was blessed and so must stand it coulde not be altered If they desired so to destroy them that they shoulde bee no people or but a fewe it was playnly tolde them that they shoulde bee as the dust of the earth that is innumerable If they desired but to holde them vnder for that point they had their aunswere also that they had the strength of the Vnicorne and that as a Lion they shoulde anietly sende on their pray Easilie distressed by others when the Lord was offended with them but afterward invincible wheresoever they cam and rise vp and lie downe at their pleasure During the time that the Lorde was offended with them and for that cause woulde not giue them any entrie yet into the lande of promis nor to preuaile against their enimies a fewe of the Canaanites beate them away when they approched but somewhat neare to the border of them But afterwarde when the time of that his displeasure drewe towardes an ende and that nowe hee was disposed to bring them in and to make it known that they were his people howe notably did they preuaile in whatsoeuer they tooke in hande Nom. 21.3 They notably preuayled against certaine of the Canaanites that prouoked them in the way Ib. 21.35 they vtterly destroyed the two kingdomes of the Amorites that denied them passage and they did so great an execution against the Midianites who by their wiles had wonne certaine of the Israelites to idolatrie Nom. 31.32.35.49.50.25 and whoredome that being but twelue thousande in all they stewe the fiue kinges of the Midianits and Balaam their lewde Prophet with them and tooke a notable pray besides of sixe hundred threescore and fifteene thousand sheepe threescore twelue thousande beeues threescore and one thousande asses and thirtie and two thousand maidens and yet notwithstanding lost not one man of their companie whereupon they gaue a free-will offering of sixteene thousande seuen hundred and fiftie shekels of golde amounting vnto in our coine about 7468 ounces When they were to make their entrie howe did Iordan that great water stay his course beeing at that time strong and great and gaue them passage on the drie grounde and immediatly after how did those strong and high walles of Iericho of themselues fall downe on euery side as the people of Israel stoode about them A while after again when a great power of the enimies had gathered them selues together against the people of Israel Iosh 10.11.14 howe did the Lorde destroy a great number of them with haile from Heauen and howe did both the Sunne and the Mooone stay their course and stoode still where they were at the commaundement of Ioshua to giue them time and light to make an vtter destruction of them And so proceeding in the conquest hee slewe one and thirtie Kings tooke away their kingdomes and parted the same among the people But the whole course of the scriptures besides doe playnely witnes that howsoeuer it hath pleased God oft times to stay for a season the iust and due aduancement of his owne glorie and therein to holde his children vnder some harde and grieuous discipline yet in the ende and when the time appointed was come hee hath fully declared what regarde hee had both vnto the cause it selfe and vnto those that tooke part with it And seeing that by these fewe not culled out of the whole but taken as they lie together within that compasse it is apparant ynough what comfort we might haue in the rest that are of this kinde therefore it shall not bee needefull to prosecute all but to holde our selues contented onely with these 17 Wherein if yet this once more wee come in our selues what letteth The application of those former examples unto our selves and to the present estate of the Church now but that out of the examples before set downe wee also might rayse vnto our selues the selfe same comfort that before wee spake of Hath Ishmael beene so long grieuous to Izhak already and yet may wee in no wise hope that hee can bee cast out as yet Shall Esau still bee so heauie to Iaakob for the blessing that is bestowed on him shall hee make him still to runne his countrie and to serue in so harde a bondage else-where and shall the Lorde playnely pronounce that the elder shoulde bee subiect vnto the yonger and yet may we not after so long and grieuous banishmentes endured hope in the end to see the performaunce of that his promis no not nowe when wee see that from Heauen hee hath giuen vs such helpes and made vs so ready a way vnto it May wee in Ioseph so plainly behold the very cause why they haue bin so grieuous vnto vs liuely set forth in perfect colours and yet may we in no wise hope to find the like issue likewise in the end for what other cause haue they but for that they doe perceiue that God meaneth for to aduaunce the selfe same cause that wee haue in hande And seeing that for a time they haue kept it vnder why may we not hope that there is a time likewise when it is to preuayle against them and to attayne vnto the honour that is due vnto it In bondage likewise long wee haue beene with the children of Israel in the lande of Aegypt and may wee not looke with them also to bee deliuered When the Lorde wee see hath sent his Moses and Aaron with the worde of his mightie power when wee see that those his seruauntes faythfully doe their message to Pharaoh and require him in the name of the Lorde to let his people goe when wee see it is euident also that the Lorde so ioyneth with them that notably hee sheweth foorth his power before them all and strongly shaketh certayne of those states that stande against him must wee notwithstanding be so farre out of heart without former oppression that wee may in no case hope although wee haue so pregnant tokens that nowe the Lorde is in hande to worke foorth our wished deliueraunce And what though nowe it doe repent many of them that they haue set vs goe so much as they haue what though hearing that we are sometimes intangled in some wildernesse of theirs thereupon they come foorth against vs with a freshe power either to bring vs back into bondage againe or else to put vs all to the sword Is it of necessity that because they woulde so haue it therefore it must bee so in deede Can they in no wise otherwise take it but that if once we bee entangled then are they sure to preuaile agaynst vs When they haue seene such iudgementes of God before and themselues haue lately ynough sufficiently felt the hande of God in this quarrell can they notwithstanding neuer suspect that the wrath that of Lord which they haue so many ways so iustly prouoked may by such meanes trayne them foorth to further vengeance Or if the oportunitie of the place giue heart
passe away when he shooteth his arrowes let them be as broken 58.7 As raw flesh before your pots feele the fire of thornes so let him carie them away as with a whirl-wind in his wrath 9. Let them be as chaffe before the wind let the Angel of the Lord scatter thē 35.5 Slay them not least my people forget it but scatter them abroad by thy power and put them downe ô Lord our shield 59.11 For the sinne of their mouth and the words of their lips and let them be taken in their pride even for their perjurie and lies that they speake 12. Consume them in thy wrath consume them that they be no more let them know that God ruleth in Iaakob even unto the ends of the world 13. Let their way be dark slippery and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them 35.6 Let coales fall upon them let him cast them into the fire and into the deepe pits that they rise not 140.10 Let destruction come upon him at unawares and let his net that he hath layd privilie take him let him fall into the same destruction 35.8 Let the wicked fall into his nets together whiles I escape 141.10 Set thou the wicked over him and let the adversarie stand at his right hand 109.6 Whē he shal be judged let him be condēned let his praier be turned into sin 7. Let his dayes be few and let another take his charge 8. Let his children be fatherlesse and his wife a widow 9. Let his children bee vagabonds and beg their bread comming out of their places destroyed 10. Let the extortioner catch al that he hath let the straunger spoyle his labour 11. Let there be none to extend mercie unto him neither let there bee any to shew mercie upon his fatherlesse children 12. Let his posteritie be destroyed and in the generation following let his name be put out 13. Let the iniquitie of his fathers be had in remembraunce with the Lord and let not the sinne of his mother be done away 14. But let them alway bee before the Lord that he may cut off their memoriall from the earth 15. Let destruction be unto him as a garment to cover him and for a girdle wherwith he shal be alway girded 19. Let this bee the reward of mine adversarie from the Lord and of them that speake evill agaynst my soule 20. As for the chiefe of them that compasse me about let the mischiefe of their owne lips come upon them 140.9 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame and let them cover themselves with their confusion as with a cloake 109.29 O let the malice of the wicked come to an end but guide thou the just 7.9 Let them be confounded and put to shame together that rejoyce at mine hurt let them be clothed with confusion and shame that lift up themselves against me 35.26 But let them be joyfull and glad that loue my righteousnesse yea let them say alway let the Lord be magnified which loveth the prosperitie of his seruant 27. The third Psalme of the second sort The Argument In the third he prayeth for the praeseruation of himself and the godlier sort as hauing consecrated themselues vnto him and for that they haue deserued no such thing at their enemies hands as was by them intended agaynst them And as there is in these dayes of ours good cause as earnestly for to beg for our safetie at the hands of God so may we likewise in these respects bee bold to do it and hope well of the successe that God shall giue it The Psalme The fifth Psalme IVdge me ô God and defend my cause agaynst the unmercifull people deliver me from the deceitfull and wicked man 43.1 Incline thine care ô Lord and heare me for I am poore and needie 86.1 Be mercifull unto me ô Lord for I crie unto thee continually 3. O my God deliver me from mine enemies defend me from them that rise up agaynst me 59.1 Deliver me from the wicked doers and save me from the bloudie men 2. For the voyce of the enemie and for the vexation of the wicked because they have brought iniquitie upon me and furiously hate me 55.3 Hearken unto me and answer me I mourn in my prayer and make a noyse 2. Heare my prayer ô God and hide not thy self from my supplication 1. O Lord my God if I have done this thing if there bee any wickednesse in my hands 7.3 If I have rewarded evill unto him that dealt friendly with me yea I have delivered him that without any cause is mine enemie 4. Then let my enemie persecute my soule and take me yea let him tread my life downe upon the earth and lay mine honour in the dust 5. Stand up O Lord in thy wrath and lift up thy self because of the indignations of mine enemies arise up for me in the judgement that thou hast commaunded 6. But judge thou me ô Lord my God according to thy righteousnesse and let them not rejoyce over me 35.24 O Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth 26.8 Gather not my soule with the sinners nor my life with the bloudie men 9. Iudge me ô Lord for I have walked in mine innocencie my trust also hath 1. been in the Lord therefore shall I not slide Arise and wake to my judgement even to my cause my God and my Lord. 35.23 Be mercifull unto me ô God for man would swallow me up he fighteth continually and vexeth me 56.1 Deliver my soule ô Lord from lying lips and from the deceitfull tung 120.2 Deliver me ô Lord from the evill man praeserve me from the cruel man 140.1 Least he devour my soule like a lion and teare it in peeces while there is none to helpe 7.2 Keepe me from the snare which they have layd for me and from the grens of the workers of iniquitie 141.9 Let not them that are mine enemies unjustly rejoyce over me neither let them winke with the eye that hate me without a cause 35.19 Keepe me ô Lord from the hands of the wicked praeserve me from the wicked man which purposeth to cause my steps to slide 140.4 But thou ô Lord my God deale with me according to thy name deliver me for thy mercie is good 109.21 Lord how long wilt thou behold this deliver my soule from their tumult even my desolate soule from the lions 35.17 For thou art the God of my strength why hast thou put me away why go I so mourning when the enemie oppresseth me 43.2 Helpe me ô Lord my God save me according unto thy mercie 109.26 And they shall know that it is thy hand and that thou Lord hast done
good a forwardnes for that matter that well may we hope of the like successe in the end We see also what is the course wherein wee are to awayt this goodnesse of God and of howe little force it is that out of the oddes betwixt David and vs may bee obiected What therefore remayneth nowe but to lift vp our heades and to awayte the full aduancement of that glorious kingdome of Christe among vs In the house of Abraham Ishmael for a time was grieuous to Izhak because of the promise but his mother and hee were for the same cast out in the ende In the wombe of Rebekah Esau stroue against Iaakob his brother but both it was tolde Rebekah by and by that the elder shoulde serue the yonger and afterwarde it was brought to passe in deede that so hee did Esau hated Iaakob agayne because of the blessing wherewith Father Iahak had blessed him and although him selfe had made but very slender account of it yet when hee sawe that his brother had it hee fully purposed to destroy him for it But Iaakob was had to a place of safetie in the meane season while his brothers wrath was asswaged and his brother himselfe otherwise placed and afterwarde was hee brought home in peace with abundance of riches many children and a great familie vnto the quiet and peaceable fruition of so much of that blessing of his as that present estate of his was capable of peaceably soiourning in that lande of promis an earnest to him and to his children of greater mercies intēted towards them whence Esau and his were already remooued Ioseph Ioseph for the speciall knowledge that God had giuen him of great aduauncement in time to come was by his naturall but vnnaturall brethren soulde for a bond-slaue and so by them cast what was in them into the moste yrkesome and grieuous miserie of perpetuall bondage and after againe by the false accusation of the wicked and by the credulitie of such as had authoritie was cast into prison and there for a time both hee and his innocencie lay fast bound and in a manner buried together Yet in the end hee was deliuered his innocencie made knowne and himselfe brought to maruellous honour vnto whome not onely the Aegyptians but his owne brethren also yeelded all the obeisance they coulde The children of Israel in bondage The children of Israel for a time were in bondage and serued the Aegyptians a long season and by them were kept in miserable slauerie and when Moses himselfe pitying their estate was very forwarde and would haue holpen them somewhat before the time was come though at that true hee was in great fauour in the court and very mightie yet was hee not able to bring it to passe but medling with it somewhat to timely made it worse then it was before But afterwarde when the time was come God himselfe required the King of Aegypt to let his people goe to serue him and when hee woulde not hee powred foorth his plagues vpon them in so plentifull manner that hee made him fayne against his wil to let them goe and to suffer them to take away with them all their iewels and precious thinges euen all the spoyle of the Lande of Aegypt Intangled And when soone after hearing that the children of Israel were intangled in the Wildernes so that he might haue them at great aduantage to destroy them euery one hee repented nowe that hee had let them goe before and sought for to get them into bondage agayne or else to destroy them hee quickly founde that the date of the bondage of the people of God was nowe at end and that hee might not in any wise looke not so much as to bring them nowe afresh into their former estate of bondage againe much lesse to preuaile against their liues although of long time they had so done before Their intangling in the wildernesse was not to put them into their handes agayne but to prouoke them to come out to receiue the vengeance that they had so iustly deserued that seeing they would in no time finde the good and mercifull calling of God leading them vnto a sounde repentaunce of the former oppression and cruelty that they had exercised against the people of God they might now in their most iust destruction giue matter of great comfort and ioy to the people of Israel then and of better aduice and moderate dealing to all posterities that were to come In the wildernes as they passed by In the wildernes and hauing already nowe begun that long and tedious iourney of theirs as they trauailed on in their owne weakenesse fayntly ynough to the lande of promis the Amalekites that dwelt thereby coulde not finde in their heartes to suffer them to passe so quietly by them but must needes lay themselues in ambush to annoy them and euer nowe and then cut of some straglers of them But such order was taken with them that both presently they were beaten home by a fewe souldiers that were sent to encounter them and while Moses getting vp to an hill that was thereby helde vp that staffe of his whereby so many great workes haue beene done as the standarde of the Lorde vnto his people and had withall for the time to come an heauier iudgement denounced against them that for this their discurtesie to the people of God they shoulde afterwarde bee vtterly destroyed from the face of the earth A while after themselues Refusing to to enter into the land of promis euen all the whole company of them a very fewe seuerall persons onely excepted did so much offend the Lorde for that they woulde not enter the lande when the Lorde had layde it open vnto them that now by oath and sentence giuen hee excluded them for euer and woulde neuer suffer any of them all to goe in and see the goodnesse of it But yet mindefull of his promise to Abraham Izhak and Iaakob he afterward brought in their children into it as many in number as their fathers were that were excluded and somewhat me after that they were growne vp to mans state and had for a time born the punishment of their fathers sins Towards the end of this their iourney howe did the Moabites and Midianites together when they sawe the children of Israel to bee a mightier people Secretly assaulted by the wicked practises of the Moabites and Midianites then that by strong hande they coulde haue any hope to preuayle against them giue themselues to secrete practises howe earnestly did they labour Balaam for that cause to come vnto them howe many sacrifices did they willingly offer howe earnestly and howe often did they intreate the highest power of all to haue giuen them some hande against the Israelites the Israelites that meant no yll against them and that quietly lay in their campe little knowing how these were occupied And yet when they had done all that they coulde they coulde doe nothing Israel
him and as he loved not blessing so shall it be farre from him 17. As he clothed himself with cursing like a rayment so shall it come into his bowels like water and like oyle into his bones 18. For the backbiters shall not be established upon the earth evill shall hunt out the cruel man to destruction 140.41 And in the evening they shall go to and fro and barke like dogges and go about the citie 59.14 They shall runne here and there for meat and surely they shall not be satisfied though they tarie all night 15. The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance be shall wash his feete in the bloud of the wicked 58.10 And men shal say verily there is fruite for the righteous doubtlesse there is a God that judgeth the earth 11. And he wil recompence them their wickednesse and destroy them in their owne malice yea the Lord our God shall destroy them 94.23 But I shal be like a greene Oliue tree in the house of God for I trusted in the mercie of God for ever and ever 52.8 But malice shall slay the wicked and they that hate the righteous shall perish 34.21 The Argument Fiftly he calleth on the godly to their further incouragement shewing the great goodnesse of God towards them and that in the way of godlines whatsoeuer their troubles are yet notwithstanding they shall neuer fall A very good exercise for vs also in respect of the weaknesse of many and loosenes of others the shorter that Dauid is in this matter and the more thereby we are left to our selues the more carefull we ought to be thereof The Psalme The 10. Psalme WHo will rise up with me agaynst the wicked or who will take my part agaynst the workers of iniquitie 94.16 Come ye children hearken unto me I will teach you the feare of the Lord. 34.11 Tast ye and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him 8. Offer the sacrifices of righteousnesse and trust in the Lord. 4.5 Praise ye the Lord with me and let vs magnifie his name together 34.3 Feare the Lord ye his saints for nothing wanteth to those that feare him 9. What man is he that desireth life and loveth long dayes for to see good 12. Keepe thy tung from evill and thy lips that they speake no guile 13. Eschew evill and do good seeke peace and follow after it 14. Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall nourish thee he will not suffer the righteous to fall for ever 55.22 The righteous crie and the Lord heareth them and delivereth them out of all their troubles 34.17 The Lord is neere unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be afflicted in spirit 18. Last of all hauing layd all these things together before him he notably acknowledgeth the great goodnesse of God towards him and promiseth thankes and praise And so it is our duetie likewise in such sort to vnfould the goodnesse towards vs in all these poynts before rehearsed as that thereby we stirre vp our selues euer to be thankefull more and more Vnto which apperteyne these two Psalmes following The first Psalme of the sixt sort The Argument In the former of them he doth no more but promise or set downe with himself that he will be thankefull A good purpose in him and such as is as iustly deserued at our hands also The Psalme The 11. Psalme I Will give thankes alway unto the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually 34.1 I will give thanks unto the Lord greatly with my mouth and praise him among the multitude 109.30 I wil praise thee ô Lord my God withal my heart yea I wil glorifie thy name for ever 86.13 And my tung shall utter thy righteousnesse and thy prayse every day 35.28 That I may declare with the voyce of thanks-giving and set forth al thy wonderous works 26.7 I will praise thee ô Lord among the people and I wil sing unto thee among the nations 57.9 So will I give thanks in the great congregation I will praise thee among much people 35.18 Thus will I magnifie thee all my life and lift up mine hand in thy name 63 4. My soule shal be satisfied as with marrow and fatnes and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips 5. When I remembred thee upon my bed and when I thinke upon thee in the night watches 6. Because thou hast been my helper therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce 7. Thy loving kindnesse is better than life therefore my lips shall praise thee 3. For thy mercie is great unto the heavens and thy trueth unto the clowdes 57.10 For great is thy mercie towards me and thou hast delivered my soule from the lowest grave 86.13 For thou hast delivered my soule from death and also my feete from falling that I may walke before God in the light of the living 56.13 All my bones shall say Lord who is like unto thee which deliverest the poore from him that is too strong for him yea the poore that is in miserie from him that spoyleth him 35.10 When I sayd my foote slideth thy mercie ô Lord stayed me 94.18 In the multitude of my thoughts in mine heart thy comforts have rejoyced my soule 19. Hath the throne of iniquitie fellowship with thee which forgeth wrōg for a law 20. My foote standeth in uprightnes I will praise thee ô Lord in the congregations 26.12 O Lord God the strength of my saluation thou hast covered my head in the day of battell 140.7 Among the Gods there is none like unto thee and there is none that can do like unto thy works 86 8. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee ô Lord and shall glorifie thy name 9. For thou art great and doest wondrous things thou art God alone 10. O Lord of hosts how amiable is thy Tabernacle 84.1 For a day in thy Courts is better than a thousand other-where I had rather be a dorekeeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickednesse 10. For the Lord God is the Sunne and shield unto us the Lord will give grace and glorie and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly 11. I will sing of thy power and will praise thy mercie in the morning for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble 56.16 Vnto thee ô my strength wil I sing for thou art my defence my merciful God 17. S. D. G.
such as belong to your Ho. Liuetenancie to whō I also in diuers good respects am most bounden in al these parts I was not able to find any one that was more exercised in these affairs or to whom my self in al humble duety was more beholding or vnder whose protection I could rather wish the same to come foorth Which although I had finished and sent vp to the print before to haue come foorth the last terme before the attempt of this late forrein inuasion yet by reason that vpon some priuate respect a small occasion was taken by such as should print it to require my further aduice in one speciall point the long vacation that hath come betwixt hath easily brought to passe that it could not come foorth till now In which mean time the daunger of the forrein inuasion God be thanked is grown to be litle and the feare thereof with vs much lesse But yet notwithstanding neither is that daunger clene remoued neither may we looke for any other but that still they will bee doing with vs if they may get vs at the aduantage and besides that we may in this one attempt of theirs being so much broken as alreadie and but hitherto it is see some part of that trueth that out of the Scripture is in this Treatise deliuered vnto vs. Which things beeing considered although nowe it come foorth somewhat with the latest in some respect yet in others J doe not doubt but that it may and will bee thought nowe also to come foorth fitly ynough J graunt it were to be wished rather that neither now nor at any time else there neede to be any vse of this or of any such like but the causes remaining the effect also must needes continue Our enimies will bee enimies still the seede of the serpent will euer lye in waite for to annoy the seede of the woman Though now they bee foiled and often haue beene yea and though they had bene cleane ouerthrowne yet notwithstanding they will not giue ouer but cast about it againe for some other aduantage and redily take it whensoeuer it falleth into their handes so long as they are not yet subdued vnto the obedience of the Gospell but remaine enimies stil there is nothing els to be looked for of them but that on al occasions they will be readie to exercise whatsoeuer enmitie they are able against vs. We also on the other side haue many thinges among vs that should be amended which we are not disposed to amend nor so much as to heare of them neither Hauing found the spoile of many of our Churches in our late Monasteries and Chaunteries as apparant dens of theeues as euer were any wee are not therewith contented Those that are left we suffer their Patrons if they bee greedie and wilie withall to abuse at their pleasure Whereby God is robed of his glory and the people of their saluation We suffer also mercilesse men daily more and more to eate vp the pore to dispeople fermings and townes and to take in all to them selues If therefore there were no more but these thinges onely which in deede I take to bee the greatest yet were they sufficient without any other so strongly to cry to the Lorde for vengeance as that it may be no maruell vnto vs if the Lord do still raise vp enimies against vs. If needes wee will spoyle the Lordes houses heere and his people withall both of his word and of their owne liuings and will not restore nor grow to amendment the more that we doe such thinges our selues the lesse may we maruel if the Lord send in enimies to do the like and to be auenged on the Lords behalfe of that which we mean not to amend Being therfore so likelie a matter as it is that some heauie iudgements of God are growing against the vngodlie that are among vs and so consequently much businesse to al one with another indifferently and being so certaine that the Lord is euer wont to exercise those that are his it cannot bee but to needefull purpose that this kind of argument should be debated that so the godly may see what securitie is layd vp for them and others likewise may know of that refuge whensoeuer they are disposed to vse it and turn to the Lord. And so now hauing sayd what J thought most needeful to expresse the cause generall end of the Treatise ensuing J am not to trouble your Honour any further at this present moste humblie beseeching the Lord of his goodnesse that as nowe alreadie these many yeres he hath bestowed great blessings on these parts by your godly milde and prudent gouernment so it may please him long to continue your L. among vs and to encrease all his graces and mercies towardes you in Christ Iesus At York 28 of August 1588. Your Honours most humble in the Lord Ed. Bunny A Table declaring what is the Method or maner of handling the matter ensuing Besides the enterie into the Treatise in the first Section and the Conclusion Praier Psalms in five of the last wee have heere set downe out of the historie of Davids advancemēt what hope we may conceive in these troublesome times for the like advancemēt of the Ghospell also and First out of that which is alreadie done with us because it doth so fitly agree with that which was done for David before But heerein First how God did bring him foorth to be in a readines to enter into the kingdom when the time should come Sect. 2 3. Then how he brought him unto the Kingdome but heerein First of his persecutions which were chiefly two Sections 4. 7. Then how God perfoormed his promis unto him first bringing him unto some part of the Kingdome and then to the whole Sect. 8 9. Then concerning our further hope to have the Gospell yet better aduanced First it is declared what course it is wherein we may conceive such hope Sect. 10 11. Then how to answere certain objections that may be conceived against it upon the difference that may be supposed to be betwixt his case and ours Concerning which First wee are taught that in such case there is with God no regard to that matter Section 12. Then it is further shewed First as touching Davids owne person that hee also was not without his infirmities Sect. 13. Then as touching his Kingdome that ther was not more neede of it then for wāt of better government in Saul than there is now for the like cause also Sect. 14 15. The Contents of the Booke ensuing gathered after so playne a maner as best may serve to leade on the simpler sort unto the better understanding of it COncerning those troubles that are for the Gospels sake first it is set down generally that out of the Scripture it may sufficiently be gathered whereunto they are like to sort themselves in the end Sect. 1. Then out of this part of the storie of David it is declared that as David
was Annointed unto the Kingdom euen so in some sense is the Gospel also Sect. 2 3. Likewise as David was grieuouslie persecuted before that he could attain to the Kingdom that so it hath bin and yet is with the Gospel of Christ Sect. 4 5 6 7. And that as David was afterward brought first to one part of it and then to the whole so the Gospel being in such sort aduanced as alreadie it is is therein as likely also to be further aduanced Sect. 8 9. But yet that we are to await this goodnes of God in such a course as David did Sect. 10 11. And so doing that we neede not to doubt for that such aduancement of his glorie standeth not on our worthines but on his goodnes also Sect. 12. And though it did yet that there is no such difference betweene David then and the children of God now because that he also was subject unto great infirmities Sect. 13. Besides all this that the want of gouernment in the world now doth asmuch require the advancement of the Gospel to make supplie as the want of government in the daies of Saul did then need the kingdom of David Sect. 14 15. Divers examples of the like works of God brought in and applied to our comfort Sect. 16. 17. A Praier to that end going upon the whole storie Sect. 18. How David exercised himselfe to Godward in those his troubles and what Psalmes they are which then he made Sect. 19 20. FINIS ⧠The Coronation of Dauid 1 HOw great broyles at this day are raysed in these parts of Christendome agaynst the Ghospell of Iesus Christ What is like to be the end of these troubles that are for the Gospels sake and how as yet they are like to continue because that new and fresh troubles do continually follow hard vpon such as are gone before is a thing in it self so plain and euident that no body at al would he neuer so fayn can be ignorant of it Insomuch that as in the lake Genazereth the wind and the sea did both together seeme to conspire agaynst that Bark wherein Christ was with his disciples for to haue drenshed and drowned them al the wind stirring vp and raysing the sea the sea getting vp and growing rageous and both together furiously beating with al their might on that seely vessel euen so now also euer synce it pleased the Lord to vouchsafe vs the Ghospel agayn in so plentiful maner al the powers and states of the world haue redily bent themselues agaynst it those that are especially led by the spirit of error and haue a mouth giuen them to speake proud things stirring vp both Princes and their people agaynst the truth those Princes likewise and their people with them willingly taking that quarel in hand and both together with might and mayn rushing vpon the word of life and earnestly labouring al that they may cleane to suppresse and extinguish the same Which whosoeuer doth with aduisement consider he in reason might easily be in daunger to think both that there were some special great cause in this profession why it should be so much maligned and that ere long needs must it be destroyed also Howbeit the truth is that neyther is there in it any cause at al why they should so rage agaynst it neyther shall any nor al together in such sort preuayle agaynst it when they haue done al that they can Neuerthelesse it cannot be denied but that there are of the weaker sort that can hardly conceaue so good assurance of the inuinciblenes of the cause it self and others agayn so much presuming of the goodnes of the cause that they regard not much what carelesnes or iniquity of theirs they mingle withal and hope notwithstanding that al shal be wel laying al on the goodnes of the cause For which cause I think it a work not vnworthy the labour and very meete for the present tyme that such as are the Lords watchmen commend vnto the people of God such places of Scripture as best may serue both to describe and to lay forth these matters vnto them and withal to teach them what shal be the yssue therof in the end and how to behaue themselues therein An example of the like among the Iewes at Ierusalem Ruffin lib. 1. cap. 37. Socr. lib. 3. cap. 20. Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 2. And so may we read in auncient tyme as of many others so namely of Cyril the Bishop of Ierusalem that when the like occasion was offered vnto him he also tooke the self same course The like occasion that was offered vnto him was a great fear that many of the people of God in those parts conceaued that Christian religion hauing alredy bene receaued and planted there by publike authoritie should after giue place to Iudaisme agayn For Iulian the Emperour himself professing the faith at the first and finding the same alredy established by publike authoritie fourty yeres before that he came to the Crown by Constantine the great and Constantius his sonne and hauing a secret intent with him to set vp heathnish idolatrie agayn among other practises that he vsed to crosse the faith of Christ and those that did professe it so much as he could gaue libertie comfort and ayd vnto the Iewes to build vp the Temple at Ierusalem agayn and there to sacrifice and obserue the law as before they were wont Whereupon great multitudes of the Iewes assembled themselues together out of al quarters set in hand with their busines in great confidence prepared things needful for the building in great pentie had in a brauerie many of their working instruments of siluer euen to their baskets spades and mattokes before hand threatned the Christians there how néere they would sit vnto them ere long and in al things had held such a course therein for the time as that it seemed vnto many that the faith of Christ should be abolished there and Iudaism set vp agayn But Cyril the Bishop perceauing what offence this might breed vnto many and that diuers were not a litle dismayed thereat and therfore much weakened in the faith thereby calling to mind what things Daniel and Christ himself before had spoken of the vtter ouerthrow of that Temple and citie did resolutely set down vnto the faithful euen when the matter was at the highest and their new building in greatest likelihood to go forward that yet notwithstanding it should not prosper but go back agayn and come to no proofe in the end And so it came to passe immediatly after For the lime and the sand they had gotten together in great heapes was with mightie winds so blown away that they knew not where to finde it the old foundation when they had taken the rubble from it and now were redy the next day after to haue begun their new building theron was in the night by a straunge and mightie earthquake so clene turned vp and shaken in péeces that there was
not left one stone vpon an other that was not shaken out of his place as for the timber and stone which they had prouided and that in great quantitie and their instruments or tooles wherewithal they should haue wrought and many of the people themselues they were destroyed by fier such as the Lord in extraordinarie maner cast vpon them As therefore Cyril at that time was able out of the Scriptures to minister sound comfort to the people of God agaynst that discomfortable case of theirs and as he was able accordingly did it so the godly in these dayes also haue in great plenty wherewithal to comfort those that are weake and that in their weaknes doubt very much whereunto these broyles may grow For now also these Iewes of ours haue obteyned the comfort and ayd of certeyn Iulians that they hope ere long to banish the Ghospel and to set vp Poperie agayne they haue also contriued and complotted their matters so that nothing they hope shal frustrate their vayn presumption therin But he that dwelleth in the heauens doth laugh them to scorne the Lord will haue them in derision Let the Lords watchmen but looke about them and they shal be able to finde and that in very plentifull measure wherwithal soundly to comfort and fully to establish the hearts of those that in their weakenesse so readilie feare that when tyrants begin to threaten and make preparation to do some mischief then is the Gospell not like to escape it and the power of darknesse that of late ouerwhelmed the face of the earth like to preuayle agaynst vs agayne To the which end as I wish those that can rightly do it diligently to beate out this poynt of doctrine to the people of God so my self also haue thought good to take in hand some such argument at this present and among so many places of Scripture that yéeld for this matter most singular comfort to deliuer some one to the instruction and comfort of those that in these dayes of ours do in such sort need to be called vpon For which cause I haue made choyce of that part of the storie of David wherein we haue set foorth vnto vs how being ordeyned to be King ouer Israel he was kept backe and notably exercised for a time and yet notwithstanding fully possessed thereof in the end For seeing that David was a figure of Christ and such as was the estate of Christ here on the earth such also must be the state of the Gospell whensoeuer the same is sent vnto vs therefore must it needes follow that as in that part of Davids historie wee may see a liuely description of those matters in Christ both how he was kept backe for the time and how in the end he was aduaunced so may we likewise therein behold the estate of the Gospell in these our dayes for both those matters that is how great resistance for a time it findeth among vs and how notwithstanding it is most sure to preuayle in the end The text therefore being so pregnant and so effectuall to such a purpose that I likewise may the better finde out in some good measure whatsoeuer doth belong therunto I humbly beseech that sonne of David our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to vouchsafe me that mercie that I may so do it as may soundly tend both to the aduancement of his eternall and only trueth and to the comfort of all those that vnfeignedly loue and embrace the same 2 And so being purposed by the goodnes and grace of God in such sort to vnfold that part of the storie of David What comfort we have in that which is alreadie done on behalfe of the Gospell as that our selues may now also the better sée what to thinke of those broiles that now are for the Ghospels sake and how we are to demeane our selues in the meane season it shal be good first to consider how far-forth we are holpen forward to good assurance by the accord that we find in that which is alreadie done héere among vs with that which in this historie of David we find to haue bin done before and then to aduise our selues further of the hope that we may conceiue of the full accomplishment of it for the time to come The good assurance whereunto we are holpen by the accord that we find in that which is alreadie done among vs with that which in this historie of David we find to haue bin done before wil best appeare if we shall first set downe the chiefe and principall parts of the historie it self and then lay vnto it from point to point such things as we find in these our dayes to agree thereunto The chiefe and principall points of the Storie it selfe are two how it pleased God to bring him foorth to be in a readines for that matter and afterward how he brought him vnto it That it pleased God first to bring him foorth to be in a readines for that matter may sufficiently appeare first by the maner that he vsed to make the matter known to David himselfe and then for that he did so effectually commend him to others Vnto himselfe he made it knowne for that by the ministerie of Samuel the Prophet he did annoint him thereunto In which his Annointing we are first to consider The Annointing of David vnto the Kingdome how it standeth with a certaine Propheticall direction that was giuen forth long before and then of certaine other things which to that present time apperteined That Propheticall direction that I now speake of was giuen forth by Jaakob himself on his deathbed among other blessings of his to his children namely a Gen. 49.8 10. that the chiefe gouernment should be in the tribe of Judah Whereas therfore Ishai the father of David was of the tribe of Judah which had the promis it is so much the more likely that some one might be taken thence vnto whome the Kingdome should be established then of the family of Kish the father of Saul being of the tribe of Benjamin vnto whome no such promis was made Insomuch that whereas it had pleased God now for a time to call Saul vnto the kingdom it may séeme that it was no more but to make a readier way vnto the other that was to stand and therewithal to set downe a patterne vnto all Princes that were to follow A readier way might be made thereby vnto the other that was to stand both for that thereby they should now be inured to some obedience and for that they were woont to obey not only a meane man by parentage and of the least tribe among them all but also in such hard cases somtimes as wilful regiment is wont to yeeld A patterne likewise may therein be left to all Princes whatsoeuer to take good heed to their maner of gouernment when as they may see with what seueritie the Lord did punish those two faults in the first King of Israel in whom there
were many good things otherwise found that so they may the better vnderstand that although God doth put vp many greater matters at their hands since for a time yet may they before hand see how they are like to be dealt withall when the day of vengeance shall come vnlesse they prouide for it before Those other things which to that present time apperteined are two his outward annointing and the inward grace that was giuen withall 1. Sam. In his outward annointing we are to consider that it was but b 16.1.5.13 priuatly done in the house of Ishai or at the most but only in that one towne which was but little in respect of the whole people and yet notwithstanding a sufficient testimonie vnto himselfe and to those that knewe it and that both his father c 16.10.11 left out him in that account and Samuel the Prophet also d 16.6 could well haue setled his choice in one of the other The inward grace that was giuen withall was the e 16.13 Spirit of the Lord which then came vpon him and wherewith from that day forward he was endewed How effectually God did commend him to others may likewise appeare How beneficiall David was made both to the King and to the people for that shortly after he wrought forth of him some speciall benefit vnto others and in others likewise a speciall fauour to him againe The benefit that it pleased God to worke forth of him vnto others did partly respect Saul himself and partly the whole hoast of Israel That which respecteth Saul himselfe was that f 16.23 by his instrument he sometimes eased the Kings mind when by the euill spirit of the Lord he was vexed with his melancholy passions That which respected the whole hoast of Israel generally was the slaughter of Goliath Concerning which to the end that the benefit that it pleased God to worke forth of David in that action vnto them all generally may better appeare it shal be good more specially to consider both how sore an enemie that Goliath was vnto them and how notably David deliuered them from him How sore an enemie he was vnto them may soone appeare whether we consider what terror might iustly proceede from him to the children of Israel or whether we regard the great feare that they had of him The terror that might iustly proceede from him to them-wards doth partly arise out of the consideration of himselfe alone but chiefly of him and his companie together He alone was not only of g 17.4 extraordinarie stature and strength farre excéeding the ordinarie proportion of others and h 17.5.7 furnished with armour and weapon accordingly but also both a naturall enemie to the people of God and to their religion and so confident in himselfe and his companie that he i 17.10.45 defied the hoast of Israel and God himselfe His companie also might well be terrible to the people of Israel both because that they also were naturall enemies both to themselues and to the truth that they professed and sometimes before had the children of Israel in strong subiection The children of Israel were so afraid of him that k 17.11.24 they did not only feare to encounter him but also shrank aside at his presence for verie feare How notably David deliuered the people from these their enemies may likewise appeare not only in that which he did but also in the maner of doing it That which he did was that he destroyed l 17.49.51 that outgrowne monster Goliath and therewithall stroke such a terror into the hearts of all the other Philistims that forthwith m 17.51 they turned their backs and fled His maner of doing the same was notable both for vndertaking the attempt at the first and afterward in the performance of it In his vndertaking of it at the first we are to consider how strong temptation he had against it and whereby notwithstanding he conceiued vndoubted hope to preuaile The temptation that he had so strong against it was partly in Eliab his eldest brother and partly in Saul the King himselfe In his brother Eliab he found n 17.28 himselfe reuiled and disdained in plentifull measure only for that he did so much as talke of the matter in Saul likewise o 17.33 his attempt condemned as altogether impossible for him to bring to any good proofe The thing whereby he strengthned himself against these temptations was an inuincible faith p 17.34.37 vpon the experience of Gods goodnes towards him in two such like attempts before In his performance of it we sée likewise that he notably behaued himselfe both in his preparation towards it and in the execution it selfe when he came vnto it In his preparation we see that he q 17.39 refused Sauls armour and all the ordinarie furniture of war and tooke vnto him but only his r 17.40 Sling and a fewe stones for the same In the execution it selfe we plainly see that first he did notably ſ 17.45.47 rebuke the insolencie and pride of that mighty Giant and then though he had no other weapon but only his Sling yet did he t 17.48 hasten with maruelous courage to encounter with him What favour it pleased God to worke in others to David againe That speciall fauour that it pleased God to worke forth in others to him againe was partly found in the first benefit that redounded to Saul alone but much better in this that redounded to all In his first benefit that redounded to Saul alone we find thus much both that he did u 16.21 loue him verie well gaue therewithall good tokens of it one that he x 16.21 made him his harnes-bearer the other that he y 16.22 sent to his father to haue him still though z 17.15.55 as it seemeth David taried not long there In his latter that redounded to all we find that God procured him fauour both with certaine speciall persons and with the whole multitude also Those speciall persons were Saul himselfe and two of his children In Saul we find that a 18.2 now he would suffer him to returne no more vnto his father and that b 18.5 both he vsed him in diuers of his affaires and set him ouer his men of war Those two children of Saul in whose hearts God had wrought forth a fauour to Dauid were Jonathan his son and Michal his daughter In Jonathan was wrought a verie singular and rare good will insomuch that he is c 18.1.3 said not only to loue David as his owne soule but also to haue expressed the same by notable tokens One was that he d 18.3 made a couenant with him and that of loue the other that he e 18.4 tooke from his owne bodie and bestowed on him both abiliments of honour and furniture to the field likewise In Michal likewise was wrought such good will that both at
The Lord so estraunging him self vnto him he did not humble himself before his face nor so much the more earnestly seeke his fauour but presently turned aside to such as gaue themselues to ill artes and such as for that cause himself had n 28.3 9. before destroyed so farre as he could And the answer that so he receiued was altogether euill o 28.15.19 that the Lord was his enimie for that he did not execute his fierce wrath vpon the Amalekites and that now the Lord would deliuer him and his both his sonnes and his people into the hands of the Philistims Which heauie sentence was notwithstanding p 28.19 the next day after q 31 1 7. fully performed Ionathan r 23.17.18 it seemeth of himself would neuer haue molested David for the kingdome but fully would haue contented himself to haue been as a friend neere about him But yet were it likely that those that were of Saules faction would haue laboured for to haue set him vp agaynst David or if he would not then some other of his brethren as notwithstanding ſ 2.8.9 Ishbosheth was shortly after set vp agaynst him So that this way though not of himself yet by the solicitation of others it was likely enough that Ionathan also might haue been sinne hinderance vnto him As for Abinadab and Malchishua his other sonnes t 31.2 that together with Ionathan at that field were slaine they were more likely to haue been an hinderance to David because that as they were the sonnes of Saul so do we reade of no such fauour that they bare vnto David that were like to stay them from encombring of him in that action Those of the armie that in that quarell or controuersie held with Saul and with him were there ouerthrowne would no doubt if they had liued haue wrought what comber they could vnto David about the kingdome as afterward also those that remayned u 2.8.9 readily did and therewithall shewed what might be feared in the others That it pleased God therefore to take away those we may see that thereby he made a readier way vnto David to come to the kingdome To finde out how he brought him to the fruition of it it is to be noted The performance of the first part of the kingdome unto him that now that this way was prepared vnto it and the time was come wherein God was purposed to bring him to some part of the kingdome it self he wrought foorth such things as thereto apperteyned both in David himself and in the whole tribe of Iudah likewise In David now agayne he wrought x 2.1 to seeke vnto him for his direction both whether it was his pleasure that now he should enter vnto his kingdome and where he should begin the same and withall y 2.1 he gaue him direct and plaine answer to both those questions willing him now to enter into it and telling him likewise where to begin it and wrought in him z 2.2.3 to do accordingly In the whole tribe of Iudah likewise he so wrought that of their owne accord they * 2.4 came and made him their King at which time David was now agayne by them thereunto annoynted To finde out how he brought him to all the rest Afterward he brought him unto the whole Divers wayes exercising him for a season wee are to consider that here agayne wee haue noted vnto vs first how it pleased God to exercise him for a time and then how it pleased him in the end to bring him vnto it As touching that exercise of his in the meane season it resteth in two principall poynts one the substance or nature of it the other the time of the continuance The substance or nature of it is such as hath two principall poynts of hardnesse the one that he was wrongfully kept from the greatest part of his kingdome the other that when opportunitie was offered as David tooke it to come to his full right therein although he was readie for to haue taken the benefite of such opportunitie yet he found that it came to no proofe in the end He was wrongfully kept from the greatest part of his kingdome because that a 2.8.9 Ishbosheth was set vp by Abner directly contrary to the ordinance of God and because that b 2.10 but one tribe only claue vnto David and all the others were drawne vnto Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul and yet no better then a plaine vsurper now The opportunities that David was so ready for to haue taken to haue come to his right thereby but yet came to no proofe in the end were two whereof the one was but only for a part of that which yet stood foorth agaynst him the other seemed to offer the whole That which was but only for some part of it was c 2.4 that the inhabitants of Iabesh-Gilead hauing buried Saul d 2.5.7 David thereupon taking occasion to send vnto them to giue them thankes for it and to assure them of a good turne at his hands if it came in his way did withall somewhat inuite them to take him for their King as the tribe of Iudah had done alreadie But e 2.8.9 Abner belike fearing that the same ambassage of David was like enough to take effect if it were not in time preuented forth-with speedeth himself to those parts there setteth vp Ishbosheth to be their King and to rule not only ouer those two tribes and an halfe beyond Iorden but also ouer all the rest and so was David herein preuented That which seemed to offer the whole was whē Abner f 3.8 being grieued with Ishbosheth his Lord and Soueraigne vnto whom he had plight his alleageance for that he was by him iustly reproued for a fault that he made and yet it may be ouer-slenderly esteemed also g 3.12.20 came vnto David for to bring the whole kingdome vnto him being false vnto him whom he had set vp a little before Neuerthelesse David h 3.20.21 was content so to haue receiued it if so it had falne out But God that had determined of a more orderly course for David to come vnto it gaue no successe to that inordinate way For Abner i 3.26.27 was slaine before he could returne to do it and so was David in that also defeared The time of continuance k 2.11 was somewhat better then seauen yeares during which time l 3.1 the house of Saul and the house of David were at variance about the Kingdome and euer among tried their quarell by the sword But then bringing him vnto the full fruition of it How it pleased God to bring him to the whole in the end hath likewise two principall points first how he made him some way vnto it then how he put him in possession of it The why that he made him vnto it was partly in that which concerned the estate of both the Kingdomes
again asked counsell of the Lord whether hee shoulde followe on those that had done it and whether that voyage shoulde bee prosperous vnto him And so receiuing aunswere to his desire hee set in hande with the voyage and not onely recouered all they had lost but also gained much more vnto it Afterwarde againe when worde was brought him that Saul and his sonnes were slayne in the fielde so that nowe the kingdome was deuolued vnto him and the time came that he was to enter into the possession of it in which case there are not many of the moste godly that these dayes haue that would awayt any playner or further calling yet would he in no wise take that course or be so bolde as to step one foote towardes it vntill the time that he had i 2. Sam. 2.1 first inquired of the Lord both whether it was his pleasure that now he shoulde make any entrie into the kingdome and in what city he shoulde begin But being aunswered in both these pointes he them foorthwith addressed himselfe to doe accordingly It may be also that when hee was with Ahimelech hee did there likewise by the ministery of Ahimelech aske counsell of the Lord both because that * 22.10 Doeg doth so charge Ahimelech and because that * 22.15 Ahimelech doth net deny it But otherwise wee haue no mention in the Text it selfe that so hee did And yet notwithstanding Ahimelechs aunswere doth wel import that at other times before he had done it so consequently that it was an vsuall exercise with David so to doe Neither did hee onely thus religiously hang on the Lorde himselfe Obeying the Prophets of the Lord. but also on a time k 22.5 when the Prophet Gad but one of the seruauntes of the Lorde came vnto him willing him not to abide in the holde which for a time he had taken in the land of Moab for his owne safety and with the Kinges good licence therein first obteined but to returne into Iury againe him also in this point hee redily obeyed And yet was it but such as wee terme a matter of state and in reason full of daunger and so consequently no good aduice neither doth the text declare that it was the worde of the Lorde but onely that the Prophet did will him so to doe Longing after the Sanctuary Neither was he so deuoutly giuen to reuerence God himselfe and his seruauntes but euen the place it selfe of Gods worship and the assembly of the people of God were so dear vnto him that l 26.19 he specialy complained of the want therof vnto Saul as the greatest and most grieuous part of al his troubles as m Psal 84.3 elswhere also he doeth very grieuousslye complaine of that matter not vnto Saul who might thinke it to be nothing els but of ostentation but to God himself apart from men that in that point his estate was so miserable that the estate of the birds of the ayre What minde he caried towards others Towardes his enimies that might approche the sanctuary of the Lorde was better then his How good a minde he caried to others may likewise appeare two speciall wayes first and principally by his dealing with his enimies but partly also by his dealing with others besides His enimies that nowe we speake of who were the causers of these his troubles were to make account of none other but Saul for his time and after him Ishbosheth his sonne and Abner the generall of his army Against all which he so defended himselfe that neuerthelesse he neuer sought by any yll meanes to take away them so to ease himselfe of his troubles the sooner For his own needefull and iust defence we finde that n 18.11.19.10 euer he tooke diligent heed vnto Saul that he did him no displeasure on the suddayne and that o 18.14.30 wisely he behaued him selfe in all his wayes Then also not despising the helpe of others such as it pleased God to offer vnto him we finde likewise that p 22.2 he tooke such aydes as came vnto him of their owne accord though otherwise many of them were so infamous and base as many of a nice kind of holines would haue disdayned and both q 20.5.8 vsed the help of Ionathan his friende and r 23.18 renued his bond of amity with him But as touching any euill practise against any of those his enimies first as touching Saul we finde that he spared him Å¿ 24.3.7.26.7.11 twice when as not onely himselfe might haue done it very easily without any danger to his owne person or shedding any mans bloud besides but also if hee woulde but haue suffered them others woulde haue done it for him and that when as without his knowledge one had destroyed him in the fielde and brought him word of it hee t 2. Sam. 1.2.16 both auenged the death of the one with the death of the other and besides that u Ibid. 17.27 mourned heartily for him As for the others he likewise both x 3.31.35 mourned for Abner and y 4.9.12 auenged Ishbosheths death that hough these had hitherto kept a great part of his kingdome from him and nowe that these were taken away hee mght well perceiue that it must needes presently come all to his handes Those others besides with whome David is founde heere to haue dealt so well are partly straungers or those that were further of from him and partly his friendes or those that were neerer vnto him Towardes the oppressed Of the former sort we may account the Citizens of Keilah and such of the country as among whome he soiourned With the Citizens of Keilah his dealing was that although z 23.3 hee was in distresse himselfe and it was daungerous for him to bee acknowen where hee was yet a 23.5 both readily hee came to their helpe and valiantly deliuered them also With those others of the countrie among whome hee soiourned howe hee dealt Towardes those among whome he soiourned wee haue it not so playnely set downe But so farre as one storie may be some helpe to gather it and one circumstaunce of likelihood besides we may well conceiue that he dealt very wel with them That one storie that I speake of is of his good dealing towardes Nabal by whome while he soiourned b 25.7.15.21 hee did not suffer his souldiers to pray vpon him or to take any thing from him thought c 25.2.3 he were but a churle and very wealthy but moreouer d 25.16 was a wall or defence vnto him and to all that hee had both day and night against any that would So that if this were his manner of dealing with others also by whome hee soiourned no doubt it was maruellous good That circumstaunce of likelihood that I doe meane is that when he got that bootie from the Amalekites e 30.26.31 hee did so friendly remember many of
they were holpen by him How slenderly he set in hand to séeke redresse in these matters may sufficiently appeare if we do but vnfould his doings herein and consider of them For certeyne it is that somewhat he did and such as might beare a reasonable shew and yet notwithstanding his doings being better considered he did in a manner nothing at all That somewhat he did That which might beare some reasonable shewe was first on behalfe of some part of the people then afterward somewhat that he did on behalfe of them all That which he did on behalfe of some part of them was that peece of seruice that he did at o 11.1.13 Iabesh Gilead one of the the Cities beyond Iorden which Nahash the King of the Ammonites had strongly besieged and when the Citizens sued for peace he would in no wise graunt it vnto them but vpon a very cruell and dishonorable condition which was that he might thrust out the right eye of euery one of them and so bring a perpetuall reproach vpon them and vpon the whole nation withall Wherevpon the spirit of the Lord comming vpon Saule he sent foorth his messengers to commaund the people forth-with to followe he quickly got a great number together made haste to Iabesh raysed the siege and gaue a notable ouerthrowe to the enemie Insomuch that whereas before certeyne euill persons made light account of him which also was easily put vp of the rest now were the people generally so farre in loue with this their new King that had not Saul himself stayed them needes would they haue had those ill persons to haue been sought out and for that their former contempt to be put to death now That which afterward he did on behalfe of them all was some part of it of his owne accord and some part agayne by the direct commandement of God Of his owne accord both he did somewhat at the first entrie into his kingdome and afterward he proceeded somewhat further also At his first entrie into his kingdom both p 13.2 he chose out 3000. men to haue in a readinesse vpon all occasions two thousand to attend vpon himselfe and the other thousand on Ionathan his sonne and q 13.5 when the Philistims now began to inuade them agayne he did not only r 13.35.16 addresse himselfe to giue them battaile but also when as ſ 14.1.15 by other meanes they were discomfited he t 14.20 followed vpon them and gaue vnto them a great ouerthrow That which somewhat after he did was in effect no more but this that he did his endeuour in some measure to deliuer his countrie from their enemies Which thing is deliuered vnto vs by two speciall poynts one how he esteemed of such as were meet for the warres the other in what sort he dealt with the enemie Concerning the former u 14 52. it is sayd that he made much of them Concerning the latter it is sayd first generally that x 14.47 not only he did still warre vpon them on euery side and that y 14.52 right sore agaynst the Philistims but also that he z 14.4 euer put them all to the worse and did a 14.48 much rid his people out of the hands of those that spoyled them More specially there are numbred among them not only those of whom we haue some storie set downe as the Ammonites Philistims and the Amalekites but others also of whom we haue no further storie as the Moabites Idumeans and the Kings of Zoba That which he did by the speciall commaundement of God was his expedition b 15.1.9 agaynst the Amalekites at such time as God was disposed to be auenged on them for an old iniurie that almost 400. yeres before they had done to the children of Israel as in the Wildernesse they were passing on to the land of promise In which expedition although he did not execute the iudgment of God agaynst them so strictly and fully as he was commaunded to do yet c 15.7.8 made he a great destruction of the enemie and besides that d 15.6 had a speciall care of the Kenites certeyne auncient friends of the children of Israel to get them out of the way But that it was nothing to speake of that they perished not with the other That yet notwithstanding all these goodly shewes he did in a manner nothing at all it appeareth in this for that the Lord doth flatly reiect him for the want that he found in him Which want of his was of the chiefe and principall matter of all that is of an heart or setled purpose in al things to awayt the Lords direction and then to frame his doings thereafter For seeing that now he was chosen to bee King of Israel that is both to susteyne the person of God among them and to gouerne them not as his owne but only as the people of God how could he but see that now of necessitie he must needes resigne himselfe vnto God euer to seeke his direction of him and in all things to do as he should appoynt That so he did not we haue deliuered vnto vs by two examples that playnlie declare how short he was in those two poynts one in that e 13.9 he awayted not the comming of Samuel the other in that f 15.9 he did not execute the sentence of GOD agaynst the Amalekites with that seueritie that was appoynted In both which notwithstanding we may see that he grewe so néere to his full duetie in those two poynts that a reasonable man would thinke he had done very well and yet in trueth he came very short of that which he ought to haue done in deede For as touching the former of them that is the awayting of Samuels comming the storie is this that Samuel promised to come thether vnto him g 10.8 both to instruct further what he should do and h 11.14 to renew or establish the kingdome vnto him with the generall consent of all before the Lord and therefore willed him there to abide till he came vnto him i 10.8 naming in deed but seauen dayes after the manner of their kinde of speach but yet not meaning any determinate number but that if he thought he taried somewhat long yet not to be wearie for so small a matter This platforme being layd forth vnto him now are wee to see how néere it is that he seemeth to come vnto it and how farre in trueth he commeth short of it He may seeme to come néere vnto it both in that he taried so long as he did and in that he had so good cause as he had then to breake vp He taried k 13.8 vntill the seauenth day and as it seemeth vntil the time of the euening sacrifice of that day it may be also that he taried fully the seauen dayes outright and so consequently altogether so long as the Prophet in strict letter required of him
The cause that himself alleadgeth why he was so bolde as to breake vp then was l 13.11.12 for that the people began to steale away apace and seeing that the enemies lay so neere as they did he thought he might seene bee driuen to encounter with them and that he would bee loath to do before he had sacrificed vnto the Lord. But it may bee further that seeing he was m 10.6.9.10 11.6 before endued in some good measure with the Spirit of God and his kingdome so much established as n 11.12 before it was both by his victorie against the Ammonites and for that the people there vpō that occasion accepted of him he was now perswaded that neither he needed any further instruction of the Prophet nor any further inauguration by his ministerie before the Lord especially at such a time when as those other considerations in reason required such hast as they did Short he came o 13.13.14 for that he awayted not that further instruction and that further renewing or establishing of the kingdome to him before the Lord notwithstanding that the Prophet taried so long as he did and notwithstanding those reasons he had so much to hasten Now as touching the latter of them wherein his doings do lye more open than in the other he might seeme to haue gon very néere to the Lords commaundement for that he p 15.8.9.10 destroyed so much as he did and for that the residue that they did not destroy yet q 15.15 brought they away and to r 15.15 offer in sacrifice vnto the Lord. But yet was he short ſ 15.18.19.22.23 for that vpon his owne reason and the liking of those that were with him he did not execute the sentence of God to the vttermost poynt that was commanded and withall turned vnto the pray or greedily sought some aduantage therby That as good occasion hath bin offered now to advāce the kingdome of Christ in the want of government that was before and yet is as before to advance the kingdome of David for the want of government that was in Saul 15 To come to our selues we are to consider whether the estate of Christendome were in any such miserie now as the estate of Israel was then and if it were whether such as haue raigned among vs and yet do haue better imploied thēselues then Saul did vnto the redresse of whatsoeuer they find out of square For if the estate of Christendome also were of late or yet is in many places as far out of square as then the estate of Israel was and those that haue reigned or yet do be in most places as short of their dutie as Saul was then it is not to be denied by any but that the like occasion being offered now as we find to be offered then the like hope may be conceiued now also of the aduancement of the kingdome of Christ alreadie begun as heerein we find of the kingdome of David that vpon that occasion was now first aduanced First therefore as towching the estate that Christendome was in In what estate Christendom was vnder Poperie and yet is before these daies of the Gospell and yet is where the Gospell is not receiued and among all those that after a sort receiue it so far-forth as they do not soundly receiue it in effectuall maner it may soone appeare that it was altogether as ill as was the estate of Israel then as yet also it is either fully agréeable thereunto where the Gospell is so much reiected or somewhat fauoring of it where the Gospell is not so fully receiued in such proportion as yet they hold it out from among them For whereas the text said of them that the people were in distresse not only a Math. 24.29 Luk. 21.25.26 2. Tim. 3.1.5 Apo. 8.13.9.1.5 the text it selfe doth likewise fore-shew in many places that such should be those daies of vengeance procéeding from the wrath of the Lord that now we speake of but also both the histories do so plentifully witnes the same and the experience of those daies hath made so sensible demonstration thereof vnto vs that no body now can be either altogether ignorant or but so much as doubtfull of it So likewise where were there any then to be found that durst looke those enimies of ours in the face or rather who did not either hide themselues in the most secret places that they could thinke of or else abandoning their owne countries and houses got them farther off out of danger for such hath bin the power of those our Philistims of the Church of Rome for certain ages that it was past the power of Princes and much rather of meaner estates to deale with them after that by their slacknes before they had now got the bridle into their téeth As for any furniture against the wars who knoweth not but that they swept all as cleane from vs as euer the Philistims did from them For whereas the word of God is the swoord of our warfare as b Math. 4.4.7.10 Christ in his owne person hath taught vs and as the c Ephes 6.17 Apostle likewise doth call it what part thereof did they leaue vnto vs in our mother-toong or in such sort as we might be able in time of néede to attaine thereunto neither the old Testament nor the new neither the Prophets nor the Apostles nor Christ himselfe neither the preachings nor yet the writings of any of their And this haue they done in so greedie and watchfull maner that as among the children of Israel only King Saul and Jonathan his sonne were found to haue either sword or speare and yet being but sixe hundred in all it had bin but a small matter if fo many had had weapons ynow thrée-fold ouer so likewise with vs though in that corrupt time there were not many that so much misliked the seruititude they were in that they could be content to take part with their Princes against those other Philistims of theirs but that it had bin as small a matter for them to haue had weapons ynow yet among them also but few were found heere and there one with some rare and principall man and otherwise not so much as one among them all Neither were our Philistims content to spoile vs of our weapons only but they tooke away all such artificers also or men of learning as were able to make any mo Insomuch that as they for the repairing of their instruments of husbandrie were faine to séeke vnto the Philistims or else at home might neuer haue but the vse of a file a seely and a busie help for the mattok coulter and share so we likewise euen for the artes and liberall sciences were driuen to séeke vnto these Philistims of ours that they only might giue the heate and haue the hammering of all those matters And if any of vs thought much in those things to be so beholding to them or would
haue the ministerie or help of the Prophet to his further inauguration at Gilgal in a publike assemblie of the people yet doth it not follow thereupon that there is any vse of such help in their case also It was meete for Saul for that as yet he was not fully inuested in the Kingdome notwithstanding that he was before d 10.1 annointed by the Prophet at Ramah e 10.17.24 chosen by lot before the Lord in Mizpeh f 11.12 and with speciall ioy and fauour acknowledged and accepted of the people at Iabesh-Gilead For his annointing was but secret g 9.27 none other being priuie thereto but the Prophet and him-selfe alone but yet to him ward h 10.2.10 notably confirmed by signes that followed but election at Mizpeh was no more but i 10.20.21 only an election shewing vnto them who it was whome the Lord would haue to be their King and though he were ackowledged and accepted of the people at Iabesh-Gilead yet k 11.7.8.12 was it but of a part of the people only of those forces that were gathered together against the Ammonites and yet to the number of 330090. And because all this was no full establishing of the Kingdom vnto him therefore was he first to awaite a further solemnitie of inauguration in some general assemblie of al and wherein the ministerie of the Prophet was verie conuenient Many of ours would haue thought much lesse then thus much to be sufficient especially whē as so vrgēt occasion should make them to hasten to enter into it without so perfect inauguration And yet Saul as it seemeth did not of any greedinesse in himselfe so hasten his entry for he awayted the Prophet seuen dayes as before is declared but onely for that hee tooke himself to bee very iustly called vnto it or rather by strict necessitie strongly vrged And as for instruction not many of vs if in our iudgement our title were good and so readie a way layde open vnto vs woulde haue thought that a sufficient cause to haue awayted the Prophet so long especially if our selues before had receiued the spirite of prophecie l 10.10 as hee had done and if wee had at that present m 13.5 so weighty matters in hande besides For it is the manner with vs eyther altogether to shut out the Prophet from all our aduices and councelles in such matters euen of contempt or inwarde dislike that wee haue to such a course or at least vnder pretence of our owne sufficiencie if so bee that wee haue any measure of knowledge or else vpon euery slight and easie businesse to holde our selues as iustly hindred As for the other that is Punishment of offendors such as God appointeth in such sort to punish offendors as God appoynteth that is such a matter as hardly can wee frame our selues in diuers causes to come any thing near Insomuch that although Saul were in this point so maruellous short that chiefly for that cause hee cast him away yet if wee consider that case of his wee may finde that hee went much nearer to that which the Lorde did appoint him to doe then wee in such case were like to haue done whether wee respect the nature or substaunce of that case it selfe or certayne circumstaunces thereunto appertaining Vnto the nature of the case it belongeth to consider that it was an execution and the same very seuere If wee haue to deale in an execution commmonly we think that some worke of mercy doth much better become vs. If it taste of seuerity though neuer so iust yet if much it stande thereupon as in this case it did beeing n 15.3 commaunded to destroy both the people themselues and all that did belong vnto them both man and woman infant and suckling Oxe and Sheepe Camell and Asse and to haue no compassion of them and all this for no cause else but onely for that o 15.2 certaine auncesters of theirs long before layde wayte for the Israelites in the way as they came vp from Aegypt and skirmished with them then doe wee seeke to giue it the slippe so much as we can and euer lightly do but sliue it when we haue any such thing to doe The circumstaunces are two one of the time an other of their persons As for the time it was almoste 400 yeares ago when that fault was made that nowe was punished And this execution was to bee done when first he entred into his kindgome As for their persons the time it selfe sufficiently prooueth that they were not the offendors themselues but their posteritie very neare to the tenth generation And yet notwithstanding although hee spared some the Text it selfe doth beare him witnesse that those excepted p 15.8 hee vtterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sworde and himselfe addeth further that q 15.15 hee destroyed all the rest Neither doe wee reade that hee spared any thing for any benefite to himselfe or his people but r 15.15.22 onely to offer them in sacrifice vnto the Lorde though Samuel ſ 15.19 doth tharge him that in that case also hee did no better then turne to the pray and did exceeding wickedly before the Lorde How much the rejection of Saul ought to touch our Christian Princes But O mercifull God if Saul in thy iustice deserued for this to be cast away as altogether vnmeete to sitte in the throne of thy iudgement on earth howe iustly haue our Princes also deserued to bee remooued and to giue place to the worde of thy power that trueth and equity may be established and set vp for euer And howe commeth it to passe that Saul beeing made so fearefull an example to vs wee neuerthelesse do so much transgresse wherein wee see that a small fault in him in comparison of a thousande of ours neuerthelesse had and iustly to it must needes be so an heauie iudgement But at this present wee néede no more but so farre to consider of the want that was founde in Saul as that if wee finde the like in our late gouernment also wee then acknowledge it to bee so much the more likely that God will now aduance the Gospell or kingdome of Christ as we see that the want of good gouernment in the Princes and States of Christendome haue iustly occasioned that so he should 16 And so haue we heard The conclusion wherein to the further raising up of the hope aforesaid divers examples are brought to shew that although for a time God hath suffered his people and his glorie to be held under yet in the end he hath advaunced them both Izhak Iaakob that as it pleased God first to annoint David to be in readinesse and to procure him the fauour of many so hath hee doone in these dayes of ours for the Gospell also and as afterwarde it pleased him by many tribulations to bring him to the kingdome so hath hee brought the Gospell likewise to so
rule ouer all that not only those that are neerest vnto thee but the farthest also euen to the vttermost ends of the earth ought to yeeld their obedience to thee True it is that in David we found very good things and such as might well commend him to vs vnto the place that thou at the length didst call him vnto towards thee a speciall good regard to thy will and a delight in thee and thine and towards others a very good heart not only to his acquaintance and friends but euen to straungers and enemies also But whence had David these but from thee In him they were but in some measure and in comparison but in small portions neither in thee they are immeasurable and in greater aboundance than can be conceiued He was but a shepheard at the first though it pleased thee after to make him a King The basenes of his estate before might be no hinderance at all vnto him to his further aduancement when the time was come wherein thou diddest meane to bestowe it vpon him Thy Sonne our Lord hath been thou knowest a Shepheard alreadie he disdayned not to abase himselfe vnto it and he stucke not for any traueile or paines that did apperteyne to the full accomplishment of it And should he not haue as readie a way thence to the kingdome as David had Or could the sonne of Ishai bee so aduaunced and shall not the eternall Sonne of the Father the God of all power and glorie and to whom only al kingdom and maiestie doth only belong haue as readie a way vnto it Our selues we graunt by whom we would haue this kingdom of thine to be aduanced are farre short in al such graces as were meete for those that should bee vouchsafed that speciall fauour But neither is there any flesh and bloud in thy sight found worthie of any such fauour neither is it meete that for our vnworthines thy kingdome should not bee aduanced on earth in such sort as to thy glorie doth apperteyne and may stand with thy pleasure here on earth And seeing that it pleased thee in the face of thine annoynted to vouchsafe that fauour to David thy seruant notwithstanding that of himselfe he was no better then any others and notwithstanding those great infirmities of his that were found in him after his calling wee humbly beseech thee in those thy mercies so to couer whatsoeuer corruption is in vs as that for it thou suffer not the aduancement of thy kingdome to be hindred among vs. Israel thou seest for a great part of vs is yet in bondage vnto those Philistims of ours and by them kept vnder in miserable slauerie and grosse idolatrie and such as thou hast set vp among vs to proceede and go forward with this our deliuerance do for the most part so little remember that part of their duetie that therein they do but very little and many of them nothing at all Saul did somewhat and merueilous well in comparison of many of ours not only when his kingdome was better confirmed as agaynst the Philistims and Amalekites also but euen at his first enterance likewise when as he was but newly come to his kingdome and the same did hang but loosely vnto him as yet as in that valiant expedition of his agaynst the Ammonites at Iabesh-Gilead But the lesse O Lord that they haue done and are disposed as yet to do the more needfull is it for thée to take some further order for it both for the reliefe of thy distressed people and for the aduancement of thy kingdome among vs. The lesse likewise that our meane and base estate here in this life is capable of so great prosperitie and glorie as to thy kingdome of right apperteyneth the more we desire that it would please thee to hasten the time of the second comming of our Lord and Sauiour that he taking downe this Tabernacle on earth may set vp thy pallace for euer in heauen and there aduaunce thy glorious kingdome euen to the full The cause O Father wee knowe is thine and wee are thine and now hauing made our prayers to thee we humbly beseech thee to heare the same euen in the face of thine annoynted Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be ascribed al power thanks kingdome and glorie for euer and euer Amen The exercise that David vsed more specially described Of the exercise of David in those Psalmes that he made in the time of trouble 19. IN what sort David exercised himselfe in those his troubles is alreadie declared so far as the course of the historie yéelded But then it was noted withall that it might be farther gathered out of the Psalmes those I meane that he made in those his troubles as occasion from time to time was giuen him Of which as then I promised to 〈◊〉 somewhat to the end of the treatise so now I meane by the greatnes of God héere to performe it that so we may with one 〈◊〉 the selfe-same labour see both how David in that case was occupied and how we also might in these daies of ours to good purpose imploy our selues And first the truth is that if we were of that good temper that David was of we néeded none other In whâ—â—â— they 〈◊〉 fit us likâ—â— but euen those Psalmes in order as they lye that then he made so oft as our occasion is none other then was that of his wherevpon they were made For then being in like sort exercised they would as fitly agree vnto vs as they did vnto him if we were of such disposition as that we could so fitly and redily apply them to our case as he at that time did apply them to his But then must we be of a quick and a nimble spirit and well experienced in such maner of exercise as it pleaseth the Lord to vse towards his children so that we may at once and as it were with one breath redily fall in with all sorts of passions and affections whatsoeuer that the spirit of God in such case stirreth vp in those whom it pleaseth him to exercise For so shall we find that David did in most of the Psalmes that euer he made not only in these that now we speake of but in most of the residue also sometime beginning with a praier and by and by falling into thanksgiuing sometime acknowledging his great feare of the enimie and streight way growing to inuincible boldnes sometime complaining of the great corruption of the world and forthwith reposing himselfe in the goodnes of God But the formes and examples hereof are so many and diuers that it were hard to reckon them vp and it is sufficient for vs vnto the purpose that now we haue in hand to be thus far warned before that we can hardly apply most of the Psalmes to our vse sauing only when we are in such sort exercised as David was at the time when he made them and vnlesse we
it 27. Though they curse yet thou wilt blesse they shal arise and be confounded but thy seruant shall rejoyce 28. Prove me ô Lord and trie me examine my reynes and my heart 26.2 Teach me thy way ô Lord and I will walke in thy trueth knit my heart unto thee that I may feare thy name 86.11 Send thy light and thy trueth let them leade me let them bring me unto thy holy mountaine and to thy tabernacles 43.3 Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips 141.3 Incline not mine heart unto evill that I should commit wicked workes with men that work iniquitie and let me not eate of their delicates 4. Let the righteous smite me for that is a benefite and let not him reprove me and it shall be a precious oyle that shall not breake mine head for within a while I shall even pray in their miseries 5. Praeserve thou my soule for I am mercifull my God save thou thy servant that trusteth in thee 16.2 Rejoyce the soule of thy servant for unto thee ô Lord do I lift up my soule 4. The Argument of three other Psalmes that do apperteyne to the third sort Thirdly he conceiueth good hope in the goodnesse of God and doth not only acknowledge the same vnto him but laboureth also to strengthen himself therein more and more Vnto which three other Psalmes likewise do apperteyne The first Psalme of the third sort The Argument In this first Psalme he expresseth the confidence that he hath in the goodnes of God in respect of the cause that he hath in hand and notably stirreth vp himself thervnto yet but generally and more specially after in those two that follow And wee likewise may hereby not only expresse such confidence as we haue but see whereunto wee may iustly rise our cause being now all one with his then and how we are to stirre vp our selues vnto it The Psalme The 6. Psalme O Lord my God in thee I put my trust save me from al that persecute me and deliver me 7.1 Have mercie upon me ô God have mercie upon me for my soule trusteth in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will I trust til these afflictions do overpasse 57.1 For thou ô Lord art a pitifull God and mercifull slow to anger and great in kindnesse and trueth 86.15 Mine eyes looke unto thee ô Lord God in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute 141.8 For thou Lord art good and mercifull and of great kindnesse unto al men that call upon thee 86.5 My soule cleaveth unto thee for thy right hand upholdeth me 63.8 Thus I behold thee as in the Sanctuarie when I behold thy power and glorie 2. When I was afrayd I trusted in thee 65.3 Thy vowes are upon me ô God I will render praises to thee 56.12 In God do I trust I will not be afrayd what man can do unto me 11. Whē I crie thē shal mine enemies turne back this I know for God is with me 9. Thou hast counted my wandrings put my teares in thy bottel are not they in thy register 8. That thy beloved may be delivered helpe with thy right hand and heare me 60.5 And now thou hast given a banner to them that feare thee that it may bee displayed because of thy trueth 4. The Lord is in his holy place the Lords throne is in the heavens his eyes will consider his ey-lids will trie the children of men 11.4 God judgeth the righteous and him that contemneth God every day 7.11 I will walk in mine innocencie redeeme me therefore be mercifull unto me 26.11 I will lay me downe and sleepe also in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwel in safetie 4.9 The second Psalme of the third sort The Argument In this Psalme he doth more specially expresse his confidence agaynst his enemies that though they be many and mightie and fiercely bent yet shall they notwithstanding be ouerthrowne And in the cause that we haue in hand we may in like sort make that account if there be no fault in our selues and so hereby we are to rayse vp our selues vnto the like confidence also The Psalme The 7. Psalme IN the Lord put I my trust how say ye then to my soule flee to your mountaine as a bird 11.1 How long will ye say tush the Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Iaakob regard it 94. 7 Take heed ye unwise among the people ô ye fooles when will ye understand 8. He that planteth the eare shall he not heare or he that formeth the eye shall he not see 9. Or he that chasticeth the nations shall he not correct he that teacheth man 10. knowledge shall he not know But thou ô Lord shalt have thē in derisiō thou shalt laugh at al the heathē 59.8 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanitie 94.11 He is strong but I will wayt upon thee for God is my defence 59.9 Behold he shall trauaile with wickednesse for he hath conceaved mischief but he shall bring forth a lye 7.14 His mischief shall returne upon his owne head and his crueltie shall fall upon his owne pate 16. My mercifull God will praevent me God will let me see my desire upon mine enemies 59.10 The Lord will trie the righteous but the wicked and him that loveth iniquitie doth his soule hate 11.5 He hath also praepared him deadly weapons he will ordeyne his arrowes for them that persecute me 7.13 Except he turne he hath whet his sword he hath bent his bow made it ready 12. Vpon the wicked he shall rayne snares fire and brimstone and stormie tempest this is the portion of their cup. 11.6 And thou ô God shalt bring them downe into the pit of corruption the bloudie and deceytfull men shall not live halfe their dayes but I will trust in thee 55.23 Therefore they that seeke my soule to destroy it they shall go into the lowest parts of the earth 63.9 They shall cast him downe with the edge of the sword and they shal be a portion for foxes 10. He shall reward evill unto mine enemies oh cut them off in thy wrath 54.5 Through God we shall do valiantly for he shall tread downe our enemies 60.12 God hath spoken in his holinesse therfore I will rejoyce I shall devide Sichem and measure the valley of Sucoth 60.6 Gilead shall be mine and Manasseth shall be mine Ephraim also shall be the strength of my head Iudah is my lawgiuer 7. Moab is my washpot over Edom will I cast out my shoe Palestina shew thy self joyfull for me 8. Who will leade me into the strong cities who will bring me into Edom 9. The third
Psalme of the third sort The Argument In this likewise he doth more specially expresse his confidence yet not so directly of the enemies now but only on behalfe of himself and others of the godlier sort shewing that although their case bee hard yet shal they not miscarie but shall haue a readie helpe in their mightie and merciful God By direction whereof we likewise in the cause that we haue in hand and so farre as our selues are no hinderance vnto our selues are to rayse vp our faith vnto the fulnesse of this assurance that we finde in him The Psalme The 8. Psalme GReat are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all 34.19 Surely the Lord will not fayle his people neither will he forsake his inheritance 94.14 The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him and delivereth them 34.7 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous his eares are open unto their cry 18. I know that the Lord will auenge the afflicted and judge the poore 140.12 Why art thou cast downe my soule and unquiet within me wayt on God for I will yet give him thanks for the helpe of his praesence 42.5 Surely the righteous shall praise thy name the just shall dwel in thy praesence 140.13 For judgemēt shal return to justice al the upright in heart shal follow after it 94.15 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousnes his countenāce doth behold the just 11.7 For he will stand at the right hand of the poore to save him from them that would condemne his soule 109.30 He keepeth al his bones not one of them is broken 34.20 The Lord will graunt his louing kindnesse in the day and in the night will I sing of him even a prayer unto the God of my life 42.8 I will say unto God which is my rock why hast thou forgotten me why go I mourning when the enemie oppresseth me 9. Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will ever prayse thee 84.4 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee and in whose heart is thy wayes 5. Blessed is the man whom thou chasticest ô Lord and teachest him in thy law 94.12 That thou mayst give him rest from the dayes of evill whilest the pit is digged for the wicked 13. The lions do lack and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good 34.10 Why art thou then cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me wayt on God for I wil yet give him thanks he is my praesent help my God 43.5 Behold God is mine helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soule 54.4 My defence is in God who praeserveth the upright in heart 7.10 The Lord is my refuge and my God is the rock of my hope 94.22 He will send from heaven and save me from the reproofe of him that would swallow me God will send his mercie and his trueth 57.3 The Lord shal judge his people judge thou me ô Lord according to my righteousnesse and according to mine innocencie that is in me 7.8 For thy louing kindnes is ever before mine eyes therefore have I walked in thy trueth 26.3 I will rejoyce in God because of his word I trust in God and will not feare what flesh can do unto me 56.4 Thou hast given me more joy of heart then they have had when their wheat and their wine did abound 4.7 Why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me wayt on God for I will yet give him thanks he is my praesent help and my God 42.11 I will call upon God and the Lord will save me 55.16 Evening and morning and at noone day will I pray and make a noyse and he will heare me 17. He hath delivered my soule in peace from the battell that was agaynst me for many were with me 18. God shall heare and afflict them even he that reigneth of old 19. O Lord of hosts blessed is the man that trusteth in thee 84.12 Let Israel wayt on the Lord from hence-forth for ever 131.3 The Argument Fourthly he vpbraideth his enemies triumpheth ouer then charging them with great malice in heart and the same to breake forth of them plentifully in word and deede and withal that they shal certeynly come to confusion to the comfort of the godly and to the glorie of God himself A very good course for vs also to follow in these dayes of ours and such as we neede not to estraunge from our selues whensoeuer we can finde in our hearts to clense vs truely from our wonted sinnes and in the goodnesse of this our cause to cleaue to the Lord. The Psalme The 9. Psalme IS it true ô ye congregation I speake ye justly ô sonnes of men judge ye vprightly 58.1 Yea rather ye imagine mischief in your hearts your hands execute crueltie upon the earth 2. The wicked are straungers from the wombe even from the bellie have they erred and speake lyes 3. Their poison is even like the poison of a serpent like the deaffe adder that stoppeth his eare 4. Which heareth not the voyce of the inchanter though he bee most expert in charming 5. O ye sonnes of men how long will ye turne my glorie into shame loving vanitie and seeking lyes 4.2 For be ye sure that the Lord hath chosen to himself a godly man the Lord will heare when I call unto him 3. Tremble and sinne not examine your owne heart upon your bed and be still 4. What doth thy deceitfull tung bring unto thee or what doth it auayle thee 120.3 It is as the sharpe arrowes of a mightie man and as the coales of Iuniper 4. Why boastest thou thy self in thy wickednesse ô man of power the loving kindnesse of God endureth daylie 52.1 Thy tongue imagineth mischief and is like a sharpe rasour that cutteth deceitfully 2. Thou doest love evill more then good and lies more then to speake the trueth 3. Thou lovest all words that may destroy ô deceitfull tung 4. So shall God destroy thee forever he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle and roote thee out of the land of the living 5. The righteous also shall see it and feare and shall laugh at him saying 6. Behold the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted in the multitude of his riches and put his strength in his malice 7. He hath made a pit and digged it and is falne into the pit that he made 57.6 Because he remembred not to shewe mercie but persecuted the afflicted and poore man and the sorowfull hearted to slay him 109.16 As he loved cursing so shall it come unto