at all is done to them If their houses had beene broken vp by men and their money taken out of their chests their neighbours should heare their clamours and the whole countrie should heare their outcries but let the diuell himselfe bereaue them of that portion which should not haue beene onely for liuing but life not for this present state but their euerlasting state in this case they be quiet no wrong is offred to them they haue sustained no manner of losse It is set downe as a iudgement and curse by the Prophet that men shall put their money into a broken bagge and what a fearefull case stand they in then Hag. 16 that put the sacred instructions of the blessed word of God into a bottomlesse heart that can hold nothing but that which will peruert and hurt them The Apostle giueth an earnest caueat to the Hebrewes admonishing them strictly to giue Heb. 2. 1. heed to the things which they heard least they should let them slippe and as the word signifieth should leake or runne out For it were better to haue wounds in our bodies that all our bloud should gush out then to be rifted vessels hauing chinkes in our soules that the doctrine of life should soake away and oaze out from vs. Consolation to them that haue couetous desires after spirituall dishes that would suffer nothing that wayes to passe from them but inlarge their affections vnsatiably to gather all It is no point of folly as it was in the rich man Luke 12 to multiply worldly wealth but these haue the Lord to commend their wisedome and it may as truly be affirmed of them as of such as be mercifull because they bee the same persons though the respects differ that they lay vp store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life But the mouth of the wicked c. The tongues of vngodly Doct. 2 men are alwaies pernitious and hurtfull Of them Saint Iames An ill mans mouth worketh much woe speaketh largely comparing them to fire breaking out in an house or whole towne especially when it commeth by the hostilitie of the enemie making assault to it by meanes whereof men are stayed from extinguishing of it and haue not onely their goods but their life also in great perill And this flame of the tongue is so much more dangerous then materiall fire because it is kindled of hell that is the diuell himselfe hath set Zac. 3. 5. 7. it on worke And so in the same place he resembleth them to poyson and that not of the common sort but to strong poyson which is deadly and faileth not to worke the bane of them that drinke it First they are hurtfull and bring great annoyance and mischiefe Reasons 1 to other men and therfore in the Scriptures are called swords and arrowes and rasors and mortall weapons Ier. 9. 8. Psal 52. 2. And yet such similitudes are not able fully to expresse and set out the euill that commeth by venemous mouthes and virulent speeches First the tongue most commonly causeth weapons to bee drawen all warres all rebellions all massacres all quarrels all manner of strifes are first breathed out of mens mouthes on some part Secondly the hand may be held that handleth the weapon the strokes may be warded armour may preserue from the violence of them or there may be refuge and couert to hide them that are pursued but who can stay an vnruly tongue What defence is against it whither shall a man fly from a false accuser what distance of place will preuent malicious calumniations Thirdly they which fall into the hands of most fierce and cruell enemies which are pearced and wounded with keenest and sharpest edge tooles haue all the hurt vpon their bodies the extreamitie of it reacheth but to take away their naturall life but a slanderous tongue doth smite at the name which an ingenious man would forgoe his breath to preserue and a pestiferous seducing tongue doth peruert the soule and by the poyson thereof are many thousands brought to euerlasting perdition Secondly they bring destruction vpon themselues and draw mischiefe vpon their owne heads as the Scripture testifieth The words of a wise man haue grace but the lips of a foole deuoure â—ccl 10. 12. 13. himselfe The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madnesse The truth of this shall be spoken of more at large in the eightenth Chapter and seauenth verse vpon these words A fooles mouth is his owne destruction and his lippes are a snare for his soule Instruction to be very well aduised in all our speeches sithens Vse 1 they are so important and weightie Who would not heedefully foresee where his arrow shall hit before he shoote it out of his bow least it should destroy any person or other creature through negligence who would not be very circumspect and wary in discharging of a peece least hee should doe mischiefe by it And yet by these a man may affray and not hurt and hurt and not kill and kill and not dye himselfe but what arrow what shotte what artillery what murdering peece is to bee compared to the mouth of a man that is not guided by a wise and watchfull foresight Great woe it worketh to other men but it surely bringeth death it selfe vnto himselfe euery word that breaketh an other mans skinne doth certainely breake the kall of his owne heart and he that doth aime at an other to giue him a wound can not misse himselfe to violate his owne life For so wee learne in this booke Hee Prou. 13 3. that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth his lips destruction shall bee to him It concerneth therefore euery man to be as prouident yea more carefull to looke to that which goeth out of his lips then to that which commeth in to bee more affraid to vtter blasphemous reuiling slaunderous and infectious speeches in regard of the soule then to eate and deuour vnwholesome meates in regard of the body And by this we are admonished to commit our mouthes to a better keeper then our owne wit or reason or ciuill disposition least lust and Sathan doe ouer rule vs to let in what they will and to let out sinfull words when and whither and as oft as they will And this mooued the Prophet to pray to the Lord to set a watch before his mouth and to keepe the doore of his lips Confutation of them that thinke it nothing dangerous to speake whatsoeuer words they say are but winde when a man hath spoken he hath done and so there is an end of that matter Nay when a sinfull man hath spoken sinfully much hurt is done and so there is but the beginning of a bad matter for all the mischiefe followeth after So it may be said of a cup of poyson it is but a draught and when a man hath swallowed
hundred and ninetenth Psalme where in many places he professeth his singular comfort and delight that he conceiueth in the heauenly word of God as when hee saith how sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then hony vnto my mouth And they are the ioy of mine heart Psal 119. 103. 111. First this contrarietie ariseth from the contrary causes of Reasons 1 these contrarie likings All wicked men doe loue sinne and it is as deare vnto them as the members of their owne bodies And all godly men doe loue righteousnesse and rather desire to be deliuered from life then separated from grace and the seruices of God Now it is a perpetuall rule which neuer faileth that whatsoeuer any man loueth most that hee will alwaies most delight in Secondly wicked men are fleshly and therefore liue after the flesh and sauour of the things of the flesh and delight in the workes of the flesh And godly men are led by the spirit and sauour of the things of the spirit and reioyce in the fruites of the spirit Secondly it is seene in the contrary effects of both sides First wicked men runne violently to sinne and will not desist from their diuellish purposes before they haue effected them though godly men through naturall corruptions and temptations haue sometimes a pronenesse and inclination to euill yet they may be easilâ— retracted by counsell and admonition as Dauid was from sâ—â—â—ing of Nabal but they constantly proceede to the perforâ—â—â—â—e of euery good dutie Secondly wicked men doe mediâ—â—â—e in â—â—e night and indeauour in the day to fulfill their sinfull desir◠〈◊〉 Micah 2. 1. Godly men doe meditate in the night and indeauour in the day to know and obey the holy will of the Lord Isa 26. 9. Thirdly when wicked men haue accomplished â—â—eir sinfull desires they surfait with gladnesse when they aâ—â—â—â—sapointed they are filled with bitter vexation Prou. 4. 16. 〈◊〉 godly men haue committed sinne it bringeth anguish 〈◊〉 their hearts when they haue performed any Christian seruice it is a comfortable refreshing to their soules Fourthly the custome of sinning is so sweete to the wicked that they will not forsake it but take them for Iob. 20. 12. their enemies that shall disswade them from it the yoke of sinne is heauie to the Godly that they still striue to be disburthened of it and the yoke of Iesus so easie that they willingly yeeld themselues to it and account them their best friends that shall help them against the one and further them to the other Confutation of therronious opinion of those that allowing Vse 1 themselues in the pursuite of all sinfull pleasures and profits euen seruing their lusts with delight and working vncleannesse with greedinesse doe yet vndertake for the safetie of their owne soules and challenge the name and prerogatiue of righteous men Consolation to them that are wearied with the rebellious motions of the flesh that are not able vtterly to subdue the remnants of sinne and their owne naturall disposition but that sometimes their pride giueth them a wound sometimes their rage breaketh out sodainly striketh them so that the prints of the strokes are seene and the scarres which remaine after them sometimes couetousnesse presseth so hard vpon them that it maketh them to giue ground yea it taketh and imprisoneth them yet if they hate these corruptions the more because they haue ben hurt by them if they labour for libertie and groane for deliuerance out of their captiuitie they are still reputed wise and the faithfull souldiers seruants of Christ That which the wicked feareth shall come vpon him Verse 24 but God will graunt the desire of the righteous The condemnation in the world to come which vngodly men through the guiltinesse of their consciences are often summoned vnto when God shall draw their soule out of their body they shall certainely fall into And those iudgements and miseries of this life which they most hate though they hope to escape them they are in danger to bring vpon themselues And that which is most desirable and will be most comfortable to Christians the Lord which knoweth what is most acceptable to them and profitable for them will in due season bestow vpon them That which the wicked feareth c. Whatsoeuer is most contrary Doct. 1 to the affection and liking of sinfull persons that they That which ill men most fear shall surely befall them may expect to be plagued withall This the Lord threatened to the rebellious and obstinate Iewes by the Prophet Ezekiell I will take from them their power the ioy of their honor the pleasure of their eyes and the desire of their heart their sennes and their daughters Ezek. 24. 25. The things which they are altogether vnwilling to depart with those would hee strip them of and consequently that which they would bee very loath to beare should heauily bee laid vpon them First ordinarily they feare that which is the most proportionable Reason 1 proper punishment of their offences As proud men haue nothing in so great detestation as reproach contempt and nothing is so much due vnto them as to bee contemned Secondly their feare and dread of falling into those cuils doth cause them to seeke the preuention of them by cuill meanes and thereby they take the way to inforce the speedie execution of them As they that would flie farre from necessitie and want by hasty getting of riches and substance doe very often prouoke pouertie to come swiftly with violence vpon them Prou. 28. 22. Thirdly the Lord doth make choise of and singleth out such manner of iudgements as shall most sting them come nearest to their hearts and those are they which are most terrible to them What could haue beene so grieuous to Haman Ioel. 5. Isa 3. 16. 17. c as first to bee made Mordecayes page and then afterwards to bee hanged vpon the gallowes then which nothing could bee inuented more horrible to him and therefore hee had prouided it for Mordecay whom hee most mortally hated Instruction first to fence our selues against the imitation Vse of the wicked and desire of their state by considering how wretched and miserable their condition is Euen presently they are arrested and after a sort apprehended with feares hell and destruction doe sometimes shew themselues vnto their soules and in time to come vnlesse they repent they shall haue full possession of them Secondly to free our selues from all our feares by flying to the Lord for succour against the mischiefes which we would not fall into for repentance humiliation against the sins that wold draw them vpon our heads But God will graunt c. The best way to haue our wills Doct. 2 satisfied is to bee Godly For to such there is a promise made Good mens desires shal be graunted that God will fulfill the desires of them that feare him Wherin yet these rules are to bee obserued First that our will bee
the Lord he obteined a glorious deliuerance Iehosophat seemed to be in as great perill as Ahab and Ahab was of as great wealth as Iehosophat yet God gaue direction to the hand of one archer vnwittingly to shoote and to the arrow to light vpon him and to finde a chincke in his armour and to hit him in such a place as through which it pearced to his life And contrariwise hee perswaded the hearts of many others who pressed vpon Iehosophat to withdraw their hands and to let him alone in safetie Thirdly the death of Iesus Christ hath plucked out the sting and taken away the venome of their naturall death as that it is conuerted into a quiet and comfortable rest Fourthly the Resurrection of Iesus Christ shall at the last day subdue and destroy this death that now houldeth their bodies in the graue and death shall dye and they shall liue in immortalitie and euerlasting blessednesse Instruction to euery one to get a sure possession of sound Vse 1 and vnfained righteousnesse such as will hould weight in the ballance of Gods righteousnesse before his iudgement seate and therefore let him obserue these three generall rules which bee effectuall and necessarie First that he put off the old man with the carnall reason and shewes thereof disclayming for authentick and alowable goodnesse all counterfait natural and ciuill vertues and bee clothed with Christ and his merites and sanctified with his holy Spirit Phil. 3. 9. 10. Secondly that hee make a narrow search to finde out all his sinnes and that with godly sorrow and repentance for the same obtaining also pardon and remission for them through the bloud of Iesus Christ Thirdly that he make a conscience constantly and totally to walke in the commandements of God endeuoring to please him in all things For hee that leaueth off well doeing in the end shal loose all the comfort of his beginning And he that is content to serue God but in a part may bee suppected to serue him soundly in no part Consolation to them that haue attained to this righteousnesse and bee furnished with it in heart and behauiour they are throughly armed not onely with the brestplate but with the whole and complete armour of God against Sathan and all his forces And so likewise are they in safety from the perill of all places the violence of all persons and the terrours of all times and seasons When they are in health they neede not to feare sicknesse when they are sicke they neede not to feare death when they are to die they neede not to dread the daunger of damnation The Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous but Verse 3 hee casteth away the substance of the wicked These words bee inferred vpon the former as an answere to a secret obiection that might bee made against them why should it bee thought that men get no good by gathering riches in what manner soeuer They stand them in steade in time of dearth scarcety when others that want them though neuer so iust are like to perish Now heere hee sheweth the case to bee otherwise good men are not vnprouided of foode because they are vnfurnished with wealth and sinfull men haue no assurance of prouission though they haue riches for the Lord will not famish the soules of the righteous that is will not suffer the men themselues to starue though they haue neuer so little But will cast away the substance of the wicked that is he will depriue them of the possession or vse or vertue of it when they are in greatest neede The Lord will not c. Poore Christians be in better estate Doct. then wealthie wicked men euen in respect of bodily prouision A poore Christian better then a rich worldling and maintenance Such a comparison is made Psal 34. 10. that lyons that is mightie strong and boysterous men suffer hunger and sustaine want as was notably seene in the case of Nabucadnezzer who in the middest of his greatest power his ample dominions and large possessions was yet turned a grasing like a beast amongst the beasts But they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good They may sometimes bee without that which they wish for because they may wish for that which will not well agree with their safetie But whatsoeuer is good and there neede requireth it that shall vndoubtedly be ministred vnto them Obiect But may not a godly man dye of hunger shall wee condemne all that are afamished Answ There is no doubt but many men euen faithfull seruants of god in sieges extreame dearthes c. be brought to their ends through penury and want of food but then it is good for them so to come to their end The Lord doth call them home to heauen by such a messenger In the like sence it is said in the former Psal 34. 20. that not one of their bones is broken that is to their hurt or through neglect of gods prouident care ouer them But one may haue his bones broken be hewed or sawed asunder in great mercie Heb. 11. 37. So there is a promise to Gods people to preserue them from the pestilence Psal 91. 7. and yet many blessed saints bee taken away by it to euerlasting glory Else Dauid would not haue giuen them that testimonie who so dyed at that time calling them poore harmelesse sheepe or haue offred himself to that kinde of death to preserue them aliue The meaning is then that religious men shall neuer bee plagued with the venome and sting of scarcetie and famine hauing it executed as a curse vpon them as it falleth out with sinners First they haue the good prouidence of God continually Reasons 1 for them his eyes are open to see their neede his eares are open to heare their prayers his hand is open to releeue their necessities his treasury and rich store house is open and able to supply all their wants They haue his loue and fauour they haue his power and sufficiencie they haue his word and promise they haue his truth and fidelitie that the will neuer faile them Heb. 13. 5. Secondlie the wealthie misers of the world haue the hand of God against them to consume that which they haue augmented to scatter that which they haue gathered together and to cast away that as a cursed thing which they haue laid vp as a precious treasure They trust not in him but make that their hope and therefore hee will make that to deceiue them when they haue greatest neede of helpe They doubt not but it shall goe well with them when others be in extremitie and therefore they shall bee brought into straits when it shall goe well with others And so much the rather beecause they doe not onely glory in their wealth and lift vp themselues aboue poore Christians but arme themselues therewith and make it a weapon of oppression Consolation to good men that haue inward store of grace Vse 1 though
it he hath done with it and so there is an end but hath it done with him will there be no further working of it â—â— will continue his paine and torment vntill it haue made an end of his life The rich mans goods are his strong citie and the feare of Verse 15 the needy is their pouertie The rich mans goods are his strong citie c. That is wealthie worldlings doe trust to their possessions when they haue great store For he speaketh not of any safetie that they haue by their goods but which they seeme to themselues to haue as is plainely expressed Chap. 18. 11. And it is sometimes the faults of good men in their infirmities to repose too much confidence in outward things when they abound with them Psal 39. 6. 5. On the other side the want of earthly substance doth fill the hearts of vnregenerate poore men with feares of famine and misery And Gods owne people are not alwaies free from the assaults thereof by reason of the imperfection of their faith The extreamitie of euery state is dangerous and no condition Doct. safe without grace Of this had Agâ—r a sensible apprehension The meane estate is safest when he put vp that petition to the Lord that hee would neither giue him pouertie nor riches but foode conuenient for him that is a moderate estate without excesse on either hand Prou. 30. 8. First both of them be â—â—â—ses from God vpon wicked persons Reasons 1 Psal 69. 22. Deut. 28. 48. Iob. 30. 3. Secondly both of them draw their hearts from all good meditations thoughts purposes and desires and fill them vp with fleshly cogitations Thirdly both of them bee occasions of vniust behauiour procuring them by indirect dealing to prouide for themselues Psal 62. 10. Prou. 30. 9. Instruction to labour for the spirit which will protect vs Vse 1 from the venome and hurtfull effects as well of the one as the other Doth the light of God shine on our habitations hath hee filled our houses with good things and giuen vs an ample portion of wealth and possessions hath hee prepared and well furnished our table and made our cup to run ouer Then wil the holy Ghost prouoke vs when we haue eaten Deut. 8. 10. and filled our selues to blesse the Lord our God for the good plenty which hee hath giuen vs. Hee will effectually admonish vs that we be not hie minded and trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs abundantly all things to inioy that wee doe good and be rich in good workes and readie 1. Tim. 6. 17. 18 to distribute and communicate laying vp for our selues store against the time to come Are we in need and necessities abridged of that fulnesse which diuers others doe as it were swimme in This holy spirit will sustaine our hearts and perswade vs of our heauenly fathers all sufficiencie of goodnesse and abilitie of prouidence and prouision for vs. That will teach and inable vs in whatsoeuer state we are therewith to be content to be full and to be hungry to abound and to haue want to doe all things through the help of Christ which strengtheneth vs. Phil. 4. 12. 13. Reproofe first of them that too greedily labour to be rich hunting continually both day and night and at all times with heart and hand and tongue and all indeauour after these dangerous snares desiring vehemently the curse of God vpon their owne soules Secondly of them which by idlenesse or any other vnthriftie courses doe cast themselues into penury and want When the Lord doth lay pouertie vpon his seruants for a triall or exercise he doth support them with sundry helpes he moueth men to be compassionate towards them his owne prouidence doth succour them when men and strength and forecast and all other externall meanes do faile them And especially they haue hope and patience and all inward supportance which maketh the defect of outward things easie vnto them But when men will draw pouertie vpon themselues as a punishment the mercies and commiserations of men are restrained from them Psal 109. 12. and their hearts being ouercome are more ready to pursue them with feare and griefe and discontentment then all their necessities The labour of the righteous tendeth to life but the reuenues Verse 16 of the wicked to sinne The labour of the righteous tendeth to life c. That is the goods which good men vsually get by trauell though many times they are descended to them by inheritance or bestowed vpon them by gift or by some other lawfull meanes brought to their hands tendeth to life viz. both of soule and body in this world and for the world to come whereas the riches of vngodly men are alwayes abused by them and made the occasions and meanes of vnrighteousnesse The opposition is this the riches of the righteous do tend to goodnesse and so to their life but the wealth of the wicked doth tend to sin and so to their death Riches are either profitable or hurtfull according to the Doct. owners and vsage of them The prosperitie of Abraham Iob Wealth is good or bad as it is vsed and other holy men is commended in the word of God for the great good that they did and receiued thereby and the Prophets and other holy writings doe asmuch condemne the opulencie and wealth of the enemies of God as making them to be most mischieuous and miserable Iob. 21. 16. Iac. â— 1. 2. 3. 4. c. First the one sort doe honor the Lord with their substance Reason 1 beholding the hand of his prouidence confessing the truth of his promises ascribing the glory to his name and consecrating themselues and their wealth to his will the other make Idols of their gold and siluer and all their possessions or else dedicate them to other Idols as pride and lust and voluptuousnesse c. Secondly the one sort giue bread to the hungry and drink to the thirstie and clothing to the naked and are euery way readie to releeue the necessitie of their poore distressed brethren the other abuse their power and riches to tirannie and crueltie oppressing them that are alreadie in affliction or contemning them that are their inferiours or withholding the goods from the needy whom God hath made the right owners of them Prou. 3. 27. or else feeding gluttons and dronkards and otherwise sinfull and vnthriftie persons Thirdly the one haue for themselues the prayers of poore Christians whose bellies haue beene filled and their loynes clothed and kept warme by them the others haue the sighes and teares and grones and sorrowes of them that be wronged ascending to heauen and making a continuall cry in the eares of the Lord against them Fourthly the one sort receiue the blessings of God with thankesgiuing and so they are not only wholesome vnto them but holy also being sanctified by the word and prayer 1. Tim. 4. 4. 5. The other deuoure and swallow vp the good
agreeable to Gods will the desire must bee holy and seasoned with the spirit and not carnall and corrupted by the flesh Dauid in a passion would needes know how long hee was to Psal 145. 19. liue And Iames and Iohn would haue fire to come from heauen to destroy a whole towne and an other time they made sute to bee the second men of the whole earth These petitions were not graunted because they were not aduisedly asked nor safe for them to bee obtained Secondly that sometimes lawfull desires are not performed in the same kinde but exchanged for better and that which doth more good is bestowed in steede of them Moses desired to enter into the land of Canaan hee was denied that but hee entred sooner into the heauenly and blessed rest of euerlasting life Paul would haue beene perfectly freede from all originall corruption or at least from the stirrings and working of it but it stoode not with the wisedome of God to yeeld that vnto him but hee assisted him with grace against it which was much more for his owne glory and the sound comfort of Pauls conscience Thirdly that wee tarry the Lords leasure and depend on his hand to minister in fittest time all those good things which our soules desire and so wee shall not faile to receiue them when hee seeth that they will bee most expedient for vs. First hee rayseth vp the heart to seeke for them hee inclineth Reasons 1 the soule so much to long after them and therefore it was his purpose to bestow them Psal 10. 17. Secondly he giueth the spirit of faith prayer which will haue no nay they neuer sustaine any repulse whatsoeuer they lay hold on they make it their owne Iohn 15. 7. 1. Iob. 5. 14. 15. Thirdly hee calleth vs to him by commandement to seeke all good things at his hand and incourageth vs to the same by promises Psal 27. 4. and therefore his owne truth is our securitie for them Fourthly his all sufficiencie and absolute abilitie for performance doth aboundantly exceede all the desires of all the faithfull yea of all creatures though they were neuer so ample and feruent Ephes 3. 20. First consolation to righteous men against the defects that Vse 1 are in their soules and the necessities of state and body they are best prouided for both for so great is the credite which they haue in the court of heauen and their fauour with the king of heauen that they aske and haue desire and preuaile and if they bee not forward inough that wayes they shall bee called vpon to put in their peticions and inlarge their desires Iohn 16. 24. Psal 81. 10. Secondly terror for their enimies that by tiranny and violence compell them to complaine of them So far as the Lord is readie to gratifie them by granting all good things which they aske so far is he also prouoked to punish their aduersaries and oppressors that cause them to cry As the whirle winde passeth so is the wicked no more Verse 25 but the righteous is an euerlasting foundation The meaning of the words is that vngodly men howsoeuer they flourish for a time yet doe sodainely come to ruine and destruction as the whirle-winde swiftly bloweth ouer and is lesse constant and permanent then the ordinary winde is though there bee no stabilitie in any But when it is said they are no more he doth not intimate any mortalitie of their soules as though they should be wholy dissolued as brute beasts for their soules are euerlasting as well as Gods peoples and their bodies shall be raised vp againe at the day of the Lord aswell as the Saints but it is their hope and happinesse and not their being that perisheth they shall neuer recouer any good estate any more Now against these are set the righteous whose soule and body and blessednesse haue a setled safetie as a foundation that can neuer be remoued So that this is the opposition the wicked are as a whirle-winde and so are no more but the righteous are like a firme foundation and so perpetually remaine Though the state of the vngodly be more ruffling then the Doct. seruants of God yet the state of Gods seruants is more certaine Vngodly men haue fare showes but good men haue a firme foundation and stable then the vngodly ones The whirle winde mounteth aloft and tosseth vp hay and straw and stubble and filleth mens eyes with dust and commeth violently vpon them with a blustering blast but immediately it is gone passed far away the foundation lyeth low in the ground and is neither seene nor heard yet there it continueth immoueable for many generations The vnconstant and tickle estate of wicked men is fitly expressed by liuely comparisons in the prophesie of Hosea They shall be as the morning cloud and as the morning dew Hos 13. 3. that passeth away as the chasse that is driuen with a whirle winde out of the floore and as the smoake that goeth out of the chimney The contrary stimitude and stabilitie of the Godly is by our Sauiour himselfe likened to an house that is built on a rocke and the raine fell and the flouds came and the windes blew and Mat. 7. 25. beat that house and it fell not for it was grounded on a rocke First the one sort haue beene as vnconstant in their waies Reason 1 and as easily blowen from sin to sinne as the chaffe and dust and withered leaues haue beene carried vp and downe with the winde and if they haue entred into any good course there haue beene no more stedfastnesse in them then is in the mornnig cloud and morning dewe Isa 64. 6. Hos 6. 4. The other haue rooted and setled aswell in faith as in all faithfull behauiour and for these causes the one side slitteth away and is gone to misery the other remaine happy blessed for euer Secondly the one sort haue God and his Angells to pursue and push them away the other haue God and his Angells to vphold and confirme them that they be not moued from the fruition of his fauour Terrour for sinfullmen whose short and momentanie prosperitie Vse 1 shall so speedily and sodainely be turned into miserie Instruction first not to affect the pleasures of sin wherein may be a continuall expectation of suddaine destruction Secondly not to repose affiance in any wicked person for though there were some constancie in their hearts or mouthes which seldome or neuer falleth out yet there is none in their life and estate Psal 146. 3. 4. Consolation to such as are molested with the boysterous tempests of wicked men though they rore lowd they shall not rage long the Lord will put a speedie end to their crueltie Isa 29. 19. 20. 51. 13. 14. As vineger is to the teeth and smoake to the eyes so is the Verse 26 slothfull to them that send him As vineger c. That is too much vineger or other things Doct. that
out manie prayers to God and maketh way to attention at the ministerie of the word it helpeth meditation it leadeth to faithfull comforters it furthereth good conferences it procureth al good exercises all these good exercises procure a proportionable measure of comfort Fourthly it giueth men experience of their faith and patience and constancie which all declare and testifie the soundnesse and sinceritie of the heart which is the roote of sound and holy comfort Fiftly the longer it is before the Lord doth performe his promises the larger his mercies are when hee doth bestow his blessings wheÌ„ he prolongeth his seeding he prouideth a plentifull haruest when he doth not presentlie giue the reward he taketh time to tell out much that his gifts may be the greater Incouragement to patience in all distresses let vs taâ—rie the Vse 1 Lords leasure and waite vpon him and he hath by word writing by seale oath vndertaken to deliuer vs out of them Our sauiour promiseth that in the greatest troubles when they shuld be most violently treacherously vnnaturallie persecuted not onely of forraine aduersaries but of their domestical familiars of their friends of their kinsmen of their brethren of their owne parents yet not one haire of their heads should perish Their haires and heads might be cut off and life might be taken away but not lost they should not bee vainely bestowed without good effect in a holy cause Onely he admonisheth vs Luke 21. 18. 19. to possesse our selues with patience If we keepe all sound within euery thing shall be safe both within and without And then we begin to lose our aduantage when we leaue the possession of our selues and the power of our soules through distempers Reproofe of them that make more hast than good speede to shake off their crosses by corrupt courses They depriue the Lord of that honor which they should yeeld to him in waiting for his help and themselues of that comfort which hee would haue yeelded to them together with his help Their ioy will wither as corne that is cut downe before it be ripe and become abortiue as a stil-borne childe whereof the mother miscarieth But the hope c. Vngodly men beguile themselues with a Doct. 2 deceitfull expectation of happines For the same point is shortly Ill men seckeing to be happy deceiue themselues after repeted againe in the next Chapter ver 7. When a wicked man dyeth his hope perisheth When good men enter vpon possession of their happie estate the terme of sinners is out and their lease determined and growne out of date First the Lord knoweth their purposes desires and expectations Reasons 1 and will duely defeat them of the same Psal 1. 6. Secondly their hope ariseth not froÌ„ faith nor is grounded on the promises of the word but on sence sight of preseÌ„t prosperity Thirdly they hope for things which are altogether impossible to come to passe As first to see the euersion and ouerthrow of Gods people Psal 112. 10. Mica 4. 11. 12. Secondly that God should faile of his iustice truth in executing his threatnings denounced against them Deut. 29. 20. Thirdly to take their fill of sinfull pleasures heere and to enioy also felicitie and happinesse in the life to come Luke 16. 21. Confutation terrours for them that liue ignorantly impiouslie Vse yet trust to die blessedly obtaine euerlasting life They haue no other euidence for safetie from damnation but their opinion that they haue a strong faith whatsoeuer the preachers say they regard it not they trust that god wil be more mercifull then so they hope to be saued as well as the best of them all For so their comparisons run ordinarie Christians are too base for them to compare with they must equalize themselues with the chiefe and principall The way of the Lord is strength to the vpright man but feare shall bee to the workers of iniquitie Verse 29 By the way of the Lord is meant his whole administration both of his word whereby he maketh his will knowne and of his spirit whereby he giueth grace of his prouidence wherby he protecteth his seruants and performeth all good things vnto them By euerie one of these meanes doeth he establish confirme both the hearts states of such as be faithfull But as for the wicked howsoeuer he suffer them for a time to proceed in their vngodly waies without anie great crosses yet at last he executeth such iudgements vpon them as the verie sight therof causeth them to quake and tremble Thus standeth the opposition The way of the Lord is strength to the vpright for preseruation and therefore it worketh boldnesse but it weakneth the wicked for destruction and therfore it bringeth feare The way of the Lord c. They that are most godly are in best safetie The point hath bene handled in the first verse of Doct. 1 the former chapter concerning wisdomes seauen pillers But feare c. They that be most bold ventrous to sinne Doct. 2 shall be most frighted with the punishments of it In the 14. Ps They that are most forward to sin are most terrified at the sight of the punishment the Prophet describing the conceits conuersation condition of irreligious miscreants doth bring them in at the first saying that there is no God and therefore they corrupt and doe abhominable workes but afterwards declaring the euent hee sheweth that there they are taken with feare and as the words are they feared with feare intimating the greatnesse of their dread and terrour Psal 14. 5. An example whereof we haue set downe before namely the foole-hardinesse and cowardlinesse that was found in Belshazzer Dan. 5. First the great guiltinesse that is in their consciences doth Reasons 1 dismay their harts and daunt their courages Secondly the Lord doth shew himselfe terrible in his iudgements and they finde and feele that they are not able to stand before him Isa 33. 14. Apoc. 6. 16. 17. Thirdly their foolish flattery whereby they haue illuded themselues hath brought this misery vpon them For they presumed of peace safety and so their destruction commeth sodainely without resistance 1. Thes 5. 3. And so it is said in anoother place They shall bee taken with feare where no feare was that is where was no suspition of feare or likelihood of danger Psal 53. 5. Instruction to preuent sin by fearing the iudgements that Vse will ensue vpon it Iob. 31. 3. Secondly to preuent the punishments after that wee haue sinned by a holy voluntary feare and humiliation 2. Cor. 7. 11. Thirdly to confirme our selues in both these by fearing and trembling at the word of the Lord. Isai 66. 2. Habac. 3. 16. The righteous shall neuer be remoued but the wicked shall Verse 30 not dwell in the earth The righteous shall neuer be remoued They shall neuer be remoued from Gods fauour they shall neuer be remoued from the constant graces of