Exposition on the Seven Psalms of Repentance, Psalm 32
A GODLY AND FRVITFVLL EXPOSITION ON THE THIRTIE TWO PSALME, THE THIRD OF THE PENETENTIALS.
THis is the third Pſalme of Repentance, the Title thereof is Davids Inſtruction, 12. Pſalmes are Pſalmes of inſtruction.ſhewing both the ſubſtance and matter of the ſame (that is) Inſtruction, as alſo the writer thereof, David. There are many other Pſalmes which beare this title, eſpecially the 42.44.45.52.53.54.55.74.78.89.142. For if yee would deuide the 150. Pſalmes vntounto claſſes, yee ſhall find ſome inſtruction as theſe twelue, others for conſolation, others of deprecations,The Scriptures are profitable for all vſes. 2 Tim. 3.16. Simil. others of imprecations, for the Scriptures of God are profitable for all vſes, to rebuke, to comfort, to inſtruct, &c. Amongſt all, this booke of the Pſalmes eſpecially is as an Apothecaries ſhop, wherein yee ſhall finde all ſorts of Drugs, Cordiall to comfort our heart, or Corraſiue to eate vp the cancer of our nature, yea in what eſtate was euer man or can hee be, but he ſhall finde comfort and good in this booke of Pſalmes. For the Pſalmes are an Epitome of the old Teſtament, Simil. a mirrour or looking glaſſe of the grace of God: a perfect Anatomie of the whole man. Wherein are expreſſed all ſort of documents, both of the gracious promiſes of God to his owne children, and his iuſtice againſt his aduerſaries: alſo of our faith in the promiſes of God: of our infirmities; our patience: our conſtancie: & our deliuerie from our troubles, and our thankeſgiuing for the ſame, finally of our duetifull obedience to God, and care of his Church.
Dauid by his doctrine teacheth theſe to repent whom by his example he had taught to ſinne. A generall leſſon for al perſons.This is a Didaſcali que Pſalme wherein David teacheth ſinners to repent, by this doctrine, Who teached them to ſinne by his example. This ſcience is vniuerſal, and pertaineth to all men, and which neceſſarily wee muſt all learne; Princes, Prieſts and people, men and women, children, tradſemen, and whatſoeuer they be, m…ſt be put to this Schoole. without which leſſon all others are vnprofitable.
A marke of a true penitent ſin…er.But to the poynt. This is a marke of a true pe…itent when hee hath beene a ſtumbling blocke to others, hee may be as carefull to raiſe them vp by his repentance, as hee was hurtfull to them by his ſinne, and I neuer thinke that man truly penitent, who is aſhamed to teach ſinners repentance by his owne particular proofe. The Samaritan woman when ſhee was conuerted,Ioh: 4.29. left her bucket at the Well, entred the City and ſayd come forth, yonder is a man who hath told mee all that I hauehave done,Luk: 22.32. and our Sauiour ſayth to S. Peter, when thou art conuerted ſtrengthen thy brethren.1 Tim: 1.14. S. Paul alſo after his conuerſion, is not aſhamed to call himſelfe chiefeſt of all ſinners, and to teach others to repent their ſinnes, happie and thriſe happie is the man who can build as much as hee hath caſt downe.
Let Princes be aſhamed to ſinne but not to repent.Next hee is a King, and yet not a ſhamed to be an example of repentance, by which all kings and noblemen ſhould learne to be aſhamed of their ſinne, but neuer be aſhamed to repent. Theodoſius the Emperour after the ſlaughter that his Souldiers made at Theſſalonica came to S. Ambroſe, The example of Theodoſius the Emperour▪and humbly fell downe on his face amongſt the penitents, ſaying that part of the Pſalme, Agglutinata eſt terrae anima mea, Pſ: 44.25.my ſoule is glewed vntounto the earth.
David an experimented teacher.Thirdly, David is an experimented doctor (as I hauehave ſaid in the former two Pſalmes) who hauing felt himſelfe, teacheth others; The Pilot who hath Sailed the Sea can beſt teach others the art of Nau…gation, Simil. a Captiane can direct an armie beſt who hath had proofe of the enemie himſelfe. So experience in Spirituall combates is of great worth, and hee can beſt teach others to avoide ſinne, who hath ouercommed ſinne in his owne perſon.
Learne to get remiſſion of ſinne.The doctrine moſt neceſſarie for a Chriſtian to learne, is, the remiſſion of ſinnes. For although yee had learned all other ſciences, what could they auaile you without this: For as one of the worthieſt fathers ſayes, all ſciences without this are vnprofitable. What if thou thou were neuer ſo prudent in the lawes, if thine owne conſcience accuſe thee? and expert in Phyſicke, if thine owne ſoule be ſickly, and know the power of the ſtars, if thy ſinne throw thee downe to the loweſt hels, yea albeit yee learned all the heads of Theologie, and taught them vntounto others, yet they are nothing worth to thy ſelfe, if thou haſt not learned to repent thy ſinnes, and to hauehave perſwaſion of mercy for them.Iam. 2.19. Mar. 5.12. The Deuils beleeue and they tremble, the legion of Deuils which came from the poſſeſſed, could pray to Chriſt that hee might licence them to enter into the heard of Swine, they they could confeſſe and profeſſe that Chriſt was the Son of God,2 Cor: 7.14 the Deuill can change himſelfe into an Angell of light. Balaam can Prophecie, and many ſhall ſay,Numb. 23. we hauehave done miracles in thy name. Iudas can preach, and many can ſpeake eloquently thinking to adde to Pauls bands, but one thing can they neuer doe, euen aſſure themſelues that their ſinnes are forgiuen them. This leſſon none can learne but thoſe who are foreign, taught by God. And this is the leſſon that David teacheth al Chriſtians who come to his Schoole, which if they learne, it is ſufficient, this is that one thing which is needfull. I wiſh to God from mine heart,Note. that Paſtors of Gods word would leane oſtentation words of humane eloquen…e, and the ſhew of learning, and labour more to worke moſt vponupon the hearts of the people, a remorſe for ſinne, and an aſſurance of merciemercy, Et vt plactum populo, non ſibi plauſum mo…eant, that they may moue a weeping among the people, more then an applauſe to themſelues.