is that some of them make shew of seeking and seeme so to do being present at those meanes and outwardly dealing in those exercises whereby others truely seeke effectually find knowledge And as these vse the meanes without any desire of hauing wisedome so others would haue it but contemne all those meanes whereby it is offered and to be receiued trusting to their owne wit and carnall reason And a third sort seeke it and are willing to haue it and at the ministers hands would gladly obtaine it but only vpon their death beds or in great extremities not in loue to God or sincere affection to his word or in holy liking of his graces but only in terrour and passion that they might escape hell and damnation or the present dangers wherein they stand Hereof the Prophet speaketh in the Psalme saying When he flew them they sought him and they returned Psal 78. 34 36 and sought God earlie But they flattered him with their mouth and dissembled with him with their tongue For their heart was not vpright with him neither were they faithfull in his couenant And therefore being so affected it is not strâ—â—ngâ— that their successe is no better For though our Sauiour say that euerie one which seeketh Mat. 7. 8. findeth yet it is to be vnderstood of euery such one as seeketh faithfully and in due manner But knowledge is easie to him that is prudent We must not so conceiue of these words as though men of vnderstanding could increase their wisedome and graces without industry and paines taking but that when they haue vsed diligence in the exercise of Gods ordinances they may know for certainty that they shall speede well and be stored with all such graces as will lead them to life euerlasting And therefore we see the sence of this sentence expressed in the second chapter of this booke If thou callest after knowledge and criest for vnderstanding Prou. 2. 3. 4. 5. if thou seekest her as siluer and searchest for her as for treasures then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God They are not capable of any grace which will not be brought Doct. to renounce their sins Jf they deride admonitions and make them frustrate of that which they were giuen for they shall make themselues ridiculous and disappointed of that which they seeke for Wisedome is wise enough to know her friends from her foes them that loue her vnfainedly from them that flatter her to discerne who will vse hâ—r well and who will abuse her who will subiect themselues vnto her gouernment and who would make her an vnderling to pride and lust and Sathan Indeed she calleth vpon one kind of scorners to come to her and learne of her and promiseth to poure out her minde vnto them but they are such as ignorance hath drawne to scorning rather then malice such as in whome there is possibility of amendment and not they that are desperately giuen ouer to obstinacy And euen these silly scorners that are not yet incorrigible must not onely be reformable in hope but reformed in deed before wisedome will impart her counsels vnto them for their comfort And therefore she saith Turne you at my corrections Prou. 1. 23. lâ—e I will powre out my mindâ— vnto you and make you vnderstand my words As for those which are possessed with an inueterate hatred of instruction and purposely picking quarrels against the trueth of God haue contemptuously rebelled against it the Prophet declareth by their waies which are past hope of any reformation that their minds are vncapable of all sound vnderstanding For saith he can the blacke More change his skin or the Leopard his Ier. 13. 23. spottes then may ye also do good that are accustomed to doe euill Jf they could haue changed their minds and been able to iudge rightly both of that which is good and also of the euill they could not choose but change their behauiour to practise the good and eschew the euill but for asmuch as custome was growne into a nature and nothing was to be looked for in all their life but works of darknes it followeth that their soules were likewise finally blinded and neuer to be illuminated with any gratious light First the wisedome of God is mysticall and vnderstood only Reasons by reuelation of the spirit and therefore it cannot be comprehended of them that are meerly fleshly and voide of all graces of the Spirit But least of all can they attaine vnto it which are nothing but flesh and such as haue alwayes resisted the Spirit which is the condition of scorners Secondly they are all prowde and therefore as the Apostle testifieth God resisteth them and giueth grace to the humble Yea they are not in a common maner prowde and equall therein with other Iam. 4. 6. men but more presumptuously than any other in the hight of contempt they dispise the counsels of the Lord therefore in an extraordinary manner he layeth his punishments vpon their hearts and is sayd to scorne the scornefull Prou. 3. 34. 3. Thirdly all scorners liue in some grieuous sinnes out of which the breath of scorning sumeth and therefore no roome is in their sinfull harts for wisedome to lodge in vnlesse she should beare the diuel company and inhabitate in that house whereof he is the master or commander Saint Paul speaking of simple women laden 2 Tim. 3. 6. with sinnes and led with diuers lusts saith that they are euer learning and neuer come to the knowledge of the truth It was not then the sexe nor sillinesse of the persons that made them to profit so little but the sinnes and corruptions of their soules If therefore the same be in men why should there not be the same effect also of them if they be more abounding in men as when they wilfully withstand the trueth of God whereas the poore weomen were seduced by deceiuers why should it not be thought that they will make them lesse teachable or capable Fourthly if scorners might find wisedome this holy and heauenly wisedome when it pleased them to seeke for it they should become elder brethren to Gods people inioy the double portion Earthly things both of wealth and dignity they commonly haue in greater plenty than the best Christians pleasures they pursue without restraint and follow their delights continually if they might also haue grace Gods fauor the kingdom of heauen ready at their wills the worst men should haue the best prerogatiue the Lord would seem to be most kind to his mortall enemies And it wold come to passe that the greatest part of mankind wold liue like diuells on earth raigne like saints in heaueÌ„ And therfore that prehemineÌ„ce of getting grace sauing knowledge is appropriated to Gods people none others especially if they be scorners are to intercoÌ„mon with them And that the holy ghost sheweth in another chapter saying Wicked men vnderstand
be their soueraigne Thirdly where the word is truly feared there it is saithfully obeyed they that reuerence it in heart will obserue it in deed they dare not take liberty to doe any thing against it they will not be heedlesse of duties prescribed by it Confutation of that impious error which by temptation and Vse 1 frailty commeth into the thoughts of the regenerate and by infidelity and corruption dwelleth in the hearts of the vnregenerate and by impudency and audaciousnesse breaketh out of the mouthes of blasphemers that it is to no purpose to be so deuoute and godly and that they are most wise that are least fearefull to follow their delights and to satisfie their fleshly desires Iob speaketh of such and bringeth them in saying Who is the Almightie Iob. 21. 15. that we should serue him and what profite should we haue if we should praie vnto him And Malachie speaketh to such and in sharpe manner chargeth them to haue affirmed that it is in Mal. 3. 14. vaine to serue God and what profit is it that we haue kept his commandement and that we walked humblie before the Lord of hoasts Such haue bin in euery age and many such are in our owne age which are all refelled by this worthy sentence whereby it appeareth that the faithfull are so far from loosing the recompence of their holy words and actions as that their religious thoughts and affections shall not be vnrewarded Consolation to all them whose consciences are vpright tender in the loue of the truth against the troubles that are to be looked for from the world to the godly for goodnes froÌ„ God to the world for sinne Do the wicked molest them with wrongs and vexations because they runne not with them to the same excesse of riot and euill The Lord will refresh them with rest and comfort because they cleaue vnto his word which forbiddeth euery thing that is not good Js any thing taken from them vniustly for his sake and the gospells He will giue all things vnto them abunddantly in recompence of the same In this world as our Sauiour saith their gaine shall an hundred fold exceede their losse if it be Mark 10. 30. expedient and needfull for them and in the world to come they shall receiue eternall life And in the meane time when plagues shall be powred downe vpon the earth for the iniquities of the people they shall either altogether escape them or els be deliuered from the venom and hurt of them They that take Habakuks course and tremble when they heare the word spoken shall be in Habakkuks case and rest in the daie of trouble Habak 3. 16. Vers 14. The doctrine of a wise man is a welspring of life to depart from the snares of death THough the meaning of these words hath been shewed and prosecuted already in the eleuenth verse of the tenth chapter yet we will adde somewhat to the explication thereof When it is sayd therefore that the doctrine or instruction of a wise man is of such force it is to be vnderstood of wholsome and sound doctrine such as he receiueth from God and deliuereth to his brethren for wise men sometimes draw their instructions from their errors and now and then from grosser corruptions as Dauid did when he gaue direction to Ioab how he should cause Vrijah to be made away And as the lesson ought to be sound for the matter so must it be seasonable for the manner as spoken in due time in meete place and fitly applied wherein Iobs friends much failed though otherwise the men were godly and their words very true and waighty And yet further to these must be added of his part that will drinke of this liuely fountaine an attentiue eare and beleeuing heart to heare and imbrace the doctrine And then it will be constant and not dryed vp like ditches or ponds that are fed with raine water it will be comfortable and refresh the hearts of them that are in affliction it will be profitable and make them that receiue it fruitfull it will be necessary and forcible to deliuer them from sinne and destruction though therein the similitude be altered for that is meant by turning from the snares of death To depart from c Sinne is satans snare to catch men to perdition Doct. He that is in the power of it and intangled therewith is in great perill of perishing being caught in a trappe and held fast there till either grace deliuer him or death deuoure him He is Iob 18. 8. 9. taken saith Bildad in the net by his feete and walketh vpon the snares The grinne shall take him by the heele and the dreadfull fowler shall come vpon him There is no safe treading any where but in the wayes of God euery step without it through the length and breadth of the whole world hath somewhat set in it to intangle vs. Without the direction of the word and vertue of the spirit what is in man what commeth from man what is done by man but that which will worke his woe and turne to his ruine First euery mans nature from his birth and conception hath Reasons 1 made him obnoxious to death and damnation and hath closed him vp in such a sure hold of corruption that he can neuer escape out of it vnlesse Christ Iesus do set him at liberty Secondly ignorance errors and carnall reason of the mind together with lusts and passions and inordinate affections of the heart do sharpen mens appetites to Satans baites whether it be by net or by trap by snare or by limetwigs or howsoeuer he is disposed to come by them they are ready for his turne and taken 2. Tim. 2. 26. at his will as the Apostle testifieth The practice of sinfull men must needs be damnable when their disposition to it is very dangerous their words and works and waies are exceeding pernicious when their harts thoughts and natures are so hurtfull Eliphaz had made a sound conclusion against Iob if Iob had been liable to his premisted accusation Is not thy wickednesse saith he great and thine iniquitias innumerable Iob. 22. 5. 10. Therefore snares are round about thee and feares shall suddainlie trouble thee Instruction to be as carefull to fly from euery sinne as we are Vse desirous to escape from any perills No man would willingly fall inâ—o his enemies hands whome he knoweth to lye in waite for his bloud and the brutish creatures with all their might doe fly from those that seeke to kill them and shall we then be more heedles of our soules then they are of their liues to expose our selues to the baites of the diuell whereby he goeth about to destroy vs True it is that he proposeth pleasures and delights to allure vs by them as he did Euah but when we haue consented and yeelded vnto him there will follow nothing but paine and misery as Euah felt Great offers he will make vs of
speedy repentance may outrunne the plagues and stay them in due season their humiliation comming into the presence of God before the euills do come at them The Niniuites dealt wisely this waies when they vnderstood by Ionah that their desolation approched so neere vnto them they foorthwith set themselues to fly from it and with all expedition fell to fasting by that means preuented it It is not safe for the hunted beast to stand still when the stronger that seeketh his life hath him in pursuite and much lesse for wicked men to be secure when the vengeance of the Almighty doth follow them If they say we haue power and friends and are well able to stand for our selues let them remember that which hath bin formerly handled that though hand ioyn in hand Prou. 11. 21. the wicked shall not be vnpunished The strongest Wether in the fold and all the rest of the flock with him cannot incounter with the Lyon If they say we haue policy and plots to helpe our selues by and know how to prouide for our safety let them know that there is no wisedome neither vnderstanding nor counsell against the Prou. 21. 30. Lord. If they say why should we now be more afrayd then hitherto we haue been We walked in the same way before and the same punishments were threatned before and sithence we had no hurt till this time what likelihood is there that it will come hereafter especially our present state being so prosperous Let them consider that in the course the poore hunted creature though vnreasonable is not yet so silly as to thinke that there is no pursuite after her because shee seeth no perill before her her feare is in regarde of that which followeth at her heeles and not of that which is in viewe of her eyes And the longer they haue escaped the lesser time remayneth to escape as the beast is nearer to her death towards the end of the course then at the first setting foorth It is the argument which Saint Peter vseth to proue that the perdition of such impious persons approacheth on fast and is at hand because that their iudgement long agone was not farre off and their damnation sleepeth not that is hath beene iournying towards them euer since both night and day without any stay or intermission Doct. 2 But that which is good c They which doe God good seruice shall be recompenced with good wages See Chap. 11. 18. on these words he that soweth righteousnesse shall receiue a sure reward Verse 22. A good man shall leaue inheritance to his childrens children but the riches of the sinner is laid vp for the iust THe meaning is that the godly person not onely himselfe inioyeth his goods whilst he liueth but when he dyeth leaueth the same to his children in such sort as that also their children through Gods mercy inherit the same Againe the wicked man is so far off from leauing his goods to his posterity as that by Gods prouidence they oftentimes are rolled from him vpon the righteous person who is as it were his heyre against his will Yet this is not so to be taken as though it held vniuersally and perpetually in euery person Many good men haue no children at all many good men haue no children suruyuing them many good mens posterity endeth in their immediate issue many good men leaue their children poore and in meane estate Soon the contrary side diuers wicked men leaue their lands and riches to their owne children though impious also like their parents and they conuey them to their seede after them which in like manner possesse them as the Prophet sayth in the Psalme Thou fillest their bellies with thine hid treasure their children haue enough and leaue the rest of their substance for their children But he speaketh of that which cometh often to passe though not alwaies which are the readiest meanes for such effects He that wold prouide wel for his posterity cannot find out any way so good for his childrēs estate as to be godly himselfe And if the Lord withhold that blessing from him he may recompēce it by making his children inheritors of grace saluation and if either he giue him no children or children of no piety and goodnes he will vndoutedly counteruail it with increase of heauēly gifts glory for his own soule And he that giueth himselfe to iniquity and sinne doth as much as in him lyeth to subuert both his estate and family and if that both stand notwithstanding the course he taketh to bring them to ruine then as Dauid said in the forerecited Psalme his portion is only in this life and his punishment reserued to be the larger in the world to come They make the best prouision for their posterity which inrich Doct. 1 themselues with piety and goodnes If men would so prouide patrimonies for their children they might hope that the Lord would become their executor and faithfully performe their bequests If by this meanes they would compasse liuings for their ofspring they should haue lesse cause to feare the alienation of them from their houses and to incumber themselues and their seed with so many Intailes Plentifull experience hereof is to be found in the Scriptures especially concerning the progeny of Abraham and Isaacke and Iacob whom God aboundantly blessed with large posterity and ample possessions for many hundred yeares togither It is one part of that happines wherewith God doth often recompence Reasons 1 the piety and godlinesse of his seruants according as is promised in one of the Psalmes Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatlie in his commandements His seede Psal 112. 1. shall be mightie vpon earth the generation of the righteous shall be blessed Secondly good men will get their goods well and vse them well they shew to others commonly mercy and liberality and that returneth and continueth both vpon themselues and theirs whiles their owne soules are glorified in heauen the state of their issue is made prosperous on earth Their receiuings do farre surmount their bestowings during the time of their being here and yet as it were an annuity is faithfully confirmed duely performed vnto their posteriry after them He is saith Dauid euer mercifull Psal 37. 26. and lendeth and his seede inioyeth the blessing Thirdly godly men will in such manner educate and trayne vp their children that they shall be instructed how to order themselues and their substance so as God shall be pleased with them and the Church holpen by them and they preserued as fruitfull plants to send foorth seed and sciences to the succeeding generations See the 21. verse of the 11. chapter for other reasons and the vses of this point where it hath been more largely handled in the second doctrine Doct. 2 But the riches of the sinner c That which the wicked do get is oftimes appointed for the godly to enioy The vngodly hath the burden layd vpon
him to bring goods together and the righteous hath the prerogatiue giuen vnto him to vse them And it is not a new fashion taken vp of late for wicked men to worke for the seruants of God but it hath been anciently time out of mind in former ages The Egiptians tooke great paines to sowe and reape and prepare corne for Iacob and his family and were themselues pinched with great penury whiles he and his houshold were plentifully replenished with it The Canaanites built houses for the Israelites to dwell in and planted vineyards for the Israelites to eate the fruit of and digged wells for the Israelites to drinke the water of and prepared many pleasant things for the Israelites to haue the inioyment of Neither was it a case peculiar to them as though it had been an accident not seen before nor like to fall out againe afterwards but Iob declareth it to be a iudgement due to all wicked worldlings and ordinarily inflicted vpon them vnlesse there be a commutation of it for some other more grieuous punishment This saith Iob. 27. 13. 16. he is the portion of a wicked man with God and the heritage of tyrants which they shall receiue from the Almightie Though hee should heape vp siluer as the dust and prepare raiment as the clay He may prepare it but the iust shall put it on and the innocent shall diuide the siluer First the Lord hath in his power the hearts and hands and Reasons 1 wayes and successe and substance of the wicked to dispose of at his will he maketh them do what pleaseth him and to speede as pleaseth him and their gaines to be bestowed as pleaseth him and he hath decreed that they shal labour hard and get much spend little and all for the good of the godly So saith Salomon in the booke of Ecclesiastes Surely to a man that is good in his fight God Eccl. 2. 26. giueth wisedome and knowledge and ioye bus to the sinner he giueth paine to gather and to heape to giue to him that is good before God Secondly the godly are the sons of God fellow heirs both of heauen earth together with Iesus christ the sinners but as slaues boudmen in the house to make the best of thine estate therfore all that they and all that they doe is destinated to the vse and behalfe of the children Thirdly iust meÌ„ wil iustly administer dispose of those things which God committeth vnto theÌ„ for the furtherance of his seruice and the refreshing of his seruants wheras the wicked do either peruert them to sinfull abuses or else detain theÌ„ froÌ„ al vse therfore it is iust with the Lord to traÌ„sfer them froÌ„ such vnrighteous stewards to the hands of those which will more faithfully dispence theÌ„ And according to this is that saying in the eight Prou. 28. 8. twentieth chap. He that increaseth his riches by vsurie interest gathereth them for him that will be merciful to the poore Vse 1 Consolation for iust men though poore hauing neither stocke aforehand for their owne maintenaÌ„ce whiles they liue nor portioÌ„ to leaue to their children when they die Albeit to sence and in mens fight their case seemeth miserable yet to saith and in Gods presence their state is comfortable What doth theirneed require that caÌ„not or shall not be readily supplied wheÌ„ it is expedient seasonable for theÌ„ There is corne grain enough to make them breade there is great store of flesh and fruites for theire food there is plenty of wool and flax such like meanes for their apparrel there are diuers buildings and houses for their habitation there are many purses bags replenished with money for their necessary vses So long as others abound with plenty it is impossible for them to perish with penury Good men in mercy will minister vnto them euill men vpon necessity must prouide for them for to that end both they themselues those things which they haue are prouided of God Instruction not to be distempered with enuy or anger or feare or any other kind of passions when we see sinners gather riches in heapes and keepe them in holes fithence the seruaunts of God shall haue the fruition of them Hath the childe anie cause to repine at the greatnesse of the flocke which is in the charge of his fathers sheepheard or at the sums of money which are in the handes of his fathers bailiste Hester and Mordecay could brook no man lesse then Haman and yet they had no reason to grudge at the building and furniture of his house though Hester 8. 1. 2 it was sumptuous because hee therein did onely make prouision for them Admonition to those simple persons whome prosperity doth so much puffe vp make to swell that they learn more moderation sobriety The king of Babel was iustly taunted for increasing that which was not his for lading himselfe with thick clay why then doe not these that are so proud hie minded aswell deserue to be derided for boasting of that which is not theirs even of thick clay wherewith they haue laden themselues Were it not absurde for a Tayler to take himselfe to be a beter man thaÌ„ Hab. 2. 6. all his neighbours because he hath a garmeÌ„t of silk or veluet haÌ„ging in his shop which is put to him to be made or for a common cowheard to ouercrow al his masters because he hath more cattle before him euery day then any one of them Let all wicked worldlings know that the preferment promised to the godly is a debasing threatned against them when the Lord faieth The strangers shall stand and feed your sheepe and the sonnes of strangers shall be your plowmen and dressers of your vines These strâ—ngers are they that are reputed to bee the natiue inhabitants these keepers of the sheep pretend to be the owners of the sheep these plowmen and dressers of vines take themselues to bee Lords of Isai 61. 5. the lands and vineyards but the Scripture describeth them according to that which they be and not which they think to bee or seeme to bee for that is altogether contrary to the condition which the Lord hath appointed them vnto Verse 23. Much food is by tillage for the poore but some are consumed by indiscretion BY foode he meaneth all such things as are needful for the vse of mans life by much he vnderstaÌ„deth a fit and competent measure which diuers times groweth to bee large and ample And this do poore men often attaine vnto when they are prouident and diligent in managing of theire affaires and by name in the worke of husbandry and so it also holdeth in all other honest and lawfull vocations Now againe on the contrary side some are consumed by indiscretion For many a one who hath a good stock and faire liuings and fruitfull grounds by neglecting labour and not ordering things aright wasteth all that he
to their owne state by the paucity of their people That made Iob so pittifull to the poore oppressed and so seuere to the violent oppressours and therfore came so great a blessing on Iobs gouernment so great comfort to his heart and so great prosperity to his estate and so great honour to his estate and so grear reuerence to his person and so great honor to his name and so great blessednes to his soule and body for euer I was saith he a father vnto the Iob. 29. 16. poore when I knew not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man and pluckâ—e the pray out of his teeth Neither doth the Scripture purpose the example of Iob onely for magistrates to imitate although it maye well beseeme them all to treade in his steps but Iobs better and master euen Iesus Christ the Lord of Lords and king of kings is set forth for a patterne for Salomon himselfe and euerie other good ruler to follow He shall iudge the poore of the people he shall saue the children Psal 72 4 â— of the needy and subdue the oppressour And therefore in his dayes shall the righteous flourish and aboundance of peace shall bee so long as the moone endureth Reproof of those hurtfull and inhumane creatures those spoilers of their brethren which so greedâ—ly affect the depopulation of townes and desolation of the country whereby they are become very pernicious and noysome both to Prince and people And yet is their headinesse no way tollerable which without all authority and against authority intrude themselues into the magistrates place to be reformer of those abuses which the author of authority appointeth him to represse God hath put the sword into the kings hand to punish offendours he is ordayned to be a buckler for the defence of his subiects it belongeth to him to redresse the things that are amisse among his people none is so much damnified by such publick misdemeanors as he How dareth then the heele or sole of the foote to vsurpe to it selfe the office of the head or what imboldeneth the little toe to vndertake the work of the hand Or wheÌ„ce haue priuate persons their warrant to deale in those affaires which are peculiarly assigned to Gods owne deputy Verse 29. He that is slowe to wrath is of great wisedome but hee that is of a hasty minde exalteth follie HE that is slowe to wrath which is able to master the rage of his affections so as that he will not hee careâ—ed away to distemper contrary to the rules of lawfull anger is of great wisedom hath receiued from aboue in his heart that pure peaceable and gentle vvisedome which Saint Iames speaketh of and doth also Iam. 3. 17. declare the same by his long susterance and patient forbearance when by indignities and wrongs he is prouoked But hee that is of an hastie mind being rashly mooued to passion without due cause of displeasure or immoderately offended when the faulte deserueth not so much anger exalteth follie doth openly commit it as though he would lift it vp that all men might see it See chapter 12 16. where this point hath beene intreated of Vers. 30. A sound heart is the life of the flesh but ennie is the rotting of the bones A Sound heart that is a tender kind and compassionate hart toward them that be in afflictions with a desire to relieue and succour them for the word signifieth an healing heart such a one as wisheth well to them and studieth how it may best comfort them so free it is from euill will and despite and grudging at other mens good estate is the life of the flesh bringeth health and soundnesse to the whole man that hath it But ennie is the rotting of the bones it is painefull to the minde and hurtfull to the body and will quickly consume a man and bring him to his end as the diseases which lye in the bones and eate vp the marrowe No man liueth so chearfull a life as hee which is mercifully Doct. 1 affected His happines is not detayned from him vntill he come to heauen but he hath some fruition thereof whiles he liueth on earth neither doeth it consist alone in the ioye of his soule but is very effectuall for the health of his body And therefore Dauid declareth the felicity of such men when he pronounceth euery one blessed that wiselie considereth of the poore Psal 41 1 First it is a meanes to procure plenty or at least competent Reasons 1 store of good things for this present life together with the comfortable vse of the same Secondly in their aduersities it is commonly seene that their measure is repayed them which they haue meted to others for God doth vsually send them comforters which will declare a fellow feeling with them of their afflictions and pray for them and direct them by counsell and relieue them with helpe and speak to their harts comfortably or if men faile them yet God will not and the testimony of their owne compassion to others shall not as Iob well found and so they are assured of supportance in their tribulations and deliuerance out of them And so much is meant in the Psalme when it is sayd that vnto the righteous ariseth light in darknesse he is mercifull and full of compassion Psal 1â—2 4. and righteous Thirdly they neuer want matter of ioye and gladnesse so long as they see any of Gods seruants and people growe in grace and prosper in their outward estate and such as be in distresse relieued by others though themselues could not helpe them and whosoeuer is thus affected shall seldome be distitute of all cause of reioycing This way tendeth the promise that is made to euery of thoâ—e which vnfainedly feare the Lord in the hundreth and eight and twentith Psalme The Lord out of Zion shall blesse Psal 12â— 5. thee and thou shalt see the wealth of Ierusalem all the daies of thy life Instruction to vse this holye physicke of mercy towardes our Vse poore brethren as a preseruation to our selues to keepe vs from afflictions or if it be wholsome for our soules to comforte vs in them Jf we must needes drinke the portion thereof it is a tryed medicine that neuer missed to worke liuely in any that euer receiued it And this may incourage euery one to seeke for it because no mans condition doth disaâ—â—e him of obtaining of it who is so poore as that he should be hindred thereby from being pittifull The meanâ—st may be touched with asmuch compassion as the mightiest aswell rewarded for it and he that can doe least in deed to succour his distressed brother may somtimes preuayle most in word to comfort him But euerie c. VVhosoeuer hath an enuious heart doth liue in Doct. 2 continuall torments Euen the very body and outward man is plagued therewith as it is made the more healthfull and strong by loue
not iudgement but they that seeke the Lord vnderstand all Prou. 28. 5. things And likewise in the psalmes he declareth it to be a degree of good mens happines that the secret of the Lord is reuealed to Psal 25. 14. Vse them that feare him his couenant to giue them vnderstanding Instruction for euery man with all heedfulnesse to take heed that they finke not into so greate a sinne as scornefulnes is that will drawe downe so grieuous a plague as scornefulnesse doeth Though no hurt seemeth to come by it but benefite rather If the outward state of many scorners be respected yet nothing but mischiefe misery insueth vpon it if the state of their soules be considered they all lose all their labour and returne frustrate disappointed when other of meaner place and naturall partes haue happy prosperous successe they are reiected of the Lord as contemptible persons and abiects when others whome they despise are graced with his presence countenaÌ„ce they are shut out of dores excluded from all spiritual coÌ„modities when others whom they maligne are let into Gods treasurie and stored with all heauenly riches They therfore that are tending towards it let them stay themselues before they go too far they that are come to the gate thereof let them beware how they enter in they that are already in the house yet let them returne back againe and not sitte downe in the chaire for then their case is desperate And this is not one lie to admonish men that they become not scorners but that also they satisfie not themselues with euery slight and superficiall seeking of wisedome It is not ynough to seeke for the worst men we see may do that but to seeke so as we may finde which none can doe but they that are good and godly A greater blessing God giueth to none in this world than to make his ordinances forcible to them for wisedome and comfort and a greater iudgement is not executed vpon any before their going to hell than the withholding from them grace vnderstanding No sicknesse no paine no pouerty no disgrace no imprisonment no banishment no losse of limmes or life is so dangerous and hurtfull as this is Though the eies should bee plucked out of the heade yet if there be sight within the mind there can bee no extremity of darknes and though the hearte were plucked out of the body yet if religion abide in the soule the happinesse remaineth but then is the state of men wofull when there internall shape is changed and they are transformed into dumbe idolls when it may be saide of them as it was of the heathen Gods they haue eies see not they haue eares heare not one degree beyond the images they haue hearts and perceiue not But knowledge c Vnderstanding is neither impossible nor Dâ—t 2. difficult to come by when men haue discretion If any be so wise as to discerne their neede of knowledge and vnfainedly to desire and labour for it though their learning be not great nor their capassity deepe yet they shall obtaine it in seeking and bee made more wise by hauing of it Else why is the scripture commended for her largesse and bounty to all sorts of people that haue skill to be vpright without dissunulation It giueth vnto the simple sharpnesse Prou. 1. 4. 5. of wit and to the child knowledge and discretion And a wise man shall heare and increase in learning and a man of vnderstanding shall attaine vnto wise counsels First in regard of holy prudence here spoken of it is said that Reasons 1 Eccl. 2 14. the wise mans eies are in his head though the fool walke in darknes Albeit others that are blind see not how needfull and precious knowledge is yet all that haue vse of their eies though some be much quicker fighted then others see that they are miserable without it and happy and blessed by it and therfore they price it as a thing of greate value and therefore they seeke it as a thing most necessary for them Now they which are so wel affected towards Prou 8 17. wisdome are better affected of wisdome who professeth to loue them that loue her and they which seeke her yearely shal finde her Secondly they vnderstand where sauing knowledge is to be found and know that it is a gift supernaturall and heauenlie and therefore looke not for it from themselues nor at the hands of any creatures not by any carnall or fleshly deuises but repair to the fountaine from whence it floweth Thirdly they discerne what meanes are to be vsed for the finding of it and them they exercise both seasonably and earnestly and constantly that in faith and humility Yet let vs not bee taken as though we affirmed that they haue defects in theire iudgements or earnestnes or constancy or faith or humility were voide of this holy discretion and vncapable of knowledge But this we say that according as these graces are more pleÌ„tiful in thy man so he is more prudent shal more multiplie his knowledge and as they are most scarce so is he lesse prudent shall gette lesse knowledge and he that is wholly without them is wholly imprudent and standing in that case vnlikely to come by any knowledge that is spirituall Confutation of them that lay all the blame of their ignorance vpon the darknes of the Scriptures no part thereof vpon theyr Vse 1 owne dark hearts which are couered as the Apostle saith with a vaile The word of God is a shining light and so the holy ghost calleth it and therefore if they see nothing in it eyther it is because 2. Pet. 1. 19. they haue no eies or because their eies haue no sight or because that Satan hath blind folded them They say that the Scriptures are obscure and hard but God knoweth that their harts are prophane and hard that the doctrine of truth cannot pearce them If the word be as a sealed book vnto them their owne sinnes haue caused it to bee clasped from them as beeing both vnworthy of and altogether vnfitte for such holy mysteries Consolation to them whome God hath graciously illuminated with the sanctified knowledge of his holy will they stand not in the rancke of scorners to whome wisdome is denied but their place is among the godly prudent to whome knowledge is easie It is grace that hath opened the dore of their harts and made a passage for the word to enter otherwise it would neuer haue bene there And the same mercy and blessing let all that truelie desire it aswell looke for as labour for without discouragement He that hath the disposing of this heauenly iewell doth tell vs that wee shall obtaine it without any greate difficulty And we seeke a thing which is not lost by meanes whereof our successe might bee doubtfull but that which is in a readinesse for vs and helde out to vs and presently