Iewes our Sauiour Christ Elymas the company of Paul And on the contrary part how one wicked man doth loue the company of another like himselfe Psalm 50. common experience doth proue it And heere wicked men bee noysome and troublesome to the godly as Goats to sheep they tread downe their pasture they trample in their water Ezek. 34. and they push them with their hornes Christs sheep now sustaine sundry wrongs and iniuries and are much annoyed and vexed by those stinking and vnruly Goates But there will come a day of separation Mal. 3.18 to the horror of the wicked and comfort of the godly Further in these words wee may consider the estate of the righteous at the last iudgement that is of the elect of God such as haue truely repented of their sinnes by faith beleeue and embrace Iesus Christ and are iustified through his obedience in the sight of God surely their estate shall bee blessed and happy and so great that the very wicked shall be ashamed and astonied to behold it First they shall be set on Christs right hand which is no small honour and ioy for poore silly soules to bee aduanced to sit on the right hand of Iesus Christ the Son of God and the great Iudge of the world Secondly they shall heare the blessed sentence Come yee blessed c. Mat. 25.34 Thirdly they shall be put in reall possession of eternall saluation of the kingdome of Heauen and liue in the blessed presence of God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Reuel 21. 13.14 the elect Angels and blessed Saints where there shall be no sorow paine sicknesse c. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours So then after death they haue a sweet quietus est and a generall discharge and freedome from all enemies of soule and body from all trouble paine and griefe Whereas the wicked and vngodly shall bee in a cleane contrary estate and condition for they shall not come into the company of the righteous nor shall haue no part in that place of their Comfort Honour Ioy and Dignity but shall be set on Christs left hand a place of exceeding sorrow and griefe shame and confusion horrour and trembling This might admonish all wicked Vse 1 and vngodly sinners to repent in time to turne to God by true repentance and amendment of their liues to esteeme better of the company of Gods faithfull seruants and righteous Children in this world and to make much of them But if they will still proceed to hate them to set themselues against the godly to shunne their company and to hate them aboue all the things in the world Well yet remember the time will come that yee shall thinke it the greatest misery in the world that they shall be seuered and sundred from their company and in so being they shall be seuered and sundred from the company and society of Iesus Christ himselfe of God the Father and all the blessed Saints and Angels of God in heauen Wis 5.1.2.3.4 Then in that day shall the righteous stand in great boldnesse before him that persecuted him c. Thus yee see the madnesse and extreme folly of wicked men they hate them whom they ought most to loue and loue them whom they ought most to dislike Vse 2 Let men take heed with whom they ioyne themselues in society Seeing with whom they keepe company in this life in death they shall pertake with them and after at the last iudgement shall be ioyned with them Hee that now is familiar and a companion of vngodly men Athiests Papists Swearers Drunkards Scorners c. certainely in death he shall bee punished with them and after death haue his abode with them for euer Reu. 18.4 So he that is now a companion with all those that feare God surely hee shall haue a part with them in death and at the last iudgement shall bee placed with them in ioy and happinesse for euermore Heb. 11.25.26 It is thought to be a matter of little or no moment what company a man keepes to liue amongst Swaggerers Swearers Drunkards Athiests Papists c. But the truth is it is a fearefull signe of a reprobate and he that is now a companion with them in their sins shall after death take part with them in their plagues The first Psalme VERSE 6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous But the way of the vngodly shall perish HItherto the Prophet hath described the wonderfull blessed estate of a godly man The secōd generall part of the Psalme As also the fearefull and cursed estate of the wicked Now in this sixt verse which containes in it the second generall part of the Psalme is laid downe a reason both of the happinesse of the one and also of the misery of the other The godly man is a blessed man why Because the Lord Knoweth that is approueth of the way of a righteous and godly man hee likes it and directs it yea takes care of it and doth blesse the way that is the life and conuersation the actions studies and endeuours of the righteous Secondly the wicked are cursed and miserable why Because the Lord doth not thus Know that is the Lord doth not like nor allow of the wicked man hee doth not loue nor approue of his life nor dealings but rather dislikes him and all hee doth yea hee hates and abhorres his vile and abhominable and wicked life And therefore both hee and his waies that is his studies labours and enterprises shall perish and come to destruction In that the Lord is said to know the way of the righteous that is to like it to loue and to be well pleased with it so as hee will direct and blesse Doctr. 1. A great comfort to the godly that God doth approue of them it Here is matter of exceeding comfort to euery poore childe of God to euery godly and righteous seruant of God that being iustified by faith in Christ Iesus and sanctified by the Holy Ghost liue well and leade a godly and righteous life that howsoeuer the world contemnes them scoffes and scornes them mockes and mowes at them reuile and raile vpon them esteeme them as base and vile yet here we see that the Lord loues them and esteemes highly of them approues them as his delights in them to blesse them and prosper them Touch not mine Annointed 2 Cor. 4.13 Mat. 23.37 Psalm 105 Psalm 17. Ps 142.3.4 Nah. 2.7 1. Tim. 4.8 and do my Prophets no harme yea he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of Gods eye no assaults whatsoeuer shall bee able to hurt them For godlinesse hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And therefore let vs labour to plant godlinesse in our hearts and store them with the true feare of God and in so doing the Lord will both blesse vs and our poore endeuours This may serue to
performe it open therefore the eyes of our minds that we may see what is good put thy good Spirit within vs giue vs fleshly hearts and pliable affections draw our minds from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if we vsed it not that we haue heere no continuing Citie but to seeke one to come that so wee may seeke for that kingdome that cannot bee shaken but eternall in the heauens Lord teach vs to do thy wil knit our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy name ô Lord heare ô Lord forgiue ô Lord consider the complaint that we make vnto thee and giue a gracious answere vnto our prayers for the Lords sake And now ô Lord we thanke thee euen from the bottome of our hearts for thy inestimable blessings wherwith in Christ Iesus thou hast blessed vs for our Election before the foundation of the world for our Vocation Iustification Sanctification and Preseruation and for that thou hast put in vs a hope of Glorification in the life to come We thank thee more especially for that thou hast defended vs this night past from all perils dangers and hast safely brought vs to the beginning of this day Now Lord wee humbly pray thee keepe vs and all that belong vnto vs this day from al euill that may hurt vs set thy feare before our eyes and let thy spirit so rule our hearts that we may not sin against thee As for outward things we submit our selues to thy wise and fatherly prouidence only we beseech thee to giue vs this day whatsoeuer thou knowest needfull behouefull vnto vs let vs not want those things without which we cannot serue thee blesse vs in our going out and our comming in and grant that whatsoeuer we shall thinke speake or doe may tend to thy glory the good of our brethren and the comfort of our owne consciences when wee shall come to make before thee our last accounts Blesse thy whole Church O Lord and build it vp more and more in perfect beautie disappoynt the hope of the Papists let them perish as many as haue euil wil at Syon comfort them that mourne especially such as mourn for sin fulfil the desires of all that truly long sigh after thee Blesse this good land in which we liue make thy glorious Gospell to shine more more vntil it be perfect day Lord send it where it is not and blesse it where it is that Babylon may fall and neuer rise vp again and to this end strenthen the hand of thine annoynted seruant and our dread Soueraigne Iames Lord make him to see and know euery day more and more what belongs vnto thy glory what belongs vnto his owne peace and safety and Lord giue him a heart that he may duly practise the same Blesse likewise our gracious Queene Anne Prince Charles and rhe Count Palatine of Rhine with the Lady Elizabeth his wife Assist with thy spirit and grace all that are in authority sanctifie all those whom thou employest in the Ministery Be mercifull vnto all that wee are bound in duty to pray for as if we had named them in particular vnto thee Hasten the comming of Iesus Christ make vs euer mindfull of our last end and of the reckoning that one day we are to make vnto thee And in the meane time Lord make vs carefull to follow Christ in the Regeneration during this life as that with Christ one day we may haue our portion in the resurrection of the Iust when this mortall life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou knowest to bee needfull for vs O Lord we humbly begge and craue at thy hand in the name and for the sake alone of Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne and in that forme of prayer which hee himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A Prayer for the Euening O Lord God by whose gracious prouidence the night succeedeth the day and the day the night wee acknowledge thy wonderfull power therin forasmuch as day vnto day vttereth thy goodnes and night vnto night teacheth knowledge O Lord amongst other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs most rebellious wretches wee must needs acknowledge that this is not the least that we haue this libertie to come into thy presence O Lord wee come not now to excuse our selues but to accuse our selues yea and to acknowledge that we are worthy of all those iudgements which thy iustice might most iustly inflict vpon vs our sinnes they make vs seeme vile in our eyes how much more loathsome in thy sight O Lord we must needs confesse that we are so farre vnworthy to bee called thy sonnes as that we are not worthy to bee reckoned amongst thy seruants yea were it not that thou wert a God of mercy and that thy mercy were ouer all thy workes and doth extend it selfe euen to poore sinners we should vtterly be discouraged in comming vnto thee considering that our whole life hath been but a life of sinne and that we haue drunke downe iniquity as it were water euer powring in but neuer powring out our filthinesse O Lord teach vs to value this mercy of thine aright that thou hast spared vs so long and giuen vs so large a time of repentance that thou hast not preuented vs with death in the time of our ignorance hardnesse of heart as many haue beene before vs O Lord it is thy mercy not our worthinesse Thus hast thou shewed thy selfe to be a God of mercy one that delighteth in the prosperity of thy seruants Now Lord we humbly entreat thee that thou wouldst pardon and forgiue vs all our sins and offences bathe them in the bloud of thy Sonne naile them to his Crosse bind them in a bundle and throw them downe into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer rise vp against vs either in this world to accuse vs or in the world to come to condemne vs. O Lord wee are heartily sorry that wee haue abused thy blessings prophaned thy Saboths despised thy word and quenched thy Spirit For these and the like blessed father we condemne our selues do not thou therefore marke them nor deale not with vs as we haue deserued but teach vs to rise vp against our sinnes that our warre with them may assure vs that wee haue peace with thee O Lord we abhorre our selues for to vs belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face for euer and we do humbly entreat thee to looke vpon vs in thy Son Christ Iesus O let the chastisement of our peace bee vpon him and heale vs through his stripes Lord let vs euer remember our latter end and the straight reckoning that we must render vnto thee one day and in health and prosperity to thinke of a time of sicknesse and aduersity and especially good Lord deliuer vs in the houre of temptation that when Sathan his assaults shall be greatest as his policy is when wee are weakest and least able to resist him that thy power may then appeare in our weaknesse that these things may not ouertake vs as a snare but that with the wise virgins wee may in some sort bee prepared for the comming of Christ Iesus the sweete Bridegroome of our soules And to that end we may haue comfort both now and at that time goe forward wee humbly pray thee with the worke of our new birth that thou hast begun in vs and neuer take away thy hand vntill such time as thou hast made an end of it And now O Lord hauing in the first place sought thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof giue vs leaue in the next place to seek thy fauour in outward things First according to our duty we giue thee hearty thankes praise for that thou hast this day preserued vs from all euill and danger wee humbly pray thee take care ouer vs this night and defend vs from that roaring Lyon who night and day goeth about seeking whom hee may deuoure Take thou vs this night into thy blessed tuition we know that thou dost neither slumber nor sleepe keepe vs euen in our sleepe from being vnmindfull of thee that whensoeuer thou shalt call for vs by the generall Alarum of thy iudgement whether at mid-night at Cocke-crowing or at the dawning of the day we may bee found ready to accompany the Bridegroome into the Marriage-chamber And to this end Lord sanctifie our sleep vnto vs that by it wee may bee the better enabled to performe the duties of the next day and night and day being guided by thee they may fit vs and prepare vs for that day of thine that shall neuer giue place to night And we beseech thee O Lord to be mercifull likewise to thy whole Church heare the cries of thine elect heare the mourning of all such as mourne in Syon let the cries of thy children cry downe the cries of the sinnes of this land and bee reconciled vnto vs O Lord our God in the multitude of thy mercies that so thou maist continue still a mercifull God vnto this Land the Vineyard which thy own right hand hath planted Preserue our gracious King blesse and prosper the Queene the hopefull Prince Charles Princely Palsgraue of Rhene with the Princesse Elizabeth his wife And as thou hast crowned them with worldly honour vpon earth so direct them vnto that more glorious Crowne in heauen Blesse the Nobility and Magistracy of this Land Prosper the worke of thy Gospell in the hands of thy Ministers And good Lord giue vs all grace to bee one of those wise virgines that our hearts may bee prepared like a lamp furnished with Faith and good workes like Oyle to meete the Lord Iesus Christ the Bridegroome of our soules there to see the felicity of thy chosen and to reioyce with the ioy of thy people To whom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit bee all Honour Glory Might Maiesty and Dominion henceforth for euer Amen FINIS
preached or taught but abound in all kinde of sinne and iniquitie If the Rich man bee damned that did not giue of his bread to feede the poore good Lord what shall become of those that haue takē away the bread of the poore that all their life haue drunke downe iniquity as it were water their damnation doeth hot sleepe If these things be doone to the greene tree what shall become of the dry tree In a word if the not doing of good shall bee punished so seuerely as wee haue heard Oh! what will then become of those whose liues abound in all maner of sinne and impiety whooredome drunkennesse c. Where shall such sinners as these appeare If the others which haue seemed to haue beene iust and righteous men shall not be saued O consider this yee that forget God Psal 50.22 lest I teare you in peeces and there bee none that can deliuer you Psalme 50. and verse 22. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord. THAT is the godly man who is truely blessed and happy doth wonderfully loue and is greatly affected with the word of Almightie God and hath exceeding delight ioy in the doctrine of God because there is reuealed the will of God whereunto men must bee carefull to frame and conforme all their desires thoughts words and deeds because heerein is chalked out and declared the very high-way to eternall life and saluation Doctr. 2. A godly man performeth godly dueties cherefully Hence then wee are taught this doctrine that it is a speciall note and property of a godly man to perform Christian dueties to God willingly and cheerefully and to make them his delight and ioy Indeede it is worthy yea thrice worthy to be delighted in both in regard of the Author of this Lawe which is God as also in respect of the authority of it which is manifold In regard of God the author of it it is to be delighted in who is the only true euerliuing God 1. Cor. 8.6 of whom are all things and we in him Secondly in respect of the authority of the same containing in it perfect wisedome truth iustice wisdome mercy goodnesse c. It is called by the Prophet Dauid Psal 19.7 Reu. 22.18 a perfect Law to the which if any man shall presume to adde anie thing God shall adde to him the plagues written in this book and if a man shall diminish any thing God shall take away his part out of the Booke of Life and from the holy Citty Heere and no where else is to bee found the true VRIM and THVMMIM the VRIM that is Light and the THVMMIM that is Perfection and the Saints of God in all Ages haue esteemed highly of it Thus did Iob Iob 23.12 I esteemed thy word more then my appoynted food Thus did Dauid when he said Lord what loue haue I to all thy commaundements Psal 119. all the day long is my study in them And Dauid shewes his wonderfull loue and account of it by the names that hee doth giue vnto it calling it Doctrine Testimonies Commaundements Feare Iudgements Way Statute Word c. And in another place hee saith That it is more to be desired then Golde Psa 16.10 Mat. 22.37 Rom. 12.8 yea then fine Golde that it is sweeter then the honny and the honny-combe And this is that which the Lord him selfe doeth require when he saith Leuit. 1.3 Heare O Israel the LORD thy GOD is LORD onely Deut. 6.5 And thou shalt loue the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy might And so the Prophet Dauid prayeth O Lord I beseech thee accept of the free offerings of my mouth and teach mee thy iudgements And this is the rule which the Apostle Saint Paul setteth downe when hee sayth 2. Cor. 9.7 As euery man wisheth in his heart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessitie for God loueth a chearefull giuer Now that which the Apostle speaketh of Charity and Almes may truely be vnderstood of euery Christian dutie when wee pray wee must pray vnto God chearefully when wee giue thanks to God we must do it cherefully Genes 4.5 and so of all other dueties of Gods worship layed downe in his Word And indeede this is it which dooth put the difference betweene the godly and the wicked the seruice of the one and the seruice of the other Caine will come with his Sacrifice aswel as Abel but he brought of the worst thinking any thing to be good enough for God and this he did very grudgingly Whereas Abel brought of the best to sacrifice to God this hee did willingly and cheerefully And all those dueties that are not thus performed they haue no life nor vertue in them to giue them any grace or acceptance with God So that we see that outward profession is not enough to assure vs of our saluation if it be not ioyned with sincerity of heart Now where it is said heere Reason that the godly mans Delight is in the Lawe of the Lord there is great reason why the children of God should be thus affected to his blessed word and heauenly Doctrine aboue all things in the world that it should be Sweeter vnto them then the honny and the honny-combe Tit. 2.11 First because it is the bread of life it is the power of God to saluation Rom. 1.16 And therefore is called the Gospell of the Kingdome and the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 13.44 because it is that whereby men are brought to eternall life and the kingdome of Heauen Secondly it is the effectual means and instrument which the Lord vseth and hath appointed to beget all sauing grace in the hearts of his children Ro. 10.14 1 Cor. 1.21 namely knowledge faith humility obedience and the like Thirdly it is the bread of life euen the heauenly Manna whereby our faith is confirmed and our soule comforted yea it is the staffe whereto wee must leane in all dangers as Dauid saith I had perished in my trouble had it not beene for thy word Psal 119. And thy Rod and thy Staffe doth comfort me Psal 23. Fourthly the word of God is that direction whereby wee may square all our thoughts words and deedes as Dauid saith Thy word is a Lanthorne vnto my feete Psal 119. and a light vnto my paths And without this we can not liue well but shall wander vp and downe as blind men in the darke And last of all it is the two-edged-Sword of Gods Spirit Matth. 4.4 whereby wee must put to flight all the temptations of the Diuell so as we cannot repell them or withstand them vnlesse we be skilfull and cunning to vse this weapon This Doctrine may seeme to reproue Vse 1 the greatest part amongest vs as wicked and vngodly because generally men haue no loue vnto the word of God no delight in this heauenly Doctrine it is not sweete nor
ingrafted into Iesus Christ Psal 92.12 Math. 7. doth by vertue of his Resurrection bring forth the fruit of faith and obedience both to God and man In due season that is in time conuenient when it may best seeme for the glory of God and the good of our Neighbour Thirdly by a contrary property that her leaues doe not fall that is in time of Winter and stormes her leaues fall not And this is a signe of our perseuerance that the godly man is not offended nor daunted with crosses persecutions or afflictions or any other calamity whatsoeuer but doth by patience possesse his Soule and by faith wades as it were throughout all these dangers Secondly the happinesse of a godly man is described by that blessed successe that God giues to all his affaires hee takes in hand It shall prosper because hee takes them in hand according to Gods commandement and in his feare with prayer and calling on the name of the Lord Ioshuah 1.8 to the glory of God and the good of his Neighbour Wicked described In the second part of the Psalme the Prophet descibeth the most miserable and cursed estate of the wicked and vngodly verse 4 5. That it is cleane contrary that as their waies and liues bee contrary so their reward and end is contrary The Prophet describing the cursed and miserable estate of the wicked saith first It is not so with them that is the wicked and vngodly men are in a far contrary estate and condition they cannot in any case bee compared to a tree that is planted by the riuers of waters that brings forth her fruit in due season and whose leafe doth not fall neither do they prosper in their actions neither doth GOD giue successe vnto them But hee setteth out the cursed and wretched estate of all wicked and vngodly men by a contrary similitude comparing them to Chaffe which the winde driues away That is euen as chaffe hath no roote in the earth and wanting all iuyce and norishment must needes bee fruitlesse and dry so as the winde doth most easily scatter it away Euen so the wicked are not rooted nor grounded in Christ whereby it comes to passe they being vtterly void of all grace of Gods Spirit that they can bring forth no fruite of good workes neither can they perseuere in time of temptation whereby againe it comes to passe that they be carried away with euery blast of vaine doctrine and with the least storme of temptation and blast of aduersity they are tossed to and fro And when the wind of Gods iudgements shall blow vpon them they are cleane scattered away This is their estate and condition heere in this life And for their estate and condition in the life to come the Prophet layeth it downe likewise verse 5. in these words They shall not bee able to stand in Iudgement That is they shall not bee able to stand with comfort before the face of the Iudge Reu. 6.13 but shall tremble and quake as not being able to endure the angry countenance of the Iudge Neither is this all but they shall likewise bee seuered and secluded from the blessed company of the godly That as heere in this life they could not abide a godly man but did hate him persecute him and shunne his company So at the last day so iust shall their reward bee that they shall bee separated from them And as Goats cast on the left hand Mat 25.34 there to remaine for euermore in torments which are easelesse and remedilesse Neither the sinners in the company of the iust that is in the company of those that bee iustified and reconciled to GOD in IESVS CHRIST which shall then inherit the Kingdome prepared for them Hitherto wee haue opened the first part of the Psalme containing the estate and condition of a godly and a wicked man here in this life and in the life to come The secōd generall part of the Psalme NOw followeth the second part of the Psalme in the last verse containing the confirmation of that doctrine And that our Prophet doth by shewing the efficient cause both of the happinesse of the one and the misery and wretchednesse of the other The first efficient cause of the happinesse of the godly man is in these words Because the Lord knowes the way of the righteous That is he likes loues and approues of it so as hee doth direct and blesse it And therefore it shall prosper And the cause why the estate of the wicked is vnhappy and their way shall perish is because the Lord doth not know their way that is hee taketh no delight in the way or the life of a wicked man hee loues it not so as hee should direct and prosper it And therefore it shall perish And thus much for the meaning of the words now let vs come vnto the Doctrines VERSE 1. Blessed is the Man that hath not c. BLessed is the man or Oh the Blessednesse of that man or as it is in the Originall Oh the blessednesses of that man They seeme to bee the words of a man musing and meditating with himselfe wherein mans blessednesse should consist As if hee shold say some pronounce him blessed that is in honour some count them blessed that haue aboundance of riches some that liue in pleasure some place it in one thing some in anothe But Oh the blessednesse of that man that feares the Lord that is truly religious of the godly and righteous man Hence wee learne rhis Doctrine Doctr. 1. The godly man alone is blessed That of all men vnder Heauen the godly man alone is blessed and the vngodly and wicked man is cursed The righteous man a happy man in the sight of God when the wicked is wretched and miserable This doctrine is very apparant in the word of GOD It is the scope and drift of the whole Scriptures to proue this one point That the godly man is blessed and the wicked man is cursed Psal 112. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth in his Commandement Psal 119.1 Blessed be they that bee vpright in their way and walke in the Law of the Lord. Psalm 32. Blessed are they that keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole heart Againe Psalm 37. Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is hee to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Reade the seuen and thirty Psalme which seemeth to bee penned of purpose to confirme the euerlasting truth of this Doctrine That the godly are blessed and the wicked are cursed and this blessednesse of theirs doth not reach onely to this life but also to the life to come according to that of the Apostle Godlines hath not onely the promise of this life but also the life to come 1. Tim 4.8 Yea if wee obserue the course which the Spirit of God taketh in the course
carefull of the performance of our dueties herein as wee are in our owne affaires In our plowing and sowing our reaping and gathering in our putting off of our cattell and tilling our ground men know their times and take their opportunities euen then when it shall stand with their best aduantage Oh that wee could bee as wise for our soules to purchase the true treasure which wil make vs rich vnto saluation as wee are for these temporall things which doe last but for a time surely it is the care of the godly man Esay 1. Gen. 43. as the mariner watches for the winde and when it comes hoyses vp saile as the Captaine and Souldier in the field waite their time yea and as the Birds Swan and Crane the beasts Swallow and Pismire waite their times and then take the occasion and season offered so the childe of God doth in his heauenly wisedome waite the time and take the occasion to doe good As Ioseph in the seuen yeares of plenty prouided for the seuen yeares of dearth so the godly man bringeth forth fruite in due season that is in time conuenient As when the Lord cals man to repent hee repents when occasion is to pray hee will pray when the season is to heare hee will heare when to reproue hee will reproue when to giue to the poore hee hath his hand ready so as when occasion is offered hee takes it Yea hee waits and watches for it as Lot did to entertaine strangers at his Tent doore Gen. 17. and as that poore man in the Gospell who lay at the poole of Bethesda waiting for the mouing of the water Ioh. 5. This reproues the folly and carelesnesse Vse 1 of most men who neither wait the time nor yet take the occasion offered The Lord cals men to prayer to calling on his Name they make light of it the Lord cals men to heare his Word men contemne it the Lord offers occasion to reproue sinne they will not open their mouth to reproue the swearer blasphemer cursed speaker c. The Lord offers occasion to releeue the poore they shut vp the bowels of mercy against them In the matters of the world Oh men are wise to take their time the merchant the mariner the Husbandman c. But in the matters of God which concerne the saluation of our soules we are like that sicke man that let euery man step in before him Well if we belong vnto God it will grieue vs at the heart that wee haue not done our duety that wee haue omitted our occasions of doing of good whether to heare reade pray reproue or to giue vnto the poore Well let vs now seeke the Lord while hee may bee found let vs not with the slouthfull seruant deferre till our Maisters comming How many bee there that say that they will now liue in ease in ioy and will take their pleasure and follow their sports and when they be old then they will repent and serue God and giue themselues to prayer but let none thinke if they do spend the flowre of their youth in lusts and pleasures Eccl 12.1 in the seruice of sinne and sathan that God will accept of their rotten old age no the deuill shall haue the dregs as well as the wine Hence wee obserue in the second Vse 3 place that Gods children are neuer voide of the fruites of faith but haue them in them continually to their endlesse comfort Other Trees oftentime fall to degenerate and to grow out of kinde and if they doe hold out a long time yet age at the last makes them to decay and to die albeit you dig and dung and water them neuer neuer so much it cannot keep them from wasting and withering but it is not so with the godly men which are planted by the riuers of water in Gods Church for euen in their old age they bring forth aboundance and store of friute albeit they be neuer so old yet whensoeuer the Season requires some fruit of a godly man hee is euer ready to performe the same being that hee is continually watered by the working of his Spirit and this is confirmed by that of our Sauiour Christ Ioh. 15.1.2 I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman euery branch that beareth no fruite in mee hee taketh away and euery branch that beareth fruite hee purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruite So that being once Planted by these Riuers of waters wee shall then incontinently bring forth fruite The third propertie of this tree wherunto the godly man is cōpared His leafe shall not fade THis is the third point of the description of this Tree to the which a godly man is compared namely by the flourishing estate of it That her leaues do not fall They wither not nor dry not but alwaies flourish and are greene of this sort is the Oliue tree the Bay tree the Lawrell tree and the Box tree they are alwaies greene and flourishing the heate of the Sommer nor the cold of the Winter doth not parch or wither them but they keepe their vigor and colour at all seasons Now this doth signifie vnto vs the constancy and the perseuerance of the godly Psal 92.12 For as the Tree planted thus by the fresh springing waters doth alwaies flourish and is euer greene neither is it nipped either with the heate of Sommer or cold of Winter So the godly man that is truely regenerate hee is constant and doth perseuer euen vnto the end Hence wee learne that it is not enough Doctr. 7. Perseuerance required in each child of God for a man or woman to begin well or to take some liking of Religion to haue some good motions as to reuerence Gods Ministers to desire to heare them to ioyne with the people of God in prayer to bring forth some good fruit in outward reformation of life c. vnlesse he perseuere persist and go on vnto the end Mar. 24 13 He that indures to the end shall be saued Reu. 2.10 And Bee thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee a Crowne of life Eze. 18.24 If a righteous man leaue his righteousnesse c. Hee that puts his hand to the Lords Plough Luk. 9.62 and looketh backe is not worthy of the Kingdom of Heauen Againe 2. Pet. 2.21 it had beene better for them that they had neuer knowne the waies of godlinesse then afterwards to fall away And therefore in the Scriptures such as haue had some beginning and after fallen away are noted to haue beene exceeding wicked men As wee see in Iudas first a Preacher and an Apostle Math. 27. a man well esteemed that had excellent giftes to Preach Pray and cast out deuils afterward an hypocrite a thiefe a traytor a reprobate Mar. 6.20 Herod had many things in him at first reuerenced Iohn Baptist heard him gladly did many things at his request 2. Tim. 4.10 yet afterwards a