Exposition on the Seven Psalms of Repentance, Psalm 32 · Verse 6
VERSE 6. Therefore ſhall eueryevery one that is godly, make his prayer vntounto thee in a time, when thou maieſt be found: ſurely in the flood of great waters they ſhall not come neere him.
Doctr. The godly ſhall reape the benefit of remiſſion of ſinne.THis is the ſecond part of the Pſalme, for hauing taught that the happineſſe of man, conſiſteth in the remiſſion of his ſinnes: now he ſheweth, who ſhall reape the benefit of the ſame. So this gift of God is not reſtricted onelyonly to David, but to all the godly, as a cleare light ſhining abroad for the vtilitie of the whole Church.
We receiue gifts from God to impart them to others 1 Tim. 1.16Hereby we may learne for what end God doth beſtow his gifts vponupon vsus, to wit, that we may reach forth the fruit thereof to others. So the Apoſtle ſayth, he found merciemercy, that he might be an example to others.
As alſo we ſhould looke to the examples going before vsus. Aske the former ages, ſayth Iob, Iob. 8.9. 1 Cor. 10.7for our dayes vponupon earth are as a ſhaddow: and be not Idolaters, as ſome of them were.
Therefore:] David being kindled, doth kindle others. Simil: It is not poſſible, that a cold coale can giuegive light, but once kindled, it will giuegive both light and heat; He that doth not edifie his owne heart, will be the more vnable to edifie others. Paul ſayes, I beleeved, Pſal. 40.10. 2 Cor. 1.14.therefore I ſpake. David becommeth an example to others, of Gods merciemercy, neither yet do we lacke examples, both of his merciemercy and iuſtice. But here we faile, we cannot vſe theſe examples, neither make profit by them.
There ariſeth here a queſtion,Ob: ſince Dauid was an holy experimented Doctour, taking vponupon him to teach others, muſt they be all like Dauid, that is, holy, and truely religious, who are able to teach others?
I anſwere: Doe ye not thinke, Anſ: that Balaams prophecies wrought good to the Church? Simil: May not a man with a leprous hand ſow good ſeed, which will fructifie? May not a falſe Steward giuegive good bread to the children? Iudas taught and wrought miracles: and was not Saul among the Prophets? 1 Sam 10.7.The Apoſtle Paul, ſeeing many Preach foreign, not purely, but of envie, and pride, ſayth,Phil. 1.15.18. I reioyce Chriſt is Preached any manner of way. Gaudet in re non in modo, ſayth one of the Fathers. And why was Paul ſo carefull, Leſt while he preached ſalvation to others, 1 Cor. 9.27he ſhould be a Reprobate himſelfe; if a man might not miſcarrie himſelfe Preaching Saluation to others. The worke, that the Hypocriticall Preacher doth, ſhall not proſper to himſelfe, but I know no reaſon, why it may not proſper to others, as I hauehave ſhowne you by the pretending ſimilituds. Simil. Let none refuſe the kings almes, becauſe they get it from his Amner.1 King. 16.6. Note. Elias refuſed not his meat, although a Rauen brought it, for if thou finde it to be Gods word, take it out of what ſo euer mouth. This 6 verſe hath two parts. Firſt, the meanes which godly men will vſe to bring them in Gods fauour. They will pray vntounto him in a time when he may be found. Secondly, The effect of their Prayer: Surely in the floude of great waters they ſhall not come neere him.
In the former, after the inference (therefore) is noted the perſon praying, eueryevery godly man; next, to whom hee prayes, to thee, thirdly, the time, when thou maieſt be found. Doctr. Remiſſion of ſinne belongeth to all Gods children. Deut: 29.29.In this inference (Therefore) Dauid giues vsus to vnderſtand that this worke of Gods merciemercy in the remiſſion of his ſinnes ſhall not die in himſelfe, but ſhall ſurviue for euer, and refreſh the godly of all ages. Things ſhewed to vsus belong to vsus and our children. Euerie one that is godly. Here is the perſon who muſt pray, the godlie, and eueryevery one of them.
The word (Chaſid) in the owne language ſignifieth two things; the firſt, a gracious man who hath receiued fauour from God.Iſa. 7.6. He that hath grace can pray for grace. Pro: 15.8. Secondly, It ſignifieth, one who ſheweth mercy, or a meeke man, a mercifull man. Wherein we obſerue that onelyonly hee that hath grace can pray for grace, The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abhomination to the Lord. Gen. 4.4.The Lord hath reſpect to the offering of Abel, but not to Caines offering. Hee ſayth of the men of Iudah, & the inhabitants of Ieruſalem, that though they cry vntounto him, Ier. 11.11.he will not heare them, &c. OnelyOnly thoſe can pray rightly, who hauehave the Spirit to cry Abba, Father, which no reprobate hath,Rom: 8.15. but onelyonly the godly. God heareth not ſinners: Ioh: 9.31.but if any man be a worſhipper of God, and doth his will, him heareth he. Hee hath no promiſe to be heard, therefore his prayer turneth vntounto ſinne,Pro: 28.9. and God will caſt backe the dung of his Sacrifice vponupon his face: neither hath he fayth to beleeue,Rom: 14.23 and what ſo euer is without faith is ſinne, then the wicked are in a miſerable eſtate, who in all their life cannot pray, they call not on the Lord.Pſal: 14.4.
The Second ſignification, is a meeke, or mercifull man, to declare that that prayer is in vaine, which doth not proceede from a meeke and humble heart in thy ſelfe, and mercifull to men, and therefore in the praier which is preſcribed to vsus by our Lord, we proteſt that wee are free from all hatred, and doe heartilie forgiue ſuch as offend vsus.Who wold hauehave pardon of God let them forgiue others. Which I wiſh to God we remembered, ſo off as we pray; for we hauehave daylie contentions, and ſtrife; which no doubt, interrupteth our praiers. With what mouth can yee proteſt to God, yee hauehave pardoned others, when the hatred which yee hauehave locked vp in your heart, accuſeth you, of a manifeſt lie before God. Thou wouldeſt hauehave thy ſinnes to be pardoned, which thou committeſt againſt the eternall and omnipotent God, and thou wilt not pardon the ſinnes which are done againſt thee, by a worme, duſt, and aſhes. Then this is the way to right prayer, that thou be bountifull, mecke, and mercifull.Mat: 10.16. The Scriptures calls Gods children Doues, then they muſt be farre from the crueltie of the Hauke.
Shall pray.] this is the office and part of godly and meeke men to pray, for praier hath great fruite, and is profitable both to purchaſe things preſent, and to come, if any man be preſſed by aduerſitie, in any Per…ill, or danger, ſickneſſe, hunger,Prayer profitable for al things. or bee vrged by any calamitie, what ſhall he doe? pray. If the memorie of his former ſinnes ſting his conſcience, if he be terrified with the feare of hell and eternall death,Iam. 5.23. Let him pray; for this is the onelyonly hope and refuge of a Chriſtian.Chryſ. de oratione. lib. 1. Yea (as Chryſoſtome ſayth) it is the life of the ſoule, and the ſoule would die without it. What can affright vsus, if wee take our ſelfe to the hold of praier?Exod. 14 21 Ioſh 6 20. Exod 17.11 1 Kings. 17.1 2 Chron 20 3. 2 Chron. 14 11. and 32.20. Prayer need full to all. This diuided the red Sea, caſt downe Iericho, ouerthrew Amalek, cloſed and opened the heauens. By this Ichoſaphat ouercame Moab, and Ammon, Aſa the Ethiopians, Ezechias the Aſſyrians &c. Let vsus therefore runne to theſe weapons in all our troubles.
Prayer is neceſſary, that it is required of what ſo euer age, yong, or old, of what euer fexe, men, or women, of what ſo euer cailing, Princes, Paſtors, and people, ſo that who euer lacke this, are not godly; and by this a manifeſt difference is made betwixt the godly, and vngodly. Let each man try himſelfe of what Spirit hee is, and craue the ſpirit of prayer.
[VntoUnto thee:] Now hee ſetteth downe the perſon to whom hee ſhould pray, to God: and is it not verie conuenient that the Godlie in their trouble ſhould run to God? from whō, as they hauehave their name,Conditions neceſſary to be in him to whom wee pray. ſo they hauehave all good things; if we would ſeeke helpe at any, we muſt ſee, that hee doth know our danger, that hee will heare vsus, that he fauoureth vsus, that hee will helpe vsus, that hee will deliuer vsus, that hee will continue conſtant to helpe vsus, and if any of theſe lacke, our ſute is in vaine, and to no purpoſe. There is no creature in heauen or earth, to whom all theſe can be attributed, but onelyonly to God. For Images, and Idols, hauehave no more ſenſe, then Baal had, when his Prieſts called; O Baal heare vsus: of whom (to deride them) Eliah, 1 Kings. 18 26. God ſees our miſerie with pitifull eyes. Luk. 10.33.ſaid he is in a iorney or ſleeping. But our God ſees all our tribulations, and foreſees them, and ſees them with regrate, as a parent would behold the miſerie of his childe, not with common eyes, as an on looker of a commedit, but with mournfull eyes, as the Samaritan beheld the wounded Iew; for hee that made the eye, can hee not ſee? and qui totus est viſus, he who is altogether ſight, can he not perceiue? This is a great comfort to the patient, that hee hath God looking on him with the eye of his compaſſion.
And as hee ſeeth, ſo hee heareth our groaning with both his cares.Iſa. 63.26. God heares our groanings. Pſal: 27.10. Though Abraham bee ignorant of vsus, and Iſrael know vsus not, yet thou O Lord art our father and our redeemer. Though my father and my mother would forget me▪ yet the Lord will gather me vp. And if Abraham did not ſee the miſeries of the Iſraelites, who ſprang out of his loynes. ſhall we ſuppoſe that the Saints departed ſee our particular Croſſes, or ſorrows,The Saints departed heare not or tentations, who when they were aliue, could not ſee them, but ſo farre, as they would expreſt them. How much leſſe now can they ſee our croſſes; except as the Papiſts foliſhly ſay, in the Glaſſe of the Trinitie, which were aſmuch as to make the Trinitie a myrrour to their ſoules,The Saints occupied in prayſing God. to occupie them in the earthly ſorrows of his Saints, who are ſo well occupied in the celeſtiall praiſes of his Maieſtic. and albeit they be lying vnderunder the altar, deſiring the accompliſhment of the body of Chriſt, yet they are put to no buſineſſe, to that which the Trinitie fullie can doe themſelues, to whom belongeth the worke of our ſaluation.
Many, both ſee, heare, and pitle our miſeries, albeit they are not able to ſuccour,God able to help vsus. or ſupplie vsus. Here then is our comfort, that wee hauehave an omnipotent God, to whom we come who, quiequid voluit, fecit hath, & is able to doe what ſo euer hee will: and if wee hauehave his heart to louelove vsus, we neede nor to doubt of his hand to helpe vsus, as a ſubiect, on whom a Potent king caſteth his affection, and whom hee loueth intirely, needes not to doubt of his liberalitie and protection.
And finally, albeit that any mortall man both ſaw and knew,Gods fauouris conſtant. and fauoured vsus, and had power to accompliſh our ſuites, yet what ſuretie hauehave we of the continuance of of his fauour, or yet of his life. Therefore ſaith Dauid. Truſt not in wordly Princes, whoſe breath is in their noſtriles. Pſal. 146.3.But our God is conſtant, eternall, immutable, and as hee abideth for euer, ſo doth his louelove continue without any ſhaddow of change.
Here I might very pertinently conuince that Doctrine of the Papiſts,Againſt the Popiſh interceſſion of Saints. who ſeeke to God by other interceſſors then Chriſt. But ſeeing that worthy Engliſh man Mr. Taylor, hath handled that ſubiect very well, and I vſe not to fall forth in my Sermons in any Etenchticke place againſt the enemies, except ſhortlie to poynt at them as the text affoordeth occaſion, or yet Didactick common places, ſeeing onelyonly I purpoſe to interpret the text of the Pſalme, as it lyeth; therefore I referre you who deſire to heare this controuerſie, to the ſaid reuerend fathers commentarie on this Pſalme, who hath reaſoned the mater very well, and to all your contentments will ſatisfie you, as alſo my brother Maſter Patricke Simſons treatiſe of the Invocatiō of Saints, written in his Centuries.
In a time when thou maieſt be found.] This is the fourth,The time o prayer. and laſt poynt of the godlie mans phraſe, the time, when he ſhall pray. This phraſe, implieth three things. Firſt, That prayer is a ſeeking of God. Secondly, That there is a time, wherein God will not be found, and Laſtly that there is a time wherein the godly ſhall finde him.
Seeke the Lord while hee may be found, call vponupon him while hee is neere: Doctr. That praier is a ſeeking of God. Pſal. 34.4. 2 Chron 20 3. Math 7.7. Luk. 2.27. Can 6.1. Where God is to be found in his Temple.Iſa 55.6. I ſought the Lord ſayth Dauid, and Iehoſaphat ſought the Lord by Prayer. So it is neceſſary wee ſhould ſeeke God by Prayer, that wee may finde him, Seeke and yee ſhall finde. That yee may finde him. Firſt ſeeke him in his owne houſe, there Simeon found him. The Church found him amongſt the tents of the ſhepheards, in his Garden amongſt the beds of the Spices, that is, in the aſſemblie of the Saints, where graces grow vp as ſweete Spices. Next, Seeke him in his word, and by Praier;His word Eph. 6 18. By prayer Ier. 29 13. for there hee is to be found.
Thirdly, in ſinceritie of Spirit, praying in the Spirit. Yee ſhall ſeeke me and finde me, becauſe yee ſought me withall your heart. Seeke him alſo in ſeaſon, timouſly; Early in the morning ſayth Dauid will I ſeeke thee; Pſal. 63.2.that is eueryevery morning, the beginning of my worke ſhall bee to praiſe thee.
Fourthly, ſeeke him for himſelfe, not as the Iewes, God is to be ſought for himſelfewho ſought him for their bellie. Then wee ſeeke him for himſelfe, when wee ſeeke his glorie in eueryevery thing, although to our owne ſhame and diſcommoditie.
Then ſeeing the Lord may be found, it were good for vsus to ſeeke him, as I ſaid before: and ſpecially in his Temple, where hee may be found, and not in time of his ſeruice to frequent Alehouſes, or any paſtimes vponupon the Sabboth day, or Merchandiſe, pretending they can ſerue God on horſebacke, as well as in the Church.
I will not be aſhamed to borrow ſome fearefull examples from that learned and godly Paſtor Maſter Taylor.Marke the example of abuſing the Sabboth. A certaine man, for hunting on the Sabboth day, had a child borne with the head of a Dogge, that ſeeing hee preferred his Dogges before the ſeruice of God, hee might hauehave one of his owne geting to make much of. Hiſtor. Theat. A Flaxwoman at Kinſtat in France, who dreſſed her Flaxe commonly on the Sabboth, twiſe admoniſhed on two Sabboths by fire, and not amending, the third day was burnt with her two children. A warning for thoſe who brew, bake, grind, &c. on the Sabboth. A man working in his harueſt on the Sabboth, his barne was burnt, and all that hee had, according to that of the 17. of Ieremy. verſe 27. At Pariſe at the Beare-bating. Ano. 1585, eight perſons were ſlaine, many hurt by the ſudden breaking of the ſcaffold.
As alſo a fearefull iudgement of God fell forth at Dumbar about the yeere of God 1577. whereof I was an eye witneſſe, my father maſter Andrew Symſon of good memorie being Miniſter thereof, who going to Church law a thouſand Boates ſetting their nets on the Sabboth, he weeped and feared that God would not ſuffer ſuch contempt, it being a moſt calme day as euer was ſeene at that ſeaſon; at midnight when they went forth to draw their nets the winde aroſe ſo fearefullie, that it drowned eightſcore and ten Boates, ſo that there were reckoned in the coaſt ſide, foureteene ſcore of widowes. Thus God hath wayes to finde out profaine perſones.
But Alas this is pit…ifull, that not onelyonly wee doe not ſeeke God,Pro. 8.1. but when wiſedome ſendeth forth her maides in the ſtreets to ſeeke vsus, and call vponupon vsus, wee heare their cryes with deafned eares, ſo that I feare, that the reproch of Iſaias iuſtly appertaine to vsus;Iſa. 63. All the day I ſtretched forth my hand to a rebellious people.
Finally, as there is a time of all things, which would be obſerued,Time fleeth away, take it before it be gone. Simil: Pro. 6.6. for (poſt occaſio calua) as fortune is bauld behind, ſo is time, a Spring time, an Harueſt time, a Sommer time, a Wintertime. The Piſmire knoweth her time: the Sea, and Moone, hauehave their times, and ſo hath Grace a time, while it is offered, and God a time, wherein he may be found. Therefore ſeeke the Lord while hee may be founde. Iſa. 55.If wee ſlippe the tyde and influence of grace, the tyde will faile vsus, which we ſhall neuer recouer.
But to the end,God muſt ſeeke vsus firſt A time when God will not be be found. …k. 13.24. we may finde God, wee are to be found of God, for wee can neuer ſeeke him till hee firſt ſeeke vsus, as the loſt ſheepe cannot ſeeke it ſelfe.
Next, there is a time, when God cannot be found. Many ſhall ſeeke to enter, but ſhall not be able: for the wicked ſeeke not, till the time of finding be paſt; ſo did the fooliſh Virgins,Mat. 25.12. Gen. 27.35 it was too late when the gate was cloſed. It was too late for Eſau to ſeeke his Fathers bleſſing, when he had contemned it.Exod. 14.24 It was too late for Pharaoh to flie, when he was in the midſt of the Sea.When God is found.
God is found when he offereth gracious occaſions of his finding, and wee imbrace them. Which Hoſea expreſieth in his tenth Chapter, verſ. 12. Till he come and raine downe righteouſueſſe on vsus.
But there are two things which breedeth doubts in vsus:Ob: firſt, the wicked are heard; as, Achab, the Ninivites, the Iſraelites in ſeeking a King,1 Sam. 8.22 1 King. 21.29. Ion. 3.10. Luk. 8.32. Anſ: the Devils ſeeking to enter in ſwine, &c.
I anſwere, albeit, God granteth their worldly deſires, yet it is to their double deſtruction. The Iſraelites obtained a King in his wrath, Achab prolonging temporall iudgement, procuted eternall condemnation, and in this world (albeit ſuſpended for a time, to ſhew Gods lenitie, ſparing reprobates for a ſeaſon) in the end vtter exterminion.
Next, the godly find not alway God?Ob. Anſ.
Anſwere: They find him not at the preſent, he delayeth time with them, to exerciſe the…r faith, and patience; but in the end he commeth:Mat. 14.25. he commeth at the fourth watch. Abraham, Zachary, and Anna prayed for ch…ldren in their youth, but gat their prayers granted in their age: yea, oft they are refuſed in ſome things, and better giuen them. Paul prayed to remoue the meſſenger of Sathan,2 Cor. 1….9 but God would not yeeld thereto, albeit, he heard him in a better, ſupplying him with ſufficient grace. Chriſt prayed the cup might be taken from him, but in that he was not heard,Luk. 22.42. yet he was heard in a better, that he brought him well through it.
The fruit of Prayers.Surely in the flood of great waters they ſhall not come neere thee.] Here is the ſecond part of this Verſe; wherein is expreſſed the fruits of our prayers, and the excellent effect thereof, that the faithfull are delivered from all troubles after their prayer.
God giueth a ſingular priviledge to prayer, Doctr. God delighteth in Prayer. Rev. 8.3.that he preferreth it to any other thing, for he delighteth in that ſacrifice more then in any burnt offering, and therefore the Angels are ſaid, to offer vp the prayers of the Saints, as though God had preferred them more in aſſigning them to that office, then in any other. And none can pray but the childe of God. Let vsus therefore ſtriue night and day to performe that dutie, which ſhall doe vsus more good in our miſeries, then any other remedie.
The great danger of Gods Saints.Flood of great waters.] He magnifieth the mercy of God, by ſetting forth the great danger, whereto a Chriſtian is ſubiect, by a ſimilitude taken from great Floods, which is very frequent in the Scriptures. And to expreſſe our danger, it is ſayd; We goe through fire and water: they are both extreame and mercileſſe elemenes, albeit, water be worſe, and more dangerous, for fire may be extinguiſhed by water, but what is able to reſiſt the rage of waters, and ſpecially, an invndation, which commeth ſo vehemently, ſo ſuddenly, ſo forcibly, that no man is able to reſiſt it, but ſtraight way it carrieth him away.
The floods are ſometime ſayd to come vponupon vsus from God;Pſal 42.7. All thy floods and waues are gone over me. Sometime by Sathan; The ſerpent caſt out waters as a Flood. Rev. 12.5.Sometime by wicked men;Iſa. 59.19. The enemie ſhall come as a Flood. God is the firſt raiſer of the Floods▪ but the Devill and wicked men doe concurre, and advances that worke to deſtroy the Church. Ye ſee then, the enemies of the Church are compared to waters. Pſal. 124. Iſa. 8. Iſa. 17. Ier. 47. There is nothing to eſchew the rage of waters, but onelyonly to fl…e from them.
Moreover, as many waters, yea, ſtryps and rootes ariſeth together,A concurſe of the wicked againſt God Pſal. 10. Pſal. 2. ſo doe wicked men in the perſecution of the Church concurre together, even to deſtroy Gods Church. All p…t too their ſhoulder, their force, their malice, their words, and deeds, and what they can to ſubvert her.
The fu…y of the enemies waſting the Church.And againe; The ſloods ariſing waſh away Lands, Corne, Cattell, Houſes, and what ever lyeth in their way; So doe the wicked rage againſt the Saints, that they waſt them, and if they could, would extirp…t them from the earth.
See we not in all Europe this day, the raging waues of tyrannous perſecutions, overrunning the Church of Chriſt, which hath had ſuch Halcyon dayes, vnderunder happie and Chriſtian Princes. What ſhould we doe, but with Nazianzen, ſay; foreign.
They ſhall not come neere him.] Doctr. The church at aſt ſhall be delivered. Pſal 34.11. Gen. 8.1. Mat 14.24 Iſa. 42.3.Here is a promiſed delivery to every member of the Church. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. Noab was ſaved in the Arke; and the Diſciples in the Boat. And in the midſt of the waters will I be with thee, ſayth Iſaias.
Be conſtant in th… time of th… Church her perſecu…ions.Moſt miſerable are thoſe men, who to ſaue themſelues, hauehave made defection from the Church; for they hauehave ſeene ſuch aſſaults made againſt her, that they feared …o …e drowned by theſe Floods. As if Noah in the midſt of the deluge had caſt himſelfe …ut of the Arke into the midſt of the waters. See we not the reformed Church to be ever vnderunder danger; yet I will ſay with the Auncient, Eccleſiam oppugnary poſſe, non expugnari, iactari fluctibus, non demergi; May be aſſaulied, not overcome: toſſed with waues, nos drowned. Was Noah, thinke ye, ſo ſecure in the waters,The church cannot be ov…rwhelmed. that he was never ſhaken, and toſſed to and fro? No truely: but it is true, …luctuat. at nunquam mergitur illa rates: That boat may float, but ſhall never be drowned. So all good men be, if they keepe them within the Arke, That is, within the Church, and containe themſelues in the pure worſhip of God; for albeit, we be terrified by the outward ſight of earthly troubles and perſecutions, yet our ſuretie ſhall be in the Arke; for who would not hauehave thought in the deluge, but that the mountaines would hauehave beene freeſt, but the higheſt top of Olympus was covered, and onelyonly the Arke floated aboue: yea, the higher that the waters grew, Simil: the Arke was carried the higher; So the greater troubles, the Church ſhall ſufler, they will extoll the Church the higher. Then let vsus truſt in God, that his Church ſhall receiue comfortable deliverance.
Ye ſee the buſh on fire, in Germany and in France, eſpecially now burning, but the Lord is in the midſt thereof, that it conſumeth not. That Lily is compaſſed with thornes, Simil. but the Lord will burne thoſe thornes. And we need not doubt, but Sathan, who is kindling the fire in other Churches, is not idle among vsus, and will put vsus to tryall, whether our profeſſion be ſincere, or not. Let vsus pray to God, that as the power of the fire was reſtrained,Dan. 3.25. And 6.22. that it could not hurt the three children, although they were caſt therein to; and as the mouths of the Lyons were ſtopped, when Daniel was among them, ſo that he would ſo keepe vsus, that albeit, troubles comes ſo neere vsus, that they ſeaze vponupon our bodies, yet that they come not neere vsus, to do vsus any harme, but rather by the marveilous proofe we hauehave of the power of our God, in our delivery, we may be men encouraged to ſerue him, who can bring vsus from the gates of hell, and although wee are at the mouth of the graue,Pſal. 23.4. yet his rod and Shepheards crooke can comfort vsus.