covenant is a most holy God for the very place of his spirituall abode and of his holy solemn service is an holy place Psal 99.9 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy hill for the Lord our God is holy Josh 24.19 Ye cannot serve the Lord for he is an holy God Reason 2 Secondly to prefigure and shew forth in plain type the inseparable property of Gods true Church namely that it is holy and sanctified As the holy Temple was built upon the holy hill Moriah so is Gods Church built upon Christ Jesus all holy Christ Iesus as the foundation and fountain that holy thing Luke 1.35 the holy one of God Mark 1.24 Christians thorough his redemption and the sanctification of the spirit holy ones Eph. 5.25.26 27. Christ loved the Church and gave himselfe for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word That hee might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or blemish Hence is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are And 2 Cor. 6.16 17. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the uncleane thing and I will receive you And 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The use for instruction For instruction It plainly discovers the fearfull estate of all prophane and wicked persons as idolaters swearers Sabbath-breakers drunkards adulterers and the like For though they have beene baptized and do come to the Lords service yea to his holy table yet certainly they are no true and lively members of the Church but like Cham in Noah's ark Gen. 9.18.25 an accursed person in a godly family like chaffe among the corn on the barn-floore Mat. 3.12 like tares among the wheat in the field Mat. 13.38 like drosse among the good fish in the net Mat. 13.47 48.49 like Simon Magus though baptized yet in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity Acts 8.13.23 For every true member of the Church must needs have fellowship with Christ Iesus the true foundation being built upon him But shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee Psal 94.20 What fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse and what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidell and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darknesse we lye and do not the truth 1 Iohn 1.6 The use for admonition For admonition a most effectuall motive unto holinesse as well to get it into our hearts as also to expresse the truth of it in our lives This duty is commanded Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. And 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises let us clense our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God Now though the worker of this holinesse be God alone by his spirit for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Job 14.4 Yet ordinarily he doth it in means wherein God requireth that naturall men should exercise themselves For want hereof he complaineth of the Jewes that therein he would have gathered them as an hen doth her chicken under her wings but they would not Matthew 23.37 They would not come to him that they might have life John 5.40 Therefore he saith The Queen of the South shall rise up in judgement against this generation and shall condemn it for shee came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdome of Solomon and behold a greater then Solomon is here Mat. 12.42 Gods meanes for holinesse Gods means for holinesse enjoyned to man is twofold the word and prayer The word is the feed even the immortall seed of our new birth wherein corruption is abolished and grace renewed 1 Pet. 1.23 John 17.17 And prayer obtains the spirit Luke 11.13 which is the author of holinesse in the hearts of Gods children 1 Pet. 1.22 whereupon David prayes to be washed thoroughly to bee purged and washed to have a clean heart created and a right spirit renewed in him Psal 51.2 7 8 and how they must be used Yet every kind of exercise in these ordinances doth not intitle unto holinesse but such as is joyned with reformation of life Prov. 1.23 with true earnest desire after holinesse Is 51.1 with conscionable endeavour of obedience to that we know Acts 5.32 In all which we must wait upon the Lord for that we do desire and not limit him either for time or measure as Coloss 4.2 Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thankesgiving And then if we wait patiently God will hear as Psal 40.1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry Now holinesse must be expressed The carefull expressing of holinesse in life must be in all manner of conversation As he which hath called you his holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 1. Pet. 1.15 seeing then all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse 2 Pet. 3.11 that is as well in the duties of our civill callings as in the exercises of Religion else we have shew of godlinesse but deny the power of it 2 Tim. 3.5 The use for comfort For comfort this makes greatly to all that be truly godly living in the Church for they are living stones surely built upon Christ Iesus the tryed foundation they are pillars in the house of the Lord and shall go no more out Rev. 3.13 Now the truth of our piety and holinesse must be expressed according to Christs direction Luke 6.47 48. to come and hear and doe so shall our building stand against all assaults and blasts of temptations from the world the flesh and the dewill Verse 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob. A Second evidence of the Churches happinesse in being the chief object of Gods speciall love The meaning of the words having a greater part and portion therein then any other state or condition of men in the world beside Which indeed was the true
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
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
me Psal 4.8 Thou Lord onely makest me dwell in safety Psal 62.6 9. He onely is my rock and my salvation he is my defence surely men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lye The first Reason The reason of this speciall favour from God to David was threefold First David stood rightly and truly in covenant with God he was one of Gods people and had the Lord for his God and so was interested in Gods speciall providence for protection and preservation See Psal 89.3 20 21 22 28 35. I have made a covenant with my chosen c. The second Reason Secondly David trusted in God Psal 7.1 O Lord my God in thee do I put my trust Now they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion that standeth fast forever Psal 125 1. The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psal 9.9 10. God is he that saveth by his right hand them that put their trust in him from those that rise up against them Psal 17.7 See Psal 91. 1 c. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty c. The third Reason Thirdly David was holy in life and conversation which gave him good assurance of speciall preservation See Psal 18.17 23. He delivered me from my strong enemies For I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God The Lord forsaketh not his Saints Psal 37.28 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first Use for instruction For instruction two wayes First see here in that which David professeth the stability of Gods love towards those that be truly his as David was for when their nearest and dearest friends do forsake them yet God will not Hebr. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee John 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end John 6.39 This is the fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing This we should observe and mark to strengthen our souls against the Popish and Arminian errour of finall and totall falling from true grace But blessed be God it is as false as uncomfortable crossing the will of the father and the fidelity of Christ Jesus before named as also the work of the spirit which is permanent as John 4.14 with John 7.37 38 39. If any that professe true religion and give good hopes for a time do fall away they shew by their apostaste that they began in hypocrisie or at the best were but like the stony ground who believed for a time Luke 8.13 having onely an humane acquired faith not that precious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 which is infused by the spirit Gal. 5.22 who is therefore called the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 and the spirit of power 2 Tim. 1.7 greater then the evill spirit which is in the world 1 John 4.4 abiding in Gods children 1 John 2.27 even for ever John 14.16 17. being in the operation of saving grace a fountain of living water springing up unto eternall life whereof whosoever drinketh shall never be more a thirst John 4.14 This is that free spirit which doth establish the godly in the state of grace and is Gods seal and earnest in their hearts 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Eph. 1.13 14. Obj. But the godly may commit mortall sins as David did in adultery and murther now an adulterer is the member of an harlot 1 Cor. 6.13 and a murtherer is the childe of the devill John 8.44 1 John 3.12 was he not then fallen from grace Answ It cannot be denied but for these heinous sins David was justly under the wrath of God till by the renewing of his repentance and faith in the Messiah he obtained attonement But yet under the guilt of these sins he differed much from the impenitent and unregenerate not onely in regard of Gods certain purpose to renew him by repentance and restore him into favour but even in present state of soul two wayes First that the seed of grace did then remain 1 John 3.9 Secondly that he sinned not with full consent Rom. 7.17 19 20. and so could not be so totally under the curse as the unregenerate are For the better conceiving whereof we must know that every regenerate man whilest he is in this world hath in him both flesh and spirit in-bred corruption and renewed grace and so consisteth as it were of a double person the old man which is corrupt through deceivable lusts and the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4.22 24. Now when the childe of God committeth sin even grievous sinnes as David did to speak as Paul doth of himself it is not he that doth it so farre forth as he is regenerate but he so farre forth as he is corrupt which Paul calleth sin that dwelleth in him Rom. 7.20 His service of sinne is with and from the flesh but in his minde renewed he serves the law of Christ Vers 25. which shewes that grace in the habit and seed and root doth then remain when and while corruption in sundry particular actions doth prevail Which to be true is plain also by St. Peter who denied his Master with cursing and swearing which in it self was a fearfull mortall sin Matth. 26.72 74. even after that comfortable speech of Christ unto him Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22.31 32. Shall we say he now by denying his Master lost all grace when as Christ had prayed for the continuance of his faith nay rather acknowledge that this failing was in this particular act not in the habit and seed of grace The second Use for instruction Secondly see here the happinesse of the godly who indeed alone have the Lord for their God for he is the strong and stable helper who will safely keep those that be his when all other helps do fail Ps 37.28 33. He forsaketh not his Saints The Lord will not leave him in the hand of the wicked Vers 24. Though he fall yet he shall not be cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Psal 34.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all See Job 8.20 God will not cast away an upright man Job 5.13 14. He shall deliver thee in sixe troubles and in seven there shall no evill touch thee Happy therefore is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Psal 146.5 Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God
that walk in darknesse cannot have fellowship with God 1 Iohn 1.6 Thirdly we must give diligent heed to the word of God for that is Gods counsell whereby he guides his people unto glory Psal 73.24 Fourthly we must daily beg this blessing of God as David here doth and in many other places as is shewed before Because of mine enemies Davids reason of his two former petitions therefore doth he desire of God to be taught his waies and to be led in straight paths because he had such enemies as continually sough his ruine and destruction so that if he were out of Gods protection they would soon work his destruction This reason may be considered two wayes First simply by it self for the matter which it contains Secondly with reference to the petitions which it doth enforce In the reason simply considered this is here plainly taken for granted That David had enemies The fourth Observation who both wished and sought his overthrow This is plain in this Psalme verse 2. His enemies and his foes came upon him to eat up his flesh and verse 12. they falsly accused him and breathed our cruelty against him Whereto we may adde for fuller and plainer evidence Psal 3.1 Lord how are they encreased that trouble me Many are they that rise up against me Psal 69.4 They that hate me without a cause are moe then the haires of mine head they that would destroy me being mine enemies wrongfully are many The reasons hereof with the application in uses are set down before Verse 6. Observation 1. briefly to this effect The first Reason First the good will and pleasure of God thus to make David a type of Christ of whom it is said Isa 53.16 It pleased the Lord to bruise him with Act. 4.25 c. alledging the second Psalm true also of David the type The second Reason Secondly Davids sinnes sometimes occasioned this evill 2 Sam. 12 9. The third Reason Thirdly corruptions in the wicked who had to doe with David stirred them up against him two wayes First in hatred of his goodnesse Psalm 38.19 20. therein verifying Gen. 3 17. whereupon our Saviour calls the Scribes and Pharisees Serpents and a Generation of Vipers Mat. 23.33 Secondly in envie of his honour Psalm 4.2 Psalm 62.4 as Dan. 6.3 4. By way of use it serves for instruction and admonition For instruction see in David the state of the Godly in this world The use for instruction liable to the trouble and danger of many and cruell enemies reason as Luke 23.31 and as Ier. 25.9 The Use for admonition For admonition to beware of rash judgment either against others that they are nought because they are by so many oppressed for so we might condemne the Godly as Psalm 73.15 see Ier. 15.10 or against our selves that wee are forsaken of God because men persecute us as Psalm 22.1 Indeed we must consider the cause and make use of persecution accordingly Now the cause is either correction for sinne or tryall of grace If we find our finnes have brought enemies upon us then wee must humble our selves under Gods hand who useth the rage of enemies as rods to whip his children Isa 10.5 6. In this case he must smell the savour of a sacrifice as 1 Sam. 26.19 bring unto God a contrite and broken heart that he will not despise Psalm 51.17 If we finde that God would make tryall of grace in us by the enemies he doth raise up against us then wee must strive to give evidence of our faith in God by patient bearing the tryall which his providence layeth on us whereto wee shall be enabled First by considering Gods hand herein for a sparrow lighteth not on the ground without his will Mat. 10.28 29 31. Thus David patiently bore Shemei his cursing 2 Sam. 16.11 12. with Psal 39.9 yea thus Christ endured the crosse and condemnation by Pilate John 19.10 11. Secondly by remembring the good end for wee shall come forth as the gold Job 23.10 Many are the afflictions of the godly but the Lord delivers them out of all Psal 34.19 Nay hereby our glory shall be encreased Rom. 8.18 The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us nay 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 for if we suffer we shall also raigne with him 2 Tim. 2.12 Thus Moses encouraged himself under the crosse with respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11.25 26. yea our Saviour Christ Heb. 12.2 Who for the hope that was set before him endured the crosse despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God For he himself hereupon encouraged his Disciples Mat. 5.10 11 12. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdome of heaven Blessed are yee when men revile you Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven The fifth Observation Secondly consider this reason with reference to the two former petitions which it enforceth and this is plain That the exposition of Davids enemies moves him to bee more humble and earnest in prayer and supplication unto God Their insurrection against him becomes his provocation to flye to God Psal 77.2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord Psal 5.8 Lead me O Lord in thy righteousnesse because of mine enemies Psalm 69.12 13 14. They that sate in the gate that is Judges and Magistrates spake against mee But as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord Let me be delivered from them that hate me Psal 109.2 3 4. The mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitfull are opened against me They compassed me about with words of hatred and fought against me without a cause For my love they are mine adversaries but I give my self unto prayer The first Reason The reason hereof is three-fold First the consideration of Gods hand in the opposition of his enemies which ever hath an overruling power in all mens actions Is 45.7 Amos 3.6 The second Reason Secondly conscience of obedience to God who requires to be sought in times of trouble Psal 50.15 The third Reason Thirdly confidence in Gods helpe grounded both on Gods property and promise for his property he is the true God that heareth prayer Psal 65 2. He is our refuge and strength a present help in trouble Psal 46.1 For his promise it is plain Psal 91.15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him This serves for instruction reprehension and admonition The use for instruction For instruction we may see in David a notable property of the godly which is to seek help and safety from the Lord when the wicked do eagerly labour for their destruction in the world Vnto Davids practise
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
are by nature Rom. 3.9 10. cannot inherit the Kingdome of God therefore what the law could not do because we could not fulfill it God provides to be done for his elect in Christ Rom. 8.3 and when they believe makes them partakers of it that so he that rejoyceth might rejoyce in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1.30 31. for boasting is taken away by the law of faith Rom. 3.27 This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first Use for instruction For instruction two wayes First it shewes unto us the unspeakable riches of Gods wisdome grace and goodnesse in Christ Jesus to his elect of wisdome in finding out this way of justification to a sinner which no created nature could of it self ever conceive 1 Cor. 2.7 9. of grace and goodnesse in bestowing the same freely on his elect 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.21 The second Use for instruction Secondly this shewes us the fearfull judgement of blindnesse of mind lying on the Church of Rome at this day who are so farre from beholding this righteousnesse which looks down from heaven that they deride it calling it a new no-justice a phantasticall apprehension of that which is not a false faith and untrue imputation Rhem. on Rom. 3.22 Nay they shew such enmity unto it that they pronounce them accursed who by true faith rest and rely upon it alone for justification before God Concil Trid. Sess 6. can 9.10 11 12. Of them is that spitituall judgement verified Rom. 11.8 God hath given them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and eares that they should not heare They like Israel following after the law of righteousnesse have not attained to the law of righteousnesse Why Because they seek it not by faith but as it were by the works of the law Rom. 9 31. They being ignorant of Gods righteousnesse and going about to stablish their own righteousnesse have not submitted themselves to the righteousnesse of God for Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 10.3 4. Well therefore may we say of them Hear ye despisers and wonder and vanish away the vaile hangs over your eyes when the Gospell is read unto this day God hath sent upon them strong delusions to believe lyes because they have not received the love of the truth 2 Thess 2.9 10. The use for admonition For admonition it serves very effectually to all that live in the Church of Christ to take notice of this bounty of God in revealing by the Gospell this righteousnesse of Christ that we may endeavour to walk worthy of the same First in labouring to conceive rightly of this righteousnes of Christ which God causeth to look down from heaven Secondly in giving all diligence to be made partakers thereof both these see in Paul Phil. 3.9 10 11. Indeed they are both the gift of God but yet in the use of meanes the word and prayer wherein we must wait for the work of the spirit as the poor did at the pool of Bethesda for the moving of the water John 5.1 2 3. The Use for comfort For comfort it makes greatly to those that know Christ crucified and do rest and rely upon his merits for justification and salvation Oh God hath done great things for them see Mat. 13.16 Blessed are your eyes for they see and your eares for they heare Verse 12. Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our land shall yeeld her encrease The meaning of the words HEre the Prophet proceedeth in expressing further blessings that accompany Gods salvation in the Kingdome of grace The blessings here mentioned are of two sorts First from the Lord then from the earth From the Lord in these words yea the Lord will give that which is good here he meaneth whatsoever gift or blessing is good for his people whether it be spirituall or temporall for so largely is the word here used taken in Scripture as we shall see in the confirmation of the point here to be observed which is this The first Observation When God sends among men his salvation in Christ he will give to such as fear him whatsoever is good for them both for their soules and bodies See this confirmed first in generall Exod. 32.19 I will make all my goodnesse passe before thee Psal 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing Then particularly for blessings temporall Deut. 28.11 12. The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods in the fruit of thy body and in the fruit of thy cattell and in the fruit of thy ground The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure the heaven to give thee rain unto thy land in his season and to blesse all the work of thine hand Also for blessings heavenly and spirituall Eph. 1.3 He blesseth us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ even with the gift of the Holy Ghost which is the good thing indeed for the soul Psal 143.10 Thy spirit is good and it is Gods gift in the kingdome of grace Acts 2.16 and 10.44 45. This is it which makes the souls of Gods people like a watered garden Jer. 31.12 Herewith doth he satiate the souls of the Priests with fatnesse and satisfie the people with goodnesse vers 14. as Paul was perswaded of the Romans that they were full of goodnes Rom. â—5 14 and of the Corinthians that in every thing they were enriched by him and came behinde in no gift 1 Cor. 1.5.7 The first Reason The reason hereof is threefold First to make known the riches of his mercy and goodnesse in Christ how well he is pleased in him that with him he will gâ—ve all manner of blessings Rom. 8.32 The second Reason Secondly to draw men unto him by beholding the abundance of blessings which accompany the receiving of Christ by faith for though many times they want the possession yet the right of all Gods blessings belong to them that are in Christ 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. Thus was Simon Magus drawn to be baptized Acts 8.13 As Hest 8.17 The Jewes had joy and gladnesse a feast and a good day and many of the people of the land became Jewes The third Reason Thirdly to keep those with him that come in sincerity and to move them to cleave fast unto the Lord in faith and love as John 6.68 To whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternall life So Paul reasoneth Rom. 8.31 32 35. What shall we say to these things c. who shall separate us from the love of Christ c. This serves for instruction admonition and comfort The first Use for instruction For instruction two wayes First it opens unto us the true and right way whereby we may receive from God that which is good Few men doubt of his sufficiencie and ability but how they should be interested thereunto and partake thereof they know not
dwell in thy Courts wee shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thy holy Temple Psal 65.4 being married unto him For thy maker is thine husband Is 54.5 And I will betroath thee unto me for ever yea I will betroath thee unto me in righteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercies I will even betroath thee unto me in faithfulnesse and thou shalt know the Lord Hos 2.18 19. so Psal 45. and Canticles In justification from the guilt of sinne Even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sinnes are covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sinne Rom. 4 6 7 8. In adoption to the honour and state of sonnes and daughters Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God 1 John 3.1 In sanctification to the abolishing of corruption in regard of dominion and the renewing of the soule in knowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4.21 22 23 24. In which estate they are made Kings and Priests unto God Rev. 1.5 6. strengthened with all might according to his glorious power Col. 1.11 and stablished in Christ and on Christ so as the gates of hell shall not prevaile against them Matthew 16.18 See 2 Corinthians 1.2 c. In the world to come In the world to come Gods advancement of his Church is perfect unto all fulnesse of joy and height of honour for evermore Then they receive the Kingdome prepared for them Mat. 25.34 and weare the crown of righteousnesse laid up for them 2 Tim. 4.8 Now they have on them white robes of perfect holinesse and palmes in their hands of full conquest over all enemies Rev. 7.9 Now they are in Gods presence where is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand where are pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 They enjoy that glory wherewith the afflictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared Rom. 8.18 the hope whereof will sustain the soule in the greatest distresse as 2 Cor. 4.14 16 17. Knowing that he which raised up Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus shall present us with you For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory So as indeed we may say of these glorious joyes as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomons wisedome 1 Kings 10.7 the one halfe thereof was not shewed unto me 3. In the means of both Christ Jesus Thirdly the greatnesse of Gods love to his Church doth appear in the means of both the former which is the gift of Jesus Christ his only begotten sonne to become man and to dye for their sinnes and to rise again for their justification Rom. 4.25 He redeemeth his Church from the curse of the law by becoming himself a curse for them Gal. 3.13 He delivereth them from the wrath to come Thes 1.10 And hereupon by way of excellence is called the deliverer and redeemer Rom. 11.26 out of Is 59.20 where the same word is used which Job hath calling Christ his redeemer Job 19.25 It is he also that doth exalt and advance his Church to salvation and glory My sheep heare my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternall life John 10.27 28. For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.9 The Reason The reason hereof is not any thing in the Church existent or foreseen as a meritorious or moving cause for God loves her freely Hosea 14.4 Her loathsome state in corruption shewes it plainly when the first evidence thereof is given When I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live Thy time was as the time of love Ezekiel 16.6 8. Yet when the Church hath being as it is built upon Christ Iesus and is endued with the spirit and beautified with the graces thereof even for all these doth Gods love actually encrease towards his Church to the daily provocation of her love to him again with praise and thankes and more conscionable obedience for his glory as Deuir 10.12 c. This serves for instruction for admonition and comfort The first use for instruction For instruction two wayes First it shewes what a blessed thing it is to be a true member of Gods Church for all such have true part and portion in Gods speciall love as is before shewed Now this is the fountain of all blessings even of the blessing of blessings the gift of the sonne of God For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonneâ— that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John3 16 with whom come all other good things He that spared not his own sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 We know that love is kinde or bountifull 1 Cor. 13.4 and hence we count Kings favourites happy as being near and dear to those that are so able to enrich and honour them in the world as Esther 6.6 c. How happy then are they that are favourites to the King of Kings the eternall omnipotent Lord of all See Psal 146.3 c. Put not your trust in Princes c. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God c. Happy is the people that is in such a case yea happy is the people whose God is the Lord Psal 144.15 For who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high c. Psal 113.15 The 2. use for instruction Secondly it shewes one reason of the manifold and great troubles and afflictions of Gods Church and children here on earth when the wicked world is at ease and rest Zechar. 1.11 12. A case that troubled the Prophets of God as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well nigh slipt For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperitie of the wicked Psal 73.2,3 Righteous art thou O Lord when I pleade with thee yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously Thou hast planted them yea they have taken root they grow yea they bring forth fruit thou art near in their mouth and farre from their reines Jerem. 12.1 2. And so may easily make weak Christians to stagger as Judges 6.13 If the Lord be with us why then is all this befaln us It is true that the sinnes of Gods Church and children lay
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