A Psalme of Dauid to giue instruction.

THE Psalme hath this title common vnto it, with diuerse others; set­ting downe first the au­thor, and then the end. The author was Dauid, which is called in the Scriptures, The sweete singer of Israell: who although he was a King, yet abused not his prosperi­tie, to spend his time in dalliance, and in the workes of pride; as many do when God hath advanced them; but bestow­ed those houres which might be spared from his politick [...]onsultations, in wri­ting Psalms, for the exercise of his faith, [Page 2] & the edifying of the Church, wherin it is to be feared, that his example shal giue sentence against manie wanton nobles of this worlde, who abuse and disgrace the worthie facultie of Poetrie, with vn­cleane Sonnettes, to satisfie their louse mindes with a kinde of contemplatiue fornication, abandoning their good wittes, (which God hath giuen them) by writing of Pamphlettes, in the ho­nour of Venus and Cupid, which one day will be coumpted no better then so ma­ny sacrifices to the Deuil. We are taught therfor, if we haue any vein of versifica­ting, or any other good vse of our veine, how to vse it, that by this example, our writings may sauour of godlinesse to stirre vp the mindes of others, aswell as our selues therunto, not to leaue vnchast ditties behinde vs (as it were bawdes in the world) as many haue done.

The end of the Psalme is, to giue instruc­tion; that is to say, to teach others by his owne example, in a particular thing, whereof he maketh me [...]tion. Now this [Page 3] instruction, as appeareth in the dis­course of the Psalme, proceeded not from judgement gotten by much rea­ding and obseruation of others, but by inwarde experience and obseruations of GOD his dealing with himselfe, which in the end of his laboures and a­gonies, hee recompteth and commit­teth to writing; which appeareth by many other Psalmes to haue bene his vsual manner. So this instruction hath that singuler commendation, that it was deliuered out of the feeling of Da­uids heart, that our spirites might be in­structed by his: as one face aunswereth to another in water; which kinde of teaching, if not onely, yet for the most part and principally is availeable, either to humble when a man speaketh not of spirituall things, as of the inhabitable ones (if any such be) but as of thinges which he himselfe felt & tasted before. And this is that holy experience, which taught the high Priestes of the Iewes compassion, and made his offrings for [Page 4] his brethren more zealous; because he felt himselfe also pertaker of their infir­mities, as the Epistle to the Hebrewes wit­nesseth: but now a daies, it may be coun­ted amongst the causes, why the mini­strie of many succeedeth not better, be­cause they faile in this poynt; in vsing so little conscience in teaching the people, and being without all affections: But those that are Rhetorical and prompted by the mother-witte, not by any expert soule, whereby it commeth to passe, that a godlie man, of no mouth or lippes, as Moyses calleth himselfe, that is nothing furnished with eloquence & vtterance, shall build more sound worke in Gods Church in one sermone, then those prophane Orators in twentie; though they haue neuer so great a facilitie in vtterance, and sweete louse of their words, as many senseles men haue. Wee are therefore to make some profite of this, if we will be wise admonishers of others; that we labour first our selues to be spirituall men, that we may discerne [Page 5] al things, that we may obserue how God hath wrought for vs in the like cases be­fore; that both we may leaue behinde vs a sting in the consciences of others, and be safe guydes in such a labyrinth, as a troubled minde is oft to bee led through. The maister of a shippe which is ignorant of the Seas, what skill soeuer he haue in Astronomie (which thing yet is necessary for Nauigation) whilest he gazeth vpon the starres, or any other artificiall direction, wracketh his ship vppon some rock, lurking vnder the waues, which would not bee, if experi­ence had made him heedfull by sayling that way before. And indeed, this intol­lerable defect neuer sheweth it selfe more shamefullie, or with greater hurt, then when men haue neede of spiritual comforte, at the houre of death; or in time of great affliction: for at such times those foolish sheep-heardes, when they want skill to help their poore sheep out of the ditch, are driuen to play the mi­serable comforters, and to take some o­ther [Page 6] indirect course (as many vse to doe in such case) to cut the sheeps throate in time, to make him mans meate, least it should be said he died in a ditch: And these are the miserable and desperate calamities of the people prouided for, when they neede most of all spirituall instruction. And here we may espye the cause why manie admonishers and in­structers of others, become so ridicu­lous, as to be made the jesting-stocks of sinners; because they admonish not, nor instruct not of feeling, weakning the power of their instructiones; if not by hypocrisie, yet by flatnes and dulnes of Spirite, that it cannot be receiued with that reuerence, that admonitions & re­bukes wrought in the Primitiue cōgre­gations of the Church, when men be­ing touched home, fell vpon their faces, worshipped God; affirming that God of a trueth was in those ministers. I might be ashamed in a diuine exercise, to make mention of a Paganes counsel, especiallie in so spiritual a poynt as this: [Page 7] saue that we are not ashamed to let the Heathen get grounde in that wherein our Idiottes ought to excell their Phi­losophers; if thou wilt reproue (say they) considder first, if the same fault be not in thy selfe, or at least some other, as ill or worse, that the reformation there­of may be a foundation whereon to build thy brothers amendement. And indeed, although it is vntrue to affirme, that a man may not reprehend the fault which he hath in himselfe; yet where men are carried head-long into an out­rage against other mens sinne, without detestation or feeling any remorse for their owne; It is very sure, that in such a man dwelleth that spirit of hypocrisie, which is the fowlest furie of hell. Let vs haue therefore in our reprehensions, whether publik or priuat, to our friends or to enemies, the spirite of compas­sion and invocation; that our wordes may haue grace with the hearers: For if before euery reprehension (if it were possible) and before euery instruction, [Page 8] we did lift vp our minds in some briefe meditation, commending the infirmi­ties of our selues, and that present offen­dour, both at once to God, and then proceede to a louing censure, as occasi­on requireth, our sinceritie, our graui­tie; our charitie would so adorne the re­buke, that the offender would rather be rauished with the admiration of Gods grace in vs, then eyther scoffe it or grow into a choler, as many doe. But for-as­much as to men of a quiet nature, which hate the reproch of a busie bodie, the deutie of instruction & admonishing of others, seemeth an harder impositi­on then they are willing to beare, be­cause there is not one amongst a thou­sand, that will take it in good part. It re­maineth therefore, that to that purpose we gather this third instruction from this title: namely, that men must make Gods proceedings with their own con­sciences, profitable for the edifying of others, giuing them instructions there­vnto, as here we see Dauid doth: For it [Page 9] is the nature of faith to open mens mouthes, and to labour to make manie pertakers of their conuersion. That loue which followeth true repentance, is neyther bashfull nor fearefull, nor en­uious, nor partiall: for when a man hath once got a good conscience, all the rest of his life after he spendeth in the instruction of others. Peter being con­uerted, must strengthen his brethren; Dauid being forgiuen, must turne sin­ners to God. I will say more, Nabuchad­netzar being restored, published the ser­uice of God to the Heathen: Nay, I will yet say more, the woman of Samaria; be­ing but a woman, yet being reproued of her adulteries, & instructed by christ; I will not say preached, but saith to her neighbours, Come, see a man that tolde me all that euer I did. And if her instructi­on be Chronicled in the Gospell to her commendation, surely the double si­lence and vncharitable quietnesse of those that will not meddle with other mennes matters, to instruct them when [Page 10] occasion is offered in matters of so great weight, must beare a note of their con­fusion, and be marked with the blacke coale of crueltie, and of soule-murther, for what is it els when we say, let them answere for themselues, we will not put our fingers in the fire for them: as if Cain had not murthered his brother Abell, be­cause he said, What? am I my brothers kee­per? If we loue God, the same spirit is in vs, which was in Dauid, Mine eyes (saith he) gusheth out with teares, because men keep not thy commandments; If we loue men, the thread of our affection must be mea­sured by our care to instruct them, and wee will saue some by plucking them out of the fire with feare; and if we loue neyther God nor men, so that neyther the dishonour of the head, nor the hurt of the member will touch vs; it is be­cause we our selfes are members of an­other bodie, and not of Christ which is the head of his Church.

HItherto of the title; Now follow­eth the PSALME it selfe, whose principall question is, that there is no quietnesse of conscience, nor forgiue­nesse of sinnes; where there is no sin­cere confession of the same: which DA­VID proueth by his owne example, in­forming vs thereby; that as he, so long as he helde his peace, and concealed his sinne, could not be ridde of the horri­ble sense of Gods wrath: No more can anie of vs; how-so-euer otherwise wee trauaile in conuersion as hee did: If we be sowred with the leauen of like hy­pocrisie. And to the ende that wee should not be secure in the ratifying of a good conscience, or make light of the [Page 12] spyses of dispayre which are in vs, when we haue no attonement with God by the feeling of forgiuenes; he sets downe the contrarie effects of a conscience in­larged by Gods grace, and cheared vp with the remission of sinnes, and of the hearte, fraughted with dispayre, and tormented with the terrour of condem­nation, because it feeleth not the spi­rite of adoption. The first is set downe in these wordes; Blessed is that man which is lifted vp from his falling away: Here the Prophet sayeth, that when God lifteth vp his children from their sinnes, and assureth their consciences of his loue, he maketh them blessed: whereout wee learne, that this indeed is that soueraign good, and high felicitie, yea the highest and only happines which can be enjoy­ed in this life, to be discharged of an e­uill conscience, tormented with the guilt of wickednesse, and fearing ven­geance for the same. By this effect he en­courageth al of vs, as it were with a price to runne cheerefully, & labour serious­lie [Page 13] for a good conscience. There is no doubt, but that vngodlie men doe ma­nie times holde in admiration, the se­curitie and free estate, of godlie and vertuous men, when they see them stande vnmoueable as mounte Sion, when heauen and earth are mingled to­gether: because they themselues haue manie secret stings, and are often stab­bed at the hart, who in worldly respects haue lesse cause to feare then the sheepe of Christs flock. Those therefore which reioyce not thus in the heart, howsoe­uer they rejoyce in the face, must attend vnto this ministry of grace: For to what purpose doth the Lord open mens eyes to see the sweet & blessed estate of such as haue humbled themselues to walke with God, their confidence standing before God, their rich hope, their quiet­nesse and hartes-ease, their joy, as if they had one foote in heauen alreadie: I say, to what purpose doth God lift them vp, & let them see the riches of a good con­science, but to set their teeth an edge at [Page 14] it, & to rauish them with a desire of the like; so then we see, that the Lord ma­keth an offer of his grace vnto vs, & en­tiseth vs by these examples; that hence­forwarde if we profite not thereby, our cōdemnation might be imputed to our selues. Let vs therefore accompt this a meruellous happines, to feele such a conuersion in our soules, that in steede of our former miserie, we shal perceaue our selues translated from bondage to libertie, from death to life; yea, from hel to heauen: for he that hath a good con­science, hath ouer-come the worlde by his faith. If Princes loue him, it shal not puffe him vp more then a pennie giuen to him, which is worth a thousande pound; if they hate him and persecute him, it shall not terrifie him, nor endan­ger him, no more then the great rebelles of Babell, endangered the heauen with their towre: For his soule is mounted vp aboue al these things, & dispiseth them from an high. As for the vndermining of Sathan, who biddeth him spiritual [...] [Page 15] combattes; they exercise him but they vexe him not; they make him actiue, but they destroy him not; his force is like the face of a Lyon, & what-so-euer objecteth it self, he beareth it down be­fore him; as we see a notable example (as [...]t were) of a spiritual challenge of al the creatures of God, by S. Paul to the Rom. 8 Where he casteth down his gauntlet, & biddeth a defiance to diuels, to men, to [...]ight, to depth; to things present & things to come. And when we cōsider these things; how truly may we say, that the children of God, spiritually considered, are so ma­ny Kinges and Emperours, Queenes & Empresses, enriched with such vnspeak­ [...]ble blessings, that if all the harts of the world were one hart, it could not con­ [...]eine them. And as for them which cō ­ [...]inue in sin, harden their harts, & by clo­ [...]ing of wickednes, doe twist a roape for their own necks; how miserable is their estate, when they behold this happines [...]n others, whereto they cannot atteyne, [...]o pine away & perish in the beholding [Page 16] of other menes saluation. And thus much of the effect which the feeling of remissione of sinnes worketh. That which followeth of lifting vp from sinnes, and not imputing them, and co­uering them, commendeth vnto vs the grace of God, in bestowing this par­don, and sealing the assurance of the same in our hearts, as the cause of the foresaid effect, described figuratiuelie by the metaphors of lifting, imputation and couering: Al which, haue their spe­ciall weight and importance in this sen­tence. Lifting vp from defection, argu­eth plainely a contrarietie in the estat [...] of man before, considering him lyein [...] a long in the contagious filth of his ow [...] sinne; so weakned, & soaked cleane ou [...] of heart, with the execrable leprosie o [...] vngodlinesse, that he is neyther able t [...] stirre hand or foote, till God lift him v [...] from his apostasie. The word imputat [...] on is borrowed from accomptes, in [...] nuating, that we are run so farre in a [...] rerages with God, that we can haue [...] [Page 17] securitie of consciences, till wee haue gotten such a release, as may deliuer vs [...]rom all feare of imputation of our [...]ebtes, least payment should be requi­ [...]ed of vs to the vtter-most farthing: as it [...]s in the Gospel. Finally, the translation [...]f couering or hiding of sinne, is taken [...]rom a generall custome of dispatching [...]hose thinges out of the way, whereof a man cannot susteine the sight, without greevance o [...] molestation; thereby de­claring, that sinne is such an eye-sore to God, that he cannot behold it, and spare [...]t but at once; but that the deuil wil pre­ [...]ent it to God, and prouoke him to pu­ [...]ish it, except it be hid & buried in the [...]ottome of the Sea: and except the of­ [...]ender be couered with the righteous­nesse of Christ. So that in sum, these words doe set downe the feeblenesse, [...]he pouertie and nakednes of sin, which doth so discomfort him, if his consci­ence be awake; that till he haue founde remedie for each of them, hee thinketh himselfe not out of the compas, where [Page 18] fire and brimstone shall fall, nor can be deliuered from a fearefull expectation of Gods curse.

And on the contrarie part; when hee feeleth himselfe comforted by God [...] right hande, and lifted vppe out of the quag-mire of contagious pollutions, hi [...] soule beginneth to taste how sweete th [...] Lord is: and when he feeleth the speci­alitie of his debtes, which was grauen in his conscience, cancelled, and so riuete [...] to CHRISTS crosse, that they shal neuer be imputed; he drinketh a more hartie draught of the waters of life: but most o [...] all, when hee is assured that his wicked­nesse is so hidde, that it cannot presse to Gods throne for vengeance; nor rise vppe in judgement against him, in the daye of his visitation; hee is then in­deede, and perfectlie blessed, and wan­teth nothing that can bee added in this life, to the absoluing of most perfit [...] felicitie.

This forcible propounding therefor [...] of this cause of blessednesse, hath in i [...] [Page 19] an exclusiue nature: secretly affirming, that there is no other cause of justify­ing, and so of true blessednesse: But this grace onely, to the end that men might be stirred vp to take this course, where­of the Holie Ghost is the guide. All men agree in this, that they woulde faine bee blessed: But there is no con­sent amongst men, neyther in the causes, nor in the thing it selfe. The Philosophers, for want of judgement, euerie one shotte his Bolt diuerslie, and euerie one wyde of the marke, as appeareth in the collection, which CI­CERO hath made of their opinions in his Tusculane questions. The carnall christan hath a true contemplation & judgment, what is that Summum bonum, that is, chiefe happinesse, but by the halting of an euill conscience, hee is turned out of the waye; so, although he saye, it is in Heauen, yet hee seeketh it in Hell; though hee ascribe it to the Spirite, yet hee laboureth for it in the fleshe, (it is fearefull that I will [Page 20] speak) though he acknowledge that it is the gift of God; yet he runneth after the deuill to obteyne it; which is then committed, when men thinke them­selues happie and blessed, if they can get riches, beautie, authoritie, strength, life, & such others; which are common to the Reprobates. What can be so ridi­culous, as to heare the continual decla­mations of worldly men against these vanities? And on the contrarie part; to behold the homage and frailtie; yea the slauerie in which they abandoned to serue such vile thinges. If Dauid be well considered, it will not be easie to finde out many Peeres to him in worldly re­spectes: His strength is commended by the conquest of a Lyon, his courage in quailing of Goliath; his beautie is set forth with the praise of a sanguine com­plexion, and amiable countenance: the passing ripenesse of his witte is manifest in all his storie; & touching his aduance­ment; God tooke his shep-hooke from him, and deliuered a Scepter; and after [Page 21] his banishment, set him in the throne of his maister, which he possessed not by [...]surpation; but (as it were) by a general election, that the heauens wrought with the applause of the people: His subjects were the onely men of the world; for the rare parts wherewith they were for [...]he most quallified; his Lande flowing with milk and honie; the temperature of the aire, incomparable withall other benefites, belonging eyther to health, profite, or delectation: with so large a hand, as if God had deuised to pleasure him; and nature had mean't to emptie [...]ll her riches into his bosome, and to continue the same by the plentiful hope of his posteritie. Right truelie might I [...]aye, that this was a perfect picture of worldlie felicitie; and yet we see, that DAVID leaueth all this, and seeketh an­ [...]her cause of blessednesse: for the fin­ding whereof, these thinges before did not help at all; teaching vs, that the same [...]are ought to possesse our hearts, least they be fore-stalled with a fond assiance, [Page 22] of finding honie in a hiue, where ther [...] is nothing but waspes, & of imagining our selues to haue attayned to blessed­nes; when indeed we are as vnhappie a [...] infelicity: because we lye along not lif [...] ted vp from our sins, which one day sha [...] be imputed to vs; nor hauing our wic­kednes couered, that it should not infec [...] the ayre, nor offende Gods senses, as [...] dead carcase aboue the ground.

Hytherto hath bin spoken of the caus [...] of blessednes, which is the free grace o [...] God, in remitting our sins; the circum­stances wherof haue also bene touched The last member of this verse, which remaineth, In whose spirit ther is no guyle; se [...] teth down a necessary effect of the same teaching an infallible rule to discern [...] betuixt a presumptuous & false opinio [...] of remission, and a certaine persuasio [...] of the same: that is, if there be no guy [...] in the spirite; whereby it is vnderstoo [...] such a sanctification following forgiuenes, and joyned to true repentance; tha [...] there remaineth no more couert dealin [...] [Page 23] to cloake our sins in whole or in part, for [...]eare of worldly shame, or to seeke star­ [...]ing holes to runne from God: but that [...]he mind wel perswaded of Gods loue, [...]ndued with an honorable opinion of [...]he Church; thinketh it no discredit at [...]l, to make knowen to the vttermost, all [...]heir infirmities & offences to God in [...]ecret, & to the church publikly; so far as the rule of edificatiō, & Gods discipline [...]equire; as wee see two notable exam­ [...]les in this Prophet, and his Son; wher­of the one hath left to the churh, the 51 Psal. The other, the booke called Ecclesi­ [...]es; as publik monuments and remem­ [...]rances of their falls, & liberal confessi­on of the same; to remaine as it were on [...]he file, euen to all posterities; shewing [...]herby their zealiousnes in repentance, & their sincerity, in that they were not [...]ender ouer their credites, in respect of [...]he edificatiō of the church. This then is the effect of that grace which forgiueth [...]ndeed; neuer to seperate the gift of for­giuenes, from the gift of sanctification [Page 24] and the speciall poynts thereof, which here is inforced; is through guyle of Spirite; to keepe back nothing vn-con­fessed, which the nature of true repen­tance would discouer: But this is not al, for generall sanctification is here shew­ed to be the foot-step of the holy Ghost, by the printe, whereof, we may knowe whether wee haue our portion in this grace of remission of sinnes, or whether the fearefull signes of the wrath of God abide vpon vs still or no. Saint PAV [...] in the eight to the Romanes, setteth downe the same doctrine, saying; Tha [...] calling justification, & sanctification, are so inseperable, that who-so-euer hath the one, hath the other also. And to TIMO­THIE (he sayeth) If any man call on th [...] name of the Lord, let him depart from ini­quitie: Wherefore, it is the perfection o [...] madnes, for a man that remayneth dis­solute, to dreame of forgiuenesse, and when an hypocrite is pure in his own [...] conceipt, & yet is not washed from hi [...] sinnes. It is to true, that in those that are [Page 25] regenerate, and are indeede forgiuen, there shal remaine such a waste and vn­sauorie taste, as shall much annoy them, and hu [...]t the rellish or gift, euen of their most sanctified actions: so that the Lord had neede to looke with a mercifull and for bearing eye, vppon the highest ver­tues of his children; yea, they shall not be freed from the foule sinne of hypo­crisie; but shall feele with much vexati­on, themselues to be pestered with such thinges: how-be-it, in substance and in the chiefest drift of their life, they are true-harted to God; slipping into these former faultes by infirmitie, or by rea­son of scanter measure of mortification, then they ought to haue laboured vn­to: so that the ods, is in the thing which is propounded to a mans desire; for if his chiefest care in the loue and feare of God, be to seeke his saluation; what-so­euer his hypocrisie be, it is not his guilt of spirit: But if he propound to himself some other thing, that his hart doth ra­ther labour for, then for saluation; it is [Page 26] certayne that hee is false-hearted to GOD, and that such an hypocrisie is ane authentick recorde, of a man that abideth in his sinnes: and such a man as this, hath neyther faith to o­uer-come the worlde, nor grace to re­sist temptation, and though he say, that hee is perswaded of remission, and ex­toll the mercie of GOD aboue the skyes; yet that guile that remayneth in his spirite, tormenteth his consci­ence euery daye, conuincing him by this, that because hee is not sanctified, therefore he is not pardoned. For in this worke, there is neyther water one­ly, nor bloud onely, but both water and bloud, as Saint IOHN witnesseth. It standeth vs therefore in hande, not to satisfie our selues with a deuotion mo­mentanie; but let our mindes stande bent in holy wo [...]kes, not to bragge of the death of CHRIST, that it hath purged our olde sinnes: But to feele how mightie it is to subdue the newe, that the sinewes of vngodlinesse in our [Page 27] hartes, and vnrighteousnesse and vnso­ber behauiour in the out-warde man, may bee cutte off; For it is the con­firmation of our election, if this sin­ceritie bee in vs: Neyther doth the sinne more certainelie discerne the day from the night, then this Spirite doth discerne him, which is accepted with GOD, from a wretch; whome he repro­ueth; as Saint PAVLL plainelie sayeth: If any man hath not the Spirite of Christ, the same is not of Christ.

Hitherto the prophet hath declared that there is no true felicity where ther is no sanctified feeling of remission. Now it remaineth, that hee prooue the same which he doth by his owne exam­ple, declaring the greate anguish and tor­ment which he felt in his conscience, e­ven to the wasting & soaking out of the [Page 28] strength of his body so long as God hid his face from him, & left him destitute of the hope of saluation, the cause wher­of he declareth in the first wordes of the verse to haue bin, because he held his peace that is denied to make a liberall confes­sion of his sins, refusing no shame not other abasement what-so-euer belong­ing thereto, whereinto the holy Ghoste reacheth vs, that cloking of sin, howsoe­uer it serueth for an excuse in the world and saueth our credite amoungst men: Yet it keepeth his conscience vpon the racke, and maketh the arrowhead of dis­paire to ranckle in his bowels, whereto the saying of SALOMON agreeth in that 2 [...]. of PROVERBS, That he vvhich hideth his sinne shall not prosper, but hee vvhich confesseth them, and leaueth them, shall finde mercie. But this sentence before we proceede further, if it respecteth confes­sion to be made to God onely, and not to the Church, hath neede of expositi­on: For if DAVID might haue bin relea­sed from the torments which hee heere [Page 29] speaketh of, with a secret confession vn­to God, all other witnesses being remo­ued, so that no discredit might redound [...]o him thereby, it seemeth strange, that he would abide such troubles the space of an houre, and would not rather gette him into some secret place, & in moste ample manner confesse all the wicked­nes that he could remember, that he had committed euer in his life. The holie Ghost therfore in this place, by DAVID his silence, intendeth some greater crime [...]gainst him, then that he was dainty of his words, & refused with his tongue to make confessiō vnto God; for it is certain that a domme man may make as accep­table a confession, as he that can speake, but DAVID in this place accuseth him­selfe of hypocrisie, and hardnes of heart, [...]n this, that he refused to deale seriously with his owne conscience, and to persist [...]n the meditation of mortification, till such time as he had a sufficient sight and detestation of his sinne, without which, [...]ll the confession of men must be hypo­criticall, [Page 30] & their smoake infect the ayre. This then indeed was Dauids silence, that he refused to giue answere to the holy Ghost calling vpō his conscience, & for want of faith was kept either with some presumption, or elles with some terrour from entring into a most graue consul­tation, and resolute determination, to take such perfite notise of the haynous­nes of his sinnes, as the nature of true re­pentance doth require: for this is com­mon to vs all, that although we desire to be saved, yet there is not one amongst an hundreth that will taske himselfe so zealouslie, as hee ought with a sincere perseuerance in humbling himselfe to walke with God; yea, and least any man should resolue with himselfe, not to bee stripped of sackcloth, and ashes, nor to put away the purpose of sorrowe, and lamentation, in seeking after his vvelbe­loued (as it is in the song of SALOMON) till he had found her. The diuel hath in­fected the heartes of many men with a damnable errour in the definition o [...] [Page 31] repentaunce, making them beleeue, that, euery terror of the heart for sinne, is the nature of true repentaunce, and to that purpose hee abuseth the Scrip­tures, that CHRIST will not quench the smoking flaxe, nor breake the bru­sed reede. And by these fallacions and false comfortes, he quencheth the zeale of many, and maketh them giue ouer their laboure and consultationes of humbling them-selues and seeking of CHRIST, before their conscience haue felt any comfort at all. As if euerie sor­row were godly sorrow, or as if it were possible for mercie to bee founde and yet neuer felt, or for repentance to bee separated from faith, and the spirite of fredome. This cursed discontinuance of our trauel in Godly sorrow, the Prophet ESAY derideth, calling pennance for a daye, and bowing downe the head lik a Bul­rush. And the Prophet AMOS likeneth it, to the dewe and the Morning cloude which is suddainelie gone, And this is the swept and garnished house, mentioned [Page 32] by CHRIST, Repossessed by seuen wor­ser spirites then before: For as this false repentance, feedeth their hearte with false hope, and suffereth not true com­fort to take place; as appeareth in the daye of visitation: So may this negli­gence, & giuing ouer our labour in mor­tification, bee worthelie accompted the cause, why men wallow in fowler enor­mities then before, swallowing againe, (as S. PETER sayth) The vomite which before they had cast; as it is most certaine and true: those men finde in themselues lesse power to doe well; and are carried with more raging affections to do wic­kedlie, then euer they felt before. What shall wee say then? Do we require such a measure of sorrow, as might counter­weight the same; or do we esteeme re­mission, by the dignitie of repentance? nothing lesse: For we know, that if wee had a thousand eyes, it were too little to weepe them out all, because of our sins: yea, if we had a thousand hearts, though they al burst with sorrow because of our [Page 33] transgressions; yet it were not this, but Christes hearte bloud, that could make the fathers heart to yearne; or could me­rite remission at his handes; what is it then that we require? namely, that men returne not from the schoole of repen­tance to worldly delights, which quench the spirite, till their hartes bee made joy­full by the holy Ghoste, by feeling an heartie detestation of their wickednesse, and a resolute determination to conti­nue cherefully in the course of godli­nes, so long, vntill both faith & hope be abolished, that then resting from their laboures, they may solace themselues with loue celestial, as sainct PAVLE spea­keth; for the trueth is, that manie when they compare themselues with DAVID & other of Gods children, I meane the difficulties and long afflictions of them, and the short worke which they them­selus haue made, & so easiely dispatched in this worke of repentance, haue cause to suspect themselues vehementlie, and to examine themselues straightlie, by [Page 34] the fruites of feeling, and conversion, whether they haue right repented or no▪ Sainct PAVL in the 2. Epistle to the Cor. the 7. Cap. like a man of experience, set­teth downe seuen notable affectes of re­pentance; I woulde they were well per­vsed, that wee might trye our selues by them, for it is a care that ought to pos­sesse all the powers both of bodie and soule; considdering that Sathan with this engine, maketh a number of soules pertakers of their owne condemnation▪ The matter therefore groweth to this poynt, that although we confesse neuer so absolutelie, that we are sinners, with the greatest vehemency of speach that can bee, yet so long as there remayneth selfe-loue in vs, prevailing so farre with vs, as to make vs take exceptions against the seueritie of this spirituall discipline al this while; because we cannot finde in our heartes to plucke out our eyes and cutte off our handes, at Christes com­mandemente: that is, to deale seuerelie with our selues in mortifying euery pro­vocation [Page 35] to offence: wee doe but flatter our breath in the winde, and the hypo­crise that is in vs drowneth the sounde of our confession, so as A voyce cannot [...]e heard, as the Prophet ESAY witnes­seth. Let vs therfore as we are aduised in the REVELATION, be zealous in repen­ [...]ance, that the holy Ghoste may assure our conscience, that our mourning is growen into the nature of true re­pentance, not deceauing our selues with beginninges, because the Scripture say­eth plainely, that the proceedinges of a [...]rue convert, is not to stay himselfe with a perswasion of repentance, when hee [...]s pricked at the hearte; but to steppe yet further, to lay holde vpon repentance it selfe, as vpon a more excellent and infal­ [...]ible grace; as we may reade, that it befel [...]o PETERS auditorie, in that 2. of the ACTES, of whom the holy Ghoste say­eth, first, That they vvere pricked in their heartes; which least it should be taken for [...]epentance, he sayeth, that vpon further [...]nstruction, and more carefull searche, [Page 36] they atteyned to repentance it selfe af­terward, that we may knowe, that prick­ing at the heart, & repentance are not all one, but two seuerall thinges, whereof one may be in a lost child, as that was in IVDAS, but the other belongeth oneli [...] to the sons and daughters of God. Thu [...] hath DAVID declared how he brought himselfe into fearefull troubles, (as i [...] were) by gagging of his owne consci­ence, least he should make such a confes­sion as it required at his handes.

Now it remaineth to be considere [...] what troubles those were. My bones sait [...] he, consumed and waxed olde, &c. That is care which eateth out the hearte, mad [...] her impressione in my body, and th [...] thoughts which I had taken, did so pyn [...] me away, that it burneth the marrow [...] out of my bones, & drieth vp my youthfull humours with pensiuenes (as it ha [...] beene with olde age) which he repeateth in the next verse in other wordes saying, That the hand of God vvas so he [...] vpon him day and night, that it spent his n [...] ture, [Page 37] and turned the best moysture vvithin [...] into the drought of sommer; as if it had beene entering into the most incurable consumption of all otheres, when that which is called, humidum radicale, begin­neth to spende. These speeches are vsed [...]o teach vs into what plight, concealing of sinne bringeth men, and we are the ra­ther inforced, that we should not thinke that these clowdes would bee so easilie ouer-blowne, as those miseries which proceed of worldly causes. Marke then, what wee haue to learne in this place, what is the estate of them which be not in league with God, if wee looke vpon them with a worldly eye; I confesse wee shal see many of them with their breasts full of milke, & their bones full of mar­rowe: yea they haue collopes in their flankes, (as IOB saieth) but if we look vpon their conditione with a spirituall eye, wee shal wel perceaue, that their conscience as often as their presumptione is inter­mitted, is nothing-els but an hell, and themselues so terified with the horrible [Page 38] stiching thereof, that it worketh the [...] more woe nor all their worldlie peace i [...] worth: for such is the estate of men no [...] reconciled to God, That the sound of fear [...] is neuer out of their eares, (as wee reade i [...] IOB,) and this is the cause why these men cannot sustaine to heare the judge­ment of God against sin, because they thinke themselues all the while to be arrained at Gods barre; for where there i [...] no truce with God, the law goareth th [...] conscience, and the soule thinketh i [...] selfe tormented before the time: and i [...] this be so, how greate is the hardnes o [...] those mens heartes? and how monsterous is their cruelty to their own soules▪ which can shake of the care of reconci­lement, & can rejoyce with a Sardini­an laughter in sinne, when the Lord [...] bendeth his browes against them. Fur­thermore, we haue here an ample testi­monie of the frowardnes of our nature▪ which will not be reclamed without ex­treame dealing; for DAVID himself [...] (you see) is layde vpon the racke, and almost [Page 39] streached a sunder, euerie ioynte one from another, before hee can bee brought to a sincere confession, such a work hath the Lord with vs before hee can make anie grace to growe in our [...]eartes, which ought to teache vs these [...]wo thinges. First, that we enter into an [...]eartie mislike of our selues, and to bee [...]rieuously displeased with our vntracta­ [...]lenes, which compelleth God to heare vs vp, and cast vs downe against the ground; (As DAVID elles where saieth,) and to [...]fflict many so sore, that (God his secret grace excepted) they seeme otherwise [...]n respect of the maruelous afflictions which God is driuen to lay vpon them, [...]o be shackled foote to foote, with re­ [...]robate and desperate persons: all this I say) proceeding, not of cruelty or fu­ [...] in the Lorde, but of our owne vn­ [...]ractablenes (who otherwise coulde not [...]ossibly be saued) should make vs to be [...] perpetual warre with our affections, [...]nd to conceaue a present hatred, as it [...]ere, even of our selues: for if the Lorde [Page 40] might espie that in vs, that wee woulde Iudge our selues, hee woulde not bee our judge, but our comforter in such a con­flict. The next thinge that wee haue to learne, is to judge wisely of the afflicted soule, & to beware how wee condemn [...] anie, because the hand of God is terri­ble vpon them, for the text saith, that e­uen DAVID himselfe, who had consci­ence of some former sincerity, and wa [...] able to subdue manie assaultes, and ten­tations in knowledge, yet was he eve [...] brought to the brinke of dispaire, an [...] was tormented with an horrible fear [...] of damnation: euen as it is vsuall with God to exercise his children with those tryalls, no otherwise, nor if he whippe [...] them with Scorpions. The worldly [...] men, which neuer were translated from death to life, being ignorant of God [...] spirituall miracles; in calling; morti­fying, regenerating, and chastening o [...] his children, when they see a man in thi [...] perplexitie; they say hee is madde, melancholious & desperat, increasing th [...] [Page 41] griefes of the afflicted, with bitter tantes & mockes; which is to be feared, many one day wil rue it. It standeth vs there­fore in hand, to expel such vncharitable conceipts; knowing that the dearest chil­dren of God, may be wonderfullie per­plexed and racked with exceeding and long torments of conscience; yea, many times their sayle is rent in peeces; their tackles, and all their tackling burst; their bruised bark left to the wilde waters & the winde; and yet for al that, at the last they obteyne a safe aryval to the shore. Let vs then, for the conclusion of this poynt (if any such thing be fall vs) be­ware to lay any vn-reasonable thing to Gods charge; yea, rather let vs acknow­ledge his mercie; who, when he might haue punished our long and tedious hy­pocrisie, with hardnesse of heart; choose rather to put himselfe to all that payne, to reclayme vs by correction, that wee might take heede to our sores, how wee suffer them to runne long cured on the out-side, but festering within; knowing [Page 42] that by these meanes, we shall put our selues to greater paynes at the last, be­fore they can bee cured: how-be-it, for that which is past, and cannot be reuo­ked; let vs not be dismayed with this ex­ample, from submitting our selues to the mightie hande of GOD, For hee is a faithfull keeper of soules, and will not suffer them to bee tempted, aboue (mea­sure, or) their power. Thus hauing con­sidered the effect of DAVID his silence, we are to giue heed to a special circum­stance, which he setteth downe in these words, that He roared all the day long. Sig­nifying thereby, that his praiers so long as they were not mixed with faith, nor seasoned with true repentance, were no better then roaring: That is, then the crying or bellowing of some bruitish & vn-reasonable creature. For this is a me­taphore, taken from Lyons, taken in a snare, or being in some other distresse, as appeareth in the third chapter of Amos, and in other places, where the worde is vsed in his proper signification; where­by [Page 43] we learne, what difference there is, betwixt the prayers of the faithfull, and of them which nowrish fraud & deceit [...]n their spirit: The sacrifice of the one is [...]indled from heauen, & when he hath [...]oured out his spirite, he hath eased his hearte; hauing cast his burthen and care [...]herof vpon the shoulders of CHRIST: [...]ut the hypocrite, in the day of visitati­on, fareth like a beast that is sticked or [...]aled with ropes, wanting all reason & fore-cast to helpe it selfe: and therefore vseth no meeknesse nor entreatie, but with roaring and strugling, strayneth it selfe, and tangleth it selfe more; & with bruitish raging, doubleth the pain. There [...]s no doubt, but where great afflictions [...]ight vppon men that are taynted with hypocrisie: the aire is beaten with ma­nie such roaringes, and men flutter like birdes in the net, when God hath caught [...]hem: but all those senselesse prayers a­ [...]aile them nothing more, then if an Ox [...]hould break out of the slaughter-house, with the roape tied about his hornes, & [Page 44] his toung hanging out, with much bel­lowing and madnesse, when hee had caught a knock with the axe. And ther­fore we may see the excellency of faith­full prayers: Yea, the Angell of GOD doth ascende vp in the smoke of this sa­crifice, whereas men that wil not yeeld, but will reteyne their sins, cannot pray, but rage and roare desperatlie, like Ly­ons and Beares. Neuerthelesse, it beho­ueth vs wiselie to vnderstand this doc­trine, that it concerneth hypocrites, and them that holde their falshood in the right hande. I say, it belongeth to them, because they haue not faith, nor conso­lation in their prayers: For otherwise, it is certaine, that the most excellent chil­dren of GOD, are many times so lowe brought, with the anguish of an afflic­ted conscience, that they cannot vtter anie perfite prayers with their lippes: but do speake abruptlie halfe sentences; yea, halfe wordes, being broken off with the extreamitie of their pangues that come betuixt; (As Ezechiah writeth of [Page 45] himselfe) That he chattered like a Crane or [...] Swallow, and mourned like a Doue. And there is no doubt, but all Gods Chil­dren doe feele a strife and a combate in their spirite, in many of their prayers; e­ [...]en as we see green-wood lieth sobbing and smoking long before it will burne: We are therefore to put a differance be­tweene this and roaring; because the Scriptures are full of examples of im­perfite speaches in the prayers of Gods children: yea, in the praiers of CHRIST himselfe; which commeth to passe, be­cause manie of those sacrifices, are so seasoned and peppered with salt, and with fire; yea, afflictions come so thick on Gods children, that they haue no time to swallow their spittle: But yet in them there is a sweete sense of Gods grace; and the Lorde inlargeth the foo­ting vnder them; yea, he puts his owne arme betuixt them and the graue, that they should not bruise themselues with any fall; for although hee leaue some trouble of minde, yet hee looketh vpon [Page 46] them through the chinkes of the doore, he hath compassion of their dolorous la­mentations, and putteth all their teares into a bottel: For why, they haue yeelded vnto GOD, they haue kept nothing backe, and therefore can praye with a feeling spirite; whereas the hypocrite doth not pray, but roare; because hee will not trust God: For an euill consci­ence, doth stoppe his mouth, & the sins of his youth, are still in his bones.

Then I acknowledged my sinne, &c.) Thus farre DAVID hath set forth by his owne example, the disquietnes of them which hold their peace; and refuse in simplicitie of heart, to make confession of their sinnes. Now on the contrarie part, hee sheweth by his owne experi­ence; what is the effect of Gods grace, when it hath brought men to godlie [Page 47] humilitie, to resolue to confesse their sinnes to God, in that which followeth next. Then I acknowledge my sinnes vnto thee, &c. This diligence in describing his confession in so manie wordes, that hee would make knowne his sin, & woulde not hide iniquitie; but confesse his apo­stasie vnto the Lorde; doth declare, that he hath gotten the victorie ouer all hy­pocrisie; and at the last, after long siege, [...]ad gotten the hold of simplicitie, and sinceritie: So as now, there remained no [...]urning, nor winding, nor extenuating of his sinne, when hee had to doe with GOD, as there was before. As for the Lorde, he is not hindered with anie im­ [...]ediment of ignorance, or dulnesse, that [...]e should not know by a word, what the [...]hole meaneth; yea, though he confesse [...]o sinne at all; yet for his part he taketh [...]erfite notice of all our offences with­ [...]ut vs. It is not then for his sake, that we [...]ake anie confession, as if we could a­ [...]se him by our hypocrisie, for he see­ [...]th through the darke cloudes: but it is for [Page 48] our owne sakes; to the end; that compa­ring our liues, with the commande­ments of God; & confessing how much wee swarue from that holie rule, wee might be stirred vp to great contrition, and might be more deepelie set in the meditation of our owne vnworthines, that being so humbled, Gods spirite might take occasion to fasten vpon vs, and to lay sure holde vpon our hearts▪ Thus we see, that it is the nature of true confession to aggrauate our sinnes, ac­knowledging that confusion of face be­longeth to vs, and charging vppon our heades, the sinnes of our selues, of our fathers and children, wiues, friends, and all others; so farre as our guiltinesse may anie way stretch; not in any set or labo­red phrase of speech, but from a conscience nurtured with feare and trembling, vnder the just hand of GOD: i [...] this sort, the Prophet calleth himselfe [...] beast before God; And Saint PAVLL accuseth himselfe of blasphemie befor [...] his conuersion, affirming, not with fayned [Page 49] humilitie: but euen as he thought [...]n his heart, that he was the chiefest sin­ [...]er amongst them, whome CHRIST [...]ame to saue. And in the Primitiue Church, Saint PAVLL sheweth, what [...]umilitie was joyned to the confession [...]f them which were conuerted by hea­ [...]ing the Prophecies, or exercises then [...]sed; that they fell vpon their faces. As [...]ndeede, if we be indued with the Spi­ [...]ite of true repentance, we can finde in [...]ur heartes to humble our selues, euen [...]elow to the ground: & the verie cause why sinners make it so strange, is, be­cause the spirit of pride hath stil the pos­ [...]ession of their hearts; which euil spirit, [...]ust be cast out of vs, befor we can mak [...]nie such confession, as God will accept [...]f at our hands. There is another thing, [...]hich the holie Ghost setteth downe [...]o be marked in this place; namely, that [...]he children of God haue a joyfull issue [...]f all their temptations, that the Lorde [...]ill bring some excellent thing to passe [...] the last; by afflicting his, which is their [Page 50] mortification and sanctification: Fo [...] this is the end of all his hewing, to mak [...] them liuing stones fit to his Church, an [...] sorting to the chiefe corner stone, which [...] our Lorde IESVS CHRIST; to whose [...] mage by this meanes we are confo [...] med. If the Lorde had brought all th [...] worlde vnto captiuitie vnder DAVID yet, if hypocrisie had rested in his hear [...] it had bene all accursed to him: but no [...] that the Lorde hath renewed a right sp [...] rite in him, both heauen and earth a [...] sanctified to his vse: But aboue all, he hath gotten the libertie of conscienc [...] and singeth with a joyfull note: Th [...] hast taken away the punishment of my sinn [...] This is al in al, that his soule is refreshe [...] with the feeling of remission; and s [...] soone as the Lorde saw him willin [...] to judge himselfe, he steppeth from th [...] tribunal seat, to the bar; & of his judge becommeth his Advocat, to pleade fo [...] him; taking away the punishment of hi [...] sinne, which being so; who is he, wh [...] wilbe affrayd to deale seuerlie with hi [...] [Page 51] selfe, to call his conscience to a recko­ [...]ing, that he might repent him serious­ [...]e of his sinne? Who shall blaspheme his way any more? calling it the waye [...]f desperation, since we see the contra­rarie in the example of DAVID; who [...]so telleth vs else where, That with God is [...]ercie, that he might be feared: Whereto, [...]aint IOHN also agreeth, denying that [...]ee haue anie such cause to dread dis­ [...]aire: For if wee acknowledge our sinnes sayth he) he will not take vs at the van­ [...]ge, and condemne vs out of our owne [...]outhes, but hee is faithfull and iust, to [...]rgiue vs our sinnes, and cleanse vs from [...]l vnrighteousnesse: Yea, many times [...]od chideth and comforteth both at [...]ne instant: as we may see in the exam­ [...]le of the woman of Syrophenisse; who, if hee had bene terrified, with the sharpe [...]buke of CHRIST, she had lost her [...]bour, and the commendation of her [...]ith.

At the end of this verse, & the former, [...]e setteth this word Selah; which is a [Page 52] note of attention, staying the meditatio [...] longer vpon these two sentences, the [...] vpon the rest; declaring therby his judgment, that both these his contrarie con­ditions, are worthie of observing, be­cause they afflicted his heart exceeding­lie. Whereout we learne, that we ough [...] not to passe by Gods proceedings, with a conscience blinde-fold; nor careleslie to passe-ouer, the strange things that w [...] reade, in the secret book of our consci­ence: but when-so-euer wee hitte vpon such notable experiences, to turne in a leafe there; to marke it with a Selah, and to peruse it ouer againe and againe, that we might get some holie experiences in matters of conscience; for this is th [...] manner of Gods seruants, to bee cun­ning in the estate of their owne con­science; that they may knowe what kinde of Phisick will beste agree with them: For default whereof, wee see manie mens consciences by their owne confession, to haue surfeted often of the same thinges; and to haue escaped the [Page 53] frute of many heauenly motions, which [...]f they had bene receiued, might haue [...]urnished them with much riches of [...]odlie meditations. And indeed, this is [...]he cause why the Psalter is more diuine [...]or all the rest of the Bible; because, [...]hen the Lorde had spoken once, DA­ [...]ID heard him twise; and all the way [...]s he marched, he set downe the gestes [...]nd circumstances of euerie dayes jour­ [...]ey in a Commentarie; so that his ex­ [...]erience, committed to the godlie me­ [...]orie, made him to excell in the sight, [...]oth of Angels and men.

This farre reacheth the first part of [...]e Psalme, propounding that generall [...]octrine; that sincere confession to God necessary for the quieting of the con­ [...]ience; without which, it is impossible [...] attayne the peace of God, and the [...]ling of forgiuenesse in the hearte, as [Page 54] DAVID hath made it plaine by his ow [...] experience, on both the sides. Now fol­loweth the seconde parte of the Psalm [...] which is the application of the said doc­trine, conteining in it a declaration o [...] the deuties, which men are to be styrred vp vnto thereby; wherof, the one is ear­nest and faithfull prayer; and the other is quiet and peaceable obedience to th [...] calling of God; and the said application beginneth thus; Therefore shall euery o [...] that is godlie, &c.

Here the Prophet DAVID inferret [...] a consequent, vpon the mercie which God shewed him, when he had shaken of all hypocrisie, and had gone directly to the matter; that eyther men should be prouoked to godlinesse, by the conside­ration thereof, for there is no other end why the infirmities of the Patriarcke [...] and Prophets are set downe in Scrip­ture; But for our comfort and instruction, (as Saint PAVLL sayeth) It is sure, that profane men, as they peruert the vse o [...] all things, so do they abuse all those ex­amples, [Page 55] as if it were some excuse to a­dulterers & drunkards; to mention the [...]alles of DAVID and LOT; whereas in [...]hem the Lord hath declared the weak­ [...]es of the best, when God with-draweth [...]is spirite, and that no such sinne is vn­ [...]ardonable; if men will returne as they [...]id; as it must be a great incouragement [...]o present our selues before God, when we see how wel others haue spe [...]de be­ [...]ore vs: There is none example in al the Scriptures, of any that euer sped euill, [...]y confessing his sinne to the Lorde, what-so-euer the sinne were: For there [...]s not any sinne, but some of Gods chil­ [...]ren haue fallen into it; so it hath bene [...]he case before▪ and wee may be encou­ [...]aged by their example, to wade out as [...]hey did: Yea, we shall finde more case [...]y their experience: for euen as they [...]hich first sayled in the Seas, gaue pro­ [...]er names to dangerous rockes, and pe­ [...]lous places, where they hardlie esca­ [...]ed with their liues; to the end, that the [...]osteritie by such marks, might shunne [Page 56] ship-wrack, and passe safelie away; cal­ling such places diuersly, as the Sage-bed, the Lavender-bed, with other like names best knowne to Saylers; and as Carters vse to set vp some bush or other like mark in that place, wher their waine stack fast, for a warning to them that come after: so haue the godlie Fathers furthered vs, by their experience, and taught vs to eschew many encombran­ces, which they (because they break the Ice first themselues) could not see: and this obseruation in the storie of IOB, commendeth his faith exceedinglie, for he seemed to haue dwelt far from Gods people; and to haue bene destitute in so great affliction of all these incourage­mentes; so that if life and soule had not bin kept together, by restoratiues of the holie Ghostes owne compounding, he might haue despaired a thousand times. It may bee, hee had read the bookes of MOYSES; but yet that was nothing, in comparison of the comfortes, which wee may haue: Therefore, let vs lay vp [Page 57] this lesson in our hearts, that although God should carry vs away into Tartaria, [...]o that in sicknesse of our conscience: wee could haue neyther Preacher nor friendes present with vs, to minister spi­rituall comfort: It should suffice vs, that we haue the aduise and example of the Prophets & Apostles; though parents, wiues, children, bee a thousande miles from vs, and all other acquaintance: for what a glorious visitation of the sick is that, when wee haue Patriarches, Pro­phets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors; yea, and CHRIST himselfe, standing rounde about the bed; comforting and chearing vs vp: If wee say wee be sick at the hearte, because wee haue liued ryo­touslie and venterouslie; hee that was the prodigall childe, taketh the taill by the ende, and sheweth how he himselfe once labored of the same desease, but now is cleane ridde of all the dregges of that sicknesse. If the patient replie and say that his siknesse is a reciduation (as the Phisitions calleth it) & that he hath [Page 58] fallen into it againe, since his profession of religion: The Prophet DAVID aun­swereth him fullie to that matter, decla­ring, that his sicknes answereth in that circumstance, to a soare maladie of his owne: For I also (sayeth DAVID,) was a principall professour, before I committed these two most horrible crymes, as all the worlde knoweth: But my disease (saieth the patient) is olde, and of long continuance (yea and I sai­eth DAVID) played the hypocrite a year. If he haue beene a persecutor of the Church, PAVL comforteth him; If hee haue denied CHRIST, though it were with perjurie; PETER steppeth forth & sheweth his own example; finally, they all direct him to the Phisition which standeth by, feeling his pulse, (for they were all cured by one doctour) advising him to giue over himselfe to be ordered by him, and the same is IESVS CHRIST. Now if in the sicknes of the soule there be so manie visitors of such sundrie ex­perience, all reason doth exact by their [Page 59] example, that therefore euerie faythful man do pray vnto God in his aduersitie to be made partaker of the like remedy.

Now it followeth that wee see whi­ [...]herto DAVID doth exhort men in this [...]pplication, and that is first to the deu­tie of prayer, saying, Therefore shall euery faithfull man praye vnto thee: especially he aymeth at that parte of prayer which is spoken of in his own example; to wit, confession: In place wherof he puts this generall word, which comprehendeth all kinde of supplications, wherein wee [...]ske, confesse, thanke, or praise God for any thing, teaching vs by this aduise, the certaine comfort which is to bee found in true prayer, that it is the towre of the faithful, wherein they continue them­selues when the enimie assaulteth them; even as God appoynted them in the 50. Psal. Telling vs that when we are in trou­ble wee shall call vppon him, and hee will deliuer vs, and SALOMON in the dedica­tion of the Temple, desireth God that the same effect be giuen to prayer, which [Page 60] is here spoken of, That the flouds of waters may not come neare; that is, when men are in peril & terror, if they confes their sins and make their supplications to God he would deliuer them, as indeed ther is no other so direct means, whereby to haue accesse to God as prayer, neither doth God make answere out of the heauen to any thing that we prefer to him so mani­festly as to praier; for he delighteth in the soule of that sacrifice more thē in al other. And therefore the Angels are said to be employed in carying vp the praiers of saincts, as if God had preferred thē more in assigning them that office then in any other thing, & the excellency hereof is commended in this also, that wheras di­uers other vertues may be outwardlye performed by those that ar strangers to Gods couenant, though without since­rity there was neuer any vouchsafed to conceaue three words of a faithful prai­er, but if he be the vndoubted childe of God. Let vs then giue heed to this coun­saile, and wrestle with our selues from [Page 61] morning to night, to performe this du­tie, which done sincerely in anie mea­sure at all, shall do vs more good in our miseries then all other remedies beside. It is common to be sene, when the hand of God is vpon men, That the waters be­ginne to come vppon them, they seeke after helpe, and succour twenty wayes, but they are al worldly, and not able to giue them any comfort. As for prayer, because they haue not vsed themselues thereto, neither their memorie nor their skill doth serue them, but for want of faith and calling vpon Gods name, the floudes of greate vvaters bursteth in vpon them, and they perish miserablie. Yea, & these examples are verie common a­mongst vs in time of greate calamitie when men going out of the world, can­not be brought to any comfortable per­formance of this duty, but are feareful­ [...]y depriued of their soules, before they haue giuen anie comfortable markes of their fayth. There are manie which can conceiue the words of praier eloquent­ly, [Page 62] but the comfort is his onelie which can pray faithfully; and therefore our harts must be exercised therein, & then our tongs shall be taught to pray more sweetely vnto God, then if we had stu­died our wits to set euery word in or­der: for euen as euery florisher or fenser proueth not a tall man when hee com­meth to fight in good earnest; no more are those prayers found effectuall, ney­ther can such men speake a word to the purpose when affliction hath laied hold on them indeed. When as a true chri­stian neuer sheweth his manhoode, nor his cunning in this weapon of prayer, more then when hee is to fight for life and death, and the greater the daunger is, with so much the stouter courage is he indued. And that also is worthy the marking in this place, that in a calamitie which seemeth vncurable when the handes of worldly men do faynt, & po­litickes ar at their wittes end, then there is succour in prayer, and there is com­fort in calling vppon the name of God, [Page 63] for though (sayeth hee) that prayer shall turne away the flouds of greate waters, [...]hat although our troubles were as the sea, vvhose violent course cannot bee [...]rned, and whose mercilesse waters can­not be stopped, yet prayer maketh them [...]o flye back-warde, as it were against na­ture; so that the raiging and vntamed flouds of greate waters dare not come [...]eare. And how much doth this extoll [...]he excellent estate of Gods children, who ar furnished with remedies against [...]emedilesse thinges, and with cures for [...]ncurable woundes; euen as it is the [...]ature of faith, not to boast it selfe in [...]hinges that are seene (as the Apostle [...]aith) where there is no neede, but to be [...]ccupied about things invisible and im­ [...]ossible to the fleshe. Saying,

In this next verse, the Prophet set­eth downe a shorte forme of prayer to [...]e vsed of the faithful, wherein the pro­position [Page 46] is a petition to be preserued i [...] misery, on these wordes, keepe mee from distresse, or in the strayt of my troubles; which is inforced first by an argument taken from their faith, which expecteth the invisible grace and defence of God when all the world denieth succor, th [...] art my secrete place. Secondly, by the ef­fect of the said deliuerance, that the chil­dren of God shall be stirred vp to the se­cond duty of prayer which is to praise and glorifie Gods name. Thou shalt com­passe me about with songes of thankes-giuing In the first where the faithfull are taught to call God, their secret place, is meant that they acknowledge the especial car [...] of God ouer such as call rightlie vppo [...] his name, that he is their refuge, & dot [...] secretly, & with grace (which the worl [...] is not vouchsafed with the sight of) protect and sustaine his, so as they remain [...] safe, when the world looketh that the [...] shalbe ouer-whelmed with dispaire an [...] calamities. And this administration o [...] God, doeth astonishe the worlde wo [...] derfullie, [Page 65] when they see a poore sillie [...]odie, who hath no abettor or mayn­ [...]eyner, nor any man of countenance [...]o back him; but that he is like a lowe [...]edge, which euery man may step ouer, [...]ot to bee dismayde with all this, but [...]o lay him downe (as DAVID sayeth) and sleepe in much securitie, when his [...]nemies keepe stout watche and pitch­ [...]th their tentes against him; IOBS wife [...]sketh such a question of her husband; [...]nd that with muche indignation; Doest thou still persist in thine integritie? Thinking it absurd, that he should bee [...]onstant in avouching the righteousnes [...]f God; when there appeared no token, [...]ut of his wrath and furie: Assuredly, all [...]he confidence of men, which they [...]aue in worldlie munitions, and all o­ [...]her meanes of safetie; are like the house [...]f a spyder, in comparison of this: And [...]herefore, we see oftentimes, their Sun [...]oeth downe at noone; but when God [...]deth his children, vnder the lappe of [...]s garment; neyther men nor diuells [...] [Page 68] enemies shall not terrifie vs; but ou [...] eyes being opened by prayer, shall be hold the mountaines over-spread wit [...] Angels; and wee shall see, that whic [...] they cannot discerne: namely, that ther [...] are more with vs, than vvith them (as th [...] Scripture sayeth.)

The next reason to mooue God t [...] saue his Children in their straight; i [...] that he may compasse them about wit [...] songes of thanks-giuing; that is, by de [...] uering them, he might minister occa [...] on of his owne prayses, as it is in the [...] Psal. Open my lippes, and my mouthe sha [...] shew foorth thy praise. This as I saide, is th [...] second part of prayer, where-unto th [...] people were moued, vnder the ceremoniall law, by streight paying of vowe [...] least the feare of God, should be dim [...] nished in them by prosperitie & hear [...] case; whereby appeareth, that this du [...] ty of thanks-giuing, carefully perfo [...] med, is a singuler exercise of faith; whe [...] men standing vpon the shoare, and beholding the dangerous & tumultuou [...] [Page 69] Seas, which they haue pass [...]d, are stirred [...] to sacrifice prayse and glorie to him [...] the same. And thi [...] seruice the Lorde [...]oth greately accept, and taketh much [...] light in it; yea, it is a further worke of [...]ith, then petition, which is the former [...]rte of prayer: for those which are but [...]lightned against death, may serue in a [...]t to make some petitions to God; but [...]ey neuer be-think them at all, of the [...]tie of thanks-giuing, when they haue [...]c [...]ued benefites of him: And for this [...]u [...]e nine of the leapers which Christ [...]e [...]s [...]d are defamed to all posteritie by [...]e holy Ghost in the Gospel: For there as nothing more odious nor this sin; [...]d therefore God hath not so much [...]t it to the censure of the Church, but [...]th reserued it to his owne judgment. [...]et vs then labour to purge our selues [...] [...]uch a wickednesse, spending much [...] our time, in the songes of thanks-gi­ [...]ng, since God hath compassed vs a­ [...]ut with them, and hath giuen vs so [...]nie occ [...]siones to prayse his name. [Page 70] The book of the Psalmes, though it con­sist much of the first part of prayer, an [...] be full of petitions: yet in the Hebrew title, is called A Booke of prayses, name [...] by the Church, as it were of the mo [...] honorable part of prayer: and indeede such hath bene the thankfulnesse o [...] Gods children, that their loue canno [...] keepe within the bankes, but burst fort [...] into the prayse of God, in the midde [...] of some other treatise, as wee may obserue in Saint PAVLL, in the first to th [...] Romans verse 25. To be briefe, the exce [...] lencie of thanks-giuing, sheweth it sel [...] here in that, whereas men make petit [...] ons, it is of loue and care of themselues▪ For the supplie eyther of spirituall o [...] bodily wantes, but where men offe [...] thankes, it is of a kinde heart, of a louing and honorable affection, conceiued towards God, when they striue with the [...] selues, and are in a sorte grieued, th [...] they haue nothing worthie in them t [...] render for all his louing kindnesse: an [...] that their loue cannot extend to him, a [...] [Page 71] we reade in the 16. Psalme.

Hytherto reacheth the first parte of [...]he application, as touching the duetie [...]t Prayer: The second parte followeth, [...]erswading to obedience: For the bet­ [...]er performance whereof, the Prophet DAVID, turning himselfe to the faith­ful, promiseth to be their guide therein: [...]nd this his guidance (he saith) shal con­ [...]st, first, in instructing them, & advising [...]hem in the way wherin they shuld walk [...] then in guiding them with his eye. By [...]he first, hee meaneth that he will teach [...]hem out of the worde of God, the true [...]uties of obedience, according to his [Page 72] Propheticall function, and the perfor­ming of this dutie [...]e signifieth, by va­rying the same thinges with diuerse Phrases, that hee will bee painefull and plaine in teaching them, giuing such manifest directions, as if the waye were chalked before them. Thus hee v­seth an argument to perswade to obe­dience, which indeede, in foldeth in it manye argumentes: That King DAVID, that Prophet of the Lorde, a man of singular experience in spirituall affaires would be their skoole-maister, & that in most playn & paineful maner, whereout we learne this doctrine: That when the Lord sendeth fit instruments into the Church, which haue both skill and will, to feede it with handes of dis­cretion, it ought to be an argument o [...] obedience, to all that haue a sparkle of Gods grace. To this purpose, the A­postle Sant PAVLL putteth the Galathi­ans in minde, that he had vsed such dili­gence, and playnenes, in preaching the passiō of the [...]ord, & had done it so liue­ly, [Page 73] as if indeed they had seene CHRIST IESVS crucified before their eyes, & be­cause the labour of the Prophetes, per­formed in this plaine manner, wrought nothing among the Iews: The Prophet ESAI [...], cap. 18. denounceth Gods judg­ments against them; & after, he sheweth by two familiar comparisons, how they had bene instructed as Children, that learne the A. B. C. which name the letters after their skoole maister; and as they which haue their handes ledde, when they learne to write; which hee meaneth by these phrases; that precep [...] [...]ath bene vpon precept, and lyne vpon line. And herein they to whose charge it [...]ppertayneth, are taught not to bee stamering or squemish, but like louing nurses, to take all in good woorth, though they haue manie a foule hande with the rude people, euen as Saint PAVLL setteth himselfe foorth for [...]n example, when hee sayeth, that hee travelled againe with the GALATHIANS although one trauell is as much as a wo­man [Page 74] is able to beare for her own childe. I would we had learned well this lesson, that such as teach others, were not cari­ed away with the spirit of nicenes, and vaine-glorie: so a greate parte of Mini­sters, whether of a base opinion that they haue conceaued of Catechising; as too low a thing for their excellentnes or whether of anie irksomnesse to tra­vell with the rude & forgetfull people; or for what other cause I knowe not; whilest they preach themselues and let their owne gestes take winde, leaue the people vninstructed in the necessarie pointes of saluation, not leading them as they ought, in the waye wherein the [...] should walke. On the other side, the people in many places, though they haue this argument to moue them to o­bedience; that is, a paynefull and godly pastor, yet they are mooued hereby no­thing at all, but had rather haue such an one as should Prophesie no more vnto them in the name of the Lord, yea it is to be thought: that the number of good [Page 75] teachers had bin greater if such as loue [...]not instruction had not given the NA­ [...]RITES wine to drinke, they which [...] haue none to instruct them, hope to be excused by ignorance, though vainelie, but to them which haue a teacher, and [...]efuseth admonitions, there remayneth neyther hope, nor excuse, for euen the prayer of them which will not heare; shall be abhominable (sayth SALOMON.)

The next poynt is, that hee will guyde them with his eyes, which is more nor the former: for hee promiseth not one­ly with general exhortation to do what good hee can, but also to attend vppon them with his eyes, & at every turne to helpe their wandering, and to goe in & out before them himselfe, which how well he performed in his ordinarie, cal­ling of a king, and in extraordinary as he was a Prophet, the Scriptures giue am­ple testimonie. This place teacheth vs, that the continual presence of the teach­er (necessitie onely excepted) is a forci­ble meanes to bring men into obedi­ence [Page 76] as may appeare both by the Scrip­tures, and by reason: for we know, that a friend of approued godlines and wis­dome, whome we vse familiarly, and in­to whose bosome wee may emptie our secreetes, shall preuaile more with vs then any stranger whatsoeuer. And ther­fore S. PAVL forbiddeth the minister to beare himselfe coylie and stately a­mongst the people, but to be gentle and easie to be spoken to, to the end that ac­quaintance may winne loue, and loue may gaine obedience, and for this cause the people are compared to sheepe; which knowe their owne shepheardes whistle, from all others by dayly vse. It is certaine ynough, that wher the teacher neuer attendeth on his office; but in the pulpet; there the people ar sheepe which feede in lowe places, at their own wills doe rot for want of a better shepheard. S. PAVL in his farwell sermon to the E­phesians, layeth this example of his be­fore the Ministers, that hee had taught to the people house by house, and the same [Page 77] Apostle sheweth that the Leuites were maintained of the ALTAR vpon this cō ­dition, that they were resident at the same. Those therefore that are the Mi­nisters of IESVS CHRIST, their loue to him will moue them, the word of God will commaund them, the example of DAVID & all good ouerseers wil meete them, compassion of the people, and dreade to murther the soules which CHRIST hath purchased with his owne bloud, will provoke, inioyne and con­straine them, With diligence to feede that [...]e [...]ke vvhich dependeth vppon them. The temptations which draw a man from this duety are grosse, and such as euen the shame of the world might shift off: how much more should Gods spirite prevaile against them; for the gaynes which is gotten by spirituall promoti­ons ioyned with spirituall distructions; is more shamefull and infamous, then the gaines of the vsurer or of the pro­mouter; yea it is the most odious & bar­barous shifte that the diuel can deuise.

BALAAMS bribe is called the wages o [...] iniquitie; but this filthy lucre (I speak a reprochfull thing) is the Hang-mans wages, for the losse of the precious liues and soules of men is their booty: But of this matter, the complaintes amongst men are so manifold, and the supplica­tions to God for reformation are so infi­nite, that it seemeth fitter to expect what God will do, then to preach any longer to the bellie that hath no eares.

This much hath beene spoken of the promise which DAVID maketh, to in­struct and guyde the people; vsed by him as an argument to moue them to docili­ty and obedience. Now for asmuch as the most parte when they are to bee or­dered by good Discipline, doe fare like wilde creatures: he dehorteth thē from the same, shewing what will bee the ef­fect of disobedience, that it will bring a double paine vpon them, & make them to haue a rougher and greater bitte in their mouthes; that is, they shall be con­strayned to yeelde to their griefe and [Page 79] payne, if they will not shew themselues [...]actable by faire meanes. But before he [...]eth this argument, he maketh the sinne [...] vntractablenes odious, by comparing [...] with the brutishnes of horses & mules, [...]hich are not well broken, who manie [...]mes seeke to mischiefe their keepers; [...] a wilde horse, if he cannot by kicking [...]d rearing cast his ryder, watcheth the [...]me til the rayne be slacked, & getting [...]he bit betuixt his teeth, setteth his tayle [...] ende, and runneth his ryder against [...]he trees and walles, & through hedges, [...]o spoyle him if it bee possible: & when [...]e is downe giueth him a fare-well with [...]s heeles. As for the Mule she is well y­ [...]ough knowne to be a froward and vn­ [...]ly beast; so that if her keeper watch hir [...]ot the better, she wil take him vp in her [...]eth; & lay him before her in the man­ [...]er. The Prophet therefore poynteth [...]rth this sinne of frowardnesse, vnder [...]e Images of an Horse & Mule, to note [...]nto vs, that there is nothing so bruitish [...]s to reject, the doctrine and gouerne­ment [Page 80] which God hath appoynted fo [...] our souls: wherof although ther be ma­ny Iudges, yet none can tel so wel, what a trouble-some peece of work this is, a [...] the faithfull ministers of the Gospell, which are driuen to mannage such res [...] and vntamed jades, as ar many amongs [...] the multitude, for what with yerking ou [...] the heeles, rising vpō the hinder legs, g [...] ing side-long; & other froward touche [...] of vnbroken coltes; the poore Minister if he be on their backes, can hardly keep the saddle; and if hee leade them in hi [...] hande, on frowarde jade or other in th [...] Parish, taketh him vp by the coller, an [...] throweth him out of the way; so that [...] a man be neuer so honest, and haue manie good friendes; yet if he will doe h [...] dutie, hee shall hardlie be able to stand [...] without suspention or depriuation, o [...] some such like foyl; which would neue [...] come to passe, if it were not for the H [...] ses and Mules in his Parishe: and this [...] the cause, why many giue ouer the [...] good beginnings in their ministrie, because [Page 81] their people are so tickle heeled: [...], & thus it commeth about, that the Lande is full of shiuen jades, which can [...]euer be broken of their vnhappie pro­ [...]erties, because they were marred in the [...]andling at the first. Let vs then learne [...]ot to mislike or condemne the dili­gence of good Pastors; notwithstan­ [...]ing the example of ten thousande [...]hich are negligent: For the Scripture sayeth, that they are not busie-bodies in so [...]ing, but we are Horses & Mules in dis­ [...]beying; as indeed it is evident ynough, [...]ow sauagely & furiously many behaue thēselues, in rejecting the nurture of the Gospell; which other-wise, before the Deuill was interrupted in them, had the commendation of ciuill men, of court­ [...]e, and courteous Gentle-men: The precepts of ciuilitie, & the rules (as they call them) of vrbanitie, do teach a man [...]o avoyde what-so euer is vndecent & vnsightlie in gesture or phrase, in looke [...]r gate; so that there are some to bee [Page 82] found, so exactly framed to these things, as if they had bene caste in the verie mould of ciuill behauiour. But alas, what profite is there in such matters, when men for lack of christian educati­on, notwithstanding their ciuilitie doe disgrace and discredite them-selues so much, that when the Gospel is applyed, such forgetfulnes of all good manners l [...]yeth hold on them, that they fome at the mouth, and take on like wild Horses, that a man would wonder, what were become of all their courteous demea­nure, when they shew their teeth for an­ger: & I am perswaded, that manie of them, who stand vpon their owne cre­dites, if they could see their faces in a glasse, would hide their heades long after: yea, there is no more sense nor witte, in such malecontentes, then in them which kick the heele against a prick, as CHRIST told Saint PAVLL. This speaketh DAVID, to make disobe­dience an hateful thing vnto vs, because [Page 83] it transformeth men vnto bruite beasts. He addeth (I say) this argument, whose mouthes with bit & bridle thou must con­straine, least they come near thee; shewing, that as Horses get nothing by their mad­nes; but the so [...]er bit and bridle; no more doe stubborne persons get any thing by oppugning the Gospell, For they wrastle with God, (as SAMVEL sayeth) And in­deede, when wicked men take on a­gainst Gods worde, they make them­selues ridiculous, and wretched ridicu­lous; because they barke at the Moone, and he which sitteth in the heauens, laugheth them to scorne: Wretched, because they crush themselues, by running against this rocke, and are desperately bruised with this stone of offence; euen as wee see many of them which are enemies to Gods worde, with this bruise to spitte blood all their life after; that is, to giue evident tokens of a tormented consci­ence: For there is nothing gotten by struggling vnder Gods hands; & there­fore [Page 84] his owne children, when they be­come impatiēt of his incision, are bound to a sourme. For it is certaine, that Gods worde cannot giue place to men, & the true minister of the Gospell, will not be repu [...]sed from his dutcy by Princes, to the hurte of a good conscience; but the spirituall authoritie, in this ministration shalbe such, that it shal suffice. To binde e­uen Kings with chaines, and noble with set­ters of Iron, (as some interpreth the place of the Psalme) Wherefore, let vs judge righteous judgement, thinking nothing to be more [...]onorable nor to be maiste­red by the worde; and nothing to bee more prejudiciall, then to shewe our selues wayward and from pole, in cros­sing and resisting of the same.

And thus the comparison is finished in this verse; now the application of the same followeth in the next verse, in these wordes, Manie sorrowes shall come to the wicked &c So that euerie thing be­ing put in his place, it is to bee disposed [Page 85] in this manner: as Horses and Mules for their wildnesse, do bring bittes and bry­dles vpon themselues; so froward men, by their disobedience, going on in their s [...]nnes, doe heape sorrow on their owne heades: which is also declared by the contrarie, in the other member of the verse. But he that trusteth in the Lord, mer­ [...] shall compasse him about. And in this application, wee must haue an eye to the proposition of the Psalme, which [...] discoursed of the sinne of hypocri­ [...]i [...], and how hardlie men are brought [...] [...]e the true remedies, that belong to the curing of an euil affected cōscience; [...]rat doth he aime in this place also, [...]ming, that men shall get nothing by [...]ng like wette Ecles out of Gods [...]ndes, but shall double their owne [...]uble, by shifting and cloaking ma [...] ­ [...]ers, when they haue to doe with God: For there is no mischiefe like to this, when men finding themselues discon­tented with the straightnesse of the gate [Page 86] of grace, cast about to finde other easier waies, imagining that a man may doe well ynough, though he lay no such im­position vppo [...] himselfe, as the strict doctrine of repentance doth require: For although the vanitie of mans de­uises be euident in manie things, yet it appeareth in nothing so hurtefull, as when men think they can finde another way of saluation, then that which is sanctified by Gods worde; yea, this is wicked follie, which hath cast men in diuerse calamities, which thinke that they haue a reache beyond the Moone, both to suck still of the breastes of vo­luptuousnesse, and yet to nourish the hope of saluation in them selues: while men straine their wittes, to bring things to these tearmes, they bring the whole matter out of the sockat, and disturbe their owne consciences, with much dis­quietnes; and a great deale more heart-byting, than they which neuer looke after saluation at all, by reason that they [Page 87] striue to bring two ends together, that will neuer meete. And to this purpose, they reject what-so-euer is sharper then aggreeth with their humour as ouer precise, and when they are taken in the [...]ette with struggling to get out, they intangle themselues more and more, by persisting in stubbornes, they bring ma­nie troubles vppon themselues, vntill at the last they dye for verie anger, like Weesels that are taken in a trap. Hereof King SAVLL is an ensample, who was readie to haue vsed manie shiftes by Witch-craft and other odde meanes, when he was vexed with an evil consci­ence: But all his shiftes tended to no o­ther end (as things fell out,) but multi­plyed his calamities and griefes, though [...]he propounded cōfort to himself. And so it is with all wicked men, to whome [...]t any aduersitie happen, their consci­ence can make no construction, that it is Gods louing visitation, but his very curse vpon them, & he crosseth them [Page 88] in all their actions, feeding them with anguish and confusion, as it were with bread, which play the hypocrites be­fore him, and distrust his gentlenesse i [...] they should submit themselues to him without any condition: yea, the Lords eggernesse against such men, is maruei­louslie described in the Scriptures, Th [...] hee will make his dartes drunke with bl [...]d, that he will spend all his arrowes vpon them, that he will be so hote in the persute of them, that he will not so much as bayte in the [...], but drink of the water of the brooke, as wee may see in his horrible judgements vp­pon Aegypt: Who hampered PHA [...] and his people? neuer leauing them to long as hee could finde them warme [...] For assuredly, as it is his first delight to do wel to his Israel; so the very next is, to glorifie himselfe in his justice, by multi­plying the sorrowes of the wicked, whereas on the contrarie part it follow­eth. Those that trust in the Lord, mercie s [...]l compasse them about, &c. That is, they [Page 89] giue themselues into Gods handes, by [...]nfayned confession, keeping nothing [...]ek, but standing contented to abide [...]i [...] awarde whatsoeuer, because of the [...]dly trust they repose in him, their ex­ [...]ecration shal faile them no whit: For [...]he Lord shal so gird them round about [...]th his mercies, and the sence of his fa­ [...]r, that no terrour shall assayle them, [...]ut for the multiplying of their com­fort in the ende. And all the difficulties shall be so cleane remoued, that they [...]hall finde the yoke sweete and easie for [...]hem, which galleth the neck of the im­ [...]tient dissemblers: for when God is [...]d he setteth store of his credite, & [...]th more for them that beleeue him: [...] euer they expected, so that they [...]me to be in a dreame rather then to [...]e possessed indeed with such blessings, [...]e greatnes and aboundance of them [...]o incredible as in the Psal. 26.4.

The last verse contayneth the efe [...] of the free grace and mercie of Go [...] wh [...] ̄ it is felt in the h [...]rt, that it is a swee [...] peace and vnspeakeable joy of con [...] ence, to the fruitione wherof he exhorteth just and sincere men, where by w [...] are taught, that the ende of Godlie l [...] bours, and of the trauells of a penite [...] soule, is as comfortable as the ende o [...] SARAHS trauel, when she was delivere [...] of ISA [...] the sonne of promise (the child of olde age) & the hope of all the who [...] world. For so it shall come to passe wit [...] them that faynt not that they shall no [...] be able to contayne the spirituall joy [...] and comfortes which shall rayne vppo [...] them in a sweete showre from heau [...] howbeit their joy is here limited, th [...] they should reioyce in the Lorde, whic [...] must not bee counted any imparing o [...] joyes in Gods children, but an holy c [...] rection, for want whereof they mig [...] possibly stretche forth their hand wi [...] [Page 91] the wicked, and reape vnto themselues [...] Image of joye in steade of true by [...]e [...]te: for that is the property of vn­ [...]ly men, to r [...]moue the discomforts [...] their heart, by worldly delectations, [...]s S [...] called for Musicke when hee [...] t [...]oubled with an [...]uill Spirite, and [...]o this purpose (men that be affrayed of [...]paire, and loue not to be humbled [...]nder the mightie hand of God) doe vse [...]heir wifes, their friends, their meate & [...]heir drinke, with al the pastime that can [...]e deuised, to rejoyce themselues with­ [...]ll, that they might put themselues out [...]f the dompes (as they cal it) But in such [...]ases none of these evills come vppon [...]e head of the righteous, but hee refu­ [...]eth all worldly solace, and will not bee [...]o [...] [...]ted, til he haue found the joy of conscience, that hee may rejoyce in the Lorde for this is a sure joy as CHRIST [...]ayeth, that no man can take away: which [...]s not so spoken, as if a man might not [...]aue a joyfull vse of Gods temporall [Page 89] blessings; as of wife, of children, o [...] friendes and posteritie, (& such things) but rather to teach vs how to rejoyc [...] rightly in thos [...] things, considering tha [...] there can bee no harmony, where th [...] chiefest string of the instrument is mi [...] sing, which is a good conscience, which referreth all thinges to God, and think­eth there can bee no safe vse of the [...] thinges, but vnder the shaddowe of hi [...] winges. Those therefore that think tha [...] godlines is not fit for all thinges, for al [...] times and places; but to be reserued to [...] some speciall devotions, as if it were vn­seasonable and vndiscreete to mentio [...] it in the middle of their pastimes an [...] delightes, seeme to bee better acquain­ted with the sacrifices of the Indians the [...] with true godlines: for let vs assure o [...] selues, when wee despise to haue o [...] sp [...]rtes s [...]nctified aswell as our serious matte [...], wee are playfellowes with the divell, who supplieth the ro [...]ne wher [...] godlines is expelled, but ioyes thus sea­soned, [Page 93] haue no release in the mouthes [...] [...]nbridled & vntamed per [...]ons, who [...]ink it a dead worlde if vnchaste daun­ [...]s, [...]uffenly speaches, and other scur­ [...]litie be restrayned, at feastes and ma­ [...]ges, and other merrie meetings: Yea, [...]any olde people will say, that there is [...]o setting of old mens heads on young [...]ns shoulders, being as it were patrons [...]f the vnbridled wantonnes of youth, [...]hen they rejoyce altogether without [...]he Lorde. The sonne which hangeth [...]he head, and looketh like a sheepe in [...]esence of his father, bewrayeth a dis­ [...]yall, and seruile nature; and he which [...]noweth not how to be chereful, and to [...]epe his countenance amongst his bet­ [...]rs: will passe all boundes of modest [...]irth & honesty amongst his equalles; [...]nd so fareth it with them which can­ [...]t be merrie, and wise in the Lorde, [...]hich hadde rather bee silent, then b [...]e [...]ounde to the Lawe of grace, which [...]aue no certaine course except their [Page 94] dissolute byas be obserued. These m [...] (I say) bewraie a slavish nature, becau [...] they cannot tell how to bee mer [...]e along as God is by them: I meane an [...] godly restraynt, that the land-marke o [...] vertue may not be remoued; & vndo [...] tedly, as it is seene in this thing, so it is i [...] the weightest busines of the consc [...] ence, for when Gods peace is not vpo [...] it, all the jestes in the worlde canno [...] mooue a man to laughte [...], but from th [...] teeth outward: except the heart be ha [...] dened, (which is an horrible thinge t [...] speake off) for himselfe is the substanc [...] of our ioye, and these worldly delectat [...] ons are but circumstances; in him alon [...] may we rejoyce though they all faile but without him they are all comfort [...] ble as much as salt is for sore eyes. Fu [...] thermore, this exhortatione to appr [...] hend spiritual joye, is directed to just [...] sincere men: that is, to those that ha [...] set vp justice as a marke to shoote at, an [...] haue decreed to hold in the path of si [...] [...]rity, [Page 95] though they be far from any me­ [...]torious righteousnes, so that this sen­ [...]nce doth not allow the justice of men, [...]t doth as it were the Cherubin by the [...]ee of life keep away with Gods sword; [...]ose that loue vnrighteousnes and are [...]e harted, that they should not stretch [...]rth their handes to gather the blessed [...]ite of this joye: for it is sure ynough, [...]at there are manie as S. PAVL sayeth, [...]at rejoyce in the face, which rejoyce [...]t in the heart, nether shal they be able [...] get downe anie comfort, so long as [...]ey loue sinne more then God: no, al­ [...]ough all the partes of their life be a­ [...]rned with such moralities, and out­ [...]rd works, as appeare not in many of [...]ods deare children: for the workes are [...]t the adjunctes of faith, but the loue [...]d sincerity of workes, for fayth will [...]vne her self to nothing, which can be [...] a Reprobate. And as hope and Faith [...]e not of thinges visible, no more is the [...]ishment of hope & faith by workes [Page 9] apparent, but the Lorde loueth th [...] plaine meaning soule, and filleth bo [...] the handes thereof with comfort, fro [...] whence springeth the vnspeake-ab [...] riches of faith, and of hope; and the [...] fore the scriptures maketh the heart th [...] seate of sincerity, and not the brayn [...] because the heart is the house of the a [...] fections, and the brayne the seate o [...] Iudgement: For IVDAS knew CHRIS [...] his bloud to be innocent, but his hear [...] was cruelly affected to his maister. L [...] vs therefore bend our selues to striue a [...] ter since [...]ty and vprightnesse, that w [...] may he gladded with the spirite of adoption; and that we may rejoyce not in the flesh, but in the Lord.