bad we proue fewell for the fire A man hauing a tree in his Orchard if it bring forth nothing but leaues he will cut it and prune it and dung it but if after all this cost and labor it remaine still barren hee will then hew it downe as good for nothing but fewell for the fire Hereby wee may see how God will deale with vs Wee bee all Trees here planted in the Lords orchard he doth water vs with the preaching of the Word hee cuts vs and prunes vs. Esay 5. Luk. 8.4.5 Now if after much cost and labour wee shall remaine barren still if the Lord come three or foure yeares and still no fruite will be found Hee will then bethinke him to stub vs vp that wee couer not the ground So by Sowing of corne into the ground to mainetaine mans life our Sauiour leades vs to consider of another thing for as the Sower casts his Seede abroad into sundry sortes of ground and they according to their nature bring forth fruit accordingly Euen so the Minister of the Word scatters and sowes the seede of Gods word into the ground of mens hearts and as they be prepared so they bring forth fruit So by a Weauers shuttle wee see the shortnesse of mans life gone in a moment Dost thou see how the winde driues the chaffe and dust of the earth about giuing it no rest vntill it be cleane dispersed away Oh! consider then how the curse of God shal follow and torment the wicked Verse 4. of this psalm and neuer let their soules be at rest till it consume them Dost thou lie downe into thy bed euery night oh remember that thou must shortly lie downe in thy graue be couered with dust and therefore prepare to die in the Lord. Dost thou see the beautifull grasse and hearbs of the earth cut downe and wither away Esay 60. so thy beauty and riches shall fade and perish When thou seest a stinking carion there behold a picture of thine owne selfe for no carion is so loathsome to man as a rebellious sinner to God Dost thou put on thy cloths to couer thy nakednesse Oh labour for the precious robes of Christs righteousnesse That thy filthy nakednesse do not appeare Reue. 3.18 Dost thou but wash thy hands in water oh labour for the bloud of Iesus Christ to wash away the spots of thy sins Psal 51.15 Dost thou but sit downe to eate and to drinke to nourish thy body without which it could not liue Oh consider that thy soule doth much more stand in need of the bread of Life the food of thy soule Dost thou see sometimes brimstone burning oh consider and quake for feare of the dreadfull iudgement of God vpon Sodome and Gomer that were burned with fire and brimstone and how all sinners shall haue their portion in the Lake of fire and brimstone Gen. 19. Dost thou but take a booke into thy hand and open it leafe by leafe Oh consider that the time will come when the Bookes of thy conscience shall be opened Reu. 20. wherein all thy sinnes are written one by one and thou shalt then receiue according to thy workes And thus wee see that of all the creatures of God there is a double vse to be made of them The one Naturall the other Spirituall one Temporall the other Eternall Hee shall bee like a Tree planted by the Riuers of water THIS part of the similitude doth signifie vnto vs our implanting and ingrafting into IESVS CHRIST his Mysticall Body by the worke of GODS Spirit and by the meanes of a true and liuely Faith This word Planted it is a Metaphoricall speech and borrowed from the practise of Husbandmen who first take vp their plants out of the nurcery or place where they first spring vp and then Plant them in the Orchard or Vineyard So fareth it with man this Heauenly Plant. And the comparison holds good in diuers things First for the circumstance of time when the plants of the earth are thus remoued and that not vsually in Sommer when the heate of the yeare is vp and the sap is gone vp into the plant but in the winter time this is vsually to bee seene for the most part Euen so the time in the which the godly man is planted it is in the winter time that is the time of sorrow and sore affliction not in the Sommer of peace when all things outwardly may seeme to go well with a man he saith peace peace but when God doth giue vnto a man the sight of his sinne and lets him see the reward of sin euen eternall death Oh Rom. 6. when a mans sins doe thus muster themselues before vs and against vs Oh this winter time this time of affliction and sorrow now is the season of the remouing of this heauenly Plant Man Secondly as a Plant is remoued not when it is fruitfull but remoued to that end it may be fruiefull So fareth it with man this Mysticall Tree Wee are not fruitfull by nature before such time as we are planted and ingrafted into Iesus Christ for till then wee bring forth nothing but bitter and vnsauory fruite but wee are planted to that end we may bee fruitfull and being once in Christ we shall then as liuing Plants of that liuely Stock bring forth fruit incontinently In particularly this Planting hath in it two things 1 Plucking vp 2 Setting downe The plucking vp shadowes out vnto vs three things in the conuersion of a sinner First our separation from the world hee cannot be in Christ that hath his rooting still in the earth amongst the men of the world and therefore as wee haue heard before wee must be carefull that wee walke not in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seate of the sconnefull They are as so many noysome shrubs that will be ready to fret the tender Plants of the Lord and to annoy them and therefore wee must bee remoued from amongst them that is must haue no secret society with them Secondly it signifies our deliuerance from the power of originall sinne thus For as a Plant once remoued receiues no more iuice nor nourishment from the old earth from which it is remoued but from that soyle into the which it is planted So fareth it with this heauenly Plant being regenerate and ingrafted into Iesus Christ there will follow such a change of will affection vnderstanding and the like faculties of soule and body that whereas before they were altogether earthly carnall and vaine so now they minde heauenly things being sanctified by the Spirit of Grace and the power of Nature Rom. 6. that is that old sap of sinne being done away Thirdly it signifies a Christian mans sorow for sinne for as no Plant can bee remoued from one place to another but the axe and other instrument of the Husbandman must bee laid vnto it and many a roote must bee
DAVIDS BLESSED MAN OR A SHORT EXPOSITION VPON THE FIRST Psalme directing a Man to true Happinesse Wherein the Estate and Condition of all Mankinde is laid downe both for this life and that which is to come The second Edition profitably amplified by the Author SAMVEL SMITH Preacher of the Word of God at Pritwell in Essex 1. TIM 4.8 Godlinesse hath the promise of the life present and the life that is to come LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES and are to bee sold by SIMON WATERSON at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Crowne 1616. ⧠TO THE HONORABLE SIR ROBERT RICH KNIGHT OF THE BATH AND SON and Heire to the Right Honorable ROBERT Lord RICH and to the Honorable and vertuous Lady the Lady FRANCIS RICH his wife S.S. wisheth all true comfort in this life and Eternall happinesse in the Life to come HONORABLE IT is reported that when one presented vnto Antipater King of Macedon a treatise of Happinesse that hee reiected it with this answer I am not at leasure your Honor shal finde this a treatise tending to Happinesse and shewing the way to euerlasting blessednesse yet I assure my selfe it shall finde better intertainement at your hands and that you will finde leasure at your leasure to peruse it J must ingeniously confesse that many haue many times handled many points of doctrine deliuered in this treatise yet I haue done it after another method Jf the water I haue drawne from this Well shall delight you J hope it will not tast the worse being brought vnto you in this vessell I offer here vnto your view the Anatomy of Dauids blessed Man or a short Exposition of the first Psalme directing a man how he may be truly blessed Jt is not without desert that Ierome doth call this book of the Psalmes The Treasury of learning for out of it most frequent testimonies are brought by our blessed Sauiour himselfe And this first Psalme is a Compend or an abstract of the whole booke of Psalmes directing the way to true happinesse The text J am sure is excellent for the purpose but for my manner of handling it I leaue it to the censure of Gods Church In Preaching I haue euer counted plainnesse the best eloquence and the carriage of matters so that those of the lowest forme may learne somewhat the soundest and the surest learning For surely we are so fallen into the dregges of time which being the last must needs be worst that Security hath so possessed all Men that they will not be awaked but if at any time the word of God or any good motion of Gods Spirit hath met with them presently Security whispers them in the one eare that though it be fit to thinke of such things yet it is not yet time Youth pleades a priuiledge though many millions of yong men are in hell for want of timely repentance And Presumption warrants thē in the other eare that they may haue time hereafter And thus men spend their daies vntill at last their houre-glasse be run and time then is past Now if your Honor shal lay this to heart in the strength of your yeares it shall bee your chiefest wisedome And if to bee religious in all ages hath been held to be true honor how much more honorable is it in so impious an age It is religion godlinesse that shal embalme your name and make it shine before men and glorifie your soule amongst Angels Mary her box of Oyntment shall neuer be forgotten for Godlinesse hath the promise of this life that which is to come and without it there is no internall comfort to bee found in conscience nor externall peace to bee looked for in this world nor eternall happinesse to bee hoped for in the next Now how can Religion but promise to herself a zealous patrō of your honor being the son heire of so gratious and religious a father who hath shewed himselfe a faithfull Dore-keeper in the house of his God Let his godly example teach you not to drinke of those stolen waters or rather indeed the bloud of soules wherwith too many in these gold-thirsty daies doe purchase Acheldama vnto them theirs The Lord keepe this euer frō the purpose of heart in his seruants who haue so honourable and weighty a trust committed vnto them Let that exhortation of Dauid to his son Salomon be euer in your honorable minde And thou Salomon my sonne know thou the God of thy Father and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts If thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee wil cast thee off for euer The God of heauen so vouchsafe to water you and yours with the dew of heauen that with the godly man in this psalm you may prosper as trees of his planting and so bring forth fruit in due season in this A Table of the Principall Doctrines contained in this Booke VERSE 1. DOctrine 1. The godly man alone is blessed pag. 21. Doct. 2. The occasions of sinne are to be auoided pag. 46 Doct. 3. We must shun the company of wicked men pag. 53 Doct. 4. Wicked men are euer deuising of mischiefe pag. 61 Doct. 5. To giue euill counsell is a horrible sinne pag. 67 Doct. 6. The falles of godly manie pag. 74 Doct. 7. A godly man doth euer walke with God pag. 79 Doct. 8. Wicked men described pag. 84 Doct. 9. A godly man sinnes not with deliberation pag. 88 Doct. 10. Wicked men proceed by degrees to be exceeding sinful 99 Doct. 11. The marke of a lewd and wicked man pag. 107 VERSE 2. Doct. 1. Not to do euill is not sufficient it is damnable not to do good pag. 115 Doct. 2. A godly man performes godly duties cheerfully pag. 122 Doct. 3. The law of God is a godly mans chiefe delight pag. 134 Doct. 4. A godly man sets some time a part euery day for Gods seruice pag. 140 VERSE 3. Doct. 1. Ministers duty to instruct the simplest p. 158. Doct. 2. A double vse of all the creatures of God pag. 162 Doct. 3. All men that are not ingrafted into Iesus Christ are miserable pag. 170 Doct. 4. Onely the regenerate man is happy and blessed p. 176 Doct. 5. Members of Iesus Christ are euer fruitfull p. 189 Doct. 6. A true note of a godly man to waite all opportunities to do good p. 207 Doct. 7. Perseuerance required in each child of God p. 213 Doct. 8. By our vnion with Christ we are made sure of perseuerance p. 222 Doct. 9. God doth euer blesse the godly endeuours of his children p. 228 VERSE 4. Doct. 1. The estate of the wicked most miserable pag. 243 Doct. 2. The estate of the wicked exceeding changeable pag. 258 Doct. 3. The destruction of the wicked is vnreuokable pag. 269 VERSE 5. Doct. 1. The certainty of the day of iudgement
or else publike with others The counsell of the wicked which is priuate in themselues is a rumination Doctr. There is a counsel of the wicked as of the godly or some other preparation in euery wilfull and intended sinne And hence it is that the Schoole-men affirme that consilium actus exitus must concurre in euery wilfull intended sinne And this is very apparant by the example of Iesabel 1. Reg. 21.8 that when she perceiued the King to bee so heauy for that he could not get the vineyard of righteous Naboth shee counselled with her selfe what she might doe to the end she might obtaine it and at last determined to write to the Gouernours of the Citie in Ahabs name to proclame a fast 2. Sam. 12. and to cause Naboth to bee brought forth before the Assembly and stoned to death This is cleere againe by the example of Dauid when hee walking vpon the roofe of his Palace had cast his eyes vpon the beauty of Bathsheba hee did first take this counsell within himself concerning an enquiry what she was secondly sent messengers vnto her to moue her to lie with him and lastly committed the act it selfe This might bee further cleared by the example of Cain Iudas and all to confirme the truth of this point vnto vs. Besides this priuate there is a councell of the wicked publique with other Mich. 6.16 as in the daies of Omri when cruell and wicked Statutes were made against the Lord and his people 1 Reg. 12.28 So in the daies of Ieroboam how did he take counsell and at last concluded to make two Calues for Diuine worship the one wherof he set at Bethel the other at Dan And in the daies of Nabuchadnezar what a Decree was gone forth by the King the Lords and Nobles Dan. 3.1 touching the worship of the golden image that was set vp in the plaine of Dura in the Prouince of Babylon So in the time of our Sauiour CHRIST Iohn 9.22 vnder the new Testament the Iewes had agreed together that all that confesse CHRIST should bee excommunicate Acts 4.18 and forbad the Disciples from Preaching any more in his Name And also in their Councell was our Sauiour CHRIST condemned to death Mat. 26.66 And the reason is cleere for the further manifestation of the truth of this point Reason for as no man doth gather Grapes of Thornes or Figs of Thistles so what other fruite can bee expected from such an vnsauory roote whose very Mindes and consciences are defiled Tit. 1.13 but that all their whole consultations and actions should be impure vnholy and vncleane Vse Hence then we may obserue that the doctrine of the Church of Rome touching this point is most false That Generall Counsells can not erre But wee haue cleared this before that they may erre and doe erre for what should I speake of the second Nicene Councell which set vp Idolatry and gaue bodies to Angells and the soules of men Councells therefore haue beene mis-led and may erre Now the Prophet proceedes further to shew who is a godlie man and what be his properties and teacheth vs in these words that the first step and entrance to the leading of a godly life is to renounce the counsel and company of lewd wicked and vngodly men whence wee obserue this doctrine Doctr. 2. The occasions ef sin are to bee auoyded That hee that would preserue himselfe from sinne must carefully auoide all the occasions thereof The Wise-man teacheth this Doctrihe That he that walketh with the wise shall be wiser But a companion of fooles shall be worser This doth appeare by the example of Ionathan who by the friendship and familiarity which he had with Dauid changed his life to better Pro. 1.13 whereas Salomon by societie and coniunction with the idolatrous wiues fell into idolatry 1. Reg. 11. and Rehoboam by walking with his yong Councellours and following their aduice became worse and worse If then we would auoyde euill we must beware of all occasions and no occasion more daungerous then euill company euery man therefore must take heede to himselfe and beware how hee ioyneth himselfe with acquaintance with al men indifferently lest by their meanes hee bee corrupted For euery man by nature is like dry wood which is apt to kindle so soone as fire is put to it so giue a man the least occasion and presently hee yeeldeth to sinne Mecum est quicquid mihi nocere potest Bernar med 11 There needes not indeede anie Diuell to tempt vs but let the least occasion that is bee offered vnto vs and straitway man becommeth a tempter vnto himselfe And this is that which the Apostle saith Iam. 1.14 Euerie man is tempted when hee is drawne away and enticed by his owne concupiscence The enemy by which wee are ouercome is in our owne bosome that is mans naturall corruption Genes 36. which is fewell for the kindling of the fire of Sathans temptations This appeares in Euah the Mother of vs all in the first transgression first shee sawe the fruit secondly shee conceiued a liking of it thirdly shee desired it fourthly shee eate of it Dinah the daughter of Iacob wandring abroad laid her selfe open vnto sinne and so fell which might haue been preuented had she auoyded the occasions thereof And Dauid a man after Gods own heart hauing set open the casements of his soule his eyes by the which the Diuell did easily winde himselfe into his heart and beheld Bathsheba washing her selfe 2. Sam. 11. but by by he lusted after her sent for her and lay with her So violent is mans corrupt nature in apprehending euery occasion that may draw him to sinne It is therefore a point of great wisedome to discerne betweene the deceipt of sinne and the fruite of sinne before it bee committed O flattering enemy In the action of committing it is as sweete as poyson after it is committed a biting serpent It comes to a man with a smiling countenance as Ioab to Amasa Art thou in health my friend but with all it strikes to the heart and woundes vnto death This doctrine serueth for the reproofe Vse 1 of those who are so farre from the auoiding of the occasions of sinne as that they do freely and of their owne accord seeke and follow after them they will not tarry with Ioseph till they bee tempted by others but they seeke all occasions and watch all opportunities to tempt others Neuer rauenous beast did more eagerly pursue the prey then some doe hunt after the occasions of sinne which is madnesse with a witnesse as if the flesh were not proue enough of it selfe vnto that which is euill but that paines must bee taken to helpe it forward to sinne Oh then how carefull ought wee to bee to watch ouer our waies and to auoide all the occasions of sinne Countergard thy heart saith Salomon and keepe it with watch and ward Prou.
It behooueth vs therefore to be as wise as Serpents Mat. 10.16 and as innocent as Doues to the end wee may stoppe the mouthes of gaine-sayers and cut off occasions from them that seeke occasions And to this end wee must euermore bee mindfull in our prayers to pray vnto God to be deliuered from them for vnlesse we be armed from aboue we shall easily be ouertaken by their assaults and through the corruptions of our owne hearts which are prone vnto all sinne they deale warily and circumspectly they worke by all meanes to peruert our waies and to make vs two-fold worse then themselues the child of Satan How much more carefull ought we to bee to preuent them which we shall do the better by shunning the occasions of sinne Secondly wee are taught heere Vse 2 that if we labour to bee the Disciples of Christ and to bee blessed what entertainement we shall finde in the world namely to haue wicked and vngodly men to stand in our way and hinder vs as they did stand in Zacheus way when hee went forth to see Christ Luk. 19.3 If thou bee once in Gods presence and dost beginne to call vpon him for mercy Luk. 18.39 they will rebuke thee as they did the poore blind man in the Gospel If thou bee sicke yea dead in trespasses and sinnes and Christ doth beginne to come home to the house of thy Soule to heale thee and to raise thee vp from the death of thy sinnes they will stoppe his passage and entrance in if possibly they can As they did when Christ came to the Rulers Daughter that was dead Matt. 9.23 But as Christ turned them out of doores saying Get yee hence So must thou shake them off and not communicate with flesh and bloud in matters that concerne eternal life and the saluation of thy soule For if thou doe thou canst neuer be saued Neyther must we look after the loue and liking of the world nor hang vpon men for their applause and fauour for where there is not the feare of God surely such men are most vnconstant in their wayes turning vpon euery small occasion yea and the loue and fauor of such men must needes be bent towards the worst seeing themselues are bad and set themselues in no good way Remember what Christ said vnto his Disciples Ioh. 15.19 If yee were of the world the world would loue his owne But because yee are not of the world But I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Wherefore as they that run at tilt looke not to the vulgar people what they say but to the Iudges so care not thou for the world But looke euer what the Iudge of heauen and earth doth allow and approue of That hath not walked in the counsell of the wicked By Counsell hee heere meaneth the subtilties and crafts of the wicked by which they push themselues forward and labour to draw others to be like vnto themselues according to that of Salomon My sonne if sinners intice thee Prouer. 11 consent not vnto them From whence wee gather a fourth poynt of Doctrine Namely that it is a most horrible Doctr. 4. To giue euill counsell is an horrible sinne and grieuous sin to giue euill counsell To commit sinne is that which highly offends the Maiestie of God and draweth downe vpon vs all punishments both temporall and eternall but to counsell others to commit sinne is the very height of sin This is noted in the Scripture to be the sinne of Iezabell who was a furtherer of Ahabs winkednesse 1. Reg. 21.7 for when hee could not by any lawfull meanes attaine the Vine-yard of Naboth shee said vnto him Dost thou sway the Scepter rule the Kingdome and manage the State Arise and eate bread I will giue thee the vineyard This was the counsell of Achitophel vnto Absolom 2. Sam. 16.21 fearing his reconciliation to his father Dauid and therein his owne iust confusion hee giues such counsell whereby hee might take away all hope of agreement Go into thy fathers Concubines which hee hath left to keepe the house and when all Israel shall heare thou art abhorred of thy father the hands of all that are with thee shall bee strong This is likewise set downe by Salomon in the Prouerbes where he expresseth the sin of seducers Prou. 1.11 saying Come with vs let vs lie in waite for the bloud of the innocents wee will swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole as those that go downe into the pit Cast in thy Lot amongst vs we will all haue one purse their feet runne to euill and they make hast to shed bloud And this doth appeare in the brethren of Ioseph when they purposed the ouerthrow of their brother Gen. 37.10 Come say they let vs slay him and cast him into some pit and we will say a wicked beast hath deuoured him And this appeared to bee the malice of the High Priests and Elders of the people who moued the people to desire that Barrabas might bee deliuered rather then CHRIST Mar. 15.11 and perswaded Iudas for a summe of mony to betray him Mat. 28.12 Inticed the Souldiers with a great summe of money to noise it abroad that his Disciples came by night and stole him away while they slept All these testimonies and many more may serue for the confirmation of this doctrine that it is a most horrible and grieuous sinne to giue euill counsell Seeing that it is a most great and Vse 1 grieuous sinne to giue euill counsell this teacheth vs our duety that whensoeuer they shall set vpon vs to draw vs away from GOD that wee bee carefull that wee consent not vnto them It is not enough for a man to say Alas I deuised it not neither am I the first that haue committed the like for this shall excuse no man that hee was not the author of an euill For surely if it bee so great a sinne to seduce it is no lesse sinne to bee seduced and GOD will one day finde them no lesse guilty but shall partake with them of the same punishment if a man should haue about him a great summe of money or other treasure and should willingly and wittingly put himselfe into the companie of thieues and will be drawne by them out of the way were this man to be pittied if hee should loose all that he had Euen so is it with a Christian that doth carry daily about with him a rich Treasure his Soule and conscience which hee must keepe vnspotted of the world If he listen to the charmes of the wicked and will be drawne out of the way of Gods commaundements to commit sinne and so make shipwracke of faith and a good conscience is it not iust with God that this man should perish for the same So then wee see it standeth vs in hand to beware of consenting to sinne and counselling others to commit sinne For