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A13878 A learned and a very profitable exposition made vpon the CXI. psalme Travers, Robert, fl. 1561-1572. 1579 (1579) STC 24180; ESTC S120253 54,089 124

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These are our borders limites wherein to stay yet we thinke we are greatly learned in Philosophy if we knowe almost one of them or a few quiddities of materia prima and such like thinges Oh that we propounded vnto vs at the last true good knowledge soūd profit absolute learning that man would with a cotage life seeke to labour to his power to attaine vnto it But Dauid here noteth our fault when he saith they are sought out of them that delight therin For wherein is our delight but in vanities but in play but in pride but in idlenes but in pleasures but in eating and drinking and losing the time Here is matter for Magistrates to looke vnto who are to be desired to heare by our actes exercises of learning how we go forwards and if they find vs not as the sonnes of the prophets but sonnes of Beliall to thrust vs out of the Colledge giue our places to those which will be better then we O Lorde kindle in vs the feare of thee that for cōscience we may behaue our selues diligently in our vocation in those studies whereby we may profit in the knowledge of thee That abandoning al vaine delights which as the lightning are soone extinguished we may set our mindes studies vppon such thinges as may serue to the setting forth of thy glory through Iesus Christ Amen Because of the singular notable zeale cōcerning the praise of God in the congregation which Dauid professed promised in the first verse I haue entred the examinatiō of the whole Psalme to se the reasons causes the argumēts proues which Dauid had Wherfore so to stir vp al his wits all his hart and soule in this songe The last time speakīg of the 2. verse at the which this praise of god beginneth as it were beginning this anatomye at the head looking nearely euē for the beginning infancy of Dauids zeale cōsidering the first scholes masters which he had I foūd thē al in this verse Great are the works of the Lord c. For here the Prophet fetcheth draweth euē as from the furthest foūtaines this prayse of god Now it followeth in this third verse Praise and glory are his workes c. which declareth vnto vs the same doctrine of the praise of the workes of God which we did see in the former verse For in these two sentences he comprehendeth that knoweledge of God which may be vnderstoode out of the creatures of God in the whole world but he speaketh here more particularly distinctly of that knowledge which may here be learned of those which looke diligently for them and delight in the consideration of them For it is requisite both because we are dimme of sight the Lorde workes haue like the courtaines of Salomō their beautie within that we hold our eyes neare vnto them and put our heades as it were within them to cōsider them if we will see those things in thē which Dauid a most excellent interpreter noteth and poynteth at Praise glory c. Let vs first examine this that he sayth praise and glorye c. the meaning of the Prophet is that the Lorde hath in such wisedom counsell made his works that euen by them may appeare to al that consider them the praise and glory of the Creator which doctrine he had in the verse before declared but not so clearly manifestly for here he expoundeth what he ment before when he called them great or excellent that is full of the praise and renowme of the maker perfect maisters of Gods wisedom excellēt teachers of his glory most sufficient witnesses of his praise This doctrine although it was declared partly before in the expositiō of the former verse yet it may not be either tedious to you nor greuous to me some thing more to speake of the same seeing the holy Ghost vouchsafeth ●o stand vppon it And we may thereby vnderstand that the doctrine of the praise of God taught by his workes is not lightly smally to be estemed seing the spirit of God witnesseth it vnto vs by repetitiō True it is that the word of God is the hie and principall maister of the knowledge of God in the Church of Christ as we shall see in the next verse the tēple wherein his glorye most appeareth but notwithstanding these are helps appointed of God to the raysing of our mindes to his glorye mouing vs being bodies with bodily things therfore vnles we be forgetfull of our weakenes we may not neglect the ordinary meanes The Prophets holy men of God whose loue zeale of the Lordes glory is left for our example haue labored in them profited by them to the praise of god Let vs therefore followe them and namely Dauid in this place Let vs followe the same steppes and wayes which he hath trode before vs Let vs stande with him as it were in the middest of the worlde and lifte vp our eyes to heauen and after caste them downe vpon the earth yea lette vs beholde euen our selues with those eyes which we see Dauid to haue done in the 139. Psalme shal we not then be amazed and astonied at the wisedome we shal finde in them and giue glory to the Lorde shall we not in meditating but of our selues finde a world of notable excellent works of God Let vs looke but a litle aboue vs into that shoppe of the Lords notable works where he maketh the rayne hayle and snow lightning thunder and consider from whence he sendeth rayne howe he hath powred it as into barrels or bottels till we neede it Consider aboue that the light of the sunne the moone the number and order of the starres the workmanship of the heauens that fayre and excellent courtayne whiche the Lorde hath drawē ouer vs thē also the power of winds the multitude of waters and the stretching out of the ayre the nature of beastes the fruits of the trees the smell of flowers the beauty and property of stones the vertue of herbes and of rootes and in a worde the whole earth and the heauens with all their hostes and furniture Haue they not as it were written and grauen vppon them in great and text letters prayse and glory to the Lord our Creator In the 19. Psalme the Prophet attributeth this same voyce of glory to the heauens The heauens sayth he speake the glory of god c. and maketh that noble and swifte grant the sunne the messenger of the same worde to all the world In the 104. Psalme he compareth the light to a robe of glory and honor that the Lorde couereth him selfe withall because the light declareth manifestly all the works of God which are glasses of his prayse And in the 148. Psalme he putteth this song of the prayse of God into the mouth of all creatures euen of the hilles and mountaynes of the soules of
miraculously brought to passe These enriching more wonderfully this which the Prophet now remembreth is more then the other And therfore he sayth the Lord shewed the strēgth power of his workes in giuing vnto them the heritage of the Heathen As if he shoulde say although thus wonderfully and miraculously thy hande O Lorde deliuered thy children although so mercifullie thou broughtest them forth in great substaunce yet these were litle in thine eies thine hand thine arme prouided for them besides all these a perpetual heritage Let vs therefore examine this miracle see whether it so excedeth as the Prophet speaketh For therby seing the loue the tēder excedīg loue that the Lorde beareth to his Church we may draw receaue great comfort if we also be of the same body For the Lord did nothing then which now he will not do for his people or rather in more excellent notable manner First therefore consider the murmurings of this people their idolatrie their euill lustes their many and sundrie tentations wherewith forty yeares together they prouoked the Lord their redeemer by their vnfaithfulnes their rebellion to their Captaines last of al their feare of these natiōs whom the Lord had already discomfited destroied in heauē their desire to returne into Egypt that was to hell againe where so cruelly they had bene handled Consider all these sinnes and many more which the Lord sawe in their harts And aboue all the miracles that we yet see we shall wonder at this miracle of their bringing into the lād of promise Surely God is omnipotēt yet sinne is able to close his hand I speake in reuerence feare able to tye his armes that he geue nothing His face is seuen times more fauourable gracious then the Sunne yet vnfaithfulnes is able to hide couet it His loue is fire in dede but the waters of vngodlines are able to quenche it His strength is wonderfull for the destruction of our enemies but our sinne our vnfaithfulnes our wickednes our rebelliō maketh him weaker then water The Lord is a mighty Sāpson in dede but our sins are sharper thē any ra●er wherby we weakē the strēgth if I may so speake shaue the head of this great Sāpson our Iudge and defender The Lord is inuincible yet our vngodlines hath made him bin takē prisoner His nature is invulnerable yet by our sin we pearse him He is life yet by our vngodlines I speake an horrible thing we slea him Here is therefore the strength of the Lord reuealed that notwithstanding all these rocks and cragges as the Prophet Amos speaketh the course of the Lords benefits was not hindred his hands not boūd his light not darkened his loue not quenched his strength not weakened his wil nothing chaunged it repented him not of his promise as in the dayes of Noah that he made not an vtter cōsumption of this sinnefull people This may be well noted for the setting forth of this great benefit Besides this we may also remember the vnfitnes of this people for battle They had bene brought vp in kilnes among the bricks they were accustomed to bearing of burthens for the building of the Egyptian piramides not instituted or instructed in feates of warre not armed not politike yet in this infirmity the Lordes strength appeared they were straungers in the countrie and therefore easely ouerthrowne in vnknowne places they were but one people their enemies cunning in the countrie and seuen greater and mightier nations then they they remained in tents their enemies in strong walled townes whose walls reached vnto the heauens these were footemen their enemies on horses and iron chariots these without weapons of warre without any other outward help which all their enemies had in great abundance yet for all these the hande of God brought them vnto the lande that he had promised and sworne to their fathers So that the miracles in Egypt and their spoyle may be forgotten in respect of this great and wonderfull worke Moises not spoken of in comparison of Iehosua by whose hande the Lorde brought this worke to passe In their deliueraunce he shooke the earth but in their placing he moued the heauens The day was turned into night in Egypt But here the whole course and order of the worlde both in the heauens earth was chaunged at the standing of the Sunne which as astonished at this worke at this great worke stoode and forgot to runne his course The first borne were but destroyed in Egypt but all their children from the first borne to the childe in the wombe were here destroyed There they were spoyled onely of their richesse and iewells but here of their richesse and inheritaunce There one Kinge was destroyed here the Lorde scattered many Kinges for their sake and made Iehosuah to treade vpon their Kings neckes and prophane all their crownes This did the wonderfull zeale of the Lorde of hostes bring to passe for his promise sake and shewed as the Prophet sayth euen his power and his strēgth in this worke to giue his people the heritage of the Heathen Seeing then the hand of the Lord brought all these thinges to passe for them not only to bring thē out of the iron furnace but to place them in a paradice not to begin to be mercifull but to bring it to an end and as the Prophet Ezechiel cōpareth it not only to cut the nauell of this woman child to wash it to salt it to say vnto it liue euen in blood to say vnto it liue but to bring it vp to forme her to fashion her to decke her with ornaments and to geue her an heritage so large and goodly an heritage What feare what obedience what reuerence is there that she ought not to geue to God her redemer that tooke her out of the iawes of death to be a peculiar a deare and beloued people aboue all the nations of the earth vnto him He passed that Ladie of all the worlde the Monarchis of Assiria so great in power so excellent in glorie so famous in victories or what other nation or Kingdome so euer was fayre and excellent he passed by them all to take vnto him out of Egypt straungers seruauntes and slaues of Pharao vpon whom he woulde showe his loue and mercies Therefore let them and vs together with them magnifie the Lorde of heauen and earth the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob whose trueth remayneth for euer and praye that as to them he gaue suche benefites to serue him to keepe his statutes and obserue his lawes as Dauid sayth making this the ende of these wonders and benefites so the power of his workes which he hath also shewed towardes vs in infinite and innumerable benefites may worke an excellent kind of seruice in the which the power and the excellencie of the feare and worship of God may appeare to his glorie and our comfort
the ayre trees of the wodde of the dragons and wormes that creepe vppon the earth So in the thirtie eyght and nine chapters of Iob the Lorde to the ende that he might humble Iob and bring him to the knowledge of the prayse of God and his owne confusion he reckoneth the works of his hands in order euen the heauens and earth and beastes of the fielde And in the fortie Chapter he byddeth Iob likewise to decke him selfe with glory and maiestie and to array hi● selfe with beautie and excellencie that i● to make such workes in whiche there may● appeare his prayse and renowme Prayse therefore and glory is his worke so that where so euer we cast our eyes whether before vs or behinde vs aboue or beneath vs or within vs on the right hande or o● the left hande all are full of the glory and prayse of God euen as our Sauiour Christ teacheth forbidding to sweare by the heauens or earth o● any the least creature because they are the Lordes seate and this is his footestoole and seeing we can not make a very heare we muste confesse that euen there also is a marke and token of the Lordes glory and maiestie Wherefore let vs with this wise and godly Prophet learne the beginning of our praysing of God euer at these creatures and knowe that it shal be shame and sinne for vs to be dumme when they are so hye and loude but moste of all to ou● grieuous condemnation if wher they declare the glory of God we bring by ou●e wickednesse by oure vayne and vngodly behauiour shame reproche and ignominie to his name It followeth And his goodnes remayneth for euer I translate the worde so although it properly signifieth righteousnes because I thinke that to be the Prophetes meaning For in the next Psalme the Prophet hath this halfe verse in the same wordes speaking of the good and mercifull man whose goodnes is not soone dried but continueth for euer that is all his life So Daniell exhorteth Nabuchad to redeeme his sinnes by mercie liberalitie yet vseth this word of iustice Here therfore the Prophet likewise meaneth the goodnes and liberalitie mercie of God which may be learned also out of his verie ordinarie common workes This peece of the verse is notably enlarged by the Prophet Dauid in the 136. Psalme where he attributeth the creation of heauens of the sunne moone of the starres of the day and night of the placing of the earth vpon the waters to the euerlasting mercie of God making this the ground foote of the Psalme or song For his mercie indureth for euer And our Sauiour Christ also teaching his disciples to be good to their enemies bringeth in thexample of God the father whose sunne and raine shineth and falleth vpon his enemies also Where we see this doctrine of the Prophet confirmed expounded that is that the creatures of God are witnesses vnto all the world of his mercie and louing bindnesse In this sense are the Prophet● to be expounded when they speake ●f the darkeninge of the Sunne for the meane not that the Sunne shall fayle a fall but onely by that whiche is vnto vs 〈◊〉 a testimonie and token of Gods mercie when it shineth they describe the greatne● of troubles and confussion of all things to come when the Lorde ariseth to take vengeaunce of sinne which shall be so grea● and horrible confusion as if the Sunne were fallen out of heauen This goodnes of God is not onely manifest by the Sunne those excellent and high creatures but euen as I haue shewed in the last verse his glory also appeareth his mercie and goodnes euen in the least of all creatures not only toward vs for whose godly vse he hath made them but also to them selues For first it is great goodnesse to them in that they are Secondlie it is great glorie to them in that they are the workes of the glorious and eternall God But especiallie and principallie this goodnesse of God is towarde vs in all creatures that in the vse of them we may thankefullie and humblie acknowledge the exceeding mercie of god The earth that we treade vpon the houses that we dwell in the ayer which we liue by the breade which we eate and water or wine which we drinke the fire that we warme vs by the clothes which we wa●e and to be short all the creatures of God which we applie to our vse ought to leade vs to and admonish vs of that goodnes and mercy of God by whose onely bountifull grace and mercy we take and vse them without the feling and knowledge o● which mercy of God who so euer thou arte that vsest any creature of God thou stealest it The bread and drinke which thou deuou●est is worse then poyson vnto thee for vnlesse we rise to the consideration of the loue of God towards vs a● a father towards his children who prouideth these thinges for vs by what right can we thinke that they pert●ine vnto vs ▪ We see there●●●e that they are no lesse witnesses of Gods mercy then of his glory and prayse And that who so euer shall ●yse to accuse th● Lorde of c●ueltie o● 〈◊〉 maye be ●●th ●●●ntly by the creatures of God command●d And howe can not they be ashamed ●●laye this vppon the Lords from whose onely goodnes and mercy it commeth that the world is and we and all thinges hau● 〈◊〉 him lyfe and beeing and mouing But the Lord● hath more excellently deel 〈◊〉 ●●s goodnes to vs by his creatures as the Prophet● by this noteth in that he addeth and continueth for euer No man can denie but that the Lord had shewed great mercy and loue towards vs if he had made this world like vnto a stage and brought vs in for a little time and after a whyle as it were to haue taken downe the stage and so with the clapping of handes to haue gone away agayne If he had made the vse of all his excellent and noble creatures the Angels the Sunne the Moone and the Starres the heauen and earth and all their ornaments for a yeare a moneth a weeke or a day who can denie but the Lorde had done vs great honour and worshippe to vouchsafe vs the vse of them Yea if he hadde brought vs into the worlde but for a moment and sette vs on a pinnacle to haue seene these heauens and this earth to haue seene the creatures of God according to their kinde the benefite had bene great and the grace and fauour more excellent then can be vttered But howe hath the Lorde commended vnto vs his grace and fauour his loue and m●rcy in that he hath made them permanent and durable not like the smoke that per●●●●eth o● lyke the grasse that groweth vp and straightwaye withereth but like the trees of eternitie whose rootes are stayed and nourished for euer This grace and mercy euen to Adam in his perfection
of God they were For Moyses as a M●diator betweene the Lorde and his people did in the giuing of the lawe binde the●e two God and his people together putting as it were the Lords hand into the hand of all Israell and giuing his likewise as a father into the power of God making of two on by Iesus Christ the head Therfore the Prophet Ezech. cōpareth all other benefits that God gaue his people to the ornaments of apparel namely to her bracelits billiments to her rings and cheynes and earings to her Crowne of gold for her head white silke for her body and shooes of taxus for her feete to hony oyle and the finest flower of wheate for her diet but the giuing of his word and statut● vnto them to his mariage with her Therefore are all those complaints in this Ezechiel and in the rest of the Prophets concerning her fornication when she left the commaundements of God followed after straunge gods new lawes And therefore also there is mention of diuorcement betwene them This was then the greatest and highest and heauenliest benefit that euer came vnto them to be ioyned in league with God to haue him sweare binde him self vnto them to be their God that is their defender mainteiner if they would be his people he delt not so with any nation or kingdō or city vnder the cope of heauē Oh Israell oh house of Iacob what wast thou that the lord so rewarded thee or what was Abraham thy father that he so visited him he made for him selfe a people onely out of Sem cast away Cham Iaphet Gebal Ammon and Amaleck he abhorred but Iudah Leui Ioseph he loued he exalted honoured he made them of all the world his sonnes and first begotten all them he made Kings and Priestes vnto him as Melchisedech he made them all litle inferiors to the Angells ioyned thē with the sonne of God. The night then that they departed out of Egypt was a day of loue vnto thē the day that Mannah first fel from the heauens was in deede a day of ioy and great gladnes vnto them But that day that they receiued the lawes ordinaunces statuts of God although it was a cloudye a darke daye a day of tribulation anguish of feare sorrow of a noise sound of a terrible trumpet and thunder which all caused to the outward man heauines and sadnes yet in deed if we consider what good that day brought to his people what honor what preheminence what state what maiestie what as it were familiaritie euen with God that cloudye and mystye that darke and dreadefull daye was the blesseddest day that euer rose ouer them A sorte of poore and sinnefull men to be ioyned in league and as it were in mariage with God and to haue the companye of Angells as it were bridemen at the mariage My eyes are not so daseled with beholding the brightnes of the Sunne nor myne eares so astonished with the thunder not my minde so with ioy euer confounded as my vnderstanding at the consideration of this so greate mercye yea my wordes are swallowed in it and my iudgement vanisheth and melteth before it But the Lord as Moyses sayth in deede loued his people Well we see then what iust cause Dauid had to remember this benefit in the Catalogue of the Lords mercies He sent redemption to his people he commaūded his couenaunts for euer Nowe also let vs a litle leaue them thinke of our selues and the reuelation of the worde and will of God vnto vs that in knowing the goodnes of God towardes vs in this parte we may labour to loue the Lorde and embrace his gracious calling thankfully What the● is Englande this litle poore corner of the world to Italy and Spayne to the great and riche countries of Asia and Africa vnder the Turke and other barbarous and blinde Princes that God should from heauē looke as it were and cast aside his eye to this litle hole passing ouer and contemning suche glorious and famous Monarchies kingdoms to cast the seede of his word and the precious stone of his glory amongest vs to make vs while other labour and trauell for earthly and corruptible wares to be Marchaunts of this such a iewell buyers of such a treasure wherein life and saluation is contayned and to lighten vs with the blessed beames of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ Oh before how many goodly rich nations hath he preferred vs how hath he loued and honoured vs before other kingdoms that in glory and riches doe farre exceede vs Oh whom shall they send to heauen to fetch the worde of God or whome shall they sende to the deepe places of the earth or beyonde the seas that may bringe thence this treasure for the Lord hath blinded them most iustly that they can not see the Sunne stopped their eares that they may not smell the body of the Gospell neyther follow the Egles that flye vnto it We were a farre of as they are straungers from God and his couenaunts with them sinners of the Gentiles as they vncircumcised vntaught vnholy nay dogges as our Sauiour Christ sayth and swine and tigers but we are illuminated we are taught we are sanctified we are made neare euen Citizens of Ierusalem sonnes of the kingdom heires of the promises and coheires with Iesus Christ who is God blessed for euer Amen Now no more vnholy no more blinde no more cruell no more idle no more abominable before god for we are if the kingdom of God be in deede come vnto vs and into vs that is euen into our mindes and consciences then we are the lambes and doues antes of the Lorde in all holines and pacience and diligence wayting for the comming of Christ our Sauiour For vnles we walke in these and such like fruites of godlines though the Sunne be risen in the Realme surely it hath not shined vppon vs but we remayne yet in ignoraunce as we did Yea surely it is an vndoubted truth that so much we know as we practise Otherwise let vs talke of the Gospell neuer so much we are still deade in sinne and ignoraunce let vs exalt it neuer so high it exalteth not vs but rather thrusteth vs downe to hel but if in deede we haue receiued the Gospel so that we both knowe the glory and mercy of God also seeke by all our power to glorifie set forth the same in our life studies then are we truely lightned and the light of God shall continue with vs and encrease in vs more and more till the day starre that is the ful and perfit knowledge of Iesus Christ arise in our hartes when we shall knowe no more in part but fully and absolutely as we shall be taught as thAp sayth for so I thinke that sentēce is to be interpreted Thus I say if the kingdome of God be come vnto
lesse earnest to sing this thankes giuing vnto him than Dauid was and seeing the benefites be common to ioyne with him praysing God for them Further we may learne here what lyeth vppon it if we take vppon vs to call other to the prayse of God it is that we our selues first giue example euen as Dauid who as he called others so he leadeth first and sheweth the way to them For if we call others and are deafe our selues if we bid other goe and we si●● still if we pipe and singe to our neighbours and we be not our selues therewith delighted what doe woe but mocke God and condemne our selues Therefore in the 12. of Esaye the faythefull doe not onely exhorte other but they beginne the songe of prayse and thankes giuing them selues I will prayse the Lorde with my whole harte c. Here the Prophet teachethe vs a notable doctrine if we ascribe not to nature as the prophane Philosophers or to starres as vayne men or to fortune as the blinde and couetous or to any other thinge then to the Lorde alone this excellent order which we see in all the worlde or that redemption and these benefites which were bestowed vppon Israell at his departinge out of Egypt but that in bothe we acknowledge onely the wisedome and mercye of our God whose hande and power brought all these thinges to passe Yea let other prayse their Idolls which they fayne vnto them selues with the dishonour of God we will O Lorde acknowledge thee and make mention onely of thy wisedome and louing kindnes and truth that hath wrought this goodly order in all the worlde suche mercies and benefites for thy Churche and suche iudgementes againste the wicked and them that knowe not thy name I will prayse the Lorde with my whole harte Here the Prophet declareth what kinde of thankes giuing and songe this shall be that he purposeth to singe vnto the Lorde not an outwarde and hipocriticall prayse not in wordes onely to come neare vnto him not onely in tongue and mouthe but an hartie an earnest a true songe a songe and Psalme wherein all the partes and powers of his minde and vnderstandinge shall bee ioyned together in as muche as a man is able For he meaneth not that thi● songe of prayse shall aunswer to the exactnes of the Lawe wherein we are commaunded with all our harte and soule to serue the Lorde But the whole harte in this place is opposed to a dissembling and hipocriticall harte and as he speaketh in an other place to a harte and a harte that is a double harte So that here is no holde for anye to take that man is able to fulfill the Lawe if we admitte the Holye Ghoste Interpreter of him selfe But alas what should I dispute that man is not able to fulfill that commaundement of the full loue of God which is required wh● is he that dare dispute for it I aske no other witnesse agaynst himselfe then his owne conscience if he vouchsafe to looke into it Shall he not there see a sea of wicked thoughtes a world of vayne deuises a hell of blasphemies and foule imaginations shall he not see a slaue and seruaunt of the body or rather an infinite number euen so many bonde men to sinne and ministers to Satan as he hath partes and members O the depth length and breadth of that wickednesse that remayneth and dwelleth in vs Well the Prophet teacheth vs that knowe our selues that we come not before the Lorde before whose eyes all our hartes are open and manifest with a face only and shew of godlines but that together with our tongue our spirite and soule be ioyned and so to come to sing or pray vnto the Lorde For if we come before the Lorde eyther hipocritically or negligently let vs be assured that he whose honor we staine by our boldnesse and impudencie will require it of vs to the vttermost It followeth In the congregation and assembly of the iust that is openly and in the face of the Church For that inwarde and darke godlinesse that yet men loue so muche that they will prayse God in their chambers in their studies in their hartes that can not suffice Naye that is no godlinesse whiche in tyme and place will not openly shewe it selfe to the prayse and glory of god But yet this profession and declaration of our seruice that is required of vs is not so muche for the Lordes cause as for our owne certayntie touching our election and for the furtheraunce of the children of God to the lyke by our example And if we consider who this is and what a man he was that speaketh this we will easilye graunte that I woulde proue For who was more diligent earnest and often in priuate prayers then Dauid Howe many nightes are witnesses of his godlynesse in the wildernesse in the mountaynes and caues of the earth in his priuie chamber and in his bedde howe was he accustomed to powre out his spirite before the Lorde Yet we se● this godly and great Prophet exempteth not him selfe from publike and common assemblies where the children of God were according to the appoyntmente of God gathered to prayse him and confesse vnto him their sinnes and to heare his worde with other exercises for the encrease of hys fayth and godlynesse But what do I saye that he did not exempt him selfe whiche thought it the greatest benefite vnder heauen to haue a parte and portion in the Churche and communion of Sainctes Therefore in banishment he so be wayleth and lamenteth his state being as it were by tyrannie excommunicated from that Paradise from that earthly heauen I meane the temple when were manyfest signes of the presence of god Not that Dauid knewe not but that he moued and liued and had his beeing in God or that the Lorde would not heare his prayers out of the temple but for the same causes that euery one of vs ought to be so affected to the common places of prayer and hearing the worde and receyuing the Sacramentes was this earnest desire in Dauids heart because there the Lorde had appoynted to be worshipped there the sacrifices to be offred there the ministerie of the Priestes there was the fellowship of Gods children there was a Sacrament of the presence of God which all more fully and clearely and liuely now in euery faythfull congregation gathered according to the worde of God do appeare to vs then they did in the temple And yet who accompteth it as the least parte of his crosse when he is sicke or otherwise hindered from the seruice of God who considereth the happinesse of their feete that treade in the temple of God Who wisheth for his appearance before the Lorde as the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water in the congregation O the wonderfull contempt of the benefites of God and the singuler patience of the Lorde Moyses when the people were kepte with Pharaos hande as with a chayne
had bene worthy continuall prayse and remembraunce howe muche more nowe in this sinnefull and miserable lyfe For let vs examine and trie our selues ▪ let vs laye out liues to the rule of the Lawe of God let vs looke and beholde them in that glasse which r●u●●l●th all thinges and seeing we haue the vse of these creatures by no other condition but by the obedien e of Gods commaundementes what grace and mercy may we see in that they are not euery moment taken away from vs I maruell that the sunne which is witnesse of so great and innumerable faultes vppon the earth standeth so long in the heauens that the heauens melt not for the infection that ●●n them by our corruption and that Iesus Christe commeth not to burne them the earth so polluted with our sinnes to make that newe heauen that n●we earth wherein righteousnes shall dwell Which of vs is he that perceiueth not to ●ise out of him If as out of a filthy bottomlesse pitte ●mo●● infection that were able to darkē the sunne and couer al the cōpasse of y heauens that may not iustly wonder at the Lordes mercy i● that the earth is able to beare vs so laden with vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse O Lord thy mercy reacheth vnto the heauēs thy goodnes vnto the highest heauens Thy pity and compassion is infinite wonderfull and yet who is he that considereth these things ▪ Thus I will leaue the consideration of the mercy of God in this parte to your godly meditation and come to the more n●●e and perfect sight knowledge o● God which appeare th m h s Church on●l● 〈◊〉 you by the gl●r● of God and lou● o● I●s●s Ch●●st th●t ●●●●member s●eing the h●●uens and ●arth and s●eing all things in th●m are ours 〈◊〉 the mercies of God they continue 〈…〉 〈◊〉 vse that we ma●● also ●e Christ ●s as thapostle her●o● me●●●eth that 〈…〉 to the loue of his worde and 〈…〉 his G●sp●ll eu●n a● h●w ●s in all thing obedient to god Thus we 〈…〉 the glory mercy of God out of the creatiues which● h● hath app●ynt●d 〈◊〉 witnesses thereof in the whol● world 〈…〉 only one place but al th● whole world may b●●all●d 〈◊〉 because th● Lord ●●●e●leth his glory mercy in euery part therof but yet if we compare this knowledge ●● the glory mercy of God lerned here out of his creatures to that which may be knowen out of his Church out of his worde we shall perceiue that in the creatures we see but his backe hinder parts we see him but da●●ly as in a glasse of steel● but as in the nether outward courtes o● his temple here in the church we shall 〈◊〉 his glory as in the holiest place of all 〈◊〉 in the place of the oracl●s is n a gl●ss●● Christall and as it were face to face Wherefore let vs draw neare come vnto the temple let vs looke into this glasse and b●hold his fatherly countenance He hath made t● his w●nderfull worke remembrances The Prophet in this verse sheweth the passing and wonderful work● that he hath done for his Church the exceeding loue that he beareth to his church For although we haue already seene the mercy goodnes which he hath declared aswel to them as to other euen in the verse of his cōmon creatures yet because they are cōmon to others with thē the particuler priuate loue which the Lord beareth vnto thē aboue oth●rs doth not so clearly appeare Therefore here the Prophet beginneth a Catalog although not with many words yet full● 〈◊〉 remēbring all and calling them to minde b● generall wordes And first that this speciall and parti●ular care which he hath of his Churche may be knowen to passe the common and vniuersall order of things I thinke it may be noted out of the conferences of the words In the seconde verse he sayth Great are his w●rkes c. Here he vseth a greater worde and sayth they are wonderfull for although this Prophet in other places call the common workes of God wonderfull and are so in deede in them selues considered yet ●opa●ed with these they are great and these wonderfull so in halfe of the third verse he sayth his goodnes remayneth c. But here he vseth wordes which seeme to come out of the Lords heart and bowell●s gracious and m●r●●full and he doubleth them because his loue is double and triple and manyfolde vpon them This greatnes of the woders of God he cōmendeth in these words He hath made the remembrance or memoriall of them c. Not that the goodnes of God which riseth out of his creatures is to be forgotten o● negligently to be regarded for we know therefore the Lord in the beginning to haue instituted the Sabboth for a perpetuall memory to vs of his great loue goodnes mercy and wi●dome which appeareth in the world Dauid hath also made diuers Psalmes in their remēbrance whereof some ●s that of the Sabboth was song in the temple But he speaketh after an excellent sort 〈◊〉 principally chiefly giuing remembran●e vnto thē as if that in cōparison of th●s● thother be forgotten ●o● as the Prophet speaking of the benefite of the deliuerāce o● rather resurrection of the Iewes out of Babilon sayth that it shall no more be sayd then the Lord ●●ueth which brought the children of Israel out of Egypt but they shall speake of the Lord thus the Lord liueth which brought them out of Babilon meaning that this shall be so excellent that in respect thereof the former although so notable and as it is here also thus highly cōmended should be no more spokē of so in this place the benefites which he hath shewed to his Church in their deliuerāce after a sort maketh the other to be forgotten And Esay speaking of the light of the Gospel in the kingdome of Christ saith that in that day the sunne shall giue no light nor the moone appeare meaning also that in cōparison of the light which shal be seuē times greater thē the light of the sunne euē the sunne shal be darkned as the moone at his presence so in this place the lord hath the remēbrāce of these his works so famous and glorious that the former benefite like the starrs at the rising of the sunne are obscured and hidden For i● they were wo●thy once to be spoken of these are worthy ●ften times if those to be written with a pen in paper these are worthy to be written in v●on and with an Ad●mant stone if those with the hand of a man these are to be printed with the singer of god For as high as the heauens are in cōparis●n of the earth so muche hath the ●●●d magnified the measure of his graces and benefites towardes the Churche aboue the rest of the sonne of men But l●t vs consider particularly what they were The Prophet meaneth the signes wonders which the Lord
declared by the hand of Moyses and Aron in the middest of the lande of Egypt vpon Pharao and al his seruantes the turning of the water into blood the destroying of trees and fruites of the earth by the caterpillers the filling of the lande full of frogges and hee those other which are written of by Moyses the 9. of Exod. and repeated in the Psalme 78. but aboue all these he vnderstandeth the cause and the occasion of all these the na●●●●tie and as it were the creation of the Church which was a greater more excellent worke then the making of the whole world For the heauens earth as sayth the Prophet shall waxe olde and perish but his fauour grace to his church shall endure for euermore Therefore the Lord in respect of Ierusalem ma● t●●o accompt of the whole worlde as ● say in the person of God reasone ● with that proude Sanacharib who thought that he could as easily haue one 〈◊〉 ●d Ierusal●● 〈◊〉 he had done Samaria and the other 〈…〉 desolation Hast thou not heard sayth the how I haue tourmed it of olde not naming but meaning and emphaticall noting Ierusalem whom he preferreth before all the whole worlde And the prophet Esay prophesieth that the kinges and Monarches of the earth shall like the dust of her feete thereby noting what honour she shall be in euen with her enemies Seeing then the preseruation of her as appeareth is so precious in the eyes of God that in the respect therof he conten●neth al things ●l● the begett●ng and birth of it must needes be the g●eatest most excellent worke that euer was and therfore the remembrance of it all those signes wonders which the Lord wrought for it turning the whole course of nature for his Church ought perpetually to be with care and diligence celebrated So Moyses wondreth at it sayth was eue● the like heard that God should come to a people take thē out of another people in such signes tokens wonders The Lord therefore hath printed the memorie of his maruelous works so that they cānot be forgotten Nay Egypt shal be a witnesse frō generation to generation for euer that the grace of God to his Church passeth all vnderstanding This marke shall remayne for euer which the Lords mighty hand naked arme printed sealed vpō his enemies by ten strokes The Prophet by this kind of speaking exhorteth all Israel whō the Lord hath so maruelously deliuered to remēber these works tell them further with gladnes as in diuers Psalmes This doctrine therefore of the remembrance of the wonderfull workes benefites of God is something to be declared For if euer there were nede to speake of it behold the dayes of ioy and gladnes of security ease of sport and play and of piping dauncing of riote and wantonnes euen the dayes of forgetfulnes of Gods benefites And if euer there were feare of the fulfilling of the prophesie amōgst the Iewes that being ful they would forget the Lord as Moyses prophesied this is the day howre that Moyses as if he had sen● so long before prophesied euen of vs Euery one of vs sitteth vnder his vine and vnder his figge tree in his seeled and garnished chamber and the troubles that are so greate and manye bothe in our owne countrey and abrode they touch vs not by Gods mercy And why haue we all this case of God to abuse our time other benefits or rather to remember them perpetually and vse them lawfully to the prayse of god This is therefore our time of daunger our time of forgetting the goodnes of our God our time of falling away from the Lorde If you the Lordes ministers and watchemen make it not your time of care diligence of holding and staying vs of remembring and repeating and night and daye remembring and repeating the goodnes of our God vpon vs his statutes and his ordinances his lawes and his cōmaundements which he hath appoynted for vs to do thē what daunger are we in Therfore I wōder and maruell at it that you see not the slippery places we stand on and seeke to helpe vs The goodnes of God hath so prouyded that in this Colledge there might be euery morning at prayer a Sermō euery euening with prayers a sermon euery sonday of the forenoone afternoone together with prayers the word of God preached that the words of God perpetually sounding in our eares maye make this Colledge as it is called Trinitye Colledge to be named the Lorde is there There be thirteene places appointed for Preachers beside those that are not accompted for the house and yet this is not done whereas I am perswaded that three doing their office in care zeale in godlines faithfulnes were able by Gods grace to make this Colledge together with the Magistrat a Colledge of Saincts a Colledge where no blasphemer no idle no prophane person no sonne of Belial no Cananite could be found And if so many can not in their course maintaine this order in preaching how many wil doe it Is there any i● the places that are vnworthy that are not al able thē let the booke licence be takes out of his hand giuen to his fellow that is better thē he I am sure there is none of the wise godly sort but wishe and desire that which I say For as the benefits of the Lord are perpetually euerlasting so ought also the remēbrance of them to be but there be men of corrupt cōsciences wicked childrē vngodly prophane persons which contēt them selues with a face or visard of religio● who know not what it is to serue God that will securely deride this and laughe it to scorne Wel the Lord would haue his benefits to be remembred let vs looke how we remember then ▪ but it were an infinit thing to speake of all let vs consider the remembraunce but of this one wonderous maruelous benefit euen the greatest that euer was God manifested in the fleshe This I speake of admonished by this time of the feast of the Natiuity that the worde which was spoken the last daye may stande in the mouths of two witnesses And if neither you of your selues neither at the word of God wil giue place I pray God that a terrible heauy iudgement be not the third witnes of this truth vnto vs Hath Iesus Christ comen into the flesh to lay the bridle of our necks to runne after our vayne deuises hath he obtayned by his comming twelue dayes of God the Father for carding dising and lotting for masking and mumming for mocking mowing for crying and laughing for the practising of euery vayne deuise that commeth to our heades all the yeare or doe we thinke that this prophaning of so holye a thinge this mocking of so earnest a matter this t●rning of the grace of God into licence and wantonnesse that it shall
to repentance But the Lord hath all that lōg time that he spareth his ballaunce in his hande wherwith he wayeth the beginning and encrease full weight of their sinne then he casteth them out He considereth thē and wayteth for the ripenes before he sendeth messengers to plucke them of the tree or cut them of the earth He tarieth till they be dry and fit for the fire before he throw them in till they be farre before he slay them till they be dry withered before he put the axe to hewe them downe Therfore it is conteyned in the scripture that the earth was full of sinne when the Lorde sent the flood destroyed the worlde and made it as before the distinction of light darknes almost for a yere We reade also that the sinne of Sodome was great that the cry therof ascended vp to the eares of the Lord of hostes Thus also the Lorde in a vision of ripe apples sheweth Amos the time of the Israelites destruction to be at the dore And our Sauiour Christ teacheth this long ●●●●ing of the Lorde by the parable of the husbandmen who wayteth 3. yeres after no fruite came to see if any fruite would appeare But we see the lord not to haue wayted three yeres for the repentance of this people or till they were ripe Neither 120. yeres as in the dayes of Noy But 400. yeres as he had declared before to Abraham Therefore the works of his hands were not against this people vnpacient in anger or fury but righteous in iustice iudgement The sword wherby they were slayne frō the prince to al the people euen womē childrē was the sword of righteousnes the fire that cōsumed their cities destroyed their houses was the fire of iudgement the hayle tēpest that fought against thē reason iustice equiry That God therfore destroyed the great smal the old yong as it is sayd the mother her childrē it was not cruell rage not iniury but right iustice in strikīg at the last patiēce lōg suffring in forbearing thē so lōg finally great wisdome in destroying the leprous generatiō lest it shuld stil encrease great mercy to his church Thus thē appeareth not only the truth faith of the workes of God in performing 〈…〉 which were so long spokē of before ●●●●ning the bringing of his people out of Egypt and placing thē in Canaan but also ●●●●ment wisedome and mercy Nowe 〈◊〉 halfe of this verse which foloweth the Prophet teacheth that doctrine fruite which is here to be gathered For he sayth all his statutes are true so that from these perticuler promises and iudgementes of God the Prophet ryseth and reasoneth for the surety of all Gods promises whether they be for the destruction of his enemies or benefites promised to his Church For by statutes it should appeare by the circumstance of this place that he vnderstandeth all this First therefore for the suretie of the workes of God in that behalfe for after we shall see it in the other part concerning the benefites towards his Church he sayth all his statutes are true that is all his appoynted counsels are sure and faythfull whether they be a destruction and ouerthrowe of the wicked or a comfort to the godly And howe shall not they be most sure and most truely performed seeing they are determined by him whose handes made the world and all that is therin who hath done what so●●●● he purposed was good in his 〈◊〉 whose hand is the hand of power and 〈◊〉 almightie Man in dede in vayne and deceiuable and able to be hindered of that which he hath determined but the lord the almighty God creator of heauen earth in whose power are al creatures euen kings and princes and in whose handes are the chaynes and bitte and bridle whereby the very diuels are at his word losed bound sent out and called in agayne is neuer deceiued nor hindred frō bringing his counsels to passe The waters of Tema Sheba as Iob sayth are with heate dried vp so that they which looke for helpe at them are cōfounded and ashamed but the counsels of god are as l●●ing springing waters which shall continue faithfull and sure vndried though all the mountaynes fountaynes from whence the riuers and floods do flow yea though the sea should be dried vp for those runne out of the earth but the counsels of God flowe from his hande which no sunne can drie nor winde driue away till al be fulfilled that he hath determined They are therfore like the springing waters that is continuall and durable like the great mountaynes that can not be remoued as sayth the Prophet● like the fielde that 〈◊〉 bringeth forth fruite and can by no iniurie of weather be hindred like the worde and commaundement of the Persian kinges whose worde is sure as it is in Daniel or rather like the Lord himselfe who is immutable and vnchangeable Crye therefore and weepe make a noyse howle ye contemners of the Lorde ye that delight in your vanities take pleasure in that that is abhominable for behold the day cōmeth that shall burne as an ouen and al the proude al that do wickednes shal be as stubble and the day that cōmeth shall burne them vp sayth the Lord of hostes and shall leaue thē neither roote nor braunch Heare ye drunkards and gluttons ye Epicures and idle bellies and feare for beholde the Lorde cōmeth with thousandes of his Sainctes to giue iudgement agaynst you of al the wickednes you haue cōmitted and of all the cruell words which wicked men haue spoken agaynst his worde For this is determined by the sentence of the mightie God whose name is wonderfull and power marueilous whose decrees are sure and counsells vnfallible This fearefull lesson the Prophet teacheth the wicked and abhominable children that dishonour the glorious and be ●●cifull name of the Lord our God when he sayth all his appoyntments or decrees are sure For they may be sure certaine they may perswade thēselues write of it that the iudgement of God vpon them in what sort soeuer the Lord haue giuē sentence vpon thē whether to their destructiō by thē selues or by other whether immediatly frō heauen or by common death or by some notable spectacle or in what sort or kind soeuer it be that it sleepeth not but it cōmeth vpō a chariot whose horses are the winds whose wheeles are the whirlwinds euen spedily hastily to their destruction And now you that feare God delight in his cōmaundements that frankely freely g●●e your soules bodies to the Lords seruice that loue his word● his glory and his children that indeuour with al your power in that vocation wherto you are called to sanctifie prayse that holy name that are in battaile field against temptations with sinne with
Oliues of the Lorde that euer shed forth their sweetenes and fatnesse that we make a couenaunt with God euen binding our selues as it were in statute marchaunt for performaunce that we make as the Scripture speaketh a couenaunt of salt durable perpetual with the Lord to liue before him in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of our life that our hands and harts and knees be neuer weary of praying our eares neuer wearie in hearing the worde of God our mindes euer occupied in our vocation or somthing furthering our knowledge godlinesse All this we are bounde to in respect only of our couenaunt Now if we thinke of him who hath striken this league with vs we can not chose but doe it For as Dauid sayth here holy and fearefull is his name In which words two arguments are contained and forceable reasons to draw vs and driue vs to the performaunce of it ●irst in that he is a holy Secondly a fearefull god This reason you know is set almost at th end of euerie commaundement in Moises ●ot he concludeth them thus alway This I commaund you for I am the Lord that is an holy God which would not commaund were it not both good in it selfe good for you a fearefull God which will visit the sinnes of the fathers vppon the children vnto the third fourth generation of them that hate me Then we see whether to looke for helpe if we be slacke or weake or readie to fall in the breach of the commaundemēts of god Art thou weake and ouercome almost with anger with the affections of adultery in thy hart or in thine eyes Then remember that the holy God whose thou art whom thou oughst to serue hath forbidden them both Art thou acquainted with sinne art thou an olde adulterer an olde backebiter and procuter of hate against them that feare God Knowe that the fearefull God will knocke thy pate if thou goe on still in thy wickednesse These reasons I leaue for you to thinke of because I will be short and make an ende of the Psalme and because the next and last verse hangeth on this namely to declare vnto vs how to come to the keping of the couenant with god The feare of God is the beginning of wisedom as if he should say Art thou desirous to followe the will of God and keepe his commaundementes Remēber that god is an holy fearful God with whom thou hast a couenāt the beginning wherof is the keping of his commaundementes and the roote of this wisdome is the feare of him This is the first step this is that which whē thou hast gotten promise thy soule rest The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome whither then shall he go to get this feare of the Lorde whose ende is so pleasant fruite so precious shall we go to mount Sinai Horeb agayne where we shall heare the thunder and terrible voyce of a trumphet where fire and smoke darknesse appeareth without and horror and feare within Or shal the Lord giue into my hande a fearefull sleepe to sende vpon you to prepare you to heare the worde of God Nay these dayes are past and God nowe speaketh to vs by his beloued sonne Him let vs heare let vs looke vnto him let vs cōsider the faythfull in the scripture company of Angels which feare him For Iesus Christ him selfe although the one onely sonne yet he feared God as Esay sayth and was obedient to him he feared him was diligēt in prayer vnto him in the night and exercised in his vocation al the day he feared God preached the Gospell diligently for the saluation of the soules of men and carefully pitifully considering their miserie deliuered them from infirmitie of their bodies The Angels that are in heauen they feare god reuerence his power they hide their faces at his glory and worship him at his feete Ioseph and Io●ias Samuell Daniell among the yong men and Noah and Abraham Moyses Iob among the fathers Dauid Ezechias among the kings feared him and walked in his commaundements These examples are set before vs Now Salomon he exhorteth in his Prouerbs to the feare of God who seeth considereth al our doings before whō we al our inmost cogitations are naked opē frō whō no shadow no cloude no wood no dungeon no enchaūtment can hide vs for he seeth vs that made vs and howe can he not know vs now that knewe vs in our mothers wombe as Dauid saith And thapostle to the Hebrews herevpon exhorteth to the reuerence and feare of God seeing we call him father who iudgeth euery man according to iustice without respect of person And to them that will occupie themselues in the scriptures many other fountaynes will appeare from which this feare of God will slowe Nowe seeing it is the beginning or rather the principall part of wisedome yea euen halfe of it we must cast by what meanes soonest we maye obteine it For if we he wo●ers louers of wisdome this is the mother which must giue her vnto vs if we be marchantes and trauellers for her this is the key and hauen where we muste first ariue if we be Gardners this the first herbe that is to be got set in our mindes if we be schollers this is the first forme if we seeke for her she will bring them to her Oh ye Tutors heare how al our labour is in vayne if we seeke not to set this before all We call the liberall artes and sciences 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in deede preposterously For the first knowledge of all knowledge is a true grounded knowledge in the will and worde of god And in dede if we looke for fruite at any time of good arts knowledge of good tongues let our first care be that they feare serue God that they be both brought vp in suche exercises trayned vp in such studies as encrease godlines and led so gouerned by our example and diligence in our vocations to follow vs as childrē their fathers These are the meanes for the spirite of God to be get feare of God which is the beginning of wisedome Nay which is the whole halfe of wisdome or rather as Iob sayth perfect wisdome without which al knowledge in heauen and earth is vayne foolish but with which it is I dare say with Salomon the chiefest holynes Now heare what commendation the Prophet giueth vnto them that haue it He sayth that they haue good vnderstanding and that their prayse remayneth for euer where we see what is thought in heauen of all such as feare God notwithstanding they be contemned condemned in our Colleges and in the world ab●●●● ●●t a good vnderstāding sayth the Prophet ●●ue a● su●h as do therafter This commendation is drawne out of the law where Moyses often many times vseth the same verb wherof this now commeth For thus he sayth