MEDITATIONS UPON THE XLII. PSALME. BY WILLIAM BLOYS Esquire.

[snake wrapped around cross held by two hands]

LONDON, Printed by R. Y. for George Lathum, at the Bishops head in Pauls Church yard. Anno 1632.

TO THE READER.

IT is the Apostles rule, 1. Pet. 3.15. Be ready alwayes to give an answer to e­very man, that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meeknesse and feare. The multitude of my thoughts thereof, have constrained me to give some publicke testi­mony, whereby to absolve my selfe from any sinister a­buse of that retired privacy which I have hitherto injoy­ed. I chuse rather to have my life embrightened by use, than consumed by the [Page] rust of ease. There is no kind of life so meane and unwor­thy as that of the voluptuous man, who filleth himselfe with vaine delights, as with the wind, and hath no other pleasure than that which is common to the creatures, yea more proper to them than unto man; not deser­ving to be called a life, for such as live in pleasure are dead while they live. Other professions, as they are com­mendable in themselves, so being rightly used, they may become helpfull unto us, in making our calling and ele­ction sure. There is a bles­sing bestowed upon the Peace-maker, which labou­reth to destroy that bitter roote of dissention, and to e­stablish [Page] goodwil among men: But let him consider how miserable an estate he is in, though hee hath beene an in­strument of concord, and a meanes of charity, if hee wants this inward peace of a good conscience; and the perfect assurance that God is reconciled unto him in Christ Iesus. The Ruler must remember how inexcusable he is, if he condemneth him­selfe, in doing the same things wherein hee judgeth another: How can hee pu­nish swearing and drunken­nesse in other men, when himselfe doth deserve to be smitten five or six times, even till hee bee consumed, with the arrowes of Gods ven­geance, because of his trans­gressions? [Page] The Advocate that seekes for the temporall benefit of another man, with such vehemency, may be put in minde to sue for his owne spirituall good, with greater importunity: If hee bee so diligent to obtaine a corrup­tible reward, then hee ought to bee much more carefull to obtaine an incorruptible crowne, which is more pre­cious than gold or silver; be­ing given unto us by Christ our Mediator, who pleadeth for us, and in whom wee also have boldnesse and accesse with confidence unto the throne of grace. The Soule-physitian must first heale himselfe, before he can cure the infirmities of other men: And his chiefe care and feare [Page] must bee, lest that by any meanes, having preached un­to others, he himselfe should be a cast away: Thus should the soule bee lifted up in all our employments. But the common course of the world is to lanch forth into the deepe, not having Christ to bee their Pilot; where they are exceedingly tossed by stormy winds, and mighty tempests, and in danger to fall into quick-sands, or at least to bee prevented by the winter of sicknesse and death, so that their voyage is with much hurt and dam­mage; and sometime they make ship-wracke of faith and a good conscience. One­ly the true beleever hath ar­rived at the faire havens of [Page] blessednesse and tranquility: Hee onely is rapt up to such an height, that hee is exemp­ted from the harmfull vio­lence of thunder and raine. His understanding is not o­ver-clouded with darke ig­norance: Hee is not carri­ed about with every winde of inconstancy, But having found by comfortable expe­rience, that it is good being upon this holy hill; hee hath there pitched his tent, and fixed his habitation. From whence God suffereth him to looke downe, upon the Gomorrah of this rebel­lious people, this sinfull world: The cry of whose grievous sinnes, being ve­ry great, doth ascend up like a vapour, and will cause [Page] the Lord to showre downe his judgements.

The good man that de­pends upon God alone, Pro. 14.14. and is satisfied from himselfe, ha­ving full contentment in the portion received, is to be e­steemed of all men most hap­py. Were not the deceitfull heart like that bag with holes (whereof the Prophet spea­keth) which can never be fil­led, Haggai 1.6. this competent estate, for which Agur prayed, and for which we ought to give thankes, might bring abun­dant satisfaction, and cause us to seeke more devoutly for heavenly blessings. The chiefe contentment I have found in framing this small worke, may be expressed in the words of Iacob, though [Page] with plainer truth, The Lord thy God brought it to my hand: My speciall benefit which I intend, is to bind my selfe to a vigilant observati­on of those things, which I have thought meet and need­full to prescribe unto others: If hereby any glory doth re­dound unto God, I have ob­tained the prize for which I runne: As for any fame unto my selfe, I neither deserve nor expect it: And though it were never so well beautified by Art, and adorned with Rhetorick, I would shake it off as the dust, and tread it under foot, rather than be seduced with fond affectation of empty praise. I regard not mans day, nor will I hearken unto the voyce of man, [Page] when (as I hope) God himselfe hath called there­unto.

From my Study at Grundesburgh in Suffolke. WILLIAM BLOYS.

PSALME XLII.

AS the Hart panteth af­ter the water-brooks, so panteth my soule after thee, O God.

2 My soule thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall come and appeare before God?

3 My teares have beene my meate, day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I poure out my soule in me; for I had gone with the multitude: I went with them to the house of God, with the [Page] voyce of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy­day.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soule, and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the helpe of his coun­tenance.

6 O my God, my soule is cast downe within me; there­fore will I remember thee from the land of Iordane, and of the Hermonites from the hill Missar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noyse of thy water-spouts: all thy waves, and thy billowes are gone over me.

8 Yet the Lord will com­mand his loving kindnesse in the day time: and in the night his song shall be with me, and [Page] my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God, My rocke, why hast thou forgot­ten me? Why goe I mourning because of the oppression of the enemie?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies re­proach me, while they say dai­ly unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast downe, O my soule? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

MEDITATIONS VPON THE XLII. PSALM.

TO compare Scrip­ture, with Scrip­ture, it is neither safe nor conveni­ent, all Scripture being given by inspiration of God. Be­twixt the holy Scripture and the works of other men, there can bee no comparison: All other writings have either withered, and beene consu­med by the worme of time, like those bookes that Salo­mon wrote of trees; or have bin plucked up by the roots, [Page 2] through the malice of some tyrant; Desunt nonnulla. or if still extant, ma­ny branches are falne off, di­verse parts are wanting; Desunt plu­ [...]ima. Or lastly, though entire and whole, yet are they (as the Authors themselves) subject to infirmity; being like the tree of Knowledge of good and evill; therein wee may know some good to be colle­cted, and some evill of errour to be reformed, or ignorance to be pittied, or sin the worst of evils to be avoyded. One­ly this booke (which alone deserves that title) though in part most ancient, doth still continue, & one word there­of shall not perish: being like that tree of Life, whereof if wee eate, we shall live for e­ver.

The booke of Psalms hath alwayes beene in great esti­mation; being as a spirituall library of most kinds of do­ctrine fit for meditation; a common treasury of all good learning; a rich magazin fur­nished with spirituall armour to withstand any assault of our Adversary: The which was so frequently cited by Christ & his Disciples, who derive not fewer than three­score and foure testimonies from two and forty severall Psalmes. Herein wee may see an abridgement of the history of the Church, even from the Creation, untill those times; and many pro­phecies of those things which should come to passe in succeeding ages. Here is [Page 4] the Law, and the judgements thereof, when hee relateth Gods dealing with the wic­ked, and the confusion of the ungodly: And here is the Gospel and the sweet com­forts thereof, when he shew­eth Gods mercy and love to­wards his children. So that it is most usefull, as for the Church in generall, which hath appointed a more fre­quent use of this than of any other portion of Scripture: So likewise for every one in particular, and that in every estate. Many of these Psalms doe resemble the life of a Christian; for though in the former verses there is menti­on of sorrow and trouble, and manifold afflictions; yet in the conclusion there is [Page 5] consolation, and thankesgi­ving. And the ayme and de­sire is so to doe the will of our heavenly Father upon earth, as it is done in heaven; wherein wee may heare a voyce, like that of the An­gels, saying; Blessing and glory, and wisedome and thankesgiving, and honour and power and might, be un­to our God for ever and e­ver. But when all is said that can bee, the heart of a good Christian will indite more than the pen of a ready Wri­ter in the praise of these Psalmes; who in his passage through the valley of this world doth make them a wel of comfort. Deformitas corporit tur­pitudine certabat in [...] e [...]. Then may wee abhorre the censure of that evill Angel Politian (whose [Page 6] heart was worse than appea­red in his outward deformi­ty) foming out his owne shame by preferring Pindars Odes before Davids Psalms, Ferrea epi­thera P [...]ndari. drosse and iron before the purest gold.

The chiefe Author of these Psalms, was David the King; for that is the title which is given to him alone among many Kings, Mat. 3. as being an ex­ample unto them all. Nor did those women intend him lesse honour in saying that he had slaine his tenne thou­sands; 1. Sam. 18.7. which is the just sum whereby the name of Empe­rour hath since beene deser­ved; [...]sal. 78.7 [...]. Him God tooke from following the Ewes great with young, to feede Iacob his people, whom hee fed in [Page 7] the integrity of his heart, and brought them to greene pa­stures, plenty of outward blessings, and still waters, the pure worship of God and meanes of salvation; And like a good sheapherd he was willing to lay downe his life for his people, when he spea­keth, Let thine hand, 1. Chro. 21.17 O Lord God, be on me, but as for these sheepe, what have they done? And yet this precious Dia­mond, though he were made the more eminent and illu­strious by his predecessor Saul, who was as a foile unto him, yet was he not without his flaw and infirmity. You see him upon the roofe of his house, which prospect was another gallery for his sight to walke in, where he burned [Page 8] in lust after her that washed her selfe. But in his repen­tance hee bathed himselfe in his teares, Psal. 6.6. wherewith he wa­tered his couch. You see him numbring his people, ma­king flesh his arme; Psal. 40.12. But after hee doth number his sinnes, and confesse his iniquities to bee more than the haires of his head: None ever fear­ched deeper in his foundati­on of sorrow, nor reared an higher building of comfort unto his own soule: So pow­erfull was his repentance, which maketh those things that were, as if they had ne­ver beene, that by Bathsheba her selfe, hee obtained that son which did succeed him in the Throne: So great was the love that hee received [Page 9] from his people, 2. Sam 21.17. & 18.1. & 19.41. though un­stable as water, that hee was esteemed as the light of Isra­el, worth many thousands of them; And the men of Iuda and Israel strove who should have the great'st right in him. Such grace and favour did he find before the Lord, that he was esteemed a man after his own heart, most eminent for his zeale, most excellent for his praising of God. I can hardly desist from commen­dation of him, but I heare him speaking as the Angel to Iohn, Doe it not, for I am thy fellow-servant: So that I ascribe all glory to God, who gave such great gifts to the sons of men. His sepul­chre continued after Christs time, Act. 2.2 [...]. his fame and renowne [Page 10] shall endure unto the worlds end.

The occasion of this Psalme wee may safely be­leeve to bee Absalom, who, like as Domitian sought to defraud his father the war­like Vespasian, Ce [...]ialis fi­dem tentavit, an sibi impe­rium traditu­rus foret, Ta­cit. of the go­vernement, And his brother Titus the delicacie of man­kind, that should succeed, So hee did endevour to obtaine the Kingdome from the va­liant David his Father, and to prevent his brother Salo­mon the wisest of men: U­sing the worst meanes to ful­fill his desire; His pretence was, that there was none ap­pointed to do justice; A true complaint in him, that found so much mercie: And by his outward shew of humility & [Page 11] courtesie, like a serpent going upon the belly, he stole away the hearts of the people. O Viper, O generation of Vi­pers, thus to destroy the pa­rent of your country; whose greatest revenge for this your treacherie, would have been to have suffered you to accomplish your unlawfull desires; Nil rex mai [...]s minari ma [...]è parentibus posset, quam ut abiret è regno. Senec. And (as the ancient manner of Kings was, when their subjects provoked them by their evill carriage) as the greatest punishment to have forsaken his dominion: Had their treason beene legitima­ted by the successe, what an happy alteration had they made? There was none to be praised like Absalom for beauty, and Absalom to bee praised for nothing but his [Page 12] beauty As their first King was higher by the head than the people; so the chiefe praise & height of this King had been his head; the haire whereof, he was more fit to weigh, than to guide the bal­lance of justice. Such as was the case of David, 2 Sam. 16.11. such is the case of every one of us: Hee complaines, My son, which came out of my bowels, see­keth my life: Mat. 15.19. That which commeth out of us seeketh our life, and would defeate us of the kingdome we have, and of that we hope for. And as to Absalom there joyned Achitophel, whose counsell was as the Oracle of God; so with our corruptions, there doth joyn, Satan, whose counsels for a long time were [Page 13] Oracles: Both of them cruell murtherers in their advice and suggestions. In these ex­tremities David finds favour in the eyes of the Lord, and is compassionate towards his sonne; Not like Manlius, Summum Iu [...]. who being over-just, caused his sonne to be executed for fighting against the enemy, Hictor deliga ad palum. Li­vi. lib. 8. though not without victory, yet without authority: Nor like that Senatour that gave command to have his sonne Fulvius put to death for joy­ning with a traytor: Quem retra­ctum ex itine­re parens ne­cari iussit. Sa­lust. Nor yet like Saul, who would have put Ionathan to death as be­ing too good a sonne to live under so bad a father: But he shewing himselfe to be as naturally a father of pity, as of this unnaturall son, com­manded [Page 14] the Captaines for his sake to deale gently with the young man. 2. Sam. 18.5.

If wee take this Psalme to bee propheticall, it may bee referred unto the Iewes; and that in a twofold estate: Ei­ther as they were captives at Babylon, where being repro­ched and oppressed by their enemies, they desire to bee restored to Ierusalem, that they may worship the Lord; Or else being in a more cruell bondage while they serve the lusts of their owne hearts, Rom 11.10.25. (their dark­nesse and blindnesse being worse than that of Zedeki­ah) it pleaseth the Lord, the fulnesse of the Gentiles be­ing come in, to open their eyes, & mollifie their hearts, [Page 15] and to cause them to seeke and sue for the meanes of salvation. If thou art not sa­tisfied in those former expli­cations, but dost apprehend the aime and intention of the Psalme to be more generall, I will speake that to thy con­solation which Nathan doth to the terrour of David, Thou art the man; who be­ing wearied with daily re­proaches of the wicked, and heavy laden with the mani­fold afflictions of this life, dost desire to depart, and be with Christ, where is fulnesse of joy, and pleasures for e­vermore.

Here we see the carriage of the godly in time of trouble how far it doth differ from that of other men: The Lord [Page 16] doth not require that wee should be as the dead sea, Non est tran­quillitas: Ma­lacia est. Se­nec. ne­ver to be moved by any tem­pest, Apathia eti­am ipsis Stoi­cis improba­ta. Gelli. But in all our distresses to be supported with inward comfort, expecting a joyfull deliverance; as our Author doth in this place, in assu­rance that he shall yet praise the Lord his God. Whereas other men are ready to sinke and be swallowed up in any tryall. Plutarchus. Cicero, how did hee droup and wither in the time of his suffering, as if his soul [...] also had beene banished out of his body; not being able to speake one word to per­swade himselfe? And Cato so often magnified by Sene­ca, (whose works are fraught with the doctrine of despa­ration) as if wisedome had [Page 17] dyed (or rather had killed it selfe) with him; Iob 12.2. with what poverty of spirit did he sur­render himselfe? Hirtius in bell. A [...]ex. Senec. epist. 13.24.70. &c. & in lib. de Bon. vir. That his violent fury, and outrageous madnesse, how is it applau­ded as a worke of liberty and glory? Diverso itine­re malos à bonis loca tae­tra habere. Salust. And yet formerly upon another occasion, hee himselfe was able to speake that there was a place of hor­ror reserved after death, for such as were evil: [...] cum De­us istis te cor­poris custodi­is liberaverit. &c. Macrob. And it was their owne opinion, that on­ly they could passe into the place of blisse whom God did call thereunto. But the estate of Christians is other­wise, who are so farre from being overwhelmed by cros­ses and afflictions, that like trees, exercised by the stor­my wind, they grow to bee [Page 18] better rooted and established in all graces, Psal. 92.12. And doe flou­rish like the Palme-tree; who not being surcharged with those burthens imposed up­on them, Non deorsum palma cedit. &c. Gellius. at last obtaine a vi­ctorious triumph.

In our approach to the en­trance of the Psalm, wherein David speakes to the Lord, wee may see the excellency and dignity of prayer, which is a soveraigne remedy for e­very trouble. So long as we seeke to hide and conceale our sorrow, wee carry a fire in our bosome which will burne us. The winde being pent and restrained within the bowels of the earth, what overthrowes and desolati­ons are wrought thereby? 1. Sam. 1.15. But if with Hannah out of [Page 19] the abundance of our griefe we can powre out our soules before the Lord, spreading our misery and necessity be­fore him, as Hezekiah did the letter of Senacherib, the Lord will fill us with com­fort, and make a way for us to escape out of all our tryalls; Si operam meduantis ex­pectas, opor­tet ut vulnus detegas tuum. Boct. Then doe not thou keepe si­lence lest thy bones be con­sumed, but discover thy dis­ease, that so thou maist bee healed.

VERSE I. As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes, so panteth my soule after thee O God.

THe Hart panteth after the water-brookes, Quibusdam anni temporibus incredi­bili ardore a quas expetit. Calvin. as being unable to endure heat, [Page 20] which to prevent it will wade into the depth: Aquas or [...] tenus subit. Iul. Scal. Or else there being deadly fude be­tweene the Hart and the Ser­pents, Plini. when shee hath de­voured any of them shee de­sireth the waters to coole her; Pierius. Festinat no­tos subito se [...]ergere in amnes. Bar­gaeus. Aelian l. 13. cap. 35. Occuliturque undis praeter caput Bar. Cerva in pa­lude delituit. Gell. Pluvio cum forte secun­do, deflueret. Virgil. Novas vires colligit. Calv. Fragrantem & toto de corpore po­nit odorem. Bargaeus. Or being flung by them shee hasteneth to the Rivers where shee obtaineth her medecine. Or Lastly, being chased by the Huntsmen, shee taketh soyle, using the water for a refuge, being very ex­pert in swimming; And that her thirst being abated, her strength may bee renewed; And shee being cleansed by her washing may bee free from the sent, and so avoyd the danger. For these and the like causes doth the Hart desire the water: But our [Page 21] reason to pant after the Lord, the fountaine of life, is much greater; which doth not only cleanse us from the outward leprosie of the bo­dy as Iordane did Naaman, healing all our diseases, but from the inward leprosie of the soule, purifying us from all our sinnes, and corrupti­ons: Neither can wee pre­tend that this precious water is hidden and sealed up from us; Veteres ad purificatio­n [...]m non qua­vis aqua con­tentos, sed vi­vam. &c. Tu [...] ­neb. For this Fountaine is o­pen for Iudah and Ierusalem to wash in: And the water thereof is stirred not by one alone, but by many Angels; And that not at certaine sea­sons onely, Iohn 5.4. but as well out of season, as in season; That so, not onely he that steppeth in first, but how many so e­ver [Page 22] shall step in, may be hea­led of whatsoever diseases they have: Wee are often called upon by the preach­ing of the Word, to wash and be cleane; And the danger is great if wee neglect it; Iohn 13. [...]. For unlesse wee bee thus washed we have no part with Christ. Then let us cleanse not our feet and hands onely, (as in ancient times they did daily being made uncleane by la­bour;) nor, as Peter addeth, our feet, Brachia & crura quoti­die abluebant. Senec. our hands and head; all which are ready instru­ments of unrighteousnesse, & therefore have great need to bee purged; Isay 1.6.16. But seeing from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot there is no soundnesse in us, let us wash the whole man, and [Page 23] make us cleane; not with the Pharisee the outside onely, but as Christ came by water and by bloud, so both the outward & inward part must bee made cleane. Nunquam dif­ficilius obse­quantes aegro­tos habuêre olim medici, quam, &c. Causab [...]n. It was a great complaint of Physiti­ans, that they never found their Patients more opposite and impatient, than when they did forbid them the use of baths, so great was the de­light and contentment that they received therby though pernicious unto them: But here being a fountaine able to save us, & make us sound, if we will come unto it; and yet how few there bee that will make use thereof. Are we not more strange and un­willing than ever that Leper was to obey the Prophet, [Page 24] that badde him wash seven times? Like those which wallowed in the burning sand, N [...] [...] non & tepi [...] [...]is con­ [...]ol [...]e [...] corpus areui [...] Sam­mo [...]. c. Ens [...] lat. 10. or walked naked in the sun to drye up the moysture of their bodies, we had rather bee scorched, and inflamed by the heare of our lusts, than thus to bee cleansed from all sinne and pollution. In the old Law a fountaine wherein there was plenty of water should cōtinue clean though any uncleane thing did fall thereinto; Levit. 1 [...] 36. Surely this Foun­taine doth not onely conti­nue holy and pure, but will als [...] make our sinfull soules to b [...] cleane, if they be wash­ed therein. Then leade us O Lor [...] to this living foun­taine, and wash us throughly from our iniquities, that wee [Page 13] may bee presented before thee without spot and ble­mish.

The resemblance which is here used is very fit, in regard of that warre and hatred be­tweene the Hart and the Ser­pent. Gen. 3. The first and greatest wound wee ever received, was by the Serpent, the poy­son whereof doth still abide within us: Since which time there hath beene, and ever shall be enmity betweene us and the Serpent Satan him­selfe, And the seed of the Serpent, both wicked men which are his spawne, and our sinnes and vices which come from him, and are as dangerous to the soule as the biting of Serpents was to the gainsaying Israelites, Numb. 21.6. bring­ing [Page 26] men to that fire which never can be quenched: In this estate of our warfare, we are to pant after the Lord; and if our heele bee bruised, as in the originall of the Gospel wee are forewarned to expect it: If that wicked one doth touch us, and wee bee hurt by the malice and subtilty of that old Serpent, we are to crie unto the Lord to deliver us from this body of death; Rom. 7. and if wee over­come, we must give thankes unto God through Iesus Christ our Lord.

The reasons are divers, why David or any faithfull man may be compared unto the Hart: Gen. 1.30. This creature doth continue in the use of that meate which was given unto [Page 27] it in the beginning, eating every greene herbe: And a Christian hath the same hea­venly food and nourishment for his soule which Adam had in the estate of innocen­cie; it is his meate to doe the will of his heavenly Fa­ther, and to contemplate his glorious workes. Metusone congrega [...]. Stat. Agmina cer­vi, Pulveru­lenta fuga glomerant. Virgil. The Harts keepe together in herds, not alone like beasts that devoure the prey, and are helpefull to one another in swimming: Maria tranant capi [...]a impo­nentes prece­dentium clu­nibu [...]. Plini. So there is a communion betweene those that are godly, who seeke not their owne good, but the good of others, bearing one anothers burthen; and be­ing spirituall, they restore such as are overtaken in any fault. The Hart hath alwayes [Page 28] beene the emblem of speed: So a Christian doth make haste unto the Lord, In volucri to­nuis fictucia cursu Star. and de­sireth to runne the race, that hee may obtaine the price. The Hart, Cornibus ar­matur trepi­dandis; quis tamen illum &c. Natal. Comes. though hee be ar­med, yet doth not use the same, either for to harme o­ther creatures, or to defend himselfe: So a Christian, though he hath strength and power, yet he had rather suf­fer than offer an injury; and being smitten, hee will not turne againe, unlesse it bee in obedience, as he is comman­ded, that by patient endu­ring, hee may heape coales upon his enemies head. Nunquid o­ [...]s lupum per­equitur? The Hart is pursued and follow­ed; so a Christian is perse­cuted; oppression is as the Genius of piety, which ever [Page 29] attends upon it. But our comfort is, wee know the world hated Christ before it hated us; and he was tempted that hee might succour us in all our temptations, where­of this is none of the least. There is no beast that hath more enemies than the Hart; Sic Cerva leo­nem. Ovid. & Star. Ceu tigride cerva H [...]rca­na cum pressa tremit. Sil. I­tal. Cerva cruen­tis circum­venta lupis. Statius & Li­vi. l. 10. Omnium be­stiarum inim [...] ­cis [...]imus ho­mo Iul. Scal. in Arist. For beside the Serpents, the Lion, the Tigre, the Wolfe and Dogs, and the like seeke to destroy it, and a more cru­ell enemy than all these, Man: So a Christian hath many enemies that compasse him about, and rise up a­gainst him. And as the Hart is not killed like the sheepe that is led to the slaughter, but there is much sport and pleasure in the death there­of: So there is great delight [Page 30] and contentment to the wic­ked in the overthrow of those that are good. How did the heart of Herodias dance within her for joy, that Iohn was put to death? with whose head they sported as with a Tennis-bal. How did the fire wherein the Martyrs were burned, warme the very hearts of their persecutors? unto whom the light there­of seemed more glorious than the Sunne in the firma­ment. Confugi [...]nt ad homines. Plini. Cantu mulca­tur animal stupidum. Iul. Scal. Aut p [...]niccae septum formi­dine pennae. Virgil. As the Hart seeketh re­liefe from man when it is di­stressed, and is deluded by a pleasant sound, and readily driven into the nets and ta­ken: so there is nothing more easie than to deceive a good man, who many times reposeth confidence in those [Page 31] that prove treacherous unto him, in charity believing all things, hoping all things, not having that worldly wis­dome that others have. But as the best and surest refuge of the Hart, when his might is empaired, and hee begin­neth to descend and bee spent, then to proffer and de­sire the river; so it is thy wisedome in affliction early to seeke unto the Lord, who redeemeth thy life from de­struction, Psal. 103.4.5. and satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles. In the time of our necessity there is no helpe for us, but onely in the name of the Lord. All other succour & reliefe will prove as weake and impotent as [Page 32] the broken reed of Egypt was to the Israelites, or the hornes of the Altar to Ioab, where wee may be taken and utterly destroyed. If we trust to riches, we provide for our selves, Luke 12.19. as the rich man did, that bade his soule live at ease, because hee had plente­ous increase of the fruits of the earth; whereas the soule of man liveth not by bread, & therefore being famished, may that night bee taken from him. If we trust to wis­dome and policy, when the houre of darknesse com­meth, wee may with Ahito­phel, set our house in order, but what mansion have wee provided, whereinto our soules may bee received? In the time of our sicknesse if [Page 33] we seeke to the helpe of man alone, as Asa did, wee may well expect the same successe that he had. If we thinke our house to be our castle to de­fend us from storme and vio­lence, know, Iob 1. that Iobs heire had as good an habitation. How soone may wee with Nebuchadnezzar be driven away & exposed to the dew of heaven? Dan. 4.33. Miserable com­forters are they all; for who is God, save the Lord? Psal. 18.3 [...]. but let my soule long after thee O God. Observe the bene­fit wee have by affliction, when the winter of persecu­tion and trouble doth kindl [...] our affection, and stirre up in us a desire and appetite to­wards heavenly things. I [...] poverty was to bee liked be­cause [Page 34] it shewed the fidelity & constancy of our friends, then may we esteeme this to be a great commodity, that wee have by our affliction, discovering not other mens, but which more neerely con­cernes us, our owne hearts. It makes us see our poore & weake estate, and to seeke for strength and a rich supply of heavenly graces. Our want doth cure our wantonnesse, and calleth us, who are trou­bled about many things, to seeke that one thing needfull which is yet wanting. Be­fore wee were afflicted wee went astray like the Prodi­gall, and walked in our owne inventions; But when wee come to suffer hardship, and are ready to dye for hunger, [Page 35] wee begin to thinke of retur­ning to our Father. Et sua quem­que advigila­re sibi iussit fortuna pre­mendo. Ma­nil. Our ca­lamities lying heavy upon us doe awaken us out of the sleepe of security, and are as beneficiall as the mighty tempest was unto Ionah, bringing us to true confession of our sins, to fervent pray­er unto the Lord our God, who doth restore us unto the joy of his salvation. If our tryalls have this happy and comfortable effect, wee may safely conclude, It was good for us wee were afflicted, as David here, who being hun­ted as a Partridge in the mountain, is thereby excited with the more vehemency to seeke after the Lord.

To seeke after the Lord wee have great encourage­ment, [Page 36] who is a God nigh at hand, ready to heare and de­liver us in the day of trouble, who is found of those that sought not after him, that asked not for him. Then doubt­lesse will he in mercy reveale himself unto us if we cry un­to him: And our extremity is Gods oportunity; when all other helpe is vaine, then we see it to bee the Lords right hand that our soule is esca­ped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler. Then we are bound for ever to be thanke­full unto the Lord who sa­veth us out of all our trou­bles: Then we are taught to put our whole confidence in him, having tasted and seene how good the Lord is, in as­surance that wee shall not [Page 37] want any good thing if wee seeke him. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaffe which the winde driveth a­way, having no harbour of safety, being more destitute than any bruit beast; The foxes have holes, the conyes have rockes, the Hart desires the river; no creature but hath some place of shelter when it is distressed, where­by it is relieved: But these men though they have beene unjust with the Steward, Luke 16.4. yet wanting his providence, have not any house whereinto they may be received; living within the reach of Gods might, Eucherius ad Valerian. out of the protection of his love: Being outlawed from his favour and custody, they may feare with that fu­gitive, [Page 38] and vagabond Cain, Gen. 4. that every one that findeth them shall slay them. When the sound of Gods justice shall bee more terrible than the voyce of thunder, and their owne guilty conscience like lightening shall strike them with horrour and a­mazement, will they with that unworthy Emperour which hid himselfe under the bed, Ad maiora to­nitrua & ful­gura, sub le­ctum se con­dere solebat, Caligula. Sue­ton. seeke a covert to keepe them from the pre­sence of the Almighty? No, their nakednesse and shame will then appeare to God & themselves. Therefore ac­quaint thy selfe with the wayes of the Lord, seeke him while he may be found, let thy heart be fixed and prepa­red, Mat. 25.6. that though at midnight [Page 39] there be a cry made, though thy danger and trouble bee both great and sodaine, thou maist with the wise virgins bee received into the favour & tuition of the most high.

Art thou oppressed and disquieted by an evill sonne, who in stead of fulfilling his name or thy hope in being the Fathers peace, proves contrary like Absalom the Fathers war, seeking to thrust thee forward unto thine end, Eucherius. and desires thy death though hee received his life from thee? Quis non pa­trisuo supre­mum diem, ut [...]nnocens sit, optat &c. Senec. Quid enim maius dare numina pos­sunt. Iuven. Mat. 8.21. who would willing­ly joyne with that disciple which in vaine asked leave to goe bury his Father, as if the greatest part of his duty consisted in his diligence a­bout that last office? There­by [Page 40] thou art put in minde of thy former disobedience un­to the Father of spirits. Sure­ly this wounded David most when his sonne rebelled a­gainst him, the remembrance of his rebellion against the great King, with whom hee warred in the murther of U­riah. Also doth thy son gree­dily desire an earthly inheri­tance, and art thou carelesse and negligent in seeking for a crowne of life, whereof thou canst never bee depri­ved? No, rather upon expe­rience that all things are vex­ation of spirit, and those of thine owne house thy grea­test enemies, be thou provo­ked with the more zeale and vehemency of affection to pant after the Lord. This [Page 41] observation I should willing­ly have passed, as Solon did to make a Law against parri­cides, hoping there were none such; Mat. 10.21. but that a wiser than Solon or Salomon him­selfe, hath foretold that chil­dren shall rise against their parents.

Art thou persecuted by some cruell Nimrod, Lam 1.6. & 4.18 & 3.52. some mighty hunter, who chaseth thee sore, and hunteth thy steps, so that thou art become like an Hart without strength before the pursuer? (as the Prophet speaketh) Then, as the Hart panteth after the ri­ver, so let thy soule pant after the Lord. The Israelites be­ing distressed by Pharaoh, that followed them, cryed unto the Lord, and saw his [Page 42] salvation, the waters were a wall unto them on the right hand, and on the left, but co­vered their enemies, and like that river Kishon swept them all away: Iudg. 5.21. When thou art in a great straite, call upon the Lord, who knoweth how to deliver those that are his; and thou maist see thy desire upon thine enemies, even that which thou most desi­rest, their conversion. Being sore vexed by some bloudy minded man, Act. 9.1. Iosh. 8. who doth breath out threatnings and slaughter, compare thine e­state with that of Gods peo­ple pursued by the men of Ai, who being full of malice followed Israel, and percei­ved not that ambush which was laid against them, where­by [Page 43] their city was set on fire, and themselves overcome. Doth thine enemy seeke af­ter thy life or thy good name? Would he hurt thee with the sharpe sword of E­sau, or the bitter words of Ishmael? call upon God as Ioshuah did, who will give thee a glorious deliverance: In the meane while hee that hateth thee doth not discern how powerfull that enemy is which lyeth in waite a­gainst him, by whom his tongue is set on fire (as Saint Iames speaketh) in cursing, and his heart enraged by anger and envy, so that he is ut­terly confounded and over­throwne.

Such an enemy is not to be feared, whose ayme and [Page 44] power doth extend no fur­ther than to kill the body; But there is another more dreadfull enemy that seeketh to destroy both body and soule in hell, against whom wee must implore the helpe of the Lord. He it is that go­eth to & fro in the earth and walketh up and downe in it; having the whole world for his forest, wherein hee hun­teth after us: who is not sa­tisfied with out bloud, which he hunteh after, being a mur­therer from the beginning. And as hunters in ancient times were clad in white gar­ments; Antiqui Ve­natores albis vestibus in­clut. Iul. Scal. so he can transforme himselfe into an Angell of light, 2. Cor. 11.14. using any shape and disguise that he may deceive us; dealing therein like this [Page 45] our Absalom, who tooke his brother Amnon in a snare that he had set for him, 2. Sam. 13.28. and killed him. And now by chase and pursuite he hopeth to take David his father. So doth Satan set snares and ginnes that hee may bring us to destruction: And how ma­ny doth he take by presump­tion? If by that meanes hee cannot prevaile, Ingentem clamore pr [...]n [...]s ad re [...]ta cer­vum. Virgil. 1. Pet. 5.8. then as a roaring Lyon which seeketh whom hee may devoure, by terrour hee would invelope us in the pit of desperation: He himselfe being master of the game, with the helpe of his assassinates in that bloudy worke did assault our blessed Saviour, Psal 25. inscript [...] whom the Psalmist compareth to the Hart of the morning, who was rowzed [Page 46] early in the morning (as hee was from his birth by He­rod) and chased all his life long: And at last, early in the morning, Luke 22.66. Psal. 22.16. Matutino tempore à ra­biosis homi­nibus dilani­atus. Flamin. assoone as it was day, many dogs compassed him, and he was stricken and pierced & wounded for our transgressions; being as the goate that was offered, Leuit 16.7. that we might escape damnation. So that now though wee bee as an army of Harts, weake and timerous, yet having the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah to be the Captaine of our sal­vation, Revel. 5.5. Heb 2.10. from him we receive strength, courage and safety: For as the Hart royall esca­peth being chased by some Prince, so our soule shall be defended when we are pur­sued by the Prince of this Iohn 12.31. [Page 47] world, if wee pant after the Lord, and pray unto him to save us, Psal. 7.2. lest hee teare our soules like a lyon while there is none to deliver. There is mention of one Sertorius the great Impostor amongst the Romanes, Ab ea, se quae­nam aut agen­da aut vitan­da esset prae­dican. Val. Max. A. Gel. who kept a tame Hart, and used it as Mahomet did his Dove, to delude his souldiers, pretending that he was thereby admonished and directed what to doe: But surely it will bee our wise­dome to bee led and guided by this Hart which panteth after the water-brookes, to pant after the Lord. And doubtlesse this is the most blessed use of the creatures, when in the sight or remem­brance of them, our minds are elevated, and raised up to [Page 48] heavenly cogitations: And in so doing wee shall be fol­lowers of Christ, who upon all occasions, as of the water, the vine, the corne, and in all his Parables did instruct and edifie those that heard him. And thus may wee bee affe­cted. Is there such delight and contentment to be recei­ved from the creature? then what joy & happinesse from the Creator of all things? Is there such pleasure in the cheerefull use of these things here below? then how great are those pleasures at the right hand of God for ever­more? Doth the distressed Hart desire the river that shee may be relieved? Then how blessed are they that have the God of Iacob for a refuge? [Page 49] from whose love, Rom. 8. [...]. neither persecution, nor any other thing shall bee able to sepa­rate them. And seeing that enmity which is betweene us and the creatures, and be­tweene the creatures them­selves, wee are put in minde of that great sinne of our first parents: Since which time they have cast off the yoke of subjection unto man, who had first cast off that easie yoke of obedience unto God. And in the pursuite of any of them, wee may well consider that wee our selves are pursued by the enemy of our soules, Sed maiori cum fastu: Vbi aspexit venientem ad retia cervum, Venator taci­to [...]audia corde premit. Bal. Cast [...]o. who doth more desire to take us than wee to take the Hart in our toyles: And wee may at the same time both take and be taken, [Page 50] as many are, who turne their liberty into licentiousnesse. If after this manner our thoughts be lifted up in the time of refreshing, Meditabar a­liquid, ut si manus vac [...]as plenas tamen ceras reporta­rem. Plini. Iun. Vt quamvis nihil [...]perim, non n [...]hil [...]efe­ram. Idem. though wee get nothing wee may gaine something; and both the outward & inward man may be renewed

Wee deny not this exer­cise of hunting to bee very commendable, Romanis so­lemne viris, opus ut [...]eta­n ae, vitaeque & membris. Horat. vena­t [...]o Suevorum vtres alit. Cae­ [...]ar. the which was much used by many na­tions in ancient times, who beside that helpe of suste­nance, found many other be­nefits thereby; Their health was preserved, their bo­dies were strengthened, Hoc se labore durant ado­ [...]escentes Gor­m [...]. Idem. and themselves by the hardship endured, the better fitted & enabled for more serious em­ployment; especially, for [Page 51] military discipline, Venatu ex­tendere vitam abnuit. Silvis. Non me ulla vetabunt f [...] ­gora. Virgil. Manet sub Iove frigido Venator Ho­rat. Iugurtha in Salust. Olim certa­bant cum [...] ­gacibus feris, cursu, cum a [...] ­dacibus r [...]bo­re, cum caili­dis ast [...]. Pli. [...]. in Pa­negyr. P [...]al. 32.9. Illa i [...]sa [...] delectant, n [...] ­cesse est, [...]v [...] ­cent ab inten­tione operis dest [...]nati. Quinti [...]an. lib. [...]o cap. 1. Maleficium [...]o [...]us quam artific. um. Io. Sarisb. when by those beasts which they hun­ted, they may learne from such as were swift-footed speed and agility; from such as were daring, valour and courage; from such as were crafty, stratagems and poli­cy: Moreover the minde being surcharged may there­by find some release, BUT, in the use of them wee must not bee as the horse which hath no understanding: Our affections must be restrained, that our delight therein bee not either inordinate or im­moderate: God created us for his owne service, we must not bee so re-created by our sports, as if we had beene fra­med for nothing else: Heb 11.25. In so doing wee make them plea­sures [Page 52] of sinne for a season, and that very short; and it is folly in any man to place his chiefe contentment in that which he cannot constantly enjoy: Also it doth disco­ver the unsufficiency of these sports to satisfie the heart of man, when wee shall see ma­ny being satiated with their former delights, to be ever desirous of new; esteeming that to be tedious and irke­some which before seemed most pleasant. Great for­rests and wide desarts for beasts of chase have procee­ded from undigested riches and boundlesse luxury: Barbarae opu­lentiae, haud ulla sunt ma­iora indicia quam magnis nemo [...]bus [...]altibusque n [...]b [...]lium fe­rarum gr [...]ges cla [...]si Quin. Curt. Camden in Oxon. And it is a strong presumption of the vaine and riotous prodi­gality of this Kingdom, The having more Parkes than all [Page 53] Christendome beside. That prophecy of the Apostle may strike terrour and exa­mination into every one of us; where he saith, That in the last dayes perillous times shall come, 2. Tim. 3. [...]. when men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Such as are too violent therein doe renounce that which is of more consequence, and ought chiefly to bee sought after: And those that are ra­vished with the pleasures of this pilgrimage, Qui best [...]a­rum cubili [...] [...]ndagat poti­ora deserit. Segec. Heb. 11.14.16. Cui peregri­natio du [...] [...]non amat [...]a­triam. Gen 25. [...]7. declare plainly, they doe not desire a better Countrey, that is an heavenly. Profane Esau is described to bee a cunning hunter, and was thereby oc­casioned to sell his birth­right; And afterward while [Page 54] hee was hunting he lost the blessing also, finding no place of repentance though hee sought it carefully with teares. Quam nunc [...]nc [...]gnita vellent lustra sibi; nu [...]los (que) datos venati­bus annos. Val. Flac. O pereant syl­vae defici­antque canes. Tibul. Take heed lest while thou art wholly devoted to thy delights, our heavenly Father doth confer his bles­sings upon those his chil­dren which formerly sought unto him: and so thy vani­ties end in vexation of spirit. Then let your moderation herein bee knowne unto all men; Phil. 4.5. Veloces iacu­lo cervos, cursuquae sati­gat. Acer an hela [...]ti simi­lis Virgil. Spend not your whole strength and best endeavours so wastfully, so unfruitfully; Let not thy soule pant after the Hart, but as the Hart pan­teth after the water-brookes, so let thy soule pant after the Lord.

There are two naturall [Page 55] causes of panting: Weari­nesse through overmuch la­bour; Defatigatio ex laboris nimietate: vel propter pulmonis par­vitatem. Cau­sabon. and so we being wea­ried with the restlesse trou­bles of this life, should there­by bee excited to pant after the Lord. The other cause of panting, is when the lungs are strait and small, and not able to receive much breath: which is differing from this; for we pant after the Lord, not when we are straitned in our owne bowels, like the Corinthians, 2. Cor. 6 12. but when our mouthes are open to cry un­to him, and our hearts are enlarged to seeke after him: Then be you also enlarged, and imitate this holy man David, whom you may heare speaking of himselfe, Psal. 63.8. & 84.2. My soule followeth hard after [Page 56] thee, My soule longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord, Psal. 119.20. My soule brea­keth for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times. Thus should wee from the beginning of our lives unto the end thereof pant after the Lord, who is Alpha and Omega, [...]. who breathed into our nostrils the breath of life. Gen 2.7. That wise man among the Heathen, Dici suspiri­um potest. Hoc est, ani­ [...]am agere. Medici hanc med [...]tatio­nem mortis vocant, facit a [...]quando spiritus ille q [...]d saepe conatus est. Senec. ep [...]st. [...]5. being tormented with the disease of short breathing (which he thought to be most painfull) doth call it the Meditation of death, wherein the breath doth often attempt to doe that which one day must bee done. Then well may wee so often as we draw our breath bee put in mind of our latter [Page 57] end, when the spirit doth re­turne to God that gave it: And yet the greatest part of men are never sufficiently instructed to pant after the Lord, untill extreme sicke­nesse and the pangs of death doe teach them: whereas, it the former part of our life had beene spent in numbring our dayes, and remembring our Creator, with what assu­rance and comfort might wee expect our dissolution? Worthy Calvin, D [...]sp [...]ae [...]. Assidu è e [...] ­p [...]o, dum me a [...]heli [...]us d [...]ic [...]at. who labou­red of this bodily disease, looked daily when his pan­ting should have an end; and would often say, Quousque Dominē. How long O Lord? And some space before his death (which was just in the same moment when the sunne did set) his [Page 58] prayers were nothing else, but an expression of his souls panting after the Lord. The death of Coma was thought to be very rare, Intra pect [...]s inc [...]usa a [...] mafi [...]m s [...] re­pe [...] &c. Val. Ma [...] lib 9. cap. 13. who dyed by his violent retaining & hol­ding in of his breath: But now there is nothing more frequent than this kinde of death, though not of the bo­dy yet of the soule, in those men which doe never pant after the Lord. Wee thinke it bee the signe of a dying man when his breath growes cold; And our coldnesse in seeking after the Lord, doth discover that the soule doth languish, and is voyd of the life of grace: For if our soules were inflamed with zeale, the Kingdome of heaven should suffer violence, Mat. 11.12. and [Page 59] bee taken by force.

VERSE II. My soule thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appeare before God?

IN that expression which David used of panting af­ter the Lord, wee may well observe, that it was not a weake and faint desire; but most strong and forcible. Now that wee not thinke it to bee too violent to endure, and to passe away as a sodain flame in his outward speech, rather than to burn constant­ly in the holy disposition of his heart, it pleaseth God to perfect his owne good work, and to give him this heaven­ly [Page 60] thirst: And nothing is more frequent than for these two, Aeris alternos angustat pul­mo meatus, Resc [...]soque nocent suspi­ria dura pala­to. L [...]an. Oraque retro sorbet anhe­la sitis. Stati­us. Panting and Thirst, to accompany each other. If we take them as perturbations of the body, that may be said of them, which is spoken of worldly sorrow, that they drye the bones and cause death: But, as in this place, being rich endowments of the soule, they bring life, and peace, and joy: By those the outward man doth perish, by these the inward man is re­newed daily.

There is a thirst which be­ginneth when we hang upon our Mothers breasts, and continues in the strength and vigour of our lives, and doth not leave us in the time of old age, but even to the very [Page 61] end we hold a just proporti­on with this last age of the dying world, Nec sitis est extincta pri­us quam vita bibendo. O­vid. in desiring wine and strong drinke, that thereby our vitall heat and radicall moisture may be pre­served. So that, through a­buse this vice of intemperate drinking seemeth to have a speciall right in these dayes wherein wee live. The un­cleane drunkard thinketh there is no other thirst but onely that with which hee is possessed; nor any better meanes whereby to obtaine health unto himselfe, or to confer it upon others, than by profound drinking; where­unto he addresseth himselfe as if hee were to encounter with his greatest enemy; Persae, potum tanquam ad­versarium ag­gred [...]entes. Aelian. and doth more than fill himselfe [Page 62] with strong drinke, inflaming wines, and hot waters; and, though improperly drinking more than these, only to kin­dle a desire of drinking more. Vt Anglorum corpora, in Barbarorum naturam de­generasse vi­dentur. Cam­den in Elizab. I affect antiquity here­in, and will not name that which I finde was never an­ciently named: Hereby doth hee deprive himselfe of his reasonable soule, and be­comes voyd of sense, and worse than the bruite beasts, having no life left, but onely that of the plants, not being able to move and helpe him­selfe: And, which I cannot mention without horrour, how many are pierced with the dart of death, as with the javelin of Phinehas in the act of wickednesse? Iudg. 4.21. whose end is like unto that of Sisera, af­ter [Page 63] he had drunke, at the same time to bee smitten in the head and deprived of life. And whereas the death of a good man is called a sleepe, the death of the drunkard is contrary, whose senses being bound in the time of his life, that hee could not use them, by death hee is awakened; Then doth hee see his estate to be miserable by the paines of losse and sense: where a­gaine hee thirsteth and can­not obtaine one drop of water to coole his tongue. But why doe I speake to him who is not capable to heare; whose case is most fearfull? For, whereas other sinners may bee convinced by rea­son, he by the wilfull losse of understanding hath made [Page 64] himselfe a foole, and is in danger of hell fire. The con­tentious man thirsteth after the waters of Meribah; and the cruell man (for they must bee joyned) thirsteth after bloud, M. Anten. vi­no gravis siti­ebat tamen sanguinem. Senec. Cyri caput in Val. Max. wherein is the life: Nothing can satisfie him but the fall of his enemy. But the bloudy minded man shall not live out halfe his dayes: for though the divine ven­geance should not overtake him, as for the most part it doth, with rancor and ma­lice hee consumes himselfe and drinkes his owne bloud: whose estate is worse than a Serpents, for hee beareth about him such a poyson as doth destroy his owne life. The covetous man is thirsty as the horse-leach, Pro. 30 15. crying, [Page 65] Give, Give. The adulterer refusing to drinke waters out of his owne cisterne desireth to drink stolne waters, & 9.17. which hee thinketh to bee sweet. And the adulteresse thirsteth for that bitter water which causeth the thigh to rot (a common judgement of these times. Num 12.18.21.) The swearer is so thirsty, that he cannot speake without an oath in his mouth; whose cursing shall come like water into his bowels, Psal. 109.18. and like oyle into his bones. In a word, every sin­ner thirsteth for the water of Marah, which will be as gall in the belly, and bitternesse in the later end. Of all which I may speake as Samuel of the sons of Iesse, The Lord hath not chosen these to ob­taine [Page 66] a crowne of life. But this holy thirst of the soule for God, for the living God: And whom should the soule thirst after, but God alone? For with thee is the Foun­taine of life; Psal. 36.8.9. thou dost make me drinke of the river of thy pleasures: & 23.5. My cup runneth over, & 63.5. My soule shall be satis­fied as with marrow and fat­nesse: & 65.9. Our gracious God doth visit the earth, & 104.11. and wa­tereth the ridges thereof a­bundantly, and giveth drinke to every beast of the field. Doth God take care for ox­en? 1. Cor. 9 9. then much more for man, 1. Tim. 5.23. to whom hee giveth li­berty to use a little wine, which makes glad the heart; But most of all for the soule of man, and therefore he cal­leth, [Page 67] Ho, Isai. 55.1. every one that thir­steth come yee to the waters; and, Iohn 4.14. whosoever drinketh of this water that I shall give him (that is, & 6.35. hee that belee­veth) shall never thirst, but out of his belly shall flow ri­vers of living waters. & 7. 38. & 4.14. The water that I shall give him, shall bee as a Well of water springing up unto life ever­lasting. Then spring up O well, sing yee unto it; Num. 21.17. and let thy soule thirst after him, Iohn 19.28. who in his passion said, I thirst; who thirsted after us & our salvation; who drank off the dregs of the cup of his Fathers wrath, that we might drinke the cup of blessing. By the cluster of grapes that the spyes brought they might judge of the fruitfulnesse of [Page 68] the land: And by the first fruits that the Lord giveth us in this life, wee may in part discerne what the whole vin­tage will be hereafter. Even by tasting wee see how good the Lord is; Psal. 34.8. who doth su­staine us in this our pilgri­mage, & 107.5. when we are hungry and thirsty, and our soule faint within us, if wee cry unto him hee will relieve us. And as the Lacedaemonians doe never satisfie their chil­dren with food, Ita liberos alunt, ut nun­quam satien­tur. Heracli­des. that thereby they may learne to endure hardship: So those blessings which God giveth, if rightly used, doe make us the more to thirst after him. And to speake as the Church doth, stay me with flagons: Cant. 2.5. know­ing that the best wine is re­served [Page 69] untill afterward, Iohn 2.10. and the greatest comforts untill that better life.

For this kingdome where­in wee live, wee may speake as the Lord doth of Canaan, Deut. 11.10. that it is not like the land of Egypt, which thou wateredst with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But a good land, a land of brookes of water, of fountaines and depths, that spring out of valleyes and hils: wee have enjoyed the waters of life and the plente­ous means of salvation. True it is, there was a time, when the three yeares of Elijah his drought were doubled upon us; and therein the burning heate of persecution: But as Isaac repaired those wells of Gen. 26.18. water that had been stopped [Page 70] by the Philistims, which A­braham his father had for­merly digged; so our Debo­rah (of ever-blessed memo­ry) hath opened those foun­taines which her father had digged: Isai. 12.3. since which time with joy may wee draw wa­ter out of the wells of salva­tion. Then let us take of the water of life freely: Revel. 22.17. Milites religi­one pluviâ magis usi: [...]am rati sese d [...]ts immorta­lib curae esse. Salust. And as that army which would not drinke, but only of the raine, comming as they thought from the divine providence to relieve them: So let our soules be enlarged in seeking of spiritual blessings; & thirst after the Lord, [...]sal. 143.6. as a thirsty land which opens it selfe to receive the hevenly showers. Eucherius. We may reade how thankful great Kings have beene unto [Page 71] those that in their thirst did refresh them, Caesar. in Se­nec. de ben. Xerxes in AE­lian. Artaxerxes in cod. and give them water: Then how should we praise the Lord for giving us his Sonne Christ Iesus, the fountaine of all grace and comfort, who came downe like raine upon the mowne grasse. Psal. 7 [...].6. And though it be the commendation of David (that mercifull King) that he would not drinke the bloud of those three mighty men that went in jeopardy of their lives, 2. Sam. 23.16. and brought wa­ter unto him, when hee lon­ged for it; yet will it be our condemnation, if wee doe not drinke the bloud of our Saviour, which not by the hazzard, but by the losse of his life hee hath given un­to us: And surely wee have [Page 72] great encouragemēt to thirst after the Lord; For it is a blessed thing to thirst after righteousnesse; Mat. 5.6. and we have a promise that wee shall bee filled. And as by outward thirst some are recovered from diseases of the body, Miraberis quosdam fa­me ac siti cu­rari. Senec. so by this heavenly thirst wee are cured of all maladies and troubles, both of soule and body. Wherefore, as new-borne babes let us desire the sincere milke of the word, that wee may grow thereby. It will bee as strong drinke unto us when wee are ready to perish; Prov. 31.6. and as wine when our hearts are heavy. But most of us are so farre from this happy thirst, that we are ready rather with those stif­necked Israelites to murmur [Page 73] against the Lord: Our sto­macks are so full, that wee loath the honey comb, the word of life; which should be sweeter unto us than the honey and the honey comb. Like those that have the jaun­dies, Mel omnibus dulce, [...]eteri­cis tamen, &c Alex. Aphro­dys. that which is most plea­sant seemeth bitter and of­fensive unto us: And as the sheepe, O [...]e aper [...]o, vento, rec [...]p [...] ­entes f [...]m suam se [...]. Val. M [...] whose thirst is quen­ched by the winde, we are better satisfied with vanities, and more contented with our inventions, than with the water of life. How justly, in regard of our contempt, may the Lord remove those bles­sings from us, & turn our wa­ter-springs into dry ground, Psal. 107. [...]4 and this fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wicked­nesse of them that dwell [Page 74] therein. [...]ai. 65.13. When his servants shall drinke, but ye shall bee thirsty; and as the old Histo­rian speakes of a people that perished for want of water; Psylli interci­derunt: Au­ster eis omnia receptacula aquarum ar­fecerat. He­rodot. so this nation may bee con­sumed for want of this living water which now wee so lightly esteeme; at which time, Nocturnum [...]c [...]pere ro­ [...]em coge [...]tu­tur. Caesar. bel. Civil. like those that have beene constrained to receive the dew of the night, we may earnestly desire the least drop of heavenly comfort and not obtaine it. Pandunt orasiti, noctur­num que a [...]a captant. Lu­can.

If wee duely consider, wee will approve the wisedome of David, in this choise which hee made, to thirst af­ter the living God: Whose mercyes never faile, but they are renewed every day: with whom is no variablenesse [Page 75] nor shadow of change: whereas all things else are subject to alteration. There is no life in them unlesse it proceed from the Lord: If wee repose confidence in a­ny worldly benefit, wee may as soone be destitute as Ha­gar was, Gen. 21.15. when her bottle was empty; there had beene a worse casting out than the former, unlesse the Lord had opened her eyes to see the wall of water. Doe wee re­ceive sustentation and com­fort by any outward gift? As the brooke Cherith dry­ed up, 1. King. 17.7. because there had bin no raine in the land, so wee shall presently be at our wits end, if the Lord withdraw his mercies from us: Yea thoug [...] wee have abundance [Page 76] of these things here below, though our well bee deepe like Iacobs, & our river doth overflow the bankes like Ior­dane; how soone can the Lord stay the course there­of? Psal. 74 15. Hee dryeth up mighty rivers. So that in our grea­test necessity wee may bee to seeke; when our goods, which we thought to be our chiefest good, shall deale by us as those brookes did by the troups of Tema, Iob. 6.17. what time they waxe warme, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place: But let us grant their request, which is the desire of the most, & the most they do desire, that they may pos­sesse great plenty of all things during their life: yet [Page 77] even therein do they deceive their owne soules. Their greedy desires being more boundlesse than the sea, which hath it's limits, how farre it shall passe: whereas they are never satisfied untill death robs them of all. And that which is added unto them, Cum plen [...] a­quâ sint siti­unt semper. Alex. Aphrod. is but as so much drink [...]o him that hath the dropsie, to increase his thirst. The more wood is heaped on, the fire is the greater; and their covetous appetite increaseth with their meanes: Also, though for the present their thirst doth seeme to be al­layed, yet will it be like the use of snow-water, coole and pleasing at the instant, Tabemque & morbos, sen­sim v [...]cenbus [...]semina [...] A. Cell. but in­gendring manifold diseases. Their wealth which seemed [Page 78] most delightfull, will prove a cause of sorrow and anguish unto them: When they are in perplexity their estate may be like his, Pomp [...]ius cum tot [...]u­mina posside­ret mendica­vit stillicidia. Sence. who had the royalty of many rivers, and yet was driven to beg a few drops of water: So they not­withstanding all their trea­sures will bee compelled to sue for inward consolation, and yet finde the doore shut against them. Offer unto that man which is thirsty, the best provision of meate, and hee will reject it as unprofitable unto him: onely give him drinke, and his spirit will come againe as Sampsons did, Iudg. 15.19. and he shall be revived. And therefore well might Saul have a cruse of water together with the speare at 1. Sam. 26.21. [Page 79] his bolster, shewing that the one was as needfull to su­staine life as the other to de­fend it. In the greatest exi­gent, when our strength is dryed up like a pot-sheard, Psal. 22.15. & 32.4. and our moisture is turned into the drought of summer, who can relieve us but God alone? what can refresh us but onely this water of life? Then let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth rather than I should thirst af­ter any thing, but the God of my salvation.

How intolerable a tor­ment thirst is, there is none but have had sufficient expe­rience: Our Saviour chose to expresse the paines of hell by the torture which the tongue hath in extremity of [Page 80] a burning ague. And here the sick man commeth to be cu­red, Flagrat in­censum siti cor. Senec. in Thyest. whose disease is like a fire in his bones, whose bow­els are burnt like an hearth, whose heart is melted like waxe: Then doth he implore the helpe of man; Vbi definit medicus inci­pit theologus. Psal. 146.3. Quae sitaeque nocent ar [...]es cessêre magi­stri. Virgil. Cadunt me­dentes mor­bus auxilium trabit. Senec. for to pro­ceed otherwise is a methode unknowne to the world, and thought to be ominous. But there is no helpe in the sonne of man; his breath goeth forth, and he returneth to his earth. Unto whom it may in vaine be said, Physitian heale thy selfe: As not being able to obtaine deliverance from that anguish which himselfe endureth. At last some better helpe is required, at which time, that saying of the Apo­stle is true, If in this life one­ly [Page 81] I have hope, I am of all men most miserable. Unlesse thy soule can finde ease by thirsting for God, thy fever is come to torment thee before the time. There's no other re­medy but only the sure mer­cies of David, even in death it selfe to thirst for the living God; who giveth unto all men the life wee now have, who giveth unto King Da­vid, and to us as Kings, 1. King. 1.31. that life which is for ever.

In this my proceeding, I finde the poore man desiring drinke to quench his thirst, I cannot passe by one in so great misery, but with the good Samaritan I must make provision for him. Luk. 10.34. Dost thou live in penury and sorrow? Know that Christ himselfe [Page 82] did drinke of the brooke in the way; Psal. 110.7. that is, suffered ma­nifold afflictions in this life. Art thou denyed reliefe for thy body? There is no new thing happened unto thee: Did not a woman refuse to give water unto Christ, Iohn. 4. be­ing wearied with his jour­ney? And before that Nabal rejected David; Shall I take my water and give unto men whom I know not whence they be? 1. Sam. 25.11. And therefore well might Dives (that Nabal in the Gospel) be denied a drop of water, seeing hee denyed to succour those in want. But though the hearts of men be hardened, 2. Sam. 24.14. Isai. 41.17. & 55.1. the mercyes of the Lord are great; who cal­leth him to the waters that hath no money; who giveth [Page 83] liberally, Iam. 1 5. and upbraideth not (as man often doth:) who calleth not many mighty & noble, but hee sendeth the springs into the vallies, Psal. 104.10 hee causeth the precious dew of heavenly comforts to rest upon those that are lowest and meanest in this world. And if the deniall of ordina­ry water hath beene estee­med so great an indignity, Virgil. petiit a Nolanis a­quam; nomen urbis ex car­mine suo de­rasit. A Gell. then how should we esteeme of Gods bounty towards us, Ic circo nimi­rum hoc dicta es nomine Nola; Nolu [...] ­ris magnis quod placu­isse viris. Sanuazar. in giving the waters of life without money, and without price? O that we were as sen­sible of the drought of the soule as we are of the body; then should our soules thirst for God, for the living God, who hath promised not to forsake the poore & needy: [Page 84] When they seeke water, and there is none, & their tongue faile for thirst, Isai. 41.17. I the Lord will heare them.

And if it be so great a benefit to shew the fountaine unto those that bee thirsty, Benefic [...]m [...]st, arentibus si [...], son [...]em [...]sten le [...]e. Senec. Then returne, returne, why will yee dye O yee house of Israel? All those that have forsaken God and his true Church, wherein is the foun­taine of living waters, and have hewed out cisternes, Ier. 2.13. broken cisterns that can hold no water; Come againe, and yee shall be satisfied with the breasts of consolation: 1. Sam 30.11.12. and as that Egyptian by eating of bread and drinking of wa­ter found his spirit to come againe to him; so you by the use of the Word and Sacra­ments, [Page 85] shall finde the holy Spirit to come into you. Come now and let us reason together: Shall the soule of holy David thirst for the li­ving God? and shall thy soule thirst for many gods? for dead gods? for idols that are no Gods, but the works of mens hands? Shall he thirst for God, who doth satisfie us with all good things? and wilt thou desire that thirst whereby thou canst never be satisfied? Abstemious men, without question! For when God hath commanded to keepe a feast, they will keepe a fast: When God hath gi­ven unto all the cup of bles­sing, yet they will refuse it (as counting themselves un­worthy of so great salvati­on.) [Page 86] What can they merit by this their abstinence? even to drink of that cup in the hand of the Lord, Psal. 75.8. which he pow­reth out for them. If they shall plead that the use of the cup is freely given to some of them; yet then there must bee a miracle in the change (which among the Heathens themselves was thought to bee prodigious: Insusum pa­terae Xerxis vinum, in san­guinem con­versum est. Val. Max.) But were not that woman drunken with bloud, Revel. 17 6. shee could not think that to be bloud which shee drinks. 2. King 3. [...]3. But now both shee and her followers by thinking that to bee bloud which is not, as the Moabites did, they run upon their own destruction.

Now if any shall object, that David might well thirst [Page 87] after God who had dealt so bountifully with him: who looked upon his poore estate and exalted him when hee was of low degree, unto the highest dignity: who gave him victory over all his ene­mies, and made a way for him to escape out of the greatest dangers: So that it had beene unthankefulnesse in him to have done other­wise. As for themselves, they desire first to compose their outward affairs, & settle their estates, that they may not ap­peare to be worse than Infi­dels: and then afterward to devote the remainder of their lives to the service of God. Whereunto let mee answer: That thy petition is the same with Balaams, Let me dye [Page 88] the death of the righteous. Thou art therefore unexcu­sable O man, who in thy Te­stament dost in the first place commit thy soule to God, and then dispose of thy e­state: But in the former part of thy life, by a confusion without any good order, thy chiefe care hath beene about thy worldly possessions; and now in thine end, it is not the love of God, but the love of thy selfe that constraineth thee to take care of thy soule. Whereas, such as have al­wayes used a cloke of cove­tousnesse (a garment well knowne to Iudas, but never worne by S. Paul) how can they ever expect to put on the Lord Iesus, 1. Thes. 2.5. or to be clad with the rich robes of his [Page 89] righteousnesse? No, that thine unsatiable greedinesse will in the end bee as deadly & uncomfortable unto thee, as the Babylonish garment was unto Achan. Iosh 7 11. And such as addict themselves to vo­luptuousnesse, rejoycing in their youth, Eccles. 11 9. walking in the wayes of their owne heart, and in the sight of their eies; but intending to rejoyce in the Lord, & that their soules shall thirst for the living God, in the time of age and trouble, when they can find no rellish in vaine delights: At last when God doth bring them to judgement, can they expect to heare that comfor­table saying, Well done thou good and faithfull servant, enter into thy Masters joy? [Page 90] No, Luke 16.25. they may feare to bee told, that in their life time they received their good things, but now there re­maines no comfort for them. Also such as are ambitious to make themselves a name, laying a sure ground-worke, as they thinke, of honours and titles here upon earth; intending with those foolish builders, which had begun that they could not finish, that the top of their tower should reach up to heaven, hoping at last to obtaine a crowne of glory: But that their Babel will prove their confusion; Gen. 11. for they invert the order of Christ, who hath commanded us in the first place to seeke the King­dome of heaven: And as in [Page 91] the creation, Gen. 1.1. heaven is na­med before earth, so our best endeavours should be to ob­taine that estate of happines, not casting our anchor of hope upon earth, Heb. 6.19. but into heaven; as David here did, whose soule thirsted for the living God; who did not then begin to serve God, when he had received many outward blessings from him. Such an objection came from Satan, Iob 1. Doth Iob feare God for nought? For, who ever feared God for nought? wee being lesse than the least of all his mercies: De antiqu [...]s illustrissimus quisque pa­stor erat. Var­r [...] But in his first estate, in that most anci­ent kinde of life, made fa­mous by so many worthyes, as Abel, Iacob, Moses, and the like; hee put his whole [Page 92] confidence in the Lord who delivered him out of the paw of the Lion, 1 Sam. 17.37. and out of the the paw of the Beare, which he remembred with thankes­giving. & 16.16. And having that lea­sure which shepheards have, Pastor otio­s [...]s. Otium voluptatis, ac lasciviae pa­ter In Scal. he did not abuse it to wan­tonnesse and folly, as they were wont for the most part to doe, but being a cunning player on the Harp, and a di­vine Poet, Videtur au­tem modula­t [...]o in pastro­ [...]b. inventa pr [...]mum. Id. (that art of poe­try having its beginning from shepheards, as the song of Moses doth testifie) who formerly had led the flocke of Iethro, Exod. 3.1. who at that time led the people like a flocke; Hee composed most heaven­ly and melodious pastorals in praise of his Creator. Af­ter that being lifted up by [Page 93] the right of the Almighty (who loveth a cheerefull gi­ver) and not by his owne pride, whereof hee was un­justly taxed by Eliab; who foresaw that the elder must serve the younger, he kept in tune still, and did more ex­cell the best of his nobles in gratitude and zeale than in regall dignity: And here in his distresse (a time of suffi­cient triall) you see with what patience hee endured the cursing of Shimei, and what confidence hee placed in God. Hee doth not aske the life of his enemies, you know the charge hee gave to the contrary, and how hee was blamed for too much love of them. 2. Sam. 1 [...].6. Hee doth not aske long life, that hee might [Page 94] bee restored unto his King­dome, and many yeares ad­ded unto his reigne; But ha­ving a wise and understan­ding heart, hee seeketh for God himselfe, his soule thir­sted for the living God; hee knew if his prayer were ac­ceptable, God would give him more than hee asked, as hee did afterward to Salo­mon: 1. King. 3. [...]3. And if God gave him­self, he would give all things also. Wherefore let us bee followers of him, as hee was of God: Phillip. 3.8. And with S. Paul, suffer the losse of all, that wee may winne Christ. It will be our best advantage and grea­test gaine, by any outward losse, or imminent danger to be excited to seeke for hea­venly blessings and spirituall graces.

VERSE II. When shall I come and appeare before God?

IT was Davids resolution, One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seeke after, Psal. 27.4. that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life. Here you see the performance thereof: He doth not grieve for the losse of any outward bene­fit, nor so much as mention his former estate; but onely desireth to appeare before God, whereby he hoped to obtaine that for which his soule thirsted. It is true, that God seeth us in all places; Whither can I goe from thy face O Lord, or whither can [Page 96] I flee from thy presence? But his favour and loving countenance is chiefly revea­led in the assembly of the Saints. Cant. 6.2. My beloved is gone downe into his garden, to the beds of spices: God is present in the congregation, where the prayers & praises of his children are offered up as sweet odours before him. In it selfe the presence of God may seeme a cause of horrour and feare to us sin­ners, who are as stubble be. him a consuming fire. Wee know that the Israelites were afraid to come nigh Moses, Exod. 34.30. unto whom the Lord had appeared. Naturally we are ready to hide our selves from the presence of the Lord God: [...]en. 3.8. But in Christ we have [Page 97] confidence and free accesse; and having found him a lo­ving Father, we for ever pray Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us: Psal. 4: which wee desire above any good, above all the good in the world. The father in the pa­rable said, Luk. 15.31. Sonne thou art e­ver with mee, and all that I have is thine: So we by pre­senting our selves before the Lord, come to be made par­takers of all his blessings: Thereby wee are gathered under his wings of provi­dence and mercy: Mat. 13.48. Thereby wee are within the compasse of the net; and shall be taken with the good: Thereby wee have communion with God, and his Angels, and one with another. Then let [Page 98] us come and appeare before God. The children of this world are wise in their gene­ration: If they have hope of benefite, or advancement from any superior, how dili­gent will they be in their at­tendance? O [...]arem ut o­ [...]endas me [...] esse homi­n [...] non in­g [...]atum. Po­ [...] an. N [...] indignus, qu [...]m tu al [...] ­q [...]ndo respi­c [...]. How desirous to bee ever in view? How po­liticke in that which they give, chusing some Present of use and remembrance? Happy were we, if wee were thus provident for our soules: Then would we set our selves before the Sunne of Righteousnesse, the light whereof would be sweet and pleasant unto our eyes. Our darke understandings should be illuminated, and we made glorious within: But if wee neglect such precious means [Page 99] of salvation, our danger is greater than that of Queene Esther; Esther. 4. shee feared to perish by a temporall death because shee went unto the King, not being called. We may feare to perish both body & soule, unlesse wee doe come unto the great King, who hath so often called us, who hath held out the golden scepter of his word unto us. Absa­lom having lived two yeares in Ierusalem, and not seene the King, shewed the dutifull affection of a good sonne in this particular, 2. Sam. 14.32. that hee had rather bee put to death (if there were any iniquity in him) than to bee any longer deprived of the sight of his father: By which example wee may learne to value this [Page 100] royall priviledge that wee have in appearing before God, And to count it more deare unto us than life it selfe: And yet most men do not value this singular prero­gative that God hath given them; even the whole world abideth in this sinne. There was a day, Iob. 1. when the sons of God came to present them­selves before the Lord; but the sonnes of men care not for the seaventh day, nor any other day wherein to present themselves before him: Some there are that be worse than the three guests invited to the marriage: Luk 14.18. for they pre­tended that they could not come; these absolutely deny, and say, they will not come: and before that they will [Page 101] come they will pay the ear­nest peny here, and reserve the greatest payment untill the last. For, with what com­fort can they expect to ap­peare before God in that great day; who never cared to appear before him in their life? yea, rather than they would then appeare they wil call to the hils to cover them. There be others, that are so encumbred with the affaires of this life, that they little thinke of appearing before God; untill that hee doth punish them for that neglect. As the Law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ by instruction; Gal. 3.24. so the judgements due by the Law for our sinnes, have beene as our Schoolemaster to bring [Page 102] us unto Christ by correcti­on. When wee have beene as wanton children addicted unto play, and omitting that which wee ought most seri­ously to intend, the Lord hath dealt with us as hee did by Lot and his wife (being mercifull unto them; Gen. 19.16.) while they lingred, and were back­ward in departing from So­dom, God sent his Angels which layd hold on them and brought them forth: While wee have beene un­willing to forsake our sinnes, and ascend up into the holy mountaine, God hath sent his Angels with their swords drawne; some great plague which hath cut off many thousands in the way, that could not then come and ap­peare [Page 103] before God; and hath scourged others into the Tē ­ple which before were care­lesse in that duty; & though formerly wee would not say with Samuel, Speake Lord for thy servant heareth; then wee have beene enforced to say, Heare Lord for thy ser­vant speaketh; Being poore wee have spoken supplicati­ons, wee have humbled our soules in fasting and mour­ning, and the Lord in wrath hath remembred his wonted mercies.

Some there bee that come abruptly without due prepa­ration, as if they were brought thither unawares, by some grea [...] & strong wind; 1. King. 19 [...] but the Lord was not in that winde: They looke for the [Page 104] same immediate and miracu­lous assistance of Gods spirit which the Apostles had, who tooke no thought what to speake, Mat. 10.19. for it was given them in the same houre. So they take no thought what they heare, nor how they heare, thinking it shall bee given them in the same houre. Their customary perfor­mance in the first entrance I cannot relate without indig­nation: how rude and insuf­ficient it is, doth appeare un­to all men. Will God regard that prayer, which thou thy selfe dost so little regard? Whereas thy Soliloquie then, though performed with the best reverence, should be but as the Amen to thy pri­vate devotions that went be­fore: [Page 105] judge in your selves, is it comely so to doe? Holy David, who so earnestly de­sired to appeare before God, when hee had that liberty granted unto him, did hee rashly and unadvisedly thrust himselfe into Gods pre­sence? Hee whose musicke was so coelestiall, did he not first bring his instruments in­to tune, and then praise the Lord upon them? Psal. 26 6. Hee first washed his hands in inno­cency, & then did compasse thine Altar O Lord.

There bee many that doe lend their bodily presence, but doe not give their soules unto God: Some that have not entred into Iobs cove­nant with their eies, and they gaze after vanity: others that [Page 106] minde earthly things, and they rob God of his honour, making the house of prayer a denne of theeves: Mat. 21.13. And [...]hough Christ when he came as Man, did correct those money-changers with the rods of men, onely making a scourge of small coards to drive them out of the Tem­ple; Iohn 2.15. yet at his second com­ming hee will whip them with scorpions, even with that wo [...]me of conscience which never dyeth: How shall any sinner presume to appeare before the Lord, be­fore whom all things are na­ked and manifest, unlesse he resolve to abandon all wick­ednesse? Hee seeth thee, as if thou wert then acting thine hainous sinnes: And if the [Page 107] Lord did threaten to punish a secret sin before all Israel & before the sun, 2. Sam. 12.12. then how ter­rible wil he be in taking ven­geāce upon those daring pre­sumptuous sinners, who make that most holy place a stage of wickednes, & a cage of all uncleannes? Therefore let us renounce all sinne, and with Cornelius present our selves before God, to heare all things commanded of God: Let me not seeme uncharita­ble, I would be sorry to of­fend the least of those little ones; There bee some that desire frequently to come and appeare before God, which is a good gift, and commeth downe from the Father of lights: But then you must take heed lest that [Page 108] tares grow up in lieu of the good seed: If any shall think the worke done, that is, be­ing present in the Congrega­tion to be a worke meritori­ous, it proceeds from that old leaven of popery, and must bee purged out. So of­ten as God suffereth thee to appeare, hee giveth another talent, which being well used will further thine accompt, but otherwise increaseth thy condemnation: Thinke that which thou hearest to bee of the nature of a prophecy, which is never fulfilled but by thy practice. Be not like he blinded horse that goeth [...]lwayes in the same com­passe. 2. Tim. 3 7. It is good to bee ever lea ning, but it is most dan­gerous to bee never able to [Page 109] come to the knowledge of the truth; and if not to the knowledge, then much lesse to the practice of it: Though custome in sinning takes a­way the sense of sinne, yet let not our ill doing of good have the same bad effect: Cursed will hee be that doth the worke of the Lord negli­gently; and a surfet by the abuse of Gods blessings must needs bee mortall. The con­tinuall sound of the Word hath beene like the Catadu­pes of Nilus, to make us deafe, And the frequent us [...] of it hath rebated the edge of our affection; so that wee doe not hearken unto the Lord, though the Lord hath beene pleased to hearken un­to us: As yet the Lord hath [Page 110] been slow to anger, and plen­teous in mercy, Mal. 3.16. not rewar­ding us according to our ini­quities; Psal. 103. For a long time we have enjoyed this freedome to come and appeare before God: The Word hath con­tinued as long as man liveth; the years of the Gospel have beene threescore yeares and tenne, and if those yeares be made up fourescore, wee must wonder at the Lords mercy. Now is the accepta­ble time and the day of sal­vation: So long as wee have this blessing to approach in­to his presence, there is hope of pardon and reconciliati­on; Esther 7 8. & 6.13. but if once our faces bee covered (as Hamans was) that we may not appeare be­fore the King of Kings, wee [Page 111] may feare that prediction of Zeresh will be fulfilled in us, Ne amplius faciem regis videret: ut si­cbat apud Persas ris qui à gratiâ regis exciderant. Iun. Wee shall not prevaile, but shall surely fall into woe and misery. It is true that God sometimes denieth this li­berty unto his beloved chil­dren (as here unto David) that they cannot joyne with the assembly; but then they are uncessant in their prayers to be restored and enlarged, and their hearts are the more inflamed with the love of God, and they learne more highly to prize those bles­sings which before were of­fered unto them; As the Church refused to open un­to Christ when hee knocked, Cant 5.6. but after he had withdrawne himselfe shee sought him with all diligence. And thus [Page 112] God prepares a table for us in the wildernes, and relieves us in our greatest necessity: Wee may see what assurance David had in saying, When shall I come? hee doth not say, I shall never come, but beleeveth there will bee a time of comfort, Psal. 27.4. when hee shall inquire in the Temple. Nor is it without cause that hee so much desireth to ap­peare before God, having e­ver found his eare open unto his prayer: As for Saul, the Lord was angry with him, and would not answer him, neither by dreames, 1. Sam. 28.5. & 23, 2, 4, 11, 12, & 30.8. nor by Urim, nor by Prophets; but when soever David inqui­red of the Lord, he received a gracious answer; which made him say, How amiable [Page 113] are thy tabernacles? Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, Psal. 84. for a day in thy courts is better than a thousand; and hee was glad when they said unto him, & 122.1. Let us goe into the house of the Lord: yea in his greatest agony after hee had laine all night upon the earth, and his head both was and seemed to be as a foun­taine of teares, even then, in the beginning of comfort he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped before hee would eate any bread: 2. Sam. 12.20. And now when he fled from his sonne, he thought it the best testimony of Gods love that he might come and ap­peare before him; 2. Sam. 15.25. If I finde favour in the eyes of the Lord, hee will bring me a­gaine, [Page 114] and shew mee both the Arke and his habitation. And although he were pro­hibited from building of the materiall Temple, yet had hee dedicated his body, be­ing the Temple of the holy Spirit, 1. Cor. 6.19. unto the service of God: And hee erected a Church in his house, where­in all the vessels were holy, Rom. 16.5. for none that wrought deceit might dwell therein; Psal. 101.7. and there also God was honou­red. And lastly hee set up a Basilica (a building well be­seeming such a King) when hee, and all the house of Isra­el did bring the Arke into Zion, which was an assurance of Gods presence among the people: Wherefore let the same minde bee in you Philip. 2.5. [Page 115] which was in David and in Christ himselfe, Psal. 16.8. who fore­saw the Lord alwaies before his face. Act. 2.25. Let thy closet bee as an Oratory, and therein doe thou appeare before thy Father, who seeth in secret, and will reward thee open­ly. Mat. 6.6. Let thine house bee like a Church, wherein thou and thine daily and duely in the day may serve the Lord; and not like those Chappels in great buildings which are roomes of greatest necessity, but of least use.

VERSE III. My teares have beene my meat day and night, while they continually say unto mee, Where is thy God?

BEfore he thirsted for the living God; and now he saith, That his teares were his meat: So that untill such time as his soule shall bee fil­led with heavenly comfort, he doth continue mourning. My teares have beene my meate: Whereby wee may understand the greatnesse of his sorrow, which held him from taking his bodily suste­nance: My heart is smitten, so that I forget to eate my bread. Psal 102.4. And wee know that in the time of griefe, the El­ders [Page 117] of his house could not perswade him to eate meate with them; 2. Sam. 12.17. Haec itaque sibi recorda­ta est, Post­quam satiga­ta [...]uerat la­crymaudo. Sc. Niobe. Homer: Il. 24. whereas the chiefe mourner in outward sorrow desired meate: Or else, his teares were his meat, that is, hee received the same strength and comfort by his teares, that others did by eating. He was fed with the bread of teares, Psal. 80.5. & had teares given him to drinke in great measure: And he had teares for his meate, they were his whole repast, so that no part of his food was wanting in them; and that not onely in the day, when others use to eate, Psal. 102.9. and when hee himselfe did mingle his drinke with weeping, but his teares were his meat both day and night. As Christ said to his Disci­ples, [Page 118] I have meate to eate that yee know not of; Iohn 4.32 so may e­very good Christian say, I have meate to eate that the world know not of: He find­eth great comfort by the teares hee sheds, which are the best evidence of Gods fa­vour and love unto him. For as it appeared that Elijah his sacrifice was accepted by the fire that fell, 1. King. 18.38. so it is evident that our sacrifice is accepted by this water that falleth downe.

Man is borne unto trou­ble, as the sparks fly upward: The crying of the child after birth, is but the beginning of sorrowes: Naturally wee are inclined to remorse in our selves, Mollissima corda, huma­no generi. &c. Iuvenal. and compassion to­wards others. And there bee [Page 119] many that have not power to retaine their teares; Excidunt eti­am retinenti­bus lacrymae. Senec. Act. 22.28. but as the chiefe Captaine said, that hee was not free borne, but with a great summe hee ob­tained his freedome: So wee by our birth, are not able to shed such teares as David did, but with many prayers wee obtaine this freedome, that wee can mourne before the Lord. It is a signe of life in the childe if it cryes; and it is a blessed testimony, that wee are borne againe, and have the life of grace in us, when we cry unto the Lord, and doe humble our selves in weeping and lamentation. Teares doe accompany any vehement commotion, Lacrymae omnis fere gra­vioris com­motionis co­m tes Causa­b [...]. and perturbation of minde: True it is, that any vaine and un­worthy [Page 120] occasion doth pro­duce teares sooner than god­ly sorrow, which alone de­serves them: If wee knew rightly how to bestow them, Nulli parcen­dum est rei magis quam huic cuius tam frequens usus est. Sen. wee would not lavish them so fondly as wee doe. In our selves wee are as withered branches, having no sap nor moisture, but from the root Christ Iesus: The manifold troubles and miseries of this life doe make us to be obdu­rate; Quantum est Helena quod lacrymat ma­lum. Sen. in Tro. and our hearts thereby come to bee harder than stones, which give against the weather. As Moses did smite the rocke twice, Num. 20.11. Lam. 2.18. Terque qua­terque manu p [...]ctus percus­sit honestum. V [...]rgil. and the wa­ter came out abundantly; so wee must often strike our hearts, that teares may runne downe like a river day and night: And wee must pray [Page 121] unto God, who turneth the flint into a fountaine of wa­ters, Psal. 114.8. to take out our hearts of stone, and to give us hearts of flesh. He it is that raiseth the springs from the depth of the earth, Psal. 104.10. and causeth them to run among the hils; that worketh in us a broken heart, and maketh the eye to runne downe with rivers of water: Lam. 3.48. Wherefore as Achsah ha­ving received a South-land of Caleb her father, Iosh. 15.19. did sue unto him to give her also springs of water, and hee gave her the upper springs, and the neather springs; so wee should pray unto our fa­ther, to give us the upper, and the neather springs; even an heart bleeding for our sins, Lam. 3.49. and an eye trickling downe [Page 122] with teares of repentance: yea wee should resolve not to give rest unto our eies, nor slumber unto our eye-lids, untill that we have mourned for our transgressions: And although those Iewes were accursed of God and them­selves, being bound neither to eate nor drinke till they had killed Paul; Act. 23. v. 12. yet we shall bee blessed, yea thrice blessed shall wee bee, if wee bind our selves neither to eate nor drinke, untill wee have fer­vently sued for this meate, which was Davids diet, most comfortable to the soule: And as Adam in the sweat of his face was to eate his bread, so wee by our impor­tunate and effectuall prayer, should seeke for this food of [Page 123] our soules, which may bee compared unto Manna, that came downe from heaven, Exod. 16.14. and it is God that giveth this unto us; that came with the dew of the night, and this we receive with those teares which wee shed; that ceased when they came to Canaan, Iosh. 5.12. and this shall cease when we come to the heavenly Ca­naan, Revel. 21.4. for then shall all teares bee wiped from our eyes. Lastly, as there was a golden pot of Manna kept in remem­brance thereof; so there is a bottle of our teares, Psal. 56.8. which God keepeth in remem­brance thereof: And that of it selfe may be the most pow­erfull argument to make us distill some teares, because they are not as water spilt on [Page 124] the ground which cannot be gathered up againe, but God hath provided a flagon to put them in. Also wee may con­sider the necessity of them, Nec non eti­am precor lympham. Quoniam si­ne aqua omnis arida ac mise­ra agricultu­ra. Varro. that as the labour of the hus­bandman is vaine and fruit­lesse, without a plentifull raine to water the ridges thereof abundantly; so other actions will be of small pur­port, without these heavenly showers to refresh us when wee are weary: Gen. 43.30. Wherefore, as Ioseph sought where to weepe, and he entred into his Chamber and wept there; so let us seeke some retired place, Ier. 13.17. Nemo sibi tri­stis est. Sen. that our soules may weepe in secret, as Ieremiah did: Worldly sorrow desi­reth to be manifest, and ap­peare unto men; but this [Page 125] godly sorrow is hidden from the eyes of men; Siquis adest iussae prosi [...] ­unt lacrymae Martial. none but our heavenly father seeth it. And these our teares must not bee like the morning cloud, or the early dew; Hos. 13.3. but as the former and the latter raine: they must begin in our first conversion, and they must continue so long as wee continue, ever running down plenteously like Aarons oyntment, Psal 133. which went down from his head to the skirts of his garments; so wee should wish our head to bee a foun­taine of teares, Ier. 9.1. Cur non ocu­l [...]s plures [...] ­bis na [...] [...]. Sen. in T [...]b. Cum [...]us fier. didedert [...]n [...]um du [...] ­taxat diem. Senec. and that wee had many eies, that we might sufficiently bewaile our ini­quities: And that not onely for a day (which was the time set apart for sorrow) but untill our eyes doe faile with [Page 126] teares, weeping untill wee have no more power to weepe. Lam. 2.11. 1. Sam. 30.4. It is said of David, that hee lift up his voyce and wept: So wee, when wee weepe must lift up our voice and our hearts also, unto the Lord in prayer; that so the teares which wee powre out, may be as a drink-offering, acceptable before him. And though by reason of our teares wee bee not able to speake unto the Lord, yet as Perseus wrought compassi­on in the people by his teares which stopped the passage of his speech; Sed aliquo­ [...]ies dic [...]re incipientem cum lacrvmae praepea [...]ent. Liv [...]. so will the Lord have pitty upon us, when through the greatnesse of our sorrow wee are not able to speake unto him: Vocisque re­pens singulens apertum in­ercepit iter. [...] at. yea, then wee cry unto him with best [Page 127] successe, when wee seeme to bee over-whelmed with our sighs and teares, that we can­not distinctly utter our com­plaints before him: Then al­so the spirit helpeth our infir­mities; for we know not what wee should pray for, Rom 8.26. as wee ought, but the spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us, with groanings which can­not be expressed. Omnia Iu­gentium of­ficia solerter finxit, sed la­crvmae pro­cedere nolu­crunt Apul. Lacryma [...] non sponte cadentes eff [...] ­dit, gem [...]tas (que) express (que) pe­cto [...]e laeto. Lucan. Other ge­stures of sorrow may bee a­cted, but teares are not so ea­sily forced; and though they sometime bee drawne out to make some appearance of outward griefe, yet in godly sorrow, wee know, they bee alwayes sincere and just; wherein they doe as much excell the other, as orien pearle doe common glasse: [Page 128] But let us thinke them to bee serious & without guile; yet how superfluous are they for the most part, as one spake of a sorry Comaedian, Rhodophili comaedia, a­deo infulsa est, ut miseri­cordiam po­tius quam ri­sum excitet. I [...]l. Scal. Quanto risu pro [...]equenda sunt quae no­bis lacrimas educunt. Sen. Quae causa in­d [...]gna serenos faedavit vul­ [...]s. Virgil. that hee did stirre up compassion ra­ther than mirth: So we may affirme the contrary, That the teares of many deserve thus to bee reproved rather than to be pittied: And unto others that are more passio­nate and dolorous, yet not squaring their sorrow accor­ding to the rule of the Word, wee may speake as Paul did, What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart? Acts 22.13. as having a fellow-feeling of their weaknesse, who for want of comfort and cou­rage, are weighed downe un­der the burthen of any cala­mity. [Page 129] Wee should not bee ignorant of the devices of that wicked one, who seeketh to deale by us, as Cyrus did by those whom he besieged; Herodot. li. 1. hee divided the great river into diverse currents, by the which hee passed over and subdued Babylon: So our Enemy hopeth for victory by turning that streame of our teares, which ought to bee for our sinnes, into new pas­sages. If wee have any losse, wee lament with unfained teares: In the death of chil­dren wee refuse to bee com­forted because they are not: In the departure of our friends, wee mourne as those that have no hope: yea though wee part but for a time wee strive who should [Page 130] exceed in weeping: where­as it would be our wisedome to keepe this river of teares within the proper bounds, that it may not exceed the li­mits (as Iordan doth in time of harvest) and thereby hin­der us from reaping our b [...]st benefit. Canst thou mourne at some dolefull story? yea it may be at some slanderous and malicious fiction, Invida cur in me stimulasti musa Maro­nem? Auson. Q [...]od com­mentus est in odium Car­tha ganiensi­um. Fo [...]. Scal. as that of Dido killing her selfe? And canst thou not mourne for thy sinnes both desperate and presumptuous, whereby thou hast laboured to de­stroy thine owne soule? Quod pudu­islet ipsum histrionis in­commodis & affection bu [...] [...]isericordem videri, &c. AE [...]an. As that cruell King arose, and went from a Tragoedy con­founded with shame and sor­row, that hee should seeme to be touched with remorse [Page 131] at the false semblance of an Actor, and yet be without a­ny commiseration towards his owne subjects: So wee may abhorre our selves that wee can dissolve into teares upon some frivolous occasi­on, and yet bee without any contrition when it is most needfull. Christ saith, Mat 20.15. Is thine eye evill because I am good? What eye so evill and so full of malice, as that which is an enemy to the soule? Wilt not thou mourn because God is gracious in giving his blessings? in for­giving thy sinnes? Rather let the bounty and long suf­ferance of God lead thee to repentance. Strangulat in­clusus d [...] lor atque [...]or, ae­stuat [...]ntus O­vid. Doe wee finde such inlargement and quiet by those common teares wee [Page 132] let fall, when we are surchar­ged and ready to breake for want of vent? Fletus aerum­nas levat, Sen. then how great consolation may wee find by our godly sorrow, when wee are as good grapes troden in the wine-presse, and doe yeeld that precious liquor whereby the heart is chee­red? Est quaedam delendi vo­lup [...]s prae er­timsi in ami­ci sinu defle­as. Plin. Iun. Magis exu­runt quos se­cretae lace­rant curae. Sen in Agam. Doe we receive solace and release in the sympathy of a friend, unto whom wee powre out our complaint, who pittieth us, & mingleth his teares with ours? then how shall wee value these which wee shed in the pre­sence of the Almighty, Psal. 39.12. who is not silent at our teares but speakes comfortably unto our soules? Who is not like our friend that bids us bee warmed and filled, not being [Page 133] able to give us those things we want; But he doth warme our hearts with his blessings, and fill our soules with com­fort; He hath delivered my soule from death, Psal. 116.8. & 30.5. mine eyes from teares, and my feete from falling. Weeping may endure for a night, Vt levis quae­dam & mode­rata hum [...]cta­tio terrae af­fundatur. Kecker. and bee like unto the dew, whereby a gentle moisture is spread upon the earth, but joy com­meth in the morning: In the beginning of that great day, when the Sun of righteous­nesse doth arise, Mala. 4. Isai. 25.8. he will wipe away teares from off all fa­ces. In the meane while during this disconsolate estate, wee receive light and com­fort by that day-starre ari­sing in our hearts, 2. Pet. 1.19. the glad tidings of the Gospel: So [Page 134] that as sorrowfull wee al­wayes rejoyce. 2. Cor. 6.10. It is most just that teares should bee our meate, when as the eyes did at first offend in desiring to eate the forbidden fruite, Gen. 3.6. which seemed pleasant unto them, and to be desired for food: where we must observe the Lords gracious dealing with us, who hath taken out the sting out of our sorrow, & turned that into a blessing, which might justly have bin a curse and a punishment: For as meate came out of the eater, so we receive comfort by our sorrow, which might have beene as a lyon to de­voure us; And as Paul pro­vided for the excommuni­cate person, 2. Cor. 2.7. that hee should not be swallowed up with o­vermuch [Page 135] heavinesse; So the Lord in mercy receiveth us that deserve to be cast out of his presence, and giveth us this savoury meate, better than all the delicious fare in the world; for the which our soules doe blesse him both in life and death: As it was a te­stimony of Iosephs love un­to Benjamin, Gen. 43.34. that his meale was five times as much as a­ny of his brethren; so it is a most sure pledge of God his love when hee giveth us a large portion of this heaven­ly meate. It was a great ho­nour unto Mephibosheth to eate continually at King Da­vids table, 2. Sam. 9.13. but it is much more honourable unto us, to eate the same spirituall meat, and to drinke the same spiri­tuall [Page 136] drink which David did. Then let us covet this hea­venly gift; and as the Disci­ples said, Lord evermore give us this bread; so let us say, Iohn. 6. Lord evermore give us this meate, that wee may live for ever. Non in sacris tantum, sed etiam in pe­nore tangen­do observavê­re veteres. Turneb. Mar. 7.3, 4. It was the tradition of the Elders to wash dili­gently before they did eate, And Christ blamed the Pha­risees for their superstition therein, who made cleane the outside, but within were full of wickednesse. But this meat doth cleanse that which is within, and the outside is cleane also. Hereby we our selves are cleansed, and all things are cleane unto us: We have right unto the crea­tures to sustaine our bodies; and this meate is a prepara­tive [Page 137] unto that spirituall meat: By the teares which we shed in our examination, wee be­come in some measure wor­thy receivers of that food of our soules.

I may produce some ex­amples of those that have mourned, that we being com­passed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, may like­wise breake into a shower of teares. And first, behold how our blessed Saviour loved Lazarus, Iohn 11.35. weeping for him being dead: And hast thon no love to thine own soule? Canst thou not weepe for thy selfe, being dead in sin? Did hee weepe, Luk. 19 41. foreseeing the destruction of Ierusa­lem? And canst not thou mourne to foresee, yea to be­hold [Page 138] before thine eyes, the miserable estate of Gods people? Doth not the bloud of the Saints, and servants of God that is shed move thee to shed some teares? Shall Mary Magdalen weepe e­nough to make a bath for Christs feet? And wilt not thou weepe that thine owne soule may bee washed and cleansed? Did Peter weepe bitterly? And dost thou de­lude thy selfe as Agag did, 1. Sam 15.32. thinking the bitternesse of death to bee past with­out the bitternesse of sor­row? And what shall I more say? For the time would faile me to tell of Iob, Iob 16.20. Act. 20.19. 2. Cor. 2.4. whose eye powred forth teares unto God; of Paul, who wept with many teares; of Iere­miah [Page 139] his Lamentation, and of the rest of the Prophets: Onely looke upon David, who, were it not for the dis­paragement, Sic parvis, &c. may be compa­red to Heraclitus, Et ipse inter deplorandos erat Senec. ever wee­ping: But the one was to be pittied for weakenesse, the o­ther to bee imitated for holi­nesse. His eyes were consu­med because of griefe; Psal. 6.7. & 32.10. His life was spent with griefe; Hee mourned because of the oppression of the enemy, & 43.2. & 88 [...]. & 55 [...]. and by reason of his affliction; & 119.136. & 38 6. & 6.6. Hee mourned in his com­plaint, and rivers of waters ranne down his eyes because they kept not thy Law; Hee went mourning all the day long, and all the night hee made his bed to swimme; His teares were his meate [Page 140] both day and night: Let this move us to weepe with him that wept so much; Rom. 12.15. know­ing, Psal. 6.8. that God heareth the voice of our weeping. There­by we cast aside every weight both of sinne and sorrow; And our eies being through­ly washed by the teares of repentance, wee come to see those things which the eare hath not heard, nor is the tongue able to utter: Psal. 126.5. And at last after this wet seed time, we reape in joy. Now let us behold the doubtfull e­state of those whose hearts are hard as the Adamant, be­ing yet in the bond of iniqui­ty; who thinke that this ex­pression of sorrow doth a­rise out of an effeminate ten­dernesse. But wee may say [Page 141] of laughter, it is mad; Eccles. 2.2. The mirth and jollity of the wic­ked, being like the laughter of a mad man, for the which all his friends doe grieve. Such being in subjection to the Prince of the ayre, Neque solum linguam nu­tusque servi­tu [...]e constrin­geret, sed eti­am oculis à naturâ tribu­tam liberta­tem eriperet. Aelian. hee dealeth with them, as that ty­rant did, who having inter­dicted private conference, and discontented gestures, and hearing of some that wept & mourned, he sought to forbid that also, lest there­by some conspiracy might begin against him. So Satan fearing lest that by the teares of contritiō they should cast off his heavy yoke, and not suffer sinne to reigne in their mortall bodies, his chiefe practice is to keepe them from godly sorrow: [Page 142] And therefore hee dealeth with them as the Fox doth by the Goose, which he ta­keth by the necke and so hin­dreth from crying out; Hee stoppeth our complaint, and prevents our crying unto the Lord; Like a thiefe he clim­beth up and entreth in at the windowes of this our earth­ly house, and robbeth us of all grace and comfort. Hee keepeth the eies for his owne passage, making them instru­ments of wickednesse, and brethren in cruelty: Where­as if they were like the poole of Heshbon, full of this holy water, hee should not be ad­mitted thereby. Heb. 12.17. If Esau found no place of repen­tance though hee sought it carefully with teares, what [Page 143] can wee thinke of those that come short of him, who (as wee may feare) came short of heaven? Where it is said, that in place of torment, Mat. 8.12. Sum Nilus, sumque Aet­na simul. Sa­naz. There shall be weeping; the punishment is most just for them that never mourned in the time of their life. The light of the body is the eye; Luke 1 [...].34. The light of the soule are the teares in the eye: And as One, Gallum Ter­rinium, cap­tum repentè oc [...]is & ob ad media mori destinantem. Sueton. who had lost the sight of his eyes did resolve to fa­mish his body; so they that want these teares doe seeke to overthrow the good estate of their soules, not having this heavenly nourishment which David had, Whose teares were his meat day and night.

VERSE III. While they continually say unto mee, Where is thy God?

AS the friends of Iob, that came to mourne with him, did sit downe by him, and none spake a word, for they saw that his griefe was very great; Iob 2.13. So likewise if we that passe by the way will enter into the house of mour­ning, and consider and be­hold the greatnesse of Da­vids sorrow, wee shall bee dumbe with silence, and our sorrow also will bee stir­red: And yet these his ene­mies having no regard doe persecute him whom the Lord had smitten; as if the corection of the Almighty were too mercifull, they are [Page 145] inraged with bitter malice a­gainst him. It was not one, or some few, but many of them that spake thus unto him: Nor did the storme sodainly blow over, but they perseve­red in this their fury; And having singled him out, they give him no time to recover strength, but make him to be the only mark at whom they shoote their arrowes, Psal. 64.3. even bitter words. And this they did not in the time of pros­perity, but in his greatest necessity, & 71.11. when (as they thought) God had forsaken him, and there was none to deliver him; 2. Sam. 16 9. then these dead dogs cursed the King: They doe not upbraid him with a­ny outward losse, for they knew how lightly hee estee­med [Page 146] all earthly things; but having travailed with iniqui­ty, Psal. 7.1 [...] and conceived mischiefe, they bring forth falshood, and say, Where is thy God? As all the city cryed out, when the Arke of God was taken, And the wife of Phi­nehas about the time of her death named the child Icha­bod, [...]. S [...]m. 4. verse 1 [...].2 [...]. that is, Where is the glory? which was then de­parted from Israel: So these his enemies, thinking to make his sorrow to be dead­ly and desperate, doe say un­to him, Where is thy God? in whom thou hast hereto­fore gloried, as if thou hadst some peculiar right and inte­rest in him: Numb. 16.3. whereas all the congregation are holy, every one of them; and the Lord [Page 147] is among them: He hath bin and ever will bee a God of mercy unto us; And because the cry of that innocent bloud, which thou hast shed, is come up before him, Hee will arise and shew himselfe a God of vengeance in pu­nishing thy sinnes: So that thou art taken to thy mis­chiefe, thou bloudy man, and thou man of Belial; Iob. 4.8. & 8.2 [...]. Having plowed iniquity, and sowne wickednesse, thou must reape the same; for God will not helpe the evill doers: Yea rather than thy sinnes shall goe unpunished, thine owne sonne shall lift up himselfe against thee. Thus did hee beare in his bosome the re­proach of all the mighty people: Before this, Psal. 89.50. he was [Page 148] checked for the pride and naughtinesse of his heart, and that by a brother, which should rather have beene a comfort unto him: Hee was scornefully used, and coun­ted as a servant that had broke away from his Master, where he formerly deserved kindnesse. Hee was cursed with a grievous curse by Shi­mei, who threw stones at him that in disgrace was called The Stone, as if all his credit came by hitting Goliah; and cast dust at him, thereby tel­ling him, that God had rai­sed him out of the dust, but now hee had provoked the Lord. Hee whose tongue was his glory, who made so many divine hymnes in praise of God, yet was hee a [Page 149] proverb to the wicked, and the song of the drunkards. Psal. 69.11, 12. And what could bee more grievous unto him, than to bee reproached for that faith and confidence which hee reposed in the Almighty? as if his former profession were nothing but hypocrisie: Al­so the measure of his griefe was the fuller, because hee saw that this their calumny, and words of hatred, did re­flect upon God himselfe, as if hee should forsake those that put their trust in him: And therefore hee mourned because they violently ranne upon their owne destruction, Psal. 1 [...]9.13 [...] in sinning against the lawes of God. And such is our condition, that when God hath gathered us under his wings, [Page 150] whosoever doth seek to hurt us, they strike at God him­selfe; and in our persecution hee also is persecuted. Nei­ther did they wound him with their tongues onely, which they thought to bee their owne, Psal. 140.3. having adders poyson under their lips, whereby being stung, he lif­ted up his eies unto the Lord; But also by their disdainfull carriage they vexed his righ­teous soule from day to day; Psal. 109.26. Isai. 59 9. A tergo qu [...]m nulla ciconia [...]it. Persius. Vel co [...] mo­ [...] vel digiti in [...]a [...]iorie. C [...]bon. It being usuall to shake the head and to put forth the fin­ger in disgrace. Looke how it was in the dayes of David, so it is now, and so it will be unto the comming of the Son of man: If a good man bee in affliction and sicknesse (God chastising every sonne [Page 151] whom hee receiveth) some there bee that will say, Psal. 3.2. There is no helpe for him in God; thinking that bodily diseases are alwayes a signe of Gods wrath: If hee fall into any offence, through infirmity, (for who is hee that sinneth not?) they, 1. Cor. 13. being uncharita­ble, will rejoyce in his ini­quity. As when David wept and made sack-cloth his gar­ment, it was to his reproach; Psal. [...]9.10. so the least spot upon the garment of those that mourn before the Lord, shall bee made to appeare for their disgrace: Yea, though they walke wisely and circumspe­ctly, yet there bee some that perversly will make that which is straight, to be croo­ked. When David, in an ho­ly [Page 152] zeale and heavenly joy, did dance before the Lord, yet even for that, Michal, the wife in his bosome did despise him in heart. Many that bee now in the same bo­some of the Church, and hope hereafter to bee in the same bosome of Abraham, will speake contemptuously of those that desire to have a good cōscience in all things, Heb. 12. [...]8. and are willing to live ho­nestly. With the tongue blesse wee God, even the Fa­ther, Iam. 3.9. and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God: So those men will speake to the praise of God, that they may bee reputed the children of the most High; and yet will vilifie such as they in scorne, [Page 153] and the Scripture in honour call Brethren, who labour to repaire that image which was defaced by the fall of A­dam, and doe give unto the Lord that which is the Lords: But envy hath ever beene like unto fire, which ascendeth unto that which is highest. David, Invidiam tan­quam ignem summa pe­t [...]re Livi. whom God exalted to bee head of the people, had many enemies; And the men of this world, doe hate those whom God hath chosen out of the world; unto whom hee will give a crowne of life: Yet their owne consciences doe tell them, that they are more righteous than themselves. Wherefore those servants that shall thus smite their fellow-servants (for many Mat. 24.49. [Page 154] stripes are more tolerable than evill words) their Lord shall come in a day when they looke not for him, Q [...]i mortem ac ver [...]era to­le [...]biliora c [...] a [...] quam [...] [...]osa verba. Sence, and appoint them their portion with the hypocrites. As for our selves, [...] 2.20. if we suffer for do­ing well, and take it patient­ly, it is acceptable with God: And hereunto were wee cal­led, because Christ also suffe­red for us; who when hee was reviled, reviled not a­gaine: Let us consider him that endured such contradi­ction of sinners, Heb. 12 3. lest wee be wearied, and faint in our minds. Yee know how the whole band of Souldiers mocked him, saying, Haile King of the Iewes; And they that passed by reviled him, saying, If thou be the Sonne [Page 155] of God, come downe from the crosse: Yea the chiefe Priests like whited walls, contrary to the law, spake e­vill of the Ruler of the peo­ple, of the Lords Christ, of that high Priest that offered up himselfe for us: Hee tru­sted in the Lord, let him de­liver him if hee will have him: And the theeves them­selves, to make the cause of their suffering to bee more just, thought they could not spend their last breath bet­ter than by casting the same in his teeth. All which re­proaches were but as so ma­ny variations of that which was here spoken to David, Where is thy God? True it is, that our blessed Saviour did seeme to bee forsaken of [Page 156] God for a time, that wee might for ever enjoy the pre­sence of the Almighty. If we love him, both He, and the Father will come unto us, Mat. 28 20. Iohn 14. and make their abode with us, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot re­ceive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: But yee know him, for hee dwelleth with you and shall bee in you. How then can wicked men object, Where is thy God? seeing he is gra­ciously present with us at all times, and neerest unto us in any trouble; as hee hath pro­mised to bee with us in fire and water, In gravescen­te rerum ad­versarum mo­le [...]ta frangi­tur piorum animus, ut eti­am ipsi dicant sibi, &c. Fla­mi [...]. and the greatest danger: Yet we our selves in the time of afflictiō, through weakenesse & want of faith, [Page 157] may thinke that wee are cast out of his sight, not clearely discerning his love towards us: But as Iacob, when he a­waked out of his sleepe, said, Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not; Gen. 28.16. so when the Lord doth raise us from our deadnesse and hea­vinesse of spirit, we then find that hee was present with us in our disconsolate estate, disposing all things for our future good: And therefore wee may answer them as Da­vid doth, Psal. 115.3.4. Our God is in the heavens, he hath done what­soever hee pleased; Their i­dols are silver and gold, the worke of mens hands. Such are the idols of all those that serve Mammon, who keepe their gold and silver safe, as [Page 158] being their onely gods that must defend them: Gen. 31.34. But as Laban sought for his gods and could not finde them, so they may hope for com­fort, and not finde it: And then we may say unto them, Where are thy gods? Wee know that no man can see God and live; The people said unto Moses, Exod. 23.20. & 20.19. Let not God speake with us lest wee dye: Gideon and Manoah feared death, having seene an Angell: And the souldi­ers themselves, Mat. 28. became as dead men when the Angel of the Lord descended. And yet such is the perverse cor­ruption of mans nature, that they neglect the worship of God the Creator of all things, and doe bow downe [Page 159] to such Gods as they see with their eyes: The Israe­lites having formerly seene the Egyptians worship Apis (which is the same with Osy­ris) in the likenesse of an oxe, Sandys. they forgat God their Savi­our, and began with a calfe, saying, These bee thy gods, Num. 32.4. O Israel; which in a short time would have multiplied into many gods. The love and reverence which little children beare to their ba­bies, are evident seeds of I­dolatry: Moulin. in buckler. Imagines & statuae deo­rum n [...]hil ali­ud sunt quam grandes pu­p [...]e. and the Images of the gods are nothing else, but babies come to the full growth: Such as have blot­ted out that second comman­dement may justly feare that God will take away their part out of the book of life.

If in the time of affliction, when God punisheth us for our offences, it be a great ad­dition to our misery, the harsh censures and malignant speeches of wicked men; Then it is our best wisedome so to walke with God, that hee may be unto us a sunne, and a shield, bringing all good, and defending from all evill; And as Enoch plea­sing God, Heb. 11.5. was translated that hee should not see death; which is the wages of sinne; So if wee bee in all things o­bedient unto Gods Word, hee will take us into his fa­vour, and wee shall bee deli­vered from unreasonable men, Rom. 3.13. whose throate is an o­pen sepulchre: Wherefore as the lamp went not out, in the [Page 161] Temple, before the Lord called Samuel; 1. Sam. 3.3. so the light both of good workes and al­so of joy, should ever ascend, untill God call us unto him­selfe: That others behol­ding the same may bee asha­med that they have falsly ac­cused our good conversati­on; and may be stirred up to glorifie God. 1. Pet. 3.13. For who is he that will harme you, if yee bee followers of that which is good? Also our owne guilt doth set an edge upō the reproaches of wicked men, and make them to bee like a sword in our bones; Where­as if wee were innocent, wee should like the daughter of Eli, neither answer, nor yet regard what is spoken unto us: Bitter invectives being [Page 162] contemned doe vanish away, but by anger wee confesse them to be true: S [...]reta exo­leseunt; si i­rascar agnita vid [...]ntu [...]. Tacit. Wherefore that wee may bee compassed about with that brazen wall of a good conscience, and se­cured from the censures of uncharitable men; as Mithri­date is made of the viper, so let us make that to bee our Antidote, which is here spo­ken by those that had shar­pened their tongue like a ser­pent; Psal. 140 3 judging our selves, that wee may not be condemned by them. In the time of prosperity let this bee ever sounding in thine eares, Where is thy God? And thou shalt bee kept from wrath and misery, when they do wound thine heart, while they continually say unto [Page 163] thee, Where is thy God? Had Eve thought upon these words, they would have bin an ornament of grace unto her head, and chaines about her necke: Shee would not have beleeved the father of lyes before the God of truth; but for want thereof shee miscarri [...]d, by eating that forbidden fruite, for which her soule longed. Had David thought upon these words, being on the roofe of his house, hee would have said, as hee did at another time, The heavens declare the glo­ry of God, and the firma­ment sheweth his handy-worke: Then would he not have defiled himselfe with her that was purified from her uncleannesse; Neither [Page 164] should these his enemies have said unto him, Where is thy God? And although this affliction be grievous for the present, yet wee re­ceive many benefits thereby; which may bee sufficient to deterre an evill speaker from that outrage. Thereby wee are put in minde to examine our selves, and to humble our soules for our former sinnes. We know they could not speak thus without Gods permission; Wee hope that the Lord will requite good for their cursing; We mourn before him, wee duely consi­der his dealing with us, and fervently pray to be set at li­berty: as David when they spake thus unto him, he had teares for his meate, hee re­membred [Page 165] these things and hee powred out his soule in him.

VERSE IIII. When I remember these things, I powre out my soule in me.

FOrmerly hee powred out his teares, and now hee powreth out his soule: For as the body without the spi­rit is dead; so our teares with­out the soule are dead also. Wee know that young Pto­lomy being in Cesars custo­dy he wept before him; Regius ani­mus discipli­nis failacis [...]i­mi [...] cruditus. Hirt. But when hee was dismissed hee warred against him: So there be too many, that while they be under the rod of correcti­on doe lament greatly, fee­ling [Page 166] present anguish, and fea­ring future torment: But be­ing set at liberty, they return to their pollutions: which sheweth plainly, that though they shed many teares, they did not with holy David powre out their soules: Hee remembred the reproach of the wicked; for how could hee forget that which was so often objected against him? and this made his soule melt for heavinesse, Psal. 119.28. Iob 30.16. and be pow­red out upon him (as Iob speaketh:) Hee remembred his happy estate, which com­pared with the misery now suffered, did augment his sor­row, Lam. 2.19. and made him powre out his heart like water be­fore the face of the Lord (as Ieremiah doth counsell:) [Page 167] And hee hoped to bee resto­red unto his former joy, and to finde comfort by prayer; and therefore hee powred out his soule before the Lord (as Hannah practised. 1. Sam. 1.15.) And hee was inlarged by trusting in Gods mercies: Hee recei­ved a twofold benefit by considering the dayes of old, the yeares of ancient times: The one was to sustaine him in his trouble, Psal. 77.5.10. by remem­bring the yeares of the right hand of the most High, who had dealt bountifully with him: Heb. 11.21: And as Iacob worship­ped leaning upon the top of his staffe; So he in this weak estate did repose himselfe upon the grace and favour of the Almighty. The other was to mak [...] [...]e sinnes to be as [Page 168] detestable unto him as they were abominable before God, by calling to minde how gracious the Lord had beene towards him, how un­worthily hee had requited the Lords goodnesse, and how great blessings hee had lost by the sinnes hee com­mitted: For I had gone with the multitude, even with all the house of Israel, being of one heart, and of one minde: But now I am constrained to flee with my houshold, with strangers and exiles: I went with them to the house of God; But now I goe from the house of God: Nor dare I suffer Zadok, who should be a Seer, to carry the Arke, which ought to abide in the city, with mee in this my pri­vate [Page 169] condition, lest that anger of the Lord which smote Uzzah, bee kindled against mee also: I went with the voice of joy and praise, play­ing upon all maner of instru­ments, with shouting, and with the sound of the trum­pet; blessing the people in the name of the Lord: But now we weepe and have our heads covered: I went with a multitude that kept holy­day: unto whom I gave bread, flesh and wine; Yea I danced before the Lord, and offered burnt offerings & peace offerings: But now I may feare that I am appoin­ted as a sheepe for the slaugh­ter, and that the Lord will have no delight in me. In this disconsolate estate hee flyes [Page 170] unto God by prayer: And as he powred out his complaint before the Lord when hee was pursued by Saul, Psal. 142.2. and was delivered; so now hee powred out his soule, and thereby became more im­ [...]r [...]g [...]ble, than hee should [...]ave beene by abiding in the strong hold of Zion. Having found such safety therein, he commends the use thereof unto others: Trust in him at all times yee people; P [...]l. [...]1.8. Powre out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. In the time of trouble wee must renounce all strength and worthinesse of our owne, and then God will have mercy upon us: Wee must empty our selves, that so wee may be filled with heavenly com­fort. [Page 171] How glorious things are spoken of Prayer in the holy Scripture? Moses would not let God alone untill hee had quenched that wrath which waxed hot against the Israelites: Exod. 3 [...].10. Iacob would not [...]et Him goe, Gen 32 28. untill hee had obtained a blessing, and was [...]refore called Isra [...]l. It is [...]ported of Archimedes, [...]hat hee vainely presumed by [...]is art, hee could move the whole earth if he might have beene lifted up from it: But wee know assuredly, that righteous Elijah being cast downe upon the earth, 1. King. 18.4 [...] did move the heavens them­selves: Iam. 5 7. hee prayed earnestly that it might not raine: Hee prayed againe, and the hea­ven gave raine. So that pray­er [Page 172] may bee compared to the ladder which Iacob saw in his dreame; Gen. 28.12. It was set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and be­hold the Angels ascending and descending on it. By prayer, men (made a little lower than the Angels) doe ascend, and the Angels doe descend for our protection, to pitch their tents about us: As Ionathan climbed up the sharpe rocke and subdued his enemies; 1. Sam. 14.13. So by prayer wee overcome principalities, and powers, and spirituall wic­kednesse in high places. But then wee must take heed to observe the manner here pre­scribed, which is, to powre out the soule, to confesse all our sinnes, to purge out the [Page 173] old leaven: Wee cannot thinke to possesse our vessels in holinesse, 1. Thes. 4.4. if wee suffer any dregs of uncleannesse to re­maine in them. And as the sent & tast of the first liquor will continue a long time in a vessell after it be emptied; Quo semel est imbuta [...] cens servab [...] odorem Testa diu. So though wee have sincere­ly repented of all our sinnes, yet that originall corruption remaining will make us cry unto the Lord to deliver us from this body of death: But such as are indulgent to themselves may feare that their presumptuous sinnes will get the victory over them: Wherefore as it is more commodious in the first making and digging of a garden, to have it once well weeded (when the bad roots [Page 174] may bee taken out) than ma­ny times afterward; So if thou wouldest bee like that paradise wherein God wal­ked, like that garden into which Christ delighted to come, Cant. 5.1. & 6.2. then search every cor­ner of thine heart, in the time of humiliation, that there may not be any roote bring­ing forth gall and worme­wood: Deut. 29.18. Wee know that the least childe remaining in the house, doth hinder in giving state; And how can God take possession of thy body to be his Temple, when there is a­ny sinne reigning therein? If wee sinne we have an Advo­cate with the Father: And as that client is like to speed ill in the triall, who giveth advantage to his adversary, [Page 175] in concealing the worst of his case from the Councell; So hee shall bee confounded in the day of judgement, that hath sought to hide his sinne. For Satan, thine accuser, will discover that which thou didst hope should have beene for ever buried: Then learne of Him that thus humbled himselfe, to acknowledge all thy transgressions. Hee is a foole in worldly affaires, that powreth out all at once: But it is heavenly wisedome, in confession of sinne, Pro. 29.11. to powre out all at once, and not to keepe it in untill afterward: David saith, I powre out my soule in mee. His prayer was sincere before God, and it was inward and hidden from the world: There was a time [Page 176] when hee cryed unto the Lord, Psal, 22.1.2. Why art thou so farre from the words of my roa­ring? But now the greatnesse of his sorrow for his grie­vous sinnes, and the calami­ties waiting upon them, made him stand amazed, as not be­ing able to speak. And doubt­lesse there is great benefit in the use both of secret and o­pen prayer: As Paul became all things to all men that hee might winne some; so wee may use every kinde that wee may receive a gracious an­swer: Sometime to cry a­loud, lifting up both heart and voyce, to shew our fer­vency and importunity; and it shall bee opened unto us that knocke. Sometime to shew our reverence by a still [Page 177] voyce, that God may therein reveale himselfe unto us. Sometime praying with the spirit and with understan­ding, speaking in the heart onely, not daring to use our tongues to call upon his name, seeing wee have disho­noured him thereby: H [...]miles pre­ces in excel­sa por [...]gite. Boet. And those our humble prayers will ascend into heaven. Though wee shut both the doore of our closet, and the doore of our lips, when wee pray, being wholly spirituall therein; our Father seeth in secret, and is well pleased with such a sacrifice. If wee desire to make our tongue to be our glory therein; yet the sound of our words may bee submissive, and rather a gen­tle noyse than a voyce: They [Page 178] that doe thus, they speake softly, Qui Deum precantes su­surrant, taci­tè loquuntur, atque intus clamant. but inwardly they cry aloud: Hannah when shee prayed did move her lips, but her voyce was not heard; yet shee found such comfort that her countenance was no more sad.

VERSE IIII. For I had gone with the mul­titude.

HIs present misery is in­creased by comparing the same with his former comfortable estate, wherein hee served the Lord: And the sorrow for the losse of his perfect freedome doth ex­ceed the griefe of worldly men in their crosses, as much as the gladnesse in his heart Psal. 4. [Page 179] had formerly beene more than the joy which they re­ceived by the increase of corne and wine. Outward benefits are deceitfull and vaine: Riches, and the like, may betake themselves to their wings, and fly away: But heavenly blessings are unchangeable, did not wee by our disobedience stop the course of Gods mercies, and cause his judgements and curses to fall upon us. Where­fore, when our destruction doth come from our selves, when by our rebellion wee shall pull downe Gods an­ger; Infelicissimū genus est in­fortunii fuisse felicem. Boet. Then the remembrance of our former happinesse is the greatest aggravation of our present wretchednesse and woe.

Also we may observe, that hee was not satisfied with that good which he had for­merly done, neither did hee rest contented therein. But his chiefe desire was ever to continue in those holy exer­cises. From whence wee re­ceive this instruction, that wee ought to forget those things which are behind, Phil. 3.13. and reach forth unto those things which are before, pressing toward the marke: having set our hand to the plough, not to looke backe, nor to spare and favour our selves, during the time of our pilgri­mage. Such as desire to wor­ship the Lord unto the end of their lives, and are con­stant unto death, they shall receive a crowne of life, and [Page 181] an everlasting inheritance: But ungodly men that for­sake their first love, like those foolish Galatians, bewitch­ed by that evill spirit, and with Demas doe embrace this present world, 2. Tim. 4.10: they shall undergoe the fierce anger of the Almighty: And as Ior­dan divided the tribes of Reuben and Gad from the rest of Israel, who, Num. 32. allured with the fertility of the countrey, did set themselves downe, and take up their ha­bitation before they came to the land of promise; So there shall be a great gulfe to separate the wicked (who like sluggards fold their armes together, as if they had wrought sufficiently) from those that abide in the place [Page 182] of blessednesse.

Whereas hee speaketh of himselfe, that hee had gone with the multitude, it will not bee impertinent to con­sider his twofold regiment, Over the Priests, 1. Cron. 15. verse 17. Rex Anius, [...]ex idem ho­m [...]num P [...]ae­b que sacer­dos. Vittis, &c. Virg. and the peo­ple; For at this time when hee blessed the people, hee had put on a linnen Ephod over his kingly robe; Also his sonne Salomon succee­ded him therein, who was called the Preacher. This was observed by many nati­ons that their Kings were Priests: Gen. 14.18. So Melchizedek was King of Salem, and Priest of the most high God. So was Numa the second King of the Romanes, Livi. lib. 1. and Augustus the second Emperor, who af­ter the death of Lentulus, did [Page 183] take unto himselfe that dig­nity of being chiefe Ponti­fex, Pontificatum max [...]mum mortuo de­mum Lentulo suscepit. Suet that thereby his autho­rity might bee made com­plete. Gratianus p [...] ­mus Impera­torum Chri­stianorum, de­se [...]vit ab hoc m [...]oru [...] in s [...]t [...]o, Cau­sabon. Which order conti­nued untill that Gratian did neglect that rite and cu­stome observed by all those Christian Emperors before him: This hath beene the use in this Land, since that into­lerable yoke of servile sub­jection unto Rome hath bin cast off, that our annointed Soveraigne should bee the chiefe head of the Church, and in all causes Ecclesiasti­call supreme governor. Now where much hath beene gi­ven, there much will bee re­quired: Therefore that should be imprinted in their hearts, which was written [Page 184] upon Aarons crowne of fine gold, Exod. 19.30. Holinesse to the Lord; And as the head doth guide and conduct the body, so ought they that are most e­minent to leade and direct such as are under them: that they may walke in this way which bringeth to life and salvation. We use to say, that the meanest officer would be knowne in his place, being unwilling to bee abridged of the extent of his power: Then how should they that are raised to highest honour exercise their authority to reduce men to the service of God, as thinking to be their most royall prerogative so to doe? Blessed are the people that bee in such a case, yea blessed be the people whose [Page 185] God is the Lord: And great is the comfort that would be found by the serious perfor­mance hereof; when the chiefe ruler like a good shep­heard, Iohn 10 4. doth goe before his sheepe, and they doe follow him; then may he have this good testimony in the latter end, & 17.4, 12. That in some measure hee hath finished the worke which was given him to do; and hath not willingly lost any of those that were given unto him: At which time he may pray as Nehemiah did, Nehem. 13.14. Remember mee O my God concerning this, and wipe not out my good deedes that I have done for the house of my God: Surely there is a fulnesse of joy, in the fulnesse of the assembly; when the [Page 186] voyce of the congregation praising the Lord, like that noyse of Charets which the Syrians heard, 2. King. 7.6. shall bee able to put that enemy to flight which doth continually be­siege us. Also therein is a most blessed resemblance betweene the Church mili­tant and triumphant; for as God commeth with tenne thousands of Saints, Deut. 33.2. and hath tenne thousand times tenne thousand Angels to stand be­fore him; Dan. 7.10. So likewise many and great multitudes of his servants here upon earth doe desire to appeare in his pre­sence: Luke 15.10. And as the Angels re­joyce over one sinner that re­penteth, so the Saints doe rejoyce in this powerfull meanes, whereby many sin­ners [Page 187] are converted.

Also it will not bee imper­tinent to consider how Da­vid was willing to joine with the meanest of his subjects in the service of God; And would bee base in his owne sight, though in so doing hee seemed vile unto others. Thus in the Kingdome of grace, Isai. 40.4. every valley shall bee exalted, and every mountain and hill shall bee made low. Where truth and sincerity are, there is also a ready dis­position to receive benefit by those of least accompt, yea and to doe good unto them without respect of per­sons: Paul that was indued with such excellent gifts, yet as hee desired to bee brought on his way towards Iudea by 2. Cor. 1.16. [Page 188] the Corinthians; so in like manner hee desired to bee conducted towards that hea­venly countrey (whereof Iudea was but a figure) by the Romanes; where hee writeth, Rom. 1.12. For I long to see you, that I may bee comfor­ted together with you, by the mutuall faith both of you and me.

Whereas David makes mention of that singular con­solation, which hee found in this communion with the people, they that are most mighty and noble may from hence learne how to esteeme of their poore brethren, for whom Christ died. Amongst barbarous nations there is most tyrannicall usurpation of power; who thinke the [Page 189] vulgar unworthy to inhabite the same walls, Quod spira­tis, quod vo­cem mittitis, quod formam hominum ha­betis indig­nantur. T. Li­vi. lib. 4. to enjoy the same light, to breathe, to speake, to have the shapes of men: But as the brethren of Dives, and all others who seeme to be gods upon earth, shall dye like men; So they which now seeme to bee as wormes and no men, after death shall become glori­ous.

Likewise we may take no­tice how worthy of blame they are, who doe oppose themselves against the godly example of David, thwar­ting and contradicting his heavenly carriage by their unadvised practice of the contrary. Here hee speaketh, that hee went with the mul­titude, and they peremptori­ly [Page 190] affirme that they will not go because of the multitude. Hee who was a true Israelite, Iohn 1.45. in whom was no guile, knew right well, that they were not all Israel which were of Isra­ell: Rom. 9.6. But yet the duty it selfe being holy, and ordained as the royall meanes to make chose which were the seed of Abraham to become chil­dren; he was ready to joyne with them therein. Who have more need of the Phy­sitian than the sicke? and to be called to repentance than sinners? Wherefore they of­fend that forbeare assem­bling themselves together: And they also may justly be reproved, who thinke if they should goe with the multi­tude, their name would lye [Page 191] hid in obscurity, and there­fore out of vainglorious sin­gularity, Ambitio mag­nis addita est virtutibus. Et eminendi fervor, & vin­ci dolens Cu­pido famae. Dom. Baudi­us. Act. 5.36. they seeke out ma­ny inventions, with Theudas boasting themselves to bee some body. Thus doe here­ticks and sectaries by jarring, warre against the peaceable estate of the Church: But there was a curse pronoun­ced against him that should attempt the building of Ieri­cho, Iosh. 6.26. which was overthrowne by Ioshuah; And there is no blessing due unto them, that againe doe lay the founda­tion of these confused Ba­bels, which have beene ra­zed and laid levell by the Churches champions. That may bee said of our times, which was once spoken of the Israelites, The wood de­voured [Page 192] more people than the sword. 2. Sam. 18.8. We may praise God that wee are delivered from the sword of persecution and of our enemies: But in the meane while, how many doe lose themselves by intricate by-paths, thinking there bee more wayes than one to walke in; and thereby fall headlong into dangerous er­rors? It sheweth the desola­tion of a countrey, when the Kings way shall be forsaken, Isai. 33.8. Iudg. 5.6. so that none doe travaile therein; And we may feare that it doth not prognosti­cate any happinesse unto our Land, when this way of King David shall lye waste: For now men will goe by them­selves, but hee went with the multitude.

VERSE IIII. I went with them to the house of God.

BEcause the greatest num­ber doe goe in the broad way that leadeth to destructi­on, Mat. 7.13. and wee are forbidden to follow a multitude to doe e­vill; Exod. 23.2. therefore upon the first mention he presently addeth the place whither hee went with them, which was, to the house of God. Hee was not occasioned thus to doe in i­mitation of others which did the like; though it were to bee wished that wee had at­tained thus farre, that wee would be followers together of him, Psal. 3.17. and marke those which walke after this en­sample: [Page 194] But as it is more bles­sed to give than to receive, Act. 20 35. so it is a greater happinesse to give this good example un­to others, than to take it from them. Thus David shined as a Light in the world, Phil. 2.15. that the people being illuminated by this pillar of fire, might come to the estate of blessednesse. And thus wee, Vt sidera con­trarium mun­do iter inten­dunt; ita sa­piens Senec. Et qui exem­plo aliis esse debetis, alio­rum exemplo peccetis poti­us quam alii vestro recte sacitis. Livi. lib. 3. if wee desire to shine as the stars (whose motion is contrary to the world) wee should labour to rectifie others, rather than to bee depraved with their vices: Though wee faile of this holy ambition, or want meanes and ability to bee as Leaders in this noble army, yet wee may bee drawne by the example of the multi­tude (which for the most [Page 195] part use to bee very power­full) to joyne with the assem­bly in all heavenly duties: And not to do like unto those which stand convicted, be­cause they will not goe with the flocke to heare the voyce of the shepheard: Nor yet like those which discover their backwardnesse, by comming after the multi­tude to the house of God; Whereas it were more com­mendable to goe with them, or before them. Such may feare to receive a curse in the end for their negligent sloth, Occupet ex­tremum sca­bies. Horat. rather than the blessing in the conclusion. In Carvans, which goe unto the Temple at Ierusalem, Sandys. the hindermost are exposed unto the greatest danger of the free-booters: [Page 196] And in this passage to the house of God, they that are last may soone bee surprised by the enemy, and hindered in their dull proceeding: Whereas if wee were indued with the Spirit (like those Worthies which brake through the hoste of the Phi­listims, 2. Sam. 23. to draw water) wee would overcome all impedi­ments, that wee may obtaine the water of life: And as the chaines did fall from the hands of Peter, so we should cast off all incumbrances wherewith our feete are bound, that wee may runne the wayes of thy commande­ments: Yea then wee would thinke Gods house to be like Goshen, inlightened by his gracious countenance; And [Page 197] to be debarred from it, more grievous than all the plagues and judgements of Egypt. There the frogges came into the house and chamber of Pharaoh; Exod. 8.3. And thou hast noysome lusts and uncleane thoughts in thine heart, which should bee the throne of the great King. They had thick darkenes which might bee felt, & 1 [...].2 [...]. so that no man rose from his place: But thy grosse darkenesse which hath over­spread the whole man, is the more fearefull, because thou hast no feeling thereof; whereby thou dost continue in the estate of wrath as at the first. There was the death of the first-borne (in whom p [...] ­rents seem to live even when they are dead: & [...]2 29.) And thou [Page 198] destroyest thine owne soule, which in the beginning did give life to thy body; and by which the righteous shall live for ever in blisse & hap­pinesse. And yet though Gods judgements be so great and terrible upon those that want or neglect this meanes of perfect freedome, and the mercy and deliverance so rich and plenteous, that is offered thereby, how foolish and carelesse are most men, in their contemptuons vilifi­ing, and disdainfull reiecting of this blessed liberty? Men­tion is made of one that was slaine by the people which trode upon him in the gate, 2 King [...]. ver. 17. when with greedy violence they strove for their bodily sustenance: but there is no [Page 199] such violence offered in see­king for that heavenly food; and yet we live not by bread, but by the Word, which is exhibited unto us in the house of God: And in the time of famine, of warre, 1. King. 8. ver. 37, 38. of pestilence, and any other ca­lamity, wee finde release by the prayers and supplicati­ons which are offered up un­to the Lord. Come then, and let us goe up to the moun­taine of the Lord, to the house of the God of Iacob: He will teach us of his waies, Isai. 2.3. and wee shall walke in his paths. One day in his courts is better than a thousand. How glad was David when they said unto him, Psal. 84.10 & 122.1 [...] Let us goe into the house of the Lord? As here he testifieth, [Page 200] that when hee went into the house of God, it was

VERSE IIII. With the voyce of joy and praise.

AND now wee would thinke that the whole world should follow him; Omnes cen­dunt ad gau­dium. Senec. for what man is there that doth not labour for ioy? But as some have put out the ele­ment of fire, affirming that there is no other but this grosse terrestriall fire which wee use: So most men thinke there is no other ioy but this which they find in their sen­suall delights. True it is, that there may bee a confused sound of ioy in earthly plea­sures; but the voyce of ioy [Page 201] is onely in heavenly things: And as that excellent musick of the voyce is to bee prefer­red before the harmony of instruments without life, whether pipe or harpe, though they give a distincti­on in their sounds: So this ioy doth farre transcend all those vaine and empty de­lights which wee finde here upon earth. It is reported of some that they have beene able to containe their grea­test ioy within themselves, Metellus sum­mum gaudi­um intrase cont insit. Val. Max. that none could take notice thereof; Nec sunt gra­ta tibi gaudia siqua atent. Martial. but Davids ioy was so great, that out of the abun­dance of his heart hee could not forbeare to speake with his mouth: And ever since in our best mirth and reioy­cing, wee seeke to imitate the [Page 202] voyce of David in singing of Psalmes: Iam. 5.13. whereby wee en­deavour to bee composed and prepared for that life, when wee shall alwayes bee lauding the name of the Lord: Psal. 108.1, 2 [...] And as David saith, I my selfe will awake early, I will sing and give praise e­ven with my glory. Soe we that are dead in Christ, shall then rise first out of those beds where wee have slept and rested, that wee may for ever sing praises unto the Lord. These two, Ioy and Praise, are so ioyned togeth [...]r of God, that no man can put them asunder: Where God hath filled the heart with ioy it will breake forth in praise and thankesgiving; And to offer the sacrifice of praise [Page 203] without reioycing were to offer a dead sacrifice without any life: By both these wee are supported when wee walke in the wayes of salva­tion: If David found such comfort in the passage, then how was hee transported with ioy when hee came in­to Gods house? If wee find such consolation in our pil­grimage, then how great blessings are prepared for us in our long home? If the first-fruits bee so precious, how plentifull is the harvest? When our lives are ended, then begins our perfect ioy: when our soules and bodies are againe united, then there is fulnesse of ioy; yea then both Ioy and Praise shall bee ioyned for evermore.

VERSE IIII. With a multitude that kept ho­ly-day.

BEcause we should not be perplexed with the diffi­culty of these words, in re­gard that our celebration of those dayes which wee call holy, doth so far differ from that which is here intended; I thinke it most needfull to represent the manner how this day was solemnized: In which, the desire of David and the people was like that of the Angel & the multitude of the heavenly hoste prai­sing God, Luke 2.13, 14. and saying; Glo­ry to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men: So this blessed [Page 205] company did first seeke the glory of God, in sacrificing, oxen and fatlings, in offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, in the sound of mu­sicke, lifting up the voyce with ioy, And that there might bee peace upon earth when Gods Arke should bee placed in the midst of the ta­bernacle, and his worship duely observed. Lastly, good will towards men, when the King blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and did distribute bread, and flesh, and wine; Tanquam ne­cessarium la­bo [...]ibus inter­ponentes temperamen­tum. Sen. So that hee did not exclude the outward refreshing of the body, after the serious and devout per­formance of all heavenly du­ties. The makers of lawes in ancient time did institute fe­stivall [Page 206] dayes, that the people might not bee overcharged with too much labour; Quia aliquan­do nihil cum populo agi utile futurum erat. T. Livi. Luce sacrâ requiescat hu­mus, requies­cut arator. Tibul. but re-gaining strength and vi­gour by the cessation, might proceed in their worke with alacrity and diligence. The best use and benefit that wee can make of any holy-day is to take off the minde from worldly cares, wherewith we are naturally surcharged; and to addict our selves to di­vine meditations and religi­ous exercises: Even among the Heathen, Et adhuc Mincia pro­les Vrget opus spernitque Deum festum­que profanat. Ovid. those Sisters mentioned in the Poet were thought to bee iustly puni­shed, for being too intent to their domesticke labour, which made them omit the publike rites. 2. King. 7.9. Wee doe not well; this is a day of good [Page 207] tidings, and wee hold our peace: Wee may feare lest the leprosie of those foure men should cleave unto us, if wee neglect to praise and glorifie God for his mani­fold blessings. Livius Drusus dixit, uni sibi nec puero quidem un­quam ferias cont gi [...]e. Senec. Wee cannot complaine as Drusus did, that from his child-hood hee never had a good day: For though we should endeavour to keepe every day in the yeare holy, yet we could not correspond in thankfulnesse, with the riches of his boun­teous love, and plenteous mercy: yea wee may rightly acknowledge that every day in our life hath beene an ho­ly-day: For as it was the cu­stome of most nations not to punish malefactours upon dayes of festivity and reioy­cing, 2. Sam. 19.22. Mar. 14. [...]. [Page 208] so the Lord hath beene gracious in pardoning our offences, Observatum ne quoties in­troiret urbem Oct. Aug. sup­plicium de quoquam su­meretur. Suet. not dealing with us after our sinnes, nor rewar­ding us according to our ini­quities. And therefore wee must blesse his holy name, who hath not only delivered us from evill, but also hath bestowed so many blessings upon us; who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse & tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: Hilaritatis in­strumen [...] a d [...] ­mestic [...]s prae bebat. Cau­sabon. And as the master of the family upon such dayes did bring out un­to his children and servants, all things which might bee a meanes of delight and re­creation; so God, like a good housholder, hath accomoda­ted [Page 209] us his servants, with all things usefull and conveni­ent for our cheerefull service of him, that wee might make a ioyfull noyse unto the God of Iacob. Psal. 81.1. Omnia iam fes [...]a fervet domus utra (que) pompâ. Stat. Tibia pro li. tuis, &c. Claud. Iste dies sem­per dapibus celebretur o­pimis. Idem. Pro 9.2. Upon those dayes they had instruments of mu­sicke; and what a sweet har­mony is there, when the will and the affections, and every power and faculty of the soule doth consent in prai­sing the name of the Lord? They had plenty of provisi­on and abundance of wine; And hath not Wisedome killed her beasts, and min­gled her wine, and furnished her table? Doth not God give unto us that heavenly Manna, the bread of life, sa­tisfying our soules as with marrow, and making our cup [Page 210] to runne over? They did then put on their costliest garments: Quaeque se­mei toto ve­stis n [...]ni su­mitur anno. Ovid. Psal. 45 13. & 32.1. Revel. 7 9. Aperta multa recta collu­cent face. Senec. in Thy­est. And wee have a wedding garment at this feast, which is as a clothing of wrought gold; and as a white robe whereby our na­kednesse is covered: They did set up many lights; And wee have many golden can­dlesticks, and shining lights; yea the word is a light unto our feete. Therefore let us keepe the feast in sincerity and truth: Let it be our chiefe aime and endeavour, that the inward man, as well as the outward, may thereby bee renewed. Pas & iura sinunt — Insidias avi­bus moliri. Virgil. Among the Hea­then, it was thought to bee lawfull upon the best dayes to spread nets to take birds: Sure I am, that Satan who is [Page 211] a cunning fowler, upon these dayes is most industrious in setting of snares. In festis dia­bolus occupa­tissimus. How cir­cumspect ought wee to bee in avoyding this danger, mounting up with the Eagle, Iob 39.27. which makes her nest on high; raising our soules by the wings of fervent prayer and heavenly contemplati­on? Sine causâ educebat; praecipuè plu­viis & festis diebus Suet. Sic Epami­nondas. And as Cesar did leade out his souldiers upon festi­vall dayes, and have them in a readinesse, lest that the ene­my should get an advantage against him; So ought we to exercise our selves, and to stir up those gifts that are in us, that our adversary may not bring us to destruction. How happy is that man, which doth thus reclaime himselfe, and laboureth to bee righte­ous [Page 212] as Lot was, Nisi forte his maximè d [...]e­bus animo im­perandum est: ut tunc volup­tatibus solus abstincat, cum in illas omnis turba procubuit. Senec. 1. Chro. 15.13 in a sinfull generation; When the whole Herd of the vulgar people doe runne violently into the greatest dangers. David and the multitude did begin to keepe this holy-day when Uzzah was smitten; at which time the Lord made a breach upon them, for that they sought him not after the due order. Most men doe not seek after the Lord upon such dayes; or if they doe, it is ra­ther with confusion than good order; and therefore may feare a curse for doing this worke so negligently. The Lord may now speake, as hee did by the Prophet; Isai. 1.14. Your appointed feasts my soule hateth; for you chuse your owne wayes, and de­light [Page 213] in your abominations. It was the policy of the Ben­jamites to catch the daugh­ters of Shiloh, Iudg. 21.22. when they came out to daunce in their daunces at the feast of the Lord: Iuventus Ro­mana ad ra­piendas virgi­nes discurrit. Livi. The like policy was used by Romulus upon the same occasion. And thus ve­ry many both men and wo­men are captivated and brought into bondage, at that time when we celebrate our greatest deliverance: who being carnally minded doe loosen the reines, Nam remitte­re animum est amittere. A. Gell. and walke after their owne lusts, sinning, that grace may a­bound, and using their liber­ty for an occasion to the flesh. The carriage of most men in our chiefe holy-daies, may be compared to that of [Page 214] the Romanes in their Satur­nalia: But wherein they te­stifie their joy and thankesgi­ving for the nativity of Christ, I am not able to dis­cerne; when as the pipe, and harpe, and wine are in their feasts: But they regard not the worke of the Lord, Isai. 5.12. nei­ther consider the operation of his hands. If musicke bee so needfull at such a time, then that people may bee cōmended which did chant to the sound of the Viole, Amos 6. [...]. and invented to themselves instruments of musicke like David; But they profanely depraved his holy example: for hee used them as helps to devotion, not as provocati­ons to luxury and wanton­nesse. We know that the min­strels [Page 215] were put forth before the dead was raised; Mat. 9.23. And wee may bee assured, that by them wee receive no furthe­rance towards our new life of grace. If dauncing be so pertinent at this time, Mat. 6.22. the daughter of Herodias may seeme to bee well nurtured; but you remember what an evill effect was produced thereby: If costly garments and outward ornaments bee the best expression of our joy; then let us joyne her that tyred her head, 1. King. 9.30. Luke 16.1 [...]. unto him that was clothed in purple and fine linnen, as a fit cou­ple for such an occasion: If variety of meate can suffice to cheare the soule, then that wicked nation might have beene spared which offen­ded [Page 216] in fulnesse of bread: Ezech. 16.49. If gaming and pastimes must necessarily be annexed here­unto, then let us view that people which sate downe to eate and drinke, Exod. 32.6. and rose up to play: But wee have not thus learned Christ, 1. Thes. 4.6. being taught not to goe beyond, and defraud our brother; Nor to suffer filthinesse, foo­lish talking or jesting, Ephes. 5.4. nor drunkennesse and revellings, which are works of the flesh. Let no man mistake mee, as if in any of these above-na­med particulars (which may bee used without mixture of evill) I would derogate from the freedome and bounty of that man, Psal. 112.5. who doth guide his affaires with discretion: But if wee ought to bring a­gaine [Page 217] our brothers oxe, Deut. 22.1. when it goes astray; then much more our brother himselfe: and to shew him a more ex­cellent way; that so hee may not bee lord of mis-rule, by letting him that is unjust to bee unjust still, Rev. 22.11. and him that is filthy to bee filthy still: When his house which at all times, and especially at this time, ought to bee a Church, shall rather be like unto Gol­gotha, a place of rottennesse, where Christ shall bee cruci­fied afresh, by all manner of loosenesse, and profanation. Wee are exhorted to hospi­tality, because thereby some have entertained Angels: Heb. 13.2. But in receiving such a disso­lute company, there is little hope of harbouring either [Page 218] Angel, or Saint. Most that come are not worthy; and others would bee compelled to come in, who in a modest sobriety doe forbeare that bold intrusion: Wherefore when thy fountaines bee dis­persed abroad, Pro. 5.16. and thou dost draw out thy soule to the hungry, Isa. 58.10. remember especial­ly the houshold of faith, and them that bee industrious, that their bowels may be re­freshed by thy liberality, which will bee as sleepe to the labouring man, Eccles 5.12. sweet and comfortable. Such was the practice of this man of God which hee now recordeth, who after the people had joi­ned with him in the service of the Lord, hee gave unto them for the reliefe and su­stentation [Page 219] of their bodies: Also at another time, when hee offered towards the buil­ding of the Temple, after that hee and all the congre­gation had worshipped the Lord, 1. Chron. 29. verse 22. and sacrificed sacrifi­ces, they did eate and drinke with great gladnesse.

It was a iust complaint in ancient times, Olim mensis December fuit, nunc an­nus. Senec. that Decem­ber was changed from being a month, to be a yeare: Wee cannot boast of any amend­ment in our dayes, which would bee more usefull than the Gregorian reformation. Some doe presume to prog­nosticate of the twelve months by their observation of the twelve dayes; but we may with more safety iudge what the conversation of [Page 220] some men will bee the fol­lowing yeare, by marking their carriage during these festivals: David speaketh here but of one holy-day which hee and the multitude kept, whereas these men are willing to keepe a multitude of holy-dayes, being fit to live in a common-wealth like unto that of the Athenians, who had more daies of plea­sure than of imploymēt. I lures volup­tat. bus dicati quam negoti­ [...]si & i [...]d [...]ci. Causabon. V tam sicut peregr nantes transiê [...]c. Sa­ [...]ist. Such doe greatly offend in abun­dance of idlenesse, passing their time as strangers here, but without preparation for their long home: Never cal­ling to minde how many good dayes they have lost, Amici diem perdidi. Suet. without the least benefit ei­ther to themselves or others: And yet, as the rich man in [Page 221] the Parable, who had many flockes, and herds, could not bee satisfied unlesse he might take that little ewe lambe of the poore man; 2. Sam. 12.3. So these men are not contented with the great number of profane holy-dayes, as they make them, unlesse they may in­croach upon the Lords Sab­bath: Whereof I will for­beare to discourse, lest I might seeme to prevent my selfe, by giving an answer to Davids demand, before I come to the question; which is,

VERSE V. Why art thou cast downe, O my soule, and why art thou d [...]squieted in me? hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise [Page 222] him for the helpe of his coun­tenance.

VVHerein hee makes further declarati­on of his sorrowfull and per­plexed estate; that his soule in this time of trouble did pant and thirst, and was pow­red out, and cast downe, and disquieted, not finding re­lease from misery, nor evasi­on out of these calamities. Now if the light that is in thee be darknesse, Mat. 6.23. how great is that darknesse? and if the soule that is in thee be sor­rowfull, how great is that sorrow? Pro. 12.25. When heavinesse in the heart of man, maketh it stoupe, yea to be cast down as Davids was; And yet there is great cause that the soule [Page 223] bee lifted up with joy, and not dejected with griefe; if wee consider the originall of it, Igneus est il­lis vigor, & coelestis ori­go. Virgil. that it proceedeth from God himselfe, Gen. 1.27. & 2.7. Psal. 8.5. Mortalibus alti quantum coelicolae, tan­tundem ani­malibus isti praecellunt cunctis. Silius. Eccles. 3.21. & 12.7. who created us after his own image, brea­thing into us the breath of life, whereby wee became living soules: So that wee who were made but a little lower than the Angels, were made much higher than all other creatures: For when the spirit of the beast goeth downeward to the earth, our spirit shall returne to God that gave it. Also there is cause of ioy unto the soule in regard of the body: Deus dedit corpus animae ut illud in coe­lum eveneret. Non dedita animam corp [...] ri, ut, &c. God gave the body unto the soule, that it might raise the body unto heaven; Hee did not give the soule unto the body [Page 224] that it might presse the soule to the earth. Admonet fi­gura, &c. Bo­et. Shall the body be erect towards heaven, and the soule decline towards the earth? Let us consider how helpfull the body is to the soule in the worship of God, when our eyes wait up­on him, and our tongue is our glory to praise him, and wee lift up pure hands, and daily bow our knees before him; when our feet doe car­ry us to his house, and there wee prostrate our whole bo­dy in his presence: Thus in our estate of grace there is an happy union and consent be­tweene them both. But as Eve, [...]en. 2.18. who was made a meete helpe, proved a cause of the greatest woe and misery; So the body which should assist [Page 225] the soule doth rebell against it, and thereby becomes a great annoyance: Like that kinde of torment, when they did binde the dead and the living together; Corpora ca daveribus ad versa adversis alligata. Val. Max. So the soule that lives for ever, and is wil­ling to doe good, is ioyned unto a body that is weake, yea even dead to any holy duty: And then the servant is upon an horse, Ephes. 2 5. Eccles. 10 7. and the Prince doth walke as a ser­vant upon the earth; the hand-maide is advanced, Eucherius ad Vale [...]ian. and the mistresse brought downe to the foot-stoole: The bo­dy doth bring the soule into captivity, and make it of a king to become a servent, Modo rex es [...] modo tyra [...] nus. Sence. o [...] else a tyrant. Wherefore when wee finde a law in our members warring against the [Page 226] law of our minde, wee must pray to be delivered frō this body of death. Rom. 7. verse 23.24 It was obser­ved that when the body slee­peth, Anima dum corpori vires adm [...]nistrat, nequaquam vacat sibi, &c. Hippocrat. the soule hath most li­berty: And wee know assuredly, that when our bodies shall bee laid to sleepe in the grave, our soules shall bee in­larged, Terreno car­cere resoluta caelum ibera pet [...]. Boet. and delivered from that earthly house, wherein they were long pent and im­prisoned: Vt novus ser­pens pofitâ cum pelle se­nectâ, &c. Ovid. And as the ser­pent doth become young a­gaine after it hath cast off the skinne, so the soule shall bee clothed with maiesty and glory, when this fraile body shall waxe old like a gar­ment, and bee folded up as a vesture, untill the end of all things; and then this vile bo­dy shall be fashioned like un­to [Page 227] the glorious body of Christ: and being reioyned unto the soule, shall enter in­to the ioy of our Master. If that father did so reioyce when he saw his sonne to be alive, Gen. 46.30. whom hee thought to bee dead, then how excel­lent shall our ioy bee, when the body which was dead shall bee alive, and they both being knit together shall live in blisse for evermore? & 29.20. Did those seven yeares seeme to bee but a few dayes, & 31.40. for the love that Iacob had to Ra­chel, though hee suffered the drought in the day, the frost by night, and watched both day and night? Then how wonderfull ought the love of the soule be to the body? cheerfully serving the Lord, [Page 228] patiently enduring all tryals and afflictions, not being cast downe, as if it were without hope, but looking for the Sa­viour, who shall unite both soule and body; And wee shall be as the Angels of God in heaven. Mat. 22.30.

Let us now take notice of Davids examination of him­selfe, that wee thereby may learne to iudge ourselves, and wee shall not bee iudged. Formerly hee had with his whole heart sought unto the Lord, to shew him the light of his countenance; He had earnestly desired to appeare before God; Hee had hum­bled himselfe in sorrow for his owne transgressions, and the sins of other men. Now God accepteth the will for [Page 229] the deed; And they that mourne have a promise of comfort. Mat. 6. Why then art thou cast downe, O my soule, and why art thou disquieted in me? Psal. 4.4. Also hee did commune with his owne heart, and was no fugitive from it, as many are, who have greatest rea­son to bee sorrowfull, and to feare lest their soules should bee cast downe lower than Davids was, because they ne­ver looke home to examine and prove themselves, and to know that Christ is in them, 2. Cor. 13.5. except they bee repro­bates: But David did make diligent search in his owne heart, Psal. 77.6. and in all things desi­red the good and comforta­ble estate of it. Then, why art thou cast downe, O my [Page 230] soule, and why art thou dis­quieted in me? Remember the workes of old, how gra­ciously the Lord hath dealt with thee. Say not within thy selfe, that his mercy is clean gone for ever, for thou dost stil enioy many blessings, and his grace doth now keep thee from fainting. Consi­der that in this chastisement the Lord dealeth with thee as with a childe: and it is not his good pleasure that thou shouldest have sorrow upon sorrow; but that this light affliction working for thy good, may bring thee to an everlasting weight of glory: wherefore acknowledge this to bee thine infirmity; re­buke and smite thy selfe, say­ing, Why art thou cast [Page 231] downe, O my soule, and why art thou disquieted in mee? It must not bee denied, that the soule is sometime disqui­eted, when wee are not able to give any reason of it; But then it behoveth us to make strict inquisition into our selves, and to see if there bee any root of evill, Iosh. 7. like Achans wedge, which is the cause of our trouble: If there bee a­ny Ionas lurking in the bot­tome, which may be suffi­cient not only to cast downe the soule, but also to cast a­way the soule by a tempest of Gods wrath. When we find our selves to bee innocent from great offences, and ac­quitted from regarding ini­quity, wee must with pati­ence wait upon the Lord: [Page 232] How unsearchable are his iudgements, Rom. 11. verse. 33.34. and his wayes past finding out? For who hath knowne the minde of the Lord? Iob. 11. Loe hee goeth by me, and I see him not; Hee passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Behold hee taketh away, Deut. 32.39. who can hinder him? Hee woundeth, and hee hea­leth; hee bringeth low, and hee lifteth up. Shall wee re­ceive good at the hand of the Lord, Iob 2.10. and shall wee not re­ceive evill? Have wee lear­ned to abound and be full of spirituall comfort, Phil. 4.11. and have we not learned to suffer need, and be abased in the sense of our wants, and confession of our unworthinesse, who are lesse than the least of all his mercies? God will have us [Page 233] to see that wee are not able to merit any of his blessings, which are wholly in his own disposing: It is not in man that walketh, Ier. 10 23. to direct his steps: There may bee many devices in his heart, never­thelesse the counsell of the Lord that shall stand. Pro. 19.21. Also wee must know that wee are now in our passage through the vast wildernesse of this troublesome world, unto the heavenly Canaan: And we were of all men most misera­ble, if our greatest comforts were not reserved for a bet­ter life. God doth first cast us downe, and then raise us up to a glorious estate: Though wee walke in the midst of trouble, hee will re­vive us: Light is sowne for [Page 234] the righteous, Psal. 138.7. & 97.11. and gladnesse for the upright in heart. That which thou sowest is not quickned except it dye first: 1. Cor. 15. verse 36. So although wee seeme to be without the life of ioy, yet we hope to reape everlasting consolation: As sorrowfull wee alwayes reioyce. 2. Cor. 6.10. There is an outward apparence of griefe; There is an inward substance of true ioy: But I may well desist from spea­king of this sadnesse, where­of wee can give no reason; when there are so many cau­ses of heavinesse, whether we looke upon the sinnes of o­ther men with charitable compassion, or upon our own offences with sorrowfull compunction: Psal 119.136. How did Da­vid lament for the transgres­sions [Page 235] of the people? And may not we take up the com­plaint of the Prophet; Isai. 1.6. From the sole of the foot, even un­to the head, there is no sound­nesse in it? How great is the number of them that have sold themselves to worke wickednesse? and never thinke of their redemption by Him, who paid the ran­some for us; Quibus con­tra naturam corpus volup­tati, anima oneri fuit. Salust. whose bodies serve them for pleasure, and their soules are as a burthen; such a burthen as will bee greater than they can beare, ready to sinke them to the pit of destruction: Yet who doth repent of his wicked­nesse, saying, What have I done? Every one turned to his course, Ier. 8.6. as the horse rush­eth into the battell: Which [Page 236] of them doth search their heart by the light of the Word, as with a candle? and say, as justly they may, inver­ting these words of David, Why art thou not cast down, O my soule, and why art thou not disquieted within mee? Wherefore, leaving them unto this examination, let us reflect upon our selves, and as the Circle, Circulus for­titudin [...], at (que) capacitate caeteris figu­ris praecedit. Clavius. which doth returne upon it selfe, is the strongest and most capacious figure; and may bee resem­bled by the shape of a mans body; Vmbilicum esse centrum, &c. Iul. Scal. So if wee doe returne unto our selves, and search our owne hearts, wee shall become more strong and ca­pable of grace. The opinion of Aristotle is to bee prefer­red before that of Plato; The [Page 237] one held, Visio fit reci­piendo. Arist. Emittendo spiritum ani­malem, Plato. Keckerm. that our sight was by receiving the image of the object into the eye: The o­ther, by sending out those opticke rayes unto the ob­ject. It will be our wisedome to keepe within our owne bounds, and to looke into our selves, rather than to ex­ceed in curiosity to discover the blemishes of other men: Like her, whom they feigned to have used her sight onely when shee went abroad; Lamia in vi­mineum co­phinum ocu­los exempti­les in [...]ici [...]bat. Erasmus. but not when shee returned to her owne house. Wee ought rather to look into our selves with David, who seemeth here to strike his hand upon his breast, saying; Why art thou full of heavinesse, O my soule? God onely knoweth the hearts of all the children [Page 238] of men; but by this private search, 2. Chron. 6.38. 1. King. 8.38. every man may know the sore, and the griefe, and the plague of his owne heart; and may find that his foule is cast downe, when it is sur­charged with thorny cares, which choke the good seed, O curvae in terris animae & coelest [...]um inanes, Persi­us. and maketh him to become unfruitfull. Can that souldi­er fight the good fight of faith, who intangleth him­selfe with the things of this life? Habak. 2.6. Woe to him that ladeth himselfe with thicke clay: Such a man may in vaine beate the ayre, but hee can­not runne with patience unto the race that is set before him; Heb 12.1. unlesse hee doth cast a­side every weight that may hinder him therein. At the time of death wee see how [Page 239] dangerous and offensive it is, by clamour to interrupt the soule in its departure from the body: O that wee could as heedfully practise this du­ring our whole life. 1. Cor. 15.31. Every good man, with Saint Paul, doth dye daily; being at all times ready to yeeld up his spirit: How prudent should wee bee to avoyd all meanes of disturbance, that our soule may not bee vexed and dis­quieted within us; as it is of­tentimes through distrust and infidelity, when there is an inward combat betweene the flesh and the spirit, the one lusting against the other, Gal. 5.17. and being contrary the one to the other; Gen. 25.22. like Iacob and Esau strugling in the wombe. Whereas if Christ did dwell [Page 240] in our hearts by faith, Ephes. 3.17. wee should overcome the world, and bee delivered from this vexation. 1. Iohn. 5.4.5. Now we are come to touch upon the true cause of Davids heavinesse; where I should willingly goe back­ward with Iaphet, and by si­lent charity cover this one infirmity of him, whom, as Saint Matthew joyneth with Abraham, Mat. 1.1. so wee may ho­nour as a Father of the faith­full: Yet because that hee te­stifieth as much against him­selfe; And his being thus cast downe may warne those that stand by faith, to take heed lest they fall; and may shew unto those that are downe, the way how to rise againe, I may not without prejudice passe it over. Da­vid [Page 241] confesseth that his feete were almost gone, his foot­steps were well nigh slipt, Psal. 73.2.21. and his heart was grieved through distrust of Gods providence, when hee saw the prosperity of the wicked. In the time of persecution, 1. Sam. 27.1. Labascentem & inclinan­tem ipsius fi­dem exprimit. Iun. he said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: And nere being sur­prized by the same wavering diffidence, hee speaketh, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Absalom: where­as by faith hee might have beene perswaded, that nei­ther Principalities, nor Pow­ers, Rom. 8.38. nor any other creature should bee able to separate him from the love of God, who will not suffer the rod of a wicked son to rest upon the [Page 242] lot of a righteous father. Wherefore let us not please our selves by any vaine con­ceits of our owne ability; Psal. 125. Rom. 15.2. but in lowlinesse of minde esteeme holy David much better than our selves. Phil. 2.3. If this naturall branch, so deepely rooted and established in all graces, was yet notwithstan­ding thus tossed and carried about by the winde of infide­lity, in this dreadfull storme of Gods displeasure; then how should wee poore un­stable soules (who were wild by nature, Rom. 11.24. and are now graf­fed into the good olive tree) feare and tremble, lest when the winds doe blow, and temptations arise, wee (who have not by faith laid sure hold, that wee might partake [Page 243] of the root) bee broken off from continuing in the good­nesse of God? And yet how doe wee live like the people of Laish, at quiet, and secure, Iudg. 18 27 not fortifying against the as­sault of the enemy? In this our day of liberty and visita­tion, Luk. 19.41. the things that belong to eternall peace are hid from our eyes, which are dazeled with the bright sun shine of prosperity; so that our sight is imperfect, Mark. 8.20. like unto the blind mans, who saw men as trees, walking: But when Christ made him looke up the second time, hee saw eve­ry man clearely. At first sight wee thinke our selves to bee as strong as the oake, but when God doth breake us with a tempest, or wee doe [Page 244] frequently looke up in pray­er, Iob. 9.17. to have our darkenesse in­lightened, wee then come to discerne plainely, that wee are fraile men, & our strength is not the strength of stones, Iob 6.3.22. nor our flesh of brasse: yea then wee complaine that our griefe is heavier than the sand of the sea, and our soules are cast downe within us. Now the same graces doe both prevent and cure this infirmity of the soule: By faith wee are kept from this discouragement. The pru­dent woman is not afraid of the snow, Pro. 31.21. for all her houshold are clothed with scarlet: So they that are of the houshold of faith, and have their gar­ments dipt in the bloud of the Lamb, shall not need to [Page 245] feare the winter of persecuti­on and trouble: Also such as have beene overtaken in a fault, and are ready to faint through weaknesse; yet if their hope bee firme, they shall recover: And God will restore them to the joy of his salvation. Act. 27.23. As the Angel stood by Paul in the night, after hee had beene excee­dingly tossed with a tempest, when the sun in many dayes had not appeared, and assu­red him of a gracious delive­rance: Assiditè nata mas inter sp [...] metusque fluctus. Lipsius. So our hope doth stand by us in our greatest perplexity, when the Lord doth seeme to hide himselfe, and withdraw the beames of his mercy, and sealeth unto our soule, that notwithstan­ding our present calamity, [Page 246] He will make his face, Revel. 10. [...]. which is as it were the Sunne, to shine upon his servants: And wee shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. psal. 31.16. The enemies of David, see­ing him in misery, were ready to say, & 3.2. & 41.8. That there is no help for him in God; and now that hee lieth, hee shall rise up no more: So our corrupt nature being the greatest ad­versary, doth suggest unto us when the soule is cast downe, it is a signe that it is cast out of the sight and favour of God; When it is disquieted it is a fore-runner of despaire, by reason of our grievous sinnes: as for our hope, it is but the dreame of men wa­king; Plato dice­bat, spec vigi­ [...]tium ho­ [...]num esse somnia. and as hee that thinketh hee eateth is hungry when [Page 247] hee awaketh: so thou thin­kest to be sustained by hope, which in the end will vanish away. Call to mind thy for­mer sinnes, which have cry­ed for vengeance: looke up­on thy present afflictions, and acknowledge thou dost receive the due reward of thy deeds: Then what place is left for hope of deliverance? Why shouldest thou adde to thy sufferings by thine expe­ctation of freedome? Can the Divine justice, so highly incensed, bee so soone ap­peased? Shall not the God of truth bee just and righte­ous in multiplying his judge­ments upon thee, who woul­dest for ever have multiplie [...] thy sins against him? What hope of favour to be shew­ed [Page 248] unto thee, who hast deser­ved so great wrath, and hast not merited the least mercy? Doth not thine owne consci­ence accuse thee, and thy sins beare witnesse against thee? and shall not the Iudge of all the world doe right in thy condemnation? Hast thou not served sinne, and must therefore receive the wages of unrighteousnesse, death and destruction? Now in this combate, the beleever is armed with hope of salvati­on for an helmet: 1. Thes. 5.8. Ephes. 6.16. with faith for a shield and breast-plate, wherewith hee is able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked: Being stung by the old Serpent, and feeling both the guilt and smart of his sinnes, hee looketh with the [Page 249] eyes of Faith and Hope unto Christ Iesus, being lifted up; who powreth wine and oyle into our wounds, and makes us inwardly glad, outwardly cheerefull, and then doe we praise him for the help of his countenance. What a great encouragement is it to the servant, when his Master doth looke upon him in the conflict? And though in stri­ving wee sometime take a foyle; yet then the Lord doth turne and looke upon us as he did upon Peter: Luke 21.61. and being sorrowfull for our in­firmity, wee become strong. Also in our heavinesse, either for sinnes past or present mi­sery, the Lord doth behold us as hee did his servant Da­vid, delivering us out of all [Page 250] afflictions: And in the per­formance of holy duties hee seeth us as he did Nathaneel, Ioh. 1 48. sending his grace to prevent, accompany, and follow us. Lastly, when that which is perfect is come, wee shall with Paul see him face to face: 1. Cor. 13.12. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun: Eccles. 11.7. If this outward light bee so delightfull, then what an excellent blessing is it, Num. 6. verse 25, 26. when the Lord doth make his face to shine upon us, and is gracious unto us, and doth lift up his countenance upon us? That wee may obtaine this bene­diction, wee must bee obedi­ent unto his Word: When hee saith, Psal. 27.8. Seeke yee my face. Our heart must answer, Thy [Page 251] face Lord will I seeke: Not for a short time, & 105.4. but continu­ally. And though a man be­holding his naturall face in a glasse goeth away, Iam. 1.24. & straight­way forgetteth what manner of man hee was; yet wee, when the Lord hath in mer­cy revealed himselfe unto us, must not forget his benefits, but ever bee mindfull of his gifts that are without repen­tance; and alwayes praise him for the help of his coun­tenance. Wee cannot expect deliverance out of trouble, unlesse God doth helpe us; and when wee have received many blessings, wee shall nei­ther desire, nor yet bee able to praise him, without the helpe of his countenance: So that God doth provide [Page 252] both the altar and the sacri­fice; Hee freely bestowes his benefits, and he doth ena­ble us to offer our thankes-gi­ving, and to praise him for the help of his countenance.

VERSE VI. O my God, my soule is cast down within mee.

VVHen the disciples could not cure him that was lunaticke, Mat. 17.15. they bring him to Christ him­selfe: So when David could not by his owne endeavours cast out this spirit of heavinesse, hee seeketh unto the Lord of life, to speake the word, and this disease of his [...]oule shall bee healed. Ha [...] he recovered his life of com­fort [Page 253] by a stedfast hope in Gods mercy, which hee la­boured for in the forme [...] verse, yet then hee must have confessed, that it was the grace of God whereby i [...] was effected; But that which is obtained by prayer, doth come more immediately from Gods right hand; and for such blessings wee are most thankfull: Wee come with confidence unto the throne of grace, when wee have used, and doe use all good meanes to recover strength and assurance. Doth God bid us doe some great thing? we doe it willingly: Doth hee command some small thing? therein also we yeeld our cheerefull obedi­ence. I cannot give sufficient [Page 254] testimony unto these two, so excellent duties, serious ex­amination of the soule, and fervent praier unto the Lord: The former like Mount Si­nai, full of terrour, when by looking into our selves, wee feare and tremble, because of our guiltinesse, having offen­ded against the lawes of God: The latter, like Mount Sion, Heb. 12. bringing consolation through Iesus the Mediator of the New covenant, whose bloud speaketh better things than that of Abel. In the right performance whereof, our griefe is asswaged; if we pro­strate our selves before the Lord in prayer, hee will raise up our soules with spirituall comfort. This is the best refuge of every beleever, [Page 255] whereby he hopeth for these sure mercies of David: And this is the Sanctuary of a Christian, from whence hee cannot bee taken, and where­in hee shall not perish. Our sorrow may often cause us to call upon the Lord, but the soule is never cast downe so low, as to bee wholly disa­bled from prayer: Being of a sorrowfull spirit, though wee cannot expresse our mi­sery, yet wee can speake in our heart unto the Lord. Da­vid being dejected by griefe and heavinesse, doth yet lift up his soule in prayer, and beleeves that God is his God, though now hee see­med to forsake him. When the winde doth blow wee wrap our garments more [Page 256] close about us; in trouble wee draw neere unto God, and labour to apply his pro­mises unto our soules: The childe walking in the darke doth adhere unto his father, and takes hold upon him, that hee may guide him, and preserve him from danger: So wee in the most disconso­late estate doe cleave unto the Lord, and repose our whole confidence in his love. Our Author in speaking of God and his soule, doth thus plead for himselfe; Thou art my God, and I am thy servant: Let the wicked bee clothed with shame and dis­honour, let their heart dye within them, But redeeme my soule that I may not bee desolate, because I trust in [Page 257] thee. Deliver mee from all my feares, and thou Lord shalt bee magnified, which hast pleasure in the prosperi­ty of thy servant. My soule is thy gift, it came from thee, and I have given it unto thee. How can it ascend towards thee, when it is thus pressed downe by manifold trou­bles? The waters are come in unto my soule: Psal. 69.1.2. I sinke in deepe mire, where there is no standing. My soule abiding in this darke house of earth, lyeth prostrate upon the ground, and is not able to rise: Lord heare the poore, and despise not thy prisoner. Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high, let thy light and thy truth lead mee, and bring mee unto thy holy [Page 258] hill, and to thy tabernacles.

VERSE VI. Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Iordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Missar.

ANother help which Da­vid used to sustaine him­selfe in this time of trouble, was by calling to minde the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of Iordan; Iosh. 3. where God provided a passage for the Is­raelits, & preserved him when he passed over to shun Saul: So now going over the river, 2. Sam. 17.22. hee hoped that God would make a way for him to e­scape the danger that might come by Absalom. Whereas hee nameth the land of Ior­dan, [Page 259] and of the Hermonites, he suggesteth to our remem­brance the victory which God gave unto his people, when they tooke the land that was on this side Iordan, from the river of Arnon un­to Mount Hermon: at which time Og, Deut. 3.8. who was of the remnant of the giants, was overthrowne: And thereby his hope might bee confir­med, that although high-minded Absalom was swoln with proud conceits, 1. King. 20.11. and gir­ding on his harnesse di [...] boast himselfe as if hee had put it off; yet the right hand of God was not shortned, no [...] his power diminished: Bu [...] hee will save and deliver all them that put their trust in him. Now these three pla­ces [Page 260] here mentioned, being the bounds of that countrey inhabited by the Israelites, Iordan towards the East, Hermon the North, and the hill Missar the South; hee might from thence have this comfortable assurance, that God who was pleased to give unto his people so fruit­full a land after their tedious passage through the wilder­nesse, would likewise in mer­cy give him all good bles­sings needfull for him, after hee had waded through these troubles which hee now en­dured. In the meane while being deprived of his former liberty of worshipping the Lord in the assembly of the Saints, hee doth stirre up the gifts and graces that were in [Page 261] him, by remembring the goodnesse of God; and the blessings which he had recei­ved. In so doing, he becomes a good example unto all them, that are robbed of that blessed meanes of comfort which they formerly enjoy­ed; and unto all inhabitants of villages, which in the old law were counted as the fields of the countrey; Levit. 25.31 And (as too frequently) wanting a faithfull watch-man, are more exposed to the treache­rous assaults of the enemy, than Cities environed with Gods favour, and enriched with the pledges of his love; that they would provide a­gainst the worst famine, and keepe those things which have beene committed unto [Page 262] them, 2. Tim. 1 14. & 1. Tim. 6.19. laying up in store for themselves a good foundati­on against the time to come; that they may lay hold on e­ternall life. As Paul gave di­rection for the collection of the Saints, that every one up­on the first day of the weeke, should lay by him in store as God hath prospered him: So wee for the furtherance of the worke of our sanctifi­cation, in our first dayes, which wee ought to remem­ber to keepe holy in remem­brance of our Creator; while wee reside in places that are enlightened with Gods fa­vour, should lay up against the time of want; Dan 6.10. that as Da­niel prayed and gave thankes unto God, his windowes be­ing open in his chamber to­wards [Page 263] Ierusalem; So wee looking unto the former part of our lives, may bee excited to prayer and thankesgiving. He is a wise sonne that gathe­reth in summer, Pro 10.5.14. & 6.8. laying up knowledge and keeping in­struction. Salomon might justly produce the Ant gathe­ring her food in harvest, thereby to convince the slothfulnesse of most men; when the least and meanest of the creatures shall exceed man in prudence: And sure­ly most men if they should rightly consider of the for­mer part of their lives, they could not with David here remember God in so doing, for God is not in all their thoughts, Psal. 10.4. nor his feare be­fore their eyes. Their dayes [Page 264] have beene few, but the evils therein committed very ma­ny: Where the youth is vaine, the age is like to bee unprofitable, when nothing shall be left but the lees and dregs of our life. Eorum animi m [...]es, & aeta­te fluxi, dolis haud difficul­ter capi [...]ban­tur. Salust. As Catiline desired the acquaintance of young men, who being ply­able were soone taken with his fraudulent baits; So Sa­tan laboureth to bring such unto destruction: and when the strong man doth get pos­session in time of strength, he is not readily cast out. Difficulter re­ciduntu [...] vitia quae nobiscum crevciu [...]t. Se­nec. It is an hard thing to pare off those vices which have grown up together with our selves: Wherefore let us so order and dispose of this in­stant time, in doing good, that the use which wee make [Page 265] thereof may bee beneficiall unto us for the present, and cōfortable in remembrance hereafter.

Whereas David remem­breth God from these places here named; we may collect, That if we be well affected, there is no place, wherein we may not be put in mind of the bounty, and goodnesse of God: Whose eyes runne to and fro, 2. Chro. 16.9. throughout the whole earth, to shew him­selfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect towards him. And as Ioseph in a place of pleasure provi­ded against death, which at first sprung up in a garden: So those places which in themselves are most delight­full, may by our good im­proovement [Page 266] become most profitable: whereof I may have occasion to treat here­after if it shall please God to give life and ability. In Christs Kingdome every valley shall be exalted, Isai. 40 4. and e­very mountaine shallbe brought low: 1. King. 20.28. The Lord is God of the hills, as of Her­mon and Missar; as also of the plaine, as this land of Ior­dane: From the valley which adjoyneth to the ri­ver, Gen. 48.16. (where fishes grow into a multitude) and is thereby made the more fruitfull, we may learne to be humble, & God will give grace unto us: And by the hills we may be put in mind, & 22.8. of Abraham his offering up his sonne upon a mountaine; of Christ his [Page 267] transfiguration upon an high mountaine, Mat. 17. of his frequent praying upon Mount Olivet, Luk. 22.39. and at last his ascension up­on the same Mount: Act. 1.12. Which may instruct us to offer up the sacrifice of our prayers unto God, that he would make us inwardly glorious, and in the end receive us in­to his heavenly kingdome. If we lift up cleane hands & a pure heart, we shall ascend into his holy hill: The Psal­mist doth fi [...]st speake of the land of Iordan and then of Hermon and Missar, shewing the low estate whereinto he was now brought, when the waters were ready to over­whelme him, and the streame to goe over his soule. But then having confidence in [Page 268] remembring Gods mercy, he will feare no evill though he walke through the valley of the shadow of death: Psal. 23. Thy judgments are as a great deepe, [...] 36.6. thy righteousnesse like the great mountaines; God who by his strength set­teth fast the mountaines; & 65.6. which bring peace to the people, will establish and support his children, and give them a good issue out of all their trialls.

As a man that thinkes hee hath escaped the perill of water being come unto the shoare, and yet is presently beaten back by the tenth wave, and brought into his former estate of daunger: So David who began to be re­freshed in remembring Gods [Page 269] love, is now again overtaken with sorrow: When,

VERSE VII. Deepe calleth unto deepe at the noyse of thy water spouts; All thy waves and thy billowes are gone over mee.

DUring our whole life there is a continuall eb­bing and flowing; And this time of Davids affliction is like a double tide, wherein new troubles did arise, before the other were past away: If hee found a short time of re­lease, it was like a fayre day in winter, which we use to say doth breed fowle wea­ther afterward. That strength which he then recovered did enable him to undergoe [Page 270] those calamities which should come upon him. But for the most part, in this time of chastisement, there was no other voyce heard, but that of the flying Angel, Revel. 8.13. which said; Woe, woe, woe; as if God, who afterward did smite the people for the sin of the King, should now smite the King for the trans­gressions of all the people. As in Iobs tryall, Iob 1.14, 15, 16. while one messenger was speaking, ano­ther came bringing sad ti­dings; so here, before one calamity was past, another cause of sorrow did afflict him: To bee cast out of the city where hee lived; To be expelled out of his king­dome wherein he governed, as unworthy to come within [Page 271] the borders of it: and yet God had promised that his throne should bee stablished for ever; and when his daies should bee fulfilled, his seed should bee set up after him, but not before him (as Absa­lom desired, building his house upon his fathers ru­ine;) Then to have his con­cubines defiled in the sight of all Israell: And all this not by an enemy, for then he could have borne it more pa­tiently; but by his owne sonne: And one messenger brings word, that the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom; Another tels him, that Ahitophel the Kings Counsellor was among the conspirators: Moreover Shi­mei doth vex his righteous [Page 272] soule with malicious reproa­ches. Now what could bee done more, that was not done to make the measure of his sorrow, to bee pressed down in heavinesse of soule, and running over in the out­ward expressiō of his griefe? How great and manifold are the dangers of them that goe downe to the sea in ships, [...]sal. 107.26. that see the workes of the Lord? For he commandeth and rai­seth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof: They mount up to heaven, they goe downe againe to the depths: So here, Deepe calleth unto deepe; David is exposed to the greatest perils that may be. The windowes of heaven are opened, [...]en. 7.12. as in the floud: There is the noise [Page 273] of thy water-spouts; but no Arke of deliverance like No­ahs; no not so much as that little Arke of Moses, Exod 2.3. where­by he may hope to be drawn out of these miseries. There is a mighty tempest, but no ship to defend him; nor yet any signe of a calme, as to the Mariners; neither any crea­ture to waft him to the shore, Ionah 1.4. as Ionah had: There is a boy­strous winde, that made the billowes to goe over him; but the helping hand of the Divine providence is not stretched out to uphold him, Mat. 14.30. Psal. 69.2. as unto Peter. The flouds o­ver-flow him, the proud wa­ters goe over his soule: & 124.5. Hee is cast into the deepe, and all thy waves are upon him: Ionah. 2.3. Not one wave alone, but ma­ny, [Page 274] but all of them. There was such a variety of his crosses, and such a succession of his trouble; that as the day was prolonged untill such time as Ioshuah had sub­dued his enemies; so here the night of his misery was doubled, untill such time as God had perfected the work of humiliation in him. God, who is most perfect, will fi­nish every good worke that hee hath begun in any of his children: And being the author of time, hee disposeth of all things for our good, making us strong when wee are weake; so that wee may take pleasure in infirmities, 2. Cor. 12.10. in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake. And by seeing [Page 275] our miserable and weake e­state, wee learne not to trust in our selves, but in God who raiseth the dead. When the water of affliction doth flow over our head, we are there­by cleansed, that we may be presented unto Christ with­out spot and blemish: As Pharaoh and his host were covered by the depths, Exod. 15.5. and sanke into the bottome, as a stone; so they that want faith to stand in temptation, are ready to be swallowed up of despaire. But every one that is godly hath this comforta­ble protection; That in the flouds of great waters, Psal. 32.6. & 18.4. they shall not come nigh unto him; and though the flouds of ungodly men make him a­fraid, though he be compas­sed [Page 276] about with many tribula­tions, Psal. 130.1. yet out of the depth of his misery hee cryeth unto the depth of Gods mercy; and prayeth unto the Lord on high, who is mightier than the noyse of many wa­ters; & 93.4. yea than the mighty waves of the sea, to deliver him from them that hate him, & 79.14, 15. that the water-floud may not over-flow him, nor the deepe swallow him up: And in conclusion hee finds this comfort, that neither height nor depth shall bee a­ble to separate him from the love of God. Rom. 8.39. When Christ was asleepe in the ship that sailed over unto the other side of the lake, Mat. 8.26. there came downe a storme, insomuch, that the ship was covered [Page 277] with the waves: but when the disciples awoke him, hee said, Why are yee so feare­full, O yee of little faith; and rebuking the sea, there was a great calme: So in our voy­age to heaven, when the winde doth blow, the raine doth fall, and the waves doe beate upon us; In strong temptations, when wee are opposed on every side, and looking up to heaven, see no­thing but the terrour of Di­vine justice ready to fall up­on us; looking downe, wee see the horror of the pit rea­dy to shut her mouth upon us; and looking about, wee see all the creatures armed for our destruction, then through want of strength we are ready to sinke under the [Page 278] burthen of our calamities: But when the quickning spi­rit shall revive our faith, that slumbred within us, and re­store us to the life of grace, wee begin to bee comforted, in assurance that God will put an end to our trials, and deliver us out of all afflicti­on: Such was Davids anchor which he cast out now in this storme, and thereby hoped for safety. Though the waves and billowes doe goe over me,

VERSE VIII. Yet the Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time, and in the night his song shall bee with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

AS before his teares were his meate day and night; Verse 3. So now hee finds cause of re­joycing both day and night; for the loving kindnesse of the Lord who did put songs of praise into his mouth: His misery and trouble were now present before him; His comfort was only hope, but not to bee discerned by sense and reason: Yet such was the strength of his confi­dence, which he had fixed upon Gods love, that there­by he became as fully assu­red of deliverance, as if he were already restored to his former liberty. The wicked shall feare day and night; Deut. 28.66, 67. in the morning he shall say, Would God it were Even, and at Even he shall say, [Page 280] Would God it were mor­ning: And his greatest woe, shall then begin, when time shall be no more: But the righteous that like Anna serve God night and day, Luke 2.37. shall at all times be refreshed by trusting in Gods mercy: who will command his lo­ving kindnesse in the day time; as He hath promised to command the blessing up­on them that observe his Lawes: Deut. 28.8. And we know that all things obey the voyce of God. Hath he spoken, and shall he not performe it? Do the souldiers come when the Centurian calleth, Mat. 8.9. and shall not all creatures be ready prest to doe the will of God? Though his loving kindnesse be as it were unwil­ling [Page 281] to come and reveale it selfe unto us, that have so highly offended; yet when God commandeth, it must yeeld obedience: Yea he so commandeth, as that we may therein discerne his fa­vour vnto vs: He sends the Angel to comfort Hagar, in her distresse: And he commands his kindnesse, which is as his messenger bringing glad tidings of great joy un­to his children.

His kindnes is not without love: Pro. 12.10. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruell, but the chasticements of God doe proceed from his love: An if our chasticements, then much more his kindnesse: He is a Father of mercies; they are as naturall and as [Page 282] deare unto him as a sonne to his father; And though a mother should forget her child, He will never forget his love to his children.

Mat. 5.45.Our heavenly Father cau­seth the sunne to rise on the evill, and on the good, and sendeth raine on the just and on the unjust: He is kind un­to the unthankfull and evill. Luke 6.35. But as Hanun used the mes­sengers of David disdainful­ly, 2. Sam. 10.2. when he thought to shew kindnesse unto him: So wicked men doe abuse the goodnesse of God, and per­vert it unto their owne de­struction: But they that are indued with wisedome from above, doe sing praise unto his holy name, and doe pray unto the God of their life, [Page 283] for the continuance and in­crease of all his blessings.

The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in th [...] day time, by restoring him to his former liberty of appearing before God: And after he had in an holy manner performed the duties of the day; he did in the night me­ditate upon the lawes of God, and rejoyce in the gra­cious benefits which he had received: Gen. 3.17. [...]abor exori­ [...]r durus & omnes agitat c [...]ras, &c. [...]enec. The day is made for man to labour. It was the punishment upon Adam and his posterity, to eate their bread in sorrow all the daies of their life: Yet through the goodnesse of God, we receive many blessings therein. It is a time of salvation vnto us, if we dothe works of righ­teousnesse [Page 284] while it is day, and labour to know those things which belong unto our peace: 1. Pet. 3.10. If we desire to see good dayes we must es­chew euill and doe good: 1. King. 3.14. Then the Lord will lengthen our dayes, Deut. 30.20. yea he himselfe will be our life and the length of our daies: Where­fore let us ever remember the love of God, & 11.19. and speake to the praise of his name: not only when we rise up in the day, but when we lye downe in the night; Then to call to remembrance our song as David did, who re­membred God upon his bed, Psal 77 6. & 63.6. and did rise at midnight to giue thanks, & 119 62. whose eyes pre­vented the night watches, [...]48 & 139.18. & when he awaked he was still [Page 285] with him: And howsoever the sons of perdition do turn night into day, whose evill conscience hateth the light, 1. Thes. 5.7. and being by darknesse rob­bed of all shame, Quippe om­nem pudorem nox ademe­tat. Tacit. Gravis malae conscientiae lux est. Fastidio est lumen gratui­tum. Senec. doe scorne the day so freely given unto them, And are drunken in the night, committing all kinde of wickednesse and un­cleannesse therein: Forget­ting that the darknesse hi­deth not from God, but the night shineth as the day; the darknesse and the light are both alike to him: Psal. 139.12. Nox faecundo operum pul­chraeque ac­commoda fraudi. Stat. Yet they that are godly doe receive much strength and consola­tion in the night, to the re­freshing both of soule and body. It did discover the ti­norous weaknesse of Nico­lemus, to come unto Christ [Page 286] by night; Nox homi­num genus, & duros misera­ca labores. Val. Flac. But it sheweth our holy confidence, then to sing praise unto the Lord; and with our soule to desire him in the night, yea with our spi­rit within us to seeke him early: Isai. 26.9. In former times God appeared vnto his servants in visions of the night; and therein revealed his good will vnto them: God came to Abimelech by night, Gen. 20.3. and with held him from sinning: And surely we may make a profitable use of our dreames in the night, Iob 33.15, 16. whereby many times God sheweth us the great corruption of our de­ceitfull hearts, wanting his grace to make resistance unto the assaults of Satan, who wil not give us any time to rest from his temptations: But [Page 287] as that great Commander did sodainly come upon the enemy, Ma ius [...]n Sa­lust. be. l. Iu­gur. by marching diverse nights; so hee doth then be­set us, and seekes to wound us, by casting his fiery darts, evil thoughts into our hearts: Sometime we offend by car­nall affections, sometime by uncharitablenesse, carefull thoughts, and vaine imagina­tions. Psal. 16.7. Dicetur meri­ta nox quo (que) Naenia. Horat. My reines also instruct me in the night seasons; and such a night requires a song of lamentation: But when the Lord hath proved our heart, Psal. 17.3. and visited us in the night, and hath tryed us, and shall find nothing; then may wee have a song in the night, and gladnesse of heart, as when an holy solemnity is kept. Isai. 30 29. There is great cause of [Page 288] joy, for that the Lord doth refresh and sustain us by qui­et sleepe, after we have beene wearied with the evill of the day: And as hee giveth rest after labour, so hee giveth ease and deliverance after af­fliction and trouble. In the night, Act. 12.7. a light shined unto Peter in the prison, and the An­gel of the Lord raised him, when hee was sleeping be­tweene two souldiers, bound with two chaines: So the Lord doth looke graciously upon us in our most discon­solate estate, when we are en­vironed with many miseries, and lifts us up by his favour, making away for us to escape out of the greatest dangers. At mid-night, Paul and Si­las prayed and sang praises, [Page 289] and immediately, Act. 16.25. by the earth-quake, all the doores were opened, and every ones bands were loosed. In the midst of trouble, if our mouth bee opened in prayer, our hearts also shall bee in­larged in thankes-giving: E­ven in the time of affliction there is cause of rejoycing, in that it comes from Gods fa­therly love, who maketh us to trust in him for reliefe af­ter the time of triall. Shall a man that is miserable delight himselfe in musicke? Philoxenu i [...] Al [...]iano. and shall not wee bee comforted by singing praise unto the name of the Lord? Iosephs brethren thought evill a­gainst him; Gen. 50.10. but God meant it unto good; that he, being advanced, might preserve [Page 290] life: When wee thinke our selves to bee neerest unto de­struction, God may then in­tend our greatest happinesse and comfort. As the heaven is high above the earth, so the height and depth of his wisedome and love doe ex­ceed the capacity of our shal­low understanding. Wee are not able to apprehend the manner of his gracious dea­ling with us: When the Lord turned againe the captivity of Sion, Psal. 116.1. they were like them that dreame: Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. The Apostle himselfe in his gaole-delivery, Act. 12.9. wist not that it was true which was done, but thought hee had seene a vision. At what time soever [Page 291] God is pleased to inspire his grace and comfort into us, we ought to rejoyce therein, and by night on the bed to seeke him whom our soule loveth; Cant. 3.1. Circumscri­batur nox, & aliquid ex illa in diem transferatur. Senec. abridging that time of rest and ease, that it may become as beneficiall unto us, as the day it selfe. David was not satisfied by offering the sacrifice of thankesgiving in the courts of the Lords house, Psal. 116.17. and paying his vowes in the presence of all the peo­ple: But in the night also he would continue his song of Gods mercy; Siquis adest auditor lu [...]ci­niae prius al i­mus quam cantus defi­ciet. Like that ex­cellent bird, which is never weary or spent by continu­ing her delightfull notes: So this sweete singer of Israel was uncessant in praising the Lord; not giving sleepe to [Page 292] his eyes, untill hee had blest his holy name. In time of af­fliction hee made his bed to swimme, praying unto the Lord to returne, and deliver his soule: Now in prosperi­ty hee gives thankes for the blessings hee doth receive. When our bones are vexed, and our sleep departeth from us, wee pray unto God to deale mercifully with us; But when our diseases are healed, wee doe not returne to give thankes, being soone overtaken with heavinesse and security: And yet Da­vid did endeavour to watch in the night, that hee might sing praise unto the Lord. He did not then onely meditate in the Law of God, when he could not take any rest, (as [Page 293] Ahasuerus had the booke of the records of the Chroni­cles read before him, Esther 6.1. when hee could not sleepe;) for now hee might lye downe in peace, and sleepe, when God made him to dwell in safety: Much lesse did hee intend to procure sleepe by a sinister performance of any good duty; which notwith­standing is a corrupt practice of many men, who by sing­ing, or reading, or hearing, or meditating, will have an unworthy aime to bring themselves asleepe; and yet confessing that the enemy is most busied, when they are best exercised. And therefore David saith, Psal 149 5. Let the Saints sing aloud upon their beds: Thereby to testifie their [Page 294] cheerefull devotion, and also to prevent that spirit of slumber. Such as shall thinke to obtaine quiet rest by per­forming any such action (in it selfe commendable) they doe like unto that people which followed Christ, not because of the miracles, Iohn 6.26. but because they were filled with the loaves: So these seeke him, not that their faith may bee strengthened, but that their bodies, may bee refre­shed; The words then used by them, being as a charme to gaine their purpose. Wee know how dangerous the fall of Eutichus was, Acts 20.9. and yet he was overcome by a deepe sleep against his will; where­as these men doe addresse themselves thereunto, stret­ching [Page 295] out the arme to wel­come sleepe, rather than to declare any fervent zeale. And therefore as their of­fence is more hainous, so their fall will bee greater. And they also offend in an high nature, who in publike are not able to watch one houre; but doe settle them­selves to their repose: With what horror may they feare to be awakened by the sound of the last trumpe, who have despised the voyce of God? And how can they sleepe without suffering many things, Mat. 27.19. because of that Iust Man, whom they so unjustly contemne in their neglect of his Word exhibited unto them? This example may be very forcible to convince [Page 296] the sluggard that folds his hands to sleepe: Shall David improve the night to so hap­py an use, and wilt thou con­sume both day and night in drowsinesse and sloth? Also this good act here mentio­ned doth confute them that neglect the frequent use of so heavenly a duty: Whereas the Apostle doth call upon us to sing with a grace in our heart, Ephes. 5 29. Col. 3.16. making melody unto the Lord. Quod essent soliti stato die antelucem convenire, c [...]menque Christo quasi Deo dicere secum invi­cem. Plin. Iun. And in former time, Christians were so fer­vent in spirit, that they would not forbeare their spirituall songs in the night, though their lives were brought in danger thereby. Vide Tertul­lian. in Apo­loget. Bu [...] now, excepting that generall ex­ercise in the congregation (where there be too many [Page 297] abridgments of abridge­ments) the use thereof is not so common as it ought to be. In some families it is rare, in other it is never thought upon: In Societies and Col­ledges, where friends mee­ting privately in the end of the best day, Luke 24.32. perhaps their heart may burn within them while they talke about the Scripture, but yet this holy duty is much omitted; which if it were conscionably per­formed in a religious man­ner, would bring comfort unto the soule, by letting the servants of God to depart in peace. Mat. 26.30. That hymne which Christ sang with his Apo­stles, may bee a president un­to all that are in authority, to doe likewise.

David saith, that the Lords song shall be with him in the night, Psal. 118.14. And, that the Lord is his strength and his song; which doth confound the foolish love-songs, and unreasonable poems, which are too much in request; Songs in praise of Venus, and the great Diana, to the di­shonour of their Creatour, & the shame of the maker; stri­ving to get a name, though it be by their owne confusi­on: This their way is their folly, yet their posterity ap­prove their sayings. Of these we may say, as Ronsard spake of the famous Du-Bartas, He hath done more in a day then I have done in my whole life: So David hath done more by this song in [Page 299] the night, than they by the writings of their whole life: Wherefore let them for­beare any longer to exceed their bounds in loose dittyes, and wanton catches, where­by youth is soone taken; as appeares by the lewd songs, so common in their night-walks, more harsh to every good eare than the voyce of the raven or any prodigious bird.

VERSE VIII. And my prayer unto the God of my life.

BEfore he spake of the blessings received, God commanding his loving kindnesse in the day time, Of his thanks-giving for those [Page 300] blessings, singing praise unto God in the night, And now he betakes himselfe unto Prayer, for the continuance of those blessings, and supply of all graces needfull. Wee see our poore and weake e­state in this life: If God withdraw his right hand, we fall and perish: If he stop the fountaine of his mercies, we dye for thirst: Wee can­not say that we are rich, Revel. 3.17. and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; For in our selves wee are wretched and miserable: Going out full in the morning, we may be brought home againe empty in the evening: Ha­ving in the day given thanks unto God, who filleth us with his blessings; before [Page 301] night we pray unto him for our dayly bread: In our thankfull acknowledgment of the benefits we doe enjoy, we humbly pray unto God, to renew his wōted mercies, and to multiply his favours upon us. How can we testifie our due valuation of the bounty and goodnesse of the Almighty, but by ascribing all glory unto him? when our soules doe blesse the Lord, and all that is within us doe praise his holy name: How can we better declare the sincerity and devotion of our thanks-giving, than by our fervent prayer for the in­crease of those graces, for which we desire to give thanks? He that is in want, may move compassion: He [Page 302] that is gratefull, will soone obtaine reliefe. Can we pre­sume to beg any thing of God, not having rightly pri­ced those blessings, which we have formerly received from his bountifull hands? David was so far from for­getting any benefit, that God had bestowed upon him, that in this prayer, he doth insinu­ate a dutifull remembrance of Gods gracious dealing with him, in that he calleth Him, The God of his life; who breathed into him the breath of life: who in sick­nesse healed his diseases, and brought up his soule from the grave: Who delivered him from the Beare and the Lion, and that lion-like man, Goliah, and that Fox, who [Page 303] sought after the blood of this Lambe, and yet, confessing him to be innocent: And here from this ravening Woolfe, Absalom, who in the morning devour'd the prey, slew his brother Am­non; And now thought to divide the spoyle, by casting his father out of his throne into his sepulchre: & labou­red to have the Sun turned into darknesse, that himselfe might have shined like a bla­zing meteor; But God was the God of his life: The li­ving, the living he shal praise thee as I doe this day: Ha­ving received so great a bles­sing, he doth use it to the praise of his name: And from Him he hoped for that better life, when this should [Page 304] be finished; for which Bath­sheba prayed, That the King might live for ever: Our life being a good gift, doth come from the Father of lights: In him we live and move and have our being: And whe­ther we live or dye we are the Lords: Then let us live to his glory, and bee willing to forsake all things to fol­low Christ; and to lose our lives that we may save them at the last day: not like the un­regenerate, who wil preserve their lives, though they de­stroy their soules; and will keepe their goods, though they spend their lives: as A­nanias did, Act. 5.5. Mat. 21.19. being like the fig-tree, which brought forth the broad leaves of outward profession, whereby hee [Page 305] thought to cover his naked­nesse, Gen. 3.7. But wanting sound fruit, he was blasted by the breath of divine justice, and withered away. By this ex­ample of David, we may be taught unto whom to direct our prayers: Even unto the God of our life, who hath given us so great a blessing, & is able to give us all things requisite for our good: How voyd of all sense, and understanding are they, that neglect praying unto the e­ternall and everliving God? and doe pray unto Saints, which are dead, which never were living; and doe repre­sent their prayers unto ima­ges, in a language equally unknowne to the idoll and themselves; Psal. 115 8. They that make [Page 306] them, so is every one that tru­steth in them.

VERSE IX. I will say unto God, My rocke, why hast thou forgotten me? why goe I mourning, because of the oppressions of the ene­mye?

DAvid doth here premedi­tate what he should say, when he comes to speake un­to the Lord in prayer: And in so doing he becomes a good example unto us, duely to consider our necessity, that we may performe this holy duty with the more re­verence, and thereby obtaine the more comfort. As wee use to examin our selves be­fore we come to the Lords [Page 307] supper, where we are made the partakers of the body & blood of Christ, So likewise we ought to search our hearts before prayer, at which time we partake of the benefit of his sufferings: Mat. 6.7. And then we must omit vaine repetitions, for we are not heard for our much speaking: A few words with fervency & zeale are better than ten thousand without importunity & ho­linesse. The Pharisee made a great sound in his prayer, But the Publican like a vessel full of pretious liquor, strikes himselfe upon the breast, & drawes out these few words, God be mercifull to me a sin­ner. Our care must be to fitt our prayer unto the present occasion, And that estate, [Page 308] wherein we then are: Some­time the soule is lifted up with joy, and then there is cause of thanksgiving, and praysing the name of the Lord for his manifold bles­sings: Sometime it is weigh­ed downe with sorrow; and then we must be humbled in confession of our owne vn­worthinesse, and labour to strengthen our selves by tru­sting in Gods mercyes: All helps are good, that may ei­ther assist us therein, or ena­ble us thereunto: But above al, the Holy Spirit, which tea­cheth all things, and sheweth unto every man the griefe of his owne heart, leading him in the way of life; By the which we must be guided & instructed all the dayes of [Page 309] our lives: In comparison whereof, all other are but blind guides, And not fitted to every particular exigent. Paul being unable to see, was led by the hand, Act. 9.8. But after the scales fell from his eyes, he needed no such helpe. And that other blind man cured by Christ, Iohn 9.21. being of age was able to speake for him­selfe. They that are strong men in Christ, doe poure out their complaint before the Lord: Yea, the new-borne child doth cry, though not able to speake. In the begin­ning we cry unto the Lord in sighs and grones: And af­terward growing from milke to strong meate (as the flax, which at first did but smoke, in the end doth burn bright) [Page 310] wee are able to make expres­sion of our want. When Za­charias his mouth shall bee opened, Luk. 1.63. and his tongue loo­sed, that hee could speake to the praise of God, the wri­ting table may bee laid aside. Naturally wee are all borne with this infirmity; and un­lesse God put forth his hand, and touch our mouth, as hee did Ieremiahs, Ier. 1.9. wee are not able to speake unto him. Let us then covet this excellent endowment, and pray unto God to open our lips, and to touch our tongue with a coale from the altar, that we may obtaine this originall and fundamentall blessing, whereby so many graces are derived unto us; and wee come to bee built up in our [Page 311] most holy faith: In our voy­age to heaven, take heed of these two dangerous rocks; Either to withdraw the shoulder, Nehem. 9.29. laying the burthen upon others, not seeking the bread of life by any sweat of our owne, but onely as wee wipe it off from the face of other men; Or else a custo­mary and negligent perfor­mance of this duty, whereby wee rather quench the spirit, than stirre up the gift that is in us, 2. Tim. 1. [...]. that it may shine cleer­ly, for the benefit of others; and burne cheerfully for the comfort of our own soules.

Now let us observe this resolution of David; I will say unto God: Ought hee not rather to have confessed with Iob, Iob 9.3.15. That hee was not [Page 312] able to answer him one of a thousand? And though hee had beene righteous, yet would not answer, but make supplication unto his Iudge: As the Publican would not so much as lift up his eies un­to heaven; So, might not he have said, that hee was un­worthy to lift up his voyce unto the Lord, and to speake unto him? Who art thou, O man, Rom. 9.20. that repliest against God? Hath not the potter power over the clay? Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker. Isai. 45.9. 1. Pet. 2.20. Are servants com­manded to take it patiently, when they suffer for doing well; and shall Gods ser­vants bee impatient, when they are corrected for their faults? as if, like Balaam, He [Page 313] did smite us when wee did not offend against him. Num. 22.28. Also where hee complaineth, that he is now forgotten, he speaketh as if God should repent of his love towards him; as Adam, when he thought to justifie himselfe, Gen. 3.12. did impute the blame upon God: So David doth not accuse him­selfe, who had provoked the Lord by his transgressions, but speaketh as if God had forgotten to bee gracious, and had rejected him in his displeasure. In the former part, I will say unto God, My rocke; There is a strong con­fidence in Gods mercy, which emboldened him thus to speake: In the latter, Why hast thou forgotten me? He speakes according to carnall [Page 314] reason, Iudg. 2.3. which is as a Canaa­nite in the land, a thorne in our side, not to bee wholly conquered, untill the last e­nemy be destroyed. 1. Cor. 15.26.

Before you saw him pan­ting and thirsting for God; but now he is come to the rocke from whence floweth the water of life: Before the waves and billowes went o­ver him; but now his feet are set upon the rocke: For who is a rocke save our God? Psal. 18.31. He is a rocke of refuge, & 62.7. & 94.22. of strength, of salvation. Thus Hannah calls him in her song: & 95.1. There is no rocke like our God: 1. Sam. 2.2. Thus Moses fre­quently in his song, Deut. 32 31. Their rocke is not as our Rocke: Thus David in his song, 2. Sam. 22.47. Blessed be my rocke, and ex­alted [Page 315] be the God of the rock of my salvation: God who is pleased to call himselfe, Exod. 3.14. I AM; may fitly be described by this title of the Rocke, as being ever the same: Yea more stable and permanent than any rocke; Mat. 27 51. For the rocks have beene rent, but God is immutable, with him is no shadow of change: wherefore let us put our whole trust in God. And as the conies, Pro. 30.26. though a feebl folke, yet are commended as exceeding wise, because they make their houses in the rockes: So it will be our wisedome to build upon this Rocke, Mat 7.24. that we may no [...] fall, when we are opposed & exalted by the prince of the ayre. Ephes. 2. The dove is sayd to be [Page 316] in the clefts of the rocke; Cant 2.14. So let our soules, being puri­fied by faith, enter through the wounds of Christ, Isai. 2.10. and be united unto him by love. In this appellation here used, My Rocke; the Psalmist al­ludes to Gods favourable dealing with the Israelites, whom he relieved by causing water to come out of the rocke at Horeb, Exod. 17.6. Num. 20.11. & Meribah: The remembrance of Gods grace, and love shewed unto others, doth bring comfort unto our soules: And it is the best menes for us to ob­taine the blessings we want, when we doe magnifie his holy name for his mercy and goodnesse unto his children, and for the great benefits for­merly conferred upon our [Page 317] selves: Isai. 17.10. Not being unmind­full of the rocke of our strength. It was Davids in­firmity, having begun in the spirit, in calling God his Rocke, thus to end in the flesh, saying, Why hast thou forgotten mee? Had wee faith as a graine of mustard seed, Mat. 17.20. wee might bee able to remove mountaines; but it doth discover our unbeliefe, when wee thinke that our Rocke doth forsake us, that our God forgets us: Wee doe, with Iesurun, Deut. 32.18. forget the Rocke that begat us, the God the fo [...]med us; but he never forsakes his servants that wait upon him. How often would hee, like the henne, ga­ther us under the wings of his providence and mercy? [Page 318] But when did he, like the O­strich, Iob 39 14. leave us wholly desti­tute of his favour? Shall the man that falleth through his owne weakenesse, or is over­throwne by the strength of the winds, and power of the waves, accuse the Rocke whereon hee stood, for insta­bility? The Rocke is fixed and sure, but wee are feeble: yet such is our error, that as in passing by water, the eye is ready to apprehend that the rockes doe remove, and the vessell wherein wee are doth stand still: So wee ma­ny times doe deceive our selves, by thinking that God doth goe from us, when as wee doe runne from him by disobedience. 1. Iohn 4.10. We have not loved God, but hee us: God [Page 319] hath not forgotten us, but wee him: Doth David de­mand, Why hast thou for­gotten me? Might hee not as well have asked, Why hast thou dealt so favourably with mee? There was great cause of indignation, but no merit of love. 2. Sam. 7.8. When God tooke him from the sheepe-coat, from following the sheepe, and anoynted him King over Israel, and delive­red him out of the hand of Saul, & 12.7. and gave him his Ma­sters house, and the house of Israel, and Iudah; and if that had beene too little, hee would have given him such and such things: Having re­ceived so great blessings, hee brought forth the grapes of Sodom in lust and unclean­nesse; [Page 320] making his transgres­sion to be like that crying sin of the men of Gibeah, Iudg 25. where adultery and murther were both joyned together: Wherfore it was a just judge­ment of God, to forget him, who had so highly offended. And yet in this wee may see, that the wayes of God are not like our wayes, nor his thoughts as our thoughts: Wee thinke hee is well plea­sed with us, when hee is most angry; and that hee forgets us, when hee begins to looke upon us in mercy. David du­ring the whole yeare that hee slumbred in his sin, thought the time to bee like a jubilee of ioy, wherein all things succeeded prosperously; but now that God doth punish [Page 321] him for his iniquity, and like a good shepheard, with his rod doth bring home this straying sheepe, hee thinkes that he is forgotten and cast out of Gods fight. Of our selves wee are not able to dis­cerne Gods fatherly cha­stisements, and the trials of our faith, from the punish­ment of our rebellion; yea wee thinke that wee doe him good service, when wee pro­voke him to wrath. Being punished for our sinnes, wee are ignorant of the cause of his anger; unlesse hee shall tell us the cause why many are sicke, and weake, and ma­ny sleepe: For the heart of man is deceitfull above all things, and desperately wic­ked, who can know it? Be­ing [Page 322] thus ignorant, wee ought to inquire of the Lord, and to pray that hee would shew us the cause, why his anger is kindled against us, and his hand is heavie upon us: As David here, out of a desire to be informed, saith, Why hast thou forgotten me? It see­med strange unto him, that God should forget to be gra­cious, and that his mercy should be cleane gone for e­vermore, considering how graciously hee dealt with his people, the Israelites: When they dealt proudly, Nehem 9. Verse 16. and re­fused to obey, thou wert a God, ready to pardon, and forsookest them not; yea, when they made them a mol­ten calfe, 17. 18. yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest [Page 323] them not: When they cast thy law behinde their backs, 19. and slew thy Prophets, and wrought great provocations, yet in their trouble, 26. when they cryed, thou heardest from heaven & gavest them Saviours. 27. When they had rest, they did evill againe, 28. yet many times didst thou deli­ver them, and wouldest not utterly consume them: Then why hast thou forgotten me, O my God? Through the intercession of Christ we shal for ever enjoy the favour and presence of the Almighty. If God sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when hee remembred Abra­ham, Gen. 19.29. who prayed for So­dom, then we may be assured that God will not forget [Page 324] us, having Christ Iesus to be our Mediator.

VERSE IX. Why goe I mourning, because of the oppression of the ene­my?

HAd this man of God spoken no more than he did before, that he was forgotten of his Creator, we might have conceived his estate to bee very disconso­late; But now after the set­ting of the sunne, to have such horrid darknesse suc­ceed: After he seemed to be forsaken of God, to be thus vexed by the adversa­ry, must needs aggravate his sorrow; when hee went from one place to another, [Page 325] not finding ease or comfort, first to the wildernesse, then to the ascent of Mount Oli­vet, after that he passed over Iordan; not having his head adorned with a diademe, but covered with sack-cloth, making every place where he came to be like Bochim, Iudg. 2.5. a place of weepers: While he was unjustly oppressed by one, who was an enemy unto God, and to David, and to himselfe; who, as Iudas sought to shed the bloud of Christ, who had formerly washed his feet, So Absa­lom sought the destruction of his father, who before had washed the guilt of blood from him with teares of compassion, weeping sore for the evill done by him, & [Page 326] remitting his great offence, he received him into his bo­some; Yet this untamed hei­fer lift up his heele against him: This is the enemy that hath persecuted his soule, Psal. 143.3. that hath smitten his life downe to the ground, that made him to dwell in darknesse, as those that have beene long dead. Had God dealt with him as he did with Saul, 1. Sam. 15.28. to have rent the king­dome from him, and to have given it to another better than himselfe, he might have endured it with the more pa­tience; Let the righteous smite me, Psal. 141.5. it shall be a kind­nesse: But now, that the son of pride should make this humble servant of God to mourne, that the enemy to [Page 327] holinesse should thus afflict the child of Abraham, 2. Chro. 20.7. Gods friend; it must cause him to walke heavily, and to be full of perplexity: like the Hart which he mentioned in the beginning, which is in daun­ger to be devoured unlesse it be refreshed by the water-brookes; So he is even con­sumed by these troubles, un­lesse that God, who maketh the lame man to leape as an Hart, Isai. 35.6. be pleased to renew his strength, and to put an end to these calamities. If we offend against God, we shall be punished by them that are worse than our selves, who shall be as his rod and his hammer for our correcti­on. We cannot thinke those to be vessells of mercy, who [Page 328] were the instruments of his wrath against the Israelites, that went mourning by rea­son of the oppression of the enemy, imposing such heavy burthens upon them in their captivity.

It is our infirmity in time of any crosse, to looke rather unto the hand of him that smote us, than to the divine permission, or our sinnes provoking: No man could have power against us un­lesse it were given from a­bove: Iohn 19 11. There is no evill of punishment which God hath not done; our destructi­on proceeds from our selves: And therefore David, who was unwilling to mourne be­cause of the cruell oppressi­on of an insulting enemy; [Page 329] might yet have prayed unto God to breake his heart, and to give him true sorrow, that he might lament for his owne sinnes; whereby he had incensed Gods displea­sure, and by which, as by the most tyrannicall enemy, hee was oppressed and brought into bondage, when lust and corruption did set up their throne in the heart of him, who was advanced to the kingdome; And were more unsatiable in their exactions, than ever the task-masters of Egypt, were against the di­stressed Israelites. Deut. 4.20. And his worke was more servile, than theirs in the iron for­nace, when his soule did burne in lust; and though hee were a King, 2. Sam. 23.39. yet he betrayed [Page 330] the life of his faithfull sub­ject, 1 Sam. 18.14. yea of one of his Wor­thyes, altogether unworthy of such an untimely end: And that he might make him sure, As Ioab thrust three darts through the heart of Absalom; So he seekes to kill Uriah thrice; First, to rend him asunder as Samson did the Lion, Iudg. 14.6. when he tooke away his wife from him; He put him to a second death, when he made him drunke: 2 Sam. 11.13. And surely drunkennesse may well be called the se­cond death, as being the next way thereunto; And thirdly he caused him to be slaine by the enemy. Now this was a fit time for him to have cried out, Why go I mourning be­cause of the oppression of [Page 331] the enemy? when Satan, as afterward in the numbring of the people, stood up a­gainst David, 1. Chro. 21.1. and overthrew him. What greater sorrow, than for sinne? What more dreadfull enemy than Satan? What oppression compara­ble unto that which is under­gone by the vassals of Satan? whose condition is worse than that of the Gibeonites, Iosh. 9.23. who were bondmen, hewers of wood, and drawers of wa­ter; or than that of the men of Rabbah, who were put under sawes, 2. Sam. 12.31. and harrowes of iron, and axes of iron, and were made to passe through the brick-kilne: There is no act so vile and fordid, that he doth not put them thereun­to; no torment so cruell, that [Page 332] hee doth not inflict upon them. How circumspect ought wee to bee, that the wicked one may not touch us? and whensoever we are overtaken in a fault, how im­portunate should wee bee in our prayer unto God, night and day, to deliver us from that thraldome? I am thine, Lord save me, and let thine eare bee attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, Nehem. 1.11. who desires to feare thy name. Thou knowest, O Lord, that mine enemy is thine enemy: He first rebelled against thee, and justly suffered thy fierce wrath, by reason of his pride. Hee assaulted our blessed Saviour with diverse and sun­dry temptations, and would not leave him, untill being [Page 333] vanquished hee was com­manded to depart: Mat. 4.10. But for ever hee continueth his ma­lice against mee thine image; and often, too often hee pre­vailes against mee, so that I am brought into subiection, and the irons doe enter into my soule: Arise, O Lord, Psal. 105.18. for my deliverance; Thou hast bought mee, not with gold and silver, but with the bloud of thy Sonne; O then redeeme mee out of this cap­tivity: Why should this trai­tor destroy thy subiect, that laboureth in all things to bee faithfull and obedient? Why should Satan vex thy servant, that endeavours to doe thy blessed will? Why goe I mourning, because of the op­pression of the enemy?

VERSE X. As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach mee, while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

VVHat grievous vex­ation and anguish holy David did endure, by the reproaches of wicked men, may appeare by the de­scription thereof in this Psalme: Before there was the outward expression in teares; and here is the inward torment, A sword in his bones. Not some little hurt in the skinne onely, nor some small wound in the flesh, but the breaking of the bones; which how deadly it is, may appeare by the practice of [Page 335] the Iewes towards them that were crucified. Iohn 19.32. This here mentioned, is not much un­like to that which is spoken of the Word of God, being sharper than any two edged sword, Heb. 4.12. piercing even to the dividing asunder of the joints and the marrow: But that sword doth cut downe sinne from the good, with one edge; and with the other it destroyes the soule of the ungodly: Whereas this doth wound the righteous, and like an Egyptian reed doth enter into the hand, yea into the soule of him that useth it. Had they spake thus unto him in sodaine anger, and unadvised passion, hee could the better have endured these disgraces: But their obsti­nate [Page 336] continuance in the daily use of it, did discover their inveterate malice, that they were given over to a repro­bate sense; and living with­out God in the world, they did scorn and vilifie all those that put their confidence in him: wherefore hee had iust reason to say, that they were bloudy enemies unto him.

There was a time, when there was no sword found with the Israelites; 1. Sam. 13.22. It were an excellent blessing if now in our Israel, there were none that did strike at the good name of their brethren, by slanderous reports, and un­charitable censures: But as then, Gal 4.29. he that was borne after the flesh, persecuted him that was borne after the spirit, So [Page 337] it is now: Many thinke they cannot better declare their freedome from vice, than by reproching them that are vertuous. Ephes. 6. A good Christian shall have need of the whole spirituall armour, that hee may be enabled to withstand the fierce assaults, and to quench the fiery darts of the wicked: He must have his loynes girt about with truth, that he be not weakened, and shaken by the dissolute, and railing accusation that is brought against him: He must haue the breast-plate of righteousnesse, to oppose a­gainst their wickednesse, and his feet shod with the prepa­ration of the Gospel of peace, that he may not runne with them in the crooked [Page 338] paths leading to destruction: And the Sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, that he may thereby disarme them of these instruments of cruelty. There was a fla­ming sword, Gen. 3.24. which turned e­very way, placed to keepe A­dam, from reentring into Pa­radice: These flaming swords, these tongues set on fire from hell, keepe many men from walking in the wayes of godlynesse, and from approching unto the tree of life, Christ Iesus: who wanting a constant and firme resolution, will chuse to halt betweene two opini­ons, Psal. 107.27. yea to reele to and fro, and stagger like the ship mentioned in the Psalme, in unknowne wayes, rather [Page 339] than with Micaiah, 1. King. 22.24. to be smitten and reviled for their sincere profession of the truth. Could that blessed Martyr endure the picture of the devill which was put up­on on his head, Iohn Hus in Fox. and esteeme it a crowne of glory unto him? And shall not we undergoe the termes of disgrace, cast upon us by wicked men? which being rightly consi­dered, are no other than be used in holy scripture; So that their sinne is the greater by the profanation. And it may be our greatest sorrow, that we have not attained to be such as they accuse us to be; Or as we our selves de­sire to be. Now the successe which they shall find by this their violent carriage, will be [Page 340] no other than Asahel had, 2 Sam. 2.23. who ranne upon his owne destruction. Mat 26.52. All they that take the sword, shall perish by the sword: Psal. 64.3. They whet their tongue like a sword, but it shall enter into their owne hart. & 37.15. Ier 9.3. They bend their tongue like a bow for lyes; and shoot their arrowes, Psal. 11.2. even bitter words, at the upright in heart: & 64.3.7. But God shall shoote at them with an arrow, so­dainly shall they bee woun­ded. & 52.2. Their tongue deviseth mischiefe like a sharpe rasor, working deceitfully: But in the end it will bring them to torment. & 79.12. They speake evill of those things they know not, and persecute the faith­full; Nehem 4.4. But God will render seven fold into their bo­some, [Page 341] their reproach, and turne it upon their owne head: We may demand the cause of this their inquisiti­on, Where is thy God? He might have asked them one question, Iohn 9.27. Will ye also be his disciples? Had they in­tended to have taken his yoke upon them, David would willingly have instru­cted them in the way, yea hee would have beene their guide; Come and see Him, who hath told me all things that I know, & 4.29. and knoweth all things that ever I did; is not this the only true God? But they meant to honour him no otherwise than Herod thought to worship Christ, Mat. 2.7. when he enquired diligently after him: He hoped to have [Page 342] killed the Lord of life, and they purpose to doe no lesse, comming out with swords, Mat. 26.55. as against a theefe; though they aime at the members, yet they smite the head it selfe in their persecution: Act. 9.4, 5. What is done to one of those little ones, is done unto Christ; and what is done to Christ, is done to one of them. A servant of God can­not heare His holy name, which wee ought not to use without great reverence, to bee dishonoured, but his righteous soule must be vex­ed thereat. It was this which did strike so deepe into Da­vid, and vexe him so sore: See the coherence which hee makes in the same verse; Psal. 69.9. For the zeale of thine house hath [Page 343] eaten me up, and the reproa­ches of them that reproached thee are falne upon me. How free hee was from anger and revenge in his owne particu­lar case, may appeare by his carriage when Saul had a quarrell against him: For though Saul had so highly offended God by his folly, in offering a burnt offering, for the which hee was told that his kingdome should not continue; God having sought a man after his owne heart: And againe hee rebelled by disobedience, in sparing A­gag, & the best of the spoile; at which time the Prophet threatned him, that his king­dome should bee rent away from him. And though Da­vid was anoynted by Samu­el, [Page 344] and might have set upon Saul, when hee cut the skirt of his robe privily; and ano­ther time might have suffe­red Abishai to smite him, and make him sleepe his last; yet hee would not upon these pretences put forth his hand against him, but lamented at his death, and calls to the daughters of Israel to weepe over Saul. But here, when God was contemned, he was pricked to the heart, and his marrow was turned into the drought of Summer: He was upon the racke, and all his bones were broken, when he heard their evill speeches, whereby they infected the ayre, and poysoned their owne soules. Now between David and most men living [Page 345] in these daies, there is as great a difference, as betweene the King upon the throne, and the meanest subject grinding at the mill: Hee had a sove­raigne command over him selfe, and was slow to anger, not sinning by wrath, yet most sensible o [...]e. malicious words, tending to the disho­nour of God: Whereas ma­ny that in Gods cause are like dumbe idols, which have eares and heare not; as if it did not concerne them, be­ing never touched with in­ward compunction, when his name shall bee blasphe­med; but will rather give some consent thereunto, as if they were well pleased with such lewdnesse: And yet when their owne reputation [Page 346] shall be brought in question, they will whet their tongue, like a sword, in sharpe inve­ctives; and will whet their swords also, that they may wash off the least disgrace with the bloud of other men: But if God doth whet his glittering sword, and his hand take hold on judge­ment, Deut. 32.41. he will render venge­ance to all those which are of that mercilesse disposition that Cain was, who thought the life of his brother to bee the most acceptable sacri­fice.

VERSE XI. Why art thou cast downe, O my soule, and why art thou dis­quieted within mee? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet [Page 347] praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.

VVHereas David so of­ten repeateth these words, we may observe the manifold troubles which be­fall us in this life. Having mentioned his teates, and his banishment in the begin­ning, at the fift verse he re­bukes his soule for sadnesse; Having rehearsed his other afflictions, he now againe chides himselfe for this di­strustfull heavinesse: As Pe­ter, Mat. 14.30. though he began to sinke the first time hee went to Christ upon the water, Yet he was not thereby discou­raged from casting himselfe into the sea againe; Iohn 21.7. and then [Page 348] he passed safely to the shoare where Christ was: So though the waves & billowes went over David, when hee hoped to approch unto God by faith, yet here againe hee calls upon his soule, and ca­sting himselfe upon Gods mercy, he arrives at the port of blessednesse: Hee did not overcome these temptations and trialls, at the first assault, nor yet was he wearied with the continuance of them; But whensoever he was mole­sted with any evill, he la­bours to strengthen his con­fidence in Gods love, that he may be restored to comfort. As Paul prayed thrice that the messenger of Satan might depart from him: 2. Cor. 12. [...]. So our Author, shutting up the next [Page 349] Psalme with the same conclu­sion, doth the third time seek to be freed from this thorne in the flesh, this heavinesse that was so offensive unto him.

By this we may learne that lesson, which we shall have cause to remember, and occasion to practice, That through much tribulation we must enter into the king­dome of heaven: Act. 14.22. 2. Cor. 7.5. Without are fightings, within are feares. A wounded spirit, who can beare? What sor­row so neere, what trouble so heavy, as this, when the soule shall be disquieted with doubt of Gods love or sense of his displeasure? And yet wee must not faint and for­sake our assurance, but conti­nue [Page 350] faithfull unto the death, that wee may receive the crown of life: In afflictions wee must not thinke some new thing doth come upon us, which hath not beene be­fore: Wee will not compare our sufferings and trials with those which David endured. Wee may take this one Pro­phet for an example of suf­fering affliction; yet did hee not cast away his confidence, but hoped in God: therfore let us also hold fast the pro­fession of our faith. Iam 5.7. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, untill hee receiue the earely and later raine: let us also stablish our hearts, that wee may bee refreshed with [Page 351] Gods favour. As in water, face answereth to face, Pro. 27.19. so if wee looke unto the Lord, Psal. 42.5. we shall praise him for the helpe of his countenance, who is the health of our counte­nance, and our God. The consideration hereof may be of speciall use and impor­tance in all the casualties of this life, but chiefly at the time of death, Iob 18.14. when wee are brought to the king of ter­rors: when this earthly house is dissolved, we shall be con­ducted to the kings palace; when these old garments be laid aside, we shall be arraied in long robes; I shall yet praise God, yea I shall for e­ver praise God, when I shall alwayes appeare in his pre­sence, Who is the health of [Page 352] my countenance, who raised me from sicknesse to a sound estate, who gave me strength after infirmity, who filled me with plenty after adversity, who revived me with com­fort after sorrow, and who will bring me to life after death; Being then especially the health of my counte­nance, when hee makes my face to shine as the sunne, by beholding his glory, And doth change this vile mor­tall corruptible body into a glorious body. The lame man, Act. 3.4. who was laid at the gate of the temple, looking upon Peter, received strength, and entring into the temple prai­sed God: Though now our soules be cast downe, yet if we trust in the Lord, all our [Page 353] infirmities shall be cured, & entring into the holiest place we shall blesse the name of the Lord for evermore: Then be not discouraged with present afflictions, let thy hope be stedfast and sure: Though in tempests some­times they cut the anchors & leave them in the sea, Act. 27.40. that the men may be saved, yet if we let our hope depart from us we perish. The time of our life is but as sixe dayes of la­bour and sorrow, and in this space we have so many nights of quiet and comfort, yea we have an evening be­fore the morning, a time of strength before a time of tri­all; But in the end there is the eternall Sabbath of bles­sednesse, when we shall for e­ver [Page 354] magnifie the name of the Lord: Amos 8.5. Though the carnall man doth with the Sabbath gone, that he may set forth wheate, and falsifie the bal­lances by deceit; yet let not beleevers make hast by im­patience, but waite upon the Lord, knowing that by this difficult ascent we come to sit upon the throne.

FINIS.

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