not leaue vs comfortles we shall inherit heauen that we shall haue peace at our death and glory after our death if the pestilence enter into our houses or take hold on our persons when none dare come vnto vs then God will be with vs though our bodyes bee infected yet our soules can neuer bee so infected if wee haue grace in our hearts but that God dareth to enter into our houses to visit vs and when our soules shall bee parted from our bodyes he will not think it too much to giue them a place of rest with himselfe in his owne kingdome and at length vnite them to our bodies againe that they may enioy euerlasting blisse together this generation of the righteous shall be blessed First therefore seeing religion is such an incomparable treasure True pietie is the onely meanes to reforme our crooked wayes this should teach vs to haue the meanes in due estimation whereby we may bee made truly religious by which our mindes that are blinde may bee enlightened our hearts of crooked may bee made straight of prowd may bee made humble and of fraudulent may be made true and faithfull those meanes are the word and sacrament prayer the like which are steps whereby we must ascend vnto this honourable estate for it is as possible for men to make stayres to climbe vp into the skie as for vs without these to ascend vnto heauen by any deuices of our owne framing The word of God preached is the chiefest meanes to loose vs frō the bonds of sinne and sathan Secondly the word is the key that must open hell gates to set vs at liberty from the bonds of sinne of sathan and of death and to vnlocke heauen gates that wee may haue entrance into glory in which respect it is that Christ sayth vnto Peter that he would giue vnto him and consequently to all ministers of the Gospel the keyes of the kingdome of heauen that is the dispensation of the word sacraments which maketh the way into heauen lie open to all such as by faith receiue the same into their hearts so that we should not come vnto the meanes with a base conceit or light estimation thereof but with a large and ample desire and exspectation of taking benefite thereby if men can once espy away how they may rise in the world either in great wealth or promotion they will bee most industrious and laborious in that course they will refuse no paines in seed time though the weather be vnseasonable cold and their worke euery way troublesome but they will put themselues to it with all care and industry in hope though it bee but an vncertaine hope of bettering their estate so those that liue by fayres and markets will not faile one of them ordinarily neither heate nor cold winde nor raine nor any the like impediments shall hinder them from pursuing the commodity why then should we be negligent and play the sluggards while our seede-time lasteth and the Lord biddeth vs plow vp the fallow ground of our hearts Ierem. 4. that he may sow therein the seed of life which will neuer faile to yeeld vs a plentifull haruest if wee can wait vpon him for the same and why should we be slacke and carelesse when our chiefe market dayes and faire dayes come and not rather set our hearts and endeuours to seeke after those things which all that seeke shall finde and being found will make vs blessed for euermore Therefore wee ought to breake through all impediments and swallow vp al difficulties with the consideration of this that our iourny tendeth not to the getting of some small commoditie or to the purchasing of some worldly possessions but that we are trauelling towards our owne countrey where we shall receiue an inualuable and eternall crowne of glory and albeit we must passe through many rough craggy and thorny wayes and meete with sundry things that will be very irkesome and vnpleasant The deficulty of the way should not hinder vs. yet let vs make account with all that we shall finde many sweee comforts and ioyes vnspeakeable and glorious in the midst of our pilgrimages and in the end shall haue the fruition of that blessednesse which will make amends for all Now that our desires may bee futher enlarged towards heauen and our affections the better withdrawne from the loue of this deceitfull life and world of vanities let vs meditate on those compleat ioyes which no tongue indeed is able to expresse or heart of man conceiue for if their estate bee so blessed in this life what shall their happinesse bee when they depart out of this life The happinesse of the life to come to haue the fruition of those ioyes which are prepared for the Saints in the kingdome of glory where all teares shall be wiped away from their eyes they being altogether freed from sinne and sorrow shall receiue an immortall crowne of blessednesse with the Saints and Angels in Gods owne presence where is fulnesse of Ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Therefore I may say with the Apostle no eye hath seene no eare hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man 1. Cor. 2.9 what vnspeakeable ioyes God hath prepared for them that loue him If it be so sayth an ancient Father what can I doe else but lift vp mine eyes to heauen mine eares to God and my heart to Paradise to see and vnderstand what I can comprehend vpon earth and therfore my soule longeth after thee O God and sigheth till it see the brightnesse of thy face O kingdome of euerlasting blisse where thou O Lord the hope of all Saints art reioycing them on euery side with thy blessed sight If the wise men of the East came so farre off and reioyced to see Christ in the manger What will it be in the sight of his elect to see him in his glory If Iohn Baptist a babe sprang in his mothers wombe for ioy of Christ so newly conceiued not yet seene What shall his reall presence doe in his royall kingdome but euen rauish with ioy our very hearts soules when we shall continually enioy his most glorious sight for it passeth all other glory that the Saints haue in heauen and to receiue the beames of glory from the brightnesse of his Maiestie If Salomons seruants were accounted happy of Sheha the Southerne queene for their dayly liuing in the Court of Salomon hearing of his wisedome how happy then and thrice blessed shall the Saints and seruants of God bee accounted that liue continually in the Court of heauen the very paradise and Pallace of God himselfe O how happy and blessed is hee which with the onely desire and loue of eternitie pineth away such a one is neither prowde with prosperitie nor cast downe with adversitie for as he hath nothing in this world that hee loueth so is there no losse
by his soueraignty It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God fourthly by the latitude thou thy son thy daughter thy man seruant thy maid seruant the stranger that is within thy gates must sanctifie it fiftly by his example The Lord rested the seuenth day lastly by his benediction he blessed and sanctified it These sixe markes are like the sixe Water-pots in the second of Iohn Iohn 2.7 Let euery one of vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath that shall bee a pledge of the eternall Sabbath in the kingdom of Heauen fill them vp to the brim with a holy obseruation then draw out carry to the master of the feast euen to Iesus Christ the Lord of the new Sabbath therefore let vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath and that shall be vnto vs a pledge of the eternal Sabbath in the kingdome of Heauen which shal be a day without euening shal yeeld vs rest without labor ioy without ending Secondly behold a difference There is great difference betweene the godly and the wicked in their obedience whereby wee may try our selues betweene the wicked and the godly the one desires to draw in Gods yoke and yeeld obedience to the commandements and the other desires nothing more then to cast it of let vs examine then how our heart is affected doest thou finde this inward discontentment in obeying are Gods lawes as bonds and cords in thy esteeme and as a stomackful horse dost thou foame at the bit which is put into thy mouth an euident signe of a rebellious heart but one the other side art thou content to submit thy self to Gods commandements art thou desirous that thy nature would bee more conformable to Gods law art thou content to be restrained and if it were possible to haue the wicked inclination of thy heart abolished surely then thou needest not to want comfort thy state will affoord it goe on therefore constantly vnto the end Here is great comfort for all such as find vprightnes in their harts thogh they haue many imperfections Thirdly here is great consolation for all such as find these notes of vprightnesse in themselues and that they haue part in the commandements though they haue many corruptions and imperfections mixed with their best works yet seeing they haue pure hearts they are happy and blessed and shall find the good effects of their blessednesse true holinesse and true happinesse are neuer separated As for perfections God looks not for it at our hands if sinne hang on vs but wee would faine cast it off if we finde vnbeleefe but would most gladly get faith if wee bee troubled in our hearts with hardnesse but are desirous of softnesse if we be humbled for that we cannot be humbled sufficiently nor get such a large heart as we would to desire and exspect grace from heauen yet let vs not be discomforted for our defects and frailties for the Lord will spare vs and be gratious vnto vs in his beloued sonne according to that worthy prayer of good king Hezekiah 2. Chro. 30.18.19 The good Lord be mercifull toward him that prepared his whole heart to seeke the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuarie Fourthly this serueth for comfort to the children of God Our good purposes shall be rewarded to let them see how highly God prizeth good purposes and desires accepting and rewarding them when they come to him as if they came accompanyed with the deedes themselues Dauid did but conceiue a purpose to build God a house 2. Sam. 7.16 God rewards it with the building and establishing of Dauids house hee did but conceiue a purpose to confesse his sinnes Gods eare was in his heart before Dauids confession could bee in his tongue Psal 32.5 The poore beggers that haue wanted food for themselues Christ yet shall say at the last day Ye haue fed mee when I was hungry onely in regard of their strong affection if they had had abilitie Luk. 15.20 the prodigall child when hee was but conceiuing a purpose of returning was preuented by his fathers first comming to him Isa 65.24 and as Isay sayth God will answer vs before we call that is in our purposes of prayer O sweete comfort when wee addresse our selues to prayer in our priuate meditations and bethinke our selues of our sundry wants we purpose with our selues to beg such and such things whereof yet happily wee forget some in the vocall prayer shall any good soule now thinke that the memories weakenesse shall any thing preiudice her in this case no thy purpose of asking the thing forgotten was a most effectuall asking of it Therefore when the Lord shall put any good motions into our mind let vs not delay but speedily put them in practise and vnto thee belongeth the comfort of that saying I will heare before they calll Therefore seeing the Lord doth so highly esteeme good purposes let vs not delay but speedily put then in practise Before the Iron coole it is good striking while the waxe is plyable it is good setting on the Seale doest thou then feele at any time that thy heart is warmed with good motions enlarged with good affections lift vp to heauen in spirituall meditations doest thou feele any sparkles of the heauenly fire take take thou the bellowes presently blow till the flame cherish in thee and make much of the smoking flaxe Eccles 5.31 and therefore what Salomon exhorteth in the case of vowes is generally to be practised in all holy purposes and motions bee not slacke to performe them they that know themselues know how fickle and vnconstant their hearts are now as we would deale with a variable and vnconstant man so let vs deale with these hearts of ours we would take such a one at his word and lay hold of the opportunity least within a short space he alter his minde our hearts are more vnconstant then any man is or can be let vs then learne this wisedome presently to lay hold of euery good motion and put it in practise do not stand debating the matter when God putteth any good thought into thy heart or rayseth vp any good purpose or desire within thee but presently proceed to execution make no long tarrying before thou doest put them in action there haue beene many who haue resolued to leaue such a sinne Delaying of time very dangerous or doe such a dutie and put in practise what they haue heard but by reason of their deferring vntill the next day or such a time those motions die and purposes vanish and come to nothing for want of speedy execution The right way to try our selues is to know that wee haue forsaken our sins And therefore let vs trye our selues if these good purposes haue wrought in vs a forsaking of sinne and a reformation of life if it bee thus then it is well for this it is
to become a doer so shall you auert this curse and reproch from you so shall God and man call you blessed and blessed shall you feele your selfe in so doing now if you shall lay this to heart in the strength of your yeares it shall be your chiefest wisedome for it is religion and godlinesse that shall embalme your name and make it shine before men and glorifie your soule amongst Angels Luk. 7.37 Maries boxe of oyntment shall neuer be forgotten for godlines hath the promise of this life and that which is to come and that without it there is no internall comfort to bee found in conscience in this world nor eternall happinesse to bee hoped for in the next hoping it shall finde entertainment at your hands and that you will finde time at your leasure to peruse it desiring your fauourable acceptance of my good meaning in this behalfe I humbly take my leaue recommending you to the Lord and to the word of his grace the God of heauen so vouchsafe to water you and yours with the dew of heauen that with the godly man in this Psalme your generation may bee blessed and that at the end of this life your reward may be true blessednesse which mercie the Lord grant you for his Sunne Iesus Christs sake Amen Your most bounden and in all Christian duties to command T. S. Faults escaped in Printing Page 21. line 8. reade chearefull p. 27. l. 7. r. q.d. p. 29. l. 1 r. dans p. 30. l. 18. r. in order p. 36. l. 16. r. late p. 81. l. 10. r. a to p. 81. l. 14. r. vnto p. 103. l. 23. r. heare p. 104. l. 22. r. the Sechemites p. 125. l. 22. r. to do p. 151. l. 7. r. of the Hebrewes p 157. l. 4. r. that p. 165. l. 8. r. in these p. 187. l. 14. r. this the. Christian Reader I feare there are other faults besides these I desire thee therefore to correct these and beare with the rest and so I bid the◠heartily farewell AN EXPOSITION ON THE CXII Psalme verse 1.2 VERSE 1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatly in his commandements his seed shall bee mighty vpon earth the generation of the righteous shall be blessed THere is no greater encouragement or stronger motion to stirre a man to an eager and earnest pursuite of the meanes then to propose vnto him an end wherein at length his heart may repose as in a concurrance of al comforts and contentments to which there is no possibility of attainment but by purenesse of heart holinesse of life constancie in the course of sanctification which onely leade vnto the face and presence of God where and with whom alone is the highest perfection of blisse a riuer of infinite pleasures the well of life and endlesse rest of all created desires For the capacitie of mans soule cannot possibly be filled with the sufficiency of any creatures no not with a world of creatures for they are all nothing to the worth of a mans soule Christ himselfe hauing preferred it in valuation What shall it profit a man though he should winne the whole world if he loose his owne soule And therefore can neuer be free from motion and vexation vntill it reach vnto either in certaine hope or actuall fruition an obiect infinite as well in excellency of nature as duration of time Blessed then was the wisedome of the disposer of these heauenly songs of Dauid First this Psalme doth teach vs these two worthy points namely how the blessed man liues and that is in the feare of the Lord. Secondly what manner of life he leades and greatly delighteth in his Commandements These Psalms of Dauid the sweet singer of Israel are penned with such heauenly wisedome that they are convenient for the state of the whole Church and euery member thereof It is a banquet of heauenly wisedome saith Ambrose and as Basil speakes of another part of the Scripture likening it to an Apothecaries shop so may this booke of the Psalmes fitly be compared in which are so many sundry sorts of medicines that euery man may haue that which is conuenient for his disease for there is no sickenesse of man whereunto the booke of the Psalmes furnisheth not a present remedy First this blessed mā is described shewing what hee doth carefully embrace and follow Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that is that endeauors to the vtmost of his power to liue in the feare of the Lord. Secondly what is his practise namely to be much often in serious Christian meditation and delights greatly in his cōmandements Thirdly he sheweth the happy succes of this blessed man his seed shall be mighty vpon earth Now seeing this is the maine proposition of the psalm to proue that the godly man and hee that feares the Lord is onely blessed therefore the Prophet doth first shew who bee truely blessed and then wherein their blessednesse doth consist Dauid often vseth this phrase as in the first Psalm Blessed is the man that walketh not in the councell of the vngodly c. And in the 32. Psalme Blessed is hee whose wickednesse is forgiuen whose sinnes is couered c. And as here we haue it Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. It seems to be the words of a man in admiration or admiring with himselfe as if he should say O the blessednesse of that man that feareth the Lord. In this duty I obserue three points first what is the true feare of God Secondly what wee are to feare in God Thirdly by what meanes wee may attaine to this feare There is a two-fold feare the one is holy and good called filial or childish the other is bad and naught termed seruile or slauish the filiall or childish feare is such an one as is in children towards their parents who doe reuerence and feare them as being vnwilling to offend them any way whether by words or deeds through the tender loue and affection which they doe beare towards them the seruile feare is such an one as is in bondslaues towards their maisters who doe reuerence and feare them through the dread and feare of punishment which otherwise they are sure to haue if they offend and doe contrary to their duties so that some do feare him through loue and care to offend him and others do feare him through dread of punishment and power to torment them and it may be defined thus What the feare of God is It is a reuerence of Gods maiestie in our hearts whereby wee are made vnwilling to offend him in any thing and most willing to please him in all things through the loue which wee beare towards him This is a vertue most necessary and requisite for all Christians whatsoeuer as might at large be shewed but let the example of Abraham suffice Gen. 20.11 who thinking that the feare of God was not in Gerar vtterly despayred of any other vertue and therefore mooued
his wife to say that she was his sister in this respect the feare of God is both by Dauid and also by Salomon called the beginning of wisedome Psa 111.10 Prou. 1.7 that is the root and fountain of all goodnes and therefore we must feare the Lord Deut. 6.13 stand in great awe and reuerence of him Thou shalt feare saith Moses to Israel the Lord thy God and serue him and shalt sweare by his name Esay doth require the same Esay 8.13 when hee saith vnto them Sanctifie the Lord of hoasts and let him be your feare and let him be your dread But Salomon sayes Let vs heare the end of all Eccle. 12.23 feare God and keepe his commandements for this is the whole duty of man These reasons should be motiues to vs to fear the Lord. And there are diuers reasons to mooue vs hereunto as first the greatnes of his power and might aboue vs. Secondly his authority and iurisdiction which he hath ouer vs. Thirdly his goodnesse and mercy which hee doth shew vnto vs. Fourthly his maiesty glory which doth shine glister round about vs. Fifthly his purity and holinesse that is in his eyes beholding vs. And lastly the great blessings which the feare it selfe being had will bring vnto vs for al these things may iustly worke a feare in men Meane men do feare great men and they dare not in any case displease thē childrē feare their parents such as haue a ruling tuition ouer thē Workemen feare their masters by whom they liue are maintained Simple persons feare great states and such as excell in glory and maiestie aboue themselues though otherwise they owe no homage or subiectiō vnto them Loose liuers and wantons feare graue and religious persons and such as are zealous for Gods glory and earnest for the saluation of mans soule as being ashamed to poure out their euill words or to commit their wicked facts before them and in their presence Lastly euery one by nature is forward to apply himselfe to those things which hee doth know will bring great profit and benefit vnto himselfe and to liue in happinesse and prosperitie all the dayes of his life Now to apply this to God and to our selues First he is of power and he is able to pay vs home if we do displease him this our Sauiour tels vs when hee biddeth vs not to feare men who can kill but the body Mat. 10.28 but to feare the Lord who is able to destroy both body and soule in hell Secondly he hath authoritie and iurisdiction ouer vs wee are his he hath made vs and he may doe with vs what hee will as the Potter doth with his vessell this reason the Lord himselfe doth giue when he saith A sonne honoureth his father Mal. 1.6 and a seruant his master if then I bee a father where is mine honour and if I bee a master where is my feare saith the Lord of hosts vnto you O Priests that despise my name Thirdly he is good and kind to vs his benefits which wee do enioy from him are infinite we haue all that wee haue from him euen our liues and all the rest Psal 130.4 this reason Dauid doth touch when he saith vnto the Lord but mercy is with thee that thou marest be feared Fourthly he is a God of infinite maiestie and glory and wee are but poore simple creatures made of the dust and clay of the ground the heauen of heauens cannot containe him neither can the Angels themselues stand before him for his brightnes vnlesse they couer their faces with two of their wings this reason doth Moses glance at when hee shewes the end wherefore the Lord did publish his law Exo. 22.20 in that glorious and maiesticall manner as hee did in thunders and lightnings and the like saying For God is come to proue you and that his feare may be before you that ye sinne not Fifthly he is holy and righteous his eyes are pure eyes and cannot behold sin and iniquity this reason is layde downe before the eyes of the Israelites oftentimes in the old Testaments by the spirit of God when hee would draw them to the true feare and seruice of God from all such manners as were found among the Gentiles Finally the the commodities which the feare of the Lord being had will bring vnto vs are exceeding great For first The benefits which we shall receiue should moue vs to feare the Lord. it wil make vs holy and frameable vnto Gods will in auoyding those things which hee hath condemned and performing those things which hee hath commanded The feare of the Lord saith Salomon is to hate euill Prou. 8.13 as pride and arrogancy the euill way where hee sheweth that in what measure any one feares God in the same measure he doth loath and detest all euill for he saith not to hate euill as murther and adultery but pride and arrogancy which lie in the heart and doe not shew themselues to the world Yet hee that feareth God will hate them Secondly it will make vs blessed and happy in all our wayes Blessed saith Dauid is euery one that feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes this reason the sweet singer of Israel hath alledged when he saith feare the Lord ye his Saints for nothing wanteth to them that feare him nothing he meanes which is good and wholesome for them Psal 84.11 as he speakes else where saying the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold from them that walke vprightly First this serueth to condemne those that haue not the true feare of the Lord before their eyes Alas their case is miserable for they serue not the true and liuing God what shew of religion soeuer they do make or what brags soeuer they doe giue foorth concerning the same for seeing the feare of God is the very beginning of wisedome and the foundation or groundsill of Gods worshippe as hath bene proued it is vnpossible that either they should haue any true wisedome in them or else religiously should serue the Lord when they want this feare the only cause and fountaine thereof Secondly this may serue for to stirre vs vp to get the true feare of the Lord vnto our selues and labour by all meanes possible to bring our hearts thereunto Ioh. 4.18 that so we may truely say of our selues that the Lord is our dread But against this it may bee obiected that perfect loue doth cast out feare and we are commanded to serue God without feare Luke 1.74 To this I answer that perfect loue doth cast out hellish and slauish or seruile feare whereof wee spake before that makes men to tremble before God for feare of punishment but on the contrary side it causeth that holy and childish feare that makes man carefull to come vnto him and to worship him as wee ought to doe From the former of these wee
much more in the world to come If any then shall come vnto vs to entice vs vnto any wickednesse whatsoeuer as Potiphars wife came vnto Ioseph Gen. 39.8 and enticed him vnto vncleanenesse wee shall not consent vnto him therein no more then hee did vnto her who was kept therefrom by the feare of the Lord. This should teach euery one of vs dayly to thinke of and bee fully perswaded of the glorious and continuall presence of Almighty God The presence of God euer looking vpon vs should be a meanes to keepe vs from sinne That wheresoeuer we are and whatsoeuer we thinke speake or do God vnderstands it knowes it beholds it our thoughts our words Psal 139.4 There is not a word in my tongue but thou O Lord knowest it altogether our deeds in publike secret Prou. 15.3 the eye of the Lord is in euery place beholding both the euill and the good This consideration and perswasion wee ought all to labour for it being a notable meanes to worke true feare in our hearts therefore let vs esteeme of euery place as Iacob did of Bethel what hee then sayde vrge still vpon thy soule The Lord is present and I was not aware of it Let thy shop bee a Bethel thy chamber a Bethel thy closet a Bethel for God is there present Oh that this meditation did take place in our hearts how many sinnes would it keepe vs from how conscionably should wee walke how vpright would be The chiefe sountaine of all hypocrisie is either ignorance or not cōsidering of this diuine property of God and surely if any thing will banish hypocrisie this will do it A man cannot chuse but be good sayth Boetius who still remembers that he stands in the presence of the Lord. Let this meditation then be euer in our mind that God is before vs and behind vs within thee and without thee on thy right hand and on thy left hand alwaies neere and neuer farre off and so shalt thou walke vprightly Holy Iob we see tooke that course that the Lord would haue vs take for the repressing of all inordinate lust and affections I made sayth he Iob. 31.1 a couenant with my eyes why then should I thinke on a mayde A carnal man would haue thought this too much curiosity and nicenesse what not to looke on the beauty and comely visage of a woman at least not to take some liberty for thoughts tending that way it is too too much precisenesse who can take any notice of such things in vs Vers 2. Oh sayth Iob what portion should I haue of God from aboue and what inheritance from the almighty from on high I durst not giue any way vnto the flesh in any sort for that were the directest course to depriue my selfe of the comforts of the word and spirit here and of the crowne of happinesse which is reserued for the Saints in the world to come Albeit I should speede litle the worse with men yet I should bee sure to come short of many speciall fauours and blessings of the Lord and further he addeth Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishments to the workers of iniquitie Suppose I should escape the censures of men yet hath not the Lord meanes that I cannot conceiue of for the punishment of rebellious sinners and though things may be smothered for a time cannot he bring secret sins to open shame grant that it be kept close from the eyes of the world yet doth not he behold my wayes and tels al my steps though the eyes of men take the view onely of the outward actions yet hee looketh vpon the inward disposition and affection of the heart These and the like reasons he vsed to keepe himselfe in order and fright his conscience from all manner of sinne and impietie as is more fully described vnto vs in that chapter Fifthly this may serue for terror to all such as liue in sinne what greater terror to a theefe then to haue the iudge an eye witnesse of his vilany Let all dissemblers take notice of this So what greater terror to the wicked then this to haue the Lord behold their doings Come then and learne thou dissembling hypocrite thou that coggest and dallyest with the Lord God hath spyed and doth espy thy rottennesse within for all thy painted outside Hee knoweth that though thou wearest Christs liuery on thy backe thou wearest the diuels fauour in thy bosome Thinke vpon this you lurking diuels close enemies of the Church whose sleepe departs from you till you haue caused some to fall the Lord seeth your plots and cunning deuises your close practises against his Church and people But hee that sitteth in Heauen shall laugh you to scorne Psal 2. the Lord shall haue you in derision Take notice of this all you adulterers and whoremongers who say in your hearts Who sees vs wee are compassed about with darkenesse we need not feare Behold the Lord himselfe seeth thy villany and looketh thee in the face in the act of doing Let vs all consider this and bee better aduised thinke not by denying excusing colouring or cloaking them to auoyde the shame for what if men do count you innocent yet God will bring in euidence to finde you guilty and therefore he himselfe will witnesse against thee Psal 50. and set thy sinnes order before thee Sixthly this may serue to stirre vs vp and encourage vs to well doing What lazie seruant will not put foorth his strength when his maisters eye is on him So who is it were he well perswaded that the Lord is a spectator and beholder of his doings would not put foorth his strength to the Lords worke Were this well considered how couragious should wee bee both in the duties of our generall and speciall callings Seeing the Lord is the beholder of all our actions and wil reward thē let this enflame vs to practise pietie cause vs to make euen holy thoughs precious how forward would we be to euery good work Be not then slothfull in Gods seruice stand not all day idle be euer doing of good Not the least good can be done but he doth know it be it done neuer so secretly yet he seeth it hee seeth thy prayers hee heareth thy grones hee bottles vp thy teares which are shed at midnight and will reward them Thou needst not looke for witnesse to take notice of thy actions God himselfe is witnesse and thy owne conscience also thy conscience is as a thousand witnesses and God as a thousand consciences how many witnesses wouldst thou haue canst thou desire more Let this enflame vs to pietie and cause vs to make euē holy thoghts pretious for as there is not the least euill in the heart which can escape Gods knowledge no more is there the least good motion and cogitation Oh that this were well weighed then would not there bee so many lazie Christians as now there bee
all so that it will make vs blessed happy in all our waies so that the feare of the Lord brings with it alwaies a plenty of al good things and comes laden with the blessings of God wheresoeuer it comes for all these causes now rehearsed should we feare the Lord and endeauor to please him The feare of the Lord giueth vnderstanding to the simple Fourthly hee that feareth the Lord hath the promise of spirituall graces as knowledge instruction wisedome and the like Art thou ignorant in Gods matters and wouldest faine know and vnderstand the wayes of God then feare the Lord. For what man is he that feareth the Lord him shall hee teach in the way that hee shall choose Psal 25.12 Verfe 14. yea the secret of the Lord is among them that feare him and he will shew them his Couenant the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome A good vnderstanding haue all they that doe thereafter Psal 111.10 Wouldest thou haue the Lord to shew pitty and compassion vpon thee and to forgiue thee all thy sinnes O then feare the Lord Mal. 3.16.17 For the Lord wil spare them that feare him as a man that spareth his owne sonne that serueth him as a father pittieth his Children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him Yea the mercy of the Lord is from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Againe Psal 103.13 the Lord heareth the Prayers of those that feare him and granteth their request Yea the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold frō them that walke vprightly Psal 84.11 Thus wee see no grace needefull to saluation shall be wanting to vs if we feare the Lord Lastly it hath the maine promise of eternall life in the world to come His endlesse mercy is on them that feare him from generation to generation The maine reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare is that it hath the promises of eternall life in the world to come Luke 150. Psal 85.9 Mal. 2.5 Psal 25.12 This is a main reason to enforce vs to labour for this holy feare and howsoeuer the wicked beleeue it not but account it altogether in vaine to feare God and serue him yet let no man doubt of it who belongs to God for as Dauid speaketh Surely Gods saluation is nigh all them that feare him And the couenant of life and peace was with Leui because he feared God and the soule of him that feareth God shall dwell at ease Deut 5.20 yea If we feare the Lord alwayes it shall be well with vs and with our children for euer The consideration of all which should moue euery one of vs to breake out with the Prophet saying Who would not feare thee Ier. 10.7 Reuel 15.7 Psa 115.13 O King of Nations and with Gods seruāts Who wil not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou onely art holy Loe These gracious promises should moue vs to feare the Lord. 2. Cor. 7.1 Phil. 2.12 Esay 8.13 thus will the Lord blesse them that feare him both small and great Therefore seeing we haue such promises let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himselfe and let him be your dread Now let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take heede and doe it And whatsoeuer yee doe doe it in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Let vs with good King Iehosaphat feare the Lord 2. Chr. 19.79 and set our hearts earnestly to seeke him For as the Heauen is high aboue the Earth 2. Chr 20.3 Psal 103.11 so great is Gods mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath God set our transgressions from vs. Psal 33.8 O let all the earth feare the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of him Psal 2.11 Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce before him with reuerence The Lord of his mercy giue vs this grace and good Lord vnite our hearts to thee that wee may feare thy Name For thou onely Psal 86.11 Psal 76.7 O Lord euen thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry Wherefore let vs performe these things with care and conscience and no doubt but wee shall haue the true feare of the Lord within vs which will bee a comfort vnto vs for euermore Our chiefest ioy and delight should be in the Commandements of God Now follwes the practise of this blessed man and that is in actions of piety and delights greatly in his Commandements that is the whole Doctrine diuinely inspired is the very ioy of his heart and delight of his soule It is sweeter vnto him then the Honny and the Honny-combe It is more precious vnto him then gold yea then much fine gold It is more worth vnto him then the whole World and where the heart is once enkindled with loue there the imagination imbraceth with dearest apprehension the thoughts are impatient of any other obiect all the powers of the Soule are vnited in a strong endeauour for the attainement the whole minde must needes bee possest with Meditation and Prayer If hee delight in the Law of the LORD his GOD hee must needes meditate therein And this feruency of the heart cannot possibly be inclosed within the compasse of the brest it will spred it selfe in speech and actions as is plaine by Dauids speech Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous will speake of wisedome and his tongue will talke of iudgement for the Law of God is in his heart Psa 119.167 and Dauid saith My soule hath kept thy testimonies for I loue them exceedingly And this loue delight meditation and exercise in the Commandements of God of this blessed man is not a morning cloud and as the morning dew before the Sunne but like the light of the Sunne that shineth more and more vnto perfect day it is not for a start for feare vpon restraint for rereputation for aduantage or to couer the terrors of conscience for a while but it is out of a free resolution and with vndaunted constancy as hee speakes else where day and night So that Gods Law and Word cannot simply profit vs Gods word cannot bee profitable except first it be comfortable vnto vs. except we take ioy and comfort in the same We must first taste and proue the sweetenesse thereof wee must before hand finde out and feele the vertue thereof When wisedome entreth into thy heart Pro. 2.10.11 Psal 1.2 and knowledge delighteth thy soule then and not before shall counsell preserue thee and vnderstanding shall keepe thee and deliuer thee from the euill way and from the man that speaketh
froward things c. When we once delight in the law of the Lord exercise our selues therein day and night then shal we florish like the planted trees by the riuers of water that are fruitfull in due season whose leaues shall not fade in any drought of danger thē I say whatsoeuer we do take in hand shall prosper so that if we delight in the Commandements we shall finde comfort in the ministery of the word for there is true ioy peace to be found there is ioy and saluation the sweet promises of God faith grace spiritual strength and euery good thing offered vnto vs. The church of God should bee our greatest pleasure for there wee shall find foode for our soules Gods Church with the holy ministry therof is Christs Garden of pleasures wherein he banqueteth with his elect euen he which is the fountain of the garden the true only head of all Churches the wel of liuing waters the Spring of Lebanon Can. 4.12.15 5. hither he cōmeth to eate his pleasant fruit this only true Christian Church being his sister Spouse is as a garden enclosed as a spring fountaine sealed vp hither Christ commeth to make merry with his friends and to banquet with his beloued there hee gathereth his myrrh with his spices there hee eates the hony-combe with his hony and drinketh his wine with his milke delighting himselfe with the sweete pleasant and profitable fruits that the children of God doe yeeld vnto him Comfort and loue to Gods word procures liking and diligent hearing and so by Gods blessing faith and obedience Rom. 10.14 Now the reason why the word of God cannot profite vs without delight is because that comfort and liking prouoke and procure men to bee diligent in hearing diligent hearing by Gods blessing begets faith and faith brings vs assurance of Gods loue protection the euidence and certainety whereof are Gods promises which are yea Amen Gal. 5.6 1. Co. 13.7 Gen. 31.30 40. Againe loue supporteth our labour and setteth our faith a worke It suffereth all things it beleeueth all things if endureth all things Iacob loued Rachel serued twise seuen yeares for her sake neither the heate of the day nor the frost of the night nor the breaking of his sleepe no danger losse or crosse could driue him out So the Israelites toyled and trauelled many miles to the temple hungry weary and thirsty they going through the vale of Baca make wells therein contented to refresh themselues with the raine that filled their pooles in so barren a wildernesse Psal 84. c. and thus they went from strength to strength till they appeared before the Lord their God in Sion And what was the reason hereof that they still proceed without any interruption euen this was the reason O Lord of Hosts how amiable are thy Tabernacles our soule longeth and fainteth for thy Courts our hearts and flesh reioyce in the liuing God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house and in whose hearts are thy wayes For the Lord our God is a Sunne and shield vs the authour of all good things and the deliuerer from euill hee will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold from them that are sincere therefore O Lord of hosts The onely way to profit by the word and ministry is to delight in the same blessed is the man that trusteth in thee Here we see that euery action without affectiō is laborious toylesome none euer soundly profited by the word and holy ministry thereof that delighted not in the same First this serueth to stirre vp our loue and liking of Gods truth to raise vp our dead affections and to cause our dull senses more earnestly to embrace the same and to set before our eyes the best examples for imitation and practise The word is of power and is able to conuert our soules to the liuing God and that we may be perswaded the better for the performance of this duty let vs consider the singular fruites and effectes of Gods word which wee ought so worthily to affect Gods law and word is perfect of it selfe to conuert our soules from sinne and Sathan to God and godlinesse heauen and happinesse his testimony is sure to giue wisedome to the simple The statutes of the Lord are right Psal 19.7.8 9.20.11 and reioyce the heart the commandements of the Lord is pure and giueth light to the eyes the feare of the Lord is cleane the iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether by them is thy seruant made circumspect in keeping of them there is great reward and therefore they are more to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then hony and the hony combe Gods word is the meanes for young and old to redresse their wicked wayes a counseller to aduise vs a Lanthorne to our feete a light to our pathes a resoluer of our doubts a sweetning of our affections able to reuiue vs being dead therfore saith Dauid I will delight in thy statutes I will not forget thy word Psal 119.16 72.97 ver 103. the law of thy mouth is better vnto me then thousands of gold and siluer O how loue I thy law it is my meditatiō continually how sweet are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then hony vnto my tast thy testimonies haue I taken as an heritage for euer no earthly thing being comparable to them for they are the ioy of my heart they that know thy law haue great prosperitie and they shal haue no hurt Keepe them and doe them sayth Moses for this is your wisedome Deut. 4.6.8.9 and vnderstanding in the sight of other people who shal say onely this people is wise and what nation is so great that hath ordinances and lawes so righteous therefore take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently let not these things depart out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Hence proceedeth all blessings from heauen and earth vpon man and beast corne and cattell wine oyle or what can be desired 1. Tim. 4.8 for godlinesse hath the promise of this life and of the life to come If we seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse all other things shall be ministred vnto vs Mat. 6.33 Mat. 13.44.45.46 Luke 10.42 this is the best part and most necessary duty that caused Marie to be preferred before Martha for setting all other things aside Hauing such promises let vs with Marie choose the best part which shall neuer be taken from vs. to come sit at Iesus feete to heare his word this Pearle must be purchased with all wee haue all other things are but drosse and dung in respect of the excellent knowledg of Christ Iesus our Lord therfore we must not only heare and reade and meditate but encrease our loue liking and delight to the
little hee will esteeme of vs as if wee performed a great deale more The perfection of a Christian here in this life Indeed when we haue put off the image of the first Adam and haue put on the image of the second Adam and haue changed the earth for heauen then we shall not only obey truely but perfectly but here it is in truth and so it must bee esteemed one degree of perfection is to see our owne imperfections and that was in Nehemiah and in those of his time O Lord I beseech thee Nehe. 1.11 let thine eare now hearken to the prayer of thy seruant and to the prayer of thy seruants who desire to feare thy name hee could not say that they did so feare his name as they should but this they could say that they desired to doe it better which desire was a fruite of the grace it selfe This should encourage vs still to be doing in the seruices workes of God But here some may say we finde many imperfections and many wants and weakenesses in our selues be it so yet if we ayme at perfection and haue respect to euery commandement of God come as neere to the marke as we can the Lord wil accept vs according to that wee haue and not reiect vs for that we haue not if wee could obey perfectly to what end were Christ his obedience and if God should looke after none but those that can fully please him in all things he should bee a Lord a maister without subiectes and seruants If thou O Lord Psal 130.3 saith Dauid should marke what is done amisse who should stand Therefore though wee cannot pray with that feeling Our infirmities should not hinder vs if we haue respect to euery commandement heare and reade with that profit sing Psalms with that ioyfulnesse and cheerefulnes of heart as we should thogh wee cannot forgiue our enemies long for Christ his cōming haue such a tender feeling of the afflicctions of the Saints nor attaine to such heauenly meditations night or day as we doe desire and as God doth command yet let vs not be discouraged if wee striue to bring our wicked flesh to the performance of those duties and though wee haue much adoe with it yet if wee draw it as a Beare to the stake vnto Gods worship and to the performance of good dueties in publicke and and priuate Rom. 7.12 and when wee feele most backwardnesse and vntowardnesse in our nature yet wee consent in our very soules that the law of God is holy iust and good and that our willes and affections are indeed very corrupt and rebellious but we would rather then all the world that things were otherwise wise with vs that sinne might be subdued and grace planted in stead thereof and it is our continuall griefe that God should be so gracious and kind liberall to vs and wee can bee no more obedient and loyall and seruiceable vnto him if I say we find such a heart within vs we need not to be dismayed but may cheerfully go on with full perswasion and vndoubted resolution that the Lord will be mercifull vnto vs take our obedience in good worth if wee endeuour still to be better and to do better euery day then other neuer standing vpon that wee haue done The signe of a true heart but pressing hard to the marke This is an infallible note that wee are true hearted he that feeleth but a little faith a little loue a little repentance c. And would with all his heart haue them increased these very desires to obay are euident signes that wee haue part in the Commandements But here some may obiect and say God requireth absolute perfection in the Law I answer but not so in the Gospel but qualifieth the rigour of the Law by the satisfaction of a Mediator and in our stead accepteth the true indeauour for the deede and the good will for the worke it selfe the law commandeth workes and perfect obedience doe this and thou shalt liue the Gospell commandeth faith This is the commandement that wee beleeue in the name of Iesus Christ Iohn 3.23 and loue one another as he gaue commandement Thirdly that wee may therefore arme our selues with the complete harnesse of God to vanquish Satan Let euery one therefore arme himselfe against Satans temptations and quench all his fierie darts true it is in part wee were the children of wrath by nature but by grace we are not so wee are not now vnder the corruption of nature but vnder the state of grace and therefore no reprobates but members of Christ It is the spirit of God that can assure vs that we are hls children and heires of saluation Satan cannot tell who be reprobates he is onely an accuser but no iudge in this case he is a lying spirit but the spirit of God which cannot lye assures vs that wee are the children of God God hath giuen vs a Law to keepe which wee cannot keepe yet his law is performed of vs euen to the full though not of our persons yet in the person of Christ Iesus and though wee cannot fulfill the law of workes yet we can by Gods inspiring and assisting grace performe the law of faith which suffiseth to saluation Christ is not onely a iudge to condemne but also a Sauiour to pardon as hee hath iudgement so he hath mercy but his mercy is aboue his iudgement for it is aboue all his workes our sinnes are infinite but Christ his mercy is more infinite to them that are in him but wee are in him and there is no condemnation to them which are in Iesus Christ We cānot sinne so much as hee can pardon It is no presumption to hope for mercy but the assurāce of faith neither doe we sinne with an high hand but vpon infirmities we are onely captiues but not seruants to sinnes that is we serue the law of sinne whether wee will or no but wee doe not willingly submit our selues vnto it neither is it presumption in vs to hope for mercy but it is faith for God stands not so much vpon the quantity as vpon the quality of our faith so as wee haue any at all not the perfection but the truth of it though it bee mixed with infidelity or vnbeliefe we say with the father of the child which had a dumbe spirit I beleeue Lord but helpe my vnbeliefe Mat. 9.24 That this faith of ours is no phantasie or illusiō or flattery of our selues but a certaine assurance of Gods spirit wee perswade our selues by these reasons we hate our selues because of our sinne we purpose to sin so no more wee call to GOD to strenghen vs in this godly resolution we delight in the Law of God we loue all that feare him we desire the furtherance of the Gospel Rom. 7.22 and building vp the Kingdome of grace We desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ
that sinne may cease in vs and this desire of faith and the groaning for want of any grace belonging to saluation is the grace it selfe and to such a desire a blessing is annexed Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 for they shall be satisfied euen at the full though not in this life yet in the life to come Lastly as we feele the disease so wee must also feele the strength of the medicine Rom. 7.23 Saint Paul feeleth a Law in his members c. which is the rebellion of concupiscence and lust in the flesh by originall sinne 2. Cor. 12.19 So also the grace of God by Iesus Christ shall deliuer him from it our Sauiour said to him in his greatest temptations My grace is sufficient to strengthen thee againsh all Mat. 14.31 He held Saint Peter that hee could not sinke and prayed for him that his faith should not faile him Satan and our sinnes are as the great army of the Assyrians against Eliseus they appeared terrible but on the other side stood an army of Gods Angels to fight for him 2. Kin. 6.17 therefore still wee must looke to the helps of grace in all these conflicts we ouercome by the helpe of him that loued vs. Rom. 8.37 Phil 4.13 Esay 41.10 Saint Paul saith he could doe all things God saith by the Prophet Be not afraid for I am with thee step not aside for I thy God haue strengthned thee and haue assisted thee the right hand of my iust man hath taken thy defence and if God be with vs Rom. 8.31 who can be against vs. And that euery one of vs may be stirred vp to the performance of these duties This should exhort euery one to get part in the Commandements let vs remember when God had made the heauens and the earth he placed men and Angels in the same as his tennants to bring him in the rent of obedience in keeping the Commandements therefore euery one of vs must bring in some thing to the Lords Exchequer for the which the Lord may remember him When Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac vpon Mount Moriah Gen. 22.2 Heb. 11.22 when Moses forsooke the pompe of Pharohs Court to sustaine afflictions with Gods people 1. King 18.4 when Obadiah hid and relieued the Lords Prophets Iob. 31.20 When Iob caused the loynes of the poore to blesse him when Mary Magdalen washed our Sauiours feete Luke 7.38 and wiped them with the haires of her head euery one of these had wherof the Lord might remember him Here we see that those who warme the loynes of the poore and are an eye to the blind haue that for which the Lord might remember them Therefore let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes may glorifie your Father which is in Heauen Here wee see the men for whom our heauenly Father is glorified are such whose workes shine afore men who warme the loynes of the poore and with their knowledge are an eye to the blind I can hardly beleeue that God euer made any creature only to behold their glorious outsides neither Starre Pearle Flower or fethered Fowle but to haue influence vertues qualities beneficial to mankind much lesse a man to know onely or an Art onely to to be knowne but all to his glory and mans seruice which to effect is all the glory of man to keep the Commandements Pure religion is seene not in affected words but in the effect of charitable workes Who commends a Schoolemaster whose Schollers can say and vnderstand their Rules but speake not and write not any good stiles by them A Captaine whose Souldiers can skill of millitary termes and orders vnlesse their acts and exploits of warre be sutable Who prayseth a Courser that feedes well or pranceth proudly but is not deedy for the race or trauell speede or length Little sayes the Scripture of the learning of the Apostles but much of their acts these are the richest and vsuall stiles of commendation in Scripture Num. 14.19.20 Acts 10.2 Moses a man mighty in words and deedes Cornelius a man fearing God and giuing much Almes The Centurion worthy of fauour for he hath built vs a Synagogue Acts 9 39. Dorcas made thus many coates for the poore c. Such benefactors their workes shall follow them and praise them in the gates heere yea and at the great Day obtaine that Come ye blessed of my Father for I was naked and you cloathed mee I was hungry and you fed me for such men God is blessed of men and such men shall be blessed of God in their deedes and as the more knowing without doing shall procure the more stripes so the more doing with knowing shall haue double honour because God was double honoured in them Reu. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is in my hand to giue euery man according to his deedes Reu. 22.14 Blessed are they that keepe my Cammandements If you know them and do them not miserable are you but these things if you know and doe them you are the happiest men liuing Of all men I hold them most wretched and selfe-condemned Here are all those condemned who intend not to bee dooers of the Commandements as well as hearers that bend their studies to diuinity not tending to be dooers as well as Students and Preachers not much wiser are such as will be precise Professors of Religion but not Practisioners Oh that heere were not too many such to bee found in these dayes They may fitly be resembled to such as plow and sowe all the yeare and neuer reape to the Grashopper that sings all the Summer and wants in the Winter to women euer conceiuing and neuer comming to the birth and best of all to that of Christ comparing some hearers vnto fooles that build on the sand of bare hearing and professing Mat. 7.26 27. who thinke that all Religion consisteth in hearing Sermons neglecting the performance but the wise are they that build on the rock of doing vnshakeable Search all the Scripture and see if any couenants or grants were made to hearing or knowing and not all to dooing the Commandements is not the ancient tenour of the law doe this and liue and the Gospell repent belieue liue Mat. 12.50 which implying sundry consequences and fruits of it He that doth my Fathers will he is my brother and sister not euery one that saith Lord Mat. 7.21 Lord but he that doth my fathers wil to him that doth ill shall bee tribulation and anguish to euery soule of Iew and Grecian Rom. 2.8.9 10. to him that doth well shall be honour and and peace to all the Israel of God Vnto whom shall that Euge bee giuen at that great day but to the dooer and in what forme but well done thou good seruant that hast not buried thy Talent in a Napkin
light were not so great the times the nations had not sinne who amongst vs is so ignorant but hee knowes that Idolatry swearing stabbing whoring and excessiue drinking are sinnes and that for these things comes the anger of God Is any so simple that hee knowes not the ten Commandements and the sum of the Gospel yet how desperately doe men rush on the pikes carelesly wittingly willingly seeing the gulfe and yet leaping into it Vpon this therefore doe I wish Christians would set prices and spend their studies euen about the art of doing the Conmandements But here some may aske how shall wee attaine this facility and faculty of doing I answer to wish it Good desires is the best halfe especially when it breeds praier for the dead and heartily to desire it is halfe yea and the best halfe of the worke for a man or woman to effect goodnesse aboue cunning is a good signe and a good helpe and step to bee such an one especially when this desire breeds prayer for power to doe knowing that without Christ wee can doe iust nothing therefore let euery one of vs do that we should do and blessed are we If we know that Baal be God if Rome be the true Church let vs turne to it againe if wee know that swearing dicing swaggering and foolish fashion following be good things let vs all fall to doe those things but if God hath giuen vs the truth and the light let vs walke in it and worke by it while it is to day lest if we play reuell and riot by it the Candlesticke be remoued and the light put out if purity sanctitie and sobrietie be knowne to vs to be good things and pleasing to God to keepe the Commandements and delight therein O happy then thrise blessed are we if we doe them Therefore to conclude though I confesse my selfe vnworthy to write The consideration of the blessednesse of that man that delighteth in the commandemeÌ„ts shuld moue vs to get our part therein yet I beseech you let my counsell be acceptable to the Reader that is let euery one of vs get some part in the CoÌ„mandements for the which the Lord may remember vs and the remembrance whereof may bee a comfort to vs at the houre of death let vs prouide with Ioseph in the time of plenty against the day of scarcity Iohn 92 the night commeth when no man can worke God loues a liuing sacrifice and a chearfull giuer therfore let vs thinke with Titus Vespasian wee haue lost thay day wherein wee haue not done some good O what a blessed houre shall that be wherein our soules shall expire with Hezekias words Esa 38.3 I beseech thee O Lord remember how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight Iud. 5.21 Then may wee say with Deborah O my soule thou hast marched valiantly Psal 116.7 Yea then may wee say with Dauid Return vnto thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee Death is the worlds strict doore keeper and will see 1. Tim. 6.7 that as wee brought nothing into the world so we shall carry foorth nothing againe yet can he not hinder vs from that blessednesse which the Oracle of heauen hath proclaimed to all those that delight in the Commandements Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord they rest from their labours and their works follow them Reu. 14.13 Let vs consider that onely our good workes will be our companions to heauen they shall bee our honour in life our comfort in death and our crowne at the last resurrection beseeching him to enable vs with grace for the performance of all thy Commandements for thy truth and for thy names sake Amen VERSE 2. His seed shall bee mighty vpon earth the generation of the righteous shall be blessed HAuing spoken of the blessednesse of that man that feareth the Lord and delighteth in his Commandements Now in this Verse the Prophet Dauid sheweth the happy successe of this blessed man His seed shall bee mighty vpon earth c. That is they shall not onely haue spirituall grace but also right vnto and the right vse of all the benefites of this life True obedience bring outward prosperity for true obedience to Gods Commandements though it bee not perfect brings the blessing of God vpon vs for outwards things as well as for inward This is promised in Deuteronomie where Moses speaketh thus vnto the people of Israel Deu. 28.2 c. If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God and obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee this day then the Lord thy God will set thee on high aboue all the nations of the earth and all those blessings shall come to thee c. Belssed shalt thou be in the citie and blessed also in the field 2. Cor. 9.7 c. Shewing that true and faithfull obedience is that which bringeth all manner of blessings for body and soule for name and estate yea and for seed and posteritie also and therefore the Apostle telleth Timothy 1. Tim. 6.5 that godlinesse is great gaine and that it hath the promises of this life and of the life to come In which regard Dauid saith I haue beene yong and now am old yet haue I not seene the righteous forsaken â—sal 4 â— 25. nor his seed begging bread therfore Dauids speech is well to be obserued for he doth not say the righteous is neuer forsaken How to vnderstand Dauids wordes but I neuer saw it speaking there of his own experience and obseruation hee had seene and so may wee that children of great men haue broken foorth into many horrible sinnes and so haue beene brought to a strange and miserable and violent death many wofull straits extremities before their death but he neuer saw neither shall wee see the godly seed of godly men forsaken of God and men and left as vagabonds to beg their bread but God hath euer had and still will haue a speciall care of them and euer made all necessary prouision for them either hee himselfe by a more particular prouidence of his casteth sufficency of these outward things vpon theÌ„ or blesseth their labours so that they are made a meanes of maintenance vnto them or if they fayle that way hee mooueth the hearts of some other of his seruants to pittie them and to supply their wants so that whatsoeuer their necessities bee they are freede from that curse that is denounced against the seed of the wicked to wit that they should wander vp and downe as vagrants begging their bread and making a trade of that vile wretched course of life Nothing that is needfull shall be wanting when Gods fauour is not Teaching vs this much that nothing that is needful shall be wanting to those that are in the fauour of the Lord such as haue
his fauour shall haue all good blessings flowing to them and following of them Dauid doth notably confirme this in many of his Psalmes as in the three and twentieth Psalme where professing God to bee his shepheard maketh this inference therupon Therefore I shall not want Psal 23.1.6 but doubtlesse kindenesse and mercie shall follow mee all the dayes of my life Psa 34 9.10 and againe the Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Psal 84.11 also Dauid sayth the Lord God is a sunne and a shield vnto vs the Lord will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold from them that walke vprightly And is not this the blessing that is promised to such as feare the Lord that all good things should flow vnto them from heauen and earth that they shall be hlessed in the house in the field in their basket in their store in the fruite of their bodyes in the encrease of their cattle and in the aboundance of all things Let no man doubt of this truth for God is the Gouernor of heauen earth and the diâ—â—oser of all things thus wee see that where Gods fauour is there is want of nothing that is needfull And there is cause why we shuld rest fully resolued of this point that none of Gods household shall euer want necessary releefe because all will yeeld that God is the Gouernour of heauen and earth and the disposer of all things in them both and then they must grant further that those that are best and doe best shall speede best because God loueth them most and how then can we make question whether or no the Lord will bestow vpon them a competent measure and a comfortable vse of these earthly blessings seeing all is in his hand and he wisheth so well vnto his owne people especially seeing hee hath straightly charged vs not to care what wee shall eate or drinke Mat. 6.25 or what wee shall put on but first to seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse promising vs faithfully that if wee doe so all other things shall be cast vpon vs. And as he hath promised this so hath hee from time to time performed it If we will prosper in our outward estate wee must thriue in pietie as wee may obserue throughout the booke of Iudges of Samuel and of the Chronicles for there it is to be seene that when godlinesse prospered in the soules of Gods people they prospered their outward estate wheÌ„ sinne on the other side had made hauocke in their soules then the Madianites and the Philistims and other enemies made hauocke in their countrey when they and their kings thriued in pietie and did grow in the knowledge of God and zeale of his glory then it went well with them for outward plenty and aboundance but when Idolatry and impietie beganne once to thriue in their hearts and in their land they neuer had long nor settled prosperitie but their enemies hands and swords preuayled against them for taking away of their liues and the ruinating of their estates Sinful courses can neuer prosper First here is matter of terrour for all wicked worldlings that thinke to aduantage and aduance themselues by sinnefull and and naughty courses that is an ill way to rise for the riches of iniquitie shall not prosper Pro. 10.2 Iere. 22.23.24 though they build their houses neuer so high and aduance their nests vnto the starres yet the Lords hand shall pull them thence and cast them downe into the very dust they thinke their houses their names and their substance shall remayne for euer and that they shall make themselues and theirs by ioyning house to house and land to land by oppressing the poore and needy and by defrauding the fatherlesse and widow and such as cannot right themselues but alas they little consider in the meane while that God is the Iudge of the world and that hee will reward euery man according to his workes they imagine their estate shall be according to their wealth and so it might bee indeede if God were not the gouernour of the world but sith he is so it shall goe with euery one according to that he is and not according to that hee hath and therefore as God would haue it proclaimed to the godly Isa 3.10 say yee surely it shall goe well with the iust for they shall eate the fruite of their workes so he would haue this denounced against the vngodly Wo be to the wicked it shall bee euill with him for the reward of his hands shall bee giuen him Esa 3.11 they shall reape that which they haue sowed It were and absurd thing for one that hath sowne nothing but cockle and fitches to exspect a good crop of wheat and as contrary to all reason is it for theÌ„ that sowe iniquity to think they shall reape any thing but affliction they may delude themselues with vaine hopes but they shall neuer obtaine any happinesse and prosperity from the Lord nay surely he hates both theÌ„ and their practises and therefore they their wicked seed shall be rooted out as wee may see it verified in many of the kings of Israel as in Ieroboam Ahab Baasha c. And most notably in that place of Ieremie concerning Iehoiakim the sonne of Iosiah woe vnto him sayth the Lord that buildeth his house by vnrighteousnesse Ier. 22.13.89 and his Chambers without equity hee vseth his neighbour without wages and giueth him not for his works c. Shalt thou raigne because thou closest thy selfe in Cedar did not thy Father eate and drinke and prosper when he executed Iudgement and Iustice c. Where is declared in the example of Iosiah Ios 11.23 No certaine way to prosper in but in the practise of godlines for that bringeth all true honor and prosperity the godly Father on the one side that the true knowledge of God and the practise of godlines and righteousnesse bringeth all true honour and prosperity and on the other side in the example of Iehoiakim the wicked sonne is shewed that impiety ioyned with oppression and cruelty with fraud and deceit and iniurious dealing man liues a base and dishonourable life and dyes a shamefull and Ignominious death as wee see it many times comes to passe that while he is in the World he shall liue vndesired and when he goeth out of the World he shall die vnlamented The best way to thriue in all the world is to get Religion into our hearts Therefore let this encourage men if they would haue good things either in right or in possession to labour to get Religion into their hearts and to be as much afraid of sinne as of misery and as desirous of grace as they are of prosperity which if we could do we should find Gods eyes open to consider of vs and his hand to relieue vs continually in all
our wants and necessities And as wee should bee thus carefull for our selues so we should be also for our children there is no good parent but would wish his children might be prouided for and liue in the World in good sort now heere is the way to purchase them a good estate in the earth vse the meanes to bring them vnto the feare of God and to haue faith in God for when the Lyons that are full of might and rage and cruelty doe lack and suffer hunger then they that seeke the Lord shal want nothing that is good Psal 34.10 God will haue a care that his sheepe shall haue conuenient pasture and be in good liking though the Lyons bee pined and hunger-starued and when strong and mighty men are in misery want and necessity Heq. 13.15 yet then Gods poore and weake seruants shall haue that will satisfie and content them for God hath said that he will neuer leaue them nor forsake them therfore are they the most prouident and wise Parents that bring vp their children in the instruction and information of the Lord for such shall possesse the earth and the generation of the righteous shall be blessed Psal 37.11 Children are not alwayes the better for the goods of their Parents but they are alwayes the better for their goodnesse for as we haue it heere the generation of the righteous shall be blessed it is more then if it had beene said they shall enioy honor credit wealth and whatsoeuer outward blessing else can bee named for that implyeth thus much that they shall haue the good gifts of God so farre as they are needfull for them and that they shall haue the right vse of them to their comfort Heere is great consolation for Gods children they shall not want some to relieue them Secondly here is a singular comfort for Gods children that are in many wants necessities so long as there is any godly man or woman that will doe any thing for Christ his sake for their owne comforts sake they shall not bee destitute of reliefe for God hath cōmanded his seruants to succour them and hath made many gracious promises to such as are mercifull will beare the burdens of others and if men should faile them the Lord himselfe will looke vnto them who beholds their troubles and sees their teares and is acquainted with all their griefes and he that bids others to be mercifull he will not be vnmercifull himselfe and therefore it is that men doe deny vs helpe and comfort many times because God would haue vs draw neerer vnto him whose eyes are euer vpon vs and whose eares are alwayes open to heare the cryes of the poore of those that are humbled before him The wicked flourish But heere some may obiect and say that the wicked and prophane persons liue in all manner of plenty when the godly sustaine penury and scarcity and in appearance godlinesse is not the best course to procure a happy and prosperous estate to this I answere that howsoeuer the wicked of the World seeme to thriue best and to enioy great matters in comparison of that which good Christians haue yet in truth their case is nothing so good as is the case of Gods seruants for though they be pressed and pinched with many distresses and wants and driuen to many extremities and straights yet they may be fuller of ioy in the middest of their aflictions then the wicked are in the middest of their iollity Act. 16.25 Paul and Silas were fuller of gladnes and of true contentednesse in the Dungeon The childrē of God haue more ioy in the middest of their afflictions thē the wicked haue in their greatest iollity when their feete were fast in the Stocks then Herod was on his Throne hauing all flatterers about him to extoll and magnifie him the very teares of the people of God are sweeter and more comfortable then the greatest of carnall men can be for the Lord is with his in mercy and goodnesse Psal 37.16 where as his face is bent against the wicked and impudent and thence it is that a little that the righteous hath is better then great riches of the vngodly better is a dinner of greene herbes seasoned with the blessing of God then many dainty dishes poysoned with Gods wrath and malediction If the saints of God should want outward things yet they shall haue Gods fauour Psal 84.11 And albeit the Saints of God be sometimes depriued of these things yet they shall neuer be depriued of Gods fauour and that want of outward things shall bee supplied with inward graces they haue a sure promise that they shal haue sufficient and God neuer giueth lesse then he promiseth but many times he giueth more then we expect and if that which is wanting in drosse bee paid home in good gold wee neede not to complaine as if we were losers by such an exchange therefore saith saith Salomon Prou. 2.20.21.22 Walke thou in the way of good men and keepe the wayes of the righteous for the iust shall dwell in the Land and the vpright men shall remaine in it bue the wicked shall be cut off from the earth and the transgressors shall be rooted out Thirdly this sheweth vs a difference betwixt the fauor of God and the fauor of men true it is the fauour of Princes and of great men brings with it many priueledges and preferments but they cannot assure vs if euery good thing neither are they able to do all things that they would yea many times they are preuented by sudden death before opportunity be offered to manifest their loue and when they doe shew fauour vnto any how vnstable is it and how vncertaine this Hammon found to day hee is honoured Est 71.10 There is great difference betweene the fauour of God and fauour of men to morrow hanged but it is otherwise with God his fauour brings with it a supply of all things needfull and they that rely vpon it shall neuer be deceiued nor disappoynted but may be assured of it His seed shall bee mighty vpon earth The fauour of God is to be sought aboue all things From hence we learne that Gods fauour doth make supply of all things needfull let vs seeke then and labour for his fauour before all things for if this bee not wanting no blessing shall be this is the maine and mother blessing so that if wee can obtaine it wee shall obtaine all other blessings whatsoeuer we see how farre men will goe what labour and paines they will endure and all for the fauour of a Prince Psal 4. whose breath is in his Nosthrils and whose thoughts perish and yet no King can be so bountifull to his fauouries as is the God of Heauen excellent things shall bee done to the man whom the King doth honour but farre more excellent to him whom the Lord doth fauour why then doe we no more respect