fall vnto wickednesse and we are very farre of from truly seruing of God and looking to his word with such feare and humilitie as in deede we ought since then I say we are so greatly to be amēded that we haue so many sinnes fighting against the lawe of God euen so much the more ought we to sigh and groane as saint Paul right well sheweth vs saying Oh accursed man that I am who shall deliuer me out this mortall body Loe here saint Paul in shewing their condition state to be miserable which liue in this world exhorteth thē to groaning and to a continuall sorrowe and care bicause they are not able fully and throughly to yelde them selues to the word of God so that whensoeuer wee shall doe but euen so much we shall render a true proufe and testimonie of our faith Christianitie Now it followeth soone after Thy word is proued most pure and thy seruant loueth it Here it verily seemeth as we haue before saide that Dauid bringeth in a most manifest sentēce yea knowne euen vnto the simplest to wit that the word of God is pure and cleane without spot and blemishe But what let vs see a little whether wee putte this puritie in practize or not alas wee are farre from it For euen then wee may saye the worde of God too bee pure and without spot when as without any gaynesaying we only trust in him and that we haue a true certaintie of our saluation bicause he hath once stretched foorth his hand vnto vs and promised neuer too faile vs. When then we shall haue such a confidence in God that wee may boldly walke through death and the very gulfe of hell that in seeing the bottomles pittes open too swallowe vs vp we should not doubt of our saufetie since that we are in the hand of God loe howe the word of God shal be pure vnto vs. But nowe are wee all in a cleane contrary vayne And from whence commeth this It is bicause we are full of infinite filthinesse and pollutions to be short there is nothing but stenche in vs and all our senses are defiled Let vs first beginne at our eyes and we shall haue such a number of filthy troublesome and glimsing gloatings to wit such a number of vanities which hinder vs too knowe the puritie that is in the worde of God as loe wee haue already lost one of our senses Afterwarde we are depriued of our hearing bicause our eares are so filled with such trifling yea and peruerse matters that wee can giue no eare vnto God or els that which entreth in at one eare goeth out at another as we say Now if this be already a great vice in vs to be so slacke as to receiue but one good lesson the second is no whit lesse that when we shall haue gotten euen a very little it shall incontinent so melt away from vs as that wee shall neuer thinke more of it We see howe iolly and frisking our feete and handes are when as wee heare any talke of ribauldrie and filthinesse and altogether dull and sensles when any speach is of vertue and godlinesse There is neuer a finger in our handes but will bee as good as a raysour to cut euen to the quicke if any talke shal be had to offend the maiestie of God And in the meane while we shall not finde one man that will once lift him selfe vp too doe any good See howe all our senses are corrupt and howe full of pollutions and filthinesse And this is it which hindreth vs that we are not able to knowe howe the worde of God is to be tried Now it followeth I am small and of no reputation yet do I not forget thy commaundementes This saying here importeth more then at the first sight it seemeth to doe It is very true that it should seeme a farre harder matter for the mightie men of this worlde to serue God then the meaner sort in so much as wee will neuer accompt it straunge if a man of base condition hath not forgotten the word of God But what is the cause why wee so greatly prattle iangle and lift vp our selues so arrogantly against him and that we submitte not our selues wholy vnto him Forsooth euen the very honours and delightes of this worlde are oftentimes the chiefest causes When a man shal be in any credit estimation and reputation hee imagineth vnto him selfe an idoll in his owne heart and herevpō forgetteth God and thinketh him selfe to bee no longer vnder his gouernement When then our Lorde God holdeth vs in a lowe estate hee putteth vs in minde and forceth vs by this meanes not to forget his commandements and to walke in his feare with all humilitie But Dauid his meaning tendeth to another ende that is although he was as it were contemned yet ceased he not to loue God Nowe as I haue said this is not here set downe without cause It is very true that when God liberally bestoweth vpon vs great store of benefites then are we so blockish as that we thinke our selues least beholden vnto him And contrariwise they vpon whome hee hath not bestowed such graces thinke them selues for their partes not so greatly bounden vnto him And in very deede the worlde will alwayes finde starting holes to keepe it selfe out from the seruice
God presenteth himselfe thus vnto vs Are they our merites haue we any wayes on our parte deserued that he shoulde be so louing and kinde vnto vs No without all doubt We must then needes conclude that the promises do spring out from this fountaine euen his meere mercie And therefore it is not without cause that Dauid after hee hath spoken of the promises of God declareth heere that he desireth not to bee heard but in this respect That God is good and merciful As if he shoulde haue sayde O Lorde if any man inquire the cause why thou hast hearde me and haste pittie on me I am able to say nothing as touching mine owne person but that I iustly deserue too bee reiected of thee but thou hast taken the matter and cause vnto thine owne goodnesse and righteousnesse Now it followeth soone after They drawe nighe that follow after malice and are farre from thy lawe Thou art nigh at hand O Lord for all thy commaundements are true Heere Dauid complayneth vnto God and desireth him to helpe him against the wicked and vngodly contemners of his maiestie As if he had said vnto him O Lorde I can alledge nothing at all for mine one defence but that they which draw nigh vnto me to hurt me are so much the farther of from thy lawe and I the neerer thy commaundements It is a commonen entendement that they which doe imagine ma1ice are farre from God in withdrawing themselues from his lawe but when as wee shall narrowly looke into the matter that is the very true and naturall sense of the Prophet which I haue already touched that they which imagine malice or deceit are farre off that is they are retyred from the lawe of God to persecute those which drawe nigh vnto it And see how Dauid hath taken for his aduantage that that the wicked are farre from God bicause hee did very well see that he had beene ouerthrowne through their malice without God had holpen him Which thing he sheweth by this cōplaint that the wicked troubled him euen to the vttermost And so much the more ought wee to consider of this bicause we being so womānish as possibly may be do by by think that if the wicked beare the sway and craftily goe about too deuise any thing against vs that all is loste and that God hath giuen vs ouer for a spoile We can in no wise abide that God should exercise our patience nor yet humble vs. Let vs then throughly confider of the example of Dauid For although that God had specially chosen him out amongst the rest and had bestowed so many excellent graces vpon him yet for all that hee was contented that the vngodly shoulde persecute him neither could he make them stande aloofe off for hee had neither Rampares or Bulwarkes that he was able to saye you shall not come neare me For he saieth that they drew nigh him So then when God giueth such leaue to the wicked as too haue the raines at will so that it should seeme that they had the power euen to set their feete on our throates yea and to swallowe vs cleane vp Let vs consider that it hath beene the will of our God in all ages to haue his children subiect to the malice of their enemies Let vs also haue a further cōsideration of this which he sayeth that they are farre from the lawe of God For this importeth that they neither had truthe nor equitie in them When then the vngodly shall with the contempt of God and an extreeme impietie euen rushe vpon vs to ouerthrowe vs let vs then I say remember the example of Dauid and saye wherefore doe the wicked thus persecute vs without any regarde too him who ought and will when it pleaseth him both with force and violence represse them It is bicause they are both blynde and blockish and are without all truthe and equitie But on the contrary side let vs not be afearde bicause wee knowe that God is nigh vs let vs continually cal vpō him to the ende he may be alwayes nearer and nearer vnto vs too put him selfe betwixt vs and make him selfe our buckler to put backe the attemptes and to beare the blowes wherewith the wicked shal assail vs. Moreouer let vs besure resolute that notwithstanding that the vngodly shall thus oppresse vs yet that God is not farre from vs although that we can not perceiue it For God will oftentimes be neare vs when as we shall thinke that he is cleane hidden that is to say he sheweth not vnto vs his power and vertue neither laieth he it open at the first chop For we must also call vpō him that we might shew what honour wee beare him that although hee prolongeth the time and tarrieth longer before hee helpe vs then we would yet must we notwithstāding tarry his good leisure In summe we must alwayes bee resolute in this which Dauid here speaketh of saying are the vngodly nighe very well and God is at hand That is to say God is not asleepe in heauen whiles these men are maliciously imagining to do vs hurte God his armes are not a crosse neither are his handes closed notwithstanding that these men seeke nothing els but to deuoure vs. God is not yet blynde whyles these vngodly awake to destroye and confounde vs. Se then howe God according to the necessities which he knoweth to be in vs will alwayes be at hande so to assist vs as that whatsoeuer mischiefe is neare vs it shall neuer be able to ouercome vs yea inuent the wicked what they can on all sides This is it that Dauid meaneth to signifie in this place Nowe he also sayeth That the commaundements of God are true Wherein he exhorteth vs to haue recourse vnto the worde of God for although wee are thus tormented and fast closed vp in sorrowe and griefes yea and that we looke this way and that way for helpe and yet see not God to remedie the same then I saye hee teacheth vs too haue recourse vnto his worde And this is a most profitable admonition For when we seeke after God we must not haue regard to our own fantasies nor to any worldly maner as we are accustomed nor too looke that hee submit him selfe vnto our will to shewe him selfe vnto vs after a visible sort to haue him come downe from heauen in his maiestie too consume with fire and brimstone all our enemies to set vs aloft and to beare vs such fauour as that wee might haue all things at our owne desire Loe I beseech you howe wee desire to haue GOD to shewe him selfe for like as wee are fleshly so also would we haue him to shew him selfe vnto vs in a visible maner All this while his worde is of no great authoritie with vs for if hee shewe vs not why and wherefore we are not contented with that which hee hath spoken but we would forsooth see his hande altogether open Wherefore this admonition which Dauid
whome he so greatly loued as the scripture witnesseth of him Nowe heere we are to note two things The one is that when Dauid desired God to looke vpon his afflictions and to deliuer him out of them hee confesseth that hee was astonyed as if God had turned his backe vpon him It is very true that Dauid considered not of all that was too bee considered neither did he conclude that God would cast off his children in such sorte But yet so farre forth as naturall reason coulde reach see howe he might iudge of his estate And at that pointe also are all the Children of God For on the one side when as they shall looke vppon their owne state and condition they cannot chose but that they must be forced to say what a thing is this Surely if God hath any compassion vpon vs and that he seeth vs is it possible that euer wee should bee thus cruelly handled will not he take some better order for this See then that wee cannot choose but to conceiue these and such like imaginations in our heartes when as wee are greeued and persecuted and looke into our owne present estate yea euen as I haue already sayde we cannot choose euen too feele our selues as it were to be forsaken of GOD. And yet for all this wee muste bee fully perswaded and resolued that GOD beholdeth vs and although it seemeth that hee hath turned his backe vppon vs yet that hee ceaseth not too helpe vs and is carefull for our saluation yea and though wee see nothing yet let vs holde this for a certaine and an vndoubted trueth in oure heartes And therfore so often as we shall be thus troubled to thinke that God hath no lenger care ouer vs but that he hath clerely forsakē vs yet let not this hinder vs from praying after the example of Dauid neither let vs be slacke but euen say O Lord beholde me In the second place we haue to note the reason which Dauid here setteth downe For I do not forget thy lawe If then wee will haue God to heare vs wee must haue his lawe as it were fully settled in our heartes And howe is that Forsooth wee must thinke and study vpon his promises we must know him to bee louing and mercifull to helpe all those that are his and too ayde them in all their necessities and besides this must bee oure sure foundation that his promises are infallible and that he will not suffer his children to goe emptie away when as they shall tende them selues thereto See then how we must meditate vpon the lawe of God that is to say vpon his word For vnder this worde the law there is no doubt but that Dauid comprehended the summe of al the doctrine which God gaue vnto his church Euery of vs then must be exercised in this study and we hauing the lawe thus imprinted in our heartes may bee certaine and sure that God beholdeth vs and will helpe vs in all our afflictions yea although it seemeth and wee may iudge according to our carnall senses that hee hath turned his backe vpon vs or that he hath closed vp his eyes and sleepeth and as a man would saye neuer thinketh more of vs. Now it followeth in the second verse Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy worde Here Dauid expresseth what this his affection is whereof hee hath spoken too wit howe that the wicked vniustly persecuted him as againe hereafter shall more at large bee declared Now wee knowe that the griefes which the children of God doe suffer in this worlde are diuerse and sundrie For sometimes God will lay heauy hande vppon them without any man his touching sometimes also men shall persecute them with vniust actions so that the wicked shall torment and grieue them Dauid then sheweth that the affliction which he endured was of this second kinde to wit that hee had enemies which did vniustly trouble him And see wherefore hee desireth God too pleade his cause and restore him By this wee are admonished according to that which I haue already saide that when we haue liued in a good conscience and haue trauelled euen to doe good vnto euery man so that no man hath any cause iustly to complaine of vs yet although wee are persecuted and troubled wee must not for all that bee ouermuch abashed bicause as great matters as al these were layde vpon Dauid For this is most sure that hee walked so marueilous soundly as that euery man had occasion too loue him And yet notwithstanding hee was not without troubles amongest men And why so Bicause of their vnthankefulnesse Let vs then vnderstande that this vice began not first in these dayes I meane the vnthankefulnesse and iniquitie of men But long time a goe and therefore as much as in vs lyeth let vs seeke after peace but if so be wee shall procure to doe any wrong the worlde will neuer giue ouer hating of vs and procuring of our hurte yea and goe about euen to destroye vs. But as I haue already saide let not that seeme straunge vnto vs seeing it came so to passe in Dauid And thus much for this Nowe in the second place wee are to beseeche God too auenge our cause too comfort vs when we see our selues to be wrongfully dealt withal when as we are oppressed with false and slaunderous reportes that we are euill spoken of without iust desert we must thē desire God to be our warrant and deliuerer and let vs not dout but that he will take our cause into his owne hand shewe him selfe to be more then a protector lawyer For he saieth that he is the aduerse partie for the maintenance and defence of the causes and quarrels of all his when as they shall haue walked sincerely before him selfe before men Loe here a notable and very profitable admonition That is we must cast all our care vpon God when as we are wrongfully accused iniuriously dealt withall troubled and oppressed and beseech God to take the cause into his own hand and to auenge it him selfe Nowe this may serue too make vs patient for what is the cause that men so trouble and torment them selues waxe so fierce and cruell vse reuenge or els growe to be very cowardes when any wrong is done them but bicause that they haue not recourse vnto God put not thē selues vnder his protectiō pray him not to holde his holy hand ouer them and to defend their cause Now if wee knowe this it is most certaine that oure heartes shall incontinent bee a great deale more quiet and let vs not haue such boyling affections as wee haue to be auenged of them which trouble vs but let vs followe the doctrine which is here set downe vnto vs to wit that when we are vniustly entreated let vs pray vnto God that he will auenge our cause And besides also let vs learne to stay our selues of the promise which is made vnto vs thereof for
If we stand in neede of meate and drinke if wee be sicke if we be in daunger of any plague or warre that stirreth vs and toucheth vs too the quicke but when wee are pressed with any euill we abuse our selues and lifte our selues vp in such a fond presumption as that we thinke wee haue some power to do this and that we then make our selues beleeue that we are very well able to defende our selues although not wholy yet at the least partly And therefore wee ought so much the rather rightly to marke the sayings of the scripture where it is saide vnto vs that it is the hande of GOD that must helpe vs to the ende that euery man may learne to knowe his neede and that we had all neede too bee defended fended by this heauenly power so that we are all cast down into the bottomlesse depth without it pleaseth GOD to stretch forth his hande to helpe our necessities And thus much for this Now when Dauid setteth downe the reason that he had chosen the commaundements of God he did it not to extoll any dignitie or worthinesse of his owne Wherefore then Forsooth euen to shewe that he wayted for his ayde and helpe from the hand of God And therefore they which perswade them selues at aduenture that God heareth their prayers and yet haue this foolish hope with them to finde helpe at the handes of his creatures refuse the hande of God as much as in them lieth and so by that meanes shall neuer finde him to bee fauourable vnto them And for this cause Dauid saith I haue chosen the commaundementes of God that is to saye that all his whole liking was in them And this saying importeth a very great matter and much greater then at the first sight it seemeth Why doth Dauid rather set downe this worde Election or choise then any other I haue chosen thy commaundementes It is bicause wee are alwayes carried with peruerse affections and bicause we cannot make choise neither can we hold vs to that which is best Euery man wil gladliest desire that thing which is meetest for his own ease and quietnesse to be short euery man desireth to be happy Wee are nothing indifferēt herein for the very wicked in the world and the most vile persons wil saye I would haue that which were good and meete for me howbeit wee can not chose but euen the very worst Wee shall very well haue a naturall desire which shall carry vs as it were to one selfe same end but we cannot keepe the waye Euery man goeth out of it One mā will chose this thing another that in this choyse we are all confounded One will chose goodes landes and possessions another great trade of marchandise another to come vnto dignitie and into credit some one man will be giuen to lecherie and bee wholy carried that way another will yelde him selfe too some other filthinesse as too drunkennesse intemperancy and wantonnesse See then how we al make choise of that which is naught And for this cause Dauid saieth that he chose the commādementes of God to wit that although hee was a mortall man subiect too a great number of wicked affections yet that he neuer trusted his owne flesh neither yet obeied his lustes to chose nothing but vanitie and that which might withdrawe him from the right way and leade him too destructiō but that he made a good wise choise to wit that he helde himselfe to the commandements of God So then let vs learne to make a good choise when as God shall present vnto vs his worde when as he shall offer him selfe so liberally on his part as to looke for nothing at our handes but that we should come to seeke him and that hee presenteth him selfe before vs let not vs be deceiued nor carried away by the deceiptes of Satan through the corruptions which he layeth wyde open before our eyes let vs not be so foolish as to stay our selues vpon matters of nothing and to leaue that which ought to bee the most principall and wherein lieth all our felicitie and saluation It followeth I haue longed for thy sauing health O Lorde and in thy lawe is my delight This sentence comprehendeth all whatsoeuer wee haue already touched and is the onely confirmation thereof For he sayeth that he hath longed for the sauing health of God And howe is that For it seemeth that euery man might say as much and so that Dauid had no more then the very faithlesse For if wee shall aske a desperate man yea euen a very halfe deuill and saye wouldest not thou haue God to be thy sauiour he will make answere and saye yes forsooth Loe what answere wee shall finde in the mouthes both of great and small of good and bad Nowe Dauid his meaning is to make a great protestation and such a one as a very fewe can make in truthe For we suppose him to be all our Sauiours and yet we seeke our sauing health at a wilde aduenture and euery man will haue regarde to his owne considerations and prouidence When there shall arise any question of our maintenaunce here in this present life do we beleeue that God must keep and preserue vs that it is hee in deede which mainteineth vs herein whence commeth it that wee haue so mighty euill consciences whence commeth all deceiptes fraudes excesse cruelties iniuries violences and all such like What is the cause that maketh vs to liue with such euil cōsciences but bicause wee do not beleeue that God will giue vs our daily bread Wee desire God to feede vs and yet wee will haue the deuill to do it in so much that there are very fewe which at this day thinke that that which they haue commeth from God So then it is very farre of frō the thought of our heartes to saye O Lorde I haue desired thy sauing health For in steade of attending vppon God to haue him too guide defende and helpe vs at all times whensoeuer that wee haue neede in steade of this I saye what doe wee Euery man as I haue saide seeketh for his sauing health at a wilde aduenture We should rather seeke for i◠in hell then to haue our eyes lifted vp into heauen to call vpon God to seeke for our sauing health both of body and soule in him So then there are very fewe which are able to saye as it is here set downe O Lorde I haue longed for thy sauing health if they will not lye As we see the impudencie of hypocrites which will make mighty great bragges inought but yet for all that it is no small matter as I haue already sayd to trust altogether in God and to saye that it belongeth to him to guyde vs that wee runne to him and haue there our refuge both for soule and body Nowe then hee addeth In thy lawe is my delight To signifie how we ought to demeane our selues not to hope for saluation nor yet to wishe for it
GOD sayth vnto vs. Although Satan casteth at vs neuer so many dartes although he haue neuer so exceeding many deuises against vs although nowe and then by violenve sometimes with subtiltie and cunning it seemeth in very deede too vs that he should ouercome vs Neuerthelesse he shall neuer bring it to passe but that wee shall haue the trueth of God to be sure and certaine in our heartes And thus much for the first The protestation which Dauid maketh ought too stirre vs vpp too walke in such sorte with our neighboures as that wee giue them no occasion too hurte vs. But too liue plainely and simply one by an other The wicked may very well hurte one another yea and euen destroy them selues but in the meane time the Children of God muste haue this testimony alwayes with them that they will neither doe nor yet procure them any hurte but are greeued and sorrowfull too see them runne headlong into destruction When this mind shal be in vs then shal we haue an excellent entraunce to call vpon God but contrariwise if we render euill for euill beeing molested by our enemyes and inforce our selues to doo the like and cry quittance as we say with them our cause wil quite bee ouerthrowne And why so For if we shall be so vengefull it is impossible for vs to trust and beleeue that God wil helpe vs. Yea euen then I say when we shall haue a good and iust quarrell For God will discharge vs if wee shall not haue a good conscience and although some there are which would both wish and doe vs hurt We must say O Lord this is iniuriously and falsely doone But as I haue already touched let vs haue such a testimonie in our heartes that although they which persecute vs are the instrumentes and limmes of Satan and do it of meere malice Let vs not cleane contrary purchase them any hurte or displeasure Then may wee call vppon God with Dauid knowing that hee will neuer faile those which are wrongfully persecuted Loe then the meaning of these three poyntes which are heere touched Now after that Dauid had thus spoken he addeth They had almost made an ende of me vpon the Earth But I forsake not thy comaundements See heere a sentence worthy to bee well weyed It is very true that Dauid expresseth that which he had before spoken I haue not sayth he forsaken thy commaundementes O Lord although I was as one clearely dryed vp and as a man vtterly forlorne yet for all that haue I not forsaken thy Commandementes Nowe it must needes be that Dauid resisted two temptations in continuing so firme and constant in the obedience of God The first was that he might haue beene brought into some distresse The second that he might haue bin bent to haue done wickedly And why so seing that the wicked had vniustly persecuted him hee might haue beene reuenged of them Loe the two assaultes which was meete and conuenient for him to sustaine and keepe of Euen so must we followe his example For when men shall vniustly molest and greeue vs and that they shall not onely doe vs one iniury yea two or three but that our trouble shal continue without ende and without ceasing let vs yet learne to be pacient And chiefely when as there shall be no question of abiding a little damage or small greefe But that we shall be mortally persecuted and our life too be as it were desperate to be already as it were in the very throte of the Woulfe yea to bee already euen as men swallowed vp and deuoured When as we shal be brought euen to such a passe yet let vs not cease to say with Dauid I haue not forsaken thy commaundements And so that wee might the better practise this doctrine and apply it to our owne vse and profite let vs learne too haue recourse vnto God in all our afflictions calling vpon him to be our warraunt and safegarde And in the meane while although we be wrongfully molested let vs beseech him to graunt vs his grace too yeelde our selues vnto that which he hath commaunded vs to witte too loue our enemyes to doe good vnto them which seeke to doe vs all the hurt they can to pray for those which slaunder and wishe vs asmuch euill as is possible Loe heere wee must meditate vpon the Commaundements of God although wee be as it were consumed on the earth Now heere we are to note that it was not without cause that Dauid sayth that he was almoste consumed For this shall euen so come to passe in vs when men shall iudge and condemne vs and that wee haue already receiued sentence of death in our selues as S. Paule sayth in the seconde too the Corinthes Euen so Dauid beeing as one condemned too death and seeing no likelyhoode too be deliuered 2. Cor. ceased not for all that to call vpon God So likewise must we doe knowing that hee will neuer forsake vs for see what the cause is that God oftentimes keepeth backe his helping hand from vs but euen when we preuent him by meane of our owne lightnesse and inconstancy For so soone as wee are greued somwhat more then we are wonted we straight wayes conclude and say O all is naught we are cleane vndoone it is past all hope When we after this sorte preuent him it is like vnto a man that would cast himselfe into his graue before he is deade and so smoother himselfe After this manner say I doe we preuenting by this meane that ayde which God hath deferred to giue vs vntil the time be come which he knoweth to be moste meete Let vs then well consider that when God shall deferre the ayde which he meaneth to giue vs although wee seeme as deade men and our life desperate yet that hee can restore vs againe in the minute of an houre although in the sight of men wee were euen as the pictures of death yet that hee leaueth vs not without life inwardly For as wee see in Winter the trees to be as it were deade that wee can perceiue neither sappe leafe nor nothing else yet there is life hid in them Euen so fareth it with vs For when we shall be still quiet attending for ayde at the handes of God wee are sure that when Winter is past to wirte the time of our afflictions that God will giue vs life which was before as it were hidden Now to conclude the Psalme he sayth Quicken me according to thy louing kindenesse so shall I keepe the testimonyes of thy mouth We see heere that Dauid speaketh as one that were dead when he sayth O quicken me he sheweth then that hee was not beaten softely with the rodde or with a meane affliction but was punished euen too the vttermoste For hee was so dryed vp as before we haue saide that there was no substaunce at all lefte in him Loe what was the cause why Dauid after this manner made his petition Let vs learne then
that in this worlde he hath care ouer vs and our life is as it were committed vnto him so that herein lieth the whole substance that after hee hath pardoned vs of our sinnes hee alloweth vs for righteous and will also gouerne vs with his holy spirite See then what it is that is conteined in the testimonies of God And so Dauid in summe protesteth in this verse that he alwaies walked in this loue of God which hee founde in his promises This is it which he protesteth and thereupon sayeth Quicken me according vnto thy mercy If Dauid then loued the commaundement of God and his testimonies wherefore desireth he not to be quickeâ—â—ed according to his merites And if it be so that he hath deserued why hath he recourse to the mercie of God Nowe he very well sheweth that he meant not too boaste of his vertues neither yet of any such I know not what perfection to haue fulfilled the lawe of God but he had a speciall regard as I haue already saide to the content of God his promises He alledgeth not here that he had deserued to bee holpen but he desired to bee defended according to the mercie of God In this point he setteth before vs his example to the ende wee might followe him as this is also the meaning of the holy Ghost when as he spake by the mouth of Dauid Now he goeth on for a conclusion and saieth Thy word is true from euerlasting and all the iudgementes of thy righteousnes endure for euermore That is to say thy iust iudgementes are euerlasting or els thy iudgementes are alwayes righteous Heere Dauid in summe meaneth to signifie that hee so stayed him selfe vpon the worde of God as that he had set his heart vppon it yelded him selfe wholy vnto it and bestowed all his thoughtes wittes on it And why did he so sayth he The beginning of it is true and the righteousnesse thereof endureth for euermore As if he should haue thus said Thou O Lord art true in thy word shalt alwayes bee found so afterward It is nothing but righteous it is true from the beginning thy righteousnes shall endure vnto th end and with out end See how the two borders or limittes of the worde of God are layde out When as we shall seeke for this word wee must make a destinction and difference betweene truthe and righteousnes with this resolution see how God sheweth him self true and righteous And the farther we go on the better shall we finde his worde to bee such so that after we haue throughly vnripped and examined it we shall not haue one syllable where righteousnes truth wil not shewe them selues Euen so may wee alwayes attribute this title to the woorde of God as Dauid here sheweth vs. In summe when as wee would haue a perfect assurance to be confirmed and strengthened in all temptations so that the deuill shall neuer be able to take fast holde vppon vs let vs haue this regard to stay our selues chiefly vpon the worde of God and therewith to arme vs attributing thereto these true titles which are here set downe that there is nothing in it but all truthe and righteousnesse And therefore this ought greatly to content vs to assure our selues of God not doubting but that hee will graunt vs the grace that when he hath once brought vs into the waye of saluation that he will continually conduct and gouerne vs and hold vs with a mightie strong arme vntill such time as hee hath brought vs to that ende whereunto he hath called vs. According too this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good God in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better to feele our miseries then wee haue heretofore felt them to the ende we may laye our selues open vnto him And that we may in the meane while attaine too that remedy as to craue pardon of him for them not douting but that he will graunt vs pardon for them according to our desire through the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ albeit we are miserable sinners And also that he wil through his holy spirite so purge vs froÌ„ our sinnes as that we desire nothing els but to be coÌ„firmed vnto his righteousnesse to come vnto him to aduauÌ„ce vs thereunto daily more and more vntill such time as he hath coupled vs vnto that holinesse of life whereunto he continually exhorteth vs. That hee will not only graunt vnto vs this grace but also vnto all people nations of the earth c. The xxi Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme SCHYN Princes haue persecuted me without cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy worde I am as glad of thy worde as one that findeth great spoiles I hate falshood and abhorre it but thy lawe doe I loue Seuen times a daye doe I prayse thee bicause of thy righteous iudgementes They that loue thy lawe shall haue great prosperitie and they shall haue no hurt Lord I haue trusted in thy sauing health and haue done thy commaundements My soule hath kept thy testimonies and I loue them exceedingly I haue kept thy commaundementes and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee WHen as men shall trouble vs and do vs many iniuries or els any waye griue and vexe vs yet are there twoo thinges too leade vs too walke wickedly without the feare of God The one is that it wil seme that God hath not compassion of vs to helpe vs. The other that wee will bee more afearde of men then in deede wee ought For we imagine that all is in their hand and that they may doe all thinges at their owne pleasure and as them selues liste doe God what he can to the contrary Lo heere I say what it is that he hindereth vs froÌ„ perseuering in the feare of God That is That when men trouble vs with iniuries violences extortions we are straightwayes discouraged And so we are heere throughly too consider of this place where Dauid saith that hee stoode in awe of the woorde of God although princes persecuted him without a cause in deede wee ought euen then most specially too weygh it when as we fee the mightinesse of men to astonish vs our enemies to be in great credit and authoritie yea that it seeme we are euen as sheepe in the iawes of woulfes that we haue no meane too resist their violence but that they may do whatsoeuer seemeth good-vnto them in so much that no man dareth once to open his mouth against them When as I say our enemies shall haue all this and bee thus highly lifted vp ouer vs that wee knowe not what shall become of vs then it is a harde matter for vs too conceiue what the helpe which God hath promised vs is worth so that we are ouertaken with this feare to say O see wee are vtterly vndone all our cause is cleane cast to the
grounde And yet in the meane while we neuer once thinke that they are but Gnattes or els when wee shall esteeme most of thē that they are but Frogges leaping and skipping vp and downe heere belowe Neither yet haue they so mighty thighes and legges as that they are able too iustle against God but that whensoeuer he shall stretche forth his hand it shall throwe downe euen into the depth whatsoeuer mē shall of purpose with all their complices or aftely or wickedly deuise and whatsoeuer power they shall be any waye able to make See then what wee haue here especially too note that is that whensoeuer we shall fall into the handes of our enemies and that it shall seeme they might at their pleasure bring to passe whatsoeuer they listed so that there remained no way to withstande them yet let vs looke vnto this infinite power of God and not too doubt but that when it shall please him to deliuer vs that the Deuill ne yet all his rable of maintayners shall be able to doe any thinge against vs. And although all the creatures in the worlde lifted them selues vp against vs yet are they not able too doe vs any hurt so long as God is on our side And thus we must I say receiue the grace of God which hee hath promised vs to the ende we might not doubt that all the world can doe vs any harme when as he shall haue taken vs into his protection And see also I pray you whether it is that the Scripture leadeth vs Although sayth Dauid Psal 3.6 an hundreth thousand men did set them selues against me yet will not I bee afrayde And why so Because the Lord is with me And againe Psal 23.4 If I should walke in the shadowe of death so long as I shall looke vnto God and see his Sheepcrooke before mee I will not bee afrayde but be assured that I shall liue Rom. 8.13 Saint Paule also comprehendeth all this speaking not onely of this present life but of the health of our soules likewise when as he sayth If God be on our side who shall be against vs. I cannot deny but that wee shall haue a greate number of enemyes and Satan will labour by all meanes possible to hurt vs we shall haue great store of his supporters to goe a bout to cast vs downe headlong into the bottomlesse pit and yet all they shall doe nothing when as wee shall bee in the safekeeping of our God Nowe this is the summe which we are too gather heereby in the firste place of this text But yet we must goe on a great deale farther For Dauid doth not onely shew vnto vs that we ought highly too esteeme of this mightie power and greate goodnesse of God wherewith he hath promised to helpe vs in our nede but also aduertiseth and exhorteth vs not too turne aside from his obedience for any hurte that men can doe vntoo vs. Nowe it is very true that the one hangeth vppon the other For how can it be that wee should haue heartes too serue GOD when as wee see the whole worlde too bee against vs and we alwayes in daunger to be hurt That is to say Let vs pot our trust in God although the allarme and assaultes bee giuen vs on euery side For otherwise it shal be impossible for vs too stande stoutly to it without we be throughly perswaded that God is sufficient to defende vs yea when as we see all the men in the world to set them selues against vs but that we trusting in his power cease not to followe that which he hath commaunded vs notwithding all the lets that men can possibly lay before vs. Moreouer we must giue our minds to this word of God as here it is said I stand in awe of thy word For Dauid meaneth not that he would haue God to shew himselfe in a visible manner that he might come vnto him to doe him homage but he is contented that God hath shewed vnto him his will pleasure and holdeth him selfe well pleased therewith And euen so must wee also doe For there are a great many of people which wil brag that they feare God and professe it with open mouth And yet notwithstanding see how God calleth vs vnto him by his word we for al that are no whit moued therwith yea we scarcely vouchsafe once too open our mouthes to declare that we are contented to obay him Where then is that feare wherof we so brag since the word wherin the maiestie of God appeareth is so contemned of vs See then wherefore we ought a great deale the more to consider of this manner of speaking which Dauid heere vseth that he standeth in awe of the woord of God and that he desired none other visible presence but it suffised him that God had onely spoken and hee made good accounte thereof Now if we doe not thus we shall euer be letted frō following that which God hath commaunded vs neither shall we euer haue the harts to discharge our selues perfectly of our dueties Contrariwise they that shal be resolued as Dauid was only to giue their mindes to the word of God shall ouercome all lets stops Moreouer after they haue walked aright doe they see that men murmure against thē for it that it seemeth that they for their wel dooing shal be recōpensed with euill and that this thing that is mischeously wrought against them that they muste needes languish in long attending without spating yea that they haue kindled the fury of men against them without any occasion giuen by them doe they see I say all this And if they doe thus it is very well for then stande they in awe of the word of God knowing that they shall not be without the help of God as also our sauiour Christe exhorteth vs. Feare not saith he them which may kill the body Mat. 10.28 but I wil shewe you whome you ought to feare to wit feare him who hath both soule and body in his subiection When as then you shall looke vnto your God then shall you not neede to feare whatsoeuer men goe about to cause you to turne aside to withdraw you from the right way And thus we see in summe that it is our infirmitie or rather our infidelitie which hindereth vs when as men threaten vs when as we see the wicked practizes which are imagined against vs and that wee are troubled and tormented without cause For if wee still looked vnto God this should neuer be able to withdrawe vs but that wee should alwayes remaine constant to doe that which hee commaundeth vs. And by this also we may see how al to the cōtrary raigneth at this day in the world and that there is very little feare of the word of God For so that wee can holde the fauour of men in doing our duetie any way wel this goeth for payment But if there bloweth an ill winde and that wee perceiue any euill practise