Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 4
VERSE. 3. 3. For I acknowledge mine iniquities, and my ſinne is euer before mine eyes.
Dauids reſon from his former petition.THe Prophet Dauid hauing intreated for ſauour & grace at Gods hands, for the pardon of his great and grieuous ſinnes, he doth heeve labour to moue the Lord to pitty him, and to take compaſſion vponupon him: becauſe he doth now moſt frankely and freely confeſſe his ſinnes, is truely touched and grieued for them: yea, his poore conſcience is now vponupon the racke, wounded, and diſtreſſed, and exceedingly afflicted, and therefore he intreateth the Lord to pitty him: For I acknowledge and confeſſe my ſinnes againſt God, in thy ſight, before thy Prophets, and before all thy people, yea the whole Church of God: by leauing this Pſalme as a teſtimony of my true repentance and ſorrow for them.
Doctrine Confeſsion euer goeth before remiſſion.Hence marke, that there is no place for mercy, nor any fauour to be looked for at Gods hands, nor anie pardon of ſinne, before a ſinner truly humbled, doe freely and frankely confeſſe the ſame, and humbly acknowledge, with griefe of heart, his ſinnes vntounto the Lord▪ where we are to obſerue two things; Firſt, the perſon to whom wee muſt confeſſe our ſinnes; Secondly, the manner how we muſt confeſſe them.
Perſon to whom.For the perſon to whom we muſt confeſſe, it is GOD, as this example of Dauid doth teach vsus, verſe 4. Againſt thee, againſt thee onelyonly hauehave I ſinned. Againe, Pſal. 32.5. I ſaide, I will confeſſe my ſinnes vntounto the Lord, and ſo thou forgauest the wickedneſſe of my ſinne. It is true indeede, wee may by our ſinnes wrong men, as Dauid did Ʋrias. But being ſinne, the chiefeſt wrong is vntounto the Lord; The Scribes and Phariſes, though they were corrupt in many things elſe, yet they held this for a truth, that none could forgiue ſinne but God onelyonly Marke 2.7. And this doth the Lord teſtifie of himſelfe, Eſay 43.25. I, euen I am hee that putteth away thine iniquities for my owne ſake. 1. Iohn 1.9. If we confeſſe our ſinnes God is faithfull and iust to forgiue vsus our ſinnes. Beſides theſe Precepts in the word of God there is recorded the repentance of Gods children, who hauehave humbly acknowledged their ſinnes vntounto GOD, as Manaſſes, 2. Chronic. 33. Dauid, 2. Sam. 12. The Prodigall Sonne, Luke 15. So true is that ſaying, Prouer. 28.13. He that hides his ſinnes ſhall not proſper: but hee that confeſſeth them ſhall hauehave merciemercy. And this did Dauid proue by his owne experience, that ſo long as hee held his peace, Pſalme 32.5. and did not acknowledge his ſinnes vntounto the Lord, but concealed, ſmothered, and hid them, ſo long his poore conſcience was vponupon the racke, his ſoule was troubled and greatly diſquieted; but after he had confeſſed them, and repented of them, the Lord for gaue them, and ſhewed him mercy.
Secondly, wee muſt confeſſe our ſinnes alſo vntounto men, and that both priuately and publikely, as the quality of the ſinne requireth. For howſoeuer we condemne Auricular confeſſion, as hauing in it nothing but policie, and a racke to the conſcience: yet wee doe not onelyonly allow, but call and crie for that voluntarie confeſſion, which euerie Chriſtian ought to make to their godly patron of ſuch ſinnes as diſquiet the conſcience, and no doubt, great bleſſings, and comfort, follow them that vſe this godly practiſe: And therefore, Ioſhua 7.10. When Ioſhua laboured to bring Achan to a ſight of his ſin, he ſaith, My ſonne, I beſeech thee, giuegive glory to the Lord God of Iſrael, and make confeſsion vntounto him, and ſhew mee now what thou haſt done. Againe, Confeſſion muſt be made vntounto men, and that in reſpect of the Church, that the Congregation that hath been offended, may be ſatisfied, as alſo that others may bee terrified from falling into the ſame ſinnes, 1. Timot, 5.20. Them that ſinne, rebuke openly, that the reſt may feare. And laſt of all, in reſpect of the ſinner himſelfe, that ther by he may be the more humbled, as that inceſtuous perſon, 2. Corinth. 2.7. That was deliuered vp to Sathan for his ſinne, which brought him to humiliation, whereas otherwiſe if the puniſhment were laide onelyonly on their purſe, few or none would regard it.
But withall we muſt know, that a man is not bound to confeſſe his ſinnes to the Miniſter onelyonly, and to none elſe, (as Papiſts would hauehave men doe it to a Friar:) But hee may make choice of any other Chriſtian friend, according to that of Saint Iames, Iames 5.16. Acknowledge your faults one to another, and pray one for an other, that ye may be healed.
Vſe 1 Seeing true and harty repentance, cannot goe without a free and franke confeſſion of ſinnes, and a hearty and humble acknowledgement of them: Firſt, this condemneth all thoſe who are ſo farre from confeſſing of them: that they are not aſhamed to iuſtifie their ſinnes, euen to patronize them, to pleade for them: as tell men of their ſins and impieties, they anſwer, what need you care, you ſhall not anſwere for my ſinnes, take care for your ſelfe: ſo reproue ſwearing, drunkenneſſe, pride, &c. and men are ſo farre from being humbled, and confeſſing them, that they iuſtifie them, and ſay, they do but as others doe, it is the faſhion, and they are not alone: and this is a corruption that we hauehave all by kinde, to diſſemble our ſinnes, our mothers breaſts hauehave giuen vsus no other ſucke. Adam our firſt Parent hath taught it vsus, Geneſ. 3.12. When he was examined, hee poſted off the matter from himſelfe vntounto his wife; The woman that thou gaueſt me, ſhee gaue mee of the fruit, and I did eate: And Eue quickely cleared herſelfe, poſting off the matter to the Serpent; The Serpent beguiled me, and I did eate. And ſo it is with vsus all, we are loath to make any confeſſion of our ſinnes vntounto God. Mens ſinnes breake forth eueryevery day, lying, ſwearing, drunkenneſſe, malice, &c. But, where is that man to be found that hath any care to ſatisfaction. This while men doe not confeſſe them, they can hauehave no pardon of them, Luke 13.5. Ʋnleſſe yee repent yee ſhall periſh. Now confeſſion is a ſpeciall part of true repentance.
Vſe 2 Seeing there is no pardon of ſinne till wee doe confeſſe it, and humbly acknowledge it: Let vsus euerie one freely acknowledge and confeſſe our ſinnes vntounto the Lord, lay them open and naked before him: it is the beſt way to get the pardon of them at his hands: indeede in the Court of man, to confeſſe our ſins, is the next way to bring ſhame and puniſhment: but in the Court of God it is not ſo, but the next way to hauehave them couered, is to vncouer them, and to lay them open vntounto the Lord: I hauehave ſinned, ſaith Dauid, 2. Samuel 12. The Lord hath taken away thy ſinne, thou ſhalt not die, ſaith the Prophet: When wee confeſſe them, then hee will couer them; If wee iudge our ſelues, wee ſhall not be iudged of the Lord: 1. cor. 11.31Oh then ſet vsus not feare to confeſſe our ſinnes, & lay them open vntounto the Lord with griefe and ſorrow, yea, let vsus deale as a poore priſoner condemned at the Barre, or as a poore Lazar and cripple, ſhew our ſoares, and lay open our wounds, and by that meanes we ſhall mooue the Lord to pitty and compaſſion.
The manner how wee muſt confeſſe our ſins.Secondly, that we may ſo confeſſe our ſinnes, and make ſuch an acknowledgement of them, as may bee a true Confeſſion, and to bring with it true and vnfained repentance.
We muſt firſt take heede that wee do know our ſinnes, the number of them, the greatneſſe of them, the danger of them, how they make vsus moſt vile in the ſight of GOD, and moſt loathſome: wee muſt know that wee deſerue hell-fire, and eternall condemnation for them: for till a man know his ſinne, and his conſcience be conuicted for it, and withall ſee the danger of his ſinne, hee will neuer humbly and heartily confeſſe the ſame.
I know (ſaith Dauid) mine iniquities:] So did Peter, although, for a time, he did he knew not what, as a man in a Trance (for ſinne may well be called madneſſe) yet afterward he bethought himſelfe, and conſidered what he had done, and lamented his follie with teares; And this is required of vsus all, Lament. 3.40. O let vsus ſearch and trie our waies, and turne vntounto the Lord. And the Lord complaineth, Ieremie 8.6. That hee did hearken, to ſee if there were any man that would repent and turne vntounto the Lord, but there was no man ſaid, what hauehave I done?
And ſurely, this Complaint may be taken vppe againſt the people of this Land, That notwithſtanding GOD hath cried and called vntounto v… ſo often from Heauen, by his powerfull voice in his word, by his mercies and by his iudgements, ſo ſenſible, that if the Magicians in Aegipt were amongſt vsus, they could doe no leſſe then acknowledge it the finger of God; yet where is the man almoſt to be found that looketh backe vntounto his owne waies, to aske this queſtion of his owne heart to ſay; Alas, what hauehave I done? Or with Dauid heere; I know mine iniquities.
Now there is a two-folde knowledge of ſinne: Firſt, Generall. Secondly, Speciall. General knowledge neuer worketh any reformation; for this is found (for the moſt part) in all men, which can ſay they are ſinners. But there is a ſpeciall knowledge of ſinne, which God will once diſcouer vntounto vsus either in mercy to our good and ſaluation, as heere to Dauid, to Peter, to Marie Magdalen, &c. or elſe in wrath as hee did vntounto Iudas, Caine, Achitophel, &c. to their finall condemnation; which may teach vsus all to pray vntounto the Lord, ſo to giuegive vsus the ſight of our ſinnes, as that we neuer deſpaire of his mercy, that our ſinnes may neuer riſe vp againſt vsus to our confuſion.
Secondly, our confeſſion of our ſinnes muſt proceede from ſorrow of hart for them, with a hatred of them, ſo as nothing doe more grieue vsus, then our ſinnes.
And this our Sauiour Chriſt inſinuateth, Matth. 11.28. When he calleth onelyonly ſuch vntounto him, as are weary and laden, euen ready to faint vnderunder the burthen of their ſinnes. And this doth Dauid himſelfe confeſſe, Pſalme 38. My ſins (ſaith he) are as a weightie burthen, too heauie for me to beare: For when men can runne away with their ſinnes, as though they were as light as a feather; it is an euident token they were neuer throughly humbled for them.
Thirdly, it muſt be frank and free, not wrung out by compulſion, as ſometimes a wicked man, ſometimes vnderunder the rod may confeſſe his ſins, as Pharaoh, Iudas▪ and the like:Exo. 10.17 Matt. 26. But this Confeſſion was onelie by compulſion wrung out of them; it came not from any ſorrow or hatred of ſinne: but for feare of iudgement and puniſhment.
But wee muſt bee as forward and as ready to confeſſe them, to the glorie of GOD, as wee were to commit them to his diſhonor. Thus did Dauid confeſſe his ſinne, Pſalme 32.5. I acknowledge my ſinne vntounto thee, and mine iniquitie hauehave I not hid. It muſt be without all excuſe or leſſening of our ſinnes, we may not mince them or excuſe them: but lay them open in their colours, rather aggrauating them then leſſening them.
Fourthly, wee muſt confeſſe our ſins, with a purpoſe to forſake them. According to that of the Prophet, Eſay 55. verſ. 7. Let the wicked for ſake his waies; And the vngodly man his owne imaginations, and returne vntounto the Lord. There muſt be in vsus a deſire to forſake all our ſinnes, and eueryevery wicked way, elſe there is no true repentance: For one ſinne is a ſufficient holde for Sathan, and a ſufficient Barre to keep out Chriſt Ieſus: as wee may ſee by the example of Herod, Marke 6. of Iudas, &c.
Vſe. 1 This ſheweth that moſt men and women doe not truely repent: for though they can ſay, God be mercifull vntounto vsus, we are all ſinners: yet in particular they ſee it not; no, they think they keepe the Commandements of GOD: a man can very hardly perſwade them that they breake any of the Commandements in particular, although in generall, and in a confuſed manner they confeſſe themſelues to be ſinners, yet in particular they doe not ſo: Nay, they are ſo farre from aggrauating their ſinnes, That they rather extenuate them by all meanes poſſible; I am not alone, nor, I am not the firſt, nor, I hope I ſhall not be the last: as for any griefe or ſorrow for ſinne, it is farre from them, and they are farre from it.
Vſe. 2 This ſheweth, that thoſe, who though they confeſſe themſelues ſinners, yea in particular; yet becauſe they doe it not with feeling, with hatred and deteſtation of ſinne: therefore they be faulty: for wee ſhould euen with right heauie hearts,Pſal. 32.5. and wounded ſoules, confeſſe our ſinnes, with the greateſt hatred of them as poſſible wee can: ſo, as often as wee ſpeake of them, it ſhould make our hearts to erne, and teares to ſtand in our eies.
Vſe. 3 But moſt of all are here condemned, thoſe vile beaſts, and filthy ſinners, who are ſo farre from ſpeaking of their filthy and beaſtly ſinnes, with hatred and diſlike, that they doe in brauery ſpeake of them, with a kinde of ioy and delight: now, who would euer think a man to be ſo vile, to brag of his owne ſhame, to boaſt of his owne filthineſſe? If a priſoner going in the way to the gallowes, ſhould then bragge of his robberies, and villanies, and bee prowd of his halter, what a deſperate thing were that? And yet, ſuch filthie beaſtes there be in the world, who are not aſhamed to boaſt out their owne ſhame and filthineſſe, to talke, yea to bragge of their owne vncleannes, and of their filthy drunkenneſſe, how they hauehave druncke ſo many dozens: how they hauehave made ſo many drunk: O wretched men! it is a wonder the houſe falleth not on them, or that God raineth not fire and brimſtone from heauen to conſume them.
[And my ſinne it euer before my eies.]
DAuid hauing ſhewed, how that he had freely confeſſed and acknowledged his ſins vntounto the Lord, heere hee ſheweth the cauſe which mooued him ſo humbly to acknowledge the ſame; namely,Cauſe that moued Dauid to confeſſe his ſinne. becauſe they were euer in his ſight, and before his eies: As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, howſoeuer I hauehave a long time laine ſnorting in ſinnes, and did not feele and ſee the danger of them; yet now being tolde of them by the Prophet, I ſee them, and ſo beholde them, that my conſcience accuſes me for them, and I can hauehave no reſt, but my wounded Conſcience doth vrge mee and compell mee to confeſſe my ſinnes vntounto thee.
Where firſt of all we may behold the curſed nature of ſinne, when the Diuell tempts a man vntounto it, he doth euer hide the miſery of ſinne; The curſe of GOD due to ſinne, the torments of hell, and the damnation of both body and ſoule in hell for euermore: Theſe things the diuell doth labour to keep from mens eies; buzzing onelyonly in their cares, the profite of ſinne, gaine, commodity, pleaſure, delight and ſweetneſſe of ſinne, that ſo, ſhewing them onelyonly the golden baite of ſinne, and hiding the poiſoned hooke, he might moue men to runne headlong into all ſinne: But when Sathan gets his purpoſe, and men be in his ſnare, and fallen into ſinne: Oh how will hee then preſſe their poore conſciences! then he wil loade them, and ſet out their ſinnes to the full, in a moſt vgly manner; nothing then but hell fire, damnation, and the curſe of God; that ſo (if it be poſſible) he may draw them into the gulfe of diſpaire.
O that men could conſider this in time! how ſinne wil one day change her countenance, howſoeuer it commeth at firſt in a flattering manner, pretending nothing but friendſhip: but in the end, will leaue a ſting behinde it, euen a guiltie conſcience, terrour of minde, and anguiſh of ſpirite. Wherefore let vsus flie from ſin, as from the biting of a Serpent, that we be not ſtung therewith vntounto eternall death; Knowing that the wages of ſinne is death, Rom. An accuſing conſcience the meanes to bring me to repentance.6.23.
Doctr. 1 Whereas Dauids ſinnes being alwayes before him, did vrge him to confeſſe them, yea to repent, and beg the pardon of them, wee learne that the remembrance of our ſinnes, and the calling them to minde, together with conſcience accuſing for them, is the way and meanes to come to true repentance, to make a man confeſſe them, and begge the pardon of them: whereas if they ſlippe out of our mindes, or we know them not, nor wee finde not our Conſciences to accuſe vsus of them: Alas! we can neither confeſſe them, nor truely be humbled, and begge the pardon of them: And therefore Dauid confeſſeth heere, that by reaſon his ſinnes were euer before him, he was continually vexed, & tormented with the horrour of them, his conſcience ſtill accuſed and annoied him, and therfore hee is conſtrained and vrged humbly to confeſſe them, and to begge the pardon of them at Gods hands.
Whereas the wrath of God doth euer follow ſuch as hauehave ſleepie and drowſie conſciences, giuing them ouer to a reprobate ſence, to a ſlumbering ſpirit, and to hardneſſe of the heart, that they fall to be paſt feeling and can not repent, Rom. 1.28. Such as regarded not to know God, hee gaue them vp to their hearts luſts, vntounto all vncleaneneſſe, and puniſhed one ſinne with another. And ſurely it is iuſt with God, that hee ſhould forſake vsus with his grace, that hauehave forſaken him by our ſinnes: According to that of the Prophet, Pſalme 81.11. My people would not heare my voyce: And, Iſrael would none of mee: So I gaue them vp vntounto the hardneſſe of their heart, and they hauehave walked in their owne Councels.
Sight of ſinne firſt ſtep to repentance.So then hence wee learne that a man will neuer repent truely of his ſinnes, ſeeke to God for pardon, neither is there any other way or means to be reconciled to God, but this, to feele the weight and burthen of his ſinnes, and feeling his conſcience to accuſe him, to vexe and to wound him till he finde God to be mercifull, and reconciled vntounto him, for the pardon of them, and the appeaſing and quieting of his conſcience.
Vſe 1 Seeing till ſuch time as the conſcience be wounded for ſinne, and vexed and tormented with it, a man will neuer ſeeke for pardon: Then wee learne hence, that no man can taſte of the ſweeteneſſe of GODS merciemercy in CHRIST for his ſaluation, till hee hauehave taſted of the bitter fruite of ſinne, and of a wounded and diſtreſſed conſcience: Looke on Dauid, on the Iews,Pſal. 6.32.77. Actes 2.37 and as for thoſe that would taſte of GODS merciemercy, and yet are loathe to feele the ſmart of ſinne, they deceiue themſelues: we ſee that ere the body be purged, men muſt taſte of bitter pilles, of bitter potions:Such may ſuſpect their repentance, who feele nor ſinne to wound their conſciences. And as for thoſe who neuer felt anie ſuch griefe nor wound of Conſcience, no ſuch aſtoniſhment for their ſins, they may iuſtly feare their repentance is not ſound, that they hauehave not, as yet, beene truely humbled, for it is certaine, that before wee can truely repent and be reconciled to GOD, we muſt hauehave the feeling of the ſmart of ſinne, and find our hearts troubled, and our conſciences wounded.
Vſe 2 This confutes that fond and fooliſh Opinion of many in the world, who if they fee any one wounded for ſinne, diſtreſſed in ſoule, crying out of his miſery, and feeles his conſcience exceedingly wounded, and begins, euen to diſpaire of Gods mercy: what do men iudge of ſuch a man, ſurely, that it is nothing but melancholy and dumpiſhneſſe; and therefore they counſell him to bee merry, to go to merry company, to put away ſuch odde conceits, ſuch vaine, and fooliſh fancies: but alas poore ſoules they conſider not that it is the ſpeciall worke of GOD, wounding the conſcience for ſinne, that they feele the anger of God for ſinne, and are troubled and vexed for that, and till God giuegive mercy, and reconciliation be had in CHRIST there can be no peace.
Vſe. 3 We learne hence, that it is better to hauehave an accuſing conſcience for ſin, then to hauehave a dead conſcience,Dead conſcience heauie Iudgemēt. a benummed conſcience: a ſleepy and ſlumbering conſcience: a ſeared and frozen conſcience, for if a mans conſcience doe daily bring his ſinnes to his minde, ſo that hee ſees them before his eies, then he will be grieued for them, hee will confeſſe them and begge the pardon of them; but when a man hath a ſlumbering conſcience that is benummed, then hee goes on in ſinne from day to day, neuer feeleth any ſmart of it, nor euer deſires the pardon of it; as the poore Iewes, who ſeeing their fearefull eſtate, crie out,Actes 2.37 What muſt wee doe? ſo doe all wounded conſciences, ſeeing their fearefull ſinnes and damnable eſtate crie out for merciemercy, and ſeeke for pardon.
Oh it is a fearefull Iudgement of GOD to hauehave a ſleepie or a drowſie Conſcience, It is like a wilde beaſt, which ſo long as it lies aſleepe, ſeemeth very tame & gentle, but when he is rowzed, flies into a mans face: Euen ſo, howſoeuer a mans conſcience may ſeeme, for a time, to bee quiet; and men may thinke they hauehave a good conſcience indeede, yet being awaked by the hand of GOD, it will rent out euen the very throat of their ſoule.
Doctr. 2 Seeing Dauid doth acknowledge heere that his ſinnes being euer before him, awaked him,Neceſſary duety to call our ſinnes to account. and vrged him inſtantly and earneſtly to ſeeke for pardon: Wee learne that it is a good thing for vsus to call our ſinnes to accompt, to hauehave them often in minde, to ſet them before our eies, the greatneſſe, number, and heinouſneſſe of them.
Firſt, it is a good meanes to prepare vsus to true repentance and humiliation for them.Lam. 3.40.
Secondly, it is a ſpeciall means to make vsus to hate and diſlike them, ſeeing the danger of them, how loathſome they be in Gods ſight.
Thirdly, the remembrance of our ſinnes makes vsus wary that we fall not into them againe, but our former fals makes vsus take heed of falling in time to come.
Fourthly, the remembrance of our ſinnes make vsus pitty other men: becauſe, though they fall dangerouſly, yet we know we hauehave fallen aſwel as they, therefore wee hope well God will giuegive them repentance.
Fiftly, the continual remembrance of our owne ſinnes, put vsus in minde of GODS merciemercy in the pardon of them: And when men eaſily ſuffer their olde ſinnes to paſſe away and ſlip out of their minds, they will eaſily fall into new, and eaſily forget the merciemercy of God; and how much they be bound vntounto him. Paul hee giues vsus an excellent example, who remembring how hee had perſecuted the Church,2. Timot. 1. ſaith: Notwithſtanding God was mercifull vntounto me: So that the continuall remembrance of our ſinnes puts vsus in mind of Gods mercifull dealing with vsus, and muſt ſtirre vsus vp to thankefulneſſe.
For if wee forget them, the Lord will remember them; and if wee remember them, the Lord will forget them: This then ſhould make eueryevery man beware how he forgetteth his ſinnes, and caſts them careleſly behinde his backe; for this is a ſigne that GOD remembers them, and will call thy man to account for them.
Vſe. 1 This ſhewes the great impietie of thoſe men and women, who ſeeke all means to put their ſinnes out of their minds,Note of a wicked man. to ſmother the checks of their conſciences, by ſports and paſtimes, by merry company, or by ſome other means to keepe themſelues from the ſight of their ſinnes, they can not abide to heare of them by others, or to thinke of them themſelues, but put away the remembrance of them by all meanes poſſible: how ſhould theſe euer repent and be humbled for them, how ſhould they confeſſe them with teares, and begge the pardon of them.
Ʋſe. 2 It muſt ſtirre vsus vp to the ſerious and often meditation of our ſinnes, to keepe them in memorie, our olde ſinnes and new ſinnes,Pſalme 25 open and ſecret, euen the ſinnes of our youth to humble vsus, and to cauſe vsus to keepe in minde the endleſſe merciemercy of God in pardon of them: and therefore we ſhould doe well to ſet ſome time apart to call our life to account;Pſal. 4.5. Tremble and ſinne not: commune with your heart vponupon your bedde, and bee ſtill: Where Dauid calls vponupon Sauls Courtiers, to feare Gods iudgements and threatnings: it is a ſpeciall means to humble vsus, and to moue vsus to repentance, to keepe a note of all our ſinnes, and ſlippes, and falls, that we may euer hauehave matter to humble our hard and ſtony hearts.
Vſe 3 Wee ſee the cauſe heere why ſo few doe truely repent and confeſſe their ſinnes to GOD,Cauſe why ſo few doe repent. and begge the pardon of them; namely, becauſe their ſinnes be euer out of their fight, though they prie into and eſpie the ſinnes of other men, and hauehave them in their fight, yet doe they caſt their owne behinde them: and by that meanes neuer ſetting their ſinnes in ſight, they forget them, neuer bee humbled for them: but the Lord threatneth all ſuch, that if they will not ſet their ſinnes before them, then will hee take the paines to ſet them all in order before them, one by one, Pſalme 50. I will reprooue thee, and ſet before thee the things that thou hast dope. O conſider this ye that forget God, leſt hee teare you in peeces, and there be none to deliuer you.
Doctr. 3 When as Dauid ſaith in the confeſſing of his ſinnes,Sin once knowne doth euer accuſe till it bee pardoned. that they were euer in his ſight; firſt they all this while grieue and vex him, wound his ſoule and conſcience, we learne that finne once knowne and felt, doth ſo accuſe and wound the conſcience of a poore ſinner, that there can bee no reſt and quietnes vntill it be pardoned: for it was euer in his ſight, and before his eyes, troubling and vexing his minde, and wounding his conſcience. And as it was with Dauid, ſo it fares with eueryevery poore ſinner; after the Lord in merciemercy opens our eyes, to come to the knowledge of ſinnes and our miſery by them, ſo as our conſcience doth accuſe vsus, & we feele the weight of Gods anger preſſing downe our ſoules; there can be nothing but hell and anguiſh for the preſent time: nothing but extreame ſorrow and vexation of ſpirit, till wee finde ſome comfortable anſwere from GOD for the pardon of them;Note. as we ſee a poore priſoner, arraigned, conuicted, and condemned to death: there is nothing but ſorrow and griefe, no ioy in wife, child, friends, lands, liuings, gold, or filuer, meate or muſicke: onelyonly the gracious pardon of the King can reuiue him, and make him a glad man. So it is with a poore ſinner arraigned in his owne conſcience for ſinne, conuicted and condemned in his owne ſoule, before the barre of GODS Iudgement: nothing can now comfort him and cheere him vp, and reuiue his wounded conſcience, but the gracious pardon of GOD, the generall pardon of GODS merciemercy, fealed with the bloud of the Lambe of GOD that takes away the ſins of the world.
Vſe. 1 This ſhewes the miſerable and pittifull eſtate of many thouſands in the world, who lie in ſin, rot in ſin,Indirect courſe that world lings take. and neuer ſeeke for pardon, neuer ſeeke for mercy at the hands of God: and if they finde and feele their ſins, then they run to this vanitie and that paſtime, to ſmother the checkes of their conſciences, and by merry company, eating, and drinking, carding, dicing, &c. ſeeke to ſtop the mouth of their conſcicnces, and to ſmother it: But alas, wee ſee this is cold muſicke for a wounded conſcience: Saul thought to hauehave preuailed by this, at what time hee called Dauid to play and make muſicke before him: but by and by his wound was greater: for theſe men that ſeeke by ſuch deuices to ſtop the mouth of their conſciences, they doe as a man that is in the fit of a burning agew: he is hote, and to coole his heate, he drinketh a draught of cold water, that indeede (for the preſent) will ſomewhat alay the heat of his ſtomacke, yet by and by his fit is increaſed, and made the worſe.
Ʋſe. 2 Let vsus neuer giuegive any reſt vntounto our ſoules, till wee hauehave gotten the aſſured perſwaſion of the pardon of all our ſins: for ſo long as the conſcience doth accuſe for ſin, ſo long we ſhall finde no reſt nor quietneſſe, no,Rom. 5.1. there is no peace till wee bee reconciled to God by true repentance, and till the conſcience leaue accuſing, let vsus neuer leaue repenting and humbling our ſelues for the pardon of our ſins.
Doctr. 4 It is to be obſerued, that Dauid in the confeſſion of his ſin ſaith, I acknowledge my ſinnes: not ſpeaking of his great fin of Adulterie alone, but of many ſins wrapped vp together: for hee did not onelyonly commit adultery with Bethſhaba the wife of Ʋrias, but ſhead his guiltleſſe and innocent bloud: yea with him cauſed, as it is like, many of his good ſubiects and loyall ſouldiers to be ſlaine: hee ſought to couer his ſin cloſely and cunningly, by bidding Ʋrias to goe home to his wife, that ſo the childe might be thought to be his: And to all theſe he added this, that hee layed the whole Church of GOD open to the enemy, to the anger of God.
Sin neuer goes aloneHence then note for our inſtruction, that Dauid confeſſing that one ſin will neuer goe alone, but ſin goes by couples, by heapes, one in the necke of an other: as hee that taketh a chaine by the end, and pulleth but one lincke, all the reſt doe follow: ſo, if a man let liberty to one ſin, that ſin will not goe alone, but draw another: adultery will often bring murther with it; ſwearing lying with it: ſo drunkenneſſe whooredome, &c. The Apoſtle biddeth vsus,Rom. 13.13 Not to walke as children of darkeneſſe, in ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe, not in chambering and wantonneſſe, not in ſtrife and enuying: ſhewing vntounto vsus that ſinnes goe by couples, and one draws on an other, and will hardly goe alone.
It is like the Gangrene or Canker, it fretteth and eateth further and further; the hand infecteth the arme, and the foote the legge, and ſo one member an other, till it hath diffuſed it ſelfe ouer the whole body, if the part that is infected be not cut off at the beginning. This doth the Apoſtle teach, 2. Tim. 2.16. Stay prophane and vaine bablings, for they increaſe vntounto more vngodlineſſe, And their word will frette as a Canker. Saint Iames alſo ſheweth the fruitfulneſſe of ſinne, ſaying; When luſt hath conceiued, it brings forth ſinne, and ſinne when it is finiſhed it brings forth death. And as ſin doth increaſe, ſo doe GODS iudgements, Leuiticus 26.22, 23. If yee walke ſtubbornely against mee, and will not obey me, I will then bring ſeuen times moe plagues vponupon you, according to your ſi…es: yet if by theſe yee will not be reformed by me, but walke ſtubbornely againſt mee, then will I alſo walke ſtubbornely againſt you, And I will yet ſmite you ſeuen times for your ſinnes. And thus we ſee againe how God will keepe a proportion betwixt our ſins and his puniſhments.
Vſe. 3 Seeing this is the curſed nature of ſin, that it will neuer go alone, but one will draw on an other, who oredome, murther, hypocriſie, &c. it ſtands vsus all in hand to take heede wee giuegive liberty to no ſinne, liue in none, delight in none: for if we do, we ſhall finde that one ſin will neuer goe alone: but let vsus abhorre all, hate eueryevery ſin, and ſtriue againſt all: wee ſee this common in the world, that if a man ſhall yeelde to one ſin, by and by it will draw him to an other:Note. and often (as it was in Dauid) whoredome will bring murther with it, ſometimes of the husband, ſometimes of the childe, ſometimes of two or three: And therefore let vsus be carefull to ſhunne and auoyde eueryevery ſinne, liue in none: for though one ſinne be enough to carry a man to the gulfe of hell: yet one will neuer goe alone.
Wee ſee this in the example of Caine, Geneſ. 4.8. he was reprooued of God for his malice conceiued againſt his brother; But hee hear kened not to the voyce of the Lord, but hardned his heart, and ſhead innocent bloud, euen the bloud of his brother. This appeares in Iudas, Math. 26. hauing once entertained Couetouſneſſe in his heart, fell from Couetouſneſſe to Treaſon, and at laſt became a verie diuell incarnate. The like wee may beholde in Saul 1. Samuel 16.1. who fell away from GOD ſteppe by ſteppe, vntill the Spirit of GOD had vtterly forſaken him, and hee brake out in open rebellion againſt Almighty GOD: For as amongeſt all the bleſſings which the Lord doth beſtow vponupon the ſonnes of men in this world; a ſoft and tender heart is one of the greateſt, which is checked and controuled, and ſoone made bleede: ſo there can bee no greater curſe laide vponupon man, then to hauehave a rebellous heart, which hoordeth vp eueryevery day vengeance againſt it ſelfe.