Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 3
Verſe 3. Commit thy workes vntounto the Lord, and thy thoughts ſhall be directed.
THE word which we tranſlate [commit] ſignifieth to deuolue or role, meaning thereby that God is chiefly to be reſpected in eueryevery thing that any man doth deale in: by taking direction from his word, both for matter and manner: by propoſing a right end, euen his glory, in the performance of it: by asking his helpe, and waiting on his hand, as well for ſucceſſe as recompence: [and thy thoughts ſhall be directed] thy minde ſhall be informed in the right way: thy heart ſhall be confirmed to proceed on with cheerefulneſſe, and thou ſhalt be lead with a ſpeciall guidance to thinke vponupon thoſe meanes which will bee moſt effectuall for the accompliſhing of thy deſire, if it be for his praiſe and thy good to hauehave thy deſire accompliſhed.
Doct. They are ſure to ſpeed well which deale for God, and depend vponupon him in their affaires.
There is a conſent and agreement of ſundry other texts of Scripture with this, which perſwade to the ſame duty that in this place is required, and confirme the ſame promiſe that heere is deliuered. The Pſalmiſt vſeth almoſt the ſame words, ſaying, Commit thy way vntounto the Lord, and truſt in him, and hee ſhall bring it to paſſe. And the Writer of this Booke, elſwhere, Pſal. 37. 5.doth nothing differ from the ſame in ſenſe, when hee ſaith, Truſt in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not to thine owne wiſdome. In all thy waies acknowledge him, and he ſhall direct thy Prouer. 3. 5. 6.waies.
Examples may be brought for proofe heereof, both plentifull and pregnant: as of Abrahams ſeruants iourney into Meſopotamia to fetch a wife for Iſaac: and of Iacobs to take a wife for himſelfe. Who knoweth not that they altogether reſted vponupon the Lord in their enterpriſes? And who ſeeth not the goodneſſe of God in their protection, and direction, and happy ſucceſſe? That his gracious prouidence went thither with them, and was there with them, and returned backe with them, and wrought all for them?
Reaſon 1 Firſt, the buſineſſe is his, and they be his ſeruants, and therefore in helping them, hee doth manage his owne matters for his owne glory.
Secondly, he is all-ſufficient both in wiſdome and power, and therefore it is moſt eaſie for him to direct them with counſell, and aſſiſt them with ſtrength, and proſper them with a comfortable euent.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction, to repaire to God in all our waies, and bee religious not onelyonly in workes of Religion, but in eueryevery other action and exerciſe. Our refreſhings, our ciuill imploiments, our ordinarie and common vocations, though neuer ſo meane, will call vponupon vsus to craue helpe from heauen, and to be ſeruiceable to our heauenly Father, if wee minde to ſhew more obedience than the wicked, and to obtaine a better condition than the Infidels. Remember what the Apoſtle ſaith to Chriſtians that be faithfull, and beleeuers, Whether ye 1. Cor. 10. 31.eat, or drinke, or whatſoeuer ye doe, doe all to the glorie of God.
Incouragement againſt all the lets and impediments that vſe to ſtay many good men from many good ſeruices. The worke (ſay they) is great, and our power to performe it is but ſmall: the managing of it requireth much wiſdome, and wee finde our ſelues very defectiue of wiſdome, and therefore how ſhall wee bee able to deale in matters of ſuch difficultie? This is true, if that bee not a duty which thou art to vndertake; if the worke be none of thine, as not laid vponupon thee by God: but if he call thee vntounto it, and ſet thee about it, let no diſcouragement oppreſſe thine heart: hee will ſurely helpe thee in it. Both Moſes and Ieremie were troubled with ſuch feares, but felt afterwards by experience, that they were cauſeleſly fearefull. At firſt they conſidered how heauy the burden of their offices was, and how weake their owne backs were to beare it: but afterwards they found that they and their miniſteries were ſupported and bleſſed by a diuine hand from aboue; and ſo ſhall eueryevery godly man be in all religious and righteous exerciſes.
Reproofe and terrour of the wicked, which reſpect the Lord in that which they doe or take, no more than the horſe in going, or the oxe in plowing, or any kinde of beaſt in his feeding.
Of all others, they would hauehave leaſt dealing with him: their hearts ſay to God, as the diuels ſaid to Chriſt: What hauehave Matth. 8. 29.we to doe with thee? Art thou come hither to torment vsus?
Whatſoeuer hath in it any ſtampe or print of his ordinance, is for that cauſe diſtaſtefull vntounto them, though otherwiſe they ſee it would bee commodious for them. How can theſe expect ſo much to hauehave their thoughts directed, as their hearts more hardened, and their mindes infatuated? And whether is it more likely that they ſhall bee bleſſed in their waies, or rather, according to the threatning of the law, accurſed in their courſes? eſpecially when their workes are ſo farre from being committed to the Lord, as that they are oppoſed againſt the Lord? when they be not done loyally in obedience to pleaſe him, but contemptuouſly in rebellion to prouoke him.