with Dauid Alas howe is it possible that I should be euer able to come to the perfect seruing of my God to trust vpon him and wholy to settle my selfe vpon that rule and order which hee hath set downe vnto me Loe I say these should be our wishes and desires But this is not sufficient enough to haue a desire that we might serue God But there is yet much more as when we shall desire that God will pushe vs forward and stirre vs vp thereto and yet we must not stay there neither What must we then do Let vs step forth with Dauid and protest that we will keepe the commaundements of God to wit when wee haue fought against our inordinate affections and that wee are assured to haue victorie ouer them that we then make this conclusion God shall so conduct me that I shal be able to keepe his Statutes As for the rest bicause we can not haue this as of our selues we are alwayes to pray as Dauid did O Lord forsake me not vtterly For if God withhold his holy hand from vs alas what shall become of vs Is it possible for vs to haue one good desire or thought in vs No it is impossible but we shall wholy decline to all euill and mischiefe yea and we shall become his enemies and aduersaries We must therefore hauing all our refuge from God beseeche him with Dauid that he wil not forsake vs. When he saith O Lord forsake me not ouerlong He signifieth vnto vs that God many times suffereth vs to go wrong suffereth vs to fall or els to stūble And why doth he so Because hee would humble vs for what is he which goeth not out of the waye or at the least halteth not and which oftentimes falleth not flat downe But yet for all that hee would not haue vs discouraged When then we see our weakenes and that there are many faultes and imperfections in vs. Let vs beseech the Lorde our God that hee will not forsake vs for euer for there is no difficultie which Dauid woulde not but that we shoulde knowe and hee knew a great many of faultes in himselfe But yet he hoped that God would not forsake him for euer And he knewe also that though he happened oftentimes to fall yet that he would relieue him by his grace And this is his meaning also what we must doe for we knowe this that there is no man which wholy keepeth the lawe of God we are al transgressors thereof we are all miserable sinners We must therefore runne vnto our good God and beseeche him that when we are fallen that he wil relieue vs through his fatherly goodnes as hee is alwayes ready to doe and that he hath promised hee will gouerne vs in supporting of vs vntill such time as he hath despoyled vs of all the imperfections of our fleshe And according to this holy doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the face of our good God in confessing our faultes beseeching him that it would please him to giue vs a tast that we may feele what a pleasure he doth vs when he communicateth his word familiarly among vs and that hee will instruct vs thereby not onely to vnderstand to discerne betwixt good and euill but that we may also be sure and certaine of his loue and good will towardes vs to the ende that we liuing vnder his charge and conduction might runne vnto him that in the middest of the miseries and wretchednes of this world he will make vs blessed that wee may come to euerlasting blisse and the glorie immortall which hath beene purchased for vs once for all by our Lord sauiour Christe Iesus his sonne And that when he hath once set vs into the right waye that he would keepe vs therein more and more vntill the time that he hath brought vs into his heauenly kingdome That not onely c. The second Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme BETH Wherewithal shall a yong man redresse his waye in taking heede thereto according to thy word With my whole hearte haue I sought thee let mee not wander from thy commaundementes I haue hidde thy promise in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy statutes With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth I haue had as great delight in the waye of thy testimonies as in all maner of riches I will meditate in thy commaundementes and consider thy wayes My delight shal be in thy statutes and I will not forget thy wordes VPon Sunday last past I declared vnto you in summe the argument of this Psalme the vse thereof and the instruction that we may gather by it to weete that a faithfull man is here taught to stirre vp himself to the reading of Gods word and thereby to confirme him selfe accordingly Dauid him selfe hath doone this who of all others was the most excellent how much more then ought we to do the like euen we I say which are so rude and ignorant and farre from so much profiting in the schoole of God as he But bicause we are so colde and haue need to be spurred forward like Asses Beholde why Dauid here sheweth vs what profite and commodity we may receiue by this continual study if euery of vs wil apply our selues to see and heare that which God hath manifested vnto vs in his lawe and in the holie Scriptures As here he sayeth Wherewithall shall a young man redresse his way in taking heede thereto or stāding vpon his gard according to thy word He sheweth vs here that if we be desirous to order ou◠life as it becommeth vs to haue it rightly gouerned and to be pure and simple we must holde that way which GOD hath set before vs. For wee must not trust vnto our owne wits Neither frame fashion vnto our selues such a way as shall to vs seeme best but to suffer God to rule and conduct vs and to obey him simply and playnely To bee short Dauid signifyeth vnto vs that all the wisedome and perfection of our life is to followe GOD and cleaue vnto his will True it is that this sentence at the first sight may seeme to vs too to common and as it were more then needeth For we will say what is he that knoweth not this wil not confesse it I will not deny but that it is an ordinary thing to confes it But in the mean while how few are ther which are persuaded of that which is here spoken or if we imagine such a thing in our head where is the practise of it I feare me we shal finde it in a very smale number of vs. Let vs not therefore thinke that this rule which the spirit of God hath set before vs is in vaine for it is for the amendement of our life according to his worde and to make vs to vnderstande that without it all is but doung filth that we haue al erred
men And whence then proceedeth this Verily from their owne securytie and negligence because they thought them selues to bee very perfect But Paule is c1eane contrary to this for thus he sayth I haue not attained as yet to that ful perfection neuerthelese I haue done what in melyeth Phil. 3 12. When he sayth I haue doone what in me lyeth he declareth that there was that humilitie in him whereof he spake in the place before by me already alleaged and this humilitie importeth that we should call vpon God as Dauid did as he sheweth vnto vs heere in this place It followeth I haue hid my promise within my heart that I might not sinne against thee When Dauid speaketh after this manner I haue hid thy word or promise in mine heart he wet declareth that if we haue but only a wandring knowledge that the same wil not holde vs in but that the Deuil hath by and by woone vpon vs to oppresse vs with temptations and in the ende to cast vs downe hedlong What must wee then doe It is not inough that we haue beene at church and heard what hath bin there said vnto vs and that euery of vs hath mumbled vp vnto himselfe some one thing or another but the word of God must be setled in vs and be hid in our heart to wit that it may there be resiaunt and continually abyding and to haue receiued it with such an affection as that it bee as it were imprinted in vs. If this be not so sinne will reigne in vs for it hath by nature his habitation with vs For all our senses are wicked and corrupt all our willes and desires are enemyes vnto God vnlesse Gods woord be wel hidden in our heartes Moreouer we are to vnderstande that Dauid heere vaunted not him selfe of his owne power strength as though he were in admiration thereof but the spirite of God speaking by his mouth entendeth to giue vs a glasse wherein we must be confirmed to weete that we must not haue onely our eares beaten with the Doctrine of saluation and receiue it in our braine but that it should be hidden in our heart to wit that we should lay it vp as in a Treasure house For this saying to hide importeth that Dauid studyed not to be ambitious to set foorth him selfe and to make a glorious shew before men but that he had God for a witnesse of that secret desire which was within him Hee neuer looked to worldly creatures but being content that he had so great a Treasure he knewe full wel that God who had giuen it him would so surely and safely garde it as that it should not be layd open to Satan to be taken away Saint Paule also declareth vnto vs 1. Tim. 1.19 that the chest wherein this treasure must be hid is a good conscience For it is said that many beeing voyde of this good conscience haue lost also their faith and haue beene robbed thereof As if a man shoulde forsake his goods and put them in aduenture with out shutting of any dore it were an easy matter for theeues to come in and to reaue and spoyle him of all Euen so if wee leaue at randon too Satan the Treasure which GOD hath giuen vnto vs in his word without it be hidden in this good conscience and in the very bottome of our hearte as Dauid heere speaketh we shal be spoiled thereof He addeth immediatly after Blessed art thou O Lorde O teach me thy statutes After he had fayd I haue sought thee with mine whole heart hee addeth Blessed art thou O Lorde O teach mee thy Statutes Dauid sheweth in this verse that the request which he made here afore is not founded or grounded of any merite or desert which he pretended to haue In very deede at the first sight it might be said that Dauid ment that God would not for sake him because he had sought him thervpon conclude that man must first beginne to goe on too preuent Gods grace and then that God wil afterward aide him Yee see here what men may imagine but this is not Dauids meaning and purpose And to proue it to be so it is moste sure hee attributeth it not to his owne power and strength that he had sought God with his whole heart for we must first be touched with the spirite of God when as we haue any such affection And why so For by nature we haue all strayed from God and all our force power and study bende them selues to estraunge vs from him And therefore wee must come vnto him in such sorte as is declared unto vs in many places of the holy Scripture Dauid then was preuented already by Gods grace and hee onely requireth of God to continue the same in him which hee hath begunne for he knewe right well that hee had greate neede thereof As if he should haue said I know very wel O Lord that thou hast already mightily put too thy helping hand by thy holy spirit when as I sought thee in very deed I had neuer done it without I had beene conducted by thy holy hand neither is this yet inough except thou continue the same in me when thou shalt so doe O Lord all praise and glory shal be thine for the same because thou hast done it of thy meere fauour and grace By this then we may see that Dauid heere meaneth not to glorifie himselfe as beeing puffed vp with his owne vertues and merites But because God deserueth to be blessed and exalted to the end that we shoulde render vnto him all honor and glory See now wherefore hee assureth himselfe that he will teach him and that he shall be more and more confirmed in that doctrine which he hath already learned For when he sayth Teach me thy Statutes O Lord it was not because that he was altogither rude and ignorant that hee coulde bee nowe a Nouice which was a Prophet had charge to instruct others and was also a King Dauid then spake not as one that was vnlearned but hee knewe well inough that all this was not sufficient without hee profited still more and more Now if Dauid spake after this manner I beseech you what ought we to do When soeuer then that we would obtaine this grace at Gods hands to be instructed in his statutes let vs bring this reason vnto him ground our selues vpon this to wit that he be blessed and praysed And aboue all things let vs vnderstand the great neede we haue heereof that is that although wee haue already beene instructed in the holy Scripture that wee must be Scholers vnto the ende and too pray vnto God dayly to encrease our fayth I meane such chiefely as are appointed too preach the woorde True it is that it were a meruelous great presumption for any man too come into the Pulpit and to vsurpe the office of a Preacher excepte hee were well studyed in the holy Scripture But so it is that wee goe vpp
not O Lorde to liue for my selfe alone in this worlde to receiue heere my pleasures and commodyties but desire it too an other more precious and excellent end than that to wit that I might serue thee Euen so then as often as we are desirous to liue we must remember vs of this request which Dauid maketh That is that we shoulde not be like vnto brute beastes lyuing wee knowe not to what end but that we should alwayes ayme at this make to honour GOD. For without this wee are more miserable then all the rest of his creatures Euery creature will followe his owne naturall inclination and albeit that brute beastes haue an hard and irkesome life yet notwithstanding they are not in their kinde so tormented greeued as we are We know feele by experience that our euil desires and lusts are like hot burning furnaces so that we neede no body to persecute and vexe vs for ther is none of vs all but can tel wel inough how to greeue vex our selues one with ambitiō another with couetousnes some with fornication adultery So thē our life should be very accursed if we looked no farther But we must alwayes aime at this marke to serue God to keepe his word For when as all our affection and loue shal reste in it then shall our life be blessed But contrariwise when we are so brutish as to desire nothing else but to liue heere a long time to haue none other care but of our body and this temporall life the longer we liue heere in the world the more do we heape vppon vs the malediction and curse of God Let vs then keepe in minde this prayer which Dauid heere maketh to wit that he beseecheth God to bestowe that benefite vpon him that he might keepe his commandement all the dayes of his life As if he should haue said Alas my God I see vs to bee so peruerse and frowarde as that none of vs all thinketh to what ende we liue And we are so giuen to all sinne and wickednesse that wee doo nothing else but more and more prouoke thy heauy wrath and indignation against vs. Suffer me not O Lorde to be one of that company but graunt vnto me thy grace that my life may bee ruled and gouerned as it ought to bee that is That I may employ my selfe wholy to serue and honour thee It followeth by and by after Open mine eyes that I may see the woondrous things of thy lawe Heere he declareth that it was not without cause that he made this request vnto God For if it were in our power to follow the word of God and keepe it it were meere hypocrysie and feyned holinesse to make any such prayer For we craue at Gods hand that which we haue not and in our Prayers we must alwayes confesse our pouertie and want Were it not a mockery thinke you too craue of God the thing which I haue already I shall beseech him to giue it me and I haue it already in my possession It is moste true that wee must craue that at Gods hande which already wee haue And why so Because wee are certaine that wee cannot inioy it nor yet vse the same without his grace and fauour And that the vse thereof shall neuer profite vs without he blesse it euen as we desire of him our dayly Breade And although the table be couered and the meate sette ready on the boorde yet we desire of God to make it nourishment for our bodyes Wherby as I haue before sayde it shall profite vs no whit at all without God blesse it through his grace and liberalitie It is very so that we doe craue it by reason of our continuall confessing of our want and neede So then it cannot possibly bee that this was in Dauid his owne hand and power to keep the woorde of God And he sheweth it to be so in this which followeth O Lorde open thou mine eyes As if hee should haue saide Alas deere father it is so farre off that I am able to keepe thy worde as that I should not be able to vnderstand any whit thereof if thou guidest mee not thereto For it is thou which must both beginne the same also performe it wholy in me This is the way and meanes for vs to vnderstande what to doe For many there are which knowe the thinge that is good and yet for all that they vtterly refuse it Nowe Dauid declareth that he is not onely voyde of all power too keepe the word of God but also that hee is without all vnderstanding except it be giuen him by the holy Ghost Let vs note well who it is that speaketh Euen Dauid a most excellent Prophet And yet for all that wee see that hee declareth yea and that boldely him selfe to bee ignoraunte without GOD iustructeth him Neither dooth hee heere speake of any worldely iustruction as wee woulde imagine of the thinges whiche wee knewe nor of before Dauid confesseth that all that would serue him to no purpose at all without God added therunto a notabler or more excellent thing to wit that hee did enlighten him with his holy spirite Sithens then it is so that Dauid who was an excellente Prophet did knowe that hee could neither by reading nor preaching vnderstand that which was requisite vnto saluation what shall become of vs which are yet farre from that forwardnesse that was in him And let vs not thinke that through our owne labour and industrie and by our owne sharpnesse of wit to come so farre as to vnderstande the secretes of God but let vs knowe that wee had neede to be inlightned with the grace of his holy spirit to open our eyes for without it we are poore blinde soules Nowe if this were wel vnderstood we should neuer see such a pride amongst vs as is that euery of vs is wise inough too gouerne himselfe It is an easy matter for vs to make protestation that God hath giuen vs his word and yet for all that we shall still be blinde and knowe nothing vntill such time as he openeth our heartes and mindes For when nothing else shal gouerne vs but our own sense and naturall reason what beastes and Calues shall wee then bee See then how we shall be better instructed in humilitie when as the doctrine shal be imprinted in our heartes True it is that this was not spoken in vaine but to the end that we shoulde be admonished after the example of Dauid too present oure selues before God and in confessing our selues that we are not capable to vnderstande any thing without that he put to his helping hand let vs beseeche him too open our eyes by his holy spirit And bicause it should not seeme straunge that Dauid desired to haue his eyes open he declareth that the wisdom conteined in the lawe of God is too high for our capacities yea although we think oure selues to haue neuer so sharpe and fine wittes And therefore
they bee not ouertaken with ambition whereby they might shew thēselues to be both mightie and noble touching the worlde And againe that they which are welthy and riche bee not giuen ouer vnto their wealth as in another place of the Psalme is said If thou abound in riches set not thine heart on them And also that they which might bee ouertaken with their pleasures and delightes should keepe an hard hand on the bridle and be well aduised that they abuse not the goodes which GOD hath bestowed on them Loe here say I in the first place how euery man ought to bridle his nature to the ende to resist and withstande the vices and sinnes whereunto he is enclined And next as euery one hauing lettes or occasiōs to cause thē to exceede they ought to keepe so much the better watche ouer them selues For as I haue already saide albeit that euery of vs is giuen more to one vice then to another yet for all that we are euery of vs contagiously infected with them all there is not that man which can exempt him selfe from the same Now it is true in deede that Dauid here speaketh namely of couetousnes And why so Bicause it is a vice which breedeth exceeding many mischiefes And it is not without cause that S. Paul calleth it the roote of all euill For after that a man is once giuen to the pestilent couetousnes of the goodes of this world 1. Tim. 6.10 he maketh an Idol of his money riches and possessions He is so violently carried away with them as that he will neuer be satisfied Hee is like vnto a bottomlesse depth which neuer wil be filled And afterward it maketh him to be full of crueltie hauing neither pitie nor compassion of his neighboures making neyther conscience nor doubt to fal out with God and the worlde so that he may haue them al shal be one to him Let vs note then that if there bee any vice which hindreth vs from the seruing of God this is it to wit this couetous desire of getting worldly goods Now Dauid after he hath spoken specially of couetousnes saith Turne away myne eyes from beholding of vanitee and quicken me in thy way When as Dauid prayeth that his eyes might bee turned away least he beheld vanitie It is as if he should haue saide Alas my God I had neede too withstand a thousande tēptations yea and they are infinite which may come before me and that the deuill may present me with to the ende I might bee wickedly ledde from seruing of thee if there were nothing els but this it must needes bee that I must haue beene vanquished a thousand times if thou haddest not instructed me and that I had beene strengthened with thy mightie hand And yet O Lord behold two gates open to receiue in the enemies I beseeche thee O Lorde that whensoeuer we shal be assailed with an huge armie and beeing not of our selues able to resist them and that in steade to be in some most sure place where we might repulse and beate backe our enemies the gates shall stande wyde open to let them in to what purpose were all this Euen so is it in this case for the two eyes of man are as it were the twoo gates whereat the enemies enter And to what ende shall it be when as wee shall haue neither power nor abilitie too resist and goe out against them And so since we haue enemies euen lurking within our selues and that wee are not onely weake but that there is nothing els but weakenes in vs and are also thrust out as it were for a praye too Satan when we shall see these twoo gates stand so wyde open vnto all the assaultes wherewith he assaileth vs wee haue very great neede to praye vnto God after the example of Dauid to turne away our eyes least they behold vanitie Let vs then vnderstande that the meaning of Dauid is to declare vnto vs in this place that the eyes of men are alwayes bent to beholde vanitie that is to saye that they are euer carried away to all euill to all wicked concupiscenses vntill such time as God turneth them away Yea and our eyes are not onely gates to receiue all euill but are euen messengers also As if the gates were not only open but that there were also traytors within to giue intelligēce to instruct the enemies Loe where and which waye you must come and which waye you must enter Euen so is it with our eyes our eyes receiue on the one side the enemies and on the other side they sende messages euen from the bottom of the heart to enuenime and poyson vs all ouer So then we see howe necessarie this request is for vs all as Dauid hath made before vs. But according as euery man most profited in the knowledge of God so much the better comprehendeth he this doctrine and they which knowe and vnderstande least herein shall be they which will presume greatliest of their owne power and strength But contrariewise when God shall haue giuen and liberally bestowed vpon vs many of his graces it should be to this ende that wee might so much the better vnderstande our miseries and calamities beseeching him to remedy the same and too make prouision for vs against all our euils and vices Nowe he addeth Quicken thou me in thy wye as in the ende hee sayeth quicken thou me in thy rightuousnesse This may be interpreted twoo maner of wayes Quicken thou mee in thy waye to witte O Lorde make me to walke in thy woorde that I may lyue Or els O Lorde giue mee strength to the ende I may followe thy woorde We knowe that when we withdrawe our selues from God we can not but committe all iniquitie for which is the waye of life but euen that which God sheweth vs and calleth vs vnto All they then which forsake the worde of God goe astraye and runne headlong vnto death and into euerlasting destruction Euen so it is not without cause that Dauid desireth to bee quickened in the waye of the Lorde as if he shoulde haue sayde that all they which forsake the Lorde and the waye which hee sheweth them are vndone and vtterly ouerthrowne But according to the true meaning of the place wee are to note that Dauid his meaning is rather to signifie vnto vs that all men of them selues are as it were dead that they haue no power nor strength when there is any question of walking according to the will of God True it is that in all euill wee are therein too too puissaunt and strong and so diligent in it as in nothing more to be short there is not that hee which is not therein too too able But when wee meane to walke according to the commaundementes of God wee are not able once to remoue a finger our armes and legges shal be cleane broken to be short wee are not onely weake in this but also vtterly dead therein The Papistes will confesse
to open his hand vnto vs and deale liberally with vs to haue vs to feele his mightie power and that wee might perceiue the fruite and benefite of his promises It is meete that we plant them deepely in our heartes that wee may say after the example of Dauid My hope O Lorde is in thy iudgementes For this woorde Integritie or iudgement wee haue heere before already declared signifieth nothing else but the doctrine conteined in the law of God yea although he heere vseth diuerse and sundry woordes yet doe they tende alwayes to one and the selfe same ende Loe then whether we must refer the iudgements of God to wit that that which we reade in the word of God and that which is preached vnto vs out of the same we must vnderstand and knowe to bee sure and certaine Statutes and ordinaunces and so well ordered as that they cannot bee bettered and therfore to haue all our hope and trust in them Now he goeth on and sayth So shall I alway keepe thy lawe yea for euer and euer And I will walke at libertie for I seeke thy commandements Dauid heere maketh protestation not onely of his good affection integritie but also sheweth the fruite and benefite that might come vnto him when as God shall have so holpen him and that he shall haue put in proofe the fruit of his faith Loe then how this place must be expounded O Lord when I shall once haue knowen thee to be my sauiour and felt by proofe thy mercie then will I keepe thy lawe a greate deale better As if he should haue said I shall be continually confirmed in thy obedience and that shall greatly helpe me to make alwayes forward And to say the trueth all the graces which we receiue from God should conduct and leade vs a great deale further that if wee haue already beene in a good way and forwardnesse it is to this end that wee shoulde continue in it and goe on more and more vntill such time as we come to the end It is very true that God in conducting vs looketh not for any recompence For he will lightly passe it ouer but this is spoken for our vse and instruction And when we pray vnto God we ought to seeke after all the thinges that can be which might confirme vs that we should not doubt but that God would heare our requests and that we should also vnderstand and knowe to what ende wee ought to referre those benefites which he bestoweth vpon vs and that we receiue at his hands Now then when Dauid saith I shall alwayes keepe thy lawe yea for euer and euer By this wee haue to note that accordingly as God liberally bestoweth his benefits vpon vs that our faith should be so much the more strengthened in him that we ought the rather too be inflamed with a true desire zeale to yeelde our selues fully and wholly too him to cleaue to his righteousnesse and to keepe his lawe and woorde And I woulde it pleased God that this might bee deepely imprinted in our minde But what we see the vnthankfulnesse which is as it were in vs all For God neuer ceaseth to doe vs good and will dayly giue vs newe matter to trust in him to loue and serue him But whatsoeuer he doth for vs it auaileth vs nothing for we are alwayes colde as yse there is no zeale in vs no not so much as any motion so that it seemeth wee are altogither senselesse And the rather ought we to meditate vpon this Doctrine For it is the right remedy to amend our so great lithernesse and coldenesse Let vs then learne that when Dauid sayth I shall keepe thy Law O Lorde that by this he meaneth that accordingly as God putteth vnto vs his helping hande and that wee haue had proofe of his graces that we receiue the fruite commoditie thereof which we haue hoped for in his promises that it ought to serue vs for a more ample and large confirmation and that we ought a greate deale rather too be stirred vp to loue God and to serue him and too yeelde vs vnto his worde in summe as heere it is saide too keepe his lawe But yet there is a great deale more to be considered For Dauid speaketh not heere of a blast of winde as some shall be very forwarde for a little time But hee sayeth I will alwayes keepe thy lawe yea for euer and euer Wherein he sheweth that we ought to haue such a remembraunce of the benefites of God that it neuer slip from vs. For as I haue heereof already spoken wee shall see some in this behalfe which shall be moued for a little while when as God shall haue deliuered them from any daunger and hath bestowed vppon them some fauour and grace they shall haue a very good taste and feeling and say Alas howe greately am I bounden and beholden to my God Loe a man woulde thinke that these men were well affected But in the turning of a hand no doubte it is soone forgotten or at the least if they remember it a little while they waxe colde againe and thinke no more of it Since then it is so let vs mark according to that which is spoken in this place that it is not meete that the remembrance of God his benefites should at any time be wiped out of our heartes but let vs beseech him to make vs to keepe his lawe for euer and euer and in such sort to instruct vs as that wee desire none other thing of him but to stick vnto his maiestie and to his righteousnesse It followeth That hee will walke at libertie because hee seeketh his Commaundementes To walke at liberty signifieth to go at a mans owne wil pleasure For like as when we are in a narrowe straight rowme we know not which way to turne vs but think our selues cleane pend vp Euen so also are wee ouer narrowly held in or else surely we look about vs to see if we can finde which way to get out and so doe remaine in perplexitie or doubte And is this the assuraunce and ioy that wee must haue in the lawe of God What is this it Dauid contrariwise sayth That he will walke at libertie to wit that hee will boldely walke the brode beaten way as we say after he hath sought the Commaundementes of God This is also a thing which we ought wel to obserue and keepe For the holy Ghost by the mouth of Dauid meaneth rightly to shewe vs that when we are desirous to haue our life ruled by the commaundementes of God to suffer him too bee our leader and guide and giue vnto him the conducte of all our affayres and businesses that hee will so frame himselfe vnto vs so farre foorth as hee shall knowe to bee good and expedient for our saluation And this benefite which wee receiue by the knowledge heereof is inestimable to wit that we may walke at liberty That is to say that wee are deliuered
what ende thy beliefe serueth When then wee shall haue our eyes so fixed vppon GOD who hath armed vs with his infallible trueth wee may bee able too withstande and fall out with all whatsoeuer that lifteth it selfe vpp too the contrary Wee shall haue no occasion too feare the worlde for GOD is sufficiently able too ouercome all the scruples and griefes which the Deuill shall rayse vppe agaynste vs. And thus muche as concerning this poynte Moreouer we see that when there is any question to make confession of our faith it cannot be that men shal be able to abash and feare vs with al their power and might As at this day we see when as they woulde gladly make vs too tremble What I beseech you Sir wil they say you are but euen a handfull of people Doe you thinke your selues wiser then all the Kings and Princes of the world You see that all the world are against this doctrine which you holde professe and what doe you thinke to doe True in deede that at the firste sight this were euen inough too shake vs yea were it not that we knewe and were very certaine but when we looke vnto God then all this geere vanisheth intoo smoke these are but Bladders pufte full of winde and the leaste pinnes poynte will emptie them In very deede these will bee greate fraybugges but yet it will all prooue nothing Beholde these Frogges beholde these Pismeres yea beholde these Flyes and Gnattes for they are all no better then very vermine and wormes when as they shall lifte them selues vp thus against God So then let vs learne yea let vs learne to stay our selues so vpon God as that when we shall be called too make confession of our faith since it is so that it is GOD whiche hath spoken let all the creatures in the worlde be nothing to vs warde let vs not bee ashamed and let nothing hinder and stoppe vs from mainteining of his woorde In the ende Dauid concludeth and sayth My handes also will I lifte vpp vnto thy Commaundementes which I haue loued and my study shall bee in thy statutes These twoo verses heere neede no long declaration for wee haue already had the same sentences and yet notwithstandinge Dauid sheweth vs that it is not inough to thinke of this Doctrine for a time but wee muste all the course of our life profite our selues therein more and more Loe here the principall point which we haue to note that we must take pleasure in the commaundementes of God which we haue loued to wit that wee ought to learne to conceiue such an affection and desire to followe the worde of God and to sticke thereto as that we should be fully resolued to say In very deede this is the most sweete and amiable thing that possibly can be to subiect our selues vnder the yoke of our God and to beare it and therefore wee must drawe in it and obey him Haue we done this Wee must then in steade of a number of foolish vanities wherevnto we are enclined yea and in place of the wicked affections and allurementes of Satan learne to take pleasure in the worde of God so that we may protest in trueth after the example of Dauid that they are the commandements of God which we haue loued Moreouer let vs marke well this sentence when he saith My handes also wil I lift vp vnto thy commaundementes For this is as much as if he had said O Lord I will not onely protest with my mouth that I loue thy word but I will also lift vp my hands yea as wee commonly say I will lift vp my handes to the caky God By this he letteth vs to vnderstande that if we would serue God as becommeth vs that it is not enough for vs to witnesse the truthe of God with our mouth but we must also shewe by our good and godly life that which wee protest with our mouth and that there be an accorde and sweete harmonie betweene the one and the other True it is wee shall finde some doubtes when as there shal be any question of following God but this sentence is to bee noted when hee sayeth I will lift vp my hands And to know that when God shall see that it shall surpasse our force and strength let vs pray vnto him to graunt vs that grace that we may lift vp our handes vnto his commaundementes to witte so high as we can possibly to the ende wee may take holde of his grace and vertue better then heretofore we haue done Lo in what maner we ought to doe in this case that not presuming of our owne power and strength we might praye notwithstanding this good God to make his grace so forcible in vs as that it may settle and reigne there and to haue vs know that it is not in vaine that hee calleth vs vnto him giueth vs his truthe Which thing no doubt he will doe so that wee reiect not his grace which hee so freely offereth vnto vs. And according to this holy 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 open our eyes to the ende wee may know our wretchednes the miserable conditiō wherein we stande that wee might returne to him yea and that with a certaine confidence that hee will perfourme that which he hath promised vs that we be not frustrate of our hope when as it shall stay vpon him and in his truthe but that hee will more and more strengthen vs therein vntill such time as we come to the perfect knowledge of thinges which we yet knowe not but in parte That not only he will grant vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the world c. The seuenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme ZAIN Remember the promise made vnto thy seruaunt wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust The same is my cōfort in my trouble for thy worde hath quickened me The proud haue had me exceedingly in derision yet haue I not declined from thy lawe I remember thine euerlasting iudgements O Lord and receiued comfort I am horribly afraid for the vngodly which forsake thy lawe Thy statutes haue beene my songes in the house of my pylgrimage I haue thought vpō thy name O Lord in the night season and haue kept thy lawe This I had bicause I kept thy commandements DAuid here maketh a request vnto God which wee are all wonted to make but not with such affection as hee deeth For wee can not protest after his example that all our ioye in the middest of our aduersities is in meditating and studying of that which God hath shewed vnto vs by his woorde And that it is so we see that whensoeuer any of vs shall endure and abide any grief whether runne wee then for refuge and ayde Forsooth euery of vs faineth him selfe a comfort as best pleaseth him For very fewe of
doubt of it but that the spirit of God declareth vnto vs where it is that euery of vs must fully and wholely assure himselfe And this to doe we must haue regarde too the desires wherewith wee are allured by nature for one nan is giuen too bee ambitious another to be couetous another to be lecherous In such sorte as that men are carryed away with their desires as heere before we haue declared It is meete therefore that wee retire our selues from all these vaine and peruerse desires lustes and to fight against all whatsoeuer may hinder vs to come vnto God and when wee haue thus repressed our passions and fleshly lustes let vs then desire nothing else but that God would drawe vs vnto him selfe linke vs vnto him and graunt vs the grace to keepe his Commaundements But wee are oftentimes too note that Dauid speaketh heere of a conclusion which he holdeth for moste certaine and of no light motion as when we haue sometimes a desire to goe vnto God yet it lasteth not long for the fleshe also pricketh vs on the other side and withdraweth vs from that good whereunto we had willingly bent our selues It is not inough then to haue a little desire which soone waxeth cold or rather which waxeth euen dead through contrary temptations But we must holde a sounde and stedfast conclusion as Dauid heere speaketh I haue fully determined saith he He putteth in the word to promise But the Hebrues doe take it to be fully resolued to stand firme and constant in a matter to the end not to varie or chaunge Nowe in summe let vs note that so long as men giue them selues too worldly things they doe nothing else but wander they knowe not wherein their felicitie consisteth but we must come to this conclusion heere set downe vnto vs to keepe the Commaundementes of God then shall we neuer haue occasion to haue a desire to these miserable foolish worldly things which flye about in the ayre which suffer them selues too be carryed after their friuolous and vaine desires For we shall be assured to chose a good portion when as we shall be so vnited to God by the bond of his word Nowe as we haue already touched the seconde verse conteineth a request which Dauid sayth he continually made I made my humble petitiō in thy presence with my whole hart be mercifull vnto me according to thy word Nowe in saying that he continually prayed vnto God heerein he sheweth vs what the manner is to pray well that we should be constant to follow it and not too be weary not that God needeth to be importunately vrged but it is to exercise our fayth and the better to try vs whether wee seeke all our felicitie in him or not For it is so that the holy scripture requireth cōstancy in our prayers especially and aboue all other things and not to pray vnto God this day and quite forget him to morrowe but wee must continue if we will be hearde And loe wherein we must shewe our selues to haue trusted in God that is that although it seemeth to vs that he hath stopped his eares yet for all that we must not cease too goe continually vnto him and pray vnto him an hūdred times asmuch as we did before knowing it to be no superfluous labour when as wee haue thus prayed Loe heere as touching the perseuerance whereof Dauid in this place speaketh Nowe set vs see what the substaunce of his prayer is O Lorde sayth he be mercifull vnto me according to thy worde The requeste is generall But Dauid sheweth the very springhead of all the benefites which wee are too craue of God and which also he lyberally bestoweth vppon vs aswell for our soules as for our bodyes too witte that hee is mercifull vnto vs. For God oweth vs nothing neither can we bring any thing with vs whereby wee may bee able to say that wee can prouoke our selues too doe well But this is the whole summe that he vseth it towards vs of his meere and free liberalitie Let vs then marke that Dauid his meaning is to shewe that when God reacheth foorth his hande liberally to bestowe vppon vs so many benefites as we receiue of him that the same proceedeth and commeth euen from his meere goodnesse Loe why he saith O Lorde be mercifull vnto mee Whetfore whatsoeuer thinge wee desire of God we must alwayes come with this minde to trust in his goodnesse As howe we must desire God to pardon our offences and to assiste vs with his holy spirite wee must beseeche him that wee bee not ouercome with temptations that hee will giue vs his grace whereof wee are emptie and naked that hee will feede vs that he will heale vs when wee are sicke that hee will keepe vs out of daunger or wee may make any other or particular prayers whatsoeuer Al these requests must be drawne out of the Springheade to witte that he giueth vs this of his own goodnesse and that wee knowe why it is that God giueth vs so many benefites aswell for this present life as also for the health of our soules to witte because hee hath pittie and compassion vppon vs and that wee are miserable and poore Creatures without he inclyned himselfe to be mercifull vnto vs. To bee shorte before wee enter into all the particular prayers which wee make vntof God let vs beginne at this ende and let it be the foundation whereon we must build That God hath pittie and compassion vpon vs. Now because we should be assured in our prayers Dauid addeth this which heal ready before sayde to witte according too thy word For if we desire of God that which seemeth good in our owne eyes and that wee haue not his promise that hee will heare vs this commeth of presumption and therefore wee muste come humbly and soberly with our Prayers and not after a wandering and carelesse manner neither must wee come before God with shamelesse face and boldelyer then we woulde come before men but too come vnto him in such modeste and sober manner as that nothing escape our mouthes without good warrant which thing wee are not able too doe except wee bee assured that all our Prayers are according to his heartes desire and that he alloweth and ratifieth them And how shall this be doone When as he shall haue sayde that wee shoulde not followe our owne braine giuing the raines too our owne wittes but that when God shal say Loe what I would haue you to craue of mee come vntoo mee and make your requestes in this sorte O according too those promises of God we may assure our selues to come vnto him after the example of Dauid and say O Lorde bee mercifull vnto mee according to thy word And this is an holy presumption and such one as God alloweth Nowe wee ought the better to note this doctrine when wee see that it hath not onely beene obscured and darkened in the worlde but also vtterly made
and so fatted Euen so fareth it with these cursed contēners of God which haue no regarde vnto euerlasting life but are wholely giuen vpp too their God the belly They wallowe them selues in their owne greace as a Swine which hath his groine alwayes in the trough Nowe contrariwise Dauid sayth that all his delight hath beene in the woorde of God Whereby hee doth vs to witte that although God had made him fatte yet that he wallowed not for all that in his owne greace but delighted in that spirituall gifte which was giuen him because that God had taught it him in his Schoole Loe then what we haue to gather out of this place that although wee see the greater parte of the worlde contemne God yet must we not be abashed thereat And why so Let vs well consider wherein men doe put their chiefe felicitie and wee shall finde them too be lyke vnto Oxen and Swine desiring naught but to liue heere in this world without looking any farther Nowe wee must haue a farther regarde if we will serue God as too him appertayneth to witte that wee take such pleasure and delight in the worde of God that wee bee no more giuen too the worlde as we are ouermuch And although God giueth vs aboundaunce yet that wee haue our ease and commodities in this worlde let vs not settle our mindes on them but knowe that all these are but pety small meanes and necessaryes but let vs labour to goe too the principall and acknowledge him too be our Father and Sauiour And when we knowe him too be so then let vs clime vpp vnto him and too that euerlasting life wherevnto hee inuyteth and calleth vs. Loe I say what wee haue heere too retaine Moreouer if God tameth vs by affliction Let vs come to that which Dauid addeth to witte That it was good for him that he had beene in trouble Although then that God pulleth back his hand and that in steade of gently intreating vs hee handleth vs roughly in steade of sending vs plentie of wealth he causeth vs to suffer hunger and thirst in steade of giuing vs health hee greeueth vs with diseases that beeing vexed with many anguishes and tormentes so that wee knowe not what too doe yet must wee alwayes looke to the ende to be comforted with Dauid in saying It is a good turne for mee O Lorde that I haue beene in trouble That I may learne thy Statutes Nowe since it hath so fallen out that Dauid was afflicted to the ende he might be the better disposed too learne the ordinaunces of God what shall become of vs which are full of worldely vanities Let vs then knowe that wee had neede to be corrected by the hand of God and to be tyed short if we will profite in the doctrine of saluation Loe then how we must practice the admonition of Dauid And when we shall haue so done we may conclude and say with that which is set downe in the laste verse to wit That the lawe of God is more deere vnto vs then Golde or Siluer And this is it that we must doe in this point wee must esteeme and make much of the worde of God as it is woorthy and not to stay our selues on the thinges of this worlde but to looke alwayes farther off to wit vnto heauen When then wee shall haue profited our selues thus by the afflictions which God shall send vs hee will bestowe his grace vpon vs by little little that we shal so esteeme of his word as that we shall wholy stick to it And let vs beseech him that it would please him too dispoyle vs of all our wicked fleshly desires and affections to cause vs to craue none other thing but that he wil reigne and liue in 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 woulde please bim too take from vs the wicked affections whiche might turne vs away from him and from his seruice and that wee might forget all whatsoeuer might turne vs from the right way of saluation that we desire nothing but that wee may attaine too that euerlasting life which we looke for in heauen That it would please him not too suffer vs to liue heere like brute beastes not knowing to what end we were created in this world but that we might acknowledge him to be our Creator our Father and Sauiour that wee might subiect our selues vnto him as his creatures and obey him as true and faithfull Children vntill such time as hee shall take vs out of this world to make vs partakers of that euerlasting blisse immortall inheritance which he hath prepared in Heauen and which is purchased for vs by our Lorde Iesus Christe That hee will not onely graunt vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations in the worlde c. The tenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme IOD Thine hands haue made and fashioned mee O giue me therefore vnderstanding that I may learne thy Commaundements So they that feare thee when they see mee shall reioyce because I haue put my trust in thy word I knowe O Lorde that thy Iudgementes are right and that thou hast affficted me iustly I pray thee that thy mercie may comfort me according to thy promise vnto thy Seruant Let thy tender mercies come vnto mee that I may liue for thy lawe is my delight Let the proude be confounded for they haue dealte wickedly and falsely with mee but I meditate in thy Commaundements Let such as feare thee and know thy Testimonyes turne vnto mee Let my heart bee vpright in thy Statutes that I bee not ashamed WEE ought to holde and keepe this rule and order in our praiers to God not too measure his affection and loue after our own imaginations thoughts but to acknowledge him to be such one as in deede he is as he sheweth himselfe vnto vs to be And loe why he saith by his Prophet Esaiah after he had declared that he would haue compassion to saue his church Thinke not sayth he that I am like vnto you for there is as great distance betweene my thoughtes and yours as is betweene Heauen and Earth Let vs then measure the goodnesse of God after our vaine imaginations But as I haue already sayd let vs knowe that it is not in vaine which he declareth and testifieth vnto vs that the good will and loue which he beareth vs are infinite thinges which wee must beholde by faith onely And it is to the ende that we should come vnto him with greater boldenesse too call vpon him not doubting but that we shall obtaine whatsoeuer wee craue at his hands yea euen asmuch as shall be expedient for our saluation And according to this Dauid heere setteth downe that God had made him As if he had said I come not vnto thee O Lord as we commonly come vnto men I set not downe any merite or
such time as he deliuereth vs when we haue all this we may then say with Dauid that we haue displaied and layde wide open our life to serue God and this shall be a good and sure profe thereof But if we haue not this constancie a great number may make a wonderfull shewe of godlinesse before the face of the worlde but all that shall proue nothing And so let vs well consider of this place for Dauid spake not this for him selfe but for our common instruction And besides if we will in deede profit our selues by this doctrine let vs consider that if we sometimes see the apparaunt dangers of death so that wee be pressed downe on euery side not to thinke it to be any strange thing And why so Bicause the same came too passe as greatly sometimes to Dauid For he saieth that he was not without continuall trouble My soule saieth he is alwaies in my hand my life is as it were I can not tell where it is put foorth to abide all mischiefe that it seemeth I were at deathes doore euery minute of an houre If Dauid was alwayes thus troubled and yet perseuered in the praysing of God I beseech you ought not we to bee ashamed to be faint harted when as it shal please God to exercise vs onely but now and then Euen so although afflictions oppresse vs yet must we not cease too fight against them attending and crauing the helpe of God And thus much for this And besides when wee are thus assured let vs seeke our comfort where it may hee founde that is in the woorde of God and to be thus constant neuer to forget the lawe of God Let vs thē consider and obserue this doctrine For it is not without cause that Dauid sayeth That although my soule bee in my hande yet haue I not forgotten thy lawe Hee sheweth vs heereby that as wee are weake so we shoulde be soone shaken and in the ende throwne downe when as wee shoulde see our selues laide wyde open to death Wee then hauing this vnderstanding ought to stand vpon our guarde to the ende the diuell might neuer beguile vs vnder the coloure that God had as it were forsaken vs and that we should be as it were in the shadowe of death Moreouer we see what doltishnesse or rather beastlinesse this is amongst the Papistes to take this place for proofe of freewill My soule is in my hand to wit I am able of mine owne nature and of my owne proper strength to discerne betweene good and euill and to do whatsoeuer I thinke best If brute beastes could speake they would speake a little wiselier then thus For to what purpose should Dauid say although O Lorde that my soule is in my hande yet haue I not forgotten thy lawe He should altogether speake cleane against nature But as we haue already declared this is a kinde of speeche much vsed in the scripture to say that the life of a man is in his hande it is as it were in the winde or I know not where Let vs now come vnto the protestation which he addeth The vngodly haue laid a snare for me but yet I swarued not from thy commaundementes This sentence is like vnto the other which we are about to handle For hee sheweth howe his life was in his hande too witte that ouer and besides the afflictions which were directly sent him from the hande of God that the wicked also persecuted him aswel and besides the violences and outrages that were doone vntoo him hee had also secrete ambushes laide for him See then howe diuersly hee is oppressed and yet he neuer shronke from the lawe of God In the ende he addeth and saith Thy testimonies haue I claymed as myne heritage for euer for they are the very ioy of mine hart Nowe heere hee sheweth howe he was able to remaine firme constant without being withdrawne by any temptations but that hee alwaies stood stedfastly in the lawe of God that is bicause hee alwaies chose it for his heritage that is for his chiefe felicitie For this worde heritage in the scripture is taken for the thing that man moste desireth and that which moste properly belongeth vnto him To be shorte it is such a similitude as that is which is spoken of the Treasure as if a man shoulde call it the souereigne good the true and perfect felicitie See then at what ende wee must beginne if in the middest of death we wil abide so constantly as Dauid hath doone too keepe the lawe of god that is I say to choose it for our inheritance And how is that First of al we must vnderstande that al the commodities wherevntoo wee are ouermuch giuen are transitory without certaintie and without propertie For wee may want them euery handewhyle neither can wee enioy any thing be it neuer so iustly giuē but that we may be robbed of it betwixt this day and too morowe What is then the surest felicitie which wee can haue and may enioy for euer it is euen the woorde of God And this is it which wee ought chiefely too desire and wherein wee are especially too reioyce Lo then how wee must vnderstande that which Dauid heere protesteth That hee hath chosen the woorde of God for his heritage Yea and he setteth it downe by and by after that it hath beene the very ioye of his heart For vntill such time as wee haue had this taste in the woorde of God that wee truely ioye in it it is a signe that we neuer yet had any good affection thereto at all Although wee haue knowne that our chiefe felicitie lieth therein yet are wee not able well too keepe our selues in it vntill such time as wee haue conceiued that it is that wherein wee must delight and in none other thing Nowe it is impossible that wee should euer take any delight or pleasure in the lawe of God except we did knowe that he declareth him selfe to vs in it that hee is our father and taketh vs for his children that wee haue a testimonie that our sinnes are forgiuen vs that wee may haue accesse vnto him and hee able to call vpon him in all our necessities If God sayeth onely vnto vs loe what it is that I would haue you to doe I would haue you too take mee for your God to serue me with all your heart if we haue but these two tables to looke into to knowe what wee haue to doe shall the lawe of God delight vs No but contrariwise it shall feare vs. We see then very well when Dauid sayth that hee tooke all his delight and pleasure in the commandementes of God that he had not simply the bare worde of the lawe to say that God commaunded him that which he ought to do but that he also ioyned the promises thereto bicause that God willing his children to come vnto him promiseth to make them feele his goodnesse and fatherly loue which hee vseth towardes those that are his To
they shall not be assayled neither yet that the wicked will not craftely goe about to worke them mischiefe but yet so as that God will be their buckler and defend them with his mightie power And namely hee sayth The proude Because that they which are our enemyes and make warre against vs haue such an vnbrideled libertie as that they thinke neither God nor yet any other liuing creature is able to stay them but that they will bring to passe whatsoeuer they haue determined Since then it is so that we haue too deale with such kinde of people as are both stout and cruel who lifte them selues vpp against all trueth that neither the feare of GOD nor yet naturall honesty can stoppe them but that they will destroye whether it be right or wrong as we say for this cause Dauid sayth O Lord let not the proude doe me wrong And so as often as we shall see this boldenesse in men to lift themselues vp and to vomit out their pestilent malice against vs let vs flye vnto GOD and beseech him too holde his holy hande ouer vs to represse so great and insolent arrogancie This beeing done although men for their partes make such attempts yet shall they neuer bring them to passe For God will holde them back as it were with a sharpe brake Nowe if this petition came euer in season it commeth nowe at this day in very good season For wee see how many the enemyes of God are which bend themselues against the Gospell wee see the malice and obstinacy throughout the whole worlde And so it is not possible but that a man which feareth God must needes be assayled troubled on all sides Seeing then that men are so furious to wrong vs so much the rather ought we to be carefull to make this request vnto God with Dauid yea and that with such a confidence as that we should not doubt but that when wee are vnder his protection he shall bee sufficient too maintaine and defende vs. Nowe it followeth Mine eyes haue fayled in looking for thy saluation and for thy iust promise We shall not neede to stande long vppon this sentence because it hath beene already handled heere before Dauid onely protesteth that he hath looked for such helpe from God as he desired And that is to shewe that he prayed not hypocritically but faythfully And this is a thing which we ought throughly to marke For wee thinke our selues too haue doone very substancially and sufficiently when as wee haue pronounced and rightly placed our words in the time of prayer but if wee shall haue spoken neuer so loude and with neuer so full and open mouth and yet haue emptie or fast closed vp heartes emptie I say and voyde of all trust and fast closed vpp it is a moste manifest token that wee neuer surely looked for any succour at the hands of God and therefore beholde why of very right all our prayers are vnprofitable and to no purpose And so when as wee wil beseech the Lord our god to take our cause into his hād to help vs let vs take this with vs which dauid here sheweth in this place by his example to wit let vs attend and looke for our saluation and deliuerance from God Yea and let vs cōsider of that which is said according to the word of thy righteousnes For by this he signifieth to vs vpō whom we must looke and cast our eyes when as we would throughly stirre vp our selues vnto such an hope to wit vnto the promises which God hath giuen vs for if this be not in vs it can neuer be said to be any more hope but a vaine imagination which we haue forged too our selues for to hope or trust in God is to be established in his promises For if a man imagine a thing which seemeth good in his own sight after leaneth thereto this mā trusteth not in God but in him self So then if we looke to haue any help at the hāds of God we must haue a sure testimonie of his will we must be sure that he loueth vs and that when he loueth vs hee will not fayle vs in our neede And how shal we be assured of this It shal be by the onely meane of his worde Nowe bicause men are so hard to be brought to rest them selues vpon God and not to cōtent them with his promises Dauid saith these promises to be iust according to the word of thy righteousnesse saith he It is not in vayne that hee thus intituleth the word of God And why so For he thinketh that if he haue but his bare worde that it is enough for him And why so For God maketh not vnto vs liberall and large promises as men doe and then deceiueth vs. His wordes are iust And as he saieth in an other place Psal 12.6 his wordes are like to pure siluer which is tried in the fier and hath beene seuen times purified in the furnace Euen so is it with all the promises of God we ought to be very assured of them Bicause hee is faithfull and iust and that there is nothing but righteousnesse and truthe in all that he sayth Now Dauid goeth further on for he speaketh not of a simple affection But saith that his eyes haue fayled as if he should haue said that he was hardly so resolued and not without great paine By this hee sheweth vs that his faith was so troubled as that hee knewe not what would become of him that hee had great and strong conflictes that he was in marueilous anguishes troubles so that he was as a man halfe dead and yet that he was armed and fenced amiddest al these hard cases with the hope trust which he had in God See what the words import which he vsed that his eyes fayled for the health and succoure which hee looked for at the handes of God Will we then haue a right hope and such an one as God alloweth of Let vs then not trust onely when wee are quiet and at rest ne yet be throwne downe by any temptations but when as we shal be in our extreamest troubles that wee know not at all what shal become of vs that we shal see nothing els but death before vs and round about vs here vpon I say let vs alwayes be firme and constant trusting that God will be our sauiour since he hath so promised vs. Loe howe we may make this protestation as Dauid here doeth Nowe it followeth Deale with thy seruant according to thy louing mercies and teache me thy statutes Here it may very wel seeme that Dauid maketh two petitions but yet they tende both to one ende For in the first part of this verse he sheweth how he desireth and trusteth to be heard to wit through the meere mercy of God As if he should haue said O Lorde teach me thy statutes and teach mee them not for that I thinke my selfe worthy of them but bicause thou art pitifull and
knowest my neede and hast promised also to helpe all those which call vppon thee Deale then O Lorde with thy seruant according too thy mercie to the ende thou mightest teache me By this we see that which I haue already touched to wit that this verse conteineth not two petitions but one onely And yet notwithstanding Dauid so setteth it forth in declaring that when he commeth to God to praye him to teach him that he doeth it not to the ende that hee presumeth of his merittes neither yet to make vaunt that hee deserueth any thing of him Wherefore then Forsooth bicause hee looketh and trusteth to the meere mercy of God And in very dede this is a farre more precious thing then that which Dauid here demaundeth to be taught the statutes of God to say that it hangeth not vpon our merites neither yet of any worthinesse of ours It is a question to know the way of euerlasting life and wherein it consisteth lieth It is very meete then that God do it bicause he is pitifull that he vse his goodnesse towardes vs and looketh to none but vnto him selfe bicause he is good and that it pleaseth him to put to his helping hand to those which are his Now although he hath here spoken of an excellent thing yet of all the petitions which wee make were they the least in the worlde we alwaies ought to laye this foundation yea and to staye vpon it that is vpon the mercie of God If we should onely demande but a droppe of water or a morcell of bread wee must not thinke too obtaine by reason of our desert as if God paid vnto vs our wages but his mercy must alwaies go before for that is the cause why we receiue so many benefits at his hand and especially that we are taught his statutes Now it followeth I am thy seruauant graunt me therefore vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies This is a more large exposition of the verse going before he hath said O Lord deale with me according to thy mercies now he saith I am thy seruant And how is this it should seeme that there is some diuersitie betwixt these two sayings For doth not Dauid in calling him self the seruant of God set downe before what seruice he hath done him Nowe let vs note that for the first place that it is not said for any bragge nor that hee was so able a man to attaine vnto any such worthinesse neither yet that he deserued to be preferred before others hee meaneth not that this honour apperteined vnto him of right What then It is as much as if he had said O Lord I am thine Now commeth it of our selues that wee are the seruauntes of God haue wee obtained this estate or degree as of our selues Alas it is very farre of for we haue it of free gift Since the time that we were the bondslaues of Satan God hath takē vs vnto him self to be of his houshold and of his number In that then that we are his it is not bicause wee haue deserued it but bicause hee hath called vs vnto him of his free mercie and goodnesse And in deede if a man who was first of a base cōdition serueth a noble man he will not say that he was worthy of the seruice of such a maister nor yet that he was put vnto him therefore but wil thus say sir I cōfesse that you haue receiued me into your seruice of your meere fauour and grace and haue done me the honour which apperteined not vnto me And thus should wee most wretched wormes of the earth say Loe God who ceaseth not still to do vs good and yet we will bee so arrogant as too determine to attribute vnto our selues I know not what as though he had herein nothing to do with vs. Nowe I beseech you tell me whether is this to goe And that which is more let vs consider a little what seruice it is that God might drawe and plucke out from vs to doe vnto his maiestie If he shall leaue vs vnto our selues to bee as wee are about what shall he employe vs and what seruice can we do him For loe both wee and all that is within vs are altogether giuen to wickednesse Wee cannot once thinke any good how shall we then do any Next of all Dauid meaneth not that hee beeing called to serue God was able too discharge himselfe thereof for he felt him selfe vtterly vnable to do it And so as touching this place we must not thinke that he meant to make any vaūt of the seruice which he had done to God but it is as much as if hee had said O Lord thou hast shewed me that fauour and grace too bee one of thy number and hast receiued me into it through thy bountie and goodnes I beseeche thee therfore to continue the same thy goodnesse and too heape grace vppon grace in me as in that behalfe thou art wonted to do Let vs now come vnto his petition He sayeth O graunt me vnderstanding that I may keepe thy testimonies We haue already saide that hee handled that which he had lately spoken For by these wordes he meaneth that we should be alwayes like beastes vntill such time as God had opened vnto vs the spirite or vnderstanding of humaine things Wery well yet shall we learne them according too our naturall disposition It is very true that it shal be according to such measure as God shall therein giue it vnto vs but yet it is as it were after a naturall maner Moreouer when wee shall talke of the secretes of the heauenly life of the wisedome which God sheweth vnto vs in his worde there must all men confesse that all their senses faile them and that all their reason is dead and buried What is then to be done Let vs come to the remedy which Dauid here giueth vs to wit that we desire of God to haue vnderstanding that we might become very wel learned For without that we must continue and remaine still in our beastlinesse And this prayer answereth and wery well agreeth with that which we haue seene in the verse next before as that matter hath beene already touched Now it followeth soone after It is time for the Lorde to laye to his hand for they haue destroyed thy lawe Here Dauid maketh a petition against the contemners of God and transgressers of his lawe saying That it is time for the Lord to lay his hād since that he seeth his law to be so destroyed that there is no accompt made of it It is very true that Dauid greatly desired the conuersion of all men and by little and little their saluation And it is no doubt but that hee prayed too God with a good affection that it would please him to bring to repentance all those which he see to bee lead vnto wickednesse but yet hee was not without this zeale which wee see in this place that is that God would execute his
iudgements vpon the obstinate and vpō all those which were altogether stubburne And see also howe we ought to temper our affections that when we see men go to do mischief let vs haue compassion vpon them if we se them giuen to sinne and wickednesse if we see them to be in the way of perdition let vs trauell too bring them againe into the right way to procure their saluatiō as much as in vs lieth and we ought to desire and to pray for it haue we had any such affection Then let vs neuer cease to pray vnto God to stretch forth his hand vpon those his enemies whom he knoweth to be altogether desperat It is very true we must not condemne them But wee ought rather as I haue already said to vse the effect of charitie towardes all and pray vnto God that he would saue them but bicause there are a great number which are stubburne and without amendement we ought to beseech God to shewe him selfe a iudge ouer those whome hee knoweth to bee such And why so Bicause they drawe the simple and ignoraunt vnto wickednesse and are an offence vnto them bicause also they make the worde of God to be euil spoken of and are the occasion that libertie is giuen to al euil When then we see the name of God to be euill spoken of that there is no reckening made of his word that all doctrine is cast vnderfoote we are to praye vnto him to remedie it It is time saith he for God to lay to his hād for they haue destroyed thy lawe O Lorde He here speaketh in the third person after directeth him selfe to God And why doth he so Although that this order is not alwayes to bee obserued that he which prayeth vnto God is to continue in one self same person yet it is so that in this place it seemeth that Dauid meant to speake with a greater vehemency when he sayth O Lord lay to thy hand As if he should haue shewed what the office of God is for if hee had simply saide It is time O Lord that thou diddest looke vnto the matter bicause thy lawe is destroyed this had not beene spoken with the like vehemencie as when he saide it is time that thou O Lorde lay to thy hande for by this saying hee declareth what the office of God is to wit to be iudge of the worlde and beseecheth him to lay foorth his iustice in punishing the offences and horrible wickednesses committed here below that after he had suffered them a long time he desireth him to prouide for the punishing of all those which had beene so obstinate and hard hearted against him Now by this we are admonished when as we see that the law of God is as it were vtterly cast vnderfoote his doctrine to be a reproche amongst men and all right and equitie ouerthrowne so that there is nothing but confusion throughout that then we ought to pray vnto God the more earnestly to the end it might be known that he doth his office If this euer were necessary it is at this present most necessary For let vs cōsider the estate of the world I beseeche you what hauocke is there made of the lawe of God Are wee not come to the very extremitie to contemne all doctrine of saluation When God at this day speaketh vnto vs what eare giue we vnto him and how reuerently See heere hee hath bestowed vppon vs a singular grace at this daye when as his worde hath beene once againe published Let vs beholde our vnthankefulnesse Let vs lay all these things together and we shall see that the maiestie of God his woorde is no more esteemed then the very pyll of an onion as wee saye See I pray you too what a point wee are growne and come euen vnto such an horrible and brutishe impietie as is most lamētable Moreouer let vs looke into the maner of our life and the order of gouernement shall we finde either iustice loyaltie reason or modestie no but cleane contrary wee shall see the whole state of our life and order of gouernement full of treason malice crueltie and violence al full of blasphemie against God plentie of drunkennesse gluttonie and dissolutenesse store of lecherie and all other vyllanies whatsoeuer To be short it seemeth that the whole world hath conspired to exceede euen vnto the highest degree of wickednesse When then wee see the lawe of God to be thus ouerthrowne euery maner of waye ought not wee to giue our mindes a great deale more then wee doe to beseeche God to take order to prouide for the same Now when we shall haue such a zeale to pray vnto God as wee see that Dauid had let vs not doubt but that he wil remedy all the confusions which we see to be at this day And now he concludeth and sayeth Therefore loue I thy commandementes aboue gold yea aboue most fine golde Therefore I esteeme all thy commaundements most iust and all false waies I vtterly abhorre See here what a notable protestation he maketh such one as we ought throughly to marke For whē Dauid hath said here before that the wicked haue destroied the lawe yea speaking of no small number of men but as of all in general seeing al the world to exceede to be corrupt hee addeth for this cause O Lord I haue loued thy cōmandements aboue all gold yea and aboue most fine gold I haue loued them in all through al haue vtterly abhorred all false wayes Nowe I haue saide that this is an excellent protestation considering the circumstances For if Dauid had dwelt amongest the godly faithfull ones which had serued God and walked in his feare then it might haue beene said that it was an easie matter for him to haue conformed him selfe vnto them For although we see men alwayes enclined to euill yet they are many times reduced and framed to goodnesse through good examples But I pray you in what time was it that Dauid liued Forsooth in such a time as that he was compassed with the despisers of God hee see nothing but following of euill throughout the worlde hee see as it were a madde and diuelish impietie he see euery thing full of all infection to bee short there was neither iustice nor equitie no feare of God nor yet any religion And yet notwithstanding he saith that he loued the word of God and his commaundements and that hee made more accompt of them then of all the most precious things in the world Let vs thē learne to loue the word of God not only whē as wee shall be stirred vp by those which keepe vs company to serue God all with one accorde but also when we shall bee amongest peruerse and frowarde people that wee bee as it were in hell amiddest all the deuilles yet to perseuer in this affection and not to leaue following of the worde of God that whatsoeuer offences wee shall see committed by men that they withdrawe vs
that it may as easily be perceued that there is no such knowledg ingrauen in our harts as to be assured therof To be short this is fardest of from our mindes when we shal say thus I speake now of those which are not yet throughly instructed by the spirit of God Neither yet let vs think this too be a common ordinary thing when as Dauid saith That the testimonies of God are nothing but true righteous For although we haue learned somwhat out of them yet is not this inough vntil such time as we are conformed framed vnto them that we fully wholy agree with this saying cōmendation which is heere giuen to the law of God Now because Dauid would shew with what affectiō he is moued he protesteth that he was not only greued whē as he felt in himself any rebellion against God but whē he perceiued it in others that he conceiued a wonderful sorrow and griefe yea euen a memelous torment of minde For hee sayeth That his zeale had euen consumed him that he was as one deade and so throwne downe as hee coulde not be more Now he namely speaketh of his enemies and of such as had affiled him But hee signifieth anon after that all the mischiefes and iniuryes which they had done vnto him did not halfe so mightily greeue him as the contempte which he kriewe to be in them touching the lawe of God For hee sayth My zeale hath euen consumed me because mine enemyes haue forgotten thy woordes Heere then Dauid sheweth in effect that hee was not so greatly greeued nor yet so sorrowfull for all the euils and wrongs which he indured at the handes of men as too see the woord of God to be cast vnder feete and clcerely forgotten See heere I say a moste sure testimony that he highly preferred the word of God before his owne person that he had not that pleasure in his life nor in whatsoeuer concerned the same as he had in the reuerēce which al the creatures of God ought to haue towards his maiestie Nowe if he had not had this zeale he could neuer haue bene thus grieued and vexed when as men made no reckoning of the word of God and cast it behinde their backs And heere we are throughty too consider that Dauid spake not in this place of a meane sorrowe For then this had beene inough to haue said Alas my God I haue beene a great deale mote greeued to see the wicked cōtemne thy word then when as they persecuted my self although that I wis sore troubled greuously oppressed yet had I greater regard to thy law then to alwhatsoeuer concerned mine owne person This had bin inough say I if Dauid had said but thus much but he went a great deale farther saying The zeale of the house of God hath euen gnawne and eaten me vp Heere he saith that he was consumed brought to nothing fo that he had no strength in himself Now here we must note by the way that Dauid spake not this to bragge of him self but rather hath set foorth this his example for our better instruction to the ende we might learne to haue the honour of God and the reuerence of his woorde in such recommendation as that when we see the worlde to make light of it and too forget it we should be grieued and tormented a great deale more then if we did abide all the griefes extreeme wronges and iniuries that were possible yea that all our particular benefite or domage and whatsoeuer is most deare ought to be nothing vnto vs in respect of this light reckoning of the word of God Loe here what holsome lessons and instructions we haue to gather out of this place Nowe when he saith that it grieued him to see the word of God cleane forgotten what then shall become of the matter when as men shall not onely forget it but euen with a most detestable furie oppose them selues wholy against it As at this day we shal not onely say that the word of God is forgotten but men of a set purpose runne violently vpon it vtterly to abolishe it And to proue it to bee so I beseeche you whence commeth this crueltie and furie of the Papistes but bicause that they are purposed clerely to goe against it to be angry with God not abiding too suffer them selues to be subiect vnto him by any maner of meanes They will not say thus in plaine woordes but wee may iudge of the matter so farre foorth as wee see it For howe should it be possible that they should so rage against the knowne and certaine truth if they were not euen the very professed enemies of God and without they went about to stand against him euē to the hard hedge as we say I will not denie but that men many times shall forget the word of God when as they shal be carried away with their wicked affections As thus when a man is greatly giuen to lecherie this villainous desire so blindeth him as that hee clerely forgetteth whatsoeuer he hath heard spoken against it neuer so little before to wit they which defile their bodies with lechery do deface as much as in them lieth the image of God pollute his temple deuide and pull in pieces the body of Iesus Christ shut them selues quite out of the kingdome of heauen and prouoke the heauy wrath and curse of God against them And yet an whoremaister forgetteth all these notable sayings which are set downe too keepe him within his reyne The couetous man also forgetteth what equitie and right is let him be admonished thereof neuer so often as to bee pitifull to his neighbours to helpe the poore and needy rather then to take away an other mans goods and substance and to be so giuē to our own gaine to procure and profit the welfare of our neighbours rather then to be giuen too seeke our owne priuate commoditie A couetous man I say will quite forget all this And why so Forsooth bicause he is blinded with this couetous desire of gayne and too heape vp together the goods of this world See then when it is that the worde of God shall be forgotten verely euen then when as men shall be drunken with their inordinate greedy passiōs But they which set them selues against God yea with a fury frensy vtterly to abrogate his worde too turne his truth into leasings these mē I say do not onely forget the word of God but remember them selues of it too too much euen to sett them selues purposely against it And we need to go no further but euen into the state of Popery to see such a villanous and detestable impietie For we shal see these contemners of God which are euen here amōgst vs yea and which come sometimes to defile the temple of God to thrust in their swynish groynes and to scorne the doctrine which shal be read which maketh euen the very deuils in hell too tremble Wee shal see then here
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
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
Ceremonies ô forsake mee not ouerlonge BEloued we ought to be greatly ashamed of our selues when as our good God and heauenly Father goeth aboute by all meanes possible too drawe vs vnto him and yet wee in no wise will come nighe him but rather as is commonly said do pul our heads out of the coller and hale backwarde If there were none other testimonie hereof againste vs but this Psalme which I am heere nowe in hand about to handle it might suffice The summe whereof is this to shewe vnto vs what grace the Lorde our God offereth vnto vs when as we are taught the straight rule and order by which wee may rightly and truely serue him wherein consâ—steth the whole effect of our saluation and the same to bee the very way and meane to com therunto When as God then granteth vnto vs his grace to be thus instructed by his woorde beholde he hath now giuen vnto vs an vnspeakeable treasure and impossible too bee sufficiently valued By this Psalme is declared vntoo vs that this is the very vse of the lawe of God and also of all the holy Scripture and that we are instructed and exhorted too profite our selues by that which is there offred vnto vs. But because that when any talke is ministred of drawing vs to God wee are so blockishe and dull that it is pittie and lamentable to see and albeit that God approcheth neere vnto vs and that wee haue many and sundry times cleerely forgotten all whatsoeuer wee haue vnderstoode and learned of him see heere what an ayde and helpe he hath added for our behoofe which is this that his will and meaning is that this Psalme shoulde bee drawne and framed into an order of eight verses aparte and that all the verses of euery eight aparte should begin with a seuerall letter after the order of an A.B.C. As if he should say It shall not be materiall that we be profounde learned men for our instruction in that which is necessary to our saluation But that the doctrine is common aswell to the learned as to the vnlearned Are our wittes and memoryes growen so short Let vs then recken and tell vpon our fingers when as wee haue learned A.B.C. Let vs then ioyne eight verses togither and so eight by eight go through the whole crosserow and wee shall haue the whole Psalme at our fingers endes What shall we farther say If wee will hereby profite our selues no way neither yet vouchsafe to hearken vnto our good God ne suffer vs to be so familiarly guyded by him yea euen vnto that thing which is more then necessary may it not be very well sayd that we are al most accursed True it is that verses in deede beginne not either with the English or yet the Latine letters but with the Hebrue wherin Dauid made and wrote this Psalme Notwithstanding so it is that the wil and purpose of the holy ghost is to make vs to fieele and vnderstand that which before I haue declared to witt that the doctrine herein conteyned is not onely see downe for great Clearkes which haue gone to schoole ten or twentie yeeres but also for the most simple to the ende none shoulde pretende any excuse of ignoraunce And herewithal let vs note this by the way That weal ought too knowe and vnderstand this Psalme as perfectly as our Pater noster as we vsually say But here we must not say as a number of men doo that our wit capacities are not so excellent and fyne as to comprehende vnderstande the holy scriptures and besides that oure memorie will not serue too reteine and keepe that whiche sometymes is preached vntoo vs. A straunge case wee will easely retaine and keepe in minde not onely vayne and foolishe songes and ditties but also such as are both wanton dissolute euen such as S. Paule sayth doe corrupt and poyson good manners for this horrible infection is always shutte vp for an euil intent and purpose For if wee shall heare any villainous and ribaudrous song which shall only stirre vs vp all to all filthy lust and shamelesnesse the same by and by we retaine with great ease Beholde nowe how the Lorde our God here teacheth vs as it were by an A. B. C. a moste excellent song amongst the rest by which we may learne to rule order our liues whereby also he exhorteth vs to well dooing to comforte vs in all our afflictions to ratifie vnto vs the promisses of saluation too open vnto vs the Gates of his euerlasting Kingdome that wee might enter into euerlasting life and all this is contayned within this A. B. C. of this present Psalme and yet wee will all say that our memory is ouer shorte and our witte too too grosse or weake to holde it Nowe I beseech you tell mee this will this excuse goe for payment or not Verely I beleeue not wherfore let vs learne to bestowe our whole indeuour and study to recorde the lessons which are heere taught vs that we may be heerafter throughly acquainted with this Psalme if we wil be repured takeÌ„ to be the children of God And seeing we see our nature to be giuen to many vngodly and pernicious or at the least to very vnprofitable thing let vs yet retaine and holde that which shall be moste profitable for vs and the rather because that God so abaseth himselfe to the moste rude simple and ignorauntest emong vs. For mine owne parte because I will frame my selfe to that manner and order which the holy Ghoste hath heere set downe I shall inforce my selfe to followe as briefely as I can the plaine and true meaning of the text and without continuing in longe exhortations I will onely doe my beste too mince or shred as we say the wordes of Dauid because wee may the better digest them For performance whereof I determine by the grace of God too finishe eight verses aparte in euery Sermon and to holde my selfe with in such a compasse as that the most ignoraunt shall easily acknowledge and confesse that I meane nothing else but to make open and playne the simple and pure substaunce of the text And nowe let vs come to the contents if the first viii verses apart beginning with the first letter Aleph Blessed are they saith Dauid which are vpright in the way and walke in the Lawe of the Lorde First of all he doth vs heere to witte that we vnderstand not wherin our chiefe blessednesse consisteth and the reason is because that wee are blinde and doe liue in the worlde as sauage and wilde beastes vtterly voyde of sense and reason and suffer our selues to be ledde and carryed away of our brutishe and swinish affections and lustes And because it is so that we are thus carryed away it is a manifest signe and token that wee discerne not good from euill or else that the Deuill hath so bewitched vs that wee thinke thereof no whitte at all True it is that
This diuersitie of woords vsed heere in this Psalme by Dauid is not superfluous For it sheweth vs that the Lawe of God doth hot onely commaunde vs how wee should liue and after what sorte but doth also certifie vs of the good will of God promiseth vs saluation leadeth vs too Iesus Christe stirreth vs vp too call vpon the name of God giueth vs Ceremonies to confirme vs therein and moreouer that it guideth holdeth vs within our limits And surely there is not one verse in all this Psalme although there are very many wherein there is not mention made of one of these wordes too witte either of the lawe of God or of his Commaundementes either else of his Ordinaunces Statutes or Testimonyes or of his voice Iudgementes or Iustice These wordes are heere so many times repeated as that there is not one verse but that there is one or sometimes twoo of them in it as heereafter wee shall see throughout the whole Psalme And now let vs come to the matter heerin contayned Blessed are they which keepe the Testimonies of the Lorde and which seeke him with their whole heart First Dauid decalareth heere as afore said that wee haue greatly profited in the lawe when as wee shall acknowledge and confesse what affection and loue God beareth vs and how we ought to assure our selues of his good will and fatherly loue And afterward he telleth vs to what end and purpose it is that God graunteth vnto vs such an assurance bicause saith he we should seeke him For this is most sure when as we shall vnderstand God to be such a one as he declareth himselfe vnto vs by his worde it is impossible but that wee shoulde stirre vp our selues and be moued to giue our selues wholy vnto him And to proue that this is true behold the inestimable bountie and goodnes declared vnto vs in our God what man is hee that is so peruerse and voide of sense and reason which wil not be contented to place him self there where he thinketh his whole blessednes and felicitie consisteth and lieth Euen so likewise when as become careles in seeking after the Lorde our God it is a signe and token that we haue vnderstoode nothing of that which he hath shewed vnto vs of his goodnes and mercie and of all his fatherly affection which is witnessed vnto vs in the law and in the holy scriptures But because it shall be no great adoe for a number of men to make a countenance of seeking the Lord Dauid sheweth that wee must not seeke him with our feete and handes with the outward gestures of the bodie alone but with a true and pure affection And therefore he saieth Blessed are they which seeke him with their whole heart As if he should say I would not haue you to doe as the hypocrites do which beare of religion with strōg hand no I meane not so but I would haue your loue to be sound and true As touching that saying With their whole heart it is to declare vnto vs That God cannot away with parting of stakes as we men many times doe For we are well contented to bestowe some part vpon God and would be at free libertie to holde vs with the world and to serue God by halfes But Dauid teacheth vs here to serue him with our whole heart to wit in all integritie and soundnes and not with two faces in one hood He would not haue vs patted in sunder to saye Well I am contented to serue God howbeit I would not that he should require my whole seruice to him selfe but that I might after satisfie and followe my owne lustes and pleasures that I might be at libertie to serue the worlde No not so saith he It must be brought into a true and perfect soundnes and not to deuide man after such a maner True it is that wee shall neuer be able to seeke God with such a perfection but that it may be greatly amēded neither doth the holy scripture meane by this saying With their whole heart ful perfection but only opposeth it selfe against the hypocrisie of a great nūber of men and which would be in vs al were it not that God him self did remedy help it That is we would with good wil serue God by halfes if so be he would let vs alone with the rest to do what we thought good As for example Wee shall haue very many which will not sticke with God to come to the Sermon on a Sunday and to be present at the prayers of the faithfull and to make some shewe of religiō and yet they would haue God to giue them free choise to do what they listed at the rest of the weeke after or if they come to a Sermon oftener then on the Sunday it seemeth to them that they haue done very well that they are throughly discharged of their dueties if they tarrie there but one houre But because they might be set at more libertie they will not sticke to saye that they will bee free from some one vice one will say that he will be no whoremaister Another that he will be no drunkarde Another that he wil be no blasphemer yet euery one of these wil haue his particular vice and thinke that God ought to beare with them seeing that for his honour and to do him pleasure they absteined from some synne and that they obeyed him in some point But the scripture telleth vs that all this is nothing but that euery one ought to examine him selfe throughly and in all pointes and finding in him selfe any thing which is against the wil of God to be vtterly displeased therewith clerely to renounce it and to desire nothing but to be cleansed thereof See nowe this is that perfection whereof Dauid here speaketh Nowe let vs see what is the summe of the second verse to weete that wee should doe nothing els but study in the lawe of God not onely to knowe what is forbidden or commaunded but to be certaine what maner of one GOD is towardes vs and what affection he beareth vs that we might put the trust of our saluation in him and call vpon his holy name And besides there is declared vnto vs that when we haue tasted of the mercies of God that hee hath certified vs of his loue and grace that the same ought to stirre vs vp to seeke him and to cleaue wholy vnto him and to yelde our selues wholly to his seruice and that not in the outward shewe and in hypocrisie but with a pure and sound heart and affection and not by halfes so that there bee founde true soundnes and integritie as before I haue touched Now it followeth Surely they woorke none iniquitie that walke in his waies First Dauid here sheweth in this present verse what the cause is why all men abounde in euill and iniquitie to weete for so much as they will not bee ruled by the Lorde their God See here the spring head of the outrages of
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
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
which I haue seene with mine eyes When I haue seene that thou chastisedst the proude I haue beene by and by humbled thereby so much discipline haue I receiued by it see then nowe why I do beseeche thee that I might be more carefully and diligently instructed in thy law If now it was behooueful for Dauid who was already so well instructed in the law to be thus aided for the drawing of him selfe to God to wit that hee seeth the vnbeleeuers punished and God to laye his hand vpon them I beseeche you tell me had not we neede of such instruction also of a great deale more And so as oftentimes as we shal plainely see God to send his chastisements into the world to punishe sinne we ought greatly to consider thereof and to vnderstande that it commeth not by aduenture or chaunce as we commonly saye And when GOD so striketh the proude and disobedient let vs consider that he meaneth not to punish their persons and bodies onely but to teache vs to haue a greater regarde to our selues that wee might bee humbled to the ende the like fall not vppon vs. For God doeth vs great pleasure when hee punisheth others thereby to teache vs to take heede as also it is great wisedome for a man to beware by the harme of an other according to the olde prouer be And so also meaneth God Let vs then consider of the fauour and grace which he sheweth vnto vs when as he setteth foorth his iudgementes before vs it is to aduertise vs of our faultes to the end we should the better walke in his feare to obey him yea and that he punisheth others for our amendement as I haue already sayd And especially he addeth Cursed are they that erre from thy commaundementes or that goe wrong By this hee farther declareth and expresseth that which wee haue already shewed to witte howe hee hath beene taught to walke according to the will of God by the punishmentes which lighted vpon the proud and disobedieÌ„t And here he maketh this generall conclusion That all they which erre from the commaundemen of God are accursed Whereupon we are to gather first of all that the particular iudgementes of God ought not to serue vs for one deede alone but that we should apply it for a generall instruction all the dayes of our life As how When as we see God punish one persone O wee must not stay our selues vpon such an act to say that God punisheth but one person which deserueth it but wee must conclude and say according to that saying of S. Paul There is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2. 11. Now when he hath punished such a fault we must then say that this fault displeaseth him in as many as do committe it As in an other place he sheweth Sithens that God so grieuously punished the children of Israel for Idolatrie we must conclude that he vtterly abhorreth Idolatrie As greatly also abhorreth he Lechery murmuring disobedient persons and horrible wicked couetousnes And all this saith S. Paul should serue vs for an Image or paterne 1. Cor. 7. ver 7.8.9.10 to the end that when we see the like come to passe we should remember vs of that which is conteined within the holy scripture and applie it wholy to our own vse and profite And thus much as touching the first point which we haue here to note to wit that if God punisheth a man we must gather out of it a generall instruction and conclude that all they which go wrong from the commaudementes of God are accursed Now we haue to touch the second point which is also notable that is we must not tarrie vntill such time as God scourgeth vs but beeing aduertised by that which hee hath shewed vs a farre of wee might preuent the punishmentes and corrections which might light vpon vs in the end And this is it which wee must gather vnto our selues in generall of that which hath beene spoken That all they which erre from the commaundementes of God are accursed Moreouer let vs also in the third place learne that all the happinesse which we imagine when wee are farre from God is nothing but accursed and that in the ende the sentence of our Lord Iesus must be accomplished Luk. 6. â— 25. Cursed are ye which laughe for ye shall weepe and your laughter shall be turned into gnasshing of teeth Let vs then vnderstand that whiles the poore worlde maketh it selfe mery and that it seemeth to be come euen to the full aboundane of the wisâ—hes and desires and that it hath obteined the chiefe felicitie that it is euen then vnder the greatest and chiefest curse And why so For all they which stray from God are accursed bicause that hee is the fountaine of all goodnes and without him there is nothing but all miserie True it is that for a time hee suffereth the infidels and vnbeleeuers to make them selues mery that we might thinke them to be the happiest people in the worlde but what of that It will all returne to their greater confusion It followeth soone after Remooue from me shame and contempte for I haue kept thy testimonies Here Dauid commenceth a newe suice vnto God to wit that he would hold him in his innocencie and puritie And it is not without cause that he so doeth for we see that they which serue God with their whole heart are contemned and despised yea they are most shamefully slaundered For we see euen at this daye that he which walketh simply he shall by and by be called an hypocrite All they which would serue God are thus cried out vpon O these hypocrites O these mortified See here how the puritie simplicitie of the faith full is despised naught set by For the deuil possesseth the contemners of God in such sort as that they vomit out their blasphemies not onely against those whome they purpose to oppose them selues but euen against God him selfe But this mischiefe and corruption is not of a dayes hatching and therefore wee are throughly to consider the saying which Dauid here setteth downe O turne from me rebuke to wit suffer mee not O Lorde to be lightly esteemed of men bicause I haue kept thy testimonies Wee see then that the summe of this verse is this That Dauid desireth GOD to vpholde and mainteine his puritie Now the cause is incontinently added For princes also did sit vnder the shadowe of Iustice and speake against me Nowe this was a great temptation to Dauid that hee was not onely mocked and scorned at the Tauernes and Innes beeing there blasoned by dissolute Iesters and Scoffers and talked of in the streetes and market places but euen in the place of Iustice which ought to bee holy it could not therefore bee chosen but that they also woulde vtterly defame and slaunder him and condemne him to be as it were a most wicked and cursed man When Dauid then did see that he was thus vniustly intreated
and to communicate them vnto such as they may doe good vnto to the ende that God may be honoured and that they all may serue to the common saluation of the members of our Lord Iesus Christ But heere we haue in this Texte too note that it is impossible for vs to instruct others except we haue beene before the disciples and Scholers of God There area greate many which will put foorth them selues as if they were sufficient and able Clearkes inoughe too teach others And in so thrusting in them selues they haue not once knowen what they ought to vnderstand either for themselues or yet for any others Let vs then consider the order which is heere obserued to wit that euery of vs doe acknowledge our owne ignoraunce Dauid was a moste excellent Prophet and yet notwithstanding he besought God that he woulde make him too vnderstande the way of his commaundementes Yea but had not he the Lawe written Wherefore then desired he that which hee had already in his handes For he knewe well inough that to read to preach and to heare was not all that was needfull For vnlesse God open our eares we shall neuer be able to vnderstaÌ„d it And therfore it behoueth that he inlighten vs or else we shall neuer be able to see the brightnesse thereof albeit it lye wide open before our eyes If Dauid made this request as we haue already heeretofore intreated I beseech you what shall we doe then Let vs then euen so confesse our ignoraunce and beseech God that it would please him to teach vs. See now that we must needes bee first scholers before we vsurpe the office of a Maister and before wee thrust our selues in too speake vnto others that we heare God first speake vnto vs and that we bee grounded in his woorde that we may protest as Saint Peeter telleth vs 1. Pet. 4.11 that it is the woorde of GOD which commeth out of our mouthes Who soeure speaketh sayeth hee let him speake the woord of God For it is rid reason that a mortall man shoulde extoll him selfe and preferre his owne dreames and fantasies And although that this sacriledge be ouer-common in the worlde it behoueth vs too haue greate regarde therto that we al keepe silence that both great and small ignoraunt and wise the simple and learned giue eare to the word of God suffer them selues to be taught by him and after that euery man according to those graces which he hath receiued to communicate them vnto his neighbours And when any of vs shall be better instructed in the word of God then any of our brethren we ought so much the more to exhorte them that haue neede therof to reprehende and rebuke those which make defaulte and to instruct the ignoraunt and vnlearned For our Lorde God bestoweth not his graces liberally vpon vs to the end we should holde them fast locked as it were in a chest but that we should make them common to others to set forth and commend them to other according as opportunitie shall serue and also according to the dispositions of those to whome we addict our selues to teach are contented to heare vs. Moreouer when Dauid sayth That hee will speake of the woondrous woorkes of God Let vs marke that he dooth it not of any ambition or vaine glory as many doe which could be very wel contented that we should heare them when as they shall doe nothing else but babble at randon of the worde of God And why is that It is because they prophane it without hauing any reuerence thereto For wee see that the moste ignoraunt will be most bolde according to the olde saying None so bolde as blinde Bayard or A foolish man doubteth no perill When soeuer any would goe about to teach them O by and by the word of God shall be nothing with them For ye shall haue them alwayes to haue answeares ready coyned in their sleeues There are then which woulde be accounted great Clarkes who notwithstanding shewe them selues not to knowe what holynesse and Maiestie the worde of God carryeth with it But contrarywise Dauid telleth vs that if we will instruct and teach our neighboures that wee ought firste to vnderstand the lawe of GOD to be full of woonderfull and straunge secrets to be so high a wisdome as that we ought not to presume to take on hande too handle it without all modestie and sobrietie Let vs then learne if we will be good Doctors and teachers to proceede in all hunblenes and feare knowing that the least sentence in the scripture surmounteth our vnderstanding and that wee are too too dull and blockish to attaine vnto so high wisdome except the Lord our God guideth and leadeth vs thereto Lo how that both scholers and maisters as many as are hearers and speaker ought to come with great reuerence when as they meane to handle the word of God It followeth soone after My soule melteth with very heauinesse raise me vp according to thy woorde Heere Dauid more cleerely expresseth that which wee haue already touched to witte that the abundaunt ioy of the faythfull consisteth wholly in this that God is merciful vnto them and knowing him to be such one they are comforted by his grace nothing douting of his good will And to proue it to be so Dauid saith in the first place My soule melieth away with very heauinesse as if hee should haue said that all his power and vertue was cleane gone from him For this similitude heere is also very well set downe in diuerse places of the Scripture We haue gushed and burst out like water So then see how Dauid is heere become as a forlorne man so throwne downe and humbled as that he is cleane voyde of all strength and all other things whatsoeuer and therevpon beseecheth God to comfort him Now heere we are to note that he speaketh not of the feeblenes of his body to say that he was humbled by sicknesse yet his soule to be lusty and strong but he sayth that he is melted away with very heauinesse as if he should haue said that he was vtterly ouerthrowne And therevpon he desireth to be comforted and that by the worde of God Heere then we see that when God shall mortifie vs we shall be as men forlorne and that not onely all our force and strength in this present life shall be of no value but also our soules and spirites shal be as it were humbled and cast downe too this ende that we might boldely call vpon God after the example of Dauid Let vs not feare then that God wil forsake vs but let vs rather learne to beseech him to comforte vs for Dauid hath shewed vs the way vnto it neither went hee so on of his owne proper motion but it was the spirit of God which pusâ—hed him forward thereto Wherefore hauing so good a guyde let vs not feare to be frustrate and voyde of our petitions and demaundes so long as wee
Stablish thy promise to thy seruant because he feareth thee Take away thy rebuke that I am afrayde off for thy Iudgementes are good Beholde I desire thy commaundements quicken me in thy righteousnesse THese eight Verses heere conteine the Prayers which wee haue already before seene to witte that Dauid prayeth too be taught in the lawe that he might the better serue God Nowe vpon this wee haue to note that this is not all to heare and to be taught by preaching vnto vs that the same is as it were from the trueth of GOD but wee must also be taught by the holie Ghoste yea and that twoo manner of wayes For when God shall haue inlightened vs to the end we might knowe that it commeth from him it behooueth that he imprinte in our heartes a desire too cleaue vnto it for without that wee shall doe cleane contrary as naturally we are enclyned So then although it bee not superfluous too reade and heare yet wil it profite vs nothing at all excepte the holy Ghoste teacheth vs yea and that to discerne aswel betwene good and euill as also to be wel and rightly affected too walke according to the Commaundementes of GOD. Which thinge is sufficiently confirmed vnto vs in the person of Dauid For as wee haue heretofore declared hee was a moste excellent Prophet Nowe it appeareth that hee was not onely sufficiently instructed for him selfe but GOD hadde also ordayned him too gouerne and instructe others this was the Doctor of the whole Church And yet notwithstanding hee confesseth him selfe too be vtterly ignoraunt and blinde except God directed him by his holy spirite Yea and hee declareth vnto vs moste plainely that hee had neede of these twoo partes of the grace of GOD heere by vs touched to witte to bee taught too knowe that which is good and afterwarde too haue his minde framed to continue therein This circumstaunce also is specially too bee noted that Dauid in making his requestes heerein conteyned was no Nouice For God had already instructed him by his holy Spirite And that which is more he declareth that hee had already desired too followe God and too obay his Commaundementes Wherefore then is it that hee prayeth afreshe but onely that hee felte in him selfe greate weakenesse in this point and that hee was but in the mid way Let vs thē vnderstand that euen they which are inlightened by the spirit of God are wel affected ought not to content themselues heerewith as if they were already come to a ful perfection but rather to acknowledge their weakenes that they are not growne to that forwardnes but that they may faile and that it is God which causeth thē to perseuer and to be more and more confirmed Loe heere what wee haue yet to obserue by the example of Dauid Nowe let vs follow the words which he vseth to the end the effect of this doctrine may the better be imprinted in our memoryes Teach me O Lorde the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it vnto the end Heere Dauid declareth that he hath well begun to serue God but he right wel feeleth that we are so frayle that wee can neuer come home to the mark without God strēgtheneth vs wherfore he hath recourse vnto this high mighty power by which God remedieth the vices that are in his chosen which he knoweth not to be in their nature We see then that when God stretcheth out his hande vnto vs so that we haue alredy bin instructers teachers of our neigh bours yet that we must not presume of our owne power strength but stand alwaies vpon our garde beseeching god with all humilitie and reuerence that as he hath wel begun in vs so he wil performe go through with the same Dauid said not O Lord I haue strayed But he hath very well said heretofore that he was by nature a wandring shepe so shall we see him to be And yet notwithstāding our Lord had already brought him into the way of saluation yea and had bestowed vpon him excellent graces But yet he knowing that he might erre an hūdreth times in a minute without God held him with a mightie hand prayeth to be instructed anew as if all the rest which hee had done had bin nothing So then when as God shal haue bestowed vpon vs his graces let vs not be negligent secure to lul our selues asleepe as though our state and condition were not to bee amended But let vs rather think with our selues and consider that he which hath bin taken and holden for a good vertuous man for the space of ten or xx yeeres might bee seene ouercome in a matter of nothing were it not that God assisted him Loe here how the faithfull after that God hath liberally bestowed vpon them great graces ought alwaies to walke in feare and humblenes knowing that they are subiect to many temptations which they are neuer able to resist if God continued not the same in them as well to instruct them as also to ayde them with his power and strength to fortifie them more and more as before I haue said And here we are diligently to marke this saying And I will keepe it vnto the end As if he should haue said My God I haue already followed thy commaundementes for a certein time but what shall become of it if thou doest not alwayes put too thy helping hand vnto me as thou hast already done I may in one minute fall into a great and horrible confusion O Lord I beseeche thee therefore that as thou hast begunne well in me so to perfourme the same throughly By this we see what a diuelish arrogancie that of the papistes is wherewith they are puffed vp when as to their seeming that a man after God hath once stretched out his arme vnto him can by and by worke wonders of him selfe and is sufficiently able too ouercome all temptations But let vs rather vnderstand and knowe that euen as it is God that must beginne to set vs in the right way so likewise that we cannot continue and abide therein without he alwayes holde vs by his mightie hand and neuer to suffer Satan to seduce vs neither yet to bee wickedly led by his subtelties and wyles And thus much as touching the first verse Now it followeth Giue me vnderstanding and I will keepe thy lawe yea I will keepe it with my whole hart Here Dauid declareth vnto vs in the first place what our true wisedome is to wit that we should walke in the feare of God as also it is said in the scripture That the feare of God is true wisedome In summe wee haue here the confession of Dauid that al they which withdrawe themselues from the obediēce of God are people voide of wit iudgement wisedome and reason In very deede wee shall neuer haue the worlde to iudge thus of it For wee will saye loe this is a witty fellow this man is very wyse when hee is able to
that men are weake and not able to satisfie the lawe of God except they be ayded and thinke it sufficient enough if God giue them a signe to ayde their weakenesse as if a man shoulde reache his hande to a young infant and saye vnto him come hether my prety childe and hee commeth and the other maketh semblāt as though he would take him by the hād to leade him yet suffereth him to go alone by himselfe Loe howe the Papistes haue diminished the graces of GOD. But contrariwise the scripture telleth vs that we are as dead men to witte that there is in vs no strength nor habilitie at all And therefore Dauid desireth to be quickened in the way of the Lord. As if he should haue said O Lorde my life is altogither giuen to wickednesse For all my power and strength bendeth and displaieth it selfe thereto Euen so O Lord since thou grauntest vnto mee a cleane contrarie kinde of life to witte that I endeuour my selfe to serue thee graunt me now O Lord that I be earnest and feruent where before I was very slow and dull yea euē altogether weake and impotent Nowe hee goeth on and sayeth Establishe thy promise to thy seruant bicause he feareth thee When as he desireth God to establish his worde in him and with this addition that he may feare God hee confirmeth the requestes which he had before made Nowe wee ought to carie this point alwayes in minde that when wee meane to praye vnto God wee must laye our foundation vpon his promises We must desire nothing of him but that we are already assured that hee will giue it vs that hee hath of his owne good will promised vs without our requiring thereof first For it were foolehardines to present our selues before the Lord our God and to make our petitions after our owne pleasures but it is mete that God him selfe preuent and speaketh first vnto vs. Herevpon then we may assure our selues to praye when as wee haue his woorde for it According to which reason Dauid after he had made his requestes as we haue heard addeth O Lord establishe thy worde in thy Seruant As if he shoulde haue saide O Lorde I desire nothing of thee but that which thou hast promised And loe it is it that maketh mee so bolde too come vnto thee bicause I knowe that thou art faithfull and wilt too doe vnto mee euen as thou hast promised Wherefore as the promisses of GOD ought to giue vs an entrance into our prayers and alwayes to go on euen soo also after that wee haue prayed lette vs call too minde his owne promisses to the ende wee may bee assured that it shall not be in vaine that wee haue required of him And why so Bicause that God of his owne free good will hath bounde him selfe vnto vs there is no doubt but that we shall obtaine considering that he will accomplishe whatsoeuer he hath saide for he can not fayle vs. Loe then the meaning of the beginning of this verse Nowe when Dauid saieth that he may feare the Lord he meaneth not that he would here alledge his merites but he doth it to this ende to declare that hee hath followed the same vocation whereunto he was called and yet notwithstanding hee sheweth that hee coulde not walke in the feare of God but by the vertue and power of the holy ghost which was continually in him And euen so must wo also do For whensoeuer we shall feele any good zeale in vs wee must not bragge vpon it for what haue wee that wee haue not receiued according to the saying of Paul For what is it that should separate vs that we should not be like vnto the most wicked commeth it of our owne nature no surely It must needes be then that it is God which hath put to his helping hand And so whatsoeuer goodnesse is in vs it is a testimonie of the good will which God beareth vs and that he wil be our father and Sauiour Loe here why Dauid setteth this foremost as though he would ratifie the promisses of God Now he concludeth Take away my rebuke that I am afraide of for thy iudgements are good Behold I desire thy commandements O quicken mee in thy righteousnesse We shal neuer be able to knowe what the rebuke which Dauid here speaketh of is except we haue regard whereunto all his whole drifte heretofore tendeth and too what ende to witte that God would defende and keepe him and also guide him as it were with his hande to the ende that as he had begunne well hee might also in like maner perseuer and continue Nowe the shame which all the faithfull ought to feare is that God suffereth them not to be confounded that when they haue for a certaine time walked well they might not in the ende giue them selues to wickednesse that the latter part of their life might manifest that it was not well and surely rooted within but was hypocriticall and dissembled Behold the rebuke which Dauid feared to wit that after he had walked well that God would not leaue him as a confounded man And namely he sayth For thy iudgements are good As if he should haue saide Alas my God so that I followe the same which thou hast commaunded mee although that men speake euill of me and slaunder me for it all is one to mee when as my conscience shal be pure and cleane and that thou art my warrant and witnesse it is enough\ for me Behold then O my God the rebuke from which I desire to be deliuered to witte that thou suffer me not to be wickedly giuen nor that I depart from thy commaundements but let my life and conuersation be agreable to thy worde O that suffiseth me and let men speake what them liste their iudgement is false and I appeale from them Then to conclude he saieth My delight is in thy commadementesse O quicken me in thy righteousness The righteousnesse of God oftentimes is taken for the grace which God vseth towardes his children or at the leastwise wherewith he conducteth them But he setteth downe righteousnesse here for right and equitie Hee hath saide before quicken me according to thy woorde Nowe by and by after followeth righteousnesse Neyther must we thinke this to bee straunge for we haue shewed here before that Dauid speaking of the commaundementes of GOD after that he hath vsed his terme namely of these woordes ordinaunces and statutes he taketh other wordes As in this place after he hath said quicken me in thy worde he sayeth soone after In thy righteousnesse And he maketh also this request that hee might bee conducted in the way of the Lord. Whereby hee would shewe that it is not enough that we be wel affected but that God must encrease the same in vs yea hee must conduct and quicken vs as here he telleth vs. For it is so farre off that of our selues we can doe any good that we are not able once to thinke a good
mortally to wounde vs. And to put by these blowes wee had neede to bee armed with the woorde of God which is our sword with the buckler of faith and the Helmet of hope euen as Saint Paul exhorteth vs to doe Marke well this point we must not bee too too tyed vnto men when as they shall thus grieue and vexe vs but wee must looke a great way farther to witte vnto Satan who by such assaultes cōbattes goeth about al hee can too ouerthrowe our sayth Ephe. 6.16.17 if it were possible for him to doo Now the protestation which he maketh is well woorthy the noting for after hee had complayned of these rebukes and mockeries of the vngodly hee addeth yet haue I not shrinked from thy way O Lorde Let vs then conclude that since wee haue the word of God that if al the world shoulde conspire against vs too turne vs from it we ought too abyde stedfastly in it and too bee fast tyed thereto and too cleaue so harde vntoo it as that wee might neuer bee pulled away from the same To this ende ought this protestation to serue vs to witte to strengthen vs in constancie that wee might knowe that if Dauid was so stedfastly setled in the hope which he had that the truthe of God is not at this day diminished or decreased It behoueth vs then to make the promises of God forcible and to be so sure and certaine as that wee be not shaken nor moued for all the scornes and mockes which the wicked can make at vs. Let vs also marke that Dauid speaketh not here of one combat or of a woorde cast out at randon as sometimes it may escape from the mouth of a Scoffer or Iester among the wicked But it must needes bee that the holy Prophet was throughly sooked in them as hee him selfe declareth that they derided and scoffed at him and that exceedingly Let vs applie this too our selues that we quaile not nor faynt for one conflict wherwith Satan shall assayle vs by his substitutes but that wee perseuere in all conflictes that when we shall haue made an ende with the first to bee ready and prest to enter into an other neuer altering or chaunging our determination nor will come there whatsoeuer shall come that the scoffes scornes of the wicked yea and whatsoeuer Satan shall craftily inuent against vs hinder vs not from stedfastly abiding and continuing in faith without turning or writhing vs awaye from the lawe of God after the example of Dauid as here wee haue heard him make thereof protestation And if there were such constancie in Dauid hauing the lawe onely wee that haue the doctrine which is giuen by him and by the Prophetes after him by our Lorde Iesus Christe and his Apostles wee then which haue a great many moe conuenient helpes then Dauid had should wee be shaken and crusshed when as the deuill the wicked and all the girnardes and firebrandes of hell shall assayle our faith There remaineth nowe no excuse for vs seeing hee hath done thus Let vs then learne too helpe our selues with the meanes which God hath giuen vs and putteth in to our hande so that his woorde bee not vayne and vnprofitable vnto vs but that it serue vs in deede as it ought Nowe hee addeth For I remembred thine euerlasting iudgement O Lorde and haue receiued comfort Here Dauid declareth that hee is confirmed ouer and beside the worde in all the iudgementes of God which is the thing that we must also do after that we haue meditated vppon the promises of GOD by which hee testifieth that hee is nere vnto all those which call vppon him after that wee haue knowne that which hee declareth and pronounceth to humble and ouerthrowe the wicked in shewing them to be their iudge that ouer and besides this we would acknowledge as at all times we haue neede how he hath holpen and sustained his howe hee hath deliuered them out of all the miseries they were in and besides how he hath stretched foorth his arme against the wicked and contempners of his iustice See I say howe wee must linke together the woorkes of God with his word for the more notable confirmation of our faith And this is it which Dauid meaneth in this place for he speaketh not here of the iudgementes of God as hee hath done before and as he will hereafter to witte for his statutes and commaundementes but hee meaneth the actes and deedes which GOD in all ages hath done to shewe him selfe to be iudge ouer all men It is very true that such judgements as God hath put in execution are conteined in the Scripture But by this which is here spoken of them we are warned how we ought to reade such histories that is that God neuer forsaketh his faithfull and although for a while he slacketh yet will he not leaue the wicked vnpunished in the ende Dauid then meditated on these iudgements and exercised him selfe in them And so we are to remember that when we haue made the word of God forcible to resist Satan and al the assaultes wherewith he shal assaile vs we must also know that God hath not only spokē but hath likewyse shewed by experience that his worde is no vayne thing but that the execution thereof is at hand And therefore when as wee shall see that God shall put to his helping hande before our eyes and shall giue vs so many testimonies of his iudgementes it is no reason that wee should ouerslippe it but should haue our eyes open and acknowledge these thinges as they are declared vnto vs when as also wee shall feele any of GOD his grace towardes vs that wee ought to imprint the same surely in our myndes Loe howe wee must followe Dauid in that which hee sayeth O Lord I haue remembred thy iudgements Moreouer when it is said that hee hath called to mynde the iudgementes of GOD from the beginning of the worlde I praye you what excuse shall wee bee able too make if wee ouerslippe that which hee setteth before our eyes For when as at this daye GOD shoulde holde him selfe as if hee laye hidden that wee should haue no token nor proufe that hee shoulde bee the iudge of the wicked and vngodly for to confounde them and the Sauiour of those which trust in him and call vppon him yet that which is conteined in the holy Scripture and that which we reade too bee done before wee were borne the same I saye might suffice But nowe since God declareth him selfe vnto vs and sheweth vnto vs his presence and all this to bee cast vnder foote through our vnthankefulnesse must not wee needes be more then culpable or blameworthy In summe let vs marke that here the holy Ghost accuseth vs of negligence for if wee were such as in deede wee should be wee should applye our studie to reade the holy Scriptures where God sheweth vs his iudgementes as it were in beautifull glasses and all for our
Psalmes as a newe doctrine ne yet as a doctrine separate from the doctrine of the lawe but drew them from it as out of a Fountaine So then it is not without cause that he protesteth heere that the Statutes of God serued him for Psalmes and for songes yea in steade of his Pilgrimages that is to say in a strange Countrie in the middest of Infidels when he was as it were banished from the Church that he could not bee in the Temple to make confession of his faith yet was he not for all this wickedly addicted Nowe heere they which are trauellers are admonished of their duetie For albeit they see a greate many of enormities committed in the worlde neuerthelesse they are stedfastly purposed to holde themselues in the feare of God and to walke in a pure and soūd conscience albeit they are mingled emongst the infidels As behold euen the very Christians which are in the Papacy although they are there prisoners hauing no doctrine preached vnto thē without libertie to serue God publikely and to make confession of their faith as they would yet doe they not exceed and outrage with the rest in these villanyes which reigne amongest them but confirme themselues the best they can to the worde of God take all their delight and pleasure therein and make the lawe of God their song which maketh them to withdrawe themselues from all the vanities and corruptions which they commit so that they keepe them selues within this compasse Moreouer if they which are in a place where the worde of life is not taught and doe so yea euen greate store of offences wherewith they may take occasion too be drawne to wickednesse and to be corrupt with the rest these I say be inexcusable but are commaunded to take their delighte and pleasure in God and in his lawe and too incourage themselues taking the holy songs to exhorte them to well doing what shall become of vs when as wee are in a place where the Bell ringeth too call vs that we might bee admonished by the woorde of God to be instructed too call vpon his name and to make confession of our fayth When GOD then calleth vs vnto his Schoole and openeth his mouth to instruct vs I pray you are not we worthy of most horrible condemnation when as wee shall doe altogither preposterously in that whereof Dauid heere maketh protestation As we shall see very many which can neuer bee mery but when as they shall deafely hearken vnto God if they come to a Sermon it is onely to heare their condemnation For whatsoeuer is sayd vnto them and layde before thē to bring them into the right way they soone forget what hath beene saide Must not these mindes then be violently carried with a merueylous fury Yes without all doubte And therefore let vs keepe in minde the conclusion which Dauid heere maketh That hee remembred the lawe of God vnto the ende As if he had sayd Beholde what is the cause that I beeing a miserable vacabond cast out of the Temple and driuen out of my countrie did yet neuer but stay vpon thee And after that beeing assayled by the Infidels haue perseuered in the consideration of thy lawe and delighted my selfe therein Euen so also must wee doe For if we see many offences and many things which might withdrawe vs from the lawe of God let vs ouercome all that in the vertue and power of the promises which God hath made vs that by them we might be confirmed in his loue and bountie to the ende we fall not into such a confusion as wee see the wicked and vngodly fall and dayly caste themselues And according too this doctrine let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God in acknowledging of our offences Beseeching him that it would please him to make vs better too feele what taste wee ought too take in his holy promises and to be exercised in them that we might valiantly fighte against those vices which might hinder vs to stay vpon his protection and that by the power of his holy spirit we might ouercome all offences and griefes to the ende that beeing fortifyed by his grace wee might not haue any accesse to Satan whereby hee might winne and get of vs but that we constantly perseuering in the holy vocation of this good God might followe our course vntill such time as he shall take vs out of this worlde to bring vs vnto that heritage which hee hath prepared for vs before the beginning of the worlde and also which Iesus Christe hath purchased for vs with his moste pretious bloode And that hee will not onely graunt vnto vs this grace but also to all people and nations of the earth c. The eight Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme HETH Thou art my portion O Lorde I haue determined to keepe thy lawe I made mine humble petition in thy presence with my whole hearte O be mercifull to mee according too thy woord I haue considered mine owne wayes and turned my feete vnto thy testimonyes I made haste prolonged not the time to keepe thy Commaundementes The handes of the vngodly haue robbed me but I haue not forgotten thy lawe At midnight I will rise too giue thankes vnto thee because of thy righteous Iudgementes I am a companion of all them that feare thee and keepe thy commaundements The Earth O Lord is full of thy mercie O teache mee thy statutes THese eight verses nexte before conteine none other thinge but the protestations which Dauid maketh in giuing himselfe wholly too God sticking vnto his law except two requestes which he maketh in the second verse in the last Now in the first place he saith that his soueraigne good and chiefe felicitie was in that he was resolute to keepe the law of God It is very true that some doe expounde this thus that Dauid calleth God his inheritance But when as the matter shal be well wayed and considered the meaning is this that he setteth his whole felicitie in this that hee is fully determined and resolued as already hath bin touched to followe that which God had shewed and taught him Nowe this worde Portion in the Scripture is taken for inheritaunce and inheritaunce is taken for the chiefest and most desired thing that man hath And so it is as much as if hee had sayde That euery man might deuide it as hee woulde and lusted As wee see the desires of men too bee sundry and diuerse one draweth one way another another And in deede sayth hee euery man wisheth as hee fantasieth but as for my selfe I desire none other blessednesse nor felicitie but to content my selfe with the lawe of God and when I haue this I haue gotten a good and an excellent inheritaunce And nowe we see the summe and effect of this first verse it remaineth that wee gather out thereof such Doctrine as is therein conteined For when wee heare Dauid speake after this manner there is no
himselfe as he ought O deere brethren let vs not build vpon such a foundation but let vs fight against our vices and take and get vnto vs strength and courage against all the stumbling blocks and ambusshes which Satan shall lay against vs that we may breake all the bandes and Cordes wherewith hee holdeth vs bound See I say howe we ought to doe in this case For let vs not thinke but that Dauid was a man passionate as we are and felt in himselfe greate infirmities neither made he protestation of this in vaine when he sayth that he hasted and made no delay to doe the Commaundementes of God And so let vs haste after his example when God speaketh and let vs bowe downe our eares to heare him and lift vp our foote to obey that which he shall say vnto vs. Loe then what Dauid meaneth to declare vnto vs in this place to witte what readynesse ought to be in all the children of God to heare his worde and to receiue it and not to deferre from day to day For wee knowe not what time God will giue vs the grace to offer his woord vnto vs. They which in such sorte delay the time doe make their account that God is greatly bound and beholden too attend vpon them Now we see how he scorneth such our arrogācy when as wee pray vnto him with such tearmes and conditions Wherefore we ought a greate deale the more too force our selues to the ende to attaine to that perfection after the example which is heere set downe vnto vs too runne without delay so often as God shall haue mercy vppon vs. It followeth soone after that Dauid was not giuen too doe wickedly notwithstāding all the wrongs which the wicked had done vnto him and had persecuted him with all the greefes and conflictes which he had sustained Albeit sayth he that the hands of the vngodly haue robbed me yet haue not I forgotten thy law This is not heere put to without a cause For wee shall heerein see very many which are peaceable and moderate inough when as they be not greeued but suffred to runne their owne course But if any trouble ouer take them and that they be molested beholde then are giue to doe wickedly then alter they their determination and purpose and chaunge their coppy So then because men are so easy to be drawne to euill although before they followed the thing that was good see therefore we ought diligently to note this place which Dauid heere addeth For it is as it were to ratifie that which he hath before spoken of the ready nesse to followe the woorde because that that had not beene inough without he had beene so confirmed in it For although the Deuill had so lyen vpon him euen too haue discouraged him yet was he not without hope continually to make his parte good against him And so muste wee also doo in this case When our Lorde then shall sette vs in the way and shall giue vs some good motions let vs beseech him so to confirme vs in the same as that when the Deuill shall goe aboute for too assayle vs wee might repulse and ouer come all the assaultes wherewith hee shall assayle vs and alwayes too continue and remaine in our determination and purpose without chaunge Loe the thinge which is heere declared vnto vs. And we are also to note that there are two temptations which we must resist when as wee shall be greeued and iniuried The first temptation is that when we are iniuried we are by and by mooued too render the like Marke I beeseech you the state and condicion of our nature Nowe since God commaundeth vs to flye that which is naught to doe that which is good euen to loue our enemyes wee had neede tobee very well armed and furnished with these textes of the Scriptures For wee shall neuer bee able to attaine to the ende to ouer come any such temptation nor desire of reuenge excepte God putteth to his helping hande We think it also lawfull to doe euill when we see our selues compassed with nothing else but euill and wickednesse if we looke into the order and gouernment of the world wee shall see one man exceede in lechery another to be an horrible blasphemer one an extortioner vsurer and another a deceitfull bargainer one in this thing another in that very many estranged from God and become neere neighbours to Satan violētly carried to this that Whē as then we are thus incompassed with euil and iniquitie we thinke that we may take leaue to doe wickedly Loe how the children of God may be tempted and how we see a so and infinite number to be as it were dayly deceiued And therefore let vs note that if wee haue at any time beene boldely affected too come vnto God and that hee hath reached foorth his hande for a season to haue vs too come vnto him that yet this is not inough But wee must heereupon indeuour our selues too gather vnto vs newe force and courage to the ende the Deuill might not shake vs when as hee shall rayse vpp against vs troubles and vexations and lay a great number of stoppes and stumbling blocks in our wayes Wee muste therefore bee armed againste him to the ende wee forget not the Lawe of God whatsoeuer come of it And here we are to note this circumstance that Dauid doth not onely saye that he was greued by one man alone ne yet by two or three but he sayeth The congregation of the wicked When he sayeth The whole congregation this is very much if there had beene but a small number it had beene enough But he sayeth The whole congregation signifying that he was assayled on euery side that he was like a sheepe amonge Wolues Lyons Beares and other wilde beastes of rauyne and yet for all that that he always put his trust in the Lorde Now if we shall looke well into our selues how few shall we see which haue not beene ouercome with the least temtation that hath come vnto them there shall neede but one man to oppose him selfe against vs and loe we are by and by carried to do wickedly now we knowe not that this cōmeth from God To be short the least flie which flieth before our eyes as we saye is euen enough to turne vs quite out of the right way And surely we may be greatly ashamed so suddainly to change our copie where before wee made great showe of following of God and by and by to goe cleane against the haire And we thinke this may be a most lawefull excuse when as we can handle the matter thus to say that we were carried to doe wickedly through some tētation It is so farre of that this excuse should goe for payement as that it is neither worth ware nor money But wee must seye with Dauid yea and that truely as he hath done That whensoeuer the whole congregation of the wicked shall assaile vs let vs not
accesse nor that doth more readily assure vs to be heard then when we beholde his benefites bestowed vpon vs. And howe must that bee Thus must euery man consider with him selfe and say I haue found heretofore by experience the bountie of my God yea I haue had as great prouse hereof as is possible And therefore it were vnreasonable that I shoulde mistrust him and stande in any doubt that he would not now graunt me that which I desire of him considering that I haue so good a proufe of his loue that he is alwayes ready liberally to bestowe vpon mee his benefites When then I shall haue receiued so many benefites of him should I now thinke with my selfe howe is it possible that this thing should come to passe to witte that I should obtaine that which I am about to praye for If wee shall stande in this doubt we shall do God great wrong and shewe our great vnthankefulnesse vnto him for he neuer doth vs any good but it is to this ende and purpose that we should be partakers of his mercie and grace which hee will continue vnto vs euen to the ende for he is neuer wearie in liberally bestowing his benefits vpon vs as mē are wont when as they bestow bountifully of any and by by plucke their heads againe quite out of the coller But God is no such maner of one he is a well that can neuer be drawne drie Loe then whereunto this tendeth which is here spoken in the first verse O Lorde thou hast dealt gratiously with thy seruant Dauid spake not this to the ende to measure him selfe that he would haue God neuer hereafter to bestowe any moe benefites vpon him But cleane cōtrarie that bicause he had had already so great experience of the grace of God he was fully resolued that hee shoulde also feele his benefites too come For God is no chaungling and as I haue already saide his grace is neuer lessened but hee will alwayes encrease it towardes vs. And so let vs learne after the example of Dauid that as often as we are to praye vnto God to consider with our selues and call to minde the benefites which we haue receiued from his hād that the same might be as it were an entrance for vs vnto prayer and therevpon to conclude that seeing God hath shewed him selfe heretofore liberall wee should feele him also to bee the same euer hereafter vnto the ende Now namely Dauid addeth According to thy word And not without cause for this is not al that we ought to know that God hath done vs good and that al that we haue proceadeth from him but wee must put this confidence vnto it to wit that he hath done it according to his word For like as meate although it be good and sweete hath no sauour nor taste but is altogether vnsauery without salt euen so likewise the benefites of God will haue no perfect taste that we might sauour them as appertaineth if it bee not that they bee salted and seasoned with faithe and belief and too knowe that the graces and benefites which GOD hath bestowed vppon vs haue beene according to his worde promise And why so I pray you For if we shal not haue the worde of God and his promises yea and although as I haue already saide wee might very well make our petitions vnto him and come before him in building our selues vpon this that hee hath already ayded vs of his meere fauour and goodnesse yet should we not for al that be assured that hee will alwaies doe the like ne yet abide constant therein that when hee hath begunne that he will finishe it wee can neuer bee able I saye too haue any such certaintie without his woorde And why so when God sayeth vnto vs goe to nowe and hearken vnto me I wil be your father and shewe my selfe sauiour towardes you and you shall finde me to be such one for euer after that we haue feit the proufe and effect of these promises wee maye then very well applie his benefites to that vse whereof I haue already spoken hath God done mee good but for a fit hath he done this onely but by the waye of talke and will he not now hold and continue it no not so but hee hath done it according to his word Doth the word of God stand but for a day or for a moneth No it remaineth and abideth both in life and death Let vs then conclude that the benefites of God are euerlasting and that he wil continue them vnto all those that are not vnthankefull Loe this sentence which Dauid addeth is not superfluous but of great waite when he faieth O Lord thou hast dealt gratiously with me according to thy word If we will then be confirmed by the benefites of God which wee haue heretofore receiued and when wee shall make our requestes that wee would haue him to heare vs wee must ioyne his benefites with his word and euen to speake property like vnto confectes closely wrapped vp together in sauory salt for otherwise we shal neuer be able to feele any such taste them as to applie then to such an vse to builde a true certaintie of faith in him Now Dauid hauing vsed such a preface addeth O teach me good iudgement and knowledge for I haue beleeued thy commaundements Here Dauid desireth God to giue him true wisedome that he might knowe what he had to do And why doth he so he setteth downe the reason which is that that we haue already seene for I haue beleeued saith he thy worde Nowe it seemeth to implie that they which haue beleeued are sufficiently instructed that they haue I saye true vnderstanding and so great wisedome as they neede not to pray vnto God to inlighten them any more Wherein consisteth and standeth all our wisedome but in faith when as wee receiue the worde of God and being taught by it doo rest vs in that which he saieth vnto vs Loe this is our full and whole perfection Nowe Dauid protesteth That hee hath beleued the word of God wherefore then desireth he to bee taught as if hee were without knowledge and ignorant Nowe here wee are to note as we haue touched this morning that we beleeue the worde of God twoo wayes to wit our faith must be distinguished in twoo partes not that wee meane to deuide and dismember the same but to make a distinction of it as is comprised in her owne natures kind From whence then taketh faith her beginning Forsooth she must despise her selfe to receiue whatsoeuer God shall say wee must suffer him to be maister and to acknowledge whatsoeuer cōmeth from him to be good holy and iust that before hee hath spokē vnto vs we be already prepared and disposed to obey him and albeit we knowe not yet his will neuerthelesse to haue this resolution with our selues dooth God speake Well then wee must not onely giue our eare and attention but also receiue without contradiction whatsoeuer
and restife lades too wynse and kicke at him but that being gouerned through his bountiful goodnesse we might be easie and tractable to bee guided according to his will So it is as already I haue sayde that wee ought in deede to be tamed through afflictions or els wee should alwaies become like vnto sauage and wild beastes And too proue that it is so wee see our nature so rebellious as is most pitifull and our affections such terrible beastes as that we are not able to holde them in any good order in so much that if God slack the reynes and laye the brydle in our necke it is out of all question that wee will be very stubborne and rebellious against him and in such sort outrage that wee will desire nothing els but clearely to ouerthrowe all iustice equitie and right To be short it wil be out of all doubt that wee will euen iustle and spurne against God when as we shall liue at our owne pleasure and in great prosperitie Nowe there is none other remedie to helpe this matter but to haue God to afflict vs for this is the only meane by which he keepeth vs in subiection and in awe otherwise if he leaue vs in rest and at quiet it were vnpossible but that our nature should stubburnly rebell against him If wee carrie away this lesson well wee should neuer be so grieued with the afflictions which he layeth vpon vs as wee are but wee should take another maner of consolation in all our miseries and aduersities then wee doo knowing that although they be bitter medicines vnto vs yet that they shal turne to our health Let vs chose whether wee will be like wilde and madde beastes straying from the waye of saluation yea euen like very frantique men to lifte vp our selues against God rather then to bechastised with his roddes and to be so cōquered as that by the same meane he might order vs to liue in his obedience Since then we be so profited through afflictions as that the gaine which we get thereby is not heauy and grieuous to beare let vs comfort our selues therewith attending the issue which God shal giue vnto vs. Moreouer let vs also haue in memorie that wee must not bee incorrigible after that God hath lifte vp his hand to chastise vs and hath rebated out foolish and inordinate appetites neither moyle and groyne as we are wonted as if he did vs great wrong but let vs suffer our selues to be chastised and afflicted after the example of Dauid Loe the very sauage and fierce beastes yet for al that at last they may be made tame whē as a painfull and industrious man shall take them in hande which can tell howe to rule them Beholde the vntamed horse of nature fierce and stout and yet for all that he suffereth him selfe to be handled and led turneth with the bit when he shall haue a man vppon his backe which knoweth howe too ride and tame him I beseeche you ought not wee to be greatly ashamed when as our God shal employe him selfe to order vs and winne vs vnto him selse and yet cannot compasse it So then let vs after the example of Dauid striue to profite our selues vnder the rodde of God to the ende wee might keepe his lawes after that hee hath scourged vs. Nowe it followeth soone after Thou art good and gratious teach me thy statutes Dauid here repeateth againe the same petition which we haue heard And it is the very same which I haue already touched to wit that amongs all the praiers which we must make vnto God this is one of the most principall to desire him to instruct vs in his woorde that wee be not giuen in such sort to that which concerneth this present life and our bodies as that wee thinke no whit of the glasse of our soules Nowe this glasse is it which consisteth in the worde of God So then let vs not forget this so great a benefite when as we are about to praye vnto God that wee haue this in a most especiall remembrance that wee may be instructed in his statutes Nowe ouer and beside this request Dauid vseth the same reason which hee hath set downe in the first verse that is when he sayeth That God is good and gratious It is very true that they are twoo sundrie sentences but yet they proceede from one self same springhed and the meaning also tendeth to one and the self same ende Hee hath saide thou hast dealt liberally with thy seruant and here thou art good and gratious There hee hath sayde euen according too thy woorde and here hee hath put them in both so that wee may see that this verse is but a confirmation of that which wee haue seene in the twoo first that Dauid alledging to GOD his bountie which hee vsed towardes his euen accordinig to his nature beseecheth him that hee woulde teache him his Statutes Nowe he addeth The proude haue imagined a lye against me but I will keepe thy Commaundementes vvith my vvhole hart This is alledged for two reasons the one is that by it Dauid sheweth the neede which he hath of God his helpe and to be confirmed in his worde yea and to be instructed in the same And why so Forsooth to withstand temptations As if he had sayd Alas my God if thou instruct mee not and guidest me e by thy holy spirite what shall I doe For I am not without temptations when as I shall haue but mine owne will which euer striueth against thee But I haue also enemyes without which oppresse and greeue me Wherfore I haue very great neede to be guided and gouerned by thy hand Dauid then considered that it was needefull for him to bee chastised of God to the ende he might a great deale the easelyer obtaine his request Nowe in the meane while hee meaneth too shewe that he made his prayer without hypocrisie that he came too GOD in very good earneste and with a pure and sincere affection as if he had sayd O Lord I desire not to be instructed in thy lawe and Statutes for fashions sake but because I esteeme of this good that is in it and for that I knowe this to be the moste soueraigne felicitie that we can haue And to proue that it is so although the wicked haue assayled me and taken great paines to drawe mee too doe wickedly and haue bent all all their force and power thereto yet haue I kept thy commaundements By this hee hath made good proofe howe greatly hee loued the woorde of God when as hee lothed it not whatsoeuer they craftely and malitiously practized against him See then the two reasons which we haue heere to note Now in the first place when Dauid speaketh heere of the proude let vs remember that it is the title which the Scripture cōmonly attributeth to all Infidels contemners of God For from whence commeth this villanous and beastly impietie that men will not bowe them selues vnder the
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
worthynesse whereby I haue bounde thee vnto me For thou art beholden nothing at all to me but I talke of thy benefites which I haue already felte too the ende I would haue thee to continue them vnto me For beholde the true and very perfect nature of God to wit his nature is alwayes to spread vpon vs his graces without ceasing as hee is a fountaine which neuer can bee drawen dry euen so must we not feare that he diminisheth or lesseneth them neither yet is sparing of his benefites for hee hath plentie inough to continue them without end or ceasing Let vs then throughly consider this argument which Dauid heere vseth to wit that he telleth God that he is his Creature to the ende he might teache him yea euen to vnderstand his law We haue heere then to note that Daiud putteth not in himselfe heere simply in the ranke with all the rest of his creatures but commeth before God as a man fashioned after his own image and likenesse Thy hands sayth he haue made me and fashioned me that is to say Thou hast graunted me O Lord to be an inhabiter in this world yea and hast made me a reasonable Creature Since then it is so O Lorde that thou haste already begun so gently too intreate mee I beseech thee that thou wilte continue it Nowe we see what a kinde or vaine of speaking we must vse to be assured that God will heare our requestes to wit that we must lay before him his graces which we haue already receiued of him For that ought to make vs to hope that like as hee hath begunne so likewise will hee goe through with it vntill such time as hee hath brought his work to perfect end Now if we desire god to giue vs vnderstanding to comprehēd his law inasmuch as he hath made vs mortal men we haue so much the better occasiō to do it in telling him that he hath adopted vs to be his children taketh vs to be as of his housholde Now when as we haue this aduantage and priuiledge our confidence ought to be so much the more certain that we shuld not dout but that hee would augment those graces which he before had bestowed vpon vs. And so to the end we might profite by this place we haue to gather briefely three poyntes The firste and principall which we are to wishe is this that God will instruct vs in his lawe that we be not so giuen either to the goods of this worlde or else to the pleasures of the body and to all the reste but that we might alwayes haue regard to our spirituall health As touching the first wee are to desire that this affection may reigne in vs to the end to keepe all the rest in good order which violently might carry vs away to witte that we should desire to be the right Scholers of God And thus much for this Now immediatly after followeth the meane to beseech him that he will bestowe vppon vs his grace to be taught in his lawe to wit because he hath made vs too this end and not like vnto Oxen Asses nor Dogges which are brute beastes and nothing but corruption but that he hath imprinted in vs his image and ordayned vs too euerlasting life Seeing then that he hath created vs after this manner let vs trust in him and beseech him that hee will continue and make perfect that which hee hath begun in vs. But we shall haue the greater courage too make this request vnto him when as we shall bee brought vnto him in the seconde place that ouer and besides that hee hath made vs men he hath chosen vs also to be his childrē hath made vs partakers of this diuine wisdome which is contained in the Gospell hath shewed him selfe to be our father and called vs into the company and fellowshipp of his Sonne Christe Iesus that wee might bee members of his body When as then wee may charge God with this Loe this is a farre greater approbation of our Faith and wee ought to beseech him with much more certaintie and assuraunce without doubting that it woulde please him too heare vs. And thus much for the seconde poynte The third is that although God hath taught vs wee must not by and by thinke that wee are such great Clarkes and so well learned as that we neede not to desire him too confirme vs more and more in his knowledge and too bee alwayes like vnto prentises yong nouices As in very deed they which haue moste profited shoulde alwayes bee thus humbled not to think that they had attayned to the greatest abundaunce of knowledge But that they had onely some little taste and smattering of the wisedome of God that they had neede too haue him to increase it alwayes in them more and more Nowe if Dauid made this request yea and that in trueth knowing that he had great neede to be instructed of God I pray you what arrogancie shall this be in vs when as wee shall presume to haue our braine so full stuffed as that wee needed no more instruction that wee shoulde content our selues with that which he had learned ought it not to bee sayd that we are most arrogaunt And so let vs after the example of Dauid all the dayes of our life pray vnto God to teach vs and that we be neuer weary of beeing taught of him vntill such time as he hath despoyled vs of this mortall body For so long as we shall remaine in this body wee must needes be compassed aboute with blacke and thicke cloudes of ignoraunce from which hee will then deliuer vs through the brightnesse of his comming Nowe it followeth soone after So they that feare thee shall reioyce to see me because I haue put my trust in thy word Dauid bringeth in heere yet another reason for the obtayning of his request to witte that the faythfull will bee glad seeing that God hath hearde him And this is a place greatly woorth the marking For we are let to vnderstand by these woordes that when God bestoweth any benefites vpon any one of our Brethren and neighboures we ought not onely to acknowledge this goodnesse in this acte simply but wholy apply it too our owne vse that it may serue vs for our better confirmation that we might vnderstand that we shall be more refused then he which hath already obtayned his desire And why so For God is equall and iust to all those which call vpon him vnfaignedly He sayth not that hee will doe good too one and not too another but we haue a generall promise which extendeth it selfe too all without exception to witte that if wee come vnto him for succoure and that in trueth that hee will bee very ready to receiue vs yea that before we shall open our mouthes hee will stretch foorth his hand too giue vs whatsoeuer he knoweth to be good and profitable for our saluation Since then that this promise is generall if wee be not
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
not after thy lawe Here Dauid pursuing his purpose maketh mētion of the griefes which he endured that is the wicked and vngodly persecuted him wrongfull and that hee beeing retired to God as to his saulfegarde found no succour of him at the first dash but that God held him at a bay as a forlorne mā Now herevpon hee rightly sheweth that his faith was not clerely quenched ne yet lessened but that he stil continued in prayer And in the ende concludeth that he will yet better remember the word of God when as he shall bee so restored by him and raised vp againe as it were from death Let vs then note that Dauid here setteth downe a certaine maner and order to shewe vs that when God to the outward shewe shall seeme to estraunge him selfe yet we must take hede that the same keepe vs not from hauing recourse vnto him Now it may very wel seeme that God sometimes thinketh not of vs but specially when hee shall suffer the wicked to runne whether they lift and let them doe whatsoeuer they desire Now this is a terrible temptation And why For on the one side we looke that if God tooke vs for his children loued vs as he testifieth should he not by and by haue compassion of our miseries should he not put forth his hande to helpe vs When then he suffereth vs to be thus vniustly troden vnder foote it is a signe that hee hath forsaken vs and that he hath no care of vs nor of our health Loe heere a very hard and greeuous temptation And the second is that it should seeme that God doth not his office How is that Beholde how the vngodly fall out with him so that it seemeth they would giue him open defiaunce For is not this to make warre against him when as they giue them selues licence to doe wickedly that whatsoeuer can besayd vnto them they can neuer bee brought too goodnesse And yet God maketh semblaunce as though he had no care of their wicked dealing These we see are two maruelous daungerous temptations And this is the cause namely why Dauid hath heere recited his persecutions which he abode at the handes of the wicked Now it is so that he beeing in such conflictes hauing to fight against these two temptations which I haue noted sheweth right wel that he remained stil conqueror And see why he sayth How many are the dayes of thy seruant when wilt thou be auenged of thē that persecute me Dauid signifieth that he made not this request vntill such time as hee was driuen too this extremitie that he was no longer able to abide it As if he should haue sayde Alas my good God wilte thou helpe me after I am deade For thou seest that I haue already abidden so much as it is not possible to indure more thou seest me euen at the graues brinke It is now time or else neuer to helpe But yet I perceiue no succour comming from thee And what is the cause When wilte thou doe it It cannot bee chosen but that Dauid had as it were an intollerable affliction when he called vpon God in this manner Wherefore we are so much the rather to meditate on this place For although God suffereth vs to be afflicted but for a little while yet the same lasteth so with vs as that we beeing vexed euen to the vttermoste will say I knowe not where I am nor what to doe heerein What is the cause why God deferreth his ayde so long For in steade too call vpon him it is out of doubt rather that we murmure yea and moyte as it were secretly against him Nowe the right remedy to ouercome these temptations not so to murmur against God in our afflictions is this to call vpon him with full assuraunce beseeching him to graunt vs his grace that notwithstanding al the afflictions which he layeth vpon vs yet that he leaue vs not for all that too hope after that which hee hath promised vs. And this is it which Dauid declareth yet more fully when after he had sayde that the vngodly had gone aboute to digge pittes for him which is not after his lawe hee addeth and sayth All thy Commaundements are true they persecute me falsely be thou my helpe Heere he expresseth what the iniuryes outrages were which they had done him They haue saith he digged pittes for mee yea and he protesteth that they did it vniustly that he neuer gaue the wicked occasion to hurt him but that he had walked in a good and pure conscience Yet saith hee They haue gone about to circumuent and compasse mee rounde about Wee see then that Dauid had no small assaultes but such as were euen deadly that it was without all question that he must be vtterly confoūded yea although he neuer hurt any of them that it might be sayd that he had iniuriously persecuted them yet had he alwayes his recourse vnto God So then we may now bee better confirmed in the doctrine which we haue heeretofore handled to wit that to whatsoeuer extremititie we are driuen vnto in our afflictions we shall bring them to a very good end when as we being fenced with the power of the spirit of God do looke vnto his promisses Now let vs see why he addeth and sayth Thy Commaundementes are true they persecute me falsely O help me Dauid setteth downe heere three poyntes The one is that God is true after he addeth a protestation of his good conduct and guydance and of the malice of his aduersaryes Thirdly he calleth vppon God in his afflictions Now as concerning the first hee sheweth vs that although Satan to shake vs and in the ende vtterly too carry vs away subtilly and cunningly goeth about to deceiue vs we must to the contrary learne how to knowe his ambushes and to keepe vs from out of them So often then as wee are greeued with aduersitie and affliction where must we beginne See Satan howe he pitcheth his nettes and layeth his ambushes to induce and perswade vs to come into them what sayth he doost thou not see thy selfe forsaken of thy God where are the promises wherevnto thou diddest trust Now heere thou seest thy self to be a wretched forlorne creature So then thou right well seest that God hath deceiued thee and that the promises wherevnto thou trustedst appertaine nothing at all vnto thee See heere the subtlety of Satan What is nowe to be doone We are to conclude with Dauid and saye yet God is true and faithfull Let vs I say keepe in minde the trueth of God as a sheelde too beate back whatsoeuer Satan is able to lay vnto our charge when as he shall goe about to cause vs to deny our Fayth when as also he shall lye about vs too make vs beleeue that God thinketh no more of vs or else that it is in vaine for vs too trust vnto his promises But let vs knowe cleane contrary that it is very plaine and sounde trueth which
must stretch it self cleane beyonde the worlde and so we shall not bee tossed with the windes and tempestes which shall blow against vs to make vs turne back when as we shal haue a sure foundation vpon the word of God And as concerning this proofe which Dauid addeth saying That God hath layd the foundation of the earth the same is but a little tast which he giueth vs of the trueth of God Nowe it is not enough for vs to haue this taste onely to knowe whether God be faythfull and that his trueth is euerlasting For to proue it to bee so we see that neither heauen nor earth but are subiect too corruption and that all muste passe onely the woorde of God is said too last for euer And it must needes bee so for else what shoulde become of our saluation It shoulde be corrupt very soone Let vs not once thinke then that Dauid his meaning heere is too make a comparison and an equall proportion of the continuance of this worlde and the constancye which wee see in the order of nature with the trueth of God But he sheweth vnto vs that euen in these corruptible thinges wee might the better perceiue howe faythfull GOD is and if hee bee true in these thinges on the earth what shall hee him selfe then bee I beseech you tell mee from whence hath the earth her foundation It is founded bothe vpon the water and also vpon the ayre Loe her foundation Wee can not possibly build a house fifteene foote hight vpon the firme grounde but that wee muste lay a foundation See all the whole earth is founded onely wauering and as it were hanging yea and vppon so bottomlesse deapthes as that it might be turned vpsidedowne in the minute of an houre and the whole substaunce of it vtterly ouerthrowne It must needes then be that there is a wonderful power of God shewed in the conseruing of it in the same sort it stādeth And that is it which is here shewed vnto vs to witte because that God hath sayde That the earth was in the middest of the worlde and that it was so layde as it is heereby we knowe what the certaintie of his trueth is But wee must heere forsooth compare the lesse thinges with the greater as we say How from the lesser to the greater I wil shew you by example If I say we did se such excellēcie in the body of a man as that it might bethought to be euen the very image of God wherby we knowe the thing that is writtē that God hath ordayned man to be the chiefe of all his creatures and giuen him greate dignitie noblenesse and power ouer all liuing creatures Psal 8.6 Euen so also in praysing that which is in man we may descende from the body to the soule and this is from the hyest too the lowest and from the lesse to the more So likewise is it in this place when Dauid setteth before our eyes the order of nature This is not as I haue already sayde to measure and compare the trueth of God with such a measure But to the ende wee might reason and say If in these frayle and transitory thinges which are subiect to corruption wee see such a constancy because it is God his will it shoulde be so What shall we then say of his trueth which surpasseth all the worlde When then we shall make such a comparison betweene the state of the worlde and the trueth of God we may certainly conclude that God sufficienly graunteth vs wherewith too settle our selues vpon his woorde we muste not bee so inconstant as too let our Fayth bee shaken so often as wee shall see the worlde tossed with any troubles but rather too take this place which is heere shewed vnto vs by Dauid for our refuge And this is the summe of this place Nowe it followeth afterwarde Except the Lorde had beene my delight I shoulde nowe haue perished in my trouble Dauid heere speaketh this of his owne proper experyence and knowledge before hee spake of the trueth and excellencye of GOD in generall and sayth that it was in heauen and afterwarde he prooueth it by visible thinges which is very manifest vnto vs and which God poynteth out vnto vs as it were with his finger In the third place hee sayth that he speaketh not of vnknowen thinges that hee might dispute of them at randon but that hee had rightly practized that which he had spoken because that hee was preserued by the woord of God And therefore hee nowe sheweth vs where we ought to seeke for this worde whereof hee had generally spoken heeretofore For wee may vse this name of the woorde of God and yet it may be hidden in the ayre or emongst the Cloudes But because hee hath giuen vnto vs his word familyarly and communicateth the same with vs dayly euen in the holy scripture Let vs consider that in giuing honor vnto the worde of God Wee say that it is infallible Let vs not imagine it to be an vnknowen word but let vs goe vnto that which God at all times hath giuen to his seruaunts and that is it which is contayned in the law See then how God hath first declared his woorde vnto vs wherein our saluation is altogither certaine Nowe heere wee haue to note in this streine that Dauid hauing had such experience deserueth wel to be heard and that they are no vayne woordes which hee heere setteth downe before hand But that God also woulde haue it so too the ende wee should giue the more credite vnto it and that wee shoulde no whitte doubt of any thinge that hee teacheth vs when as hee him selfe hath made proofe of all that which he before had spoken And thus much for the firste poynte The experience then whereof Dauid speaketh shoulde very well serue vs in steade of our Seale by which GOD meaneth too make the Doctrine of his Prophet to be of so much the more antiquitie And thus much for this Moreouer let vs learne rightly too vnderstande howe sure wee ought too bee of the woorde of GOD not too seeke for the certaintie thereof without our selues but rather in our owne Consciences It is true that wee ought throughly too looke bothe aboue and beneath too make the testimonies which GOD giueth vs too serue our faith too the ende wee might bee certified of the trueth of his word as already wee haue heard but yet the principall point is this for euery man to enter into himself and make such accompt of this certaintie of the woorde of God that it may take such roote in our soules as that wee may there feele it to be such as here it is said to wit that it neuer be shaken although the whole world should be confounded and that it is the same which must giue vs peace and rest notwithstanding it seemed that all were vtterly ouerthrowne We must then acknowledge the effect and accomplishment of this certaintie which the Prophet here attributeth
hoggeshead wil be empty but when as the woorde of God hath serued to quicken vs it still remaineth sound and whole without diminishing any whit at al. So then let vs learne after the example of Dauid too make estimation of the vertue and power which God hath giuen to his worde and neuer forget it Nowe hee addeth by and by after I am thine saue me for I haue sought thy commandements The vngodly layde wayte for me to destroye me but I will consider thy testimonies After that Dauid had made such protestation hee committeth him selfe to GOD euen declaring that hee hath sought his commaundementes And so hee speaketh not only of the time past but remaineth alwaies cōstant in this purpose Now we haue here to cōsider of three points the one is the request which Dauid maketh to God O saue me The second is the reason why he desireth God to saue him Bicause saith he I am thine And afterward he sheweth how he is gods that is for I saieth he haue sought thy commandements And thus we see in the first place how God offereth him selfe vnto vs and that hee desireth nothing els but to holde vs in his protection to haue care of our saluation yea so that we come vnto him after the example of Dauid And I beseeche you what priuiledge is this that we haue such libertie to come vnto God and to commit our selues into his handes whether we wake or sleepe whether wee labour either in the towne or in the fieldes that God is as it were a watchman ouer vs to keepe vs Yea and that he hath not care ouer our soules to keepe them from the ambushes of Satan but also that his fatherly prouidence and loue extendeth it selfe euen to our bodies When God thē I say giueth vs the libertie that we may make such request vnto him I pray you tell me is not this an inestimable priuiledge But we neuer a whit thinke of this as may well be seene by our slackenesse and wearinesse in prayer to God at this daye And yet for all that it is not without cause that Dauid setteth downe here this request but to the end that we should knowe that in praying to God he will graunt vs the grace to commēd our selues wholy vnto him no more also should wee haue too top great a care ouer our life for we being assured of his loue should bee contented with all the rest whatsoeuer And thus much for the first point Now for the second we are rightly to consider that if we will haue God to be our warrant and to be vnder his protection we must needes be his and may say truly as Dauid here doth It is very true that God keepeth his creatures who are not worthy thereof as hee also causeth the Sunne to shine as well vppon the good is on the bad and that it is of his owne goodnesse and mercie that the wicked doe liue but yet to their vtter destruction And when it is here said to be kept by God it is such a keeping and preseruation as that the issue thereof is both good and healthfull And this is not done saue onely to such as are truely the possession and inheritance of God and his true housholde seruantes and children Will we haue God then to receiue vs into his protection and to be our protector Wil we haue him to take care and charge both of our soules and bodies Let vs first be his And howe shall we be his Forsooth we must come to the third point to wit to seeke his testimonies Loe then how God will take vs for his possession for hee euen then alloweth vs for his children when as wee put our whole trust in him seing that he hath so familiarly called and bidden vs and hath certified vs by his word that he will neuer forsake vs. If then we so seeke the testimonies of God and sticke vnto them with a sure faith let vs neuer doubt but that he wil allowe vs for his houshold meiny and children And then we may well say with Dauid saue me O Lord. See I say in what maner we ought to come vnto God if we will be sure to haue him to protect vs. Now Dauid addeth The vngodly haue laid wayte for me to destroy me but I wil consider thy testimonies Whereby he doth vs to wit that although God is stedfastly purposed to be the protector of the faithfull yet that they are not without a great number of griefes and troubles subiect to many sorrowes and bee maruelously encrapped and thereby thinke that they can not chose but to fall into the snares of the vngodly And besides the subtelties of Satan are great and againe all the vngodly which serue Satan and are lead by his spirite cease not to inuent subtelties and deceiptes to entrappe the childrē of God by lying in wayte for them Dauid his meaning then here is to declare vnto vs that although God preserueth vs it is not therefore to be said that we are without molestations and temptations But what So it is that the woorde of God ought to suffise vs as he faieth I will consider thy testimonies As if he should haue saide O Lorde I haue made this my buckler and fortresse which is that thou hast promised to be my sauiour and hereupon haue not forced for all the treasons that all the vngodly can conspire against mee It is very true that they haue layde a platforme to betray me yea and it seemeth that I am already within their clawes and teeth ready to be deuoured but thy testimonies O Lorde haue so strengthened me as that I haue not fainted Let vs learne then to fight in this sort against all the subtelties of Satan and malices of men and notwithstanding that they shall goe about to destroye vs yet let vs fasten our eyes vpon the worde of God attende vpon it and therein perseuer vnto the end Nowe for cōclusion Dauid addeth I haue seene an ende of all perfection but thy commaundement is exceeding broade or large The word then which Dauid vseth signifieth sometimes perfection and sometimes accomplishment bicause that the things which are come to a perfection haue an ende Now he saith in summe that when he hath throughly considered of all things that there is nothing in this worlde which hath not an end and that is not consumed by continuance but that the word of God is plentiful that is it extendeth it selfe vnto all the creatures of God and ouer all whatsoeuer wee are able to see See here a sentence very like vnto that which we haue seene in the first verse Dauid then by this conclusion confirmeth the saying which before hee held to wit that the word of God is euerlasting Although that we here see maruelous alteratiōs that we se the world tossed with so tempestuous whirlewindes as that there is nother end nor measure of thē yet shal we haue in the midst of al those troubles an euerlasting
that is that we should stay vs vpon the principal for if a man should sacrifice a beast that were nothing at all And wherefore then serued such maner of sacrifice Forsooth it was an aide and help bicause it is nedefull that we should be always stirred vp And besides this is a good aduertisement to shewe vs that when we will giue GOD thankes for his benefites which he bestoweth vpon vs wee must come vnto him by the mediation of our Lorde Iesus Christ for we are not once worthy to open our mouthes to honour God bicause our lippes are vncleane and defiled And so we thē knowing our vnworthines must come vnto our Lord Iesus Christ and giue thākes vnto God by him Heb. 4.14.15.16 as also the author to the Hebrewes exhorteth vs to do For he namely declareth that vnto vs that it is onely Iesus Christe which giueth vs accesse vnto God his father to confesse his bountie towardes vs and otherwise wee shall but profane his name yea he will not accept our praises and thankes giuing but they shal euē as it were stinke in his nosethrilles Se then to what ende the sacrifices are But Dauid notwithstanding sheweth that the principall ende of the benefites of God is that our lippes should open them selues to confesse his goodnesse when as wee haue proued and felte it And that is it which he speaketh of in the hūdreth and sixteene Psalme Ps 116.11.12 What reward shall I giue vnto the Lord for al the benefites that he hath bestowed vpon me I will receiue the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lorde as if he should haue said that he knewe none other waye to please God but to giuethankes vnto him when as hee had liberally bestowed all the benefites of the world vpon him in such sort as that he felt himfelfe most bounden vnto his goodnesse Euen so likewise will hee bee contented with vs when as we render vnto him such thankes Yea but in the meane while let vs consider that Dauid knewe that if God had not freely accepted the praises which hee yelded vnto him that they had byn nothing worth as wee haue already declared but we haue of this here a sufficient and manifest cōfirmatiō What is the reasō why Dauid besought God to accept the praises which he rēdred vnto him he did it not like an hypocrite He cōfesseth then that whē hee presented him self before God to magnifie his name that hee might very well haue byn put by his mouth to haue byn stopped And why so bicause that we profane the name of God seing there can proceede nothing but filth stench from those which are altogether corrupt neither cā there be any one drop of goodnes in thē And although God hath put in to them any good vertues yet they are so entermedted with vices as that it is lamentable And therfore Dauid knowing this to be so praieth God that his praises might please him Now if Dauid knew his vnworthinesse to be such I beseech you dareth any of vs to say that we are of our owne power capable to magnifie the name of God to rēder him such thākes as to him appertaineth without he of his meere free good wil alloweth thē not imputing vnto vs the vices and imperfections which are therewithal entermedled that he wil also thinke wel of our praises and thanksgiuing yea although they deserue it neuer a whit And besides if wee need to desire God to accept our praises which we render vnto him I pray you what shal become of the rest For it is most certain that if ther be any seruice which pleaseth God it is euen this whē we come to do our homage for whatsoeuer we haue receiued at his hands and that we confesse protest that we haue nothing but that we hold of him Whē as wee doo this homage vnto God loe this is the seruice which he chiefly desireth of vs Loe this is that sweete smelling sacrifice which the scripture speaketh of Now so it is that when we would do this homage vnto God therby to humble our selues yet may it be amended in such sorte as that we deserue to haue it to be put by to be disalowed what shal then become of our other meane seruices and in effect of al our whole life Shal we now go and glorify him with our merites as the Papists doo who lift vp their heads against God with an whorish shamelesnes For they thinke that GOD is beholden too them or else although they haue offended his maiestie yet after that they haue reckened with him they thinke that they may very well recōpense him with their satisfactions Go too now let vs think thus of our selues that when wee see that in the very best most requisite yea and as it were the very flower of all our good workes euen of those wherein God guideth vs that they do nothing else but stinke except God himselfe clense them too make them sweete and taketh from them the superfluities and filthinesse which are in them Nowe if of all our good workes yea euen of the most excellent we are exhorted to craue pardon of God for them what shall become of our grosse and ouer manifest sinnes whereof wee are conuinced and whereof men yea and yong children may reprehende vs So then see here an excellent place which rightly abolisheth al vayne and diuelish confidences wherewith we deceiue our selues when as wee thinke too stande before the maiestie of God with our merites and such other like gewgawes and trifling toyes I knowe not what thinking thereby to recompense him And thus much for this verse Now Dauid afterward saith My soule is always in my hand yet do I not forget thy lawe The vngodly haue laide a snare for me but yet I swarued not from thy commaundements Here Dauid protesteth as before that he had such a resolute affection to followe the woorde of God as that no temptations could withdrawe him from it And see how we may say that we serue God without hypocrisie in truth For if we be easily and gently dealte withall so we haue no affliction that our God handleth vs as wee would wishe leaueth vs to our owne pleasure or els if he so much fauoureth vs as that we are not pressed with any griefes and sorrowes it is an easy matter then for vs too serue and honour him But when God afflicteth vs that it seemeth hee would oppresse and grieue vs euery minute of an houre when we see death pursuing vs on euery side that the vngodly are wholy about vs as it were ready to pull out our eyes and our life so wretched as that the world iudgeth vs to be as it were reprobates when then al these temptations shall touch vs and yet we remaine still constant praysing of God and holding vs vnto him perseuering in his obedience and calling vpon him beeing patient in all our afflictions vntill
My God It is true that the faithfull will often say thus But when there is any question to make these comparisons with contrary thinges the scripture vseth not this saying My God so that it is to declare vnto vs that nothing ought to make vs wauer when we see the thinges confused in the worlde when we shall see all whatsoeuer to be there peruerted and ouerthrowne that there is neither any more lawe nor order that it seemeth vnto vs as it were an Hell let vs not for all that bee shaken Abac. 1.12 Let vs stande still vppon our guarde as the Prophet Abacuc thereof speaketh our faith must serue vs in steade of a Tower wherein we keepe good watch and yet too say notwithstanding no no God will tarry with me and then I neede not to care for the whole worlde See then that no temptations ought to quaile vs being euen in closed amidst the impieties and abhominaons of the faithlesse seeing we cannot otherwise chose but to bee conuersaunt amongest them It followeth nexte after Establist me or stay me in thy worde that I may liue and let me not be disapoynted of mine hope Although Dauid protesteth heere aboue that he trusted in God and that this hope proceeded vnto him from his worde yet prayeth hee his maiestie notwithstanding too establish him Wherin he sheweth vs that we shal neuer haue so well profited neither in faith nor yet in hope but that there shal be alwayes some want and remnaunt of incredulitie and weakenesse in vs so that whensoeuer there shall be any question of comming to God yet shall wee goe as it were halting vnto him Now if Dauid hath made such a request I beseech you haue not wee a greate deale more neede to doe it aswell as hee It is moste sure that he neuer spake it hypocritically When he saith Vpholde me or establish me in thy word this is not too make a shewe that his fayth was imperfect and that hee needed not be strengthened no not so but he knewe well inough his owne infirmitie If he then who was as it were an Angell of God had need to profite in fayth and in hope and that hee had beene moulten and beene quite consumed had not God throughly confirmed and established him I pray you what shall we doe So then when as God shall haue already shewed vs this fauour too bee surely grounded in his woord so that wee are able to say that we trust in it let vs not cease notwithstanding to continue this request and say O Lorde establish and confirme mee For when wee shall well consider our weakenesse wee shall finde that a very small thinge will quayle vs if God holdeth vs not vp with his hand and power And afterwarde let vs consider howe boysterous the assaultes of Satan are what violence he bringeth against vs and are we euer able too withstand them if that wee bee not dayly strengthened They then which shall haue conceiued a true hope in the woord of God let them knowe that they are yet but in the midde way and that they must alwayes march furtherforward vntill such time as they are come to the ende thereof Which thing shall neuer be vntill they are vncased of this fleshe and are departed out of this present life Seeing then wee cannot goe forwarde as of our selues nor yet be strengthened without God assist vs Let vs beseech him after the example of Dauid that hee will confirme vs in his woorde And afterwarde hee addeth and sayth That then he shall liue and disappoint me not saith he of my hope When he sayeth that he shall liue It is to shewe vs that all our felicities lyeth in this that wee are thoughly confirmed and fully setled in the word of God When this shal be so let vs then feare no more It is very true that we shal neuer be but subiect to a greate many of myseryes and afflictions for it cannot be otherwise but that this life muste be full of afflictions and many griefes and vexations Wee are then to fight whiles we liue in this worlde And so wee shall finde a great number of miseryes and yet we shall not choose but to liue still when we shall bee throughly founded vppon the woorde of God that is to say our saluation shall be sure and certaine euen amidst all the afflictions which may come vnto vs. And so shall wee haue wherewith to be contented For vnder this woorde to liue Dauid comprehendeth all whatsoeuer concerneth the welfare and felicitie of men He sayth then Although O Lorde I shal be taken as a miserable creature and that in deede I shall abide many troubles which shall be greeuous vnto me yet shall I haue true life and saluation so I be thus established in thy word Now he addeth a little more Let me not be disapoynted of mine hope wherein his meaning is to signifie that God neuer suffereth his Children to be disapoynted when as they put their trust in him But yet the case so standeth as that wee must so beseech him by reason of our weakenesse For although we trust in God yet for all that we goe coldely vnto him and wee shall finde our faith to be alwayes too too weake and feeble To be short our hearte shal be so shutte vp as that the graces of God as touching our selues shall hardly water it by dropmeale It is very true that God for his parte poureth vppon vs his graces abundauntly but we therein are nothing capable for the receiuing of them Wherefore wee are not worthy to tast and feele his ayde in our neede What should this then be if he surmounted not our hope to help that which therein is wanting And besides we knowe that the Deuill would soone ouerthrow al our hope were it not that it is very well kepte by an heauenly power as also S. Peter maketh thereof mention 1. Pet. 1. For when he speaketh of faith he sayth not that men are the Gardians or keepers of it For if that were so it should oftentimes bee violently taken from them But that is a treasure which God keepeth in his own hands and that by his owne inuincible power and strength See also why our Lorde and Sauiour Christ in the 10. of Iohn for our comforte saith Ioh. 10 24. That the father who hath vs in his hand and through whome wee are committed vnto him to be kept is mightier and greater then they all Accordingly then as wee knowe the power of God to be infinite so must we also assure our selues of our saluation And therefore it is that wee are to require of God as Dauid hath done that we be not disapointed of our hope Nowe in summe when we make such requests it is too the end that the promises of God should be so much the more certaine and better ratified vnto vs. See then what God sayth vnto vs. Feare you not when as you shall put your trust in me for
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
For wee shall not neede to be greatly learned for our right and perfect walking if wee truely and earnestly desire to be his schollers to preferre his word before all other things Dauid might very wel say O Lord I haue desired to vnderstand that which thou hast shewed me by thy law and yet contented not hee him selfe with this onely saying But saith namely that he opened his mouth as a forepined ghost who was no longer able to abide it And afterward he saieth that he drew in his breath that he was so zelous as that it tooke away as it were his very speach from him There is no doubt that Dauid meant here the very single affection wherewith hee was touched not for any desire he had to commēd him self but to shewe vnto vs by his example what our office dutie is towardes God that is that we should seeke too profite our selues by his word Now then we haue here to note that euen thē we shall be enflamed with the word of God when as wee shall haue yea euen such a vehement desire as hereof is mention made and as hath byn before spoken off That the word of God ought to be more deare and precious vnto vs then all the riches of the world more sweete then al other sweetnesse in the earth When then we shall haue such a desire as this we shal finde God to bee alwayes ready to accomplish that which is saide in the song of the holy virgin that hee hath filled and satisfied the hungry and empty God wil satisfie and fil those that hunger after the thinges which concerne but this present life And do you thinke that when we shal be desirous of his doctrine knowing it to bee the most principal benefite that we can possibly wish whereunto we ought to apply our whole hart that he wil let vs famish Do you suppose that he will not graunt vs so holy a desire and such a one as he approueth aboue all the rest But by the way let vs consider that we perceiue not at this day the profit and edifying which Dauid bringeth vnto vs in this place bicause in deede we are ouer colde to seeke after the will of God And to say truly I beseech you can we find one amongst an hundreth which desireth it I say yea such a one as onely hath that affection to be taught of God We see to the contrarie that wee shall not neede the very least trifling toy to keepe vs at the gaze bicause we are so full of all vanitie as is lamentable neither can the deuill no sooner set any thing before vs which wee will not runne after and take occasion to bee withdrawne from all whatsoeuer is good godly Now then when as we shall see our selues to be thus cold is this to come with such a feruencie as is here declared vnto vs by Dauid Alas where shall wee finde it ought we not then euen to be abashed when as we shal see so few to be truly taught of God considering that so small a number of people are touched to the quicke with a true desire of his doctrine But we ought rather to thinke it more straunge when as we seeing God to be so full of louing kindnes as too beare with our negligence that in steede of opening our mouthes and to desire his heauenly doctrine as Dauid hath done wee open our mouthes too craue such things as do nothing els but offende and grieue the maiestie of God for in that is our whole delight and vpon it bestowe we all our power and strength When then wee shall after this sort forsake God and seeke after the transitorie things of this worlde yea the which cannot but hurt and leade into euerlasting destruction are we not worthy that God should leaue and forsake vs as most miserable and wretched caitifes And therefore this doctrine is not heere set downe in vayne Let vs then vnderstande that God meaneth here to exhort vs by the exāple of Dauid that if we wil be wel instructed by his worde we ought with such an humilitie as here mention is made of too come vnto him with an earnest desire zeale knowing this to be such a benefite as deserueth to be preferred aboue all the rest euen too knowe the will and loue of God towardes vs considering that in it consisteth and resteth our whole saluation Nowe it followeth in the fourth verse Looke thou vpon me and be mercifull vnto mee as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy name Heere Dauid right well sheweth what the desires and petitions of all the Children of God ought to be to witte that they must hang vpon the meere mercyes of God and to knowe that all their felicitie consisteth therein and so to stay them selues vpon this ground and foundation That God looketh with his eye vppon them too guide and gouerne them Nowe this thing is greatly to be obserued because that men commonly make them selues beleeue that they shall bee blessed if they may obtaine that whiche their fleshe desireth As when the Glutton shall haue wherwithal to fill his filthy paunch so that it may stand astrout the Whoremonger to inioy all his foule villanyes beastly lecheryes the Couetous man to be so scraping as that hee careth not what he getteth nor howe he commeth by his goods to lay Land to lande and too bee filled with an other mans blood Loe these are the men as they thinke which are blessed Yea and although they were not so giuen to wickednes as openly to greeue the maiestie of God yet for al that ye shal haue very few which wil acknowledge them selues to be accursed but that God hath care ouer them and their saluation that there is none other blessednesse nor felicitie but euen this that they are in the hand of God and vnder his protection And so much the rather ought wee too recorde and haue often in minde this lesson when as Dauid sayth O looke vpon me O Lord and be mercifull vnto me For by this hee signifieth vnto vs that if we will haue our life to be blessed if we will haue good successe in all our affaires Lo from this fountaine muste wee drawe all our felicitie which is the prouidence of God because we should in no wise dout but that he careth for vs and bestoweth imployeth himself for our preseruation When it is thus with vs all the reste cannot but goe well with vs but if this point be wanting we are very miserable although it seemeth to vs to haue euen asmuch as can bee wished Nowe by the way let vs note that Dauid in beseeching God to be merciful vnto him declareth that so long as we are in this worlde that we are subiecte too a number of calamities and afflictions And so we haue greate neede of the mercie of God or else wee shall carry away all the blowes as we say amongst so many greeuous encounters as
shall be lamentable Nowe this may serue vs for twoo purposes The one is that wee being heere belowe vppon the earth might make our account that we cannot be here as it were in Paradise to haue such reste and quietnesse as we would chiefely desire to lack nothing and not to bee subiect to any griefe nor displeasure No not so But contrariwise let vs know that here God subiecteth vs to a great number of wretchednesses and miseryes to the ende wee should be alwayes calling vpon him for his mercie and too be alwayes running vnto him for it Lo here the first point which wee are to consider of in this place that the faithfull to the outwarde shewe shal be very miserable and in a most wretched case so long as they shall liue heere bylowe and the meaning of God is to holde vs vnder this condition to the ende to awaken vs that we might haue a far greater affection to call vpon him and to cleaue wholly vnto him Now if we shall haue this consideration with vs we may then in the second place say with Dauid Haue mercie vpon vs O Lorde that is to say we may be assured in all our miseryes that God wil be pitifull and mercifull vnto vs yea so that we desire him as we are heere taught too doe by the spirite of God Namely Dauid addeth As thou vsest too doe vnto those which loue thy name This is a sentence of Iudgemēt which is here set downe But it sometimes signifieth measure sometimes estate order or fashion the sense is not darke for it is asmuch as if he had saide O Lord haue mercy vppon me euen as thou art wonted to haue mercy vpon those which call vpon thy name Now we are to gather from this saying that Dauid made not this petition only for himself but hath set down vnto vs a general rule which we may and ought too apply vnto euery childe of God too the ende that euery one for his owne part might be sure that God wil haue mercy vpō him and stretch forth his hand to aide him in his neede And why so For the holy Ghost namely pronoūceth that it is the ordinary maner of God to be louing and pitiful to al those which loue his name What remayneth then for vs to do Forsooth we must loue the name of God And heere we are also to consider what this saying meaneth too loue the name of God For wee shal haue some men which wil feare god so so and yet be contented neuer to come neere him if they could otherwise chuse yea they wil not sticke to shut the dore against him and kepe themselues as far from him as is possible Nowe Dauid sheweth heere vnto vs what the true feare of God is to wit that we must loue him of our owne good wil and that with reuerence and not constrainedly to loue and feare him but that we desire too come vnto him and wholy to submit our selues vnto his Maiestie If we shal do thus then may we truly say that wee loue him in louing him feare him also In very deed these are things that may not be separated bicause it is impossible for vs rightly too reuerence God and to feare him as we ought except as it is said in the Psalme that we first acknowledge him to bee our father loking for al goodnes and courtesie from him This then affoordeth vs in the first place that wee are assured that God loueth vs that wee must take him as for our father that wee feele that hee in the louing of vs desireth nothing els but our saluation And thus much for the first point And after from thence also proceedeth humilitie whenas wee see GOD so too abase himselfe as too seeke for vs myserable Creatures wretched wormes of the Earth yea euen very condemned and vtterly loste persons the bondslaues of Satan That God seeketh for vs euen in Hell and draweth vs so louingly vnto himself And must it not needes be that we are very stubborne if we bee not touched and mooued to come vnto him and yeelde our selues vntoo him and bee ruled and gouerned by his hand and protection Loe say I how wee ought to loue the name of God to the ende we might be glad of that felicitie which Dauid heere speaketh of that is that God looketh to keepe vs through his prouidence And although wee are heere compassed with a great number of miseryes afflicted a great number of wayes and iudged to be most wretched yet God is at hand to help our necessities And namely it is sayd to loue the name of God Because wee must receiue a testimony from him to comprehend his good will Wee see not God in his Essence or as he is in deede but he manifesteth himselfe vnto vs by a nother meane to witte that wee might beholde him in the glasse of his woorde where he sheweth himselfe vnto vs openly inough Nowe Dauid addeth soone after Order my steppes in thy woorde and let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me Heere wee see more cleerely that which I haue already touched to wit what the petitions of the faithfull ought to be to the ende they should not be giuen to vaine things For we neede not to haue any thing to make vs by and by to goe astray seeing our owne nature draweth vs readyly inough thereto There is no question but that wee wil go more then a foote pace when as wee are bent too doe mischiefe yea we will trot on moste swiftly and violently euen as wretched men that were bewitched Wherefore heere is a remedy set downe vnto vs considering that our nature is inclyned to all euill and caryeth vs thereto headlong that we only ought to indeuour our selues too bridle our vaine and wicked affections and besides wee ought too desire God to keepe vs through his woord and not too suffer any iniquitie too reigne in vs. Loe I say in what sorte all the faithfull muste order them selues fighting against all their fleshly lustes For it is meete that wee vtterly renounce the euill that is in vs if wee will seeke after God and come vnto him Nowe heere are two things which Dauid desiereth To haue his so otesteppes ordered according to the worde of God And afterwarde that no iniquitie haue dominion ouer him Which is asmuch as if hee had sayde That God had conformed him to his word and giuen him power and strength to withstand all temptations Nowe when he sayth Order my steppes according too thy word he meaneth that we can doe nothing at all excepte God gouerneth vs by his holy spirit So then it is not enough that we haue the woorde of God preached vnto vs to heare it and to be exercised in the reading thereof But it is God that must put to his helping hand ouer besids he it is that must make the preaching of it effectuall and pearce our eares to the ende wee might vnderstande that which is set downe
afflict vs so that wee be grieuously vexed vntill we can no more Loe heere a good tryall to make vs feele that we haue willingly and in earnest honored him in his word And we shall shew it too bee so when as we shall not chaunge our mindes but constantly perseuer in it and say whether shall I now runne see how I am afflicted well it is my God that must restore me It is very true that I am not without great stoare of sorrowes and griefes which trouble mee But yet I will content my selfe with this that God loueth me It is true that as touching the worlde I am tormented but I will comfort my selfe that my God hath called me vnto him that he sheweth vnto me in deede that he will haue compassion vpon mee that he taketh me for one of his children and will extende his fatherly goodnes towardes mee See here a very good proufe and triall that we take the woorde of God to bee true and righteous that is that if wee bee grieued with trouble and aduersitie yet that we do neuer forget him nor it But what let vs once come to the practize thereof and then we shall see howe it fareth with vs. For it is a matter of nothing too lende our eares and saye surely this is a very good sermō that there was nothing taught in it but very good and holsome doctrine and truely if wee haue once sayde but euen thus much wee will by and by thinke that God is greatly in our debte A man that commeth thus euen with the eares of an Asse to playe the hypocrite thinketh verly that God is bounde vnto him bicause hee hath done him thus much honour Now this is an ouergrosse and impudent kinde of dissembling in this maner to thinke to please the maiestie of God But yet the case so standeth as that the greater part is euen so giuen nowe what is the next way for vs too bee ridde of all togither Forsooth euen this That when wee for a time shall make a showe to giue diligent eare vnto the worde of God that all whatsoeuer we haue heard will incontinent melt and vanish cleane away from vs. And hereby wee very well shewe that the truth and righteousnesse which is in his word is not so imprinted in vs as it ought to be Now Dauid addeth in the ende Yet my delight is in thy commandements Whereby he aduertiseth vs that it is not enough that we cal to minde that we haue vnderstoode the word of saluation too the ende to profite our selues in the time of affliction but it must be of this strength and power euen to gladde vs in the middest of our sorrowes It is very true that we shall not be senseles and without feeling And Dauid also hath very well experimented how greatly affliction and anguish tormented him He felt then both harde and bitter passions and yet this hindered him little to reioyce and to be glad And although he was greatly vexed as touching the flesh yet felt he such spiritual ioy in the testimonies of God that sorrow ouercame him not Now if Dauid as before wee haue declared tooke such pleasure in the law wheras God only shewed himself to the ancient fathers as it were in shadowes I beseeche you how ought the word of God at this day to glad vs Where as he sheweth him self so familiar a father towards vs euē opening vnto vs the very botome of his heart hiding nothing from vs When thē our Lord God poureth out the treasures of his infinite loue and goodnes vpon vs so aboundantly haue not wee a farre greater occasion to reioyce then the fathers who liued vnder the lawe Yes verely but our vnthankefulnesse so hindreth vs as that in knowing we know nothing and in seeing we see no whit at al. And yet is not this written without cause Euen so when as we shall feele the griefes anguishes and afflictions of this worlde to trouble vs let vs haue recourse vnto this word of God for in it we shal finde him to stretch forth his hand to drawe vs vnto him declaring that he will helpe the afflicted haue pitie of the miserable and vexed ayde the wretched desireth nothing els but to bring back againe poore sinners which wil yeld them selues vnto him lay all their cares in his lappe and that hee will vnburden vs of them all When then wee are sure and resolute of such God his goodnesse towardes vs by his promises wee ought to come vnto him to call vpon him and to reioyce in him so that we may say with Dauid O Lord my delight hath byn in thy testimonies that they might glad me in the middest of my afflictions Loe how the children of God win all the time of their affliction may continually doe reioyce in the assurance of their saluation yea when as they shal settle them selues vpon his promises and receiue them in such sort as that they may turne to their benefit Now for a conclusion Dauid saith The righteousnes of thy testimonies is euerlasting and afterward he maketh his prayer saith graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue See yet againe this worde righteousnes which is here repeated and that to very good purpose For this is according to that which I haue already said that they which dare not openly rayle iangle against God to blaspheme his word yet will they be for all that ful of malice and treason or els they wil be so nusseled in their vanities as that the righteousnes of God shall not appeare in them So then Dauid yet setteth it down to bee an euerlasting righteousnesse signifying that we ought not to take them as puftes of wynde as a great number of men haue done to magnifie God and after in the turning of an hand to go cleane backward As at this daye wee shall haue them which will make a shew of great deuotion and say O what an excellent sermon O what notable doctrine was taught this day But I beseeche you what wil they say the next day Forsooth they will not for all this sticke too mocke God make one iest or other at his word or els if God send them any aduersitie they wil be grieued and angry with him so that if they be put in minde of that which they before had heard they will answere that they haue cleane forgotten it Dauid therefore meaning to shew that wee must not bee so slacke as at sometimes to commende the worde of God sayeth that it is an euerlasting righteousnes As if he should haue said it is very true that men are chaungeable and this present life also is subiect to very many chaunges as to daye we shall haue some griefe or other and to morrowe be well againe oftentimes many troubles shall come vnto vs and wee shall see them at last too haue an ende and yet for all these continuall chaunges men must not in the meane while be carried away with euery
blast of wynde to bee inconstāt and vnstedfast but whiles they are sayling through the waues of the sea they must holde them selues firme and sure in this righteousnesse and sinceritie which is in the woorde of God See then howe me must know the euerlasting stablenes of the righteousnesse of the lawe And in deede wee shall haue thereof a full feeling and declaration in the worde of God when as wee shall receiue it as wee ought but for so much as wee faile herein and that wee haue not as of our selues the spirite to comprehend this righteousnesse wherof in this place mention is made ne yet to attaine thereto yea and if that we should attaine therto so that there were nothing to leade vs to iniquitie yet let vs pray with Dauid that it would please God to giue vs vnderstanding Now it is most true that Dauid had already receiued some portion and measure of vnderstanding for els he could neuer haue saide I haue beene grieued and troubled and yet my delight was in thy lawe Hee coulde not possibly bee carried with such an affection but that the word of God had touched the very bottome of his heart but when he besought God to giue him vnderstāding he meāt to haue God to encrease that grace which before he had receiued Nowe if he who was so greatly aduaūced yea that had receiued the spirite of prophecie to instruct others which is the principall spirite to gouerne the people of God If hee I saye had neede to make such a prayer what shall wee do which haue scarsely any one sparke of vnderstanding in our myndes ought not we I beseeche you to praye with a more feruent desire to haue God to graūt vs vnderstanding And a great deale the more ought wee to bee stirred vp thereto when as Dauid sayeth that wee are not able too lyue vntill such time as GOD hath so enlightened vs too the ende wee might conceiue this truthe and righteousnesse which is in his lawe See here I saye howe that the life of men cannot be but accursed vntill such time as they are come euen vnto this point And so let vs not learne too please our selues as these miserable wretched worldlinges doe who are euen drunken in their pleasures and pastimes and thinke that there is no pleasure nor felicitie without they exceede and outrage in all vanities and follies But lette vs looke a great deale higher lette vs seeke after God know that then our life shal be blessed when as God shall haue deliuered vs from these vayne allurements of this wicked worlde to make vs feele truth and righteousnes which is in his word that it may be the onely ende of our life of all our councelles and our onely exercise and study To be short the very summarie of all whatsoeuer we take in hande 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 woulde please him to make vs to feele them better then heretofore wee haue that we knowing our owne wretchednesse and miseries what neede we haue of his assistance might haue recourse vnto him hauing our whole refuge to his goodnes and mercy and stay our selues vpon his promises not douting but that as he is true and faithfull in all that he sayeth so also that he will fulfill whatsoeuer hee hath shewed vnto vs in his worde to wit that he wil so vnite vs vnto him self as that after he hath separated vs from all the filthinesse of this world he will make vs partakers of his righteousnesse and finally of his glorie That he will not onely graunt vs this grace but also all people and nations of the earth c. The nineteenth Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme COPH. I haue cried out with my whole heart heare me O Lord and I will keepe thy statutes Yea euen vpon thee haue I called helpe me and I wil keepe thy testimonies Early in the morning I cried vnto thee for in thy word is my trust Mine eies preuent the night watches that I might be occupied in thy wordes Heare my voyce O Lorde according vnto thy louing kindnesse quicken mee according too thy iudgement They drawe nigh that followe after malice and are farre from thy lawe Thou art nigh at hande O Lorde for all thy commandementes are true I haue knowne long since by thy testimonies that thou hast grounded them for euer FOrasmuch as the most requisite thing that wee can possibly desire for our saluation is praier vnto God and bicause we are so slacke and colde therein or els that a very small matter will make vs colde we are to consider of the examples which the holy scripture setteth forth vnto vs of the children of God of the faithfull in deede how they continually were exercised in prayer Euen as in this place Dauid his meaning is to set before our eyes not that he meant to glorifie him selfe of his owne strength thereby to get him estimation but to the ende that this example might direct vs the right waye We see then howe carefull Dauid was to call vpō the name of God how he applied his whole affection and continued therein bicause that euery of vs might doe the like Nowe in the first place he sayeth I haue cried out with my whole heart Wherety he signifieth vnto vs that he babbled not euē as the hypocrites doe or els that he cried not out vppon God for a fashion or coldely but prayed with a true earnest zeale Neither do we any otherwise but euen prophane the name of God when as wee pray vnto him without attentiue mindes hauing our thoughts wandring this waye and that waye and on euery side Let vs then consider what it is principally to be required in our prayers which is that we must not only wagge the tongue and open our mouth with an intent to pray vnto God but we must pray sincerely and purely also vnto him from the bottom of our harts Now in very deed we ought to bring this into a more plaine order But yet according to the manner which wee haue heretofore kept in handling of this Psalme it shal suffice that we set down euery thing briefly in certain articles It remaineth then for this tyme that euery one priuately by himself doth more diligently meditate bestow his whole studie herein Nowe let vs see how we ought too make our prayers to God to wit our prayers must not proceed from the midst of our mouth but from a godly minde and pure truth This word to cry out importeth vehemency as shall again soone after be spoken of Nowe Dauid meaneth not that he strained his throate to cal and cry out but he rather signifieth that he went not coldly vnto it as they do which pray vnto God they know not why nor wherfore without it be for a fashion or if they be pressed through any neede yet are
like as a Dauid maketh here such a request so also we are to consider that he made it not of his owne head nor at aduenture but he knewe it to bee the office of God That is That he will auenge all outrages Exo. 15. as it is said in the song of Moyses That if men oppresse any vniustly our Lord sayeth that it is be which auengeth the cause of the innocent and of him that is troubled without a cause Dauid then knowing that God hauing taken this title vnto him selfe and declared that he will not suffer the throates of the righteous too bee thus cut to be tormented and troaden vnderfoote but that hee will stretche foorth his hand too helpe them hee hauing knowne this calleth vpon God with a sure constancie that will receiue him Wherefore it is meete that we looke vnto this promise when as wee praye to the ende wee praye not doubtfully but in full assurance that God will be incontinent ready to helpe our necessities And this is it why Dauid by and by after sayeth Quicken mee according vnto thy worde It is not without cause that this saying was added For as I haue already said when as we will beseeche the the lorde our God to take vpon him our quarrell and too assiste vs in our afflictions and then we in the meane time shall stand in doubte of his so doing wee shall profite our selues little in so praying But we must bee fully assured that he will deliuer vs. And whensoeuer it shall come too passe that we shal be destitute of all mens ayde yea that it shall seeme that all the whole worlde had conspired our destruction and decay then should we chiefliest assure our selues that God will auenge our cause and not onely serue vs in steade of a proctour but will be altogether also our iudge aduerse partie against our enemies and against all those which haue vniustly afflicted vs. For he it is that must take in hand all iust causes Wee had neede then too assure our selues of this But from whēce shal we learne this euen out of the worde of God bicause hee hath lefte vnto vs a testimonie thereof in it as wee see that Dauid speaketh not here at a wilde aduēture but hath already groūded him self vpon a good foundation whereon he hath settled him self Now it followeth Saluation is farre from the vngodly bicause they seeke not thy statutes And afterwarde hee sayeth Great are thy tender mercies O Lorde quicken me according to thy iudgementes Nowe here are two thinges to bee considered off The one is that Dauid telleth the reason why all the contemners of God and all that rebell against his maiestie runne headlong into destruction and that hee forsaketh them that they feele no taste nor ease in their afflictions but that God clerely forsaketh them Dauid setteth downe here the cause of all this it is saith he bicause they haue not sought after thy lawes and therefore are farre from thy saluation Nowe he cleane contrary protesteth of him selfe that hee followed the lawe of God and kept it in his heart So then we must needes conclude that he could not be estraunged from it In very deede this sentence at the first sight is somwhat darke but I will make it plaine in three woordes and then by little and little shewe what doctrine wee are too gather out of this When any telleth vs of our saluation wee must in the first place know whence it proceedeth to wit from God and that there is no saluation but in him in so much that so long as God is good and gracious vnto vs it must needes be that all must goe very well on our side and be assured that our life is blessed and that we shall want nothing that is meete for our welfare and felicitie So then our saluation and all fulnesse and perfection of benefites consist in this one onely pointe that God loueth vs and receiueth vs vnto himselfe And since it is so let vs nowe consider what he is whome God will forsake Once we are his creatures and euen as he hath created and fashioned vs so also will he continne his goodnesse towards vs. Now seeing that his mercie extendeth euen to brute beasts euen to the moste vile and abiect thinges yea euen which wee contemne and disdaine once to looke on seeing the mercie of God extendeth so farre as the holy Scripture teacheth vs how can it be that he wil forsake vs yea vnto whom he hath graunted so great dignitie and excellencie For wee haue a thing excelling all other his creatures which is this that God hath imprinted-his owne similitude and likenesse in vs Now when as he hath exalted vs vnto so highe a degree of honor will he thinke you now forsake vs Hee will not without all doubt What is the cause then that wee see so many caitifes and miserable wretches which are euē giuen ouer so that God sendeth them not so much as the leaste ayde and comfort that it seemeth that he hath set them as it were vpon a stage to be a shame and rebuke to the whole worlde Whence commeth this Forsooth because they withdrawe them selues from God for when as they withdrewe not them selues from him it is most sure that then he shewed him selfe vnto them such a one as indeede hee is of his owne nature that is louing kinde pitifull gentle mercifull To be short so long as we will be ordered by him as his children it is most sure that he will play the parte of a father towards vs so long as we will yeelde our obedience vnto him he wil intreate vs gently But when we are so peruerse as that wee will not submitte our selues neither vnto him selfe nor yet vnto his word but contemne his loue grace offered vnto vs is it reason that God should put forth his hand to helpe vs is it meete he should entreat vs as his children and accompt vs in the number of those which wholy dedicate them selues vnto his maiestie No not so But we rather are worthy to be set farre from him and too haue nothing at all to do with him Loe here the meaning of Dauid in this place when he saieth O Lord helth is farre from the vngodly bicause they regard not thy statutes As if hee should haue said we ought not to be abashed O Lorde although thou giuest vs ouer and that we feele no succoure of thy goodnes but that we languish in al miserie and calamitie And why so Bicause wee haue forsaken and refused thy grace and therefore of very right we ought to be confounded and come to naught Now I pray you tell vs what meaneth it that God will not be nigh vs but by meanes of his word we must needes feele his goodnes by the effect yea forsooth and yet God commeth nigh vnto vs by his word for that is a preparatiue by which he fashioneth our heartes to the ende he might shewe him selfe
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
vs and therefore that we cannot flye from his hand but must submit our selues vnto it albeit wee wil not doe it freely and of our owne accorde And so let vs willingly be contented to be ruled by him beeing certifyed of his loue and goodnesse towards vs to the ende wee might in trueth make this protestation which Dauid heere maketh According too this holy doctrine let vs humbly prostrate our selues before the maiestie of our good god in acknowledging our offences beseeching him that it woulde please him to make vs to feele the power of his woorde in such sort as his holy Prophet heere sheweth vs and so too feele it as that wee may wholy submitte our selues vnto it Knowing that when it shall come in question for vs too remitte our selues and cleaue vnto him as hee requireth that wee must forsake the whole worlde and all our carnall affections which any way hinder vs from comming vnto him to the ende wee may so climbe vp vnto his maiestie as that not fearing the world nor all his assaultes wee may putte our whole confidence in his mercifull goodnesse and boldly present vs before his face to the ende the may receiue vs so that wee might alwayes bee gouerned through his holy spirit vntil such time as he hath brought vs vnto that perfectiō wherevnto he calleth and biddeth vs. That hee will not onely graunt vntoo vs this grace but also c. The xxii Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme THAV Let my complaint come before thee O Lorde and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Let my supplication come before thee and deliuer me according vnto thy worde My lippes shall speake of thy prayse when thou hast hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shall treate of thy worde for all thy cōmandementes are righteous Let thine hande helpe me for I haue chosen thy cōmaundementes I haue longed for thy sauing health O Lorde and in thy lawe is my delight Let my soule liue and it shall prayse thee and thy iudgementes shall helpe me I haue gone astray like a sheepe that is lost seeke thy seruaunt for I doe not forget thy commaundementes THese eight last verses which arche knitting vp of the whole Psalme do shew vnto vs that which we oftentimes haue before seene to wit that Dauid his chiefest desire was this to be duely and truely instructed in the word of God and therin to be cōfirmed for he tooke such pleasure in it as that all the rest was little or nothing worth vnto him in respect of the same Now it is very true that he hath already sufficiētly spoken of this matter and yet that which he presently addeth is not supperfluous especially if we consider in what sort our carnall desires rule vs. For that is it which letteth vs that we can not onely haue that feruency which Dauid had to seeke throughly to profit in the schoole of God but we scarsely haue so much as any small desire And therefore as I haue already said we are too too much nuzzeled in our earthly affections Wherefore this is a lesson which ought many times too put vs in minde that if wee will pray vnto God according vnto his will wee must not come vnto him with a desire of our owne to saye whatsoeuer commeth in our brayne yea and to leaue out the most principall parte but we must beginne with this saying to wit that it would please God so to instruct vs as that our life may be squared according to his law and we to cleaue so vnto it as not to come with a double and twyfold heart Although we are to striue against the worlde and our owne nature yet must we remaine constant in this chiefly to loue the woorde of God And therefore for this cause Dauid here sayeth Let my Complaint come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according vnto thy word When he speaketh of his complaint which hee maketh vnto the Lord he sheweth that he made no cold prayer vnto God as we many times and as it were daily do but with great vehemency I can not deny but that an hypocrite may very well make complaint with a loude noyse and thrust out his weasaunt But Dauid hauing here consideratiō of God meaneth not to make an outward shew before men Wherefore That he cried out aloude importeth as much as an earnest testimonie wherewith hee was pricked forward Now by this we see that he chiefly desired that which he craueth to wit to haue God to instruct him and to giue him vnderstāding And in desiring this gift of God he cōfesseth that he was of him selfe a very wretched blind soule that hee neuer vnderstoode any thing yea although he had the lawe in his hands which he might reade wherein was conteined a true perfection of all wisedome yet that he still continued euē like a poore miserable blind wretch except God enlightened him So then let vs vnderstande that this is an especiall gift which God bestoweth vpon vs when hee openeth our eyes too make vs vnderstande that which is shewed in his word whether we reade it or that it be preached vnto vs. Yea and let vs not here make any exception thinking our selues to bee more sharpe witted or abler then Dauid was but let vs rather knowe that if hee needed to beseech God to giue him vnderstanding that we for our partes haue as great neede So then it can not bee chosen but that whē God hath deliuered vnto vs his word and declared his will therein conteined and for performance hereof inlighteneth our hearts by his holy spirite for other waies we shal haue our cares beaten in vaine and then the doctrine which we haue heard will do vs no good Now that which followeth According vnto thy worde may two wayes beset forth According vnto thy word that is to say that thou wilt make me wise And after what maner That I be altogether ruled by thee and do that which thou commaundest This is a very true saying for by this wee are admonished to heare God speake and we againe must suffer him to haue dominion ouer vs and not to be ouertakē with this fooolish arrogancie and saye I haue knowledge inough I neede not so much teaching Wherefore when as God shall haue spoken the worde let vs passe it simply and without gainesaying This sentence then which I haue spoken is very true but yet it agreeth not with the meaning of Dauid he yet with the plamenesse of the text For he craueth here two things the one in the first verse the other in the second He sayeth in the first verse Let my complaint come before thee that I might be instructed according vnto thy worde And afterwarde he addeth 〈◊〉 my supplication come be fore thee and deliuer me according vnto thy worde It is very true that he vseth two sentences but yet they are not without a marueilous grace in one selfe same signification and by this repetition we
word of God let him shewe it yea in glorifying his name all the daies of his life They then which are so colde in praising of God do right wel shew that they neuer felt what the power of the worde is And thy so Bicause it is impossible for vs to haue any taste of the worde of God to receiue thereby any instruction but that wee must needes bee moued and rauished therewith to sing prayses vnto his glorious name Whatsoeuer hee bee then that shall shewe him selfe negligent herein sufficiently inough declareth that hee knoweth not what the worde of God is albeit hee protest him selfe to be a Christian Let vs nowe come to those which are not onely dumbe them selues but that which is also worse which would shut vp the mouthes of others to the ende it might not bee lawefull for them too prayse God And yet forsooth these men are so shamelesse as that they woulde notwithstanding bee taken for good Christians but by these meanes they declare them selues too bee the deadly enemies of God yea worse then the very deuilles And why so Forsooth they thinke it not inough that they haue nothing profited in the schoole of God neither yet are they contented to shewe the waye to doe well vnto others but they would haue al the world to be like vnto thē selues that there should neuer mention bee made of praysing God yet in the meane while as I haue already saide this word Christian shall stand them in neuer a peny Nowe without all dout God disaloweth of all those which will not giue them selues to sing praises vnto his maiestie and that will not stirre vp their neigh bours to doe the like that they might shewe them selues to haue studied his woorde But let vs bee well assured that it is notinough too open our mouth and to sing praises vnto him with the tongue but it must also come from a well affected heart For Dauid telleth vs nothere that hee will solemnize the praises of God but in addressing him selfe vnto God hee protesteth before him that he will sing prayses vnto him And in speaking this he right wel knoweth that his heart must needes be disposed thereto Wherfore when as we would magnifie the name of God as appertaineth let vs not deliuer it out with the mouth onely but our heart also must be set thereto and that it agree therewith to make a sweete hermony If this be so all our life by litle and litle shal be answerable thereto that it shall bee no vntruthe which wee haue pronounced with our mouth Now he addeth a sentence which is very short to wit My tongue shall treate of thy word and why bicause all thy commaundementes sayeth he are righteous In this verse he sheweth that after he hath beene well instructed that he him selfe will also trauell to bring others by little and little to the like knowledge Loe here his full pretence But yet the better to expresse his affection that hee hath too drawe on his brethren and neighbours to the knowledge of God and of his truth hee vseth this word to Sing not contenting him selfe to speake after a plain maner but expressing that he wil sing alowde and cleare that he will make his word to resounde that it might be heard yea that it should be a thing as notoriously knowne as the very common songes Nowe since it is so that Dauid speaketh after this sort let vs nowe see what our duetie is For as I haue already said heretofore he bragged not of his owne power but the holy Ghost hath set him before vs in steade of a glasse to thend it might serue vs for our better instruction Nowe when as we shall haue knowne the truthe of our good God what is there thē for vs to do Forsooth we must not holde fast this treasure as it were lockt vp in a cheste but communicate his graces vnto others yea and doe the best wee can to drawe on the miserable ignoraunt people too the seruice of God and too carry about with vs the doctrine to publish it to all men when as it is committed vnto vs as a treasure and to bestowe the gifte which we haue receiued vpon our neighbours according to that measure of faith which God hath giuen vs. Howebeit this order is farre of from vs For if there be but three wordes of the worde of God spoken we wil soone be wery of it may we shall not heare it spoken of at this day It is so farre of that it is talked of both at the table in the waye and euery where as that we can hardly abide that euen for fashions sake the preaching of it be kept and although it be here lawefull too speake in the pulpit one houre in the name of God yet shall you haue a great number of dogges which will not sticke euen to gyrne at it as if God were too too much priuiledged It is very farre of to haue euery man to apply him selfe to sing the commaundementes of God and his whole worde and for vs to haue our eares beaten with it Nowe whence commeth this vnthankefulnesse verely bicause wee neuer tasted of that which Dauid here addeth All thy statutes sayeth hee are righteous If wee did throughly know what equitie and purenesse there is in the statutes of God without dout we should be more earnest to learne holde and shewe them vnto others then heretofore we haue beene So then all they which make no accompt too instruct their neighbours and do not esteeme of the knowledge and faith which they haue receiued doe hereby shew that they will not render the righteousnesse to God as to him appertameth accordingly as it is conteined in his word and as he him selfe sheweth it therein Nowe Dauid by and by addeth Let thine hand helpe me for I haue chosen thy commaundementes He yet returneth too that which before hee had sayde of deliuerance For after he had required to be taught of god he saide O deliuer me yea hee right wel knewe that if hee had not him for his protector that hee shoulde alwayes remaine as it were in death Now he addeth Let thyne hand helpe mee And why so For I haue chosen saith hee thy commaundements When hee desireth God too helpe him with his hande he confesseth his want and that hee was as a man which needed help euen as though he had neuer had more need and that it was not in him to deliuer himself neither could he find it in any of his creatures And therfore except God had stretched foorth his hand see howe Dauid had beene vtterly cast away Nowe this confession here is very profitable for vs. For which of vs is he that can be without afflictions and that is able to saye I haue all things that are necessarie It is most true that we are more carefull for that which concerneth our bodies and this present life then for that which is required for the saluation of our soules
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
here giueth vs is very necessary to wit that the commandementes of God are true As if he should haue said O Lorde I haue already said that thou art neare vnto vs for as much as thou seest vs to bee persecuted and troubled by the wicked and how they come vpon vs to destroye vs and that thou arte right before them and against them to beate them backe and to beare their blowes All this do I confesse O Lorde But yet I vee not this after a visible worldly maner Howe then It is bicause thy commaundements are true Dauid then knewe that God was neare vnto him bicause hee settled him selfe vpon the lawe and the promises which were giuen him And euen so must we do although it seeme very hard as we haue already touched It followeth I haue knowne long since by testimonies that thou hast grounded them for euer In this latter verse for a conclusion Dauid sayeth that he was not like a nouice to bee nowe too learne to knowe what the commaundements of God were but hee was resolute that God was neare him bicause hee had his worde from which he could not starte He sheweth then that the faithfull ought not too bee as it were in their A. B. C. but must bee long time exercised as Dauid protesteth of him selfe I haue knowne them sayeth hee long since Now here he setteth downe a woorde which signifieth continuaunce From the beginning haue I knowen saieth hee long since thy commaundements which thou haste grounded for euer So then let vs learne that if wee will boldely striue against all the assaultes wherewith wee may bee assayled wee muste continue in this knowledge of the woorde of God and we shall alwayes finde him ready to be neerehand vs so that we may be sure of his protection not for a day onely but all the dayes of our life And so let vs throughly recorde this lesson to the ende we may say with Dauid that wee haue the testimonyes of GOD so deepely imprinted in our heartes as that wee haue longe time since knowen what is already in them too witte that God hath established them That is to say that although we shall see a great number of chaunges in this world that all things are chaunged and turned yet that God is no chaungeling that hee neuer altereth his minde that his woorde is as it was from the beginning and as it shall continue for euer that it shall neuer be subiect to al the turnes and chaunges of this worlde but shall euer abide in his ful strength and vertue because that God hath established it for euer And this is euen so as that we ought to bee prepapared to call vpon God to witte when as we shall be setled vpon the true confidence of his promises that we shall haue knowne the euerlasting power strength which he hath giuen to his woorde that is that he will remaine alwayes like vnto him selfe When I say wee shall haue knowen this we may boldely come and present our selues before him beeing assured that hee will make vs feele by proofe that which he promiseth vs so oftentimes as wee shall haue recourse vnto him trusting heerein that he hath rendered vnto vs a testimonie of the loue which hee beareth vs. Nowe let vs prostrate our selues before the Maiestie of our good God and father in acknowledging our innumerable offences which wee dayly commit against him Beseeching him that he will so touch vs as that in steede that wee haue beene ouer much giuen to our fleshly affections and vanities of this world that nowe we seeke none other way but wholy too order our selues according to his good will beeing assured that although we bee feeble and weake yea and vtterly voyde of all strength so that wee cannot stepe one foote forwarde without stumbling or else in going backwarde we bee farre from him yet let vs not doute but that hee will be neere at hand too helpe vs And also that when hee hath made vs too feele his helpe that he will giue vs that grace that wee may bee so thankfull vnto him as hee deserueth desiring nothing else but too glorifie him all the dayes of our life for so many his benefites as he dayly giueth vs and liberally bestoweth vpon vs. That hee will not onely graunt vnto vs this grace but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The xx Sermon vpon the hundreth and nineteenth Psalme RESH Beholde mine affliction and deliuer mee for I haue not forgotten thy lawe Pleade my cause and deliuer me quicken me according vnto thy woorde Saluation is farre from the vngodly because they seeke not thy statutes Great are thy tender mercyes O Lord quicken me according to thy iudgements Many there are that trouble me and persecute mee yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies It greeued mee when I sawe the transgressors bee cause they kept not thy lawe Consider O Lorde howe I loue thy Commaundementes quicken mee according vnto thy louing kindenesse Thy worde is true from euerlasting all the iudgements of thy righteousnesse inudre for euermore IF wee might haue whatsoeuer we would desire wish in very deede wee should bee the better at ease and without any griefe And this is it that man naturally desireth But in the meane while wee are to consider that God wil exercise vs with diuerse afflictions so long as we are in this worlde Wherefore such is the condition and state of Christians so long as they shall liue heere vpon the earth That is they must striue be exercised with diuerse sortes of greeues sometimes of the body and otherwhiles of the soule And therefore for this cause must we arme our selues to the ende we be not ouercome in the midest of our conflicts Now the principal peece of our armour is to pray vn-God and to call vpon him to helpe vs. And to bring this about we are throughly to consider howe all the faithfull which liued long before our time proceeded heerein too the ende we might order our selues after their example as in this texte heere we see howe Dauid was euen extreemely afflicted Againe wee see also howe he behaued him selfe in all his afflictions which although they were very vehement yet did they not hinder him too haue recourse vntoo God and of him he was rescued and saued See then what we haue to meditate vppon too the ende that wee might doe the like Beholde mine affliction and deliuer me for I doe not forget thy lawe When as he desireth God to looke vnto his afflictions it is euen the same which wee haue already saide too wit That although God loued him yet would he not but that he should be subiect too a greate number of miseryes torments and griefes Let vs not think then to be priuiledged so long as we are to walke heere bilowe on the earth but that God will exercise vs and assay and proue our patience as he hath prooued Dauids