Exposition on the Seven Psalms of Repentance, Psalm 32 · Verses 8, 9, 10
VERSE 8. I will inſtruct thee, and teach thee in the way, that thou ſhalt goe, and I will guide thee with mine eye. VERSE 9. Be not like an Horſe, or like a Mule which vnderſtandeth not: whoſe mouthes thou doeſt binde with bit, and bridle leſt they come neere thee. VERSE 10. Many ſorrowes ſhall come to the wicked: but hee that truſteth in the Lord, merciemercy ſhall compaſſe him.
NOw David after he hath gotten aſſurance of there miſſion of his ſinnes, & deſcribed the vertues which flow from the ſame, in theſe three verſes,The ſubſtance of theſe three verſes. giueth forth a worthy and Doctorall admonition to all ſinners, to take heed vntounto themſelues, in the eight verſe propounding himſelfe to to be their Doctor: in the ninth, ſharpely admoniſhing them, that they become not brutiſh beaſts, in not giuing voluntar obedience till they be coacted; and laſtly, in the 10. verſe, hee threateneth thoſe that will not obey, many ſorrowes ſhall come to them.
Concerning, the firſt part, I ſpake in the Inſcription of the Pſalme, yet ſomewhat I will adde. Seeing it pleaſeth Gods Spirit to repeate, I am not grieued once or twiſe for your edification to repeate the ſame matter; albeit, not after the ſame maner; for this is true Philoſophie to teach repentance. A King becommeth a Philoſopher in the teaching of repentance, and theſe are the frui…s of true repentance,He who hath ouercome ſinne in himſelfe, will ſtriue to ouercome it in others. when wee will communicate our feelings to others, for he who hath ouercome ſinne in himſelfe, will ſtuddie to baniſh it from others: for repentance cannot be without charitie. Some tranſlate this foreign, I will make it knowne, So I will make it euident to you if yee be ignorant. Since I hauehave ſhowne you the way, yee your ſelues are blame worthie, if yee will not follow it. This is the zeale of the Lords glorie which is in the hearts of Gods children, that it burſts forth as a veſſel of new Wine, as Elihu ſayd,Simil. Iob. 41. Luk. 13.21. as fire, as oyle, that giueth ſmell to all who are in the houſe, as Leauen, which leaueneth the whole batch, as a light which inlighteneth the whole houſe,Pro. 27.17. as yron ſharpeneth yron, ſo doth a Chriſtian, a Chriſtian. Andrew found Simon, and brought him to Chriſt, Philip found Nathaneel, they brought others to Chriſt.Ioh. 4. The Samaritan woman being called did alſo call the Samaritans to Chriſt, Paul conuerted, ſtudied to conuert others,Act. 9. Luk. 22.32. and Peter conuerted by our Sauiour was commanded to ſtrengthen his brethren.
And if wee would conſider how buſied wicked men are to intiſe others to their ſin.Pro. 1.14. Goe, wee ſhall hauehave a common purſe, caſt in thy lot among vsus, and againe how wicked Proſe…its goe by Sea and Land,Note. to make others of their profeſſion. Wee both Paſtors & others would be aſhamed, that we take no paines vponupon …ur ſelues to ſtrengthen weake Chriſtians and …raw thoſe who are without, and confirme thoſe who are within in the truth of God, whereof our owne conſciences are ſufficiently perſwaded. Our coldneſſe in this poynt hath neede to be kindled and let vsus indeauour to amend it, and bee more relaxe in our owne affaires, and more bent in the cauſe of God.
The Lord waken vsus alſo, for Vt ingulent homines ſurgunt de nocte Latrones, Theeues riſe in the night to kill men, tu vt te ipſum ſerues non expergiſceris, thou that thou maieſt ſaue thy ſelfe doeſt not awake. Math. 26.40.47.Iudas aroſe in the night to betray Chriſt, while the Apoſtles were in a heauie ſleepe, and would not watch for him and themſelues. Such is the ſecuritie of our nature that wee are not prouident for good things, and the proneſſe of the wicked to all euill actions.
Therefore Dauid is, as the righteous man in the Prouerbs, Pro. 10.21. Pro. 31.26. Iſa: 2.3 Pſal. 122.1.2.whoſe lippes feede many, Yea as that gracious woman who openeth her lippes with wiſedome: Many ſhall goe vp to the mountaine of God and ſay, hee will teach vsus his waies. I reioyced (ſayth Dauid) when they ſayd, Let vsus goe vp to the houſe of the Lord.
Moreouer, Learne that wee muſt not caſt all teaching ouer on Paſtors (who ſhould I confeſſe be greateſt teachers, to whom that office of publicke & priuate admonitiō doth appertaine) but that eueryevery Chriſtian ought by his ſpeech,EueryEvery one ought to inſtructothers inſtruction & example, admoniſh his familie and familiars, as he hath occaſion to ſpeake with them. Did not Saint Steúen teach,Act. 7.2. as well as Saint Paul or Peter, for albeit they teach not as Preachers, yet as Chriſtians, the maſter his ſeruants, the father his children, &c. So that it is requiſite (as one ſayth well) that eueryevery man ſhould be a Biſhop in his owne houſe. The Papiſts thinke it arrogancie that any man (except thoſe of the clergie) ſhould dippe in matters of religion and doctrine.
I will.] Surely onelyonly the faithfull are wiſe, and others, howſoever they pretend wiſedome,Onlie the faithfull are wiſe. are fooles. And true wiſedome is onelyonly to be ſought out of the Scriptures; and the cauſe of the errors of the Romane Church is this,The cauſe of Popiſh errors. That they will not be Diſciples to the Scriptures, but Maſters to throw it whether they liſt, as a noſe of waxe, and with their vaine gloſſes, to adulterate the ſimplicity and puritie of the ſame.
Againſt ignorance.And further, theſe miſcreants affirme in their open doctrine, that ignorance is the mother of devotion, and that it is ſufficient for the people, to beleeue as the Church beleeueth. But David ſayth plainely, that he will inſtruct them. For where the Papiſt alledgeth the obſcuritie of the Scripture, David calleth it, a light to our eyes, and a lanterne to our feete. Pſ: 119.105So that the word is not hid, but to thoſe that periſh. And as wee ſhould be diligent in opening vp and vnlooſing the ſeale of that booke, ſo ſhould yee be readie and attentiue to vnderſtand it,
Moreouer, it is to be conſidered that al men are naturally ignorant, til they be inſtructed, for no man vnderſtandeth the things of God except by the preaching of the Goſpel,1 Cor. 2 14 Act. 8.31. 1 Sam. 3.7. for who can beleeue except he heare. Therfore wee ſhould deſire, that the Lord may thruſt out faithfull labourers into his harueſt, Math. 6.38.who may bring both light and life vntounto his people.
And teach thee the way.] Hee becommeth not onelyonly a general Doctor, but a ſpeciall and particular. I will teach thee, for the thing that is ſpoken to all, is ſpoken to none. For if Nathan had ſpoken againſt adulterie in generall, Dauid would not hauehave repented it, and ſayd; I hauehave ſinned, neither yet if Elias had generally reproued oppreſſion in his Sermon to King Achab, hee would not hauehave taken it to himſelfe. But when hee ſayd,1 King. 21.19. Occidiſti, poſſediſti, thou haſt killed, and alſo taken poſſeſſion, then hee tooke it to bee ſpoken of him. This libertie Iohn Baptiſt vſed to Herod; Math. 14.4. Luk. 13.32.It is not lawfull for thee to hauehave thy brothers wife. And our Sauiour called Herod a Foxe.
Why then ſhould not particular remedies be applied to particular diſeaſes.Particular remedies ſhould be applied to particular diſeaſes. What auaileth it though a Phyſitian would diſcourſe of medicine, and of vlcers, Apoſtoms, and what euer euill could befall to the bodie of a man, if in the meane time hee applied not cure to the perſon diſeaſed. His Theoricks are nothing worth, vnleſſe his practiſe follow after. So I conclude this leſſon, where Dauid ſayth, erudiam te, I will inſtruct thee, that it is neceſſary for a Paſtor particularly to apply his doctrine, either to comfort, reproue, admoniſh, or inſtruct, as the Apoſtle ſayth. 2 Tim. 3.16. For the Miniſtrie is by application of the generall doctrine to the diſeaſed, for the word vndrawne hath no edge, but being drawne is ſharper then a two edged ſword, diuiding betweene the marrow & bones, Heb 4.12piercing betweene the Soule and Spirit.
Againſt ſuch as will not take with particular reproofes. Let people ſay, as they pleaſe, and miniſters do as they ſhould.This condemneth ſuch as cannot abide particularly to be rebuked, but ſay, what ne…de theſe bra…nſicke men to make pulpit matters of eueryevery thing, I cannot indure to be chid for eueryevery idle word, he beareth mee enuie. But let them ſay what they pleaſe, let Miniſters doe as they ſhould. The patient will be angrie when his wounds are pierced; what of that, it is ſufficient that the Phyſitian is d…ing a good cure. Let him rage as hee pleaſeth, when he commeth to himſelfe, he will finde what profit hee hath gotten by him.
In the way, that thou ſhalt goe.] Here is the matter wherein he ſhall be inſtructed, in the way hee ſhould goe. It is called a way, becauſe it is the neceſſary meane, by which man muſt attaine to the end of his iourney, for none can attaine to the ende, but by the way which carrieth thereto.
This way neuer man knew, but by reuelation from God, in his holy Scriptures which beginneth, continueth, and endeth in him. Doctr. Godlines is a going in Gods way. Pſal. 119.32 Deut. 4.6.Then godlineſſe is a going in Gods way and following his directions, & guides, appointed by him. I hauehave conſidered thy waies and kept thy commandements. Keepe his ordinances for that is your wiſedome. I will doe wiſelie in the perfit way; Pſal: 101.2.(ſayth Dauid) where hee tyeth wiſedome to the perfect way. The wayes of God are ſafeſt, being the Kings high way, wherein, if a man walke, hee will finde himſelfe ſureſt;Pſal: 91.11 For he ſhall giuegive his Angels charge ouer thee, to keepe thee in all thy wayes. Gods wayes are the cleareſt wayes, his wayes are vncorrupt. His wayes are the righteſt wayes,2 Sam. 22.31. This way ſhall be called holy. Theſe are the auncient wayes. The wayes of the Lord are righteous, and the iuſt ſhall walke in them. Iſa. 35.8.For the which the Apoſtle reproueth Simon Magus, wilt thou not ceaſe to peruert the ſtraight wayes of the Lord. Hoſ. 14.9.All other wayes are crooked,Act. 13.10. they hauehave made them crooked paths: who ſo euer goeth therein, ſhall not know peace.Iſa: 55.8.
I will guide th…e with mine eye.] This threefold repetition, I will inſtruct thee, I wil teach thee, I will guide thee, Three pr… perties requiſit in a Preacher.teach vsus three properties of a good teacher. Firſt, that they make the people vnderſtand the way to ſaluation. Secondly, to goe before them. Thirdly, to watch ouer them, and their wayes.
Firſt,Firſt, that they infor… the people in Gods way. Neh. 8.9. the paſtors and miniſters of Gods word ſhould informe the people of God in his truth, as Ezra did, who read the booke of the Law diſtinctlie, and gaue the ſenſe thereof, cauſing them to vnderſtand it, teaching pure and wholſome doctrine faithfullie, without mixture of mans inventions; which the Apoſtle recommendeth to Timothy. 2 Tim. 2.2.What things thou haſt heard of mee by many witneſſes▪ the ſame deliuer to faithfull men, which ſhall bee able to teach others alſo. Auoiding curious queſtions and vnknowne words. Then if a miniſter ſhould be apt to teach, there ſhould none be put in the places of the Church, who before hauehave not giuen proofe to the Church of their qualification. As in the Roman Church ſuch are appointed to Benefices, who are altogether ignorant of Scriptures, and who attend on the Court, and matters ciuil, and goe in Pompe, attending on the Pope, their Chaplans and Suffragans, ſuch belliegods in the meane time abuſing, the people by their ſeruice, and ſo as blind, guiding the blind to the Ditch.Luk. 6.39.
Next, it is neceſſary, that the Preacher ſhould teach the people by his life;Secondly, teach them by his life and conuerſation. for, hee who teacheth well and liueth euill, condemneth himſelfe with his owne mouth, for he taketh vponupon him to gu…de others to heauen, who cannot gu…de himſelfe. Thou who teachest others, Rom. 2. Exod. 28.34.36.teacheſt not thyſelfe. Miniſt…rs ſhould hauehave, Holineſſe to the Lord written on their foreheads, and not onelyonly the word to be opened, and ſounding as the Bells on Aarons garments, but odoriferouſly ſmelling as ſweete Pomgranats. And this condemneth ſuch vicious men,Againſt the euil life of ſuch as pre ch one thing and practiſ… another Math▪ 7 …8. Math 25.41. Thirdly, to watch ouer the people. who blot their calling by their vicious life, making the good word of God to be euill ſpoken of, of whom is ſaid, Woe be to them who giuegive offence, and albeit, they would prophecie and caſt forth deu…is in Chriſts name, hee will ſay to them; Depart from me yee workers of iniquitie.
Thirdly, (as Dauid ſayes, I will direct you with mine eye) Preachers ſhould be watchmen, and Superintendents, and Biſhops, from which commeth the name foreign, Epiſcopi, as the mother euer hauing her child before her eye, that hee fall not into dangers. But when the Preacher attends not on the people, no maruell that they periſh. The ſheepe muſt euer be guided by the eye of the ſhepheard. The Prophet Zacharie ſpeaks againſt ſuch ſhepheards as leaue their flocke,Zach. 11.17 and denounceth iudgement againſt them, as alſo other Prophets doe. Nebuchadnezor commanded Nebuzaradan to hauehave an eye on Ieremie for his good.Ier. 39.11. And God ſayth concerning his people in Captiuitie; I will ſet mine eyes vponupon them for their good.Ier. 24.6.
Thoſe who take vponupon them ſpirituall charges, ſhould attend diligently on their people, Doctr. Preachers ſhould (as ſhepheards) waite on their flocke.whereof they muſt giuegive an account at the great day. And the blood of ſuch as are loſt by their negligence, ſhall vndoubtedly be craued at their hands. As ye may reade in Ezech. 3.18.
Againſt non-reſidence.The ſinne of non-reſidence, is a great ſinne, a Miniſter is tyed to liue among his people, he may goe from them ſometimes vponupon neceſſitie, but not dwell from them. He may goe to the Court, law, or Seſſion, but not abide there, but ever attend on his flocke.
Againſt ſuch as will not ſuffer themſelues to be rebuked by the Miniſter.Againe, the frowardneſſe of many is to be blamed, who will not ſuffer their faults to be obſerved by the Miniſter, but ſay; What hath he to doe with me or my houſe, let him guide himſelfe well, and his owne houſe. No, but he is ſet by God to attend on thy wayes.
Againſt …ch as entreat the Miniſter vnkindly. S…l.Finally, vponupon this Preface I obſerue, that where the Miniſters ſhould guide you to heaven, ſhould ye not entertaine them kindly. What a barbarous man is he, who will not both louelove and cheriſh his guide, who leads him through a perilous way? And yet this is the lot, hath beene, and ſhall be vntounto the worlds end, that the beſt guides are commonly miſguided, and evill intreated, and for their paine… receiues nothing but calumnies, hatred, and ſpitefull dealing.
They are like thoſe in Iſaias dayes,Iſa. 30.10. Ier. 11.21. who ſaid to the Seer, ſee not, and in Ieremies dayes the men of Onathoth, who diſcharged him to Preach in the name of the Lord: but let the people heare Saint Baſil, ſaying; Obiurgatio oſt animaſanatio, a rebuke is the healing of the ſoule.
Be not like an Horſe, or like a Mule.] The preface of the exhortation was contained in the 8. verſe, which I hauehave expounded: Now followeth the exhortation, or rather dehortation it ſelfe, wherein he exhorteth them to repentance, and dehorteth them from that beaſtly ſtupiditie, and obſtinacie, and pervicacie, which beſeemeth rather Mules and Horſes, then men, who ſhould be reaſonable, and obedient to God their Maſter; for this habite which we hauehave received through the cuſtome of ſinne, doth ſhut vp the doore to repentance. The Mules are laſie, ſtupid,The n…o of the horſe and mule, whereby the nature of man is r…preſente…. and dull beaſts, who are to be vrged continually, eyther by whippe, or ſpurre. The horſe more ferocious and furious, hath need of the bit and bridle.
Thus thoſe two beaſts repreſents our natures, and Gods dealing with vsus, that either we are too ſlow in any good action, and hauehave need of a ſputre continually on our ſide, or more bent and marching furiouſly with Iehu to all evill actions,2 Kin▪ 9.2… therefore God is forced to put a bridle in our teeth, to reſtraine from evill, as he had a ſpurre to conſtraine vsus to doe good.
Theſe two creatures are vntractable, ſayth the Prophet, they vnderſtand not, their mouthes muſt be bound.
M… are compared to thoſe beaſts whoſe manners they follow.God in all the Scriptures compareth men to beaſts, whoſe manners they reſemble, as I ſhewed before, therefore I will not repea…e it. But theſe two are obſerved in the Horſe and Mule, they hauehave no knowledge, no willingneſſe.
Moreover, it is knowne, that Horſes are libidinous, neying after Mares,How the wicked reſemble the Horſe. ſo that hardly they can be ſtayed from them; ſo doe men after women, without meaſure, till God ſtay them by adverſitie and ſome hard handling. Phidias paynted the picture of Venus treading on a Snaile, which onelyonly amongſt all creatures wanteth an heart: ſo witleſſe perſons, frying in their ſhell, Simil. are not capable of the myſteries of God, are to be troad vponupon. Yea, Horſes being by their Maſters well fed, oftentimes hauehave lifted their feete, and beaten their feeder, & hauehave by caſting them downe, killed them. So he that ſhould hauehave beene vpright, when he waxed fat, ſpurned with his heele,Deut. 32.15 &c. therefore he forſooke God that made him, &c.
The Mule is a creature not created by God, generate betweene an Horſe and an Aſſe, yea contrary to his inſtitution, who forbad there ſhould be any mixture of divers kinds, Gen. 36.24. How the wicked reſemble the Mule.either beaſts or ſeeds. And ſo a wicked man is a degenerate creature, not of Gods creation, but bred betweene Sathan and ſinne, who are the onelyonly parents of that Beaſt.
And as the Mule doth never engender any more, nor produce any liuing creature, no more doe theſe become fruitfull, being reprobates, and vnprofitable to any good worke, but die in their owne ſinne.
And as they are ſo ſtupid, that the greater burthen be layd on them they goe the more quickly; ſo when the wicked are loded with iniquitie, being inſenſible of their burthen, they goe more quickly from ſinne to ſinne.
And as the Horſe goes fiercely to the battell, and feares no danger, ſo goe they paſſing all feare of hell,Ier. 8, 4. and 6. and Gods plagues, run madly to their owne deſtruction.
And finally, as the Horſe and Mule remember for the preſent, but ſhortly after forget; ſo doe the wicked.
Who vnderſtand not.] Marke the ignorance of mans nature, who vnderſtands not thoſe things pertaining to God. Animalis homo (ſayth the Apoſtle) non novit quae ſunt Dei. 1 Cor. 2.1….The naturall man knoweth not the things belonging to God. Yea cannot, being more ignorant then brutiſh Beaſts, who know the crib of their Maſter. Iſa. 1.3.Nebuchadnezar would not heare and learne till God changed him to a brute Beaſt, not in ſhape of bodie, but in converſing with them ſeaven yeares,Dan. 3. till his vnderſtanding came againe. 2 Pet. 2.16.Balaam was rebuked by his Aſſe. The Paſtours are become brute beaſts having no vnderſtanding.Ier. 10.21.
But becauſe Beaſts hauehave not beene created reaſonable, as man is, it is not imputed to them, that they are ignorant. But man, being borne a reaſonable creature, he is iuſtly to be blamed, that he is metamorphoſed and changed vntounto the nature of a Beaſt, as Circe changed her ghueſts into Beaſts. Therefore let vsus pray to God to illuminate our minds with the knowledge of his will, and ſend vsus his Spirit, who may lead vsus in all truth.
Whoſe mouth thou bindeſt with bit and bridle.] The ſimilitude of the bit and bridle is common in the Scriptures. The Lord ſayth to Senacherib; I will put mine hooke in thy noſtrels, and my bridle in thy lippes, 2 King. 19.28. Pro. 26.3. 2 Sam. 8.1. Iſa. 30.28.and will bring thee backe againe the ſame way thou cameſt. And Salomon ſayth, A rod is for the backe of the foole. It is called the bridle of bondage. A bridle to cauſe them to erre in the iawes of the people. And the Lord to Pharaoh, Ezek. 29.4.I will put hookes in thy iawes. And to the Prince of Meſhech and Tubal the ſame.Ezek. 38.4.
foreign(ſayth Xenophon de re equeſtri) foreign. Reſpira re non prohibet, mordere autem non ſinit. He forbiddeth not to breath, but he ſuffereth not to byte.
See how God is forced to vſe extremities to tame a wilde nature, which by no leſſons, warnings, or admonitions can be tamed.Man hath need of many bridles. Herodian in his 7. Booke, and Lucius in his 35. Booke, prayſe the Numidians for their skill in riding without bridles, whom Virgil in the 4. of Aeuead and Auſonius in grat. action. pro conſul. gratian. call infrenos, gentem ueſciam freni And ſeeing among the Num…ds their ryders can ryde without a bridle;Note. Fie vponupon Chriſtians, who hauehave ſo many birs, and cannot make vſe of them, to ryde forward, and runne into Gods obedience.
God hath taken great paines to chaſtiſe vsus, albeit, we hauehave not amended, but gone from evill to worſe, and therefore ſeeing neither his good provocations, neither his chaſtiſements will worke vponupon vsus he hath one bit and bridle to keepe vsus in from doing more evill, even at the houre of our death,God hath a bridle for man. where we ſhall be curbed in, that we doe no more. Were it not better for vsus, to make better vſe of the frequent admonitions of Gods ſervants, and of the chaſtiſements which God hath layd vponupon vsus, that we may humble vsus vnderunder the mightie hand of God, and learne to be wiſe by our owne experience, leſt he be forced to draw his ſword againſt vsus.
Leſt they come neere thee] See the vntowardneſſe of theſe jades, the poore Miniſter if he be vponupon their backes, can ſcarce keepe the ſaddle, and if he would lead him forward, one …ade or other would take him by the coller, which would not be, vnleſſe there were Hor…e and Mules.
Many ſorrowes ſhall come to the wicked.] Now is ſet downe two reaſons, which may raiſe and rouſe the naturall man from his ſenſeleſſe brutiſhineſſe.
Firſt, from the iudgements of God vponupon the wicked.
Secondly, from his mercies to his elect and obedient children.
Deſperate is he who will neither be moued with admonitions no… corrections.So that either Gods mercy may allure him, or his iuſtice terrifie him. Then he muſt needs be a deſperate perſon, who can be moued with neither of them. Before he called them in…ocil, and vatractable, and obſtinate, now he called them wicked, not a ſimple ſinner, as we be all, but who addeth drunkenneſſe to thirſt, and rebellion and preſumption to his ignorance, worſe then a Mule or Horſe.
He compriſes all the miſeries of the wicked,The life of the wicked is ſorrow Luk. 16. 1 Sam. 25.37. vnderunder the name of ſorrow, who although they liue delitiouſly with the rich Glutton, and Nabal, yet all their mirth is converted into ſorrow, and perplexitie; for as the miſeries of Gods children are ever turned into ioy;Pſal 30.5. Weeping is at evening, but ioy commeth in the mor…ing; ſo the ioyes of the wicked are ever turned into ſorrowes, for albeit they ſeeme the happieſt men vnderunder the Sunne, yet the ſudden revolution and change of their eſtate, ſhall demonſtrate to the world, what fooles they were, and how the Devill bewitched them,Dan. 5.30. and (as vponupon Beltaſhar) brought vnexpected ſorrows vponupon them in the midſt of their ioyes. And is it not iuſt with God, to render tribulation to them who troubled his Church; and them releaſement, who ha…e had many grieved hearts for the ſame. And I doubt not but the Lord in his merciemercy, ſhall ſo bring about all matters, that as the wicked trivmph and reioyce at the ſorrowes of the Saints, God ſhall make them weepe time about, and bring ioy to his elect.Mat. 5.4. Luk. 6.25. Bleſſed are they that weepe, for they ſhall be comforted; woe to you who laugh, for yee ſhall weepe.
Many ſins bring many ſor…owes.Many ſorrows:] Many ſinnes bring many plagues, many in life, many in death, many in this life, many in the life to come, many within him, many without him. So vnhappie is the ſtate of the wicked, whoſe ſorrows ſhall be multiplied.Iſa 65.13.14. Behold my ſervants ſhall eat, and yee ſhalbe hungrie, &c. and in the Revel. Revel. 9.12 Revel. 8.13.One woe is paſt, and two are to come: and the Angel flying through heauen, cryed; Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth.
The godly and wickeds ſorrow differ.The Godly hauehave ſorrow alſo, but nothing comparable to theirs; For God remembreth merciemercy in the mids of iudgement, which he doth neuer to the wicked; the Lord deliuereth the godly, as the Iſraelites through the Sea, and drownes the wicked.
The examples of Gods iudgements are ſeene in Lucifer. Iſa. 14.12. Gen. 3.10. Gen. 4.11. Gen 7. Gen. 18.19.Our firſt parents. Caine. the firſt world. The fiue Cities. Pharoah. Nebuchadnezar. Antiochus. Herod, &c. Read ouer the 28. of Dout. There is a Catalogue of the ſorrows of the wicked, which ſhould affraie any Chriſtian heart. And alſo in the 20. of Iob. where is ſayd;Iob. 20.22. all ſorrow ſhall fall on him. But merciemercy ſhall compaſſe him, who truſteth in the Lord. He hath threatned in his doctrine the wicked with a conſideration of Gods iudgements. Now hee is alluring them, with an offer of Gods mercies, the godlie are ever well, and all turne to the beſt to them. Saluation & welfare attendeth them in all places, at all times, in all cauſes, in all their buſineſſe, in things certaine, and vncertaine, in proſperitie and aduerſitie, in body and ſoule, in things preſent and to come.
MercieMercy:] What euer come to him is merciemercy, and flowing from the fountaine of the remiſſion of his ſinnes. The Lord crowneth them with mercies, yea, his ſinnes turne to mercies to him. But of this before.
Shall compaſſe him.] Doctr. The godly as they are compaſſed with trouble ſo are they with mercies. 2 King. 6.15.17. Pſal. 125.2. Zach. 2.5.Doctr. MercieMercy belongeth to the faithful.As hee was compaſſed with innumerable troubles, So God ſhall compaſſe him with as many comforts. Dothan was compaſſed with Aramits, ſo was it alſo with Angels, as the mountaine compaſſeth Ieruſalem▪ ſo is the Lord about his people, and hath promiſed to be a wall of fire about her.
That truſteth in the Lord.] Theſe are the people to whom merciemercy appertaines, euen the beleeuers, for faith onelyonly maks vsus acceptable to God. But of this likewiſe before.
I beſeech God make vsus all penitent for our ſinnes, and ſenſible of his …uercies, but aboue all things, roote vsus in the Faith of Chriſt, that we may depend vponupon his promiſes; that are both faithfull and true.