mater est diffidentia Diffidence is the mother of Prudence For if thou examine thy life by the Rule of GODS Law thou wilt finde thy soule full of a spirituall Leprosie which nothing can cure but the bleeding wounds of the immaculate Lambe of God which taketh away all the sinnes of the World The 4th note of our inclination to that Lethargik disease was the want of selfe-examination viz. how we stood affected to holy duties in times of adversitie and Prosperity respectively If then wee feele the Pulse of our Soules to beate more faintly and weakely in our prosperous and flourishing estate then it did when we were in Trouble or Danger it is high time to looke to our selves lest we fall into a Lethargy For as the lest Declination of the Sunne from the Meridian though insensible at the beginning ever encreases till the Sunne bee set so the lest relenting in the zealous * M. Latimer being asked why there was so much preaching and so little practising answered Deest ignis there wants fire viz. of Zeale practice of Piety and Charity will in short time prove a Retrogradation which will cast us mainly backward and take quite from us in the end the light and Comfort of the Sunne of Righteousnesse There are few men that after they have sung Te Deum for any great Deliverance will seriously remember or thinke upon Miserere mei Deus present Prosperitie making them secure of future Danger as if they needed not to pray Leade us not into Temptation They have a Custome in Italy A relation of the Italian Revels and Bacchanals the week before Lent of putting out the Quaranta hore as they terme it in the principall Churches in the last week of Carneval when Feasting Dicing Dancing and Masking with all sorts of licentious revelling is shamefully priviledg'd among them During those fortie houres they which have any Devotion attend to the hearing of Sermons fasting and praying for the Remission of their owne sinnes and of those that sinne in that time of excesse and loosenesse which was the best peece of Pietie that I observed in the Roman Church Weaknesse of Faith is in degree Want of Faith When we finde therefore a weakenesse of Faith a faintnesse in our Devotions cold affection to God and good men fewer Teares shed for sinne then formerly lesse remorse of Conscience and dread of Gods Iudgments we may well suspect in our selves a carnall and Carnevall Securitie which by all pious meanes wee must labour to prevent Howbeit in this Synchronisme or Collation of the times of our Adversity and Prosperity I require not in all points the same spirituall exercises without Variation as if there were no difference betwixt christmas-Christmas-day and Good-Friday but a constant Tenour of serving God all the dayes of our life without intermission or remission of the essentiall duties of Religion that as in Affliction we call'd on him for deliverance so being deliverd we forget not to glorifie his Divine Majesty as he hath * See Psal 50. ver 15. and 23. commanded us having ever a watchfull eye to our selves that our Zeale to his service relent not nor our Charity to our neighbour wax * Coldnesse is a Symptom and degree of death cold and learning of holy Iob ch 9. to feare all our workes as knowing that wee are to worke out our salvation c. as wee are taught Phil. 2.12 which is not to bee understood that we are to bee so fearefull as to doubt of the end if we continue in our faith but to be so carefull and punctually circumspect as to omit no means thereto conducent The last signe indicating a propension in our soules to carnall security was the Omission of the Spirituall Sacrifices of Praise and Thanks after any blessing comfort or deliverance receaved from God To remedie this requires only an inspection into the Booke of GOD where wee shall finde innumerable Precepts and Precedents seconded with most gracious promises exciting and even enforcing us to that heavenly exercise of glorifying God for all his Mercies Moses in Deuteronomy doth preach to the Israelites and mainly presse on their Soules and Consciences two chiefe Doctrinall Points viz. Obedience and Thanksgiving This was the Reverend Patriarchs Practise who never receav'd any blessing The ancient practise of Piety by Geds true servants worthy our imitation but immediately wee reade of an Altar by them erected yea if they found but Water for their Cattell they gave to the Wells they had digged significant Names expressing their Gratitude The Israelites deliverance at the Red Sea produced the Song of Moses The Victory of Barak the Song of Debora The birth of Samuel the Song of Hanna The birth of the Baptist the Song of Zachary and the Annunciation of our Saviours Nativity the Blessed Virgins Magnificat The Prophet David hath left us only seven penitentiall Psalms but his Eucharisticall psalms of Thanksgiving are very numerous not omitting to compose an Hymne of praise for every signall favour that hee receaved at the hands of God Motives and Reasons impelling yea compelling us to the performance of this duty are many First among Ethniks and meere Morall men Ingratitude is reputed the Metropolis of Vices and ingrate persons branded with the greatest infamy Ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris It is a violation of naturall Iustice Secondly Partem beneficij reddidit qui gratias dedit He hath in part requited a benefit that returnes thankes The Prophets demand was Quid retribuam arguing that some kinde of retribution was due to God for his blessings Ex aequo bono the neglect whereof must needs bee adjudg'd a violation of naturall Equity Gratitude a due debt Doe yee thus requite the Lord ye Fooles saith Moses * See Deut. 32.6 Thirdly Gratitude for Mercies receav'd is the next way to purchase more from God as the servant in the Parable that improved the pound left with him by his Master was made Ruler over tenne Cities Luke 19 16.17 Fourthly whosoever is truely thankfull to God will endeavour to expresse his gratitude by Obedience extending it to the whole course of his life and to all the divine Commandements not taking liberty in any one sinne but striving to avoid all nor omitting any Duty of Piety or Charity but conscionably * The Law may bee kept sincerely though not fulfilld exactly performing all like Zachary and Elizabeth who walked in all the Precepts and Ordinances of the Lord unblameably Luk. 1.6 As God never ceaseth to bestow his blessings on us so should wee incessantly serve laud and magnifie him all our days In which heavenly exercises if wee continue constant faithfull to death wee shall receave a Crowne of Life Revel 2.10 Fifthly this holy Duty is full of comfort and contentment and a singular solace to the religious soule O praise the Lord saith the Prophet for it is a good thing to * Sing Davids Psalms with Davids
from dangers and frequent victories over all their enemies But when they went out of their way by murmuring disobedience and Idolatry then were they stung * Num. 21.6 with fiery serpents and sould into the hands of their Enemies or smitten with the Plague none of Gods Angels comming in to helpe them till they returnd into the way againe by Repentance The Royall Prophet oft harpes on this stringe in the Booke of Psalmes which Saint Hilary truly calles The Key of Scripture If we peruse the Psalmes 44.18.80.106 we shall see the Iewes prospering and flourishing under Gods Protection while they walkt in their way and dejected and abandoned when they started aside like a broken Bow While Samsons haire was uncut which was his Vow of a Nazarite his strength was unresistable but when he went out of his way to Timnah Iud. 14.1 and Delilah had cut his Lockes though he went out against the Philistins as at other times God having left him they prevailed against him When Saul sinned the Spirit of God departed from him 1 Sam. 16.14 Iosiah the best King that ever raigned in Ierusalem never went out of his way for ought We read but once when he would needs fight with Pharoah-Necho King of Egypt who had no quarrell to him and then as if God had watched him to take him in his first fault he miscarried and was slaine 2 Chro. 35. Let us then take heede how wee goe with Ionas to Tharsis when we are commanded to goe to Nineveh least we draw a bitter storme on our selves and those that are in our company The wayes we are to walke in if we expect the protection of God and Assistance of His holy Angels are traced out unto us in the Decalogue where we are taught what to doe and what not to doe The Old and New Testament are Commentaries on these tenne Commandements and therefore we must study read and meditate Gods word if we desire to know His Will and to doe it David askes the question Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way and instantly resolves it Even by ruling himselfe by thy word This word is a Lanterne to our way and a Light to our Paths Psalm 119 in which Psalme almost in every Line there is mention made of the word Law Statutes and Commandements of God wherein the Prophet desires to be instructed and professes to be singularly delighted Since then our way is chalked out in Gods word let us pray with the Prophet Order my steps in thy word so shall no wickednesse have dominion over me Psal 143. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes make me to goe in the Paths of thy Precepts Psalm 119. If we can thus pray with a pure heart God will answer us as Psalm 32.9 I will informe and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt goe and I will guide thee with mine Eye If by prayer and Repentance we can purchase this Grace from God to be guided and directed in our wayes and if we looke to our steps and be carefull not to goe out of the way when he hath set us in we may rest assured of His gracious providence and angelicall protection in our severall vocations But O Lord What is man that thou art mindfull of him and the son of man that thou visitest him Psal 8.4 Thou madest him lower than the Angels and yet thou commandest thy blessed Angels to attend him to have charge over him and to beare him * As Nurâ—es be are young children in their arms So the Originall imports in their hands What moveth thee O Lord to be so gracious and so good to this poore creature of thine 14. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore shall I deliver him I shall set him up because he hath known my Name 15. He shall call upon mee and I will heare him Yea I am with him in trouble I will deliver him and being him to honour 16. With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my salvation The causall Particle here Because iterated Vers 14. is not to be understood as if it implied any Merit in us or as if God were obliged in regard of our knowledg of him to protect us from the Pestilence or to make Lions and Dragons subject to us as he did to David Daniel and others of his children but hath reference simply and purely to his mercy and goodnesse who hath a speciall care of his Elect whom he covers under his wings in all times of danger and to his promise which he hath made to reward freely and not for any desert those that entirely love him and faithfully invocate him If we desire the honour to be called his Sonnes are we not bound to love and honour him whom we call Father Can we doe lesse than love God the Father for creating us after his owne Image God the Sonne for redeeming us when we were lost God the Holy Ghost for alwayes comforting and assisting us And when we have done our best * Deus magis delectatur affectu quam effectu Amb. are we not unprofitable servants Herein is love saith Saint Iohn not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for our sinnes 1 Ioh. 4.10 And indeed how could we possibly love him if he had not given us the grace to know him and consequently to love him Ignoti nulla cupido Now although we can claime no merit by our loving of God because it is our bounden Duty yet are we well encouraged thereto by the Reward which accompanies it in vertue of Gods Promise and of his pure Mercy and Goodnesse In the second Commandement he promises to shew mercy to Thousands in them that love him and keepe his Commandements And Psal 31. O love the Lord all ye his Saints for the Lord preserves them that are faithfull c. As therefore it is our duty to expresse our gratitude for graces or benefits received by loving God who conferres them so is it an Act of Gods meere goodnesse to love us for loving him and to make us see and feele the effects of his love by his preservation and protection David Psal 130.4 saith There is mercy with thee therfore thou shalt be feared which may seeme to have some repugnancy with the love formerly spoken of in that ordinarily men hate those whom they feare Oderint dum metuant This is true among Barbarians and those that are opprest by Tyrants But we must distinguish betwixt a servile and filiall feare The former is proper to the reprobate the latter to the elect There is no childe of God that will not feare to offend and displease his heavenly Father that hath beene so indulgent and gracious unto him as he must needs acknowledge and confesse if he have any sense of God or godlinesse or any understanding of his stupendious creation redemption and preservation Yea the more graces or benefits he hath received of
him the more will hee feare to displease him Thanks must bee Orall and reall also All that GOD requires is a cordiall Recognition of His Grace and Mercy My sonne give mee thy heart Prov. 23.26 our whole Duty is summarily comprehended in these words Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and love him with all thy strength and with all thy might and thy neighbour as thy selfe By this may wee know whether we love God if we love our neighbour For how can he love God whom hee hath not seene if he love not his brother whom he hath seene saith Saint Iohn 1 Ioh. 4.20 who as he had the Honour to bee stiled The disciple whom Iesus loved so doth he seeme to have appropriated to himselfe the preaching and teaching this doctrin of loving God and our neighbour above all the other Apostles as may be seene by his Divine Epistles I will set him up saith the Psalme because hee hath knowne my Name that is because he hath call'd upon me and worshipped me as may be collected out of the 76 Psalme 1.2 In Iury is God knowne his Name is great in Israel at Salem is his Tabernacle which was the appointed place of his Worship If then we desire to bee delivered and to be set up out of Gun-shot as here is promised we must not only love him and our Neighbour for his sake but worship Him also in such sort as hee hath prescribed in His most sacred Word These Religious duties are necessarily required of all those which expect the Comforts which this Psalm exhibites For all the Assistance and Protection promised from the first words throughout the Psalme have a connexion with this present clause Because he hath set his love upon me because he hath known my Name * That is to the utmost of his power Evangelically not legally and a conditionall reference thereto So that whosoever loves not God * See Zech. 7.12 13. perfectly 2 Cor. 7.1 nor worships him truly deceaves himselfe if he think hee dwels under the defence of the most High or that he hath any part in the promises of Deliverance here specified because they are proper only to the godly who being assisted with his holy Spirit shall call upon him so effectually and knocke at Heaven gates so powerfully that he shall heare them and deliver them yea and satisfie them with long life which is more than Salomon desired when God gave him Carta vianca and shew them his salvation which is as much as any man can wish I confesse Sicknesse Poverty and all other temporall Mortifications render men contemptible and despicable to the Wicked N. B. and make them undervalued * See Iames 2.2 to 8. by ordinary Christians who passe their judgments of Men accordingly as they waigh after the Worlds opinion in the balance of Honour Reputation and Wealth But the Child of GOD is promised here not only a Preservative against all dangers so farre and so long as God shall judge expedient for him but also a Restorative when hee hath beene afflicted and humbled For if his enemies have markt him out as their custome is in the time of his Humiliation for one whom GOD lookt not after nor car'd for hee hath a promise here to bee advanced to Honour and which is the height of all temporall Blessings to be satisfied with long life so that hee shall over-live his enemies and be honord by those that despised him when the hand of God was upon him Let Ahaziah then send to Baalzebub the God of Ekron in the time of his sicknesse to enquire whether he shall live or dye Is it not because there is no GOD in Israel saith the LORD 2 King 1. Let gowtie Asa trust in his Physitians 2 Chronicles 16. Let the superstitious Papaline in his sicknesse dishonour the Blessed Virgin by vowing himselfe to her Quum nulla amplius in Medicis spes erat salutis non magna as he blasphemously said in Deo Let them vainly trust to the Oyle of the Lampe * Dignus morte perit qui mortua vivus adorat An experiment of Papists vaine confidence in Reliques against the Plague of Saint Carlo Borromeo the dispensation whereof I have seene with my eyes and my Soule hath grieved to see ignorant people abused by more ignorant Friers In Iurea the trusting to that Imposture cost the lives of the most part of that Citie and Milan whence it was brought hath suffered beyond beliefe there having died in that state neere three hundred thousand soules Not without cause said the Prophet O bee thou my helpe in trouble for vaine is the helpe of man Psalme 60.11 and Psalme 77.1 In time of danger I will cry unto God yea to God will I cry and he shall hearken unto me I deny not but Physicall Antidotes and Praecautiens may be used as secundary means but they must be used with Prayer to God to blesse them and our immediate Trust must be wholly in him and his protection For except the Lord build the house vaine is their labour that build it c. Psal 127.1.2 and therefore * Psal 130.7 O Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord is Mercy and with him is plenteous Redemption Object Against the whole Tenour of this Psalme and the maine scope thereof there is an Objection not to be past over in silence For whereas David here promiseth great matters to the godly assuring them of the protection of God and his Angels and further that with their eyes they shall see the Reward of the ungodly Experience daily shewes the contrary and hath so done since the beginning of the world Innocent Abel lost his life for serving God truely and for Gods acceptance of his service and our Saviour Epitomizing the Scriptures in this point threatens the Iewes that upon them shall come all the righteous bloud shed on the earth from righteous Abel to Zacharias c. Matth. 23.35 The Church of GOD here on earth is therefore called Militant because it never hath peace but perpetuall Warre affliction tribulation persecution the enemies thereof being mightie viz. Principalities and Powers c. Eph. 6.12 Our Saviour expresly commands all his Followers to take up his Crosse Wicked most dandled in the Worlds lap and in the Book of Psalmes we finde David often complaining of the Adversities of the godly and prosperity of the wicked In the 73. Psal he was shrewdly startled at the contemplation of this point My feete were almost gone my steps well nigh slipt And why I was grieved at the wicked I saw the ungodly in such prosperitie for they are in no perill of death in no misfortune nor plagues as others are but lusty and strong c. Contrarily of the godly hee saith Thou feedest them with bread of Teares c. Psalm 80.5 and which is more For thy sake are we killed all the day long Solution This difficulty is