Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 20
Verſe 20. He that harkeneth to the word, ſhall finde good: and bleſſed is he that truſteth in the Lord.
HE that hearkeneth to the word] which applieth his eare, and minde, and heart to the ſacred word and doctrine of God, both written and preached, [ſhall finde good] ſhall obtaine all ſuch graces for his ſoule, and bleſſings for his body, as may teſtifie Gods fauour towards him. [And bleſſed is hee that truſteth in the Lord] This latter clauſe is an explication of the former, ſhewing the good that is promiſed, to be bleſſedneſſe it ſelfe; a ſufficiencie of comfort and proſperitie in this life, and a full perfection of glorie and felicitie in the life to come: and the attention required to be ſuch as is accompanied with faith, that the word be not onelyonly marked, but alſo beleeued; and God when he ſpeaketh, hauehave not only heed giuen to him, but confidence likewiſe repoſed in him.
Doct. 1 They neuer loſe their labour, that conſcionably and carefully ſeeke God in his word. See Chap. 13. verſe 13. in the ſecond Doctrine.
Doct. 2 A beleeuing heart maketh an happie man.
Nothing is more frequent and common in the Scriptures than promiſes to the faithfull: It is the current of them all, and that which they principally driue at, to aſſure them that relie vponupon God, that their ſtate is moſt comfortable. How often are the acclamations added to the end of ſentences in the Pſalmes: Bleſſed are all that truſt in him. O Lord God of hoſts, Pſal. 2. 12. Pſal. 84. 12.bleſſed is the man that truſteth in thee, &c. And how euidently and elegantly doth Ieremie, among the reſt of the Prophets, declare the ſame, ſaying, Bleſſed is the man that trusteth in the Ier. 17. 7. 8.Lord, and whoſe hope the Lord is; for he ſhall be as a tree that is planted by the water, which ſpreadeth out her roots by the riuer, and ſhall not feele when the heat commeth: but her leafe ſhall be greene, and ſhall not care for the yeere of drought, neither ſhall ceaſe from yeelding fruit.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, the Lord doth take it for an high honour to be truſted in, and depended vponupon, not allowing any creature to bee ioined with him therein. LoueLove is ſo due to him, as his children are alſo to be loued for his ſake, and our neighbours by his appointment. And feare is ſo required by him, as that Princes, and parents, and other gouernours, muſt according to his commandement be feared. But confidence is a worſhip properly reſerued to himſelfe, and may not bee communicated to any other, without diſloialtie to him. It were ſacrilege for ſuperiours to challenge it, and Idolatrie for inferiours to yeeld it.
And as faith and affiance in God are themſelues very acceptable to him, ſo doe they make, through Chriſt, all our other ſeruices accepted of him.
Secondly, he that is ſo well pleaſed with the faith of his ſeruants, is no leſſe ready to recompence their faithfull ſeruice, and that in ſuch bountifull manner, as that they can wiſh for no more, nor could poſſibly hauehave hoped for ſo much: for his gifts are agreeable to his owne infinite munificence, and not according to mans narrow comprehenſion. All noiſome things ſhall vndoubtedly be remooued from them, and they deliuered from the danger thereof. Gods wrath is mitigated, his iudgements reſtrained, his curſes aboliſhed, and the nature of his threatnings altogether altered. And what then car ſinne doe? And what can death doe? or the diuell? or the power of hell? Much leſſe ſhall malicious men effect their miſchieuous purpoſes to hurt them: and leaſt of all ſhall any other creature bee able to worke their woe, when the Lord of all creatures is at peace with them, and their protector: when he is as firme for their defenſe as the mightieſt mountaines, and maketh them ſtand as faſt as the hils, according to that ſaying of the Prophet; They that truſt in the Lord, ſhall bee as Pſal. 125. 1.Mount Sion, which cannot be remooued, but remaineth for euer. And for the fruition of good things, let them aske and hauehave; for he will giuegive them their hearts deſire. And though they aske not, nor deſire enough, (as who is that way ſo prouident for himſelfe as his owne ſtate doth require, and Gods goodneſſe doth offer opportunitie?) yet he will beſtow vponupon them all that (in their behalfe) Chriſt hath bought, and paid for; and that is incomparably more than they can begge, or pray for. It is ſaid for their prouiſion, that nothing ſhall be wanting vntounto them. It is ſaid for the ſaluation of their ſoules, that hee that heareth the word of Chriſt, and beleeueth in him that ſent him, hath Iohn 5. 24.euerlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation. And it is ſaid for the reſurrection of their bodies, that euerie one that beleeueth in the ſonne of God, ſhall hauehave euerlaſting life, and hee will Iohn 6. 40.raiſe him vp at the laſt day. And it is ſaid for the fulneſſe of their comfort, felicitie, and euerlaſting bliſſe, that the Lord God is a Sunne and ſhield [vntounto them.] The Lord will giuegive grace Pſal. 84. 11.and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke vprightly.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction, to labour for faith, and truſt in God, as much as we wiſh to be happy and bleſſed. EueryEvery man naturally deſireth proſperitie, and no man is willing to beare the burden of miſerie and torment. Then let eueryevery man abandon infidelitie, and let no man be negligent to get a ſtate in Gods promiſes. Embrace his couenants, and lay faſt hold on them: Applie thy ſelfe to them, and them to thy ſelfe, and bee aſſured that eueryevery Article of the ſame ſhall bee performed vntounto thee. His ſtrength ſhall be for thy ſafety: his riches for thy maintenance: his fauour for thy comfort: his glorious heauenly greatneſſe, for thy great heauenly glorie: his abſolute all-ſufficiencie, for thy complete and intire welfare.
Reproofe of their follie, which dote ſo much vponupon ſenſe, and carnall reaſon, that whatſoeuer they apprehend not by ſight, they little account of, how faithfully ſoeuer God himſelfe doth promiſe it by word, confirmed with his oath, and ſeale annexed to his writing. Who almoſt doth relie vponupon his might and power, and wholly reſt vponupon his truth and fidelitie? Are not moſt men of Achas his minde, and ſhew it in deed, though they ſay not in word, that they will not tempt the Iſa. 7. 12.Lord, that is, put themſelues vponupon him for protection againſt perils, and prouiſion againſt pouertie, without ſhifting for themſelues, through feare leſt hee ſhould diſappoint them?
There be many that giuegive him as much credit as they would yeeld to any bankerupt, being willing to trafficke with him in his ſeruices, and truſt to his promiſes, ſo long as they ſee ready pay, and may attaine to preſent preferment, or profit; but further they dare not take his word. Fooliſh people, that forſake their owne mercies, and truſt to lying vanities: that make gold their hope, and men their arme: that deifie baſe creatures, by putting confidence in them, and vilifie the glorious God by with-drawing their hearts from him: which obſtinately refuſe a bleſſed eſtate, by forſaking the fountaine of liuing waters; and wilfully chuſe a curſed condition, by digging to themſelues broken pits, that can hold no water.