Twenty-Two Sermons on Psalm 119, Sermon 11
The eleuenth Sermon of the hundreth and nineteenth Pſalme.
CAPH.
My ſoule fainteth for thy ſaluation: yet I wayte for thy worde.
Mine eyes faile for thy promiſſe: ſaying, when wilt thou comfort me?
For I am like a bottle in the ſmoke: yet do I not forget thy ſtatutes.
How many are the dayes of thy ſeruant? when wilt thou be auenged of them that perſecute me?
The proude hauehave digged pittes for mee: which are not after thy lawe.
All thy commandementes are true: they perſecute me falſely: be thou my helpe.
They had almoſt made an end vpō me on the earth: but I forſooke not thy commaundements.
Quicken me according to thy louing kindneſſe: ſo ſhall I keepe the teſtimonies of thy mouth.
IF we could rightly call to our remembraunce the promiſes of God in our afflictions and miſeries, it were ſufficient enough too make vsus pacient. And by this meane we ſhould render a true proufe of our fayth: but ſo ſoone as we are grieued with any affliction, we by and by waxe fainte hearted, bicauſe we forget all the promiſes of God: which to our duplicate page duplicate page ſeeming, we had long before very well vnderſtand and learned: Now we ſhould not at the leaſt be forgetfull of them, when neede requireth, yea, and that when wee are thereby enforced. And for that cauſe wee hauehave here a very excellent leſſon for the purpoſe, & worthy the noting: for Dauid doth not only teach vsus as a Prophet of God, what our dutie is, & what the power and vertue of our faith ought too bee: but ſheweth vsus alſo the way by his example, howe wee muſt bee pacient in all our aduerſities, and howe we ought not to fal from that: to wit, that we alwayes hauehave our eye fixed vponupon the promiſes of God. For that ſhal be enough to entertaine and keepe vsus, in ſuch ſort as that we ſhould paciently waite for his ſauing health, yea, euen in calling vponupon him. But that we might the better profite by this doctrine, wee are here to note, that the twoo firſt verſes are both of one and ſelfe-ſame ſubſtance, ſaue that the order of the wordes are changed. Hee ſaieth in the firſt place, My ſoule fainteth for thy ſaluation, That is to ſay, O Lorde, I hauehave longed, albeit the afflictions and miſeries which I hauehave abidden, were very great: and laſted long, and that I ſee neither ende nor iſſue of them, yet neuertheleſſe I reſted altogether hereon, that I alwayes truſted, that thou wouldeſt bee my ſupporter and aider. Nowe hee addeth the reaſon howe hee coulde ſo faint: to wit, bicauſe he truſted vntounto the promiſes of God. In the ſecond verſe he ſaieth, That he hath failed for the promiſe of God, yea euen looking for this promiſse, and that he hath ſaid, When wilt thou comfort me? And in the third he handleth that which before hee had ſpoken of: to wit, that although he had beeene as it were parched and dried, euen as a ſkinne bottle in the ſmoke, ſo that there remained neither moyſture nor ſubſtance in him but dried vp with verie miſeries, yet that he had not forgotten the teſtimonies of God.
We ſee then nowe what the ſumme and effect of this is, which is here ſhewed vntounto vsus: to wit, that there is but one onelyonly meane too cauſe vsus to bee conſtant and pacient, when as we are afflicted, and that our aduerſities doe euer long laſt as wee imagine: that is, too bee mindefull of the promiſes of God, and to hauehave them depely imprinted in our hartes. For if that bee ſo, it wil not coſt vsus much to be patient: and although it bee an harde matter, yet wee ſhall at the laſt come too the ende of it. Let vsus then now marke, from whence our impatience ſpringeth, and what the reaſon is why wee are ſo oftentimes ouercome with temptations: or elſe, when as wee ſhal hauehave for a tyme reſiſted them, yet in the ende wee are confounded and faintharted. Truely, it is bicauſe wee forget the teſtimonies of GOD, and turne away from his woorde. In very deede, this at the firſt ſight may ſeeme too bee a common matter with vsus. And to ſay the truthe, eueryevery man wil ſay, that we ought to remember them, and that it is the onelyonly remedy too comforte vsus. But wee ſhal the oftener doo it, when as wee ſhal hauehave learned this leſſon which is heere ſet downe vntoo vsus, and that wee recorde it al the dayes of our life: For this is one of the principalleſt pointes that is too bee required in al Chriſtians, that when they perceiue that God hath laide his hand on them, that they bee as it were almoſt caſt downe: yet that they might comfort themſelues, in ſtaying of the promiſes of ſaluation which God hath promiſed them. But yet, let vsus throughly conſider the worde which Dauid here vſeth: I hauehave longed (ſayeth hee) after the ſaluation, and I hauehave hoped, or after that I had hoped, bicauſe of thy woorde.
The ſeconde parte of this verſe, is as it were the foundation whereon Dauid buildeth. Let vsus vnderſtande then this hope which wee ought to hauehave in the worde of God, as Dauid had: for without that, it is impoſsible but that wee muſt bee confounded. for although it ſeeme in the iudgement of menne, that there is in vsus ſome vertue and ſoundneſſe too indure and ſuffer patiently, yet ſhal it not be ſuch a true patience as GOD alloweth. And why ſo? For wee ſhal neuer beare him that affection too obey him, without wee comforte our ſelues that hee loueth vsus, and that we truſt to his bountie.
A man, I ſay, ſhall neuer be diſpoſed to obey God, and to glorifie him in afflictions, except hee hauehave a taſte of the bountie, and fatherly louelove, which he beareth vsus. Now how can it be that wee ſhould bee fully perſuaded that God loueth vsus, and procureth our wealth and health, when as he afflicteth vsus, without we be armed with his promiſes? For it is impoſsible for vsus to knowe the truth of God, except he declare the ſame vntounto vsus in his word. Let vsus learne then, as I hauehave already ſaid, that the pacience of the faithfull can not be built, but vponupon faith and hope in the promiſes of God. Loe then what we hauehave to note in this place.
Now Dauid hauing laid ſuch a foundation, buildeth thereon, ſaying, that his ſoule longed after the ſaluation of God: when he ſaieth that his ſoule longed, he meaneth not that he was ſo forlorne, as that hee had in the ende giuen him cleane ouer: ne yet that Satan had gotten any aduauntage of him: but that worde, to long, is taken in the ſcripture, for that which notwithſtanding is conioyned with ſuch obedience as we ought to yelde vntounto God, ſtaying and ſetling our ſelues vponupon him. As howe? Saint Paul ſayeth, That we ought to hope beyond all hope as Abraham did: to wit, we muſt ſurmount all our wittes and imaginations, when there is any queſtion of our beliefe in God. For if wee will meaſure the promiſes of God by our owne wittes, what ſhall become of it? our faith then muſt exceede and goe beyond all the wiſedome of men, as here it is ſayde, That his ſoule hath longed: which is as much as if Dauid had ſaid, it is true O Lorde, that according to mans reaſon, I was vtterly forlorne: yea I was ſo oppreſſed with miſeries, as that I could beare no moe: but when I was in the middes of death, I ceaſed not for all that vntill I was arriued at a ſure hauen: to wit, thy ayde and helpe. Now he namely ſpeaketh of Gods ſuccour, bicauſe it ſhall goe very hard, but that we wil wander, looke aboue, and beneath, both before and behinde, to ſee if wee can finde readie helpe.
But if the trouble laſt long & we ſee not which way to get out of it, but that it is like a bottomles pitte: although before we ſomewhat truſted and hoped vponupon God, yet for all that wee ſhall then bee driuen and egged, to ſeeke for aide here and there, we know not where. And howe ſo? Is it not poſsible for me to finde remedie? Bicauſe, I ſaye, wee are ſo dull, and the hope which we hauehave in God, paſſeth ſo lightly away from vsus, and melteth, and runneth about, this way and that way: Dauid for this reaſon ſayeth, That hee hoped for the ſaluation of God. Hereby then hee ſheweth, that although this occaſion was offered him to ſeeke after other helpes, and to caſt his eyes vppon creatures, and to forſake God: yet that the temptations had not ſo wonne vpō him but that he alwayes remained conſtant in this reſolution, that it was God which muſt relieue his neede. Nowe herevpon he addeth,
Mine eyes faile for thy promiſe, ſaying: when wilt thou comfort me?
I hauehave abready ſaid that this verſe conteineth no new or ſtrange thing, but Dauid chaungeth onelyonly the order of the wordes. For when he ſaieth, That his eyes ſore longed after the word of God, he meaneth none other thing but this, that although all his wittes were troubled, and that hee was as it were blinded with the multitude of afflictiōs which he endured, yet that hee alwayes ſtayed him ſelfe vppon this word of God, and neuer ceaſed calling vponupon him, ſaying: O when wilt thou comfort me? By this hee ſheweth vsus, that if we hauehave a true faith ſetled vppon the promiſes of GOD made vntounto vsus, when as it ſhall pleaſe him ſoone after to afflict vsus, we muſt not by and by bee angry, biting the bit as Mules do: but let vsus yelde him true obedience, ſaying: O Lord, when wilt thou comfort me? Wee muſt then ſuffer and abide thus to do: to wit, that when we beſeech and require God, to helpe vsus according to his promiſe, wee muſt alſo deſire him, to ſhewe it vsus by the effect: and wee muſt remaine firme and conſtant, vntill ſuch time as he cauſeth vsus to perceiue it: for although hee delayeth his aide, and holdeth it as it were in ſuſpēce, yet muſt we be fully perſuaded that he hath not forgotten his office, which is, to comfort vsus. By this meane we ſhall finde in the ende the fruite of our prayers. Nowe he fully and wholy explaneth in the third verſe following, when as hee ſheweth it to be no ſmall matter to be thus caſt downe, had not the woorde of God ſuſtained, and vpheld him, but that there was great reaſon in it. I am, ſaith he, like vntounto a Goates ſkinne wherein oyle, or wyne is put, hanging in the ſmoke, and ſo dried and parched, as that there was neither ſubſtance nor moiſture left in him. Dauid vſeth this ſimilitude, to ſhewe that his afflictions were ſo great and exceſsiue, as that hee was without all ſtrength, and without hope of life. Now he addeth notwithſtanding, That he did not, yet forget the ſtatutes of God.
Loe an example which wee ought too followe, neither muſt we alledge here our infirmitie: for Dauid was a paſſionate man as we are: he might very well hauehave fainted, if God had not ſtrengthened him. And how ſo? Hauing the promiſes, he hoped vponupon them: knowing that God continueth his benefites towardes his children, bicauſe they ſhould hauehave recourſe vntounto him: hee called vponupon him, for that hee had already founde merciemercy and ſuccour of him: God ſo holpe him through his holy ſpirite. Nowe, hauehave not wee at this daye the ſame promiſes which Dauid had? Yea, hauehave wee not more large and ample promiſes? HaueHave not wee & great deale more familiar acceſſe then Dauid had, bicauſe that Ieſus Chriſte is declared too bee a mediatour more manifeſtly, then he was vnderunder the lawe? When God then rendreth vsus ſuch a teſtimonie of his good will, that wee may freely come before him to praye vntounto him, to the ende hee might helpe our neceſsities: I praye you what excuſe ſhall wee make, if wee come not boldely vntounto him as Dauid did, and be conſtant to perſeuere in the ſame purpoſe, ſeeing that God offereth the ſelfe ſame meanes, to fight againſt whatſoeuer may turne vsus awaye from it. Moreouer, is the power of God leſſened ſince that time? Doth he not at this day helpe all his faithfull with his holy ſpirite, as he did vnderunder the lawe. Yea, doth not he ſaye that he will encreaſe the kingdome of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, more then euer he did at that time?
There is nothing then but our vnthankefulneſſe which hath ſhut the gate againſt God, ſo that his graces can hauehave no acceſſe nor entraunce into vsus. It is very true, that he will ſay enough vntounto vsus, but we will ſtope our eares: he wil make vsus fayre promiſe enough, but we will ſoone forget them: or els if we keepe them in minde, it ſhalbe but a raunging imagination, neither ſhall it hauehave any deepe print, or yet liuely roote in vsus. Bicauſe therefore, that wee eſteeme not of the promiſes of God, loe the reaſon why wee are ſo ſuddenly caſt downe, euen with the leaſt temptation that may come. Howe exerciſe we our faith in prayers? what readineſſe and zeale is there at this daye amongſt Chriſtians in calling vponupon the name of God? Alas it is ſo colde and feeble as it can not be more. And ſo ſee why God hath pluckt backe his hand from vsus, bicauſe of our infidelitie, ſo that we feele not his helpe as we ſhould. The more depely therefore ought we to conſider of this ſentence here, when Dauid declareth that he was cleane dried vp, and yet for all that forgot not the promiſes of God.
Let vsus now goe and vaunt our ſelues to bee good Chriſtians, that we hauehave greatly profited in the Goſpel, and yet when as wee ſhalbe touched with any little, yea, and that with a very light affliction, wee ſhall bee ſo amaſed as it is woonder. Alas what ſhould become of vsus, if wee ſhould be as Dauid proteſteth hee was? that God threatned vsus through ſtitche, that there were but one droppe of ſubſtance of life, and that it ſhould ſeeme that we were euen as it were dead. If then there were ſuch a kinde of parched dryneſſe in vsus, what ſhould become of it? But what? herein reſteth the faulte, that eueryevery man flattereth him ſelfe, and wee alſo thinke that GOD ſhoulde ſubmitte him ſelfe to our flatteries,
But it is not in vaine that this example is here ſet before vsus. Let vsus exerciſe our ſelues then better then we hauehave heretofore done, and call to minde the teſtimonies of God. When as we ſhal bee parched, and ſo dried, as that it might ſeeme wee had not one droppe of life? let vsus notwithſtanding, meditate yet more thē euer before we did of the promiſes of God, to the ende we might get vsus newe force and ſtrength. Now when Dauid had thus ſpoken, he addeth,
How many are the daies of thy ſeruant? when wilt thou be auenged of them that perſecute me?
The proud hauehave digged pittes for me: which are not after thy lawe.
Here Dauid purſuing his purpoſe maketh mētion of the griefes which he endured, that is, the wicked and vngodly perſecuted him wrongfull, and that hee beeing retired to God, as to his ſaulfegarde, found no ſuccour of him at the firſt daſh, but that God held him at a bay, as a forlorne mā. Now herevpon hee rightly ſheweth that his faith was not clerely quenched, ne yet leſſened: but that he ſtil continued in prayer. And in the ende concludeth, that he will yet better remember the word of God, when as he ſhall bee ſo reſtored by him, and raiſed vp againe as it were from death. Let vsus then note, that Dauid here ſetteth downe a certaine maner and order to ſhewe vsus, that when God, to the outward ſhewe ſhall ſeeme to eſtraunge him ſelfe, yet we muſt take hede that the ſame keepe vsus not from hauing recourſe vntounto him. Now it may very wel ſeeme, that God ſometimes thinketh not of vsus, but ſpecially, when hee ſhall ſuffer the wicked to runne whether they lift, and let them doe whatſoeuer they deſire.
Now this is a terrible temptation. And why? For on the one ſide we looke that if God tooke vsus for his children, & loued vsus as he teſtifieth, ſhould he not by and by hauehave compaſsion of our miſeries? ſhould he not put forth his hande to helpe vsus? When then he ſuffereth vsus to be thus vniuſtly troden vnderunder foote, it is a ſigne that hee hath forſaken vsus, and that he hath no care of vsus, nor of our health▪
Loe heere a very hard and greeuous temptation. And the ſecond is, that it ſhould ſeeme that God doth not his office, How is that? Beholde how the vngodly fall out with him ſo that it ſeemeth they would giuegive him open defiaunce. For is not this to make warre againſt him, when as they giuegive them ſelues licence to doe wickedly: that whatſoeuer can beſayd vntounto them, they can neuer bee brought too goodneſſe? And yet God maketh ſemblaunce as though he had no care of their wicked dealing. Theſe we ſee are two maruelous daungerous temptations. And this is the cauſe namely why Dauid hath heere recited his perſecutions, which he abode at the handes of the wicked.
Now it is ſo, that he beeing in ſuch conflictes, hauing to fight againſt theſe two temptations, which I hauehave noted, ſheweth right wel that he remained ſtil conqueror. And ſee why he ſayth, How many are the dayes of thy ſeruant? when wilt thou be auenged of thē that perſecute me? Dauid ſignifieth that he made not this requeſt vntill ſuch time as hee was driuen too this extremitie, that he was no longer able to abide it. As if he ſhould hauehave ſayde, Alas, my good God, wilte thou helpe me after I am deade? For thou ſeeſt that I hauehave already abidden ſo much, as it is not poſſible to indure more: thou ſeeſt me euen at the graues brinke: It is now time, or elſe neuer to helpe. But yet I perceiue no ſuccour comming from thee. And what is the cauſe? When wilte thou doe it? It cannot bee choſen but that Dauid had as it were an intollerable affliction, when he called vponupon God in this manner. Wherefore we are ſo much the rather to meditate on this place. For although God ſuffereth vsus to be afflicted but for a little while: yet the ſame laſteth ſo with vsus, as that we beeing vexed euen to the vttermoſte, will ſay, I knowe not where I am, nor what to doe heerein. What is the cauſe why God deferreth his ayde ſo long? For in ſteade too call vponupon him, it is out of doubt rather that we murmure, yea and moyte as it were ſecretly againſt him. Nowe the right remedy to ouercome theſe temptations, & not ſo to murmur againſt God in our afflictions, is this, to call vponupon him with full aſſuraunce, beſeeching him to graunt vsus his grace, that notwithſtanding al the afflictions which he layeth vponupon vsus, yet that he leaue vsus not for all that too hope after that which hee hath promiſed vsus. And this is it which Dauid declareth yet more fully, when after he had ſayde, that the vngodly had gone aboute to digge pittes for him, which is not after his lawe, hee addeth, and ſayth,
All thy Commaundements are true: they perſecute me falſely, be thou my helpe.
Heere he expreſſeth what the iniuryes & outrages were which they had done him, They hauehave (ſaith he) digged pittes for mee, yea and he proteſteth that they did it vniuſtly, that he neuer gaue the wicked occaſion to hurt him: but that he had walked in a good and pure conſcience. Yet ſaith hee, They hauehave gone about to circumuent and compaſſe mee rounde about. Wee ſee then that Dauid had no ſmall aſſaultes, but ſuch as were euen deadly, that it was without all queſtion that he muſt be vtterly confoūded: yea & although he neuer hurt any of them, that it might be ſayd, that he had iniuriouſly perſecuted them, yet had he alwayes his recourſe vntounto God. So then, we may now bee better confirmed in the doctrine which we hauehave heeretofore handled: to wit, that to whatſoeuer extremititie we are driuen vntounto in our afflictions, we ſhall bring them to a very good end, when as we being fenced with the power of the ſpirit of God, do looke vntounto his promiſſes. Now let vsus ſee why he addeth and ſayth, Thy Commaundementes are true, they perſecute me falſely, O help me. Dauid ſetteth downe heere three poyntes, The one is that God is true: & after he addeth a proteſtation of his good conduct and guydance, and of the malice of his aduerſaryes: Thirdly, he calleth vppon God in his afflictions. Now as concerning the firſt, hee ſheweth vsus, that although Satan to ſhake vsus, and in the ende vtterly too carry vsus away ſubtilly and cunningly goeth about to deceiue vsus, we muſt, to the contrary, learne how to knowe his ambuſhes, and to keepe vsus from out of them. So often then as wee are greeued with aduerſitie and affliction, where muſt we beginne? See Satan howe he pitcheth his nettes, and layeth his ambuſhes to induce and perſwade vsus to come into them, what ſayth he, dooſt thou not ſee thy ſelfe forſaken of thy God? where are the promiſes wherevnto thou diddeſt truſt? Now heere thou ſeeſt thy ſelf to be a wretched forlorne creature. So then, thou right well ſeeſt that God hath deceiued thee, and that the promiſes wherevnto thou truſtedſt, appertaine nothing at all vntounto thee. See heere the ſubtlety of Satan. What is nowe to be doone? We are to conclude with Dauid and ſaye, yet God is true and faithfull. Let vsus I ſay keepe in minde the trueth of God as a ſheelde too beate back whatſoeuer Satan is able to lay vntounto our charge, when as he ſhall goe about to cauſe vsus to deny our Fayth, when as alſo he ſhall lye about vsus too make vsus beleeue that God thinketh no more of vsus, or elſe, that it is in vaine for vsus too truſt vntounto his promiſes. But let vsus knowe cleane contrary, that it is very plaine and ſounde trueth which GOD ſayth vntounto vsus. Although Satan caſteth at vsus neuer ſo many dartes, although he hauehave neuer ſo exceeding many deuiſes againſt vsus, although nowe and then by violenve, ſometimes with ſubtiltie and cunning, it ſeemeth in very deede too vsus, that he ſhould ouercome vsus: Neuertheleſſe, he ſhall neuer bring it to paſſe, but that wee ſhall hauehave the trueth of God, to be ſure and certaine in our heartes. And thus much for the firſt.
The proteſtation which Dauid maketh, ought too ſtirre vsus vpp too walke in ſuch ſorte with our neighboures, as that wee giuegive them no occaſion too hurte vsus. But too liue plainely and ſimply one by an other. The wicked may very well hurte one another, yea and euen deſtroy them ſelues: but in the meane time, the Children of God muſte hauehave this teſtimony alwayes with them, that they will neither doe nor yet procure them any hurte: but are greeued and ſorrowfull too ſee them runne headlong into deſtruction.
When this mind ſhalbe in vsus, then ſhal we hauehave an excellent entraunce to call vponupon God: but contrariwiſe, if we render euill for euill, beeing moleſted by our enemyes, and inforce our ſelues to doo the like, and cry quittance (as we ſay) with them, our cauſe wil quite bee ouerthrowne. And why ſo? For if we ſhall be ſo vengefull, it is impoſſible for vsus to truſt and beleeue that God wil helpe vsus. Yea euen then I ſay, when we ſhall hauehave a good and iuſt quarrell. For God will diſcharge vsus if wee ſhall not hauehave a good conſcience: and although ſome there, are which would both wiſh and doe vsus hurt: We muſt ſay, O Lord, this is iniuriouſly and falſely doone. But (as I hauehave already touched) let vsus hauehave ſuch a teſtimonie in our heartes, that although they which perſecute vsus are the inſtrumentes and limmes of Satan, and do it of meere malice: Let vsus not cleane contrary purchaſe them any hurte or diſpleaſure. Then may wee call vppon God with Dauid, knowing that hee will neuer faile thoſe which are wrongfully perſecuted. Loe then the meaning of theſe three poyntes which are heere touched. Now after that Dauid had thus ſpoken, he addeth,
They had almoſt made an ende of me vponupon the Earth: But I forſake not thy comaundements.
See heere a ſentence worthy to bee well weyed. It is very true that Dauid expreſſeth that which he had before ſpoken, I hauehave not (ſayth he) forſaken thy commaundementes O Lord, although I was as one clearely dryed vp, and as a man vtterly forlorne, yet for all that hauehave I not forſaken thy Commandementes. Nowe it muſt needes be that Dauid reſiſted two temptations in continuing ſo firme and conſtant in the obedience of God. The firſt was, that he might hauehave beene brought into ſome diſtreſſe. The ſecond, that he might hauehave bin bent to hauehave done wickedly. And why ſo? ſeing that the wicked had vniuſtly perſecuted him, hee might hauehave beene reuenged of them. Loe the two aſſaultes which was meete and conuenient for him to ſuſtaine and keepe of. Euen ſo muſt we followe his example: For when men ſhall vniuſtly moleſt and greeue vsus, and that they ſhall not onelyonly doe vsus one iniury, yea two or three: but that our trouble ſhal continue without ende and without ceaſing, let vsus yet learne to be pacient. And chiefely, when as there ſhall be no queſtion of abiding a little damage, or ſmall greefe: But that we ſhall be mortally perſecuted, and our life too be as it were deſperate, to be already as it were in the very throte of the Woulfe, yea to bee already euen as men ſwallowed vp and deuoured. When as we ſhalbe brought euen to ſuch a paſſe, yet let vsus not ceaſe to ſay with Dauid, I hauehave not forſaken thy commaundements.
And ſo that wee might the better practiſe this doctrine, and apply it to our owne vſe and profite, let vsus learne too hauehave recourſe vntounto God in all our afflictions, calling vponupon him to be our warraunt and ſafegarde. And in the meane while, although we be wrongfully moleſted, let vsus beſeech him to graunt vsus his grace too yeelde our ſelues vntounto that which he hath commaunded vsus: to witte, too louelove our enemyes, to doe good vntounto them which ſeeke to doe vsus all the hurt they can, to pray for thoſe which ſlaunder and wiſhe vsus aſmuch euill as is poſſible. Loe heere wee muſt meditate vponupon the Commaundements of God, although wee be as it were conſumed on the earth.
Now heere we are to note, that it was not without cauſe, that Dauid ſayth, that he was almoſte conſumed: For this ſhall euen ſo come to paſſe in vsus, when men ſhall iudge and condemne vsus, and that wee hauehave already receiued ſentence of death in our ſelues: as S. Paule ſayth in the ſeconde too the Corinthes. Euen ſo Dauid beeing as one condemned too death, and ſeeing no likelyhoode too be deliuered,2. Cor. ceaſed not for all that to call vponupon God. So likewiſe muſt we doe, knowing that hee will neuer forſake vsus: for ſee what the cauſe is, that God oftentimes keepeth backe his helping hand from vsus, but euen when we preuent him by meane of our owne lightneſſe and inconſtancy. For ſo ſoone as wee are greued ſomwhat more then we are wonted: we ſtraight wayes conclude and ſay, O, all is naught: we are cleane vndoone: it is paſt all hope. When we after this ſorte preuent him, it is like vntounto a man that would caſt himſelfe into his graue before he is deade, and ſo ſmoother himſelfe. After this manner, ſay I, doe we, preuenting by this meane that ayde, which God hath deferred to giuegive vsus, vntil the time be come, which he knoweth to be moſte meete. Let vsus then well conſider, that when God ſhall deferre the ayde which he meaneth to giuegive vsus, although wee ſeeme as deade men, and our life deſperate, yet that hee can reſtore vsus againe in the minute of an houre, although in the ſight of men wee were euen as the pictures of death, yet that hee leaueth vsus not without life inwardly. For as wee ſee in Winter the trees to be as it were deade, that wee can perceiue neither ſappe, leafe, nor nothing elſe: yet there is life hid in them. Euen ſo fareth it with vsus: For when we ſhall be ſtill & quiet attending for ayde at the handes of God, wee are ſure that when Winter is paſt: to wirte, the time of our afflictions, that God will giuegive vsus life, which was before as it were hidden. Now to conclude the Pſalme he ſayth,
Quicken me according to thy louing kindeneſſe: ſo ſhall I keepe the teſtimonyes of thy mouth.
We ſee heere, that Dauid ſpeaketh as one that were dead, when he ſayth, O quicken me, he ſheweth then that hee was not beaten ſoftely with the rodde, or with a meane affliction: but was puniſhed euen too the vttermoſte. For hee was ſo dryed vp, as before we hauehave ſaide, that there was no ſubſtaunce at all lefte in him. Loe what was the cauſe why Dauid after this manner made his petition.
Let vsus learne then, not too flatter our ſelues, when as the Lorde our God ſhall viſite vsus with any little affliction, that wee thinke too hauehave doone euen ſufficiently, if wee call vppon him: But if wee ſhall hauehave doone ſo an hundreth thouſande times more, yet that wee muſte not giuegive ouer praying and calling vppon him. And heerein may bee ſeeene the hypocriticall dealing of men: For they are ſo womanniſhely minded and tender hearted, that they thinke themſelues too hauehave wrought a million of miracles, when as they hauehave ſuſtained neuer ſo little aduerſitie, no not woorth the value of an houre.
Moreouer if they be ouer loden with any aduerſity they may be bolde, as they thinke, cleerely too forget both God and his woorde. But our good God wil not hauehave vsus to proceede in this ſorte: For he ſetteth before vsus heere, the example of Dauid for our inſtruction, but yet hee hath ſet it forth vntoo vsus for this ende and purpoſe, that wee ſhoulde not ceaſe to continue too cal vponupon him in our aduerſities: yea were our afflictions neuer ſo great, & laſted neuer ſo long, yet that we ſhoulde notwithſtanding continually perſeuere in prayer.
To be ſhorte, let vsus vnderſtande, that Dauid made this prayer at ſuch tyme as hee thought not too hauehave liued any longer, but that hee was as a dead man, when hee ſayeth, O quicken mee.
Moreouer we may ſee, that his conſtancy was not lyke a puft of winde, but that he perſeuered therein. For although his troubles conteined, that he was as it were in a very depe pit, whereout he was not able too get: yet ceaſed hee neuer but to truſt that god would deliuer him out of it: and there vponupon called on him, and receiued greate courage. Namely, he deſireth too bee quickened according to the louing kindnes of God For wee muſt alſo bee at that point, if we will bee hearde, to knowe that God is bounde vntoo vsus of his meere grace and fauour: and that wee alſo muſt hauehave recourſe vntounto him, if wee wil hauehave him too accompliſhe his promiſes vntounto vsus. Men muſt not then abuſe themſelues, too looke vntoo their owne dooinges, ne yet too hauehave regarde vntoo worldly meanes: But that they ſeeke for the ſame in GOD, and in his meere goodneſſe and free gifte, for the which he wil heare them, and receiue them alſo vntoo himſelfe. In the ende Dauid proteſteth, that he wil kepe the teſtimonies of the mouth of God. Now let vsus not vnderſtād hereby, that hee had not kept them before: For wee hauehave ſeene the cleane cōtrary. But this is to ſignifie, That ſeing in the midſt of the afflictiōs which I hauehave ſuſteined, thou haſt alway giuē me the grace to perſeuere in faith, & that I hauehave continually vponupon thee, Satan hath not ſhaken me, to cauſe me too doe wickedly, ſince then, O Lorde, thou haſte giuen mee ſuch conſtancy at the time that thou waſt eſtraunged from me: by a more ſtrong reaſon, when thou ſhalt be mine ayde and ſuccour, & ſhalt reſtore me, I ſhall hauehave a farre greater conſtancy, to keepe the teſtimonyes of thy mouth. See then, howe that in the middeſt of all our afflictions wee muſt glorifie God, not doubting of his faithfull dealing, that he will performe whatſoeuer hee hath promiſed, hauehave pittie on vsus in the end, and confirme vsus more and more too keepe the teſtimonyes of his mouth: knowing that hee wil continue to doe that vntounto vsus, which he hath already once ſhewed vsus.
And according to this doctrin, let vsus proſtrate our ſelues in the preſence of our good God, in acknowledging our offences: Beſeeching him that it would pleaſe him to open our eyes better that we may beholde the power and vertue of his worde, and thereon to ſtay vsus: in bereauing vsus of all the lightneſſe and inconſtancy, which might turne vsus away from it, deſiring him alſo not to ſuffer vsus too wander this way and that way, as commonly we are woonted, to turne vsus from the right way, as we are by nature ouermuch inclyned therto: but beeing fully reſolued, that it is not in vaine which he hath declared vntounto vsus, that hee will aſſiſt vsus in all our neceſſities, which wee ſhall craue of him in true fayth: yea not onelyonly in our ſmall and meane afflictions: but euen when as he thinketh wee ſhoulde be vtterly ouerthrowne: knowing that he will accompliſh for our profite & health, whatſoeuer we may hope after, and beholde with the eyes of fayth. Let vsus beſeech him that hee will not onelyonly graunte vsus this grace, but alſo vntounto all people and nations of the Earth. &c.