may bee compassed about with that brazen wall of a good conscience and secured from the censures of uncharitable men as Mithridate is made of the viper so let us make that to bee our Antidote which is here spoken by those that had sharpened their tongue like a serpent Psal 140 3 judging our selves that wee may not be condemned by them In the time of prosperity let this bee ever sounding in thine eares Where is thy God And thou shalt bee kept from wrath and misery when they do wound thine heart while they continually say unto thee Where is thy God Had Eve thought upon these words they would have bin an ornament of grace unto her head and chaines about her necke Shee would not have beleeved the father of lyes before the God of truth but for want thereof shee miscarriâ—d by eating that forbidden fruite for which her soule longed Had David thought upon these words being on the roofe of his house hee would have said as hee did at another time The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy-worke Then would he not have defiled himselfe with her that was purified from her uncleannesse Neither should these his enemies have said unto him Where is thy God And although this affliction be grievous for the present yet wee receive many benefits thereby which may bee sufficient to deterre an evill speaker from that outrage Thereby wee are put in minde to examine our selves and to humble our soules for our former sinnes We know they could not speak thus without Gods permission Wee hope that the Lord will requite good for their cursing We mourn before him wee duely consider his dealing with us and fervently pray to be set at liberty as David when they spake thus unto him he had teares for his meate hee remembred these things and hee powred out his soule in him VERSE IIII. When I remember these things I powre out my soule in me FOrmerly hee powred out his teares and now hee powreth out his soule For as the body without the spirit is dead so our teares without the soule are dead also Wee know that young Ptolomy being in Cesars custody he wept before him Regius animus disciplinis failacisâ—imiâ— cruditus Hirt. But when hee was dismissed hee warred against him So there be too many that while they be under the rod of correction doe lament greatly feeling present anguish and fearing future torment But being set at liberty they return to their pollutions which sheweth plainly that though they shed many teares they did not with holy David powre out their soules Hee remembred the reproach of the wicked for how could hee forget that which was so often objected against him and this made his soule melt for heavinesse Psal 119.28 Iob 30.16 and be powred out upon him as Iob speaketh Hee remembred his happy estate which compared with the misery now suffered did augment his sorrow Lam. 2.19 and made him powre out his heart like water before the face of the Lord as Ieremiah doth counsell And hee hoped to bee restored unto his former joy and to finde comfort by prayer and therefore hee powred out his soule before the Lord as Hannah practised 1. Sam. 1.15 And hee was inlarged by trusting in Gods mercies Hee received a twofold benefit by considering the dayes of old the yeares of ancient times The one was to sustaine him in his trouble Psal 77.5.10 by remembring the yeares of the right hand of the most High who had dealt bountifully with him Heb. 11.21 And as Iacob worshipped leaning upon the top of his staffe So he in this weak estate did repose himselfe upon the grace and favour of the Almighty The other was to makâ—â—â—â—e sinnes to be as detestable unto him as they were abominable before God by calling to minde how gracious the Lord had beene towards him how unworthily hee had requited the Lords goodnesse and how great blessings hee had lost by the sinnes hee committed For I had gone with the multitude even with all the house of Israel being of one heart and of one minde But now I am constrained to flee with my houshold with strangers and exiles I went with them to the house of God But now I goe from the house of God Nor dare I suffer Zadok who should be a Seer to carry the Arke which ought to abide in the city with mee in this my private condition lest that anger of the Lord which smote Uzzah bee kindled against mee also I went with the voice of joy and praise playing upon all maner of instruments with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet blessing the people in the name of the Lord But now we weepe and have our heads covered I went with a multitude that kept holy-day unto whom I gave bread flesh and wine Yea I danced before the Lord and offered burnt offerings peace offerings But now I may feare that I am appointed as a sheepe for the slaughter and that the Lord will have no delight in me In this disconsolate estate hee flyes unto God by prayer And as he powred out his complaint before the Lord when hee was pursued by Saul Psal 142.2 and was delivered so now hee powred out his soule and thereby became more imâ—râ—gâ—â—ble than hee should â—ave beene by abiding in the strong hold of Zion Having found such safety therein he commends the use thereof unto others Trust in him at all times yee people Pâ—â—l â—1 8 Powre out your heart before him God is a refuge for us In the time of trouble wee must renounce all strength and worthinesse of our owne and then God will have mercy upon us Wee must empty our selves that so wee may be filled with heavenly comfort How glorious things are spoken of Prayer in the holy Scripture Moses would not let God alone untill hee had quenched that wrath which waxed hot against the Israelites Exod. 3â— 10 Iacob would not â—et Him goe Gen 32 28. untill hee had obtained a blessing and was â—â—â—refore called Israâ—l It is â—â—ported of Archimedes â—hat hee vainely presumed by â—is art hee could move the whole earth if he might have beene lifted up from it But wee know assuredly that righteous Elijah being cast downe upon the earth 1. King 18 4â— did move the heavens themselves Iam. 5 7. hee prayed earnestly that it might not raine Hee prayed againe and the heaven gave raine So that prayer may bee compared to the ladder which Iacob saw in his dreame Gen. 28.12 It was set upon the earth and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the Angels ascending and descending on it By prayer men made a little lower than the Angels doe ascend and the Angels doe descend for our protection to pitch their tents about us As Ionathan climbed up the sharpe rocke and subdued his enemies 1. Sam. 14.13 So by prayer wee overcome principalities and powers
doth behold us as hee did his servant David delivering us out of all afflictions And in the performance of holy duties hee seeth us as he did Nathaneel Ioh. 1 48. sending his grace to prevent accompany and follow us Lastly when that which is perfect is come wee shall with Paul see him face to face 1. Cor. 13.12 Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11.7 If this outward light bee so delightfull then what an excellent blessing is it Num. 6. verse 25 26. when the Lord doth make his face to shine upon us and is gracious unto us and doth lift up his countenance upon us That wee may obtaine this benediction wee must bee obedient unto his Word When hee saith Psal 27.8 Seeke yee my face Our heart must answer Thy face Lord will I seeke Not for a short time 105.4 but continually And though a man beholding his naturall face in a glasse goeth away Iam. 1.24 straightway forgetteth what manner of man hee was yet wee when the Lord hath in mercy revealed himselfe unto us must not forget his benefits but ever bee mindfull of his gifts that are without repentance and alwayes praise him for the help of his countenance Wee cannot expect deliverance out of trouble unlesse God doth helpe us and when wee have received many blessings wee shall neither desire nor yet bee able to praise him without the helpe of his countenance So that God doth provide both the altar and the sacrifice Hee freely bestowes his benefits and he doth enable us to offer our thankes-giving and to praise him for the help of his countenance VERSE VI. O my God my soule is cast down within mee VVHen the disciples could not cure him that was lunaticke Mat. 17.15 they bring him to Christ himselfe So when David could not by his owne endeavours cast out this spirit of heavinesse hee seeketh unto the Lord of life to speake the word and this disease of his â—oule shall bee healed Haâ— he recovered his life of comfort by a stedfast hope in Gods mercy which hee laboured for in the formeâ— verse yet then hee must have confessed that it was the grace of God whereby iâ— was effected But that which is obtained by prayer doth come more immediately from Gods right hand and for such blessings wee are most thankfull Wee come with confidence unto the throne of grace when wee have used and doe use all good meanes to recover strength and assurance Doth God bid us doe some great thing we doe it willingly Doth hee command some small thing therein also we yeeld our cheerefull obedience I cannot give sufficient testimony unto these two so excellent duties serious examination of the soule and fervent praier unto the Lord The former like Mount Sinai full of terrour when by looking into our selves wee feare and tremble because of our guiltinesse having offended against the lawes of God The latter like Mount Sion Heb. 12. bringing consolation through Iesus the Mediator of the New covenant whose bloud speaketh better things than that of Abel In the right performance whereof our griefe is asswaged if we prostrate our selves before the Lord in prayer hee will raise up our soules with spirituall comfort This is the best refuge of every beleever whereby he hopeth for these sure mercies of David And this is the Sanctuary of a Christian from whence hee cannot bee taken and wherein hee shall not perish Our sorrow may often cause us to call upon the Lord but the soule is never cast downe so low as to bee wholly disabled from prayer Being of a sorrowfull spirit though wee cannot expresse our misery yet wee can speake in our heart unto the Lord. David being dejected by griefe and heavinesse doth yet lift up his soule in prayer and beleeves that God is his God though now hee seemed to forsake him When the winde doth blow wee wrap our garments more close about us in trouble wee draw neere unto God and labour to apply his promises unto our soules The childe walking in the darke doth adhere unto his father and takes hold upon him that hee may guide him and preserve him from danger So wee in the most disconsolate estate doe cleave unto the Lord and repose our whole confidence in his love Our Author in speaking of God and his soule doth thus plead for himselfe Thou art my God and I am thy servant Let the wicked bee clothed with shame and dishonour let their heart dye within them But redeeme my soule that I may not bee desolate because I trust in thee Deliver mee from all my feares and thou Lord shalt bee magnified which hast pleasure in the prosperity of thy servant My soule is thy gift it came from thee and I have given it unto thee How can it ascend towards thee when it is thus pressed downe by manifold troubles The waters are come in unto my soule Psal 69.1.2 I sinke in deepe mire where there is no standing My soule abiding in this darke house of earth lyeth prostrate upon the ground and is not able to rise Lord heare the poore and despise not thy prisoner Let thy salvation O God set me up on high let thy light and thy truth lead mee and bring mee unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles VERSE VI. Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Iordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Missar ANother help which David used to sustaine himselfe in this time of trouble was by calling to minde the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of Iordan Iosh 3. where God provided a passage for the Israelits preserved him when he passed over to shun Saul So now going over the river 2. Sam. 17.22 hee hoped that God would make a way for him to escape the danger that might come by Absalom Whereas hee nameth the land of Iordan and of the Hermonites he suggesteth to our remembrance the victory which God gave unto his people when they tooke the land that was on this side Iordan from the river of Arnon unto Mount Hermon at which time Og Deut. 3.8 who was of the remnant of the giants was overthrowne And thereby his hope might bee confirmed that although high-minded Absalom was swoln with proud conceits 1. King 20.11 and girding on his harnesse diâ— boast himselfe as if hee had put it off yet the right hand of God was not shortned noâ— his power diminished Buâ— hee will save and deliver all them that put their trust in him Now these three places here mentioned being the bounds of that countrey inhabited by the Israelites Iordan towards the East Hermon the North and the hill Missar the South hee might from thence have this comfortable assurance that God who was pleased to give unto his people so fruitfull a land after their tedious passage through the wildernesse would likewise in
And in the pursuite of any of them wee may well consider that wee our selves are pursued by the enemy of our soules Sed maiori cum fastu Vbi aspexit venientem ad retia cervum Venator tacito â—audia corde premit Bal. Castâ—â—o who doth more desire to take us than wee to take the Hart in our toyles And wee may at the same time both take and be taken as many are who turne their liberty into licentiousnesse If after this manner our thoughts be lifted up in the time of refreshing Meditabar aliquid ut si manus vacâ—as plenas tamen ceras reportarem Plini Iun. Vt quamvis nihil â—â—perim non nâ—hil â—eferam Idem though wee get nothing wee may gaine something and both the outward inward man may be renewed Wee deny not this exercise of hunting to bee very commendable Romanis solemne viris opus utâ—â—etan ae vitaeque membris Horat. venatâ—o Suevorum vtres alit Caeâ—ar the which was much used by many nations in ancient times who beside that helpe of sustenance found many other benefits thereby Their health was preserved their bodies were strengthened Hoc se labore durant adoâ—escentes Gormâ—â—â— Idem and themselves by the hardship endured the better fitted enabled for more serious employment especially for military discipline Venatu extendere vitam abnuit Silvis Non me ulla vetabunt fâ—â—gora Virgil. Manet sub Iove frigido Venator Horat Iugurtha in Salust Olim certabant cum â—â—gacibus feris cursu cum aâ—dacibus râ—bore cum cailidis astâ— Pli. â—â— in Panegyr Pâ—al 32.9 Illa iâ—sa 〈◊〉 delectant nâ—cesse est â—vâ—cent ab intentione operis destâ—nati Quintiâ—an lib. â—o cap. 1. Maleficium â—oâ—â—us quam artific um Io. Sarisb when by those beasts which they hunted they may learne from such as were swift-footed speed and agility from such as were daring valour and courage from such as were crafty stratagems and policy Moreover the minde being surcharged may thereby find some release BUT in the use of them wee must not bee as the horse which hath no understanding Our affections must be restrained that our delight therein bee not either inordinate or immoderate God created us for his owne service we must not bee so re-created by our sports as if we had beene framed for nothing else Heb 11.25 In so doing wee make them pleasures of sinne for a season and that very short and it is folly in any man to place his chiefe contentment in that which he cannot constantly enjoy Also it doth discover the unsufficiency of these sports to satisfie the heart of man when wee shall see many being satiated with their former delights to be ever desirous of new esteeming that to be tedious and irkesome which before seemed most pleasant Great forrests and wide desarts for beasts of chase have proceeded from undigested riches and boundlesse luxury Barbarae opulentiae haud ulla sunt maiora indicia quam magnis nemoâ—bus â—altibusque nâ—bâ—lium ferarum grâ—ges claâ—si Quin. Curt. Camden in Oxon. And it is a strong presumption of the vaine and riotous prodigality of this Kingdom The having more Parkes than all Christendome beside That prophecy of the Apostle may strike terrour and examination into every one of us where he saith That in the last dayes perillous times shall come 2. Tim. 3. â— when men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God Such as are too violent therein doe renounce that which is of more consequence and ought chiefly to bee sought after And those that are ravished with the pleasures of this pilgrimage Qui bestâ—arum cubiliâ—â—ndagat potiora deserit Segec Heb. 11.14.16 Cui peregrinatio duâ—â—â—non amat â—atriam Gen 25. â—7 declare plainly they doe not desire a better Countrey that is an heavenly Profane Esau is described to bee a cunning hunter and was thereby occasioned to sell his birth-right And afterward while hee was hunting he lost the blessing also finding no place of repentance though hee sought it carefully with teares Quam nunc â—ncâ—gnita vellent lustra sibi nuâ—losque datos venatibus annos Val. Flac. O pereant sylvae deficiantque canes Tibul. Take heed lest while thou art wholly devoted to thy delights our heavenly Father doth confer his blessings upon those his children which formerly sought unto him and so thy vanities end in vexation of spirit Then let your moderation herein bee knowne unto all men Phil. 4.5 Veloces iaculo cervos cursuquae satigat Acer an helaâ—ti similis Virgil. Spend not your whole strength and best endeavours so wastfully so unfruitfully Let not thy soule pant after the Hart but as the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so let thy soule pant after the Lord. There are two naturall causes of panting Wearinesse through overmuch labour Defatigatio ex laboris nimietate vel propter pulmonis parvitatem Causabon and so we being wearied with the restlesse troubles of this life should thereby bee excited to pant after the Lord. The other cause of panting is when the lungs are strait and small and not able to receive much breath which is differing from this for we pant after the Lord not when we are straitned in our owne bowels like the Corinthians 2. Cor. 6 12. but when our mouthes are open to cry unto him and our hearts are enlarged to seeke after him Then be you also enlarged and imitate this holy man David whom you may heare speaking of himselfe Psal 63.8 84.2 My soule followeth hard after thee My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal 119.20 My soule breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times Thus should wee from the beginning of our lives unto the end thereof pant after the Lord who is Alpha and Omega 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who breathed into our nostrils the breath of life Gen 2.7 That wise man among the Heathen Dici suspirium potest Hoc est aniâ—am agere Medici hanc medâ—tationem mortis vocant facit aâ—quando spiritus ille qâ—â—d saepe conatus est Senec. epâ—st â—5 being tormented with the disease of short breathing which he thought to be most painfull doth call it the Meditation of death wherein the breath doth often attempt to doe that which one day must bee done Then well may wee so often as we draw our breath bee put in mind of our latter end when the spirit doth returne to God that gave it And yet the greatest part of men are never sufficiently instructed to pant after the Lord untill extreme sickenesse and the pangs of death doe teach them whereas it the former part of our life had beene spent in numbring our dayes and remembring our Creator with what assurance and comfort might wee expect our dissolution Worthy Calvin Dâ—spâ—aeâ— Assidu è eâ—pâ—â—â—o dum me aâ—heliâ—us dâ—â—icâ—at who laboured of this
thirst for the living God and shall thy soule thirst for many gods for dead gods for idols that are no Gods but the works of mens hands Shall he thirst for God who doth satisfie us with all good things and wilt thou desire that thirst whereby thou canst never be satisfied Abstemious men without question For when God hath commanded to keepe a feast they will keepe a fast When God hath given unto all the cup of blessing yet they will refuse it as counting themselves unworthy of so great salvation What can they merit by this their abstinence even to drink of that cup in the hand of the Lord Psal 75.8 which he powreth out for them If they shall plead that the use of the cup is freely given to some of them yet then there must bee a miracle in the change which among the Heathens themselves was thought to bee prodigious Insusum paterae Xerxis vinum in sanguinem conversum est Val. Max. But were not that woman drunken with bloud Revel 17 6. shee could not think that to be bloud which shee drinks 2. King 3. â—3 But now both shee and her followers by thinking that to bee bloud which is not as the Moabites did they run upon their own destruction Now if any shall object that David might well thirst after God who had dealt so bountifully with him who looked upon his poore estate and exalted him when hee was of low degree unto the highest dignity who gave him victory over all his enemies and made a way for him to escape out of the greatest dangers So that it had beene unthankefulnesse in him to have done otherwise As for themselves they desire first to compose their outward affairs settle their estates that they may not appeare to be worse than Infidels and then afterward to devote the remainder of their lives to the service of God Whereunto let mee answer That thy petition is the same with Balaams Let me dye the death of the righteous Thou art therefore unexcusable O man who in thy Testament dost in the first place commit thy soule to God and then dispose of thy estate But in the former part of thy life by a confusion without any good order thy chiefe care hath beene about thy worldly possessions and now in thine end it is not the love of God but the love of thy selfe that constraineth thee to take care of thy soule Whereas such as have alwayes used a cloke of covetousnesse a garment well knowne to Iudas but never worne by S. Paul how can they ever expect to put on the Lord Iesus 1. Thes 2.5 or to be clad with the rich robes of his righteousnesse No that thine unsatiable greedinesse will in the end bee as deadly uncomfortable unto thee as the Babylonish garment was unto Achan Iosh 7 11. And such as addict themselves to voluptuousnesse rejoycing in their youth Eccles 11 9. walking in the wayes of their owne heart and in the sight of their eies but intending to rejoyce in the Lord that their soules shall thirst for the living God in the time of age and trouble when they can find no rellish in vaine delights At last when God doth bring them to judgement can they expect to heare that comfortable saying Well done thou good and faithfull servant enter into thy Masters joy No Luke 16.25 they may feare to bee told that in their life time they received their good things but now there remaines no comfort for them Also such as are ambitious to make themselves a name laying a sure ground-worke as they thinke of honours and titles here upon earth intending with those foolish builders which had begun that they could not finish that the top of their tower should reach up to heaven hoping at last to obtaine a crowne of glory But that their Babel will prove their confusion Gen. 11. for they invert the order of Christ who hath commanded us in the first place to seeke the Kingdome of heaven And as in the creation Gen. 1.1 heaven is named before earth so our best endeavours should be to obtaine that estate of happines not casting our anchor of hope upon earth Heb. 6.19 but into heaven as David here did whose soule thirsted for the living God who did not then begin to serve God when he had received many outward blessings from him Such an objection came from Satan Iob 1. Doth Iob feare God for nought For who ever feared God for nought wee being lesse than the least of all his mercies De antiquâ—s illustrissimus quisque pastor erat Varrâ— But in his first estate in that most ancient kinde of life made famous by so many worthyes as Abel Iacob Moses and the like hee put his whole confidence in the Lord who delivered him out of the paw of the Lion 1 Sam. 17.37 and out of the the paw of the Beare which he remembred with thankesgiving 16.16 And having that leasure which shepheards have Pastor otiosâ—s Otium voluptatis ac lasciviae pater In Scal. he did not abuse it to wantonnesse and folly as they were wont for the most part to doe but being a cunning player on the Harp and a divine Poet Videtur autem modulatâ—o in pastroâ—â—b inventa prâ—mum Id. that art of poetry having its beginning from shepheards as the song of Moses doth testifie who formerly had led the flocke of Iethro Exod. 3.1 who at that time led the people like a flocke Hee composed most heavenly and melodious pastorals in praise of his Creator After that being lifted up by the right of the Almighty who loveth a cheerefull giver and not by his owne pride whereof hee was unjustly taxed by Eliab who foresaw that the elder must serve the younger he kept in tune still and did more excell the best of his nobles in gratitude and zeale than in regall dignity And here in his distresse a time of sufficient triall you see with what patience hee endured the cursing of Shimei and what confidence hee placed in God Hee doth not aske the life of his enemies you know the charge hee gave to the contrary and how hee was blamed for too much love of them 2. Sam. 1â— 6 Hee doth not aske long life that hee might bee restored unto his Kingdome and many yeares added unto his reigne But having a wise and understanding heart hee seeketh for God himselfe his soule thirsted for the living God hee knew if his prayer were acceptable God would give him more than hee asked as hee did afterward to Salomon 1. King 3. â—3 And if God gave himself he would give all things also Wherefore let us bee followers of him as hee was of God Phillip 3.8 And with S. Paul suffer the losse of all that wee may winne Christ It will be our best advantage and greatest gaine by any outward losse or imminent danger to be
and spirituall wickednesse in high places But then wee must take heed to observe the manner here prescribed which is to powre out the soule to confesse all our sinnes to purge out the old leaven Wee cannot thinke to possesse our vessels in holinesse 1. Thes 4.4 if wee suffer any dregs of uncleannesse to remaine in them And as the sent tast of the first liquor will continue a long time in a vessell after it be emptied Quo semel est imbuta â—â—cens servab â—odorem Testa diu So though wee have sincerely repented of all our sinnes yet that originall corruption remaining will make us cry unto the Lord to deliver us from this body of death But such as are indulgent to themselves may feare that their presumptuous sinnes will get the victory over them Wherefore as it is more commodious in the first making and digging of a garden to have it once well weeded when the bad roots may bee taken out than many times afterward So if thou wouldest bee like that paradise wherein God walked like that garden into which Christ delighted to come Cant. 5.1 6.2 then search every corner of thine heart in the time of humiliation that there may not be any roote bringing forth gall and wormewood Deut. 29.18 Wee know that the least childe remaining in the house doth hinder in giving state And how can God take possession of thy body to be his Temple when there is any sinne reigning therein If wee sinne we have an Advocate with the Father And as that client is like to speed ill in the triall who giveth advantage to his adversary in concealing the worst of his case from the Councell So hee shall bee confounded in the day of judgement that hath sought to hide his sinne For Satan thine accuser will discover that which thou didst hope should have beene for ever buried Then learne of Him that thus humbled himselfe to acknowledge all thy transgressions Hee is a foole in worldly affaires that powreth out all at once But it is heavenly wisedome in confession of sinne Pro. 29.11 to powre out all at once and not to keepe it in untill afterward David saith I powre out my soule in mee His prayer was sincere before God and it was inward and hidden from the world There was a time when hee cryed unto the Lord Psal 22.1.2 Why art thou so farre from the words of my roaring But now the greatnesse of his sorrow for his grievous sinnes and the calamities waiting upon them made him stand amazed as not being able to speak And doubtlesse there is great benefit in the use both of secret and open prayer As Paul became all things to all men that hee might winne some so wee may use every kinde that wee may receive a gracious answer Sometime to cry aloud lifting up both heart and voyce to shew our fervency and importunity and it shall bee opened unto us that knocke Sometime to shew our reverence by a still voyce that God may therein reveale himselfe unto us Sometime praying with the spirit and with understanding speaking in the heart onely not daring to use our tongues to call upon his name seeing wee have dishonoured him thereby Hâ—miles preces in excelsa porâ—â—gite Boet. And those our humble prayers will ascend into heaven Though wee shut both the doore of our closet and the doore of our lips when wee pray being wholly spirituall therein our Father seeth in secret and is well pleased with such a sacrifice If wee desire to make our tongue to be our glory therein yet the sound of our words may bee submissive and rather a gentle noyse than a voyce They that doe thus they speake softly Qui Deum precantes susurrant tacitè loquuntur atque intus clamant but inwardly they cry aloud Hannah when shee prayed did move her lips but her voyce was not heard yet shee found such comfort that her countenance was no more sad VERSE IIII. For I had gone with the multitude HIs present misery is increased by comparing the same with his former comfortable estate wherein hee served the Lord And the sorrow for the losse of his perfect freedome doth exceed the griefe of worldly men in their crosses as much as the gladnesse in his heart Psal 4. had formerly beene more than the joy which they received by the increase of corne and wine Outward benefits are deceitfull and vaine Riches and the like may betake themselves to their wings and fly away But heavenly blessings are unchangeable did not wee by our disobedience stop the course of Gods mercies and cause his judgements and curses to fall upon us Wherefore when our destruction doth come from our selves when by our rebellion wee shall pull downe Gods anger InfelicissimuÌ„ genus est infortunii fuisse felicem Boet. Then the remembrance of our former happinesse is the greatest aggravation of our present wretchednesse and woe Also we may observe that hee was not satisfied with that good which he had formerly done neither did hee rest contented therein But his chiefe desire was ever to continue in those holy exercises From whence wee receive this instruction that wee ought to forget those things which are behind Phil. 3.13 and reach forth unto those things which are before pressing toward the marke having set our hand to the plough not to looke backe nor to spare and favour our selves during the time of our pilgrimage Such as desire to worship the Lord unto the end of their lives and are constant unto death they shall receive a crowne of life and an everlasting inheritance But ungodly men that forsake their first love like those foolish Galatians bewitched by that evill spirit and with Demas doe embrace this present world 2. Tim. 4.10 they shall undergoe the fierce anger of the Almighty And as Iordan divided the tribes of Reuben and Gad from the rest of Israel who Num. 32. allured with the fertility of the countrey did set themselves downe and take up their habitation before they came to the land of promise So there shall be a great gulfe to separate the wicked who like sluggards fold their armes together as if they had wrought sufficiently from those that abide in the place of blessednesse Whereas hee speaketh of himselfe that hee had gone with the multitude it will not bee impertinent to consider his twofold regiment Over the Priests 1. Cron. 15. verse 17. Rex Anius â—ex idem homâ—num Pâ—aeb que sacerdos Vittis c. Virg. and the people For at this time when hee blessed the people hee had put on a linnen Ephod over his kingly robe Also his sonne Salomon succeeded him therein who was called the Preacher This was observed by many nations that their Kings were Priests Gen. 14.18 So Melchizedek was King of Salem and Priest of the most high God So was Numa the second King of the Romanes Livi. lib.
otherwise than Herod thought to worship Christ Mat. 2.7 when he enquired diligently after him He hoped to have killed the Lord of life and they purpose to doe no lesse comming out with swords Mat. 26.55 as against a theefe though they aime at the members yet they smite the head it selfe in their persecution Act. 9.4 5. What is done to one of those little ones is done unto Christ and what is done to Christ is done to one of them A servant of God cannot heare His holy name which wee ought not to use without great reverence to bee dishonoured but his righteous soule must be vexed thereat It was this which did strike so deepe into David and vexe him so sore See the coherence which hee makes in the same verse Psal 69.9 For the zeale of thine house hath eaten me up and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are falne upon me How free hee was from anger and revenge in his owne particular case may appeare by his carriage when Saul had a quarrell against him For though Saul had so highly offended God by his folly in offering a burnt offering for the which hee was told that his kingdome should not continue God having sought a man after his owne heart And againe hee rebelled by disobedience in sparing Agag the best of the spoile at which time the Prophet threatned him that his kingdome should bee rent away from him And though David was anoynted by Samuel and might have set upon Saul when hee cut the skirt of his robe privily and another time might have suffered Abishai to smite him and make him sleepe his last yet hee would not upon these pretences put forth his hand against him but lamented at his death and calls to the daughters of Israel to weepe over Saul But here when God was contemned he was pricked to the heart and his marrow was turned into the drought of Summer He was upon the racke and all his bones were broken when he heard their evill speeches whereby they infected the ayre and poysoned their owne soules Now between David and most men living in these daies there is as great a difference as betweene the King upon the throne and the meanest subject grinding at the mill Hee had a soveraigne command over him selfe and was slow to anger not sinning by wrath yet most sensible oâ—e malicious words tending to the dishonour of God Whereas many that in Gods cause are like dumbe idols which have eares and heare not as if it did not concerne them being never touched with inward compunction when his name shall bee blasphemed but will rather give some consent thereunto as if they were well pleased with such lewdnesse And yet when their owne reputation shall be brought in question they will whet their tongue like a sword in sharpe invectives and will whet their swords also that they may wash off the least disgrace with the bloud of other men But if God doth whet his glittering sword and his hand take hold on judgement Deut. 32.41 he will render vengeance to all those which are of that mercilesse disposition that Cain was who thought the life of his brother to bee the most acceptable sacrifice VERSE XI Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God VVHereas David so often repeateth these words we may observe the manifold troubles which befall us in this life Having mentioned his teates and his banishment in the beginning at the fift verse he rebukes his soule for sadnesse Having rehearsed his other afflictions he now againe chides himselfe for this distrustfull heavinesse As Peter Mat. 14.30 though he began to sinke the first time hee went to Christ upon the water Yet he was not thereby discouraged from casting himselfe into the sea againe Iohn 21.7 and then he passed safely to the shoare where Christ was So though the waves billowes went over David when hee hoped to approch unto God by faith yet here againe hee calls upon his soule and casting himselfe upon Gods mercy he arrives at the port of blessednesse Hee did not overcome these temptations and trialls at the first assault nor yet was he wearied with the continuance of them But whensoever he was molested with any evill he labours to strengthen his confidence in Gods love that he may be restored to comfort As Paul prayed thrice that the messenger of Satan might depart from him 2. Cor. 12. â— So our Author shutting up the next Psalme with the same conclusion doth the third time seek to be freed from this thorne in the flesh this heavinesse that was so offensive unto him By this we may learne that lesson which we shall have cause to remember and occasion to practice That through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdome of heaven Act. 14.22 2. Cor. 7.5 Without are fightings within are feares A wounded spirit who can beare What sorrow so neere what trouble so heavy as this when the soule shall be disquieted with doubt of Gods love or sense of his displeasure And yet wee must not faint and forsake our assurance but continue faithfull unto the death that wee may receive the crown of life In afflictions wee must not thinke some new thing doth come upon us which hath not beene before Wee will not compare our sufferings and trials with those which David endured Wee may take this one Prophet for an example of suffering affliction yet did hee not cast away his confidence but hoped in God therfore let us also hold fast the profession of our faith Iam 5.7 Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill hee receiue the earely and later raine let us also stablish our hearts that wee may bee refreshed with Gods favour As in water face answereth to face Pro. 27.19 so if wee looke unto the Lord Psal 42.5 we shall praise him for the helpe of his countenance who is the health of our countenance and our God The consideration hereof may be of speciall use and importance in all the casualties of this life but chiefly at the time of death Iob 18.14 when wee are brought to the king of terrors when this earthly house is dissolved we shall be conducted to the kings palace when these old garments be laid aside we shall be arraied in long robes I shall yet praise God yea I shall for ever praise God when I shall alwayes appeare in his presence Who is the health of my countenance who raised me from sicknesse to a sound estate who gave me strength after infirmity who filled me with plenty after adversity who revived me with comfort after sorrow and who will bring me to life after death Being then especially the health of my countenance when hee makes my face to shine as the sunne by beholding his glory And doth change this vile mortall corruptible body into a glorious body The lame man Act. 3.4 who was laid at the gate of the temple looking upon Peter received strength and entring into the temple praised God Though now our soules be cast downe yet if we trust in the Lord all our infirmities shall be cured entring into the holiest place we shall blesse the name of the Lord for evermore Then be not discouraged with present afflictions let thy hope be stedfast and sure Though in tempests sometimes they cut the anchors leave them in the sea Act. 27.40 that the men may be saved yet if we let our hope depart from us we perish The time of our life is but as sixe dayes of labour and sorrow and in this space we have so many nights of quiet and comfort yea we have an evening before the morning a time of strength before a time of triall But in the end there is the eternall Sabbath of blessednesse when we shall for ever magnifie the name of the Lord Amos 8.5 Though the carnall man doth with the Sabbath gone that he may set forth wheate and falsifie the ballances by deceit yet let not beleevers make hast by impatience but waite upon the Lord knowing that by this difficult ascent we come to sit upon the throne FINIS
with that disciple which in vaine asked leave to goe bury his Father as if the greatest part of his duty consisted in his diligence about that last office Thereby thou art put in minde of thy former disobedience unto the Father of spirits Surely this wounded David most when his sonne rebelled against him the remembrance of his rebellion against the great King with whom hee warred in the murther of Uriah Also doth thy son greedily desire an earthly inheritance and art thou carelesse and negligent in seeking for a crowne of life whereof thou canst never bee deprived No rather upon experience that all things are vexation of spirit and those of thine owne house thy greatest enemies be thou provoked with the more zeale and vehemency of affection to pant after the Lord. This observation I should willingly have passed as Solon did to make a Law against parricides hoping there were none such Mat. 10.21 but that a wiser than Solon or Salomon himselfe hath foretold that children shall rise against their parents Art thou persecuted by some cruell Nimrod Lam 1.6 4.18 3.52 some mighty hunter who chaseth thee sore and hunteth thy steps so that thou art become like an Hart without strength before the pursuer as the Prophet speaketh Then as the Hart panteth after the river so let thy soule pant after the Lord. The Israelites being distressed by Pharaoh that followed them cryed unto the Lord and saw his salvation the waters were a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left but covered their enemies and like that river Kishon swept them all away Iudg. 5.21 When thou art in a great straite call upon the Lord who knoweth how to deliver those that are his and thou maist see thy desire upon thine enemies even that which thou most desirest their conversion Being sore vexed by some bloudy minded man Act. 9.1 Iosh 8. who doth breath out threatnings and slaughter compare thine estate with that of Gods people pursued by the men of Ai who being full of malice followed Israel and perceived not that ambush which was laid against them whereby their city was set on fire and themselves overcome Doth thine enemy seeke after thy life or thy good name Would he hurt thee with the sharpe sword of Esau or the bitter words of Ishmael call upon God as Ioshuah did who will give thee a glorious deliverance In the meane while hee that hateth thee doth not discern how powerfull that enemy is which lyeth in waite against him by whom his tongue is set on fire as Saint Iames speaketh in cursing and his heart enraged by anger and envy so that he is utterly confounded and overthrowne Such an enemy is not to be feared whose ayme and power doth extend no further than to kill the body But there is another more dreadfull enemy that seeketh to destroy both body and soule in hell against whom wee must implore the helpe of the Lord. He it is that goeth to fro in the earth and walketh up and downe in it having the whole world for his forest wherein hee hunteth after us who is not satisfied with out bloud which he hunteh after being a murtherer from the beginning And as hunters in ancient times were clad in white garments Antiqui Venatores albis vestibus inclut Iul. Scal. so he can transforme himselfe into an Angell of light 2. Cor. 11.14 using any shape and disguise that he may deceive us dealing therein like this our Absalom who tooke his brother Amnon in a snare that he had set for him 2. Sam. 13.28 and killed him And now by chase and pursuite he hopeth to take David his father So doth Satan set snares and ginnes that hee may bring us to destruction And how many doth he take by presumption If by that meanes hee cannot prevaile Ingentem clamore prâ—nâ—s ad reâ—ta cervum Virgil. 1. Pet. 5.8 then as a roaring Lyon which seeketh whom hee may devoure by terrour hee would invelope us in the pit of desperation He himselfe being master of the game with the helpe of his assassinates in that bloudy worke did assault our blessed Saviour Psal 25. inscriptâ—â—â— whom the Psalmist compareth to the Hart of the morning who was rowzed early in the morning as hee was from his birth by Herod and chased all his life long And at last early in the morning Luke 22.66 Psal 22.16 Matutino tempore à rabiosis hominibus dilaniatus Flamin assoone as it was day many dogs compassed him and he was stricken and pierced wounded for our transgressions being as the goate that was offered Leuit 16.7 that we might escape damnation So that now though wee bee as an army of Harts weake and timerous yet having the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah to be the Captaine of our salvation Revel 5.5 Heb 2.10 from him we receive strength courage and safety For as the Hart royall escapeth being chased by some Prince so our soule shall be defended when we are pursued by the Prince of this Iohn 12.31 world if wee pant after the Lord and pray unto him to save us Psal 7.2 lest hee teare our soules like a lyon while there is none to deliver There is mention of one Sertorius the great Impostor amongst the Romanes Ab ea se quaenam aut agenda aut vitanda esset praedican Val. Max. A. Gel. who kept a tame Hart and used it as Mahomet did his Dove to delude his souldiers pretending that he was thereby admonished and directed what to doe But surely it will bee our wisedome to bee led and guided by this Hart which panteth after the water-brookes to pant after the Lord. And doubtlesse this is the most blessed use of the creatures when in the sight or remembrance of them our minds are elevated and raised up to heavenly cogitations And in so doing wee shall be followers of Christ who upon all occasions as of the water the vine the corne and in all his Parables did instruct and edifie those that heard him And thus may wee bee affected Is there such delight and contentment to be received from the creature then what joy happinesse from the Creator of all things Is there such pleasure in the cheerefull use of these things here below then how great are those pleasures at the right hand of God for evermore Doth the distressed Hart desire the river that shee may be relieved Then how blessed are they that have the God of Iacob for a refuge from whose love Rom. 8. â—â— neither persecution nor any other thing shall bee able to separate them And seeing that enmity which is betweene us and the creatures and betweene the creatures themselves wee are put in minde of that great sinne of our first parents Since which time they have cast off the yoke of subjection unto man who had first cast off that easie yoke of obedience unto God
bodily disease looked daily when his panting should have an end and would often say Quousque DomineÌ„ How long O Lord And some space before his death which was just in the same moment when the sunne did set his prayers were nothing else but an expression of his souls panting after the Lord. The death of Coma was thought to be very rare Intra pectâ—s incâ—usa aâ— mafiâ—â—m sâ— repeâ—â— c. Val. Maâ— lib 9. cap. 13. who dyed by his violent retaining holding in of his breath But now there is nothing more frequent than this kinde of death though not of the body yet of the soule in those men which doe never pant after the Lord. Wee thinke it bee the signe of a dying man when his breath growes cold And our coldnesse in seeking after the Lord doth discover that the soule doth languish and is voyd of the life of grace For if our soules were inflamed with zeale the Kingdome of heaven should suffer violence Mat. 11.12 and bee taken by force VERSE II. My soule thirsteth for God for the living God When shall I come and appeare before God IN that expression which David used of panting after the Lord wee may well observe that it was not a weake and faint desire but most strong and forcible Now that wee not thinke it to bee too violent to endure and to passe away as a sodain flame in his outward speech rather than to burn constantly in the holy disposition of his heart it pleaseth God to perfect his owne good work and to give him this heavenly thirst And nothing is more frequent than for these two Aeris alternos angustat pulmo meatus Rescâ—soque nocent suspiria dura palato Lâ—â—an Oraque retro sorbet anhela sitis Statius Panting and Thirst to accompany each other If we take them as perturbations of the body that may be said of them which is spoken of worldly sorrow that they drye the bones and cause death But as in this place being rich endowments of the soule they bring life and peace and joy By those the outward man doth perish by these the inward man is renewed daily There is a thirst which beginneth when we hang upon our Mothers breasts and continues in the strength and vigour of our lives and doth not leave us in the time of old age but even to the very end we hold a just proportion with this last age of the dying world Nec sitis est extincta prius quam vita bibendo Ovid in desiring wine and strong drinke that thereby our vitall heat and radicall moisture may be preserved So that through abuse this vice of intemperate drinking seemeth to have a speciall right in these dayes wherein wee live The uncleane drunkard thinketh there is no other thirst but onely that with which hee is possessed nor any better meanes whereby to obtaine health unto himselfe or to confer it upon others than by profound drinking whereunto he addresseth himselfe as if hee were to encounter with his greatest enemy Persae potum tanquam adversarium aggredâ—entes Aelian and doth more than fill himselfe with strong drinke inflaming wines and hot waters and though improperly drinking more than these only to kindle a desire of drinking more Vt Anglorum corpora in Barbarorum naturam degenerasse videntur Camden in Elizab. I affect antiquity herein and will not name that which I finde was never anciently named Hereby doth hee deprive himselfe of his reasonable soule and becomes voyd of sense and worse than the bruite beasts having no life left but onely that of the plants not being able to move and helpe himselfe And which I cannot mention without horrour how many are pierced with the dart of death as with the javelin of Phinehas in the act of wickednesse Iudg. 4.21 whose end is like unto that of Sisera after he had drunke at the same time to bee smitten in the head and deprived of life And whereas the death of a good man is called a sleepe the death of the drunkard is contrary whose senses being bound in the time of his life that hee could not use them by death hee is awakened Then doth hee see his estate to be miserable by the paines of losse and sense where againe hee thirsteth and cannot obtaine one drop of water to coole his tongue But why doe I speake to him who is not capable to heare whose case is most fearfull For whereas other sinners may bee convinced by reason he by the wilfull losse of understanding hath made himselfe a foole and is in danger of hell fire The contentious man thirsteth after the waters of Meribah and the cruell man for they must bee joyned thirsteth after bloud M. Anten vino gravis sitiebat tamen sanguinem Senec. Cyri caput in Val. Max. wherein is the life Nothing can satisfie him but the fall of his enemy But the bloudy minded man shall not live out halfe his dayes for though the divine vengeance should not overtake him as for the most part it doth with rancor and malice hee consumes himselfe and drinkes his owne bloud whose estate is worse than a Serpents for hee beareth about him such a poyson as doth destroy his owne life The covetous man is thirsty as the horse-leach Pro. 30 15. crying Give Give The adulterer refusing to drinke waters out of his owne cisterne desireth to drink stolne waters 9.17 which hee thinketh to bee sweet And the adulteresse thirsteth for that bitter water which causeth the thigh to rot a common judgement of these times Num 12.18.21 The swearer is so thirsty that he cannot speake without an oath in his mouth whose cursing shall come like water into his bowels Psal 109.18 and like oyle into his bones In a word every sinner thirsteth for the water of Marah which will be as gall in the belly and bitternesse in the later end Of all which I may speake as Samuel of the sons of Iesse The Lord hath not chosen these to obtaine a crowne of life But this holy thirst of the soule for God for the living God And whom should the soule thirst after but God alone For with thee is the Fountaine of life Psal 36.8.9 thou dost make me drinke of the river of thy pleasures 23.5 My cup runneth over 63.5 My soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse 65.9 Our gracious God doth visit the earth 104.11 and watereth the ridges thereof abundantly and giveth drinke to every beast of the field Doth God take care for oxen 1. Cor. 9 9. then much more for man 1. Tim. 5.23 to whom hee giveth liberty to use a little wine which makes glad the heart But most of all for the soule of man and therefore he calleth Ho Isai 55.1 every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and Iohn 4.14 whosoever drinketh of this water that
I shall give him that is 6.35 hee that beleeveth shall never thirst but out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters 7. 38. 4.14 The water that I shall give him shall bee as a Well of water springing up unto life everlasting Then spring up O well sing yee unto it Num. 21.17 and let thy soule thirst after him Iohn 19.28 who in his passion said I thirst who thirsted after us our salvation who drank off the dregs of the cup of his Fathers wrath that we might drinke the cup of blessing By the cluster of grapes that the spyes brought they might judge of the fruitfulnesse of the land And by the first fruits that the Lord giveth us in this life wee may in part discerne what the whole vintage will be hereafter Even by tasting wee see how good the Lord is Psal 34.8 who doth sustaine us in this our pilgrimage 107.5 when we are hungry and thirsty and our soule faint within us if wee cry unto him hee will relieve us And as the Lacedaemonians doe never satisfie their children with food Ita liberos alunt ut nunquam satientur Heraclides that thereby they may learne to endure hardship So those blessings which God giveth if rightly used doe make us the more to thirst after him And to speake as the Church doth stay me with flagons Cant. 2.5 knowing that the best wine is reserved untill afterward Iohn 2.10 and the greatest comforts untill that better life For this kingdome wherein wee live wee may speake as the Lord doth of Canaan Deut. 11.10 that it is not like the land of Egypt which thou wateredst with thy foot as a garden of herbs But a good land a land of brookes of water of fountaines and depths that spring out of valleyes and hils wee have enjoyed the waters of life and the plenteous means of salvation True it is there was a time when the three yeares of Elijah his drought were doubled upon us and therein the burning heate of persecution But as Isaac repaired those wells of Gen. 26.18 water that had been stopped by the Philistims which Abraham his father had formerly digged so our Deborah of ever-blessed memory hath opened those fountaines which her father had digged Isai 12.3 since which time with joy may wee draw water out of the wells of salvation Then let us take of the water of life freely Revel 22.17 Milites religione pluviâ magis usi â—am rati sese dâ—ts immortalib curae esse Salust And as that army which would not drinke but only of the raine comming as they thought from the divine providence to relieve them So let our soules be enlarged in seeking of spiritual blessings thirst after the Lord â—sal 143.6 as a thirsty land which opens it selfe to receive the hevenly showers Eucherius We may reade how thankful great Kings have beene unto those that in their thirst did refresh them Caesar in Senec de ben Xerxes in AElian Artaxerxes in cod and give them water Then how should we praise the Lord for giving us his Sonne Christ Iesus the fountaine of all grace and comfort who came downe like raine upon the mowne grasse Psal 7â— 6 And though it be the commendation of David that mercifull King that he would not drinke the bloud of those three mighty men that went in jeopardy of their lives 2. Sam. 23.16 and brought water unto him when hee longed for it yet will it be our condemnation if wee doe not drinke the bloud of our Saviour which not by the hazzard but by the losse of his life hee hath given unto us And surely wee have great encouragemeÌ„t to thirst after the Lord For it is a blessed thing to thirst after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 and we have a promise that wee shall bee filled And as by outward thirst some are recovered from diseases of the body Miraberis quosdam fame ac siti curari Senec. so by this heavenly thirst wee are cured of all maladies and troubles both of soule and body Wherefore as new-borne babes let us desire the sincere milke of the word that wee may grow thereby It will bee as strong drinke unto us when wee are ready to perish Prov. 31.6 and as wine when our hearts are heavy But most of us are so farre from this happy thirst that we are ready rather with those stifnecked Israelites to murmur against the Lord Our stomacks are so full that wee loath the honey comb the word of life which should be sweeter unto us than the honey and the honey comb Like those that have the jaundies Mel omnibus dulce â—etericis tamen c Alex. Aphrodys that which is most pleasant seemeth bitter and offensive unto us And as the sheepe Oâ—e aperâ—o vento recâ—pâ—entes fâ—â—m suam se 〈◊〉 Val. Mâ—â— whose thirst is quenched by the winde we are better satisfied with vanities and more contented with our inventions than with the water of life How justly in regard of our contempt may the Lord remove those blessings from us turn our water-springs into dry ground Psal 107 â—4 and this fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein â—ai 65.13 When his servants shall drinke but ye shall bee thirsty and as the old Historian speakes of a people that perished for want of water Psylli interciderunt Auster eis omnia receptacula aquarum arfecerat Herodot so this nation may bee consumed for want of this living water which now wee so lightly esteeme at which time Nocturnum â—â—câ—pere roâ—em cogeâ—tutur Caesar bel Civil like those that have beene constrained to receive the dew of the night we may earnestly desire the least drop of heavenly comfort and not obtaine it Pandunt orasiti nocturnum que aâ—â—a captant Lucan If wee duely consider wee will approve the wisedome of David in this choise which hee made to thirst after the living God Whose mercyes never faile but they are renewed every day with whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of change whereas all things else are subject to alteration There is no life in them unlesse it proceed from the Lord If wee repose confidence in any worldly benefit wee may as soone be destitute as Hagar was Gen. 21.15 when her bottle was empty there had beene a worse casting out than the former unlesse the Lord had opened her eyes to see the wall of water Doe wee receive sustentation and comfort by any outward gift As the brooke Cherith dryed up 1. King 17.7 because there had bin no raine in the land so wee shall presently be at our wits end if the Lord withdraw his mercies from us Yea thougâ— wee have abundance of these things here below though our well bee deepe like Iacobs our river doth overflow the bankes like Iordane how soone
excited to seeke for heavenly blessings and spirituall graces VERSE II. When shall I come and appeare before God IT was Davids resolution One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seeke after Psal 27.4 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life Here you see the performance thereof He doth not grieve for the losse of any outward benefit nor so much as mention his former estate but onely desireth to appeare before God whereby he hoped to obtaine that for which his soule thirsted It is true that God seeth us in all places Whither can I goe from thy face O Lord or whither can I flee from thy presence But his favour and loving countenance is chiefly revealed in the assembly of the Saints Cant. 6.2 My beloved is gone downe into his garden to the beds of spices God is present in the congregation where the prayers praises of his children are offered up as sweet odours before him In it selfe the presence of God may seeme a cause of horrour and feare to us sinners who are as stubble be him a consuming fire Wee know that the Israelites were afraid to come nigh Moses Exod. 34.30 unto whom the Lord had appeared Naturally we are ready to hide our selves from the presence of the Lord God â—en 3.8 But in Christ we have confidence and free accesse and having found him a loving Father we for ever pray Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us Psal 4 which wee desire above any good above all the good in the world The father in the parable said Luk. 15.31 Sonne thou art ever with mee and all that I have is thine So we by presenting our selves before the Lord come to be made partakers of all his blessings Thereby wee are gathered under his wings of providence and mercy Mat. 13.48 Thereby wee are within the compasse of the net and shall be taken with the good Thereby wee have communion with God and his Angels and one with another Then let us come and appeare before God The children of this world are wise in their generation If they have hope of benefite or advancement from any superior how diligent will they be in their attendance Oâ—arem ut oâ—â—endas me 〈◊〉 esse hominâ—â— non ingâ—atum Poâ—â—â— an Nâ—â— indignus quâ—m tu alâ—qâ—â—ndo respicâ—â— How desirous to bee ever in view How politicke in that which they give chusing some Present of use and remembrance Happy were we if wee were thus provident for our soules Then would we set our selves before the Sunne of Righteousnesse the light whereof would be sweet and pleasant unto our eyes Our darke understandings should be illuminated and we made glorious within But if wee neglect such precious means of salvation our danger is greater than that of Queene Esther Esther 4. shee feared to perish by a temporall death because shee went unto the King not being called We may feare to perish both body soule unlesse wee doe come unto the great King who hath so often called us who hath held out the golden scepter of his word unto us Absalom having lived two yeares in Ierusalem and not seene the King shewed the dutifull affection of a good sonne in this particular 2. Sam. 14.32 that hee had rather bee put to death if there were any iniquity in him than to bee any longer deprived of the sight of his father By which example wee may learne to value this royall priviledge that wee have in appearing before God And to count it more deare unto us than life it selfe And yet most men do not value this singular prerogative that God hath given them even the whole world abideth in this sinne There was a day Iob. 1. when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord but the sonnes of men care not for the seaventh day nor any other day wherein to present themselves before him Some there are that be worse than the three guests invited to the marriage Luk 14.18 for they pretended that they could not come these absolutely deny and say they will not come and before that they will come they will pay the earnest peny here and reserve the greatest payment untill the last For with what comfort can they expect to appeare before God in that great day who never cared to appear before him in their life yea rather than they would then appeare they wil call to the hils to cover them There be others that are so encumbred with the affaires of this life that they little thinke of appearing before God untill that hee doth punish them for that neglect As the Law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ by instruction Gal. 3.24 so the judgements due by the Law for our sinnes have beene as our Schoolemaster to bring us unto Christ by correction When wee have beene as wanton children addicted unto play and omitting that which wee ought most seriously to intend the Lord hath dealt with us as hee did by Lot and his wife being mercifull unto them Gen. 19.16 while they lingred and were backward in departing from Sodom God sent his Angels which layd hold on them and brought them forth While wee have beene unwilling to forsake our sinnes and ascend up into the holy mountaine God hath sent his Angels with their swords drawne some great plague which hath cut off many thousands in the way that could not then come and appeare before God and hath scourged others into the TeÌ„ple which before were carelesse in that duty though formerly wee would not say with Samuel Speake Lord for thy servant heareth then wee have beene enforced to say Heare Lord for thy servant speaketh Being poore wee have spoken supplications wee have humbled our soules in fasting and mourning and the Lord in wrath hath remembred his wonted mercies Some there bee that come abruptly without due preparation as if they were brought thither unawares by some greaâ— strong wind 1. King 19 â— but the Lord was not in that winde They looke for the same immediate and miraculous assistance of Gods spirit which the Apostles had who tooke no thought what to speake Mat. 10.19 for it was given them in the same houre So they take no thought what they heare nor how they heare thinking it shall bee given them in the same houre Their customary performance in the first entrance I cannot relate without indignation how rude and insufficient it is doth appeare unto all men Will God regard that prayer which thou thy selfe dost so little regard Whereas thy Soliloquie then though performed with the best reverence should be but as the Amen to thy private devotions that went before judge in your selves is it comely so to doe Holy David who so earnestly desired to appeare before God when hee had that liberty granted unto him did hee rashly and unadvisedly thrust himselfe into
and wept there so let us seeke some retired place Ier. 13.17 Nemo sibi tristis est Sen. that our soules may weepe in secret as Ieremiah did Worldly sorrow desireth to be manifest and appeare unto men but this godly sorrow is hidden from the eyes of men Siquis adest iussae prosiâ—unt lacrymae Martial none but our heavenly father seeth it And these our teares must not bee like the morning cloud or the early dew Hos 13.3 but as the former and the latter raine they must begin in our first conversion and they must continue so long as wee continue ever running down plenteously like Aarons oyntment Psal 133. which went down from his head to the skirts of his garments so wee should wish our head to bee a fountaine of teares Ier. 9.1 Cur non oculâ—s plures â—â—bis naâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Sen. in Tâ—â—b Cumâ—us fier didedertâ—n â—â—um duâ—taxat diem Senec. and that wee had many eies that we might sufficiently bewaile our iniquities And that not onely for a day which was the time set apart for sorrow but untill our eyes doe faile with teares weeping untill wee have no more power to weepe Lam. 2.11 1. Sam. 30.4 It is said of David that hee lift up his voyce and wept So wee when wee weepe must lift up our voice and our hearts also unto the Lord in prayer that so the teares which wee powre out may be as a drink-offering acceptable before him And though by reason of our teares wee bee not able to speake unto the Lord yet as Perseus wrought compassion in the people by his teares which stopped the passage of his speech Sed aliquoâ—ies dicâ—re incipientem cum lacrvmae praepeaâ—â—â—ent Livâ— so will the Lord have pitty upon us when through the greatnesse of our sorrow wee are not able to speake unto him Vocisque repens singulens apertum inercepit iter â— at yea then wee cry unto him with best successe when wee seeme to bee over-whelmed with our sighs and teares that we cannot distinctly utter our complaints before him Then also the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for Rom 8.26 as wee ought but the spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be expressed Omnia Iugentium officia solerter finxit sed lacrvmae procedere nolucrunt Apul. Lacrymaâ— non sponte cadentes effâ—dit gemâ—tasque expressque pectoâ—e laeto Lucan Other gestures of sorrow may bee acted but teares are not so easily forced and though they sometime bee drawne out to make some appearance of outward griefe yet in godly sorrow wee know they bee alwayes sincere and just wherein they doe as much excell the other as orien pearle doe common glasse But let us thinke them to bee serious without guile yet how superfluous are they for the most part as one spake of a sorry Comaedian Rhodophili comaedia adeo infulsa est ut misericordiam potius quam risum excitet Iâ—l Scal. Quanto risu proâ—equenda sunt quae nobis lacrimas educunt Sen. Quae causa indâ—gna serenos faedavit vulâ—â—s Virgil. that hee did stirre up compassion rather than mirth So we may affirme the contrary That the teares of many deserve thus to bee reproved rather than to be pittied And unto others that are more passionate and dolorous yet not squaring their sorrow according to the rule of the Word wee may speake as Paul did What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart Acts 22.13 as having a fellow-feeling of their weaknesse who for want of comfort and courage are weighed downe under the burthen of any calamity Wee should not bee ignorant of the devices of that wicked one who seeketh to deale by us as Cyrus did by those whom he besieged Herodot li. 1. hee divided the great river into diverse currents by the which hee passed over and subdued Babylon So our Enemy hopeth for victory by turning that streame of our teares which ought to bee for our sinnes into new passages If wee have any losse wee lament with unfained teares In the death of children wee refuse to bee comforted because they are not In the departure of our friends wee mourne as those that have no hope yea though wee part but for a time wee strive who should exceed in weeping whereas it would be our wisedome to keepe this river of teares within the proper bounds that it may not exceed the limits as Iordan doth in time of harvest and thereby hinder us from reaping our bâ—st benefit Canst thou mourne at some dolefull story yea it may be at some slanderous and malicious fiction Invida cur in me stimulasti musa Maronem Auson Qâ—od commentus est in odium Cartha ganiensium Foâ— Scal. as that of Dido killing her selfe And canst thou not mourne for thy sinnes both desperate and presumptuous whereby thou hast laboured to destroy thine owne soule Quod puduislet ipsum histrionis incommodis affection buâ—â—isericordem videri c. AE â—an As that cruell King arose and went from a Tragoedy confounded with shame and sorrow that hee should seeme to be touched with remorse at the false semblance of an Actor and yet be without any commiseration towards his owne subjects So wee may abhorre our selves that wee can dissolve into teares upon some frivolous occasion and yet bee without any contrition when it is most needfull Christ saith Mat 20.15 Is thine eye evill because I am good What eye so evill and so full of malice as that which is an enemy to the soule Wilt not thou mourn because God is gracious in giving his blessings in forgiving thy sinnes Rather let the bounty and long sufferance of God lead thee to repentance Strangulat inclusus dâ— lor atque â—or aestuatâ—ntus Ovid Doe wee finde such inlargement and quiet by those common teares wee let fall when we are surcharged and ready to breake for want of vent Fletus aerumnas levat Sen. then how great consolation may wee find by our godly sorrow when wee are as good grapes troden in the wine-presse and doe yeeld that precious liquor whereby the heart is cheered Est quaedam delendi volupâ—â—s prae ertimsi in amici sinu defleas Plin. Iun. Magis exurunt quos secretae lacerant curae Sen in Agam. Doe we receive solace and release in the sympathy of a friend unto whom wee powre out our complaint who pittieth us mingleth his teares with ours then how shall wee value these which wee shed in the presence of the Almighty Psal 39.12 who is not silent at our teares but speakes comfortably unto our soules Who is not like our friend that bids us bee warmed and filled not being able to give us those things we want But he doth warme our hearts with his blessings and fill our soules with comfort He hath delivered my soule from death Psal 116.8
full of this holy water hee should not be admitted thereby Heb. 12.17 If Esau found no place of repentance though hee sought it carefully with teares what can wee thinke of those that come short of him who as wee may feare came short of heaven Where it is said that in place of torment Mat. 8.12 Sum Nilus sumque Aetna simul Sanaz There shall be weeping the punishment is most just for them that never mourned in the time of their life The light of the body is the eye Luke 1â— 34 The light of the soule are the teares in the eye And as One Gallum Terrinium captum repentè ocâ—â—is ob ad media mori destinantem Sueton. who had lost the sight of his eyes did resolve to famish his body so they that want these teares doe seeke to overthrow the good estate of their soules not having this heavenly nourishment which David had Whose teares were his meat day and night VERSE III. While they continually say unto mee Where is thy God AS the friends of Iob that came to mourne with him did sit downe by him and none spake a word for they saw that his griefe was very great Iob 2.13 So likewise if we that passe by the way will enter into the house of mourning and consider and behold the greatnesse of Davids sorrow wee shall bee dumbe with silence and our sorrow also will bee stirred And yet these his enemies having no regard doe persecute him whom the Lord had smitten as if the corection of the Almighty were too mercifull they are inraged with bitter malice against him It was not one or some few but many of them that spake thus unto him Nor did the storme sodainly blow over but they persevered in this their fury And having singled him out they give him no time to recover strength but make him to be the only mark at whom they shoote their arrowes Psal 64.3 even bitter words And this they did not in the time of prosperity but in his greatest necessity 71.11 when as they thought God had forsaken him and there was none to deliver him 2. Sam. 16 9. then these dead dogs cursed the King They doe not upbraid him with any outward losse for they knew how lightly hee esteemed all earthly things but having travailed with iniquity Psal 7 1â— and conceived mischiefe they bring forth falshood and say Where is thy God As all the city cryed out when the Arke of God was taken And the wife of Phinehas about the time of her death named the child Ichabod â— Sâ—m 4. verse 1â— 2â— that is Where is the glory which was then departed from Israel So these his enemies thinking to make his sorrow to be deadly and desperate doe say unto him Where is thy God in whom thou hast heretofore gloried as if thou hadst some peculiar right and interest in him Numb 16.3 whereas all the congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them He hath bin and ever will bee a God of mercy unto us And because the cry of that innocent bloud which thou hast shed is come up before him Hee will arise and shew himselfe a God of vengeance in punishing thy sinnes So that thou art taken to thy mischiefe thou bloudy man and thou man of Belial Iob. 4.8 8 2â— Having plowed iniquity and sowne wickednesse thou must reape the same for God will not helpe the evill doers Yea rather than thy sinnes shall goe unpunished thine owne sonne shall lift up himselfe against thee Thus did hee beare in his bosome the reproach of all the mighty people Before this Psal 89.50 he was checked for the pride and naughtinesse of his heart and that by a brother which should rather have beene a comfort unto him Hee was scornefully used and counted as a servant that had broke away from his Master where he formerly deserved kindnesse Hee was cursed with a grievous curse by Shimei who threw stones at him that in disgrace was called The Stone as if all his credit came by hitting Goliah and cast dust at him thereby telling him that God had raised him out of the dust but now hee had provoked the Lord. Hee whose tongue was his glory who made so many divine hymnes in praise of God yet was hee a proverb to the wicked and the song of the drunkards Psal 69.11 12. And what could bee more grievous unto him than to bee reproached for that faith and confidence which hee reposed in the Almighty as if his former profession were nothing but hypocrisie Also the measure of his griefe was the fuller because hee saw that this their calumny and words of hatred did reflect upon God himselfe as if hee should forsake those that put their trust in him And therefore hee mourned because they violently ranne upon their owne destruction Psal 1â—9 13â— in sinning against the lawes of God And such is our condition that when God hath gathered us under his wings whosoever doth seek to hurt us they strike at God himselfe and in our persecution hee also is persecuted Neither did they wound him with their tongues onely which they thought to bee their owne Psal 140.3 having adders poyson under their lips whereby being stung he lifted up his eies unto the Lord But also by their disdainfull carriage they vexed his righteous soule from day to day Psal 109.26 Isai 59 9. A tergo quâ—m nulla ciconia â—â—â—it Persius Vel coâ— moâ—â— vel digiti in â—â—aâ—iorie Câ—â—â—bon It being usuall to shake the head and to put forth the finger in disgrace Looke how it was in the dayes of David so it is now and so it will be unto the comming of the Son of man If a good man bee in affliction and sicknesse God chastising every sonne whom hee receiveth some there bee that will say Psal 3.2 There is no helpe for him in God thinking that bodily diseases are alwayes a signe of Gods wrath If hee fall into any offence through infirmity for who is hee that sinneth not they 1. Cor. 13. being uncharitable will rejoyce in his iniquity As when David wept and made sack-cloth his garment it was to his reproach Psal â—9 10 so the least spot upon the garment of those that mourn before the Lord shall bee made to appeare for their disgrace Yea though they walke wisely and circumspectly yet there bee some that perversly will make that which is straight to be crooked When David in an holy zeale and heavenly joy did dance before the Lord yet even for that Michal the wife in his bosome did despise him in heart Many that bee now in the same bosome of the Church and hope hereafter to bee in the same bosome of Abraham will speake contemptuously of those that desire to have a good coÌ„science in all things Heb. 12. â—8 and are willing to live honestly With the
of God that no man can put them asunder Where God hath filled the heart with ioy it will breake forth in praise and thankesgiving And to offer the sacrifice of praise without reioycing were to offer a dead sacrifice without any life By both these wee are supported when wee walke in the wayes of salvation If David found such comfort in the passage then how was hee transported with ioy when hee came into Gods house If wee find such consolation in our pilgrimage then how great blessings are prepared for us in our long home If the first-fruits bee so precious how plentifull is the harvest When our lives are ended then begins our perfect ioy when our soules and bodies are againe united then there is fulnesse of ioy yea then both Ioy and Praise shall bee ioyned for evermore VERSE IIII. With a multitude that kept holy-day BEcause we should not be perplexed with the difficulty of these words in regard that our celebration of those dayes which wee call holy doth so far differ from that which is here intended I thinke it most needfull to represent the manner how this day was solemnized In which the desire of David and the people was like that of the Angel the multitude of the heavenly hoste praising God Luke 2.13 14. and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men So this blessed company did first seeke the glory of God in sacrificing oxen and fatlings in offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings in the sound of musicke lifting up the voyce with ioy And that there might bee peace upon earth when Gods Arke should bee placed in the midst of the tabernacle and his worship duely observed Lastly good will towards men when the King blessed the people in the name of the Lord and did distribute bread and flesh and wine Tanquam necessarium laboâ—ibus interponentes temperamentum Sen. So that hee did not exclude the outward refreshing of the body after the serious and devout performance of all heavenly duties The makers of lawes in ancient time did institute festivall dayes that the people might not bee overcharged with too much labour Quia aliquando nihil cum populo agi utile futurum erat T. Livi. Luce sacrâ requiescat humus requiescut arator Tibul. but re-gaining strength and vigour by the cessation might proceed in their worke with alacrity and diligence The best use and benefit that wee can make of any holy-day is to take off the minde from worldly cares wherewith we are naturally surcharged and to addict our selves to divine meditations and religious exercises Even among the Heathen Et adhuc Mincia proles Vrget opus spernitque Deum festumque profanat Ovid. those Sisters mentioned in the Poet were thought to bee iustly punished for being too intent to their domesticke labour which made them omit the publike rites 2. King 7.9 Wee doe not well this is a day of good tidings and wee hold our peace Wee may feare lest the leprosie of those foure men should cleave unto us if wee neglect to praise and glorifie God for his manifold blessings Livius Drusus dixit uni sibi nec puero quidem unquam ferias cont giâ—â—e Senec. Wee cannot complaine as Drusus did that from his child-hood hee never had a good day For though we should endeavour to keepe every day in the yeare holy yet we could not correspond in thankfulnesse with the riches of his bounteous love and plenteous mercy yea wee may rightly acknowledge that every day in our life hath beene an holy-day For as it was the custome of most nations not to punish malefactours upon dayes of festivity and reioycing 2. Sam. 19.22 Mar. 14. â— so the Lord hath beene gracious in pardoning our offences Observatum ne quoties introiret urbem Oct. Aug. supplicium de quoquam sumeretur Suet. not dealing with us after our sinnes nor rewarding us according to our iniquities And therefore wee must blesse his holy name who hath not only delivered us from evill but also hath bestowed so many blessings upon us who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse tender mercies who satisfieth thy mouth with good things Hilaritatis instrumenâ— a dâ—mesticâ—s prae bebat Causabon And as the master of the family upon such dayes did bring out unto his children and servants all things which might bee a meanes of delight and recreation so God like a good housholder hath accomodated us his servants with all things usefull and convenient for our cheerefull service of him that wee might make a ioyfull noyse unto the God of Iacob Psal 81.1 Omnia iam fesâ—a fervet domus utraque pompâ Stat. Tibia pro li. tuis c. Claud. Iste dies semper dapibus celebretur opimis Idem Pro 9.2 Upon those dayes they had instruments of musicke and what a sweet harmony is there when the will and the affections and every power and faculty of the soule doth consent in praising the name of the Lord They had plenty of provision and abundance of wine And hath not Wisedome killed her beasts and mingled her wine and furnished her table Doth not God give unto us that heavenly Manna the bread of life satisfying our soules as with marrow and making our cup to runne over They did then put on their costliest garments Quaeque semei toto vestis nâ—ni sumitur anno Ovid. Psal 45 13. 32.1 Revel 7 9. Aperta multa recta collucent face Senec. in Thyest And wee have a wedding garment at this feast which is as a clothing of wrought gold and as a white robe whereby our nakednesse is covered They did set up many lights And wee have many golden candlesticks and shining lights yea the word is a light unto our feete Therefore let us keepe the feast in sincerity and truth Let it be our chiefe aime and endeavour that the inward man as well as the outward may thereby bee renewed Pas iura sinunt Insidias avibus moliri Virgil. Among the Heathen it was thought to bee lawfull upon the best dayes to spread nets to take birds Sure I am that Satan who is a cunning fowler upon these dayes is most industrious in setting of snares In festis diabolus occupatissimus How circumspect ought wee to bee in avoyding this danger mounting up with the Eagle Iob 39.27 which makes her nest on high raising our soules by the wings of fervent prayer and heavenly contemplation Sine causâ educebat praecipuè pluviis festis diebus Suet. Sic Epaminondas And as Cesar did leade out his souldiers upon festivall dayes and have them in a readinesse lest that the enemy should get an advantage against him So ought we to exercise our selves and to stir up those gifts that are in us that our adversary may not bring us to destruction How happy is that man which doth thus
my selfe by giving an answer to Davids demand before I come to the question which is VERSE V. Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou dâ—squieted in me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the helpe of his countenance VVHerein hee makes further declaration of his sorrowfull and perplexed estate that his soule in this time of trouble did pant and thirst and was powred out and cast downe and disquieted not finding release from misery nor evasion out of these calamities Now if the light that is in thee be darknesse Mat. 6.23 how great is that darknesse and if the soule that is in thee be sorrowfull how great is that sorrow Pro. 12.25 When heavinesse in the heart of man maketh it stoupe yea to be cast down as Davids was And yet there is great cause that the soule bee lifted up with joy and not dejected with griefe if wee consider the originall of it Igneus est illis vigor coelestis origo Virgil. that it proceedeth from God himselfe Gen. 1.27 2.7 Psal 8.5 Mortalibus alti quantum coelicolae tantundem animalibus isti praecellunt cunctis Silius Eccles 3.21 12.7 who created us after his own image breathing into us the breath of life whereby wee became living soules So that wee who were made but a little lower than the Angels were made much higher than all other creatures For when the spirit of the beast goeth downeward to the earth our spirit shall returne to God that gave it Also there is cause of ioy unto the soule in regard of the body Deus dedit corpus animae ut illud in coelum eveneret Non dedita animam corpâ—ri ut c. God gave the body unto the soule that it might raise the body unto heaven Hee did not give the soule unto the body that it might presse the soule to the earth Admonet figura c. Boet Shall the body be erect towards heaven and the soule decline towards the earth Let us consider how helpfull the body is to the soule in the worship of God when our eyes wait upon him and our tongue is our glory to praise him and wee lift up pure hands and daily bow our knees before him when our feet doe carry us to his house and there wee prostrate our whole body in his presence Thus in our estate of grace there is an happy union and consent betweene them both But as Eve â—en 2.18 who was made a meete helpe proved a cause of the greatest woe and misery So the body which should assist the soule doth rebell against it and thereby becomes a great annoyance Like that kinde of torment when they did binde the dead and the living together Corpora ca daveribus ad versa adversis alligata Val. Max. So the soule that lives for ever and is willing to doe good is ioyned unto a body that is weake yea even dead to any holy duty And then the servant is upon an horse Ephes 2 5. Eccles 10 7. and the Prince doth walke as a servant upon the earth the hand-maide is advanced Eucherius ad Valeâ—ian and the mistresse brought downe to the foot-stoole The body doth bring the soule into captivity and make it of a king to become a servent Modo rex esâ— modo tyraâ—nus Sence oâ— else a tyrant Wherefore when wee finde a law in our members warring against the law of our minde wee must pray to be delivered froÌ„ this body of death Rom. 7. verse 23.24 It was observed that when the body sleepeth Anima dum corpori vires admâ—nistrat nequaquam vacat sibi c. Hippocrat the soule hath most liberty And wee know assuredly that when our bodies shall bee laid to sleepe in the grave our soules shall bee inlarged Terreno carcere resoluta caelum ibera petâ—â— Boet. and delivered from that earthly house wherein they were long pent and imprisoned Vt novus serpens pofitâ cum pelle senectâ c. Ovid. And as the serpent doth become young againe after it hath cast off the skinne so the soule shall bee clothed with maiesty and glory when this fraile body shall waxe old like a garment and bee folded up as a vesture untill the end of all things and then this vile body shall be fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ and being reioyned unto the soule shall enter into the ioy of our Master If that father did so reioyce when he saw his sonne to be alive Gen. 46.30 whom hee thought to bee dead then how excellent shall our ioy bee when the body which was dead shall bee alive and they both being knit together shall live in blisse for evermore 29.20 Did those seven yeares seeme to bee but a few dayes 31.40 for the love that Iacob had to Rachel though hee suffered the drought in the day the frost by night and watched both day and night Then how wonderfull ought the love of the soule be to the body cheerfully serving the Lord patiently enduring all tryals and afflictions not being cast downe as if it were without hope but looking for the Saviour who shall unite both soule and body And wee shall be as the Angels of God in heaven Mat. 22.30 Let us now take notice of Davids examination of himselfe that wee thereby may learne to iudge ourselves and wee shall not bee iudged Formerly hee had with his whole heart sought unto the Lord to shew him the light of his countenance He had earnestly desired to appeare before God Hee had humbled himselfe in sorrow for his owne transgressions and the sins of other men Now God accepteth the will for the deed And they that mourne have a promise of comfort Mat. 6. Why then art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted in me Psal 4.4 Also hee did commune with his owne heart and was no fugitive from it as many are who have greatest reason to bee sorrowfull and to feare lest their soules should bee cast downe lower than Davids was because they never looke home to examine and prove themselves and to know that Christ is in them 2. Cor. 13.5 except they bee reprobates But David did make diligent search in his owne heart Psal 77.6 and in all things desired the good and comfortable estate of it Then why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted in me Remember the workes of old how graciously the Lord hath dealt with thee Say not within thy selfe that his mercy is clean gone for ever for thou dost stil enioy many blessings and his grace doth now keep thee from fainting Consider that in this chastisement the Lord dealeth with thee as with a childe and it is not his good pleasure that thou shouldest have sorrow upon sorrow but that this light affliction working for thy good may bring thee to an
everlasting weight of glory wherefore acknowledge this to bee thine infirmity rebuke and smite thy selfe saying Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted in mee It must not bee denied that the soule is sometime disquieted when wee are not able to give any reason of it But then it behoveth us to make strict inquisition into our selves and to see if there bee any root of evill Iosh 7. like Achans wedge which is the cause of our trouble If there bee any Ionas lurking in the bottome which may be sufficient not only to cast downe the soule but also to cast away the soule by a tempest of Gods wrath When we find our selves to bee innocent from great offences and acquitted from regarding iniquity wee must with patience wait upon the Lord How unsearchable are his iudgements Rom. 11. verse 33.34 and his wayes past finding out For who hath knowne the minde of the Lord Iob. 11. Loe hee goeth by me and I see him not Hee passeth on also but I perceive him not Behold hee taketh away Deut. 32.39 who can hinder him Hee woundeth and hee healeth hee bringeth low and hee lifteth up Shall wee receive good at the hand of the Lord Iob 2.10 and shall wee not receive evill Have wee learned to abound and be full of spirituall comfort Phil. 4.11 and have we not learned to suffer need and be abased in the sense of our wants and confession of our unworthinesse who are lesse than the least of all his mercies God will have us to see that wee are not able to merit any of his blessings which are wholly in his own disposing It is not in man that walketh Ier. 10 23. to direct his steps There may bee many devices in his heart neverthelesse the counsell of the Lord that shall stand Pro. 19.21 Also wee must know that wee are now in our passage through the vast wildernesse of this troublesome world unto the heavenly Canaan And we were of all men most miserable if our greatest comforts were not reserved for a better life God doth first cast us downe and then raise us up to a glorious estate Though wee walke in the midst of trouble hee will revive us Light is sowne for the righteous Psal 138.7 97.11 and gladnesse for the upright in heart That which thou sowest is not quickned except it dye first 1. Cor. 15. verse 36. So although wee seeme to be without the life of ioy yet we hope to reape everlasting consolation As sorrowfull wee alwayes reioyce 2. Cor. 6.10 There is an outward apparence of griefe There is an inward substance of true ioy But I may well desist from speaking of this sadnesse whereof wee can give no reason when there are so many causes of heavinesse whether we looke upon the sinnes of other men with charitable compassion or upon our own offences with sorrowfull compunction Psal 119.136 How did David lament for the transgressions of the people And may not we take up the complaint of the Prophet Isai 1.6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundnesse in it How great is the number of them that have sold themselves to worke wickednesse and never thinke of their redemption by Him who paid the ransome for us Quibus contra naturam corpus voluptati anima oneri fuit Salust whose bodies serve them for pleasure and their soules are as a burthen such a burthen as will bee greater than they can beare ready to sinke them to the pit of destruction Yet who doth repent of his wickednesse saying What have I done Every one turned to his course Ier. 8.6 as the horse rusheth into the battell Which of them doth search their heart by the light of the Word as with a candle and say as justly they may inverting these words of David Why art thou not cast down O my soule and why art thou not disquieted within mee Wherefore leaving them unto this examination let us reflect upon our selves and as the Circle Circulus fortitudinâ— atque capacitate caeteris figuris praecedit Clavius which doth returne upon it selfe is the strongest and most capacious figure and may bee resembled by the shape of a mans body Vmbilicum esse centrum c. Iul. Scal. So if wee doe returne unto our selves and search our owne hearts wee shall become more strong and capable of grace The opinion of Aristotle is to bee preferred before that of Plato The one held Visio fit recipiendo Arist Emittendo spiritum animalem Plato Keckerm that our sight was by receiving the image of the object into the eye The other by sending out those opticke rayes unto the object It will be our wisedome to keepe within our owne bounds and to looke into our selves rather than to exceed in curiosity to discover the blemishes of other men Like her whom they feigned to have used her sight onely when shee went abroad Lamia in vimineum cophinum oculos exemptiles inâ—iciâ—bat Erasmus but not when shee returned to her owne house Wee ought rather to look into our selves with David who seemeth here to strike his hand upon his breast saying Why art thou full of heavinesse O my soule God onely knoweth the hearts of all the children of men but by this private search 2. Chron. 6.38 1. King 8.38 every man may know the sore and the griefe and the plague of his owne heart and may find that his foule is cast downe when it is surcharged with thorny cares which choke the good seed O curvae in terris animae coelestâ—um inanes Persius and maketh him to become unfruitfull Can that souldier fight the good fight of faith who intangleth himselfe with the things of this life Habak 2.6 Woe to him that ladeth himselfe with thicke clay Such a man may in vaine beate the ayre but hee cannot runne with patience unto the race that is set before him Heb 12.1 unlesse hee doth cast aside every weight that may hinder him therein At the time of death wee see how dangerous and offensive it is by clamour to interrupt the soule in its departure from the body O that wee could as heedfully practise this during our whole life 1. Cor. 15.31 Every good man with Saint Paul doth dye daily being at all times ready to yeeld up his spirit How prudent should wee bee to avoyd all meanes of disturbance that our soule may not bee vexed and disquieted within us as it is oftentimes through distrust and infidelity when there is an inward combat betweene the flesh and the spirit the one lusting against the other Gal. 5.17 and being contrary the one to the other Gen. 25.22 like Iacob and Esau strugling in the wombe Whereas if Christ did dwell in our hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 wee should overcome the world and bee delivered from this vexation
mercy give him all good blessings needfull for him after hee had waded through these troubles which hee now endured In the meane while being deprived of his former liberty of worshipping the Lord in the assembly of the Saints hee doth stirre up the gifts and graces that were in him by remembring the goodnesse of God and the blessings which he had received In so doing he becomes a good example unto all them that are robbed of that blessed meanes of comfort which they formerly enjoyed and unto all inhabitants of villages which in the old law were counted as the fields of the countrey Levit. 25.31 And as too frequently wanting a faithfull watch-man are more exposed to the treacherous assaults of the enemy than Cities environed with Gods favour and enriched with the pledges of his love that they would provide against the worst famine and keepe those things which have beene committed unto them 2. Tim. 1 14. 1. Tim. 6.19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life As Paul gave direction for the collection of the Saints that every one upon the first day of the weeke should lay by him in store as God hath prospered him So wee for the furtherance of the worke of our sanctification in our first dayes which wee ought to remember to keepe holy in remembrance of our Creator while wee reside in places that are enlightened with Gods favour should lay up against the time of want Dan 6.10 that as Daniel prayed and gave thankes unto God his windowes being open in his chamber towards Ierusalem So wee looking unto the former part of our lives may bee excited to prayer and thankesgiving He is a wise sonne that gathereth in summer Pro 10.5.14 6.8 laying up knowledge and keeping instruction Salomon might justly produce the Ant gathering her food in harvest thereby to convince the slothfulnesse of most men when the least and meanest of the creatures shall exceed man in prudence And surely most men if they should rightly consider of the former part of their lives they could not with David here remember God in so doing for God is not in all their thoughts Psal 10.4 nor his feare before their eyes Their dayes have beene few but the evils therein committed very many Where the youth is vaine the age is like to bee unprofitable when nothing shall be left but the lees and dregs of our life Eorum animi mâ—â—es aetate fluxi dolis haud difficulter capiâ—bantur Salust As Catiline desired the acquaintance of young men who being plyable were soone taken with his fraudulent baits So Satan laboureth to bring such unto destruction and when the strong man doth get possession in time of strength he is not readily cast out Difficulter reciduntuâ— vitia quae nobiscum crevciuâ—t Senec It is an hard thing to pare off those vices which have grown up together with our selves Wherefore let us so order and dispose of this instant time in doing good that the use which wee make thereof may bee beneficiall unto us for the present and coÌ„fortable in remembrance hereafter Whereas David remembreth God from these places here named we may collect That if we be well affected there is no place wherein we may not be put in mind of the bounty and goodnesse of God Whose eyes runne to and fro 2. Chro. 16.9 throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect towards him And as Ioseph in a place of pleasure provided against death which at first sprung up in a garden So those places which in themselves are most delightfull may by our good improovement become most profitable whereof I may have occasion to treat hereafter if it shall please God to give life and ability In Christs Kingdome every valley shall be exalted Isai 40 4. and every mountaine shall be brought low 1. King 20.28 The Lord is God of the hills as of Hermon and Missar as also of the plaine as this land of Iordane From the valley which adjoyneth to the river Gen. 48.16 where fishes grow into a multitude and is thereby made the more fruitfull we may learne to be humble God will give grace unto us And by the hills we may be put in mind 22.8 of Abraham his offering up his sonne upon a mountaine of Christ his transfiguration upon an high mountaine Mat. 17. of his frequent praying upon Mount Olivet Luk. 22.39 and at last his ascension upon the same Mount Act. 1.12 Which may instruct us to offer up the sacrifice of our prayers unto God that he would make us inwardly glorious and in the end receive us into his heavenly kingdome If we lift up cleane hands a pure heart we shall ascend into his holy hill The Psalmist doth fiâ—st speake of the land of Iordan and then of Hermon and Missar shewing the low estate whereinto he was now brought when the waters were ready to overwhelme him and the streame to goe over his soule But then having confidence in remembring Gods mercy he will feare no evill though he walke through the valley of the shadow of death Psal 23. Thy judgments are as a great deepe 〈◊〉 36.6 thy righteousnesse like the great mountaines God who by his strength setteth fast the mountaines 65.6 which bring peace to the people will establish and support his children and give them a good issue out of all their trialls As a man that thinkes hee hath escaped the perill of water being come unto the shoare and yet is presently beaten back by the tenth wave and brought into his former estate of daunger So David who began to be refreshed in remembring Gods love is now again overtaken with sorrow When VERSE VII Deepe calleth unto deepe at the noyse of thy water spouts All thy waves and thy billowes are gone over mee DUring our whole life there is a continuall ebbing and flowing And this time of Davids affliction is like a double tide wherein new troubles did arise before the other were past away If hee found a short time of release it was like a fayre day in winter which we use to say doth breed fowle weather afterward That strength which he then recovered did enable him to undergoe those calamities which should come upon him But for the most part in this time of chastisement there was no other voyce heard but that of the flying Angel Revel 8.13 which said Woe woe woe as if God who afterward did smite the people for the sin of the King should now smite the King for the transgressions of all the people As in Iobs tryall Iob 1.14 15 16. while one messenger was speaking another came bringing sad tidings so here before one calamity was past another cause of sorrow did afflict him To bee cast out of the
city where hee lived To be expelled out of his kingdome wherein he governed as unworthy to come within the borders of it and yet God had promised that his throne should bee stablished for ever and when his daies should bee fulfilled his seed should bee set up after him but not before him as Absalom desired building his house upon his fathers ruine Then to have his concubines defiled in the sight of all Israell And all this not by an enemy for then he could have borne it more patiently but by his owne sonne And one messenger brings word that the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom Another tels him that Ahitophel the Kings Counsellor was among the conspirators Moreover Shimei doth vex his righteous soule with malicious reproaches Now what could bee done more that was not done to make the measure of his sorrow to bee pressed down in heavinesse of soule and running over in the outward expressioÌ„ of his griefe How great and manifold are the dangers of them that goe downe to the sea in ships â—sal 107.26 that see the workes of the Lord For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof They mount up to heaven they goe downe againe to the depths So here Deepe calleth unto deepe David is exposed to the greatest perils that may be The windowes of heaven are opened â—en 7.12 as in the floud There is the noise of thy water-spouts but no Arke of deliverance like Noahs no not so much as that little Arke of Moses Exod 2.3 whereby he may hope to be drawn out of these miseries There is a mighty tempest but no ship to defend him nor yet any signe of a calme as to the Mariners neither any creature to waft him to the shore Ionah 1.4 as Ionah had There is a boystrous winde that made the billowes to goe over him but the helping hand of the Divine providence is not stretched out to uphold him Mat. 14.30 Psal 69.2 as unto Peter The flouds over-flow him the proud waters goe over his soule 124.5 Hee is cast into the deepe and all thy waves are upon him Ionah 2.3 Not one wave alone but many but all of them There was such a variety of his crosses and such a succession of his trouble that as the day was prolonged untill such time as Ioshuah had subdued his enemies so here the night of his misery was doubled untill such time as God had perfected the work of humiliation in him God who is most perfect will finish every good worke that hee hath begun in any of his children And being the author of time hee disposeth of all things for our good making us strong when wee are weake so that wee may take pleasure in infirmities 2. Cor. 12.10 in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake And by seeing our miserable and weake estate wee learne not to trust in our selves but in God who raiseth the dead When the water of affliction doth flow over our head we are thereby cleansed that we may be presented unto Christ without spot and blemish As Pharaoh and his host were covered by the depths Exod. 15.5 and sanke into the bottome as a stone so they that want faith to stand in temptation are ready to be swallowed up of despaire But every one that is godly hath this comfortable protection That in the flouds of great waters Psal 32.6 18.4 they shall not come nigh unto him and though the flouds of ungodly men make him afraid though he be compassed about with many tribulations Psal 130.1 yet out of the depth of his misery hee cryeth unto the depth of Gods mercy and prayeth unto the Lord on high who is mightier than the noyse of many waters 93.4 yea than the mighty waves of the sea to deliver him from them that hate him 79.14 15. that the water-floud may not over-flow him nor the deepe swallow him up And in conclusion hee finds this comfort that neither height nor depth shall bee able to separate him from the love of God Rom. 8.39 When Christ was asleepe in the ship that sailed over unto the other side of the lake Mat. 8.26 there came downe a storme insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves but when the disciples awoke him hee said Why are yee so fearefull O yee of little faith and rebuking the sea there was a great calme So in our voyage to heaven when the winde doth blow the raine doth fall and the waves doe beate upon us In strong temptations when wee are opposed on every side and looking up to heaven see nothing but the terrour of Divine justice ready to fall upon us looking downe wee see the horror of the pit ready to shut her mouth upon us and looking about wee see all the creatures armed for our destruction then through want of strength we are ready to sinke under the burthen of our calamities But when the quickning spirit shall revive our faith that slumbred within us and restore us to the life of grace wee begin to bee comforted in assurance that God will put an end to our trials and deliver us out of all affliction Such was Davids anchor which he cast out now in this storme and thereby hoped for safety Though the waves and billowes doe goe over me VERSE VIII Yet the Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night his song shall bee with me and my prayer unto the God of my life AS before his teares were his meate day and night Verse 3. So now hee finds cause of rejoycing both day and night for the loving kindnesse of the Lord who did put songs of praise into his mouth His misery and trouble were now present before him His comfort was only hope but not to bee discerned by sense and reason Yet such was the strength of his confidence which he had fixed upon Gods love that thereby he became as fully assured of deliverance as if he were already restored to his former liberty The wicked shall feare day and night Deut. 28.66 67. in the morning he shall say Would God it were Even and at Even he shall say Would God it were morning And his greatest woe shall then begin when time shall be no more But the righteous that like Anna serve God night and day Luke 2.37 shall at all times be refreshed by trusting in Gods mercy who will command his loving kindnesse in the day time as He hath promised to command the blessing upon them that observe his Lawes Deut. 28.8 And we know that all things obey the voyce of God Hath he spoken and shall he not performe it Do the souldiers come when the Centurian calleth Mat. 8.9 and shall not all creatures be ready prest to doe the will of God Though his loving kindnesse be as it were unwilling
are not able to apprehend the manner of his gracious dealing with us When the Lord turned againe the captivity of Sion Psal 116.1 they were like them that dreame Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing The Apostle himselfe in his gaole-delivery Act. 12.9 wist not that it was true which was done but thought hee had seene a vision At what time soever God is pleased to inspire his grace and comfort into us we ought to rejoyce therein and by night on the bed to seeke him whom our soule loveth Cant. 3.1 Circumscribatur nox aliquid ex illa in diem transferatur Senec. abridging that time of rest and ease that it may become as beneficiall unto us as the day it selfe David was not satisfied by offering the sacrifice of thankesgiving in the courts of the Lords house Psal 116.17 and paying his vowes in the presence of all the people But in the night also he would continue his song of Gods mercy Siquis adest auditor luâ—ciniae prius al imus quam cantus deficiet Like that excellent bird which is never weary or spent by continuing her delightfull notes So this sweete singer of Israel was uncessant in praising the Lord not giving sleepe to his eyes untill hee had blest his holy name In time of affliction hee made his bed to swimme praying unto the Lord to returne and deliver his soule Now in prosperity hee gives thankes for the blessings hee doth receive When our bones are vexed and our sleep departeth from us wee pray unto God to deale mercifully with us But when our diseases are healed wee doe not returne to give thankes being soone overtaken with heavinesse and security And yet David did endeavour to watch in the night that hee might sing praise unto the Lord. He did not then onely meditate in the Law of God when he could not take any rest as Ahasuerus had the booke of the records of the Chronicles read before him Esther 6.1 when hee could not sleepe for now hee might lye downe in peace and sleepe when God made him to dwell in safety Much lesse did hee intend to procure sleepe by a sinister performance of any good duty which notwithstanding is a corrupt practice of many men who by singing or reading or hearing or meditating will have an unworthy aime to bring themselves asleepe and yet confessing that the enemy is most busied when they are best exercised And therefore David saith Psal 149 5. Let the Saints sing aloud upon their beds Thereby to testifie their cheerefull devotion and also to prevent that spirit of slumber Such as shall thinke to obtaine quiet rest by performing any such action in it selfe commendable they doe like unto that people which followed Christ not because of the miracles Iohn 6.26 but because they were filled with the loaves So these seeke him not that their faith may bee strengthened but that their bodies may bee refreshed The words then used by them being as a charme to gaine their purpose Wee know how dangerous the fall of Eutichus was Acts 20.9 and yet he was overcome by a deepe sleep against his will whereas these men doe addresse themselves thereunto stretching out the arme to welcome sleepe rather than to declare any fervent zeale And therefore as their offence is more hainous so their fall will bee greater And they also offend in an high nature who in publike are not able to watch one houre but doe settle themselves to their repose With what horror may they feare to be awakened by the sound of the last trumpe who have despised the voyce of God And how can they sleepe without suffering many things Mat. 27.19 because of that Iust Man whom they so unjustly contemne in their neglect of his Word exhibited unto them This example may be very forcible to convince the sluggard that folds his hands to sleepe Shall David improve the night to so happy an use and wilt thou consume both day and night in drowsinesse and sloth Also this good act here mentioned doth confute them that neglect the frequent use of so heavenly a duty Whereas the Apostle doth call upon us to sing with a grace in our heart Ephes 5 29. Col. 3.16 making melody unto the Lord. Quod essent soliti stato die antelucem convenire câ—â—menque Christo quasi Deo dicere secum invicem Plin. Iun. And in former time Christians were so fervent in spirit that they would not forbeare their spirituall songs in the night though their lives were brought in danger thereby Vide Tertullian in Apologet Buâ— now excepting that generall exercise in the congregation where there be too many abridgments of abridgements the use thereof is not so common as it ought to be In some families it is rare in other it is never thought upon In Societies and Colledges where friends meeting privately in the end of the best day Luke 24.32 perhaps their heart may burn within them while they talke about the Scripture but yet this holy duty is much omitted which if it were conscionably performed in a religious manner would bring comfort unto the soule by letting the servants of God to depart in peace Mat. 26.30 That hymne which Christ sang with his Apostles may bee a president unto all that are in authority to doe likewise David saith that the Lords song shall be with him in the night Psal 118.14 And that the Lord is his strength and his song which doth confound the foolish love-songs and unreasonable poems which are too much in request Songs in praise of Venus and the great Diana to the dishonour of their Creatour the shame of the maker striving to get a name though it be by their owne confusion This their way is their folly yet their posterity approve their sayings Of these we may say as Ronsard spake of the famous Du-Bartas He hath done more in a day then I have done in my whole life So David hath done more by this song in the night than they by the writings of their whole life Wherefore let them forbeare any longer to exceed their bounds in loose dittyes and wanton catches whereby youth is soone taken as appeares by the lewd songs so common in their night-walks more harsh to every good eare than the voyce of the raven or any prodigious bird VERSE VIII And my prayer unto the God of my life BEfore he spake of the blessings received God commanding his loving kindnesse in the day time Of his thanks-giving for those blessings singing praise unto God in the night And now he betakes himselfe unto Prayer for the continuance of those blessings and supply of all graces needfull Wee see our poore and weake estate in this life If God withdraw his right hand we fall and perish If he stop the fountaine of his mercies we dye for thirst Wee cannot say that we are rich
for his iniquity and like a good shepheard with his rod doth bring home this straying sheepe hee thinkes that he is forgotten and cast out of Gods fight Of our selves wee are not able to discerne Gods fatherly chastisements and the trials of our faith from the punishment of our rebellion yea wee thinke that wee doe him good service when wee provoke him to wrath Being punished for our sinnes wee are ignorant of the cause of his anger unlesse hee shall tell us the cause why many are sicke and weake and many sleepe For the heart of man is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Being thus ignorant wee ought to inquire of the Lord and to pray that hee would shew us the cause why his anger is kindled against us and his hand is heavie upon us As David here out of a desire to be informed saith Why hast thou forgotten me It seemed strange unto him that God should forget to be gracious and that his mercy should be cleane gone for evermore considering how graciously hee dealt with his people the Israelites When they dealt proudly Nehem 9. Verse 16. and refused to obey thou wert a God ready to pardon and forsookest them not yea when they made them a molten calfe 17. 18. yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not When they cast thy law behinde their backs 19. and slew thy Prophets and wrought great provocations yet in their trouble 26. when they cryed thou heardest from heaven gavest them Saviours 27. When they had rest they did evill againe 28. yet many times didst thou deliver them and wouldest not utterly consume them Then why hast thou forgotten me O my God Through the intercession of Christ we shal for ever enjoy the favour and presence of the Almighty If God sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when hee remembred Abraham Gen. 19.29 who prayed for Sodom then we may be assured that God will not forget us having Christ Iesus to be our Mediator VERSE IX Why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy HAd this man of God spoken no more than he did before that he was forgotten of his Creator we might have conceived his estate to bee very disconsolate But now after the setting of the sunne to have such horrid darknesse succeed After he seemed to be forsaken of God to be thus vexed by the adversary must needs aggravate his sorrow when hee went from one place to another not finding ease or comfort first to the wildernesse then to the ascent of Mount Olivet after that he passed over Iordan not having his head adorned with a diademe but covered with sack-cloth making every place where he came to be like Bochim Iudg. 2.5 a place of weepers While he was unjustly oppressed by one who was an enemy unto God and to David and to himselfe who as Iudas sought to shed the bloud of Christ who had formerly washed his feet So Absalom sought the destruction of his father who before had washed the guilt of blood from him with teares of compassion weeping sore for the evill done by him remitting his great offence he received him into his bosome Yet this untamed heifer lift up his heele against him This is the enemy that hath persecuted his soule Psal 143.3 that hath smitten his life downe to the ground that made him to dwell in darknesse as those that have beene long dead Had God dealt with him as he did with Saul 1. Sam. 15.28 to have rent the kingdome from him and to have given it to another better than himselfe he might have endured it with the more patience Let the righteous smite me Psal 141.5 it shall be a kindnesse But now that the son of pride should make this humble servant of God to mourne that the enemy to holinesse should thus afflict the child of Abraham 2. Chro. 20.7 Gods friend it must cause him to walke heavily and to be full of perplexity like the Hart which he mentioned in the beginning which is in daunger to be devoured unlesse it be refreshed by the water-brookes So he is even consumed by these troubles unlesse that God who maketh the lame man to leape as an Hart Isai 35.6 be pleased to renew his strength and to put an end to these calamities If we offend against God we shall be punished by them that are worse than our selves who shall be as his rod and his hammer for our correction We cannot thinke those to be vessells of mercy who were the instruments of his wrath against the Israelites that went mourning by reason of the oppression of the enemy imposing such heavy burthens upon them in their captivity It is our infirmity in time of any crosse to looke rather unto the hand of him that smote us than to the divine permission or our sinnes provoking No man could have power against us unlesse it were given from above Iohn 19 11. There is no evill of punishment which God hath not done our destruction proceeds from our selves And therefore David who was unwilling to mourne because of the cruell oppression of an insulting enemy might yet have prayed unto God to breake his heart and to give him true sorrow that he might lament for his owne sinnes whereby he had incensed Gods displeasure and by which as by the most tyrannicall enemy hee was oppressed and brought into bondage when lust and corruption did set up their throne in the heart of him who was advanced to the kingdome And were more unsatiable in their exactions than ever the task-masters of Egypt were against the distressed Israelites Deut. 4.20 And his worke was more servile than theirs in the iron fornace when his soule did burne in lust and though hee were a King 2. Sam. 23.39 yet he betrayed the life of his faithfull subject 1 Sam. 18.14 yea of one of his Worthyes altogether unworthy of such an untimely end And that he might make him sure As Ioab thrust three darts through the heart of Absalom So he seekes to kill Uriah thrice First to rend him asunder as Samson did the Lion Iudg. 14.6 when he tooke away his wife from him He put him to a second death when he made him drunke 2 Sam. 11.13 And surely drunkennesse may well be called the second death as being the next way thereunto And thirdly he caused him to be slaine by the enemy Now this was a fit time for him to have cried out Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy when Satan as afterward in the numbring of the people stood up against David 1. Chro. 21.1 and overthrew him What greater sorrow than for sinne What more dreadfull enemy than Satan What oppression comparable unto that which is undergone by the vassals of Satan whose condition is worse than that of the Gibeonites Iosh 9.23 who were bondmen