Twenty-Two Sermons on Psalm 119, Sermon 12
The twelfth Sermon vponupon the hundreth and nineteenth Pſalme.
LAMED.
O Lorde, thy woorde indureth for euer in Heauen.
Thy trueth is from one generation to another: thou haſte layed the foundation of the Earth and it abideth.
They continue euen to this day, according too thy ordinaunce: for all are thy ſeruauntes.
Except the Lorde had beene my delighte: I ſhoulde nowe hauehave periſhed in my trouble.
I will neuer forget thy Commandements: For by them thou haſt quickened me.
I am thine, ſaue me: for I hauehave ſought thy Commandementes.
The vngoodly layd waite for mee: but I will conſider thy teſtimonyes.
I hauehave ſeene an ende of all perfection: but thy commaundement is exceeding large.
WEE ſee howe chaungeable men are. It is very true that when wee ſhall talke of the ſhadowe, wee may ſay that it remooueth and chaungeth eueryevery minute of an houre, ſo that it reſteth not but if wee looke well and thorowlye ſearch out that which is in the minde of man: wee ſhall ſee there a great deale more vanitie and chaunge, then is too be ſeene in the very ſhadowe. And that which is more, Dauid ſayth in an other place, that if man were laide in one ſchole, & vanitie in an other, that vanitie which is nothing, would way downe man greately. And wee ſhall not neede too ſtande longe diſputing of this: For eueryevery man by his owne experience can teſtifie what it is, and what it can do, albeit there were nothing written nor yet any thing thereof conteined in the Scripture. What reſteth there then for vsus to doe. Forſooth wee muſt ſeeke for our conſtancy elſe where then in our ſelues.
Nowe God giueth vsus a very good meane if we will take it, which is, to builde and ſettle our ſelues vponupon his word. And for this cauſe it is,Iſai 40.8. that the Prophet Eſaiah ſayth. That the worde of God indureth for euer: Hee had ſpoken before of the frailtie and fickleneſſe of men, as that nothing could be more: & although it might ſeeme that there was ſome ſtrength in them, it is yet incontinent cleane parched and dryed vpp, that it vaniſheth away into leſſe then nothing: But he concludeth and ſayth, That the woorde of God abideth for euer. So then, ſee the meane, howe that men (although they be tranſitory, and hauehave conſtancie at all in them) ſhall notwithſtanding hauehave a perfect conſtancy, and ſure eſtate: to witte, when as they ſhall ſtay themſelues vponupon the trueth of God and his worde. According to this, it is heere ſayd, Thy worde O Lorde abideth for euer in heauen. Some expounde this, as if it had beene ſayde, That becauſe the heauens hauehave continued long, they render a good teſtimony of the trueth of God. But heere Dauid namely ſpeaketh of the heauēs becauſe we ſee by them a more manifeſt ſigne of the Maieſtie of God then we ſee here belowe on earth. And in deede in that we are rude and earthly, we had neede to hauehave God to guide vsus, and too lifte vpp our mindes when that he would hauehave vsus to thinke on him: too the ende we might forget the world, & all the corruptible things heere beneath. See thē the reaſon why Dauid in this maketh the ſeate and houſe of the word of God in heauen▪ becauſe we had nede to looke a great deale more hyer then into our owne ſenſes, when wee would comprehend howe God is true and faithfull. When wee woulde feele the certaintie and aſſuraunce of his woorde, we muſt enter into a more deepe conſideration, then our ſenſe is able too beare, and not looke ſo into the viſible thing, or into that which we conceiue on earth.
Hee addeth, That the trueth of God it from generation to generation. As if hee ſhoulde hauehave ſayde, It is true. O Lord, that men are heere very circumſpect and aduiſed: and we ſee alſo howe thinges hauehave their alterations, ſo that there is nothing which is not wauering and inconſtant: wee are as it were in the whirlewindes and tempeſts: and if at ſome time thinges bee in peace and at quiet, it laſteth not longe: and although the creatures bee peaceable and at quiet, yet are the men neuer at reſt, but are continually chafed and troubled. But thy trueth, O Lorde, is ſure and certaine, which can neuer be ſhaken through the alterations and chaunges which heere we ſee, no otherwiſe but by the lightneſſe and inconſtancy of men, when as they doe nothing elſe but wander heere and there. True it is, O Lorde, that all this impayreth no whit the certaintie of thy trueth and woorde.
Loe heere in ſumme, the meaning of Dauid in this place. Nowe hee bringeth in a proofe of this ſentence, too witte, That God hath layd the foundation of the earth, and it abydeth: that is to ſay, That the order of nature hath her courſe, and ſo continueth without ende. And why ſo? Forſomuch as God hath appoynted them: becauſe that hee hath ſo declared it, and that al creatures are ſubiect vntounto him. This diſpoſing & ordering muſt needs continue in his eſtate. And although wee ſee all things to turne on this ſide and on that yet God alwayes giueth vsus ſome viſible ſigne, too ſhewe vsus that hee neuer altereth nor chaungeth his purpoſe. And chiefely, that his trueth is neuer ſubiecte too any chaunge.
We ſee nowe in ſumme what the ſubſtaunce is that is contayned in theſe three verſes.
Nowe that wee may apply all this too our vſe, and too make our profite heereof, let vsus learne too hauehave recourſe vntounto the woorde of God, ſo often as wee ſhall bee aſtonyſhed, and knowe not what ſhall become of vsus: too witte, all the dayes of our life: For there paſſeth not one quiet day ouer our heads, wherein wee are not mooued too thinke either of this thing or of that. Sometimes the temptations are eaſie too ouercome: but after, wee ſhall ſee ſome apparaunce of daunger, that ſhall trouble vsus a great deale more, yea and ſome one threate or other we ſhall hauehave that ſhall euen abaſhe vsus. And if that were not ſo, yet ſhoulde wee hauehave occaſions enough in out heads too make vsus vnquiet, that we ſhould not nede to be otherwiſe troubled: but eueryevery one of vsus hath in himſelf ſtore of tempeſts & ſtormes, ſo that if there were nothing elſe but our owne very fantaſyes, they would be ſo many whyrlewindes, too make vsus neuer to hauehave quiet mindes. Nowe ſee then a good remedy, that is, Let vsus knowe, that although wee are enuironed with a great number of daungers, although there bee no certayntie in our life: although there is alwayes an hundreth deathes before our eyes, yea that we thought the deuill ſhoulde ſwallowe vsus vpp eueryevery minute of an houre: yet muſt we be peaceable, and holde our ſelues quiet and ſtil, becauſe that God hath layde the foundation of our ſaluation in his woord: and that he hath promiſed to keepe our life. When then, wee ſhall hauehave the worde of God, to certifie vsus, that he hath care both of our ſoules and bodyes, let vsus knowe and be certainly aſſured that heerein conſiſteth all our conſtancy.
So then, let vsus rightly applye this doctrine for our inſtruction, that when it is ſayde, that the worde of GOD is permanent in Heauen, that his truethe ſheweth it ſelfe from age to age, & ſo continueth, that it is namely ſpoken, to the ende that we ſhould be patient in the middeſt of all the troubles, giefes, and anguiſhes, which wee may hauehave, beeing ſhaken amidſt ſo many daungers: and alſo, ſeeing the endleſſe and inceſſaunt chaunges which are heere beneth, and nothing elſe but all vnquietneſſe. Let vsus then ſee, what is heere to be conſidered for the firſt point: wee muſt not ſeeke to take our reſt in this worlde, for wee ſhall neuer hauehave it heere: But let vsus alwaies hauehave our recourſe too the trueth of God.
Moreouer, let vsus ſee if we can rightly practiſe this doctrine, that nothing hinder vsus, but that wee may liue in peace and tranquilitie in the middeſt of the moſt great and dangerous confuſions which may light vponupon vsus. Let vsus alſo ſee, that whether the windes blow in this corner or in that, that there be garboyles of war, that there bee peſtilence & famine, and ſuch like, that it ſeemed wee ſhould periſhe a thouſand manner of wayes: yet all they which ſettle them ſelues vponupon the woorde of God, wil neuer be but certaine: For they ſhall feele bothe in life and death, that they are in his hande and protection. And hauing this confidence with themſelues, they will make no reckoning of all whatſoeuer ſhall come vntounto them: as wee ſee Saint Paule commaundeth vsus too exalte our ſelues againſt all thinges preſent and too come, ſo that wee be fully reſolued, that God loueth vsus. When this ſhall be in vsus,Rom. 8.38.39. and we ſhall hauehave heereof a good teſtimonie in our owne conſciences, through Fayth and the woorde of God: Loe howe wee may aſſure our ſelues, and ſolace our ſelues in the middeſt of all our troubles and confuſions which heere wee ſee: and by that meanes be neuer at peace and reſte, and not too be greatly turmoyled for any thinge that may come vntounto vsus the next day. And why ſo? For hath God, who hath declared him ſelfe vntounto vsus too be our Father, ſpoken it but for a day onelyonly? where as hee hath teſtifyed vntounto vsus, that hee will hauehave our ſaluation in his hand? is heere any time lymitted?
Nowe we ſee too the contrary, that God ſayeth, That hee will neuer forſake vsus. Our hope then muſt ſtretch it ſelf cleane beyonde the worlde, and ſo we ſhall not bee toſſed with the windes and tempeſtes which ſhall blow againſt vsus, to make vsus turne back, when as we ſhal hauehave a ſure foundation vponupon the word of God. And as concerning this proofe which Dauid addeth, ſaying, That God hath layd the foundation of the earth, the ſame is but a little taſt which he giueth vsus of the trueth of God. Nowe it is not enough for vsus to hauehave this taſte onelyonly, to knowe whether God be faythfull and that his trueth is euerlaſting. For to proue it to bee ſo, we ſee that neither heauen nor earth, but are ſubiect too corruption, and that all muſte paſſe, onelyonly the woorde of God is ſaid too laſt for euer. And it muſt needes bee ſo: for elſe what ſhoulde become of our ſaluation? It ſhoulde be corrupt very ſoone.
Let vsus not once thinke then, that Dauid his meaning heere is too make a compariſon, and an equall proportion, of the continuance of this worlde, and the conſtancye which wee ſee in the order of nature, with the trueth of God. But he ſheweth vntounto vsus that euen in theſe corruptible thinges, wee might the better perceiue howe faythfull GOD is: and if hee bee true in theſe thinges on the earth, what ſhall hee him ſelfe then bee? I beſeech you tell mee, from whence hath the earth her foundation? It is founded bothe vponupon the water and alſo vponupon the ayre: Loe her foundation. Wee can not poſſibly build a houſe fifteene foote hight vponupon the firme grounde but that wee muſte lay a foundation. See all the whole earth is founded onelyonly wauering, and as it were hanging, yea, and vppon ſo bottomleſſe deapthes, as that it might be turned vpſidedowne in the minute of an houre, and the whole ſubſtaunce of it vtterly ouerthrowne. It muſt needes then be, that there is a wonderful power of God ſhewed in the conſeruing of it, in the ſame ſort it ſtādeth. And that is it which is here ſhewed vntounto vsus: to witte becauſe that God hath ſayde, That the earth was in the middeſt of the worlde, and that it was ſo layde as it is: heereby we knowe what the certaintie of his trueth is. But wee muſt heere forſooth compare the leſſe thinges with the greater, as we ſay. How from the leſſer to the greater? I wil ſhew you by example, If I ſay we did ſe ſuch excellēcie in the body of a man, as that it might bethought to be euen the very image of God: wherby we knowe the thing that is writtē, that God hath ordayned man to be the chiefe of all his creatures, and giuen him greate dignitie, nobleneſſe, and power ouer all liuing creatures.Pſal. 8.6. Euen ſo alſo, in prayſing that which is in man, we may deſcende from the body to the ſoule: and this is from the hyeſt too the loweſt, and from the leſſe to the more: So likewiſe is it in this place, when Dauid ſetteth before our eyes the order of nature: This is not (as I hauehave already ſayde) to meaſure and compare the trueth of God, with ſuch a meaſure: But to the ende wee might reaſon and ſay, If in theſe frayle and tranſitory thinges which are ſubiect to corruption, wee ſee ſuch a conſtancy becauſe it is God his will it ſhoulde be ſo: What ſhall we then ſay of his trueth, which ſurpaſſeth all the worlde? When then we ſhall make ſuch a compariſon, betweene the ſtate of the worlde, and the trueth of God, we may certainly conclude, that God ſufficienly graunteth vsus wherewith too ſettle our ſelues vponupon his woorde, we muſte not bee ſo inconſtant as too let our Fayth bee ſhaken, ſo often as wee ſhall ſee the worlde toſſed with any troubles, but rather too take this place which is heere ſhewed vntounto vsus by Dauid for our refuge. And this is the ſumme of this place. Nowe it followeth afterwarde,
Except the Lorde had beene my delight: I ſhoulde nowe hauehave periſhed in my trouble.
Dauid heere ſpeaketh this of his owne proper experyence and knowledge before hee ſpake of the trueth and excellencye of GOD in generall, and ſayth that it was in heauen: and afterwarde he prooueth it by viſible thinges, which is very manifeſt vntounto vsus, and which God poynteth out vntounto vsus, as it were with his finger. In the third place hee ſayth that he ſpeaketh not of vnknowen thinges, that hee might diſpute of them at randon, but that hee had rightly practized that which he had ſpoken, becauſe that hee was preſerued by the woord of God. And therefore hee nowe ſheweth vsus, where we ought to ſeeke for this worde, whereof hee had generally ſpoken heeretofore. For wee may vſe this name of the woorde of God, and yet it may be hidden in the ayre, or emongſt the Cloudes: But becauſe hee hath giuen vntounto vsus his word familyarly, and communicateth the ſame with vsus dayly, euen in the holy ſcripture: Let vsus conſider, that in giuing honor vntounto the worde of God. Wee ſay that it is infallible, Let vsus not imagine it to be an vnknowen word, but let vsus goe vntounto that, which God at all times hath giuen to his ſeruaunts: and that is it which is contayned in the law. See then, how God hath firſt declared his woorde vntounto vsus, wherein our ſaluation is altogither certaine.
Nowe heere wee hauehave to note in this ſtreine, that Dauid hauing had ſuch experience, deſerueth wel to be heard, and that they are no vayne woordes which hee heere ſetteth downe before hand: But that God alſo woulde hauehave it ſo, too the ende wee ſhould giuegive the more credite vntounto it, and that wee ſhoulde no whitte doubt of any thinge that hee teacheth vsus, when as hee him ſelfe hath made proofe of all that which he before had ſpoken. And thus much for the firſte poynte. The experience then whereof Dauid ſpeaketh ſhoulde very well ſerue vsus in ſteade of our Seale, by which GOD meaneth too make the Doctrine of his Prophet to be of ſo much the more antiquitie. And thus much for this.
Moreouer, let vsus learne rightly too vnderſtande, howe ſure wee ought too bee of the woorde of GOD, not too ſeeke for the certaintie thereof without our ſelues, but rather in our owne Conſciences. It is true, that wee ought throughly too looke bothe aboue and beneath, too make the teſtimonies which GOD giueth vsus too ſerue our faith, too the ende wee might bee certified of the trueth of his word, as already wee hauehave heard: but yet the principall point is this, for eueryevery man to enter into himſelf, and make ſuch accompt of this certaintie of the woorde of God that it may take ſuch roote in our ſoules, as that wee may there feele it to be ſuch as here it is ſaid: to wit, that it neuer be ſhaken, although the whole world ſhould be confounded, and that it is the ſame which muſt giuegive vsus peace and reſt, notwithſtanding it ſeemed, that all were vtterly ouerthrowne. We muſt then acknowledge the effect and accompliſhment of this certaintie, which the Prophet here attributeth vntounto the word of God. In ſumme, it is aſmuch as if he had ſaide, that no man is able rightly to feele howe God is faithfull, and his worde certaine and ſure, without he hath a true faith and beliefe thereof within his heart, & the ſame to bee diſcharged of whatſoeuer is contrary to his ſaluation. As namely he ſaieth, that he ſhould hauehave periſhed in his trouble, if he had not delighted in the word of God. Dauid here ſheweth what experience he had: to wit, that he was ſo afflicted, that he was as it were euen in the gulfe of death.
Now if the worde of God bringeth vsus out of the graue, quickeneth vsus in death, & preſerueth our health, notwithſtanding that it ſeemeth to be ſwallowed vp in the gulfe, do we not ſee a good proufe giuen vsus from God, how firme & ſound it is? So then, let vsus well conſider (as we hauehave already ſaid) that ſince we hauehave knowen the power of the worde of God, to be ſuch as it is here ſhewed vsus, wee may in ſuch ſort reſiſt all the greateſt temptations which the deuill is able craftely to worke againſt vsus, ſo that we ſhalbe able to eſcape as it were both from death and the graue. And thus much for this.
Now for the ſecond point, Dauid ſheweth vsus howe it is that we are preſerued in all our afflictions by the worde of God, how our life ſhalbe ſaulfe, & our health aſſured thereby. And that is, if we delight therein: to wit, that wee bee ſo comforted with the louelove which GOD there ſheweth vsus and wherewith he certifieth vsus, that ſince he hath adopted vsus for his children, he will therefore alwayes ſhewe him ſelf to be our father. Wherefore we may boldely recommende our ſoules vntounto him, and he will receiue them, ſo that wee ſhall not periſhe, hauing all our refuge ſo vntounto him. If wee then content our ſelues ſo, the worde of God will giuegive vsus life in the middeſt of an hūdreth thouſand deaths. But if we heare it without hauing any ſuch affectiō, that we taſte not of the promiſſes of God, or els that wee alwayes ſomwhat diſtruſt and doubt, to reaſon how it goeth, and afterwarde wander after creatures, or els builde vponupon our ſelues, if wee bee ſo changeable, wee ſhall neuer feele any vertue of the worde of GOD, but may bee ouerthrowne an hundreth times: the lead affliction in the world, ſhalbe as a gulfe to ſwallowe vsus vp: that we ſhall not neede the mayne ſea: but euen a finger depth of water too ſmouther and drowne vsus, if it were not that we had learned of Dauid, to bee aſſured of the louelove which God beareth vsus: and that by his worde.
So then, let vsus vnderſtand what the true delight of the faithfull is, and that which preſerueth them from death, & quickeneth them: that is, when they are contented with the louelove of God, to ſet their whole felicitie there, to hauehave him to be mercifull and fauourable, to hauehave this priuiledge to hauehave recourſe vntounto him, being aſſured that he will heare them. See, I ſay, how we ſhould be quickened by the worde of God. Nowe when that Dauid hath declared the profit which he receiued by the conſideration of the lawe, he addeth, That he will neuer forget it. Wherein hee proteſteth that he will not bee vnthankefull to GOD, as wee are accuſtomed.
Now although wee are not without a great number of vices, yet is this one of the greateſt, that we doe not onelyonly ſo oftentimes ſuffer the benefites of God to eſcape out of our mindes, but we are alſo ſo wicked, as that we deſire nothing more then for to burie thē: we thinke we ſhould hauehave neuer time enough vtterly to forget them. See, I ſaye, the ſtate and condition of our vile and corrupt nature. And therefore, Dauid in this place proteſteth, that he will neuer forget the commaundementes of God, bicauſe he hath bin quickned by them. And moreouer, he ſpeaketh it not only for him ſelf, but ſheweth vntounto vsus by his example, what our office & dutie is. When God then ſhall hauehave thus aided vsus in our afflictions, that he ſhall hauehave raiſed vsus vp euen from the graue through the might and power of his worde, and that wee ſhall feele ſuch a benefite, let vsus neuer forget it, but be alwaies mindfull thereof. And yet Dauid meaneth to ſhewe vntounto vsus a farther point: to wit, that bicauſe the woorde of God hath already profited him, that hee will eſteeme of it and hauehave it in great price for the time to come. Knowing that it is is not for a time onelyonly, that we muſt bee preſerued and comforted by the word of God, but for euer and euer. This might ſeeme for vsus to be very obſcure, were it not declared vntounto vsus more at large. See now then what Dauid his meaning is. If a man be as it were caſt downe, not taſting of the promiſes of God, and when it ſhall be laide before him, that although God afflict his childrē yet that he doth it not vtterly to ouerthrow & deſtroy thē: but to the end to calthē to repentance, that afterward they might feele his mercifull goodneſſe. If a man then be thus admoniſhed by the word of God, it may be, that this admonition will ſerue him to no purpoſe, bicauſe he him ſelfe ſeeketh not after the remedy which is ſet before him, and ſo is made voyde of this cō fort which is here touched, and by that meane the power of the woorde of God turneth into all euill to himward. What is thē to be done? Let vsus marke wel that which Dauid here ſpeaketh, that he wil neuer forget the cōmandements of God, bicauſe he hath bin quickened by them. As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, when as thou haſt once preſerued me by meane of thy word, that thou haſt giuē vntounto it this power & property, that I being as one dead, & out of the world, hauehave bin therby fully reſtored to helth, thē haſt thou taught me what I ought to doe all the daies of my life: that is, I muſt meditate vponupon thy worde, I muſt exerciſe my ſelfe therein, and I muſt continually ſtudy to thinke vppon the teſtimonies, which thou of thy fatherly louelove haſt beſtowed vppon me to the ende I might hold mee contented, and bee ſure that thou wilt neuer forſake me. The vſe, O Lord, then that I feele by thy worde, hath cauſed mee to applie the ſame to my profite all the dayes of my life: to the ende I might bee able to reſiſte whatſoeuer Satan ſhall craftely goe about to worke againſt mee, and too perſeuer in thy feare and louelove, whenſoeuer the wicked and vngodly ſhall make warre againſt me. Thou then, O Lorde, haſte ſhewed mee that thy worde ought alwayes to be before mee. For that neuer loſeth his power and ſtrēgth: neither is it a thing that is conſumed and worne by much wearing. A man may ſoone make an ende of a loafe in eating it: but when hee hath ſo done, he muſt looke for more bread. And in continuall drinking of wyne, the hoggeshead wil be empty: but when as the woorde of God hath ſerued to quicken vsus, it ſtill remaineth ſound and whole, without diminiſhing any whit at al. So then, let vsus learne after the example of Dauid, too make eſtimation of the vertue and power which God hath giuen to his worde, and neuer forget it. Nowe hee addeth by and by after,
I am thine, ſaue me: for I hauehave ſought thy commandements.
The vngodly layde wayte for me to deſtroye me, but I will conſider thy teſtimonies.
After that Dauid had made ſuch proteſtation, hee committeth him ſelfe to GOD, euen declaring that hee hath ſought his commaundementes. And ſo hee ſpeaketh not only of the time paſt, but remaineth alwaies cōſtant in this purpoſe. Now we hauehave here to cōſider of three points: the one is, the requeſt which Dauid maketh to God, O ſaue me: The ſecond is, the reaſon why he deſireth God to ſaue him, Bicauſe ſaith he, I am thine. And afterward he ſheweth how he is gods, that is, for I, ſaieth he, hauehave ſought thy commandements. And thus we ſee in the firſt place, how God offereth him ſelfe vntounto vsus, and that hee deſireth nothing els but to holde vsus in his protection, to hauehave care of our ſaluation, yea ſo that we come vntounto him after the example of Dauid.
And I beſeeche you, what priuiledge is this, that we hauehave ſuch libertie to come vntounto God, and to commit our ſelues into his handes? whether we wake, or ſleepe, whether wee labour either in the towne, or in the fieldes, that God is as it were a watchman ouer vsus, to keepe vsus, Yea, and that he hath not care ouer our ſoules, to keepe them from the ambuſhes of Satan, but alſo that his fatherly prouidence and louelove extendeth it ſelfe euen to our bodies? When God thē, I ſay, giueth vsus the libertie, that we may make ſuch requeſt vntounto him, I pray you tell me, is not this an ineſtimable priuiledge? But we neuer a whit thinke of this: as may well be ſeene by our ſlackeneſſe and wearineſſe in prayer to God at this daye. And yet for all that, it is not without cauſe that Dauid ſetteth downe here this requeſt: but to the end that we ſhould knowe, that in praying to God, he will graunt vsus the grace to commēd our ſelues wholy vntounto him, no more alſo ſhould wee hauehave too top great a care ouer our life: for we being aſſured of his louelove, ſhould bee contented with all the reſt whatſoeuer. And thus much for the firſt point.
Now for the ſecond we are rightly to conſider, that if we will hauehave God to be our warrant, and to be vnderunder his protection, we muſt needes be his, and may ſay truly, as Dauid here doth.
It is very true that God keepeth his creatures, who are not worthy thereof, as hee alſo cauſeth the Sunne to ſhine as well vppon the good is on the bad, and that it is of his owne goodneſſe and merciemercy that the wicked doe liue: but yet to their vtter deſtruction. And when it is here ſaid, to be kept by God: it is ſuch a keeping and preſeruation, as that the iſſue thereof is both good and healthfull. And this is not done ſaue onelyonly to ſuch as are truely the poſſeſsion and inheritance of God, and his true houſholde ſeruantes and children Will we hauehave God then to receiue vsus into his protection and to be our protector? Wil we hauehave him to take care and charge both of our ſoules and bodies? Let vsus firſt be his. And howe ſhall we be his? Forſooth, we muſt come to the third point: to wit, to ſeeke his teſtimonies. Loe then how God will take vsus for his poſſeſsion: for hee euen then alloweth vsus for his children, when as wee put our whole truſt in him, ſeing that he hath ſo familiarly called and bidden vsus, and hath certified vsus by his word, that he will neuer forſake vsus. If then we ſo ſeeke the teſtimonies of God, and ſticke vntounto them with a ſure faith, let vsus neuer doubt but that he wil allowe vsus for his houſhold meiny and children, And then we may well ſay with Dauid, ſaue me O Lord. See I ſay, in what maner we ought to come vntounto God, if we will be ſure to hauehave him to protect vsus. Now Dauid addeth,
The vngodly hauehave laid wayte for me, to deſtroy me: but I wil conſider thy teſtimonies.
Whereby he doth vsus to wit, that although God is ſtedfaſtly purpoſed to be the protector of the faithfull, yet that they are not without a great number of griefes and troubles, ſubiect to many ſorrowes: and bee maruelouſly, encrapped and thereby thinke, that they can not choſe but to fall into the ſnares of the vngodly. And beſides, the ſubtelties of Satan are great: and againe, all the vngodly which ſerue Satan, and are lead by his ſpirite, ceaſe not to inuent ſubtelties and deceiptes, to entrappe the childrē of God, by lying in wayte for them. Dauid his meaning then here, is to declare vntounto vsus, that although God preſerueth vsus, it is not therefore to be ſaid, that we are without moleſtations, and temptations. But what? So it is that the woorde of God ought to ſuffiſe vsus, as he faieth, I will conſider thy teſtimonies. As if he ſhould hauehave ſaide. O Lorde, I hauehave made this my buckler and fortreſſe, which is, that thou haſt promiſed to be my ſauiour: and hereupon hauehave not forced for all the treaſons, that all the vngodly can conſpire againſt mee. It is very true that they hauehave layde a platforme to betray me, yea, and it ſeemeth that I am already within their clawes and teeth, ready to be deuoured but thy teſtimonies, O Lorde, hauehave ſo ſtrengthened me, as that I hauehave not fainted. Let vsus learne then to fight in this ſort againſt all the ſubtelties of Satan, and malices of men, and notwithſtanding that they ſhall goe about to deſtroye vsus, yet let vsus faſten our eyes vponupon the worde of God, attende vponupon it, and therein perſeuer vntounto the end. Nowe for cōcluſion Dauid addeth,
I hauehave ſeene an ende of all perfection: but thy commaundement is exceeding broade, or large.
The word then which Dauid vſeth, ſignifieth ſometimes perfection, and ſometimes accompliſhment bicauſe that the things which are come to a perfection, hauehave an ende. Now he ſaith in ſumme, that when he hath throughly conſidered of all things, that there is nothing in this worlde which hath not an end, and that is not conſumed by continuance: but that the word of God is plentiful: that is, it extendeth it ſelfe vntounto all the creatures of God, and ouer all whatſoeuer wee are able to ſee. See here a ſentence very like vntounto that which we hauehave ſeene in the firſt verſe. Dauid then by this concluſion confirmeth the ſaying which before hee held to wit, that the word of God is euerlaſting. Although that we here ſee maruelous alteratiōs, that we ſe the world toſſed with ſo tempeſtuous whirlewindes, as that there is nother end nor meaſure of thē yet ſhal we hauehave in the midſt of al thoſe troubles an euerlaſting aboade in the worde of God, which will aſſure vsus of all together.
Let vsus not then meaſure our ſaluation by the preſent eſtate of the world, and as it ſeemeth now in our eyes, wherby we may well perceiue and diſcerne the ſame. And why ſo? Bicauſe that all things here belowe hauehave an ende, as wee hauehave ſaid, that heauen and earth ſhall periſh: but God hath giuen to vsus his truth, which is of ſuch an euerlaſtingneſſe, as that it ſurpaſſeth both heauen and earth. It behoueth vsus then to bee lifted vp and rapt with, this eternitie of the kingdome of God, ſo often as his word ſhall be ſpoken vntounto vsus, wherein conſiſteth all our ſaluation.
And according to this holy doctrine let vsus proſtrate our ſelues before the maieſtie of our good God, with acknowledging our innumerable offences, by which wee ceaſe not daily to prouoke his heauy wrath & indignation againſt vsus: Beſeeching him that it would pleaſe him to cauſe vsus to feele our wretchedneſſe more, then heretofore wee hauehave done, to the ende we might be diſpleaſed with our ſinnes, & ſeeke for remedie, where it is ſhewed vsus: to wit, that ſeing there is nothing els in vsus and in all creatures, but vanitie, that we beſeeche the ſame good God to confirme vsus in his promiſſes: that all our ſtudie be wholy there: knowing that all our life reſteth in them, to the ende wee ſearche no other where but there where hee hath promiſed wee ſhall finde it, that is, in his worde. That it would pleaſe him ſo to make vsus taſte and ſauoure the power and ſtrength thereof, as that we may be wholy giuen to ſerue him, and that receiuing vsus into his holy protection and conduct, he wil not impute vntounto vsus ſo many vices and imperfections as are in vsus: but that he will ſupporte them through his goodneſſe, vntil ſuch time as he hath deſpoyled vsus of altogether. And that it would pleaſe him alſo, too vſe the like grace and fauoure towardes all people and nations of the earth &c.