learned do plainly shew (a) Whitak de Script interpret Controv 1. quaest 5. cap. 8. Reynolds Hart. And they themselves in differences doe disclaime the authority of men though never so learned and send us to the Scripture See August Ep. 19. Iren. 4. adversus haeres cap. 63. The Use for admonition For admonition that we consider Gods providence over us herein causing us to have our time in the land of the living which we cannot deny to bee a great favour and therefore should endeavor to walk worthy of this blessing which after the example of Christ is to work the works of him that sent us John 9.4 First that we repent of our sins Mat. 3.2 Luke 13.3 5. Secondly that we believe on Jesus Christ whom God hath sent to be our Saviour John 6.28 This God commandeth to all that would be saved 1 John 3.21 with 5.13 Thirdly that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 which is then done when with reverence to God who worketh all grace we do humbly and constantly exercise our selves in the meanes thereof ever making conscience of sinne till we receive the end of our faith which is the salvation of our soules 1 Pet 1.9 The second Observation The second point to be here observed is this That in the land of the living that is in this world God doth bountifully impart his goodnesse to the sonnes of men this is here taken for granted and else-where plainly affirmed Psal 33.5 The earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord Psal 119.64 The earth is full of thy mercy Psal 145.9 The Lord is good to all even the brute creatures do daily tast of his bounty Psal 104.27.28 They all wait upon him he gives them their meat in due season That he giveth they gather he openeth his hand and they are filled with good The first Reason The reason hereof is two-fold First because in nature and essence he is goodnesse it self love it self and bounty it self and so can no more detain his goodnesse from the creatures then the sun can his light from the world when it is risen and indeed by the exercise of goodnesse and bounty doth he manifest this essentiall property as Psalm 119.68 Thou art good and dost good Jam. 1.17 By his good gifts and perfect givings he is seene to bee the father of lights The second Reason Secondly by his free and abundant communication of goodnesse he binds every creature unto him and man particularly to honour him for even temporall benefits are his witnesses that he from whom they come is the true God and that he must be honoured for them see Acts 14.17 Hereupon the godly do stirre up themselves to due and daily thankfulnesse as Psal 103.1 2. and 116.12 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first Use for instruction For instruction two wayes First this shews plainly that the true God is not known as he ought to be no not in this property of goodnesse That which Pharaoh professed of himself without fear Exod. 5.2 who is the Lord I know not the Lord is true of all naturall men for if they rightly knew this one property of goodnesse and bounty in the communication of blessings their hearts would cleave unto him in an unfaigned desire to be his by covenant for every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts Prov. 19.6 while they therefore say who is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him Job 21.15 they shew themselves worse then the devill himself who said doth Job serve God for nought hast thou not made an hedge about him Thou hast blessed the work of his hands Job 1.9 10. The second Use for instruction Secondly this shewes what manner of persons all those ought to be who call God father namely free and forward in doing good so we shall resemble our heavenly father which is enjoyned us Mat. 5.44 55. This was Christ Jesus his property while he was on earth he went about doing good Acts 10.38 And it is commanded and commended to us all Eph. 5.1 Be followers of God as dear children and walk in love Heb. 13.16 To doe good and to communicate forget not The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves three wayes First in the want of any good thing to go to God by prayer for he is the father of lights from whom all good cometh and for the obtaining thereof with the use of lawfull means joyn prayer to him that saith ask and ye shall have Mat. 7.7 But withall we must look that we go not on in a course of sinne for that withholds good things Jer. 5.25 and causeth God not to hear our prayers Ps 66.18 The second use for admonition Secondly this must move us to labour to be such as shall surely partake of Gods best blessings For God is the great housekeeper that makes provision for children for servants yea for bruit creatures even for his very dogs And answerable to his greatnesse in provision is his justice and wisedome in distribution he gives not to all alike but to every one his portion and will not have childrens bread given to dogs Matth. 15.26 Indeed for temporall blessings he many times gives a larger portion to the wicked then to his children as wee may see by the outward state of Divet and Lazarus Luke 10.19 20. as great housekeepers will many times feast strangers more liberally then their owne children Yet God hath better things for his own then for the world as Mat. 3.11 16. And the right way to partake of the best blessings is The right way to partake of the best blessings first in generall to make sure we be in covenant wich God through faith in Christ Jesus for he that cometh unto God must believe Heb. 11.6 yea believe in Christ for he is the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by him John 14.6 Now being thus in covenant all is ours whether things present or things to come 1 Cor. 3.21 22. we partake hereby of his fatnesse and sweetnesse Rom. 11.17 and God will prevent us with blessings of goodnesse Psal 21.5 In particular to testifie the truth of our faith we must get and manifest the grace of love for this is a sure companion of faith Gal. 5.6 and a sure fruit of the same sanctifying spirit Gal. 5.22 and this entitles us unto Gods best blessings 1 Cor. 2.9 What eye hath not seen eare hath not heard nor heart conceived hath God prepared for them that love him 1 John 3.14 We know we have passed from death to life because we love the bretheren Secondly we must fear God with a filiall feare by the consideration of Gods power and presence seeking to bring our hearts to true conscience of eschewing evill and doing good wherein his grace is certainly made evident as
his speciall favour as Psal 144.15 But who do so Answ First the man whose strength is in the Lord that is who resteth not nor relyeth upon himselfe but on the Lord and by him is made strong against enemies both corporall and spirituall and also enabled for every good duty which the Lord requireth at his hands And thus understanding the words the point is cleer to be observed That man is in a blessed and happy estate whose strength is in the Lord that is who trusteth not to himself or to any other person or thing for his safety from evills and ability to do well but only on the Lord his God on whom he resteth and resteth by true faith and confidence see Proverbs 16.20 who so trusteth in the Lord is happy and Jer. 17.7 8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord Psal 125.1.146.5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his helpe Reason 1 The reasons are First no man is or can be strong by his owne power This is true both in things pertaining to the body Deut. 8.17 18. and to the soule John 15.5 Reason 2 Secondly no enemy shall be able to hurt him that is strong in the Lord. This is true both for corporall and spirituall enemies For corporall see Psal 89.21 22. With whom mine hand shall bee established mine arme also shall strengthen him The enemy shall not exact upon him nor the sonne of wickednesse afflict him 23. I will beate downe his foes before his face Hence Psalme 3.6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about and Psal 27.1 2 3. The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I feare c. Jer. 20.11 Reason 3 Thirdly no work nor duty which God requires at his hand shall be hard for him who is strong in the Lord see 2 Cor. 3.5 and 12.10 Phil. 4.12 13. This serves for instruction admonition and comfort For instruction First in the way to true happinesse it stands not in any outward thing Vse 1 as naturall men thinke but in the fruition of the true God for he is the chiefest good whomsoever enjoyes can lack nothing that is good for hee is all in all to those that are his Hence Psalme 33.12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom hee hath chosen for his owne inheritance Gen. 15.1 Feare not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward and 17.1 I am the Almighty God walke before mee and be perfect Hence Exod 33.15.19 If thy presence goe not with me carry us not up hence c. He communicates his goodnesse to those that enjoy him as 2 Chron. 16.9 Psalme 28.8 Hence Jer. 9.23 24. Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome c. Vse 2 Secondly see here who be miserable and accursed namely all such as are not strong in the Lord but in themselves or something beside the Lord See Jer. 17.5 Cursed bee the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme whose heart departeth from the Lord Now such are many as well for earthly as for heavenly things For earthly all such as use unlawfull means to procure earthly blessings as lying fraud stealing oppression c. Can these say as Ps 44.3 thy right hand and thine arme c. Nay as 1 Kings 21.19 Hast thou killed and also taken possession c. And for heavenly they that trust to their owne righteousnesse as Papists doe the Jewes did Rom. 10.3 Vse 3 Thirdly this should admonish us to be as carefull to be strong in the Lord as we are desirous to be truly happy for the man is blessed whose strength is in him To this end wee must give all diligence for three things First that we stand truly in covenant with God in Christ which is by believing on him so Psal 125.1 Secondly that we be upright hearted dealing truly and sincerely with him in our profession 2 Chron. 16.9 Thirdly that we be constant in obedience 2 Chron 15 2. Psal 81.13 Vse 4 Fourthly this serves for comfort to the upright hearted trusting in God and walking in obedience see Psal 91.1 Let such assure themselves the Lord will be their strength see Psal 68.28.35 Psal 28.6 7. They may say as Ps 3.6 and 27.1 2 3. The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid The high wayes are in their heart Here the second property of those that are Gods true people is expressed they do sincerely and truly affect the holy worship of God as is manifest by their behaviour in three branches First the wayes to Gods house are in their heart that is they love and like and in heart desire and delight in the ways that lead to Gods house They that be truly Gods people 2 Observation have their hearts set upon the way and means of Gods worship see Psal 122.1 Psalm 26.8 Because by those ways Reason they come to enjoy the presence of God society and fellowship with him in whom they place all their happinesse Vse 1 This serves first to let us see what we may think of those that have no love nor liking to the ways of Gods house but think it is a wearinesse as Mal. 1.13 that say of the Lords day as Amos 8.5 when will it be gone And of the word and worship of God as Job 21.14 Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of his wayes Certainly these are in a cursed estate as Acts 13.10 as Elymas the Sorcerer was see Acts 19.9 Vse 2 Secondly it is a matter of great comfort to those that desire and delight in the meanes wherein they may have society with God in Christ Surely flesh and bloud hath not revealed it unto them Matth. 16.17 Let these consider Luke 11.22 Vse 3 Thirdly it is a good caveat to labour with our selves that the wayes to Gods house may be in our hearts that we may desire and delight in them love and like them Now as we have another Tabernacle and Sanctuary which is Christ Jesus Hebr. 8.2 so our ways are not materiall but spirituall which we must love and minde and that is the Evangelicall worship by which we come to have societie and fellowship with God See Acts 24.14 and 19.9 This is called the Lords high-way Isa 358. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 11.16 and 49.11 and 40.3 and 19.23 and 62.10 Jer. 31.21 Vers 6. They going through the valley of Baca make it a Well even with blessings shall the rain cover THe second evidence of Gods peoples sincere and earnest affection towards his holy worship they do couragiously and comfortably endure and break through all difficulties and troubles in the way That we may conceive so much by the words we must know that the word Baca signifieth a Mulberry tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Sam. 5.23 24. which loves to grow
same and say Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth on us wee do wipe off against you c. And it may be seen in the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.3 11 12. and in the idle servant Matth. 25.25 c. The Use for admonition For admonition all that desire to have grace and glory must here learn of David with desire in prayer to joyn diligence in the use of further means ordained of God for the obtaining of those blessings See Prov. 2.3 4. If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord c. There we see seeking goes with crying so Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and yee shall finde c. The very heathen would say that fortune resisted sluggish prayers And see Jam. 4.3 Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amisse not joyning endeavour with prayer Consider 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. Give all diligence adde to your faith vertue c. Adde 2 Pet. 3.11 12 14. and see answerable hereunto the endeavour of the godly of St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.26 27. Phil. 3.10 11 12 13. and of the Church of the Thessalonians 1 Thess 1.6 7 8 and of Ephesus Rev. 2.2 and of Thyatira Revel 2.19 The third Observation The second thing here expressing Davids sincere affection to the house of God is the length of time for which he desires to dwell therein namely all the dayes of his life No shorter time will satisfie Davids soul while he lives in the world he would dwell in the house of the Lord and therefore in the thought and assurance thereof doth he so much encourage himself Psal 23.6 Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the dayes of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever The first Reason The reason hereof is threefold First for the fruition of the good things of Gods house mentioned before viz. spirituall society with God and from him deliverance from all hurtfull evils and partaking of all needfull blessings in direction provision protection and remuneration to which these mentioned in this verse do belong to behold the beauty of the Lord c. whereupon he esteemed a day in Gods courts better then a thousand elsewhere Psal 84.10 The second Reason Secondly for his better opportunity to glorifie God which thing his soul desired to do so long as he lived as see Psal 63.4 Thus will I blesse thee while I live Psal 146.2 While I live will I praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have any being Now the house of God was the chiefest place for this duty Psal 29.9 In his temple doth every one speak of his glory Psal 84.4 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will be still praising thee The third Reason Thirdly hee knew that to bee out of Gods house was to be out of Gods favour as Cains complaint doth plainly import Gen. 4.14 and the Lords severe dealing against Israel for their sins doth plainly shew 2 Kings 17 18 20. This serves for instruction and for admonition The use for instruction What it is at this day to dwell in Gods house For instruction see plainly in David that the hearts of the godly do sincerely desire and in their loves they do faithfully strive for perseverance in the state of grace for that thing at this day is dwelling in Gods house as the phrase imports 1 John 2 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us that is in the profession and obedience of the word of faith Which is a thing worthy of our observation for our better satisfaction touching the the truth of our doctrine of the perseverance of the Saints in grace thereof we need to have the lesse doubt seeing in thâ—em all is wrought a true desire after this estate which they shew by prayer and other godly endeavour Now the Lord heareth the desires of those that fear him Psal 145.19 and Matth. 7.7 Aske and it shall bee given you The Use for admonition For admonition to those that are weary of Gods house and the exercises of religion snuffing at them and saying it is a wearinesse Maâ— 1.13 saying when will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8.5 How many have we that love the ale-house and whore-house better then Gods house as Jer. 5.7 They assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houseâ— But Lam. 1.4 The wayes of Zion do mourn because none come unto the solemn feasts Quest How should they alter their estate and do better Answ The way of man is not in himself Jer. 10.23 yet the meanes ordained of God must bee used of every one that would become like unto David which is diligence in the word and prayer and making conscience to live according to the word The third thing here to be noted in Davids expressing the fervent affection of his heart towards Gods house are the blessed ends for which David desires that favour namely first to behold the beauty of the Lord secondly to enquire in his Temple For the first the Lords beauty to be seen in his house is not the beauty of his essence for so no man can see God and live Exod. 33.18 20. Before this glorious beauty the Angels cover their faces with their wings Is 6.1 2. But it is the beauty of his ordinances wherein God doth reveal to the eyes of mens mindes enlightened by his spirit the pleasant beauty of his goodnesse justice love and mercy in Jesus Christ Mark here then The fourth Observation That in Gods house the godly do behold the pleasant beauty of the Lord in his gracious properties of goodnesse justice love and mercy in Jesus Christ Psal 63.1 2. My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee To see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary See 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 The Reason The reason hereof is the good pleasure of God thus to manifest his gracious properties in his own ordinances Look as in the works of the creation he shewed the eternall power and wisdome of the Godhead Rom. 1.19 20. so in the ordinances of his service he doth make known his justice goodnesse love and mercy in Jesus Christ This is most cleer in the Gospel preached and in the Evangelicall sacraments rightly administred wherein with open face we behold the glory of the Lord and are transformed into the same image 2 Cor. 3.18 The world by wisedome knew not God in the wisedome of God that is how God will shew himself wise in mans salvation 1 Cor. 1.21 Now Christ crucified in the Gospel preached is this power of God and this wisdome of God Vers 24. Herein is made known the
true repentance in forsaking all sinne in respect of dominion for Psal 119.155 Salvation is farre from the wicked 1 John 1.6 Then get the fore named graces of faith love and fear and certainly the covenant of grace in Christ shall be stable unto us Vers 10. When my father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up The meaning of the words IN the former Verse the Prophet David prayed that the Lord would not leave him nor forsake him moving God thereto by this that God was the God of his salvation and here prosecuting the same matter he testifies his affiance and confidence in God for the enjoying of the blessing there prayed for which testimony he setteth forth by way of comparison preferring Gods tender care over him for his preservation before the care of his own parents both father and mother whom common nature bound to bee dearly and tenderly carefull over him saying when or although my father and my mother forsake me yet the Lord will gather or take me up Which words being plain we have in them two points to note the first implied the second expressed The thing implied is this The first Observation That Davids father and mother and so his dearest and nearest friends might leave him and forsake him in times of distresse Psal 38.11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore and my kinsmen stand afarre off Psal 88.8.18 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance farre from me thou hast made me an abomination unto them Lover and friend hast thou put farre from me and mine acquaintance into darknesse as if he should have said now I am in misery I cannot see them they will not see me The first Reason The reason hereof is twofold First their fear of Saul their King who was a furious bloody-minded man as may appear beside his inhumane carriage to David whose workes towards Saul were very good as 1 Sam. 19.4 5 10 11. by his barbarous dealing with the Lords Priests whom he put to the sword both men and women children and sucklings and oxen and asses and sheep without any just cause 1 Sam. 22.18 19. Yea further by his unnaturall dealing with his own sonne whom he did not onely shamefully revile but must unnaturally seek to slay for his love and kindnesse unto David 1 Sam. 20.30 31 33. Hereupon Davids friends might justly fear his cruell hands for they might say if he would not spare his own sonne for Davids sake what will he do to us if we shew David any kindnesse And hence no doubt it was that Davids father and mother and all their house went down to David when he was in the cave of Adullam that they might bee out of danger from Sauls fury 1 Sam. 22.1 3. The second Reason Secondly this might befall David by divine disposition for the triall of Davids faith and patience as in like case it befell Job Job 19.13 14 19. He hath put my brethren farre from me and my acquaintance are verily estranged from me My kinsfolk have failed and my familiar friends have forgotten me All my friends abhorred me and they whom I loved are turned against me This serves for instruction and for admonition The first Use for instruction For instruction two wayes First it shews most plainly how vain and uncertain the help of man is in time of need Psal 60.11 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man Psal 62.9 Surely men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lye to be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter then vanity A double ground of mans uncertainty The vanity and uncertainty of mans help stands upon a double ground in man first the mutability of his affection whose greatest favour may soon be changed into sore displeasure as Ahashuerus was towards Haman whom he highly honoured for a while Hest 3.1 2. but soon after caused him to be hanged upon a gallowes which Haman had prepared for Mordecai of 50. cubits high Hest 7.9 10. and in Ammon towards Tamar whose future hatred of her after he had ravished her exceeded his former love wherwith he had loved her 2 Sa. 13.15 Secondly upon the instability of his condition whereby in his best estate he is altogether vanity walking in a vain shew Ps 39.5 6. For what man liveth and shall not see death Ps 89.48 Now when death cometh he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish Ps 146.4 thē can he do nothing for himself lesse for others Secondly see in David what may be the case of Gods own dear children The second Use for instruction even to be forsaken of their nearest and dearest earthly friends in time of distresse Ps 68 9 20. I am becom a stranger unto my brethren and an alien unto my mothers children I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I found none So Paul complains 2 Tim. 4.16 At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me Holy Job saith To him that is afflicted pitty should be shewed from his friend but he forsaketh the fear of the almighty My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook and as stream of brooks they passe away Job 6.14 15. Yea this was the lot and portion of our blessed Saviour at his apprehension Matth 26.56 then all the Disciples forsook him and fled The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First that seeing father and mother may forsake us we put not our trust in men be they never so near or dear unto us in nature This is Davids counsell Psal 146.3 Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sonne of man in whom there is no help remember his mortality there mentioned Vers 4. His breath goeth forth be returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish And adde thereto the consideration of his mutability in affection before mentioned with the Lords threatning of a curse to him that trusteth in man Jer. 17.5.6 Indeed we may trust to men as the meanes but not as the foundation of our help The second Use for admonition Secondly that we be not dismaid when our friends do fail us we see by Job David and our Saviour Christ that it is no strange thing Reason as Christ doth Matth. 10.24 25. The disciple is not above his master c. and Luke 23.31 If they have done these things in a green tree what shall be done in the dry The second observation The second thing to be here observed is purposely intended that when Davids nearest and dearest friends forsook him then the Lord would gather him up Psal 142.4 5 7. I looked on my right hand and behold but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my soul I cried unto the Lord thou art my refuge thou wilt deal bountifully with
like well 1 Kings 12.28 29. and to set their posts by the Lords as Ezek. 43.8 But wisedome is justified of her children Matth. 11.19 These men professing themselves to be wise become fools see Rom. 1.22 23 24. Mark well till thou hast an heart for Gods worship thou hast no soul fit for heaven How canst thou be a pillar in Gods house and never brought to the framing place In the materiall Temple there were three places so publike assemblies are for regeneration and glory For motives think on Joh. 3.5 Except a man bee born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Vse 4 Secondly to Gods children are they lovely to thee Let thine actions towards Gods worship declare the truth of thine affections Men of authority and wealth must apply both for the mgintenance and furtherance of Gods worship so did David 1 Chron. 29.2 3. I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God c. Because I have set my affection to the house of my God c. Ministers especially must shew love unto and delight in the Lords worship by negligence they conceale the knowledge of God see Mat. 23.13 Luke 11.52 The shew bread must be set upon the table in the Tabernacle every Sabbath new Lev. 24.8 By prophanenesse they cause the Lords Tabernacle and service to be forsaken and loathed 1 Sam. 2.17 people also must call one on another Is 2.2 3. and all both Magistrates Ministers and people must pray for the Lords power and providence in maintaining his pure worship The next week being the time of ordination of Ministers it is not unfit to take notice of it to do that which Christ enjoyned Mat. 9.38 Pray ye therefore the Lords of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest Though Papists observe such times superstitiously yet we may do as Gideon who sacrificed to the Lord that which was prepared for Baal Iudg. 6.26 Vers 2. Verse 2 My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God IN the former verse David by way of admiration acknowledgeth unto the Lord the louelinesse of his Tabernacles In this verse he doth in his owne person verifie his former confession by discovering his owne ardent and earnest affection first to the place of Gods worship then to God himselfe for whose sake he so affected the place His fervent affection towards the place is in these words My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. The Courts of the Lord were two one was the great Court that place whither the people came the other was for the Priests 2 Chron. 4.9 For this Davids soule longed and fainted he had as great a desire after it as a woman with child hath after the things she longeth for and being deprived hereof his soule â—ainted as women will do when they misse of the things they long for His vehement desire after God himselfe is in the latter branch My heart and my flesh cryeth our for the living God In the words note two points First Davids earnest and ardent affection towards the places of Gods publick worship 1. Observation his soule longed and fainted after them his affection towards this place was like the appetite of a woman with child who is apt to desire some things inordinately see Psal 27.4 Ps 42.1 Ps 63.1 The reason hereof stands on a double ground First the sense of his owne estate in soule for some spirituall wants Reoson 1. and 2. His estate in soule was this first hee had a true spirituall hunger and thirst after heavenly things as Psal 107.5 which things were onely to be had in the Tabernacles of God His case was like the prodigall childs Luke 15.17 he was hunger-starved and there was bread enough at his fathers house for the Tabernacles of God are Beth-lehem the house of Bread Matth. 2.6 Here Christ is borne the true bread of life John 6.48.50 It might well be called the house of bread for antiently it was Ephath or Ephratha a place of fruitfulnesse Gen. 48.7 and at Bethlehem was an excellent Well after which David longed 2 Sam. 23.15 so in Gods Tabernacles is the river of his pleasures the fountain of life Hither apply Ezek. 47.1 the waters of the Sanctuary and Zech. 13.1 a fountain for uncleannesse Secondly David was in love which affection will grow to be strong strong as death Cant. 8.6 7. Now the party he loved was here and here onely to bee enjoyed for speciall spirituall society 1 Kings 9.3 See Canticles 1.7 8. Thirdly Davids soule was with child he had spiritually conceived Chist Now longing is ordinary to women Plin. lib. 23. cap. 6. with child its gravidarum malacia and the thing he longed for was in the courts of the Lord. Vse 1 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort For instruction touching the good or bad estate of mens soules for if our soules be in good estate we must be affected towards Evangelicall worship as Davids was towards legall for hunger and thirst love and longing after heavenly things In Evangelicall worship is our communion and fellowship with Christ and his benefits and indeed in this world herein only and chiefly because of Gods ordinances If thou say with Naaman Are not Abana and Parphar rivers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israel 2 Kings 5.12 thou must keep thy leprosie of sinne unlesse thou change thy mind for all Gods springs are here Psal 87.7 Now after tryall it will be found true that many neither hunger nor thirst love nor long but say as Mal. 1.13 It is a wearinesse and as Amos 8.5 when will the new Moon and Sabbath be gone as Iob. 21.14 they say unto God depart from us and as the mixt multitude Numb 11.6 Our soule is dryed away there is nothing at all besides this Manna before our eyes Vse 2 For admonition to labour to have our hearts affected towards Evangelicall worship as Davids was towards legall The way is to informe our selves of our naturall misery in our selves for which there is no remedy but in the Lords Tabernacles his Bethesda Iohn 5.2 c. where whosoever first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had Our misery is spirituall in blindnesse of mind hardnesse of heart c. Now here onely is the Lords eye-salve Rev. 3.18 and the spirit that takes away the stony heart and gives an heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 Vse 3 For comfort it makes generally to those that truly desire and delight in Evangelicall worship if herein they deale sincerely they cannot but be acceptable to God and he will give testimony to them as he did to David I have found David the sonne of Iesse a man after mine owne heart Acts 13.22 of them it may be said as Mat. 13.16 Blessed are your eyes for they
saving grace as we may see in Babel the glory of Kingdomes Is 13.19 c. Jer. 51.6 7. and in Dives the picture or pattern of worldly wealthy Epicures The Use for admonition For admonition it serves effectually both to people in generall in Townes and Kingdomes and to persons in particular in every familie that if they desire true glory should dwell among them they make sure that Gods mercy and truth do meet together with them and in them Now this mercy and truth is revealed in the word of the gospell and indeed in the preaching of the gospell is offered unto all that hear it Tit. 2.11 They therefore that receive believe and obey the gospell have Gods mercy and truth to meet among them and in them and if their faâ—th do work by love Gal. 5.6 and their love be shewed by keeping Gods commandements 1 John 5.3 then they need not doubt of their glorious estate in Gods esteem It is true the world derides this course and counsell and think it a vain thing Mal. 3.14 15. they call the proud happy c. but wisedome is justified of her children Mat. 11.19 and they that make tryall shall find the comfort and assurance of it The Use for comfort For comfort it makes greatly to the godly in whose hearts mercy and truth are met together against the contempt and reproach of the world for it is as the housholders kind welcome against the barking of his dogs Let us therefore be of Pauls mind 1 Cor. 4.3 With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of mans judgement and we shall feel his comfort Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us and 2 Cor. 4.17 Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory and of Davids 2 Sam 6.21 22. It was before the Lord c. and I will yet be more vile then thus c. The second observation Secondly here note also that where a state or people or particular person be truly glorious before God there mercy and truth between man and man must be duly and conscionably practised They that are beautified with Gods grace and favour and other blessings of the covenant must answer Gods goodnesse with the exercise of mercy and faithfulnesse towards their brethren 2 Cor. 4.1 As we have received mercy of the Lord we faint not meaning we labour faithfully to bring others to the participation of the same mercy See it notably practised by David Psal 51.1 13. Have mercy upon me O God and then will I teach transgressours thy wayes c. As Psal 101.1 I will sing of mercy and judgement Psal 26.3 Thy loving kindnesse is before me and I have walked in thy truth The first Reason The reason hereof is plain First Gods graces and blessings towards his children are in a marvellous manner operative in them causing them to do the like towards their brethren see Exod. 34.29 when Moses had conversed with the God of glories in the Mount he received glory into his countenance which made his face to shine before the people and so we all behold the glory of the Lord in Christ with open face and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 his love in Christ constraineth us to love mens souls and to seek their conversion see 2 Cor. 5.14 c Gal. 1.15 16 17. Psal 16.2 3. The second Reason Secondly the want of mercy and truth towards our brethren declares us to be destitute of true grace and liable to Gods displeasure Hos 4.1 2. God hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth nor mercy c. This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The Use for instruction For instruction it shewes plainly that mens behaviour and cariage towards their brethren will discover and manifest their state and condition before God A constant course in the exercise of mercy and truth toward men by those that live in the Church and professe the truth shews plainly that God in Christ hath extended mercy and truth towards them and so for other graces As we have received mercy we faint not 2 Cor. 4.1 Meaning in faithfull dispensation of the truth to bring others to the participation of the same mercy for the love of Christ constraineth us 2 Cor. 5.14 See 1 John 3.14 Hence are those exhortations to love and mercy Matth. 5.44 45. Luke 6.36 Eph. 5.1 The use for admonition For admonition that we give our selves to the exercise of mercy and truth toward our brethren â—f we desire assurance of Gods mercy and truth to our own souls else we discredit Gods works of grace whereof we make profession if no fruit thereof appear towards our brethren Those in whom the devill works by suggestion and temptation unto evill are very forward and bold to draw others unto evill and shall not the power of Gods spirit in grace be as mighty in the godly to move them to well doing See how Paul laboured for the glory of God in the conversion of others when he had once tasted of gods mercy and grace in his own 1 Cor. 15.10 Acts 20.24 2 Cor. 11.28 29. Phil. 2.17 The Use for comfort For comfort it makes greatly to those that give themselves to the exercise of mercy and truth towards their brethren for they shall finde mercy with God and the truth of his promises shall be made good unto them see Jam. 2.13 Mercy rejoyceth against judgement Righteousnesse and peace have kissed each other The second couple of heavenly blessings most assuredly vouchsafed in Christs kingdome to all that truly fear God which as the former being generally propounded without any limitation to God or man alone I take so largely as to comprehend both Gods righteousnesse and peace vouchsafed unto men and the righteousnesse and peace which men are to exercise and prosecute one towards another because indeed if either of these be wanting the glory of Gods salvation is not yet come Now their kissing one another is a metaphoricall phrase taken from lovers and friends meeting together who use to greet one another with a kisse of love here serving very fitly to set out the sweet accord and comfort of grace amongst Gods people Here then we have to note two things touching the state of Gods people in Christs kingdome truely fearing God for their comfortable fruition of righteousnesse and peace First that they have these graces truly vouchsafed unto them from God Secondly that they do most lovingly and sweetly exercise the same one towards another The third Observation For the first in Christs kingdome God doth most lovingly bestow on those that truly fear him both his righteousnesse and his peace Gods righteousnesse bestowed on his people is
the foundation of these evils for affliction followes sinners as Jer. 9.12 c. Who is the wise man that may understand this and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that he may declare it for what the land perisheth and is burnt up like a wildernesse that none passeth through And the Lord said Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them and have not obeyed my voyce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peccatum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danum neither walked therein c. Sinne brings in death it selfe and all evils that forerunne or accompany the same By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5.12 Yet Gods dear and fatherly love to his Church comes in as a moving cause of the Churches afflictions that thereby he may bring them to repentance and to escape condemnation see Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chaster whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom he receiveth Heb. 12.16 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that wee should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.30,32 Herein it is with our heavenly Father as Solomon saith of earthly parents Prov. 13.24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Hence David pronounceth them blessed whom the Lord correcteth Psal 94.12 and acknowledgeth it was good for him and that God did it of very faithfulnesse Psal 119.67.71 75. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word c. This we are to note to prevent rash judgement against our selves and others under the crosse whereto how apt we are against our selves see Is 49.14 Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten mee against others If. 53.3.12 He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrowes and acquainted with griefe and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and wee esteemed him not Hee was numbred with the transgressours The first use for admonition For admonition two wayes First to give all diligence to become true members of the Church that so wee may have part in Gods speciall love wherein stands true happinesse And hereto two things are required first that we know the true Church and secondly that we be not only in it but of it For the first where the true Church of God is what people professing religion be Gods true Church is a great question of large extent and much disputed between Protestants and Papists For our direction and resolution briefly let us learn this That the true Church is Christs mysticall body Eph. 1.22 23. Gave him that is Christ to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body That spirituall building which consist of spirituall living stones built upon the foundation Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 6 7. Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 3.9 That is such professours of the the faith of the Gospell as by the work of the spirit are indued with true faith and adorn their profession with new obedience Now then those that professe Religion and have communion and fellowship with Christ through the work of the spirit in grace undoubtedly are true members of Christs Church But those that be evidenced to want fellowship with Christ through faith are no Church of God nor true members thereof Now they of the Church of Rome are cut off from this fellowship by their ido atry Col. 2.18 19. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind and not holding the head c. By their opinion of justification by works Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are fallen from grace Gal. 5.4 By making the Pope the head of the Church for he is Antichrist and those that so hold are Antichristian the true Church hath not two heads The way to become true members of Christs Church for sure title to Gods speciall love is humbly and reverently to receive the word of the covenant and conscionably to yeeld obedience thereunto as Deut. 33.3 Mark 16.26 The right receiving is by faith 1 Pet. 2.7 And the truth thereof must be testified by obedience For true faith worketh by love Gal. 5 6. And this is the love of God that wet keep his Commandements 1 Iohn 5.3 The second use for admonition Secondly the wicked of the world must hereby be admonished to beware of wronging Gods children for God that loves them above others will require and requite it Psal 10.14 as Psalm 105.14 15. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harme He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye Zech. 2.8 Therefore it will be good to regard and follow the counsell of Gamaliel Acts 5.38 Refrain from these men and let them alone lest we be found fighters against God and it be said to us as it was unto Paul Acts 9.4 5. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me c. For consolation it makes greatly to every true member of Gods Church in any distresse for certainly they have a speciall part and portion in Gods love from which no afflictions can separate them see Rom. 8.35,37,38,39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword Nay in all these things we are more then conquerours through him that loved us c. Having loved his owne which were in the world hee loved them unto the end John 13.1 Therefore even in affliction they may say Rejoyce not against me O mine enemie when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light unto me Micah 7.8 Verse3 Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God The meaning of the words A Third thing setting out the happinesse of the Church that though her present outward state be not alwayes comfortable and glorious yet even then her future hopes upon divine prophecies and promises are great and excellent In the words note two things First the description of the place Secondly the declaration of her happinesse in the ground of her hopes For the first the place here spoken of is Jerusalem thus described thou City of God so called because of Gods sanctuary here seated on Mount Sion which place God chose and desired for his habitation saying This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 132.13 14. Whereupon in the new Testament it is called the City of the great King Mat. 5.35 Now the earthly Jerusalem
Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance incorruptible c. Mark also that true faith and regeneration do accompany each other Whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God 1 Joh. 5.1 Now true believers are children Gal. 3.26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and so free as Matth. 7.26 they are heyres Gal. 4.7 and have great prerogatives implyed John 1.12 13. expressed Ephes 2.19 Fellow-citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Fellow-heirs of the same body Ephes 3.6 The Reason The reason hereof is plain for this change of state in soul by regeneration is the proper fruit of the spirit of Adoption in an affectuall applying of the power and efficacie of Christs death and resurrection both which proceed from the speciall love of God the father in that saving work which actually makes them his children and so heyrs of the kingdome Rom. 8.17 joynt heires with Christ and so free for the children are free Matth. 17.26 Christ Jesus the naturall sonne doth make them free and so they are free indeed Joh. 8.36 For where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 Therefore the Apostle saith this begetting again is to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet. 1.3 4. This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first use for instruction For instruction two wayes First that mans being in the state of grace may be truly and certainly known For regeneration or the new birth may be certainly known which is the unfailing foundation of the state of grace 1 Joh. 5.1 Whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God And true faith may be known 2 Cor. 13.5 Again we see naturall generation is evident by the enlivenec parts of a true humane body their view and employment doth evince naturall or corporall generation why then shall not the lively parts of the new man declare certainly our regeneration whereby we are begotten and born of God as knowledge in the minde holinesse in the will and affections and righteousnesse in life and conversation Eph. 4.21 22 23 24. compared with Rom. 6.19 Whence we may see that the Papists do erre in saying that the state of grace cannot bee certainly known but by extraordinary revelation We may well say they erre not knowing the Scripture nor the power power of God See 1 Joh. 5.13 for faith and 1 John 3.14 for love as declaring this estate The second Use for instruction Secondly that Gods children shall undoubtedly persevere in the state of grace They that be endued with true faith and repentance and other saving graces shall never lose the same True grace may be lessened or weakened in degree but not finally or totally lost For all such are regenerate by the spirit and his work abides his seed remaines so as they cannot make sinne their trade by sinning unto death or with full consent 1 Joh. 3.9 and 5.18 Objection Answer But som believe for a time Luk. 8.18 Their faith is humane acquired and got by reading hearing and other good exercises of religion without the work of the spirit it is not infused by the holy Ghost in the foresaid means Between which kindes of faith this is the true difference that acquired faith ever leaves some corner for the devill some sinne unreformed as Acts 8.13 19 23. but faith infused purifies the heart from the dominion of every sinne as Acts 15.9 The use for admonition For admonition this serves effectually to move every one to give all diligence for this estate first to get it then to keep it For the getting of it consider Christs command Luk. 13.24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate Which strift stands in two things First that we receive with meeknesse the word of God hoth the law to disecver sinne and to humble us for the same and the Gospel to cast into our hearts the seed of grace as Jam. 1.21 Receive with meeknesse the engrafted word wherein Gods spirit doth beget Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth 1 Pet. 1.23 25. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God and this is the word which by the Gospell is preached unto you It is the word of faith Rom. 10.8 which doth ever accompany regeneration 1 John 5.1 Whence John â— 11 12 13. He came unto his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave hee power to become the sonnes of God even to them that believe on his name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Secondly that we pray unto God instantly and earnestly for Gods spirit which doth beget unto eternall life Luke 11.13 For the preserving and keeping of this estate we must do three things First keep fewell to the spark of grace cast into our hearts by regeneration which is by endeavouring that the word of God may dwell richly in us Colos 3.16 Secondly blow upon the spark when the fewell is put to which is by prayer as 1 Thess 5.17 This David did Psal 51.10 11 12. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me Thirdly wrath against sin which is as water to quench the spirit and walk in obedience which is pleasing unto God and entitles us to Gods presence and preservation If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed John 8.31 Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock And the raine descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock Mat. 7.24 25. Wherefore my beloved as ye have alwaies obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 Seeing you have purified your soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfained love of the brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 The use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to the regenerate for God hath begun a good work in them and will undoubtedly perfect it untill the day of Iesus Christ Phil. 1.6 herein is the riches of Gods love and mercy seen Of his love 1 John 3.1 Of his mercy 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. Now whom he thus loves to the end he loves them John 13.1 His gifts and calling are without repentance Rom. 11.29 By regeneration we are sonnes and so heires Rom. 8.17 17. And who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8.31.33 The fourth Observation The fourth thing here to be noted is the people and
receive it both morning and evening Consider what Solomon saith Eccles 11.6 In the morning sow thy seed in the evening withhold not thine hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good And seeing the blessing is in the hand of God not in the meanes as Rom. 9.16 Is it not of him that willeth or of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy And John 1.11 12 13. He came unto his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the fonnes of God even to them that believed on his name Which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God therefore must they be instant in prayer and carefull of godly behaviour that their prayers may bee more availeable with God as Jam. 5 16. The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much The second thing in this verse shewing the glorious state of the Church foreshewed by David is this The highest himself shall â—stablish her Which is a great prerogative for the Church of God hath many and mighty enemies the devill himself and all his instruments who are all wicked spirits and all wicked men yet this is sufficient ground of comfort that the true God who is Lord of the Church is above them all and can restrain or confound them all when he will and can stablish his Church and children in the state of grace unto all eternity In this prerogative note two things First the title whereby God is stiled Secondly the work he undertakes for the good of his Church The title is the highest or most high where this is plain The second observation The true God is the highest above all Psal 97.9 Thou Lord art high above all the earth thou art exalted farre above all Gods Gen. 14.19 22. Blessed he Abraham of the most high God possessour of heaven and earth The reason The reason is plain The true God is infinite in power and Majesty and others besides him in heaven and earth are finite and under him Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatnesse is unsearchable Psalme 145.3 Angels and authorities and powers are subject unto him 1 Pet. 3.22 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort For instruction that we choose the most high for our God The use for instruction and labour to know and acknowledge him as 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my sonne know thou the God of thy fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind and give him our hearts in love fear joy and confidence as Prov. 23.26 so shall we be free from the fear of evill as Psal 91.1 2 9 10 14. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty c. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my name The Use for admonition For admonition that we make this soveraignty in God above all others to be the ground of inward fear and outward obedience to the true God See Luke 12.4 5. Be not affraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarne you whom ye shall fear Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you fear him And adde 1 et 3.22 who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him The use for comfort For comfort it makes greatly to the godly against all oppositions from the great ones of the world For the most high is their God and for them whereupon they may say as Psal 118.6 The Lord is on my side I will not fear what can man do unto me yea as Psal 3.6 I will not be affraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about Consider what the Prophet Jeremie saith Jer. 20.11 The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one therefore my persecutors shall stumble and they shall not prevaile they shall be greatly ashamed for they shall not prosper their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten Also Dan. 3.16 17 18. Shadrach Mesbach and Abednego answered and said unto the King O Nebuchadnezzar we are not carefull to answer thee in this matter If it be so our God whom we serve is able to diliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King c. The second Observation The second thing to be noted here is the gracious work which God undertakes for his Church he himself will establish her The true God will confirme and establish his Church and every true member of it in their good and comfortable estate against all opposition by their mightiest enemies See Psal 46.1 2,3 4. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed c. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God This river is the Lord himself Is 33.21 22. The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streames wherein shall go no galley with oares neither shall gallant ships passe thereby For the Lord is our judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early Psal 46.5 God is known in her Pallaces for a refuge Psal 48.3 The Reason The reason is for that Gods Church is his by a more neer and peculiar title then any other people in the world as namely by election 1 Pet. 1.2 redemption Tit. 2.14 sanctification by the spirit 2 Thess 2.13 14. and by speciall covenant of grace Psal 50.5 called a covenant of salt for the perpetuity of it 2 Chron. 13.5 from which God will never turn away as Jer. 32.39 4â— 42. I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear mee for ever for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soule This serves for instruction and for admonition The first use for instruction For instruction see that the Church of God and every true member of it is more blessed and happy then the state condition of any other people for the most high will stablish
variety of phrase for the greater evidence of unfaigned desire and that also by couples as Christ sent forth his Disciples for their mutuall strengthening and further barketh each couple with a strong â—cuson The first doubled suit is this Hide not thy face farre from me put not away thy servant in anger The reasons propounded to strengthen them are two the first implyed in the title servant the second expressed drawn from former experience of Gods goodnesse thou hast been mine helper The second couple or doubled request is this leave me not neither forsake me and the reason backing them is drawn from Davids title to God by covenant thus plainly expressed O God of my salvation The things then which we have here to handle are Davids requests and Davids reasons to enforce the same His requests are deprecatory against evils he feared and in part felt as the hiding of Gods face putting away in anger Gods leaving and forsaking which all aiming at one thing even Davids feeling and fruition of Gods favour we may in them all well observe The first Observation That David prayed earnestly that he might not be deprived of Gods grace and favour nor want the light of Gods countenance to shine upon him Psal 13.1 How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face from me The first Reason The reasons hereof are weighty First the surpassing worth and excellency of Gods speciall favour whereof he would not be deprived in it is life Psal 30.5 it is better then life Psal 63.3 now all that a man hath will he give for his life Job 2.4 The second Reason Secondly he knew the displeasure of God was a most heavie and grievous thing which no creature is able to bear Psal 76.7 Thou even thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry See Deut. 32.41 42. If I whet my glittering sword c. Vengeance is his and he will recompence Solomon saith the wrath of a King is as messengers of death Prov. 16.14 what then is the anger of God The third Reason Thirdly David knew his own guilt of sinne both originall Psal 51.5 and actuall Psal 51.3 4. and so must needs conceive that God in justice might hide his face from him be angry with him leave him and forsake him as he saith Psal 130.3 If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand The fourth Reason Fourthly he was not ignorant of Gods soveraignty over all whereby he may even for triall of grace hide his face and seem angry with his dearest servants For who was better then Job None in his time was like him in all the earth an upright man fearing God and eschewing evill Job 1.8 yet who endured sorer afflictions so as he complaineth that God hid his face and held him for his enemy that he writ bitter things against him and made him to possesse the sins of his youth Job 13.24 26. yea God himself confesseth that Satan moved him to destroy Job without a cause Job 2.3 This serves for instruction and for admonition The first Use for instruction For instruction 3. ways First see in David what the godly do think of the want of Gods favour surely that it is a most grievous and bitter thing as if a father should put away his childe in anger leave him and forsake him This David manifested in his speech to Zadok when he brought out the ark of God to carry with them Carry back saith he the ark of God into the city if I shall finde favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation But if he say I have no delight in thee behold here I am let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 2 Sam. 15.25 26. This is the rather to be marked because the hearts of naturall men are not affected with the least sorrow for the hiding of Gods face if they may enjoy temporall blessings wherein their naturall hearts do take delight they desire no more being of Sauls minde who when Samuel had told him God had cast him away yet desired to be honoured before the people 1 Sam. 15.23.30 he fought for popular honour but makes no entreaty for Gods favour And indeed how should naturall men do otherwise The favour of God in Christ is a spirituall blessing and the want thereof expressed by the hiding of Gods face a spiritual judgment These are things unknown without the work of the spirit as 1 Cor. 21.14 and so no marvell if the judgment be not feared where the contrary blessing is not discerned nor desired The second Use for instruction Secondly see here that the true childe of God may for a time want the feeling of Gods speciall favour and remain under the sense of Gods displeasure as left and forsaken of God See it plain in David Psal 38.1 2 c. Psal 77.7 8 9 10 in the complaint of the Church Psal 44.23 24. Arise cast us not off for ever wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression and Lament 3.1 to 19. I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath He hath led me and brought me into darknesse c. and vers 43 44. Thou hast covered with anger and persecuted us thou hast covered thy self with a cloud that our prayers should not passe through And Jobs complaint of this estate is as plain as any Job 13.24 26. Nay more did not our blessed Saviour in the sense of his manhood complain hereof Matth. 7.46 Now if God do so with the green tree what shall be done in the dry Luke 23.31 yet remember this distresse is but for a time Psal 30.5 Isa 54.7 8. The third Use for instruction Thirdly here see that prayer is a blessed and sanctified meanes wherein the childe of God may comfortably wait for the blessing of Gods favour in the want thereof and for the removing of his anger under the signes thereof See the promise of God himself in this case Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me 2 Chron. 7.13 14. If I shut heaven that there be no rain c. If my people do humble themselves and pray and seek my face I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sinnes and will heal their land The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves two waye First that we examine our selves how our hearts esteem of the want of feeling Gods speciall love and favour in Christ If we judge it as David did a grievous thing and bâ—tter we then have undoubtedly some work of the spirit aâ— least in legall compunction breaking up the fallow ground of the heart and so preparing it for the seed of grace as Acts 2.37 38. But if we slight it over without trouble or sorrow
subject themselves to his holy will and wait in prayer for grace and mercy See Acts 9.9 11. The second Use for admonition Secondly Gods children that have entred covenant with God must be carefull to shew themselves Gods servants for profession without practice is nothing but hypocrisie making us like the Church of Sardis who had a name to be alive The properties of good servants but was dead Rev. 3.1 Therefore wee must get the certain and infallible properties of good servants which are partly inward and partly outward The inward are good affections which are specially three First fear and reverence Mal. 1.6 Psal 2.11 Secordly conscionable obedience to his revealed will Reason from Eph. 6.5 6 7. and from the Centurions confession Matth. 8.9 as from the lesse to the greater Without this none are acknowledged for servants Luke 6.46 This must be seen both in eschewing evill and doing good as God saith of his servant Job Job 1.8 9. yea we must shew our well-doing in improving our Masters talents Matth. 25.23 25. in fighting for him and for the faith John 18.36 Jude 3. in waiting for his coming Luke 12.36 And in all these we must be servants in ordinary not onely retainers that serve God by fits Thirdly wee must patiently suffer his corrections Heb. 12.9 10. Reason from 1 Pet. 2.18 c. as from the lesse to the greater Fourthly we must praise God for his mercy Psal 134.1 Psal 50.23 Psal 119.175 The second reason which David useth to move the Lord not to hide his face c. is plainly expressed drawne from his own experience of Gods former mercies in times of trouble saying Thou hast been my help that is when as heretofore I have been in distresse and danger thou hast holpen me and therein shewed thy favour toward mee Now hereupon saith David knowing thee to be unchangeable I appeal unto thee for like mercy that I have formerly felt In this reason we have two things to note First the thing confessed by David simply considered by it self Secondly with reference to the end for which David here propounds it For the first the thing confessed by David simply considered is this The third observation That God was Davids helper and so had been Psal 54.4 Behold God is mine helper Psal 3.3 Thou Lord art a shield for me my glory and the lifter up of my head Psal 30.10 Hear Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou mine helper The first Reason The reason hereof is threefold First Gods free grace and mercy receiving David into covenant and therein undertaking to become his helper and deliverer Psal 89.3.21 22. I have made a covenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant with whom my hand shall be established the enemy shall not exact upon him c. And this is answerable to that which God saith to his people in generall Psal 50.5.15 The second Reason Secondly David put his trust in God whereby he was intituled to Gods help in trouble Psal 28.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield mine heart trusted in him and I am helped for indeed to such God becomes an helper Psal 37.39 40. Psal 33.18 19. The third Reason Thirdly David walked before God in conscionable obedience which gave him title to this blessing to have the Lord to be his helper Psal 18.16 17 18. Hee sent from above he took me he drew me out of many waters He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them which hated me they prevented me in the day of my calamity but the Lord was my stay c. â—ers 21. For I have kept the wayes of the Lord c. which was answerable to Gods generall promise Deut. 28.1 2 7 and Psal 81.13 14 15 16. This serves for instruction and for admonition The use for instruction For instruction in that which David professeth we may see a notable priviledge of the godly who be in covenant with God do love and fear God and trust in him and testifie the same by conscionable obedience these have this prerogative that the true God is their helper which to be a great blessing is plainly affirmed with very significant illustration Psal 146.3 4 5. for Princes are potent earthly helpers but vain is their help without the Lord for their breath is in their nostrils but the God of Jacob is the living God who doth neither slumber nor sleep Ps 121.1 2 3 c. and so is the best helper as we may see at large Psal 91. thoroughout especially vers 9.14 15. whence he is by way of excellence stiled the deliverer Rom. 11.26 because as Nebuchadnezzar said none can deliver as hee doth Dan. 3.28 29. which is plain also by Daniels delivery from the Lions den Dan. 6. which made Paul to say though we be compassed about on every side yet we are not in a strait c. 2 Cor. 4.8 for the way of help is never shut to the prayer of faith Psal 50.15 Nay mans extremity is Gods opportunity and therefore hath God lessened outward means for the plainer evidence of his own power Judg. 7.4 The first use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to labour diligently to get into our selves the grounds of this prerogative in having the true God for our helper as David had The way hereto we may see in David First get truly and rightly into covenant with God and rest not in the outward title of profession having onely the outward seals thereof for so far went the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.2 3. and Judas and Simon Magus but as Paul said of the Jews Rom. 2.28 29. their outward circumcision did not make them such no more doth our outward baptisme as 1 Pet. 3.21 Therefore we must get the ingrafting grace of true faith which purifies the heart Acts 15.7 wherein stands true inward baptisme for where God establisheth the covenant of grace he writes the law in the inward parts Heb. 8.10 12. Then professing this estate of being in covenant with God get the inward saving graces of love and fear and from them bring forth the fruits of new obedience as David did and the prerogative of having God for our helper shall be assured unto us for he hath said I will not fail thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 The second Use for admonition Secondly to watch carefully and constantly against that thing which will deprive us of this priviledge and that is sinne for it is a work of darknesse wherewith God will have no society Psal 94.20 1 John 1.6 It separates between God and us Isa 59.2 Whereupon the Lord said to his own people the Jews he would deliver them no more out of the hands of their enemies Judg. 10.13 14. Therefore with David we must hide Gods sayings in our hearts that we may not sinne against him Psal 119.11 and so strive to keep our selves from our iniquity Ps 18.23 Secondly
second Reason Secondly with the favour of acceptance into covenant God vouchsafed to work in Davids heart such inward graces as did maintain and continue unto David sure title to Gods salvation as first trust and affiance in God Psal 86.2 Save thy servant that trusteth in thee Psal 25.2 O my God I trust in thee Secondly love unfeigned whereby his heart did cleave to God Psal 18.1 2. I will love thee O Lord my strength The Lord is my rock Thirdly David did fear God and reverence him in his heart Psal 119 12â— My flesh trembleth for fear of thee I am afraid of thy judgements Now he will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their cry and save them This serves for instruction and for admonition and for comfort The Use for instruction For instruction see that it is a right and priviledge of them that be truly Godly by particular and speciall faith to apply Gods blessings of the covenant to themselves so David did ordinarily and Paul Gal. â— 20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himself for me 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Now herein he is a pattern to believers 1 Tim. 1.16 Which is the rather to be marked because Papists deny there is any such speciall faith for particular and personall assurance of the great blessings of the covenant but onely a generall applying of them as they belong to Gods Church But so the truly godly should go no further then wicked men nay then the very devils do for they know that there is a God and believe his goodnesse in Christ belongs to his Church Neither is it true that particular assurance of the many blessings of the covenant is onely a fruit of speciall and extraordinary revelation for the Scriptures testifie it comes from true particular ordinary saving graces as faith 1 Joh. 5.13 and love 1 John 3.14 The use for admonition For admonition every one that desires the comfort of this estate must labour to testifie the truth of being in covenant with God by those graces that did entitle David to the great blessings of the covenant even true faith in God through Christ true love and true fear of God The getting of faith is in the reverend exercise of the Word Rom. 10.17 to pray humbly and earnestly for the work of the spirit which is the worker of this grace 2 Cor. 4.13 The grace of love to God in our hearts is a fruit of the spirit Gal. 5.22 and so gotten in and by the reverend use of the same means the word and prayer whereby the spirit is given with which we must also joyn endeavor to feel the love of God in Christ towards us in justification and sanctification and then shall we out of doubt love him as 1 Joh. 4.19 And the grace of reverence and fear is a fruit of the same spirit Isa 11.2 so gotten as the other when by the word we are taught rightly to conceive of God and of our selves The Use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to those that being in covenant with God do testifie the truth of their faith in Christ of their love and fear of God which is rightly done by the fruits of these graces according to Christs rule The tree is known by his fruits Matth. 12.33 Now the sure fruit of true faith is the saving work of the word 1 Thes 2.13 The fruit of love is obedience in doing good for Gods glory 1 John 5.3 The fruit of fear is obedience to God in eschewing evill Exod. 20.20 Prov. 8.13 Prov. 14.27 Secondly consider Davids claim to have God for the God of his salvation with the end for which he doth here make it which is to move God not to hide his face from him nor to leave him nor forsake him and then this is plain The sixt Observation That they that have God for the God of their salvation have a good ground of assurance that he will not forever hide his face from them nor leave them nor forsake them I say forever because for a long time God may hide his face and seem to leave and forsake as Psal 13.1 2. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever How long wilt thou hide thy face c. And Psal 77.7 8. Will the Lord cast off for ever Is his mercy clean gone But if they be his by covenant he will certainly return and shew mercy see Psal 30.5 His anger endureth but a moment in his favour is life weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning See Isa 49.14 15 16. Zion saith the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking childe c. Isa 54.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but in great mercies will I gather thee c. The reason is from Gods faithfulnesse The reason in the covenant of grace in Christ which is established in the very heavens Psal 89.2 Faithfull is he that calleth you who will also do it 1 Thes 5.24 If we believe not yet he abideth faithfull he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2.13 If we mark well the causes of Gods forsaking those that be truly in covenant are ever temporary answerable whereunto mâ—st the forsaking it self be to wit correction for sinne and triall of grace for they that are effectually called are born of God and so cannot sinne unto death 1 John 3.9 and 5.18 unto whom Gods corrections are with instruction the way of life for thereby God humbles them for their sins and so brings them to repentance as Jer. 31.18 19. And the end which God made with Job shews that Gods trials of grace make them come forth as gold Job 23.10 This serves for instruction and for admonition The use for instruction For instruction see here a plain evidence of great gaine in true godlinesse as 1 Tim. 4.8 and 6.6 for their piety gives evidence of their being in covenant and then their troubles though they may be many and grievous yet certainly they are but temporary as Psal 34.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of them all Psl 37.7 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace so that a man shall say verily there is fruit for the righteous Psal 58.11 The Use for admonition For admonition to every one that lives in the Church to give diligence to get this estate to have the true God for the God of our salvation then we may be sure Gods leaving and forsaking will not bee overlong Psal 119.8 Now this requires first
they are the Temple of God God dwelleth in them and he is stronger then he that is in the world 1 Iohn 4.4 Vse 3 For admonition here learn to take notice of Gods dwelling places and to carry our selves answerable to his goodnesse and bounty therein His publick dwelling places are the holy Assemblies of Ministers and people in holy worship Towards which we must have Davids affection towards the Tabernacle Psal 42.2 3. and Psal 63.1 2. and shew forth our desire to glorifie God by provoking others to frequent the same Is 2.2 3. Mic. 4.1 2. But alas here justly we may complain as Lam. 1.4 The waies of Zion mourne few frequent these assemblies in comparison of those that run thick and threefold to sinfull and shamefull assemblies where Satan dwelleth as hee doth In places of Idolatry and impiety For comfort it makes greatly to all Gods children who are the true members of his Church they have a double assurance that Christ dwelleth in them their inward piety and their outward profession Hereon they may say as Ier. 20.11 The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one therefore my persecutors shall stumble and they shall not prevaile they shall be greatly ashamed for they shall not prosper their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten and with David Psal 113.5 6. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high who humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth Consider Luke 11.21 22. and Iohn 14.17 18. The point purposely intended is 3. Observation that Gods Tabernacles are most lovely and amiable surpassing Davids ability to expresse Psal 268. Psal 27.4 and Psalme 122.1 Reason 1 The Reason is First Gods gracious presence as he stands in covenant with his people for so he shewes himselfe in his Sanctuary the place of his worship and his presence is lovely Psal 63.2 To see thy power and glory so as I have seene thee in thy Sanctuary this liked Moses so well that he had rather stay with it in the Wildernesse then go without it to Canaan Exodus 33. â—5 Mat. 17.2 3 4. When Christ was transfigured in the Mount in the sight of Peter Iames and Iohn Peter liked the place so well that he said Master it is good to be here and moves for liberty to build three Tabernacles Reason 2 Secondly there God doth lovingly admit communion and society with his people speaking unto them in his word as Psal 50.5.7 Is 40.1 and hearing them speak to him in prayer Psal 50.15 as Cant. 2.14 It is as we may speak with reverence the wooing place between Christ and his Church here the contract is made in the covenant of grace as 2 Cor. 11.2 here is the love of espousals Ier. 2.2 here God allowes and speaks comfort Hos 2.14 Reason 3 Thirdly here God doth shew himselfe most gracious in mercy and bounty unto his Church His gracious mercy is seene in removing evils from them as First blindnesse of mind Is 22.7 with 2 Cor. 3.14 secondly hardnesse of heart Ezek. 36.26 thirdly transgression of life Hos 14.4 His gracious bounty is seen in spirituall and heavenly gifts for where is regeneration wrought but in his Church Psalme 87.4 5. Man and man that is every man that is borne again was borne in her for Hierusalem is the mother of us all Gal. 4.26 Now hereby by we are made the sonnes of God heirs of heaven 1 Pet. 1.3.4 Where are all the particular saving graces of the spirit begotten in the hearts of men but in the Churchordinarily Psal 87.7 All my springs are in thee The spirit is the fountain and peculiar graces the streames that issue thence see Iohn 7.37.39 Here God begets grace in thy soule and is it not a most lovely thing to have such neer and sweet society with God It was divine joy to the Virgin Mary that the holy Ghost did overshadow her and forme the blessed body of Christ in her womb as we may see by her song Luke 1.46 47. My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour O consider that God begetting grace in thy heart in his Church Christ is formed in thee spiritually Gal. 4.19 which should be more joyfull unto thee if more might be then Christs conception was to her because shee might have beene saved without that honour but thou canst not unlesse Christ be formed in thee here thou beholdest and art changed into the same image 2 Cor. 3.18 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort Vse 1 For instruction First that our Christian assemblies for Evangelicall worship are lovely places for what David said of the legall Tabernacle is most true of Evangelicall assemblies for the holy worship of God in Christ in the word Sacraments and prayer For Hebr. 9.11 Christ is now come an high Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle And here he is present Mat. 18.20 admitting his elect to holy society and fellowship with himself also exercising most gracious mercy and bounty in removing evils and bestowing heavenly blessings and graces upon his Vse 2 Secondly see here a reason of Davids strong affection towards the legall tabernacle and proportionably of the affection of Gods children toward Evangelicall worship he was sick for sorrow when he was debarred from it see Psal 42.1 2. and most joyfull when hee had freedome thereto Psal 122.1 The reason is the lovelinesse of the place for the presence favour and grace of God there to be enjoyed after a speciall manner The world doth account Gods children for their zeal in following the preaching of the Word brain-sick persons giddy-headed and such like But the truth is these censurers like sorry Physitians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 13.4 mistake the place affected as Festus did of Paul Acts 26.24 they are sick indeed yet not brain-sick but heart-sick sick of love as Cant. 5.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after Christ Whereof they need not to be ashamed for God the father loves them and Christ also Joh. 14.21 Now it is noâ— newes that those that are in love should frequent the places where they may meet with their beloved Vse 3 For admonition it serves profitably two ways First to those that can see no lovelinesse in Gods Tabernacles among us can take no delight or pleasure in the assemblies of Gods people for his holy worship Consider thine estate for certainly as yet thou hast not Davids heart and he was a man according to Gods own heart Acts 13.22 Such are first recusant Papists secondly prophane contemners of both whom we may say as Matth. 11 16 c. Whereunto shall I liken this Generation c. These have no heart for God that are weary of his worship See Mal. 1.13 Amos 8.5 It is not the May-pole dance that will draw recusants the dance about the golden Calf would draw them all Exod. 32.6 19. Jeroboans Calves at Dan and Bethel they
feeble that others can perceive no evidence and may well make a question whether they themselves be sensible of them Perhaps they may say as the Psalmist tells us many doe who will shew us any good Psal 4.6 but with him to cry out for the living God is a thing they think not of such spirituall sluggards the world hath too many whose soules desire and have nothing Prov. 13.4 nay whose desires kill them because their hands refuse to labour Prov. 21.25 Vse 2 For admonition unto all that as ever they desire to assure themselves or to testifie to others that they have the same esteem of the true God and of his sacred service that David had to believe him indeed to be the living God and account his Tabernacles amiable that they labour with him to stirre up both their hearts and their flesh to cry out for him that they earnestly desire the fruition of him and communion with him that they diligently endeavour by all good meanes to expresse and give evidence of that desire To move them the rather hereunto let them consider that God is so delighted with his servants importunities and loves the loudnesse of their voice so well that of purpose sometimes he takes upon him as it were to be a sleep or hard of hearing and will not be seen to take notice of their desires untill they attain to such an height of fervency that he cannot rest for them as the phrase is by the Prophet Isaiah Is 62.6 7. The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man a vaileth much Jam. 5.16 Feruency makes much to the efficacy of desires amongst men much more with God as our Saviour shewes plainly in the Parable of the importunate widdow and the unjust judge Luke 18.1 c. To weary men is but a small thing in comparison of wearying God Is 7.13 If we walke after the Lord as Hos 11.10 we are never so like to overtake him as when we have wearied him A memorable example to this purpose we have in the woman of Canaan Mat. 15.21 c. who as if she had meant to try masteries with our Saviour wrestled first with his silence by her importunity crying after him so that his Disciples besought him to send her away and then with his speech by her faith making such advantage of his arguments against her for her own behoof that with reverence we may say she got the better of him and went away with an ample commendation and grant of her desire to the full Verse 3. Verse 3 Yea the sparrow hath found her in house and the swallow a nest for her selfe where shee may lay her young thine Altars O Lord of hosts my King and my God HAving in the first verse by way of admiration acknowledged unto God the lovelinesse of his Tabernacle the place of his holy worship and in the second verifyed the same by discovering his own ardent affection first to the place of Gods holy worship then to God himselfe for whose sake he so affected the place in his third he proceedeth in the former discovery of his hearts desire towards the place of Gods worship by debasing his present estate as worse then the condition of the Sparrow and Swallow the one whereof finds her an house the other a 〈◊〉 where she may lay her young but he wanted liberty of accesse to the Lords Altars that is to the Lords Tabernacle where his altar was the holy place of his solemne worship which was to Davids soule as the house to the Sparrow and the nest to the Swallow This application he enfoldeth in an Aposiopasis an interrupted exclamation unto God of his Altars concealing some words which should expresse his full meaning from the passionate affection of his soule which kind of speaking is most frequent and fit to manifest fervent desires I am not ignorant that the Chaldee paraphrase hath other names of birds viz. the dove and the turtle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sparrow and the Turtle whom the vulgar latine followes but the proper signification of the words is as our English Bible hath them Besides interpreters differ in applying the latter part of the verse some referre it by opposition to the former as though the Lords Altars were the place where these birds did build their nests which yet some others not without cause doe dislike because though in the Temple Sparrowes and Swallowes might build their nests it being very spacious yet it is not like they did build them in the Tabernacle which was the place of Gods worship when David penned this Psalme Now the application which I make in a sacred Aposiopaesis prevents that scruple and yet prefers the condition of these birds before Davids for outward liberty which way soever we refer it Though I conceive the true meaning of the prophet to be this that the Sparrow and Swallow had liberty to build their nests and breed their young in houses which went â—â—longing to others whether neer unto or far off from the Tabernacle it matters not all houses were alike to them yet in houses they desired to build and were permitted wherein these birds had their desire but David was debarred from the Lords Tabernacle where his Alâ—r was which to his soule was as an house and nest to the Sparrow and Swallow and whereto hee had right and interest having the Lord of hosts for his King and his God In the words thus explained and taken note these points First 1. Observation that David prefers the outward condition of silly little birds as the Sparrow and Swallow before himselfe to his sense and feeling their outward estate was better then his They had liberty to enjoy the place of their desire even other mens houses to rest and nestle in whose birds they were not Reason but he was debarred from the Lords Sanctuary the only resting and nestling place for his soule though he had title thereto by speciall covenant having the Lord of hosts for his King and his God Vse 1 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort For instruction thus that Gods speciall favour must not be measured by outward things we must not judge them rejected from Gods favour whose outward estate is mean and miserable for so shall we offend against the generation of Gods children Ps 35.15 David was a man according to Gods heart own Acts 13.22 a patterne of piety to all succeeding Kings of Judah and Israel as 1 Kings 3.14 to Solomon and 1 Kings 11.38 to Jeroboam yet for outward estate he was very miserable 1 Sam. 26.20 hunted as a flea or a partridge Ps 102.6 7. as a Pellican an owle and a Sparrow Yea Christ himself the sonne of Gods love Col. 1.13 had not whereon to lay his head This his mean and miserable estate made the people in his time to judge rashly of him See Isaiah 53.3 Vse 2 For admonition beware
1 Cor. 1.2.9 Eph. 2.18 and 3.12 and our perseverance and continuance in the same faith is it that doth manifest our abode and dwelling in Gods house 1 John 2.19 Now this faith is one Eph. 4.5 as God is one and if it be true it worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and is seen by obedience wherein we must be constant Phil. 2.12 Mat. 24.13 and herein we must aporove our selves dwellers in Gods house having our eares boared Ex. 21 6. Psal 40.6 endeavouring as 1 Tim. 1.19 to keepe faith and a good conscience and 2 Tim. 1.13 holding fast the holsome word in faith and love In great houses here on earth we see great men make use of retainers which are not servants in ordinary at bed and board but have houses of their own where for the most part they live and look to their own businesse only at good times as they say and on some speciall occasions they come to their Lord and master and wait upon him in his livery and are welcome to him and well accepted as his servants but in the Church of God which is the house of the living God the Lord of heaven and earth it is not so all whom he owneth and acknowledgeth for his servants are servants in ordinary they dwell in his house Psal 65.4 performing the service of prayer and thanksgiving and the works of obedience every day he hath no retainers acknowledged by him for his servants I mean such as take liberty to live as they list and for the service of God like retainer thinke now and then as on high dayes and once on the Sabbath is well enough Indeed such attendance will serve for a retainer but God acknowledgeth none such for his seruants see Jer. 7.9 10 11. He knoweth that is acknowledgeth those that be his John 10.14 but such as be workers of iniquitie hee knowes them not as Mat. 7.23 So wee may say for idolaters as Papists be in the worship of Saints and of their breaden God they have another master then God namely vaine idols 1 Thess 1.9 Now none can serve two masters Mat. 6.24 Time servers are in the same rank which be first such as make conscience of sinne at Communion times but afterward live as they list also such as embrace and hold true Religion only because the authority under which they live doth enjoyn it and if it should alter by the will of man they would turn with it Thirdly Church Papists who now and then come to our service and sermons to answer the law but in their hearts they are for Romish superstition like the carnall Israelites whose hearts turned back into Aegypt Of these we may say as 1 Kings 18.21 How long halt yee betweene two opinions c. Vse 4 A great comfort and encouragement to them that persevere in the faith and go on in obedience they are blessed and shall certainly if they go on be glorified see Matth. 24.13 Revel 2.10 and 3.12 Every one that is such shall be made a pillar in Gods house and shall go no more out Therefore in generall let all bee encouraged to follow the good servants that improve their masters takents Matth. 25.21.23 and the Apostle Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. In speciall let Ministers who are stewards and disposers of the mysteries of God look to their behaviour shewing all good faithfulnesse 1 Cor. 4.2 This fidelity is set downe Luke 12.42 43 44. with 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. Thus much for their happy estate 2. Observation their holy behaviour is answerable they will be still praising thee Gods children and servants who have the happinesse to dwell in Gods house will be much and constant in praising God see Psal 135.1 2. Praise the Lord yee servants of the Lord c. and verse 19. Blesse the Lord O house of Israel blesse the Lord O house of Aaron 20. Blesse the Lord o house of Levi ye that feare the Lord blesse the Lord Psal 145.1 2. I will extoll thee my God and my King I will blesse thy name for ever and ever Every day will I blesse thee Ps 126.1 Hallelujah Praise the Lord o my soule 2. while I live I will praise the Lord. Reason 1 The reasons hereof are two First the sacred Ordinance of God and his holy Commandement Psa 50.15 1 Thess 5.18 This makes it pleasant and comely Ps 147.1 Reason 2 Secondly the power of his grace given to his children and servants which making them mindfull of the Lord of his word and of his works and benefits stirres them up to praise God True grace is enforcing as 2 Cor. 5.14 and hence it is with Gods servants in the matter of praising God as it was with the Apostles for preaching Acts 4.20 and as Luke 19.40 If these should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out This by way of use serves Vse 1 First to let us see that praising God is not a thing indifferent but a necessary duty Hence the want of it brings the wrath of God as on Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.25 Vse 2 Secondly we may see by this that they have slender testimony that they be of Gods house who faile of this duty A usuall thing for many to have no prayers nor praising God in their families as also to go out of Church when singing Psalmes begin as though praise were no part of that service the performance whereof appertains unto them who dwell in Gods house and would be blessed there Thirdly this should serve as a most forcible motive to endeavour this duty which we shall the rather do if we consider the motives in God in his properties his workes for his Church and against his enemies also what our behaviour in heaven should be whereto we should begin to inure our selves here upon earth Verse 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee the high wayes are in their heart 6. They going through the valley of Baca make it a well 7. They goe from strength to strength every one of them appeareth before God in Zion HEre the Prophet proceedeth in the commendation of the state of Gods people whom hee doth expresly affirme to be blessed and likewise plainly and particularly describeth them by their true and certain properties which are of two sorts First they are such as are strong in the Lord. Secondly they do sincerely and earnestly affect the holy worship of God which property is here fully expressed by three things first their hearts are set upon the high wayes that lead to the Lords Sanctuary verse 5. Secondly they do couragious and comfortably endure and break through all difficulties in the way verse 6. They increase in number and strength in their journey and all of them in troopes appeare before the Lord in Zion verse 7. For the first Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee To bee blessed is to be in an happy estate wherein a man enjoyeth the true and chiefest good which is the true God in
in dry places that be sandy and barren Now they whose hearts be set upon Or 1 Chron. 14.14 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods house and holy worship when they go thitherward through a sandy dry barren valley do make it a well that is repute and count it as a well the word signifieth to put or set as Gen. 3.15 Psal 21.6 12. Psal 83.11 13. For thus will they say with themselves thinking upon the comfort of Gods favour to whom they go that it shall be to them as the rain of blessings a plentifull and liberall rain upon the dry ground Or as Tremellius and Junius Wilcocks c. whom also the rain of blessing falleth much upon that is they sometime endure the trouble of the way when abundance of rain falleth upon them If we follow our own translation the rain also filleth the pools that is where springs are not the people dig and make pits and places to receive rain water and therewith refresh themselves in their way to Sion though I most encline to the first of them The 70 Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the valley of teares in the place which he hath set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Law-giver shall give a blessing The Chaldee Paraphrast Peccatores autem transibunt in profundum gehennae planctum plangent sicut fontem ponent illum atqui benedictione amiciâ—stur qui insudunt us discant legem tuam In the words note two points First 1 Observation what manner of way some of Gods people had to go to the publike solemn worship of God secondly how the godly esteemed of it and cheer up themselves in it For the way it was the valley of Baca that is of Mulberry trees and so dry and barren and sandy which is very wearisome some say the vale of misery others vale of teares of weeping all import painfull and troublesome way The reason was the providence and ordinance of God Reason his providence in their situation by lot for so Joshuah divided the land to Gods people Jos 14.12 and his ordinance in appointing them to come to that place which he should choose Deut. 12.5 which was Jerusalem Mount Sion See then here Vse that God in his providence may dispose so of the estate of his children that it shall be troublesome and painfull for them to go to the place of Gods publike and solemn worship so it was to those that dwelt farre from Jerusalem in the latter end of the dayes of David and afterward And so he dealt upon his soveraigntie to teach them and all after them that there is but one Christ in whom we can come to the father John 14.6 for partaking of whom he may in his providence dispose that it may be farre more troublesome and painfull for some then others as it was among the Jews for partaking of his speciall worship which we must take notice of to acknowledge Gods soveraignty over us and our estate as John 21.22 with 18. as also Job 21.23 25. In the second place 2 Observation observe how the godly deal about the troubles of the way unto Gods solemn worship they put it for a well now in those countries wells were cheerfull and refreshing places Judges 1.15 So as the godly among the Jewes esteemed the troublesome and painfull way to Gods solemne worship pleasant and cheerfull The reason was Reason the great desire they had unto the service of God and the true delight they took therein this made the wearisome way seem pleasing They looked alâ— the comfort they should enjoy in the presence of God and therewith refreshed themselves against the wearisomnesse of the way as Jacob was affected with his seven years service for Rachel Gen. 29.20 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort Vse 1 For instruction two wayes First see here the power and strength of the grace of love to God and to his holy worship neither paines nor cost can stand before it See Cant. 8.7 Many waters cannot quench love For paines here we see it and for cost in David 2 Samuel 24.24 1 Chron. 29.3 4. Nay it breaks through wordly credit and esteem which is a strong let as John 12.42 Yet Luke 19.2 3 4. we see it had little force in Zaccheus and in David 2 Sam. 6.20 21 22. Vse 2 Secondly see here what to think of our selve and others when ease pleasure and worldly profit or repute will hinder from Gods service Can wee say they are blessed Saist thou a Lion is in the way Then art thou Solomons simple one whom ease slayeth Prov. 1.32 and 13.4 and 20.4 So Prov. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversitie thy strongth is small Consider Matth. 12.42 and 11.22 23. Vse 3 For admonition labour to come to this abilitie of grace in the high esteem of Gods worship For which end know that it is the ordinary way and meanes of societie with God Vse 4 For comfort to those that have this affection to them it may be said as Matth. 13.16 Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear Even with blessings shall the rain cover Or the rain of blessings shall even cover This translation I take to be most proper and agreeable to the words and matter in hand In these words the Prophet propounds the very thought and meditation of the godly going up to Gods worship whereby they doe cheere up their hearts against the wearinesse of the dry and hot sandy way They say thus within themselves in their greatest wearinesse The raine of blessing shall even cover thinking upon the grace and favour which God showreth downe upon his servants in his holy worship which as comfortably and sweetly refresheth their soules in any wearinesse as a plentifull rain doth the dry ground For the better conceiving whereof we must know that it is usuall with God in Scripture to resemble the sweet comfort of his grace and favour vouchsafed to the soules of his servants in his holy worship to the sweet refreshing that rain and showers give to the dry ground see Deut. 32.2 My Doctrine shall drop as the raine my speech shall distill as the dew as the small raine upon the tender herbe and as the showres upon the grasse Psalme 72.6 He that is Christ in his doctrine as the truth and also Solomon as the type in his wise and righteous judgment shall come down as rain upon the mowen grasse as showers the dispersed moisture of the earth Hos 6.3 He shall come to us as the raine as the latter and former raine upon the earth No marvaile then if the godly do in such phrase and words expresse their thoughts and meditations upon Gods grace and favour vouchsafed to his children in his holy worship especially in the time of their bodily wearinesse through heat drought in a sandy way Now then thus taking the words of the Prophet to expresse the thoughts of the godly
us to shame and goest not forth with our armies verse 9. The first Reason The reason is two fold First to shew themselves thankfull for blessings received for so God is honoured Psal 50.23 Who so offereth praise glorifyeth me which is very profitable as Luke 17.17 18 19. The second Reason Secondly to lay a ground of assurance of deliverance in present evills For hereby their hearts are setled in assurance of Gods power and further in the love of his mercy as appears by that of David 1 Sam. 17.34 c. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine This serves for instruction and for admonition For instruction The use for instruction see a difference between the wicked and the godly under crosses and afflictions The godly we see here doth guide his affaires with discretion as hee looks with one eye on Gods present judgements so with the other he beholds precedent mercies See Job 1.21 The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord and Job 2.10 What shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evill But the wicked are like Haman all his honour is nothing while Mordecai sits in the Kings gate Est 5.13 The godly are like David 1 Sam. 30.5 6. who when the people spake of stoning him encouraged himself in the Lord his God but the wicked like Nabal in distresse whose heart dyed within him and hee became as a stone 1 Sam. 25.37 or like Saul that when God would not answer him consulted with a witch 2 Sam. 28.7 Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit that I may go to her and enquire For admonition The Use for admonition labour to become followers of Gods Church and people in this godly behaviour We have just cause so to do in this land every true member of Gods Church Gods favour hath been great unto us in preventing the designs of our enemies and in withdrawing the heavy judgement of plague and pestilence from our bretheren and that not once alone but often the remembrance of which mercies no present judgements should be able to deprive us of Now particularly in the Churches acknowledgement of Gods great favour and mercy to them we have sundry things to note First the Prophet calls Judea wherein the people of Israel dwelt The second Observation Gods land Thou hast been favourable to thy land So Psal 10.16 The Lord is King for ever and ever the heathen are perished out of his land that is the Canaanites and the rest of the nations that once possessed it are now destroyed Jer. 2.7 Ye defiled my land and made mine heritage an abomination Ezek. 36.5 God is angry with all those heathen that appoint his land into their possession and verse 20. these are the people of the Lord and are gone forth out of his land and Ezek. 36.5 I will bring thee against my land Hos 9.3 They shall not dwell in the Lords land Joel 1.6 A Nation is come upon my land The first Reason The reason or ground hereof is threefold First God chose this land for his own people wherein he promised to dwell among them See Lev. 26.11 Psal 47.4 Psal 48.1 2 3. Psal 76.1.2 Ezek. 20.6 Ezek. 37.26 The second Reason Secondly he became King over this land Zechar. 14.9 Judah was his sanctuary and Israel his dominion Psalm 114.2 The third Reason Thirdly he undertook to be protector and blesser of this land and that in an extraordinary manner as Deut. 11.11 12. The land whither thou goest to possesse it is a land of hills and valleyes c. A land which the Lord thy God careth for the eyes of the Lord thy God are alwaies upon it Experience whereof may be seen by example 1 Sam. 7.10 11 12. 2 Kings 19.32 33. In these respects the land of Jurie was as it were Gods peculiar enclosure hedged in from his commons which was the whole earth This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The use for instruction For instruction it shewes plainly that some lands and people have a priviledge above others for sure title and interest unto the true God namely those that do receive believe and obey the word of the covenant as did the Jewes under the law and all Christian nations under the gospell It is true that by creation and common providence all lands and all people are the Lords as Psal 50.12 The world is mine and the fulnesse thereof yet they onely are his by bond of covenant and so entitled to his speciall mercies that truly receive believe and obey his holy word See Exod. 19.5 6. Deut. 10.14 15. Psal 65.1 The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to those that as yet are without not called nor brought into the bond of the covenant with God that if ever they desire true happinesse for their soules they labour to become rightly entitled to the true God by speciall covenant through Christ Jesus for happy are the people that have the Lord for their God Psal 144.15 Now for this end they themselves must seek unto Gods ministers and say as a man of Macedonia did unto Paul in a vision come and help us Acts 16.9 they must enquire of them as the â—unuch did of Philip I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this Acts 8.34 Nay they must study in the word themselves and search the Scriptures daily by the example of the noble Bereans Acts 17.11 And above all they must desire of God that he will teach them to do that which is pleasing unto him as Psal 143.10 The second Use for admonition Secondly to us in this land who by our holy profession do entitle our selves to the true God and say as Psal 48.14 This God is our God for ever we must look unto it that we do truly and sincerely receive believe and obey the word of the covenant and take heed of those things which tend to separate between God and his people Amongst which we are most in danger of these two first the idolatry of Popery Secondly prophanenesse in Christianity Popery is a false faith and prophanenesse in the profession of the true religion argues a dead faith For Popery it is at this day amongst Gods people in comparison of true religion as the worship of the golden calves erected by Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel was to the true worship appointed by God himself at Jerusalem 1 Kings 12.26 28 29. c. For Papists worship God in images as they did now the danger thereof see 2 Chron 15.13 Israel without a true God and 2 Chron. 25.7 The Lord is not with Israel Therefore if we desire the continuance of this priviledge to have our land to be Gods land we must set our selves against Popery lament
holinesse and sets them into the kingdome of Christ which is righteousnesse and peace Rom. 14.17 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The Use for instruction For instruction first see by the contrary the fearfull case of those that give themselves to the practice of injustice and contention they are not yet called of God with an holy calling but remain in the fearfull case of corrupt nature see Rom. 1.28 29 31. The Use for admonition For admonition that as we desire the comfort and assurance of Gods salvation so we conscionably give our selves to the practise of these vertues of righteousnesse and peace towards our brethren The use for comfort For comfort to those that conscionably follow peace and righteousnesse amongst men it is a comfortable assurance that God hath bestowed on them righteousnesse and peace with Christ Vers 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousnesse shall look down from heaven The meaning of the words BEcause the graces and blessings of Christs kingdome mentioned in the former verse be of great worth and comfort and indeed do manifest the presence of his salvation therefore doth the Prophet here further insist in two of them truth and righteousnesse letting us know whence these two shall shew themselves to wit the one from earth the other from heaven For the first Truth shall spring out of the earth The truth here spoken of must needs be such as doth accompany Gods salvation in Christ and that is true and faithfull dealing both in word and deed The springing of it out of the earth is the plain and certain evidence thereof in the lives and actions of men earth being here put by a Metonymie of the subject for men that dwell thereon as if he should have said It is so certain that mercy and truth shall meet that truth in word and deed true and faithfull dealing shall be plainly and plentifully exercised among men living here on earth The first Observation Mark then that in Christs kingdome when Gods salvation comes to men true and faithfull dealing in word and deed shall be plainly and plentifully exercised here on earth between man and man Psal 15.2 Every citizen of Christs kingdome speaketh the truth in his heart Ezek. 18.9 They that look to live with God must deal truly Zech. 8.3 Jerusalem which is Gods true Church is a citie of truth 1 Cor. 5.8 The Christians Passeover is not the feast of I after Week but a life led in sinceritie and truth The first Reason The reason hereof is plain First God who sends his salvation is a God of truth Psal 31.5 Jer. 10.10 He is truth Psal 51.6 and is a teacher of all those whom he means to save Isa 54.13 John 6.35 Now this is his lesson that his people should love the truth Zech. 8.29 and speak the truth every man to his neighbour verse 16. The second Reason Secondly when God sends his salvation to men hee bestowes upon them his holy spirit which is the spirit of truth John 14.17 leading men into all truth John 16.13 whose fruit is in all truth Eph. 5.9 The third Reason Thirdly when God sends his salvation to men he gives them his word of truth both law and Gospell For the law see Mal. 2.6 The law of truth was in his mouth And the Gospell is the word of truth Eph. 1.13 This word of truth being sowen in the ground of our heaâ—ts and watered by the dew of grace springs up and growes as good seed in good ground This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first Use for instruction For instruction First see here how powerfull the work of God is in the hearts of men in the ministery of the word blessed by the spirit it changeth their very nature which of it self is full of all unrighteousnesse and loveth lying and untruth as Rom. 1.29 The second Use for instruction Secondly see here to whom Gods salvation is come whose state God makes glorious in grace namely those that having the word of truth amongst them receive therewith that blessing of the Spirit that they love truth in their hearts and practise it in their lives Eph. 4.24 25. But as for those that make no conscience of true and upright dealing among men undoubtedly they are out of Gods Kingdome and state of grace having the devill for their God see John 8.44 Rev. 21.8 and 22.15 This doth charge a fearfull state upon the pillars of Popish Religion who maintain and practise equivocation and officious lyes See and apply to them 2 Thess 2.9 10. 1 Tim. 6.5 2 Tim. 3.8 Tit. 1.14 Gods true servants in the Ministery can do nothing against the truth but for it 2 Cor. 13.8 The Use for admonition For admonition to every one that lives in Gods Church that we labour to feele in our hearts the love of the truth and to expresse the springing and growing of it in our lives by our words and by our deeds wherein we conscionably and constantly both speak the truth and do the truth else we shall not feel nor manifest Gods salvation to be come unto us How can he say the God of truth is his God and hath taught him or that the spirit of truth is given to him which leads men into all truth whose fruit is in all truth or that the word of truth as good seed was sowen in his heart who makes no conscience of truth in word and behaviour See the Apostles pressing of this duty Eph. 4.25 upon verse 20 21 22 23 24. which shewes also the way and means whereby it must be attained The Use for comfort For consolation this makes greatly to all those that speak the truth and deale truly with their bretheren in a constant and conscionable course for this shewes that Gods salvation is come unto them that the God of truth is their God that the spirit of truth is given them and the word of truth is sanctified unto them And righteousnesse shall look down from heaven Here he shewes whence comes that true righteousnesse whereby such as fear God in the Church must be justified and saved namely from heaven This righteousnesse is the righteousnesse of Christ as mediatour who as God is from heaven and is revealed unto men in the Gospell which is a doctrine from heaven as Mat. 21.25 with Gal. 1.11 12. Mark then The second Observation When Gods salvation comes to men here on earth he shewes unto them the righteousnesse of Christ which is from heaven Rom. 3.21 22. The righteousnesse of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the Prophets Even the righteousnesse of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe The Reason This he doth for the praise of the glory of his grace in saving sinners with full satisfaction to his justice For the unrighteous as all
ground and cause of the former benefit and of all other that follow For the better understanding whereof we must know that there is a double trope in the words First the gates of Sion part of the building of the city upon mount Sion are put for the whole city as it was a type of Gods Church in Christ who as Mediatour here began the setled building and government of it as Psal 2.6 compared with Luke 1.32.33 Secondly Jacob is here put for his posterity the whole twelve tribes who inhabited all the land of Canaan as if he would have said The Lord indeed bears a good affection to the whole land of Canaan where his people dwell as Deut. 11.12 A land which the Lord thy God careth for the eyes of the Lord thy God are alwaies upon it but above all the places thereof he bears a good affection towards Mount Sion whereon his holy city is built which is the type and beginning of his true Church in Christ visibly represented in a setled choyce place In the words thus conceived note this point The observation that God loves his Church above all other states and conditions of men in the world whatsoever Mal. 1.1 2,3 The word of the Lord to Israel that is the posterity of Jacob the Church in those dayes I have loved you saith the Lord and that more then others for was not Esau Jacobs brother saith the Lord yet I loved Jacob and I hated Esau which in the most mild and favourable interpretation taking hatred for lesse love as Gen. 29.30,31 proveth the point in hand that God loves his Church above all other states and conditions of men in the world John 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved his Church Christ Jesus in love to his Church makes himselfe a pattern to husbands to love their wives Now we know every husband should love his owne wife more then any other woman in the world and therefore wee need not to doubt but Christ doth so to his Church The greatnesse of Gods love to his Church seene in three things This will yet more plainely appeare by these three things First Gods delivery vouchsafed to his Church from evils Secondly his advancement of her to speciall estate of happinesse Thirdly the means of both which is Jesus Christ given unto her 1. In delivering her from evils For the first the greatnesse of Gods love in his delivery of his Church will plainly appear by that which is said thereof both in generall and in particular In generall Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all Psal 34.19 He visiteth and redeemeth his people and delivereth them out of the hands of all their enemies Luke 1.68.74 In particular Gods Church in her self is liable to temporall evils in this world and to evils eternall in the world to come for they were by nature the children of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Now from eternall evils God gives to his Church absolute and perfect deliverance There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 On them the second death hath no power Rev. 20.6 But it is not so with others that be on t of the Church to them it will be said Depart from me ye curâ—â—d into everlasting fire Mat. 25.41 And for deliverance from temporall evils in this world whether corporall or spirituall Gods Church hath a great prerogative above others though not in absolute freedome from them for we must through many tribulations enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14.22 and the Church of God is greatly afflicted when all the earth sitteth still and is at rest Zech. 1.11 12. Yet in her sufferings the Church of God hath a great measure of deliverance which the world doth ever want namely from the curse of God which ever accompanieth temporall evils upon the men of the world as Zech. 5.3 For Christ hath redeemed his Church from the curse of the law Gal. 3.13 and. the evils that lye upon them are corrections for sinne When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.32 or trials of grace as Jam. 1 2,3 My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience 1 Pet. 1.6 7. wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heavinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ Job 2.3 The Lord said to Satan hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evill and still he holdeth fast his integritie although thou movest me against him to destroy him without cause For the second 2. In advancing her to a speciall state of happinesse in this world Gods advancement of his Church to a speciall estate of happinesse is two fold partly in this world and principally in the world to come In this world sometime with outward peace and plenty to the admiration of the world as in the dayes of Solomon 1 Kings 10.21 c. And though many times the Church of God hath a small portion in temporall blessings for their felicitie is not in this life if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 yet hath she alwaies in Christ Jesus true right unto all temporall blessings for Christ is Lord of all Mat. 28.18 and in him all things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come 1 Cor. 3.21 22. She hath also a sanctified use of what she enjoyes and sweet content therein whether her portion be small or great I have learned in what ever state I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need Phil. 4.11 12. living under that speciall providence whereby she is preserved night and day Isaiah 27.3 But in spirituall blessings is her speciall advancement above the world Blessed with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 1.3 Eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 As in effectuall calling to the state of grace wherein they have spirituall society with God in Christ Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee that he may
Thirdly they must walk before them in the example of a godly life as St. Peter exhorteth Christian wives to do before their heathen husbands 1 Pet. 3.1 2,3 Ye Wives be in subjection to your husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the word bee wonne by the conversation of the wives c. This godly life hath a gracious promise Prov. 16.7 When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be aâ— peace with him The Use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to the godly in the strongest opposition by malitious enemies let them look up to God and consider what he can do either for the confusion or conversion of their enemies For confusion see what hath been said before and adde the consideration of Gods dealing with the two Captains 2 Kings 1.10 12. and for Gideon against the Midianites Judg. 7.22 and for Jehosaphat against the three Kings of Moab Ammon and mount Seir 2 Chron. 20.22 23. For conversion of enemies God can do it either to temporall outward kindnesse as in Laban towards Jacob Gen. 31.29 in Esau toward Jacob Gen. 33.1 4. or to true sincere and unfeigned love as in Darius Dan. 6. and in Saul that was afterward called Paul towards the Church Acts 9.26 Verse 5. And of Sion it shall he said This and that man was born in her and the highest himself shall establish her The meaning of the words HEre the Psalmist proceeds in the confirmation of that he had said of the City of God in the third verse that glorious things were spoken of her namely that beside the conversion of many unto her out of forrain Nations which had formerly been her greatest enemies verse 4. she should enjoy within her self a double honour first the calling and conversion of many within her secondly confirmation and establishment from the most high For the first the calling and conversion of many within her is thus expressed Of Sion it shall be said this and that man was born in her Where by birth as hath been said verse 4 we must understand not naturall birth by corporall generation but spirituall birth in regeneration And the phrase this and that man or man and man as it is in the Hebrew and the Greeks do so render it may note out every man meaning that is converted as the like words are taken Est 1.8 and so Paul saith Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all Gal. 4.26 Or in regard that the phrase man and man here used is opposed to the like phrase in the former verse this man was born there it seems likest that here he denoteth the conversion of moe in Zion then in other particular places The first observation Mark here then that it is and shall be Sions glory and renown to have man man born in her that is many men of all sorts and conditions born of God called and converted in her to the true faith See Is 54.1 Sing O harren thou that didst not bear break forth into singing and cry aloud thou that didst not travell with child for moe are the children of the desolate then the children of the married wife saith the Lord. Which place is best expounded by Gal. 4.27 Sarah long barren and her sonne did prefigure Jerusalem from above the heavenly Jerusalem Mount Sion Heb. 12.22 Hagar and Ismael prefigured the people of the Jewes that clave to the covenant of works given in Mount Sinai which gendreth unto bondage see Gal. 4.22 26. This glorious thing foreshewed of Gods City received accomplishment partly in the Apostles time when even in Jerusalem moe were converted unto the faith at one or two sermons then we read of in any other place three thousand Acts 2.41 five thousand Acts 4.4 Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women Acts 5.14 But chiefly it shall be accomplished in the second calling of the Jewes when all Israel shall hee saved Romanes 11.26 The reason is plain For multitude of converts is a manifest evidence of Gods speciall favour The Reason in the blessing of saving grace which is the greatest renown that can bee as we may see by Christs own rejoycing in it Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the children which God hath given me In ancient time it was counted a great renown to have many children as Gen. 30.20 Leah said God hath endued me with a good dowry now will my husband dwell with mee because I have born him sixe sonnes And of O bed Edom that he had eight sonnes because God blessed him 1 Chr. 26.5 How much more then is it an honour to bring forth children unto God This serves for instruction and for admonition For instruction see here what is the true renown of any Kingdome The use for instruction County City Parish or Family namely to have man and man born of God there that is many people effectually called and converted unto God as Acts 19 10. There be many things that will commend men in the world as honour wealth beauty power c. but none of these nor all of them without an holy calling will commend men unto God The use for admonition For admonition it serves effectually both to Ministers and to people that they give all diligence in Gods means for the attaining of this estate Ministers must endeavour both for themselves and others and for this end must receive into their own hearts and dispense to others the pure word of God which is the immortall seed of this new birth as it is called Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.23 25. For their diligence in faithfull dispensation see 2 Tim. 4.1 1 Cor. 9.16 1 Cor. 4.2 And because all their endeavour without Gods blessing is nothing therefore they must pray instantly and earnestly for the blessing of the spirit to sanctifie the word as St. Paul doth Ephes 3.14 c. For this cause I how my knee unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulnesse of God And that they may have better title to audience they must endeavour to walk before God uprightly and and honestly For God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth John 9.31 And the people seeing the benefit is theirs must conscionably exercise themselves in the same Christian duties viz. hearing the Word praying unto God and a godly living For the word it is the seed therefore
rejoyced therein as one that findeth a great spoyle And the Lords Supper is the seale of our redemption and salvation in Christ the tydings whereof is exceeding great joy Luke 2.10 Now all these fountains are in the Church and no where else The world is without the true God by covenant of grace Eph. 2.12 and so hath nothing but dry pâ—ts and cisterns that hold no water as Jer. 2.13 And the Evangelicall ministry is not out of the Church for when it comes among the heathen it is Gods mercifull visitation to take out of them a people for his name Acts 15.14 See Psalm 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgement unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them The Reason The reason hereof is Gods own good pleasure as of meer grace and favour choosing them in Christ and accepting them into covenant so vouchsafing the participation of these spirituall springs and fountains of heavenly blessings unto them that hereby they may be fitted for society and fellowship with him and become such as he may take delight and pleasure in See Ezek. 16.8 c. When I passed by thee and looked upon thee Behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakednesse yea I sware unto thee and entred into a covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine Then washed I thee with water c. If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Iohn 13.8 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first Use for instruction For instruction two wayes First hence will plainly follow that out of the Church there is no salvation for these springs are the wells of salvation Is 12.3 and the text saith they are all in the Church which is plain by induction They that are out of the Church are without Christ and without God in the world Eph. 2.12 And with him only in Christ is the Well of life Psal 36.9 He that hath not the sonne hath not life 1 John 5.12 And wanting Christ they cannot have the spirit John 14.17 and so cannot be sanctified nor saved The second Use for instruction Secondly see here the surpassing excellency and happinesse of the Church above all other states of people in the world The Church is as the garden of Eden wherein is a pure river of the water of life and the tree of life Rev. 22.1 2. whereas the rest of the world is as a barren wildernesse Jer. 17.6 8. The Church is like the heritage of Jacob blessed of God and the rest of the world like the Mountains of Esau which God hath cursed Mal. 1.2,3 4. The Church is the Fathers house where every servant hath meat enough the rest of the world is like the Citizens fields where husks with hogs are the best provision Luke 15.16 17. The true Church is like the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey that drinketh water of the rain of heaven a land which the Lord himself careth for the eyes of the Lord are alwayes upon it the rest of the world is as the land of Egypt which men water with their feet Deut. 11.10 11 12. The first Use for admonition For admonition it serves two wayes First to naturall men to stirre them up to consider seriously of these priviledges of the Church to have all Gods springs in her that so they may be affected towards her as David was Psal 84.1 2. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hoasts My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Psal 42.1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. Yea of Sampsons mind Judg. 15.18 19. crying out after these springs as for the meanes of spirituall and eternall life The second Use for admonition Secondly to all that professe themselves to be members of the Church that they labour to give evidence of their participation of these springs of God in his Church which they shall do three wayes First by the abolishing of corruption in regard of dominion being purged from sinne and from uncleannesse by the bloud of Christ as the Corinthians were after their effectuall calling 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Secondly by becoming fruitfull in grace and plentifull in good works by the blessing of the spirit sanctifying the ministery of the word as St. Paul testifyeth of the Churches 1 Cor. 1.5 7. In every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge So that ye come behind in no gift Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Colos 1.6.10 Which speaking of the Gospell is come unto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and encreasing in the knowledge of God And as the Lord foreshewed in the vision of waters Ezek. 47.1 c. Thirdly by joyfull and cheerfull going on in their holy profession as the Apostle commandeth Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord alway and again I say rejoyce For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.3 The Use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to the true members of the Church in the sorest distresses that can befall them First doth the sense of corruption and guilt of transgression make thee ugly in thine owne sight Goe to the clensing fountain and spring of Christs bloud and with the hand of faith wash and cleanse thy sinfull soule and pray the Lord to wash thee throughly as David did Psalm 51.2 wherewith if thou joyn upright endeavour after reformation in practise thou maist rest assured that the bloud of Jesus Christ shall clense thee from all thy sinnes 1 John 1 7 9. Secondly doth the barrennesse of thine heart in the want of grace make thee afraid Then get thee to the sanctifying fountain of Gods holy spirit which is the spirit of grace begg of God the good fruits of this spirit in love joy peace long-suffering faith c. Remember who made Aarons rodd to budd Numb 17. â— 8. and who can raise up
children unto Abraham of stones as Mat. 3.9 to whom all things are possible Mat. 19.36 and nothing is too hard Jer. 32.27 Lastly doth heavinesse and deadnesse of heart oppresse thee Then get thee to the comforter even to God in Christ by his holy spirit who is the God of hope that can fill thee with all joy in believing Rom. 15.13 FINIS A Table of some speciall matters contained in these Expositions of the 27.84.85 and 87. PSALMES The first number hath reference to the Psalme the second to the Page A. Abraham HOw the Sonnes of Abraham may be known 85.26 Affliction How to be so prepared for afflictions as that we may glorifie God under them 27.42 43. How the godly may comfort themselves in afflictions 27.47 All affliction comes by divine dispensation 85.36 The difference between Gods children and naturall men under affliction 85.43 44. Anger Anger what it is how and why ascribed unto God in Scripture 85.18 19. Speciall means to turn away Gods anger 85.22 23. Gods anger may continue long towards his own people and why 85.37,38,39 Anointed All true believers are Gods anointed 84.67 68. What we must do that we may be of the number of Gods anointed ones 84.68 69. Answer Why God doth sometimes deny to give gracious answers to the prayers of his servants 27.56 What we must do that we may be enabled to to wait and listen for a gracious answer when we have prayed 85.60.61 What is required of men that they may walk worthy of the Lord and labour in some measure to answer his bounty 85.92 Apostasie They that end in Apostasie began in hypocrisie or at least had only an humane acquired faith 27.89 90. Assembly Christian Assemblies for Evangelicall worship are lovely places 84.15 B. Behave HOw Gods children must behave themselves when he hides his face from them 27.73 Mens behaviour and carriage towards their brethren will discover and manifest their estate and condition before God 85.89 Blessing The right way to partake of the best blessings 27.129 130. What it is to be blessed 84.36 The difference between Gods children and naturall men in the fruition of temporall blessings 85.48 Though many times they want the possessions yet the right of all Gods blessings belongs to them that are in Christ 85.90 They that live in sinne and want faith have no part in the best blessings have starved souls though in pampered and well clad bodies 85.92 There is small hope of Gods blessing to accompany the devils getting 85.92 The earthly blessings of Gods providence are attendants on the heavenly blessings of his grace 85.93 Book God hath three Books and what they are 87.122 C. Calling HOw men must wait upon the Gospel preached for an holy calling 87.106 Effectuall calling is actually writing in the book of life 87.125 Captivitie What sins brought the Captivity 85.10 Censure He that shall refuse subjection to the censure of the Church must be cast out as an heathen 85.101 Charmes Conjurers charmes are prayers to the devill 85.28 Church What wonderfull blessings are certainly enjoyed in Gods house his Church and no where else 27.25 26 27. In the visible Church hypocrites may have a place for outward worship 84.10 Gods Church on earth is fitly compared to the Moon and why 85.34 Gods true Church seeking Gods salvation pleads mercy not merit 85.56 The true Church is a spirituall building of Gods own founding and making 87.79 The inseparable property of Gods true Church is that it is holy and sanctified 87.82 Prophane and wicked persons are no true and lively members of the Church 87.82 83. God loves his Church above all other states and conditions of men in the world whatsoever 87.85 The greatnesse of Gods love to his Church seen in three things 87.86 87 88 89 90. How to know the true Church and how to become true members of it 87.93 The true Church of God is his own city 87.95 Gods Church is as Noahs Ark unto which all must come that look to be saved from the deluge of damnation 87.96 What the way into Christs Church is ibid. Why God doth mention glorious things to belong to his Church 87.98 99. The outward state of Gods Church in this world is many times not onely mean but miserable 87.99 The happinesse of Gods Church and children must be measured by their present title to Gods favour in Christ and their certain title to suture glory ibidem Gods Church is Gods kingdom into which man in the corrupt state of nature cannot enter as heir to inherit 87.107 By what titles Gods Church is his more then any other people in the world 87.120 The Church of God is the onely place for spirituall joy 87.127 What incomparable blessings God vouchsafeth to his Church which makes it the place for spirituall joy 87.128.129 Out of the Church no salvat on and why 87. â—34 â—35 The Church of God is surpassing excellent and happy above all other states of people in the world 87.135 Comfort True courage and comfort in evill times is the Lords gift 27.9 The right way to sound comfort and true patience in any distresse or bodily misery 84.44 45. Contempt Gods people sometimes are in great contempt and why 85.74 Conversion No mans conversion is to be despaired of 87.113 What they must do that wish and wait for the conversion of rebels 87.113 114. Multitude of converts is an evidence of Gods speciall favour 87.116 Corruption Naturall corruption judgeth many of Gods wayes unequall 27.98 The terrour that corruption causeth in the godly may easily manifest how terrible the tyranny of it is in naturall men 27.108 How to know where corruption bears dominion 27.108 â—09 110. Corruption of nature in the heart bewrays its dominion in naturall men by their ordinary practise of sinne in life 27.122 123. Originall corruption is in Gods people in a different manner and measure according to their estate before God 85.13 14. Originall corruption is not quite taken away by baptisme 85.14 Covenant They that stand rightly in covenant with God are in an happy estate 27.4 How to get into Covenant with God 27.6 Countenance We should labour in our countenances to expresse truly the affections of our hearts 84.64 65. Courage The way to get spirituall courage 27.141 142. Courts Gods Courts are the place of his solemn worship here on earth 84.70 D. Delay WHy God sometimes useth long delayes in answering the prayers of his children 84.58 Deliverance Deliverance by unlawfull meanes is not of God but the devill 85.58 Disease Sinne is a deadly disease in the soul to which turning back is a spirituall relapse more dangerous then a corporall 85.68 Displeasure The sense of Gods displeasure in a state of misery is to Gods people as a state of death and why 85.42 43. Doubling Doubling requests in prayer shewes fervency and earnestnesse for audience 84.57 Dwell What it is to dwell in Gods house 27.24,32 Three things required of them that would dwell in Gods
pâ—tient bearing the tryall which his providence layeth on us 27 10â— 103. Waiting on God is the holy aâ—t or work of patience 29.136 The sure way to Christian patience 27.138 Peace What graces give title to true peace 85.63 The extent of that peace which God promiseth to his people 85.64 Gods peace what it is 85.81 Perfect A perfect heart is discerned by an obedient life 27.15 Perjurie Perjury puts upon God the person of the Devill 85.22 Persecution How to make good use of persecution 27.102 Perseverance The true ground of the perseverance of the godly in the state of grace is not in themselves but in and from the Lord. 27.100 and 87.109 Pietie Piety gives evidence of being in covenant with God 27.85 Place How to judge rightly of difference of place in respect of holinesse 84.12 Plenty Great plenty doth attend true piety 85.93 Praise Praising God is not a thing indifferent but a necessary duty 84.35 Prayer How prayer is prevalent with God against enemies 27.115 116. What is to be done in times of danger besides praying unto God for preservation 27.116 117. What difference there is both in judgement and practice between the godly and the wicked about prayer in affliction 85.53 How we may be enabled to presse upon God by our humble and earnest prayers when he seemeth to oppresse us with his judgements 85.53 54. Neglect of prayer is the brand of an Atheist and liable to a grievous curse 85.101 Popery Popery is a false faith amongst Gods people in comparison of true religioâ— as the worship of the golden calves 85.8 It is the impiety of Popery to set up other Saviours then the true God 85.26 Preaching Preaching of the word is necessary unto mans true happinesse 87.126 Profession Profession without practice is nothing but hypocrisie 27.76 Promise Promises of temporall blessings are to be understood with exception of the crosse 27.8 17 133. Prophanenesse Prophanenesse among the professours of the true religion argueth a dead faith 85.9 Prophane men deceive themselves when they lay claim to be Gods people 85.62 R. Regeneration FAith and Regeneration do accompany each other 87.108 Regeneration is the proper fruit of the spirit of Adoption ibidem What we must do to get and keep the state of regeneration 87.109 110. In the work of regeneration the riches of Gods love and mercy is seen 87.111 True regeneration containes a totall change both in mind heart and life 87.121 Repentance What repentance is 27.141 Repining Repining against Gods correction continued is a fruit of corruption 85.47 Rejoyce Gods people delivered from affliction rejoyce in God and how 85.47 48. Rhetorick The use of Rhetorick is lawfull even in the dispensation of Gods word and some competent knowledge therein necessary for the right interpretation of the same 27.197 Righteous God is righteous even then when his dealing seems most strange to us and how we may bring our hearts to be resolved he is so 85.45 46. Gods righteousnesse what it is 85.81 S. Sacrifice WHat spirituall sacrifices are 84.68 Saints Gods people are his Saints and how they come to be so 85.61 62. Sanctification What sanctification is 27 141. Salvation That God becomes our spirituall and eternall salvation is known three wayes 27.5 What we must do that the God of salvation may become our God 85.26 27. Scripture Scripture is the perfect register of Gods revealed will 27.96 What a profitable and comfortable thing it is to be much conversant in Scripture 87.99 Seperate What things tend to seperate between God and his people 85.8 9. Service The service of God is not an arbitrary matter 27.64 Servant To be Gods servant is a good stepp towards the attainment of Gods favour 27.74 The properties of good servants 27.76 All Gods servants are in ordinary not as retainers 84.33,34 Shield What we must do that we may have God to be our shield 84.62 Sinne. Raigning sinne and saving grace cannot stand together 27.22 Raigning sinne is spiritiuall leprosie 27.29 Sinnes dominion is for the souls damnation 27.108 Sinne is such a thing as God cannot endure no not in his own people 85.19 Soveraignty Soveraignty in God ought to be the ground of inward fear and outward obedience to him 87.119 Springs What spirituall springs and fountaines of blessings are in the true Church and no where else 87.132.133 The Evangelicall Ministery is a spring of blessings in the Church of God and why 87.133 How men may give evidence of their participation of the springs of God in his Church 87.136 Stabilitie Whence the true Church of God in generall and every true member thereof in particular have their stability 84.13 and 87.80 The state of every true member of Gods Church is for Gods speciall favour and life eternall most stable and firme 87.109 124. Strength How God doth strengthen the hearts of his children 27.144 145. What we must do that we may be such as whose beâ—â—â—â— God will strengthen in evill times 27.146 What we must do that we may be strong in the Lord. 84.38 T. Tabernacle A Brief view of the severall parts of Gods Tabernacle considered with the severall ends for which they were ordained 84.10 11. Gods Tabernacle is the wooing place between Christ and his Church 84.14 The Gospell preached is to us Gods Tabernacle 84.50 Teach Who they are whom God will teach 27.96 Temporall Of temporall blessings God many times gives a greater portion to the wicked then to his children 27.129 Terrour Terrour of soule to Gods children is but a temporary bitter preparative unto everlasting glory 87.131 Thirst Worldly thirsts there are in many godly thirst is rare to be found and how it will appear 84.49 Time-servers Three sorts of time-servers 84.34 Titles The holy titles whereby God is stiled in Scripture must be understood made use of both to terrifie from sinne and to encourage in faith and obedience 85.59 Trouble Why Gods childen while they live here on earth are liable to many and great troubles 27.40 Worldly troubles may hasten us sooner to the Kingdome of heaven but they cannot â—â—prive us of it 27.66 In times of trouble nothing can be better for us then to have the Lord for our shield â—4 62 Tâ—â—â—â— VVe may trust to men as the means but not as the foundation of our help 27.88 Those that be truly godly trust not in themselves but put all their trust in the Lord. 27.100 They that trust in the Lord will not use unlawfull meanes to help themselves out of misery but will wait his leisure â—5 27 Truth What Gods truth is 85.76 Turne VVhy God doth bid men turn though of themselves they cannot and why such commands are not unjust or vain 85.31 W. Wait. BY waiting on God we are surely intitled to singular benefits 27.137 Want Want may befall the godly not as a curse but as a correction 85.93 Way The way of help is never shut to the prayer â—f faith 27.78 In Gods wayes there is safety 27.95