Davids Blessed Man, Part 3
The firſt Pſalme.
VERSE. 2.
But his delight is in the Lawe of the Lord, and in his Law hee doth meditate both day and night.
HITHERTO we hauehave heard a godlie man deſcribed: Firſt,The deſcription of a godly man affirmatiuely. negatiuely, ſhewing what euilles hee doth moſt carefully ſhunne and auoyde. Now he commeth to his deſcription affirmatiuely, ſhewing what good things he doth moſt carefully embrace and follow.
In this deſcription, firſt note the Chriſtian duety, and holy practiſe of a godly and righteous man; namely, to be much, and often in ſerious and Chriſtian meditation.
Secondly, the obiect of his Studie, not his pleaſures, preferments, or profits, as moſt carnall men doe, which minde nothing but earthly things, but he is conuerſant in the holy Scriptures, doth furiouſly ſtudy the word of God, his meditation is concerning the Law, that is, the heauenly doctrine which ſhews the will of God and his worſhip, what man muſt and ought to beleeue and do to eternall life.
Thirdly, the circumſtance of times is carefully to be conſidered: for the godly man doth not now and then by ſtarts and fits, like a man in an ague, Reade, ſtudy, and meditate the word and doctrine of God: but it is his dayly ſtudy, and continuall exerciſe: not that wee ſhould imagine hee doth nothing elſe, but the meaning is, hee ſetteth ſome time apart daily to ſerue God, ſome time to reade, ſome time to heare, and ſome time to meditate: yea oftentimes he beſtoweth ſome part of the night, when ſome be at reſt and ſleepe, and beſtoweth it on Gods ſeruice, ſetting his minde on heauen and heauenly things.
Firſt, in that the Spirit of almighty God deſcribeth a godly man, not onelyonly by leauing and auoyding lewd company, and the counſell of the wicked, but alſo by liuing well, and framing himſelfe to ſtudy the Scriptures, and to leade his life thereafafter.
Hence I gather this doctrine, thatDoctr. 1. Not to do euill, is not ſvfficients it is damnable, not to do good it is not ſufficient for the leading of a godly life, which may both pleaſe God, and bring comfort to a mans owne ſoule, to abſtaine from euill, but he muſt alſo doe well: not onelie not to doe euill, but to doe good: it is not enough to prooue a man to be a godly man, and a ſound Chriſtian, that hee carefully ſhunne and auoyde the lewd counſell and company of wicked men: but hee muſt alſo be as carefull to meditate in the Law of God day and night: And therefore, as in this place, ſo vſually in the holy Scriptures they are both ioyned together: ceaſe from euill learne to doe well: Eſay 1.16. Pſalme 34 Matt. 3.10eſchew euill and doe good, and thou ſhalt liue for euer. The Axe is put to the roote of the Trees, eueryevery Tree that bringeth not foorth good fruit. Marke, Chriſt ſayth, not onelyonly eueryevery Tree that is barren, and bringeth foorth no fruit, good or bad: nor euerie one that bringeth foorth euill fruit: But that bringeth not foorth good fruit, is hewen downe and caſt into the fire: Mat. 25.41And at the laſt day the Lord will ſay to the wicked, Depart yee curſed; not for robbing the poore of meat, drink, or apparrell, or caſting them out of doores, but for want of ſhewing mercy vntounto them. A Chriſtian life doeth conſiſt of two partes, ſo ſet downe by the Apoſtle Paul, Abhorre that is euill, there is one halfe, And cleaue to that is good, Rom. 12.9. there is the other halfe. If any want the former or the latter, he is but halfe a Chriſtian, and ſo ſhall at laſt come ſhort of a rewarde: And therefore this is a priuiledge to all the Commandements of God, that where any vice is forbidden, the contrarie vertue is commanded: and where any vertue is commaunded, the contrary vice is forbidden. The owner of an orchard is not contented that his trees beare no naughty fruit, but if they beare not good fruit, hee will hew them downe as fewell for the fire: It is not enough for Zacheus, that hee be no more an extortioner: But if hee will become a true conuert indeede, hee muſt make reſtitution of that hee hath wrongfully gotten.Luke 19.8 Iames 2.25 Theſe and the like examples make this Doctrine apparent vntounto vsus, That for the leading of a godly life, it is not ſufficient, that a man doe no euill, Not to walke in the counſell of the wicked, not ſtand in the way ſinners, nor ſit in the ſeate of the ſcornefull: but hee muſt doe good. His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Lawe hee doth meditate both day and night.
Vſe 1 This ſerues to reprooue moſt men in the world, as no godly men indeed, nor ſound Chriſtians: for moſt men doe thinke, if they can ſay, I thanke GOD I doe no bodie anie harme, nor ſay them harme; I am neither whoore nor thiefe, I am neyther blaſphemer, drunkard, &c. All is then well, they be as good Chriſtians as the beſt, and ſhall as well be ſaued as the beſt Preacher of them all. Yea but you ſee here a godly man muſt not onelyonly abſtaine from euill, But meditate in the Lawe of God, not onelyonly ceaſe from euill, but do good: Looke on the places of Scriptures before named.Matt. 3.10 Mat. 25.41 Iudg. 5.23 Deborah pronounces a heauy curſe againſt Neroſh, not for hurting or hindering the people of GOD, but becauſe they did not helpe them againſt the enemies of GOD: and ſo the axe and curſe of GOD ſhall bee vponupon all thoſe that be not as carefull to doe good, as to eſchew euill. S. Paul profeſſeth that hee was a man of an vpright life, and one that was vnrebukeable to the world, and yet profeſſeth that all this was but as Dung without the righteouſneſſe of CHRIST. Philippians 3.4. It were good, if our ciuill honeſt men (as wee call them) would conſider this: they ſtand vponupon this, they defie al the world, who can ſay, black is their eie? they ſay no body harme, nor doe none: well, grant that they ſay, (which is impoſſible) though they could abſtaine from all outward euill, as ſwearing, lying, drunkenneſſe, whooring, pride, enuy, &c. So as no man could lay any of theſe to their charge, yet heere is but halfe a Chriſtian, but one part of his life, for hee muſt not onelyonly not doe euill, but doe good: Not onelyonly to bring foorth euill fruit is damnable, but not to bring foorth good fruit. And in the day of iudgement CHRIST will proceede againſt men, not onelyonly for doing euill, but eſpecially, for nor doing good.
Vſe 2 Secondly, if ſuch as abſtaine from groſſe euills bee in danger of damnation for want of doing good, that is to ſay, becauſe they hauehave not ledde a godly life, beſtowed much time in hearing and reading the Scriptures, praying and calling on Gods name, doing workes of merciemercy and equitie to men, how much more thoſe that abſtaine from no euill, but breake out into all kindes of wickedneſſe and prophaneneſſe. Such as make a mocke of Religion, and ſeldome or neuer come to heare the Word preached or taught, but abound in all kinde of ſinne and iniquitie: If the Rich man bee damned that did not giuegive of his bread to feede the poore, good Lord! what ſhall become of thoſe that hauehave takē away the bread of the poore? that all their life hauehave drunke downe iniquity as it were water, their damnation doeth hot ſleepe: If theſe things be doone to the greene tree, what ſhall become of the dry tree? In a word, if the not doing of good ſhall bee puniſhed ſo ſeuerely, as wee hauehave heard: Oh! what will then become of thoſe whoſe liues abound in all maner of ſinne and impiety, whooredome, drunkenneſſe, &c. Where ſhall ſuch ſinners as theſe appeare? If the others which hauehave ſeemed to hauehave beene iuſt and righteous men ſhall not be ſaued: O conſider this yee that forget God, Pſal. 50.22leſt I teare you in peeces, and there bee none that can deliuer you. Pſalme 50. and verſe 22.
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord.
THAT is, the godly man, who is truely bleſſed and happy, doth wonderfully louelove, and is greatly affected with the word of Almightie God, and hath exceeding delight & ioy in the doctrine of God, becauſe there is reuealed the will of God, whereunto men muſt bee carefull to frame and conforme all their deſires, thoughts, words, and deeds, becauſe heerein is chalked out and declared, the very high-way to eternall life and ſaluation.
Doctr. 2. A godly man performeth godly dueties cherefully.Hence then wee are taught this doctrine, that it is a ſpeciall note and property of a godly man, to perform Chriſtian dueties to God willingly and cheerefully, and to make them his delight and ioy.
Indeede it is worthy, yea thrice worthy to be delighted in, both in regard of the Author of this Lawe, which is God, as alſo in reſpect of the authority of it, which is manifold. In regard of God the author of it, it is to be delighted in, who is the only true & euerliuing God,1. Cor. 8.6. of whom are all things, and we in him. Secondly, in reſpect of the authority of the ſame, containing in it perfect wiſedome, truth, iuſtice, wiſdome, mercy, goodneſſe &c. It is called by the Prophet Dauid, Pſal. 19.7. Reu. 22.18a perfect Law, to the which if any man ſhall preſume to adde anie thing, God ſhall adde to him the plagues written in this book, and if a man ſhall diminiſh any thing, God ſhall take away his part out of the Booke of Life, and from the holy Citty. Heere, and no where elſe is to bee found the true VRIM and THVMMIM, the VRIM that is, Light, and the THVMMIM, that is, Perfection: and the Saints of God in all Ages hauehave eſteemed highly of it.
Thus did Iob, Iob 23.12.I eſteemed thy word more then my appoynted food: Thus did Dauid when he ſaid, Lord, what louelove hauehave I to all thy commaundements, Pſal. 119.all the day long is my ſtudy in them. And Dauid ſhewes his wonderfull louelove and account of it, by the names that hee doth giuegive vntounto it, calling it Doctrine, Teſtimonies, Commaundements, Feare, Iudgements, Way, Statute., Word, &c. And in another place hee ſaith, That it is more to be deſired then Golde, Pſa. 16.10 Mat. 22.37 Rom. 12.8yea then fine Golde: that it is, ſweeter then the honny, and the honny-combe. And this is that which the Lord him ſelfe doeth require, when he ſaith:Leuit. 1.3. Heare O Iſrael, the LORD thy GOD is LORD onelyonly: Deut. 6.5.And thou ſhalt louelove the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, with all thy ſoule, and with all thy might. And ſo the Prophet Dauid prayeth, O Lord, I beſeech thee accept of the free offerings of my mouth, and teach mee thy iudgements. And this is the rule which the Apoſtle Saint Paul ſetteth downe when hee ſayth:2. Cor. 9.7. As eueryevery man wiſheth in his heart, ſo let him giuegive, not grudgingly? or of neceſsitie, for God loueth a chearefull giuer. Now that which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of Charity and Almes, may truely be vnderſtood of eueryevery Chriſtian dutie: when wee pray, wee muſt pray vntounto God chearefully, when wee giuegive thanks to God, we muſt do it cherefully,Geneſ. 4.5 and ſo of all other dueties of Gods worſhip layed downe in his Word. And indeede this is it which dooth put the difference betweene the godly and the wicked, the ſeruice of the one, and the ſeruice of the other. Caine will come with his Sacrifice aſwel as Abel; but he brought of the worſt, thinking any thing to be good enough for God, and this he did very grudgingly: Whereas Abel brought of the beſt to ſacrifice to God, & this hee did willingly and cheerefully. And all thoſe dueties that are not thus performed, they hauehave no life nor vertue in them, to giuegive them any grace or acceptance with God. So that we ſee that outward profeſſion is not enough to aſſure vsus of our ſaluation, if it be not ioyned with ſincerity of heart.
Now where it is ſaid heere,Reaſon. that the godly mans Delight is in the Lawe of the Lord, there is great reaſon why the children of God ſhould be thus affected to his bleſſed word and heauenly Doctrine aboue all things in the world, that it ſhould be Sweeter vntounto them then the honny and the honny-combe.Tit. 2.11.
Firſt, becauſe it is the bread of life, it is the power of God to ſaluation. Rom. 1.16And therefore is called, the Goſpell of the Kingdome, and the Kingdome of Heauen. Mat. 13.44becauſe it is that whereby men are brought to eternall life, and the kingdome of Heauen.
Secondly, it is the effectual means and inſtrument which the Lord vſeth and hath appointed to beget all ſauing grace in the hearts of his children,Ro. 10.14. 1 Cor. 1.21 namely, knowledge, faith, humility, obedience, and the like.
Thirdly, it is the bread of life, euen the heauenly Manna, whereby our faith is confirmed, and our ſoule comforted, yea it is the ſtaffe whereto wee muſt leane in all dangers, as Dauid ſaith, I had periſhed in my trouble, had it not beene for thy word: Pſal. 119. And, thy Rod and thy Staffe doth comfort me, Pſal. 23.
Fourthly, the word of God is that direction whereby wee may ſquare all our thoughts, words, and deedes, as Dauid ſaith, Thy word is a Lanthorne vntounto my feete, Pſal 119.and a light vntounto my paths: And without this we can not liue well, but ſhall wander vp and downe as blind men in the darke.
And laſt of all, it is the two-edged-Sword of Gods Spirit,Matth. 4.4 whereby wee muſt put to flight all the temptations of the Diuell, ſo as we cannot repell them, or withſtand them, vnleſſe we be skilfull and cunning to vſe this weapon.
This Doctrine may ſeeme to reproue Vſe 1 the greateſt part amongeſt vsus as wicked and vngodly, becauſe generally men hauehave no louelove vntounto the word of God, no delight in this heauenly Doctrine, it is not ſweete nor precious in their eyes, but rather it is irkeſome and tedious vntounto them, it is bitter and vnſauourie. It fareth with people in theſe dayes, as it did with thoſe olde people of the Iewes, vntounto whom ſhould I ſpeake and admoniſh that they might heare: Behold, their eares are vncircumciſed, and they cannot hearken vntounto it, the word of the Lord is a reproach vntounto them, and they hauehave no delight therein, Ieremie 6.10. Now that men hauehave no delight to the word of God, which is the very power of God to ſaluation it may appeare.
Firſt, becauſe men and women take no delight in Hearing, Reading, and Meditating on the word of GOD, you ſhall finde a great number that will buy other profane bookes, that will hardly buie the Booke of all Bookes the holie and ſacred Bible: And if they buie it, yet they ſpend no time in peruſing of it, in reading and meditating of it: Other Bookes are delightfull and pleaſant to fleſh and bloud: and this is the reaſon they doe ſo much deſire them, but withall, this ſheweth that they be carnall, not borne anew, for if they were, then would they beſtow leſſe time in reading and peruſing thoſe prophane and vnprofitable Bookes, and would beſtow more time in reading and meditating on this bleſſed Booke of God; yea, and the ſmall account men make of Gods Miniſters, whom the Lord calles his Meſſengers and Embaſſadours; yea, the Angells of the Church.
Vſe 2 Secondly, ſeeing all the dueties that wee owe to God, either of hearing, praying, &c. muſt be performed of vsus, not vponupon compulſion, but willingly and cheerefully: we learne that eueryevery action is accounted of by God, not according to the worke it ſelfe, but according to the affection of the doer. This the Lord himſelfe doth teach, when he ſaith, This people come neare mee with their mouth, and honour mee with their lippes, but their hearts are farre from mee: Eſay 29.13. And therefore were their Sacrifices abhomination to the Lord, as hee againe ſaith in another place. I can not away with your new Moones, And this was it made the poore Widdowes mite commended aboue the reſt that offered of their ſuperfluity, Luke 31.3.4. He that ſhall giuegive a cuppe of colde water to a Diſciple, Mat. 10.41in the name of a Diſciple, he ſhall not looſe his reward. Alas! what is the beſtowing of a mite, a braſen token? or what is a cuppe of cold water? are they in thēſelues anie thing worth to merite any thing at Gods hand? No, no, but God accepteth the manner more then the matter, how they are doone, more then what is done.
Which may teach vsus to labour to hauehave our affections tryed, that whatſoeuer we doe in the ſeruice of Almightie God, may bee done in truth and ſincerity of heart. This was Iobs comfort when hee ſayd, O Lord, I hauehave eſteemed thy word more then my ordinarie foode! This was the Prophet Dauids comfort when hee could ſay, Oh, how doe I louelove thy Law! it is my meditation continually, Pſalme 119. verſe 97. And this ſhall be our comfort, when wee ſhall goe the way of all fleſh, that wee can ſay with good King Ezechias, Remember O Lord, that I hauehave walked before thee in truth, and with an vpright heart: That we hauehave not beene painted ſepulchres, deſiring to be accounted righteous before men, but within, full of all rottenneſſe and corruption, but hauehave laboured rather to be approoued of God.
Oh how ought our hearts and ſoules to be inflamed in a holy and godly zeale towardes the word of God, the lawe of the Lord here ſpoken of, yea wee ought more earneſtly to long for the waters of this well of life, then euer Dauid did for the waters of the well of Bethlem: and when we hauehave taſted how ſweet the Lord is, neuer, oh neuer to deale with the Lord, as the people of Iſrael did,Io. 4.15. which loathed the Manna that was ſent them from heauen. But much better ſhall it bee for vsus to cry out with the woman of Samaria, Lord giuegive me to drinke of theſe waters: for theſe waters being once taſted of, will kepe a man that hee thirſt not againe, but ſhall euer bee refreſhed by the ſame to eternal life.
Laſtly, let vsus heerein labour to Vſe 3 manifeſt our vnfained louelove and liking of the Word and Law of God, euen by our obedience thereunto, that wee deſire to frame our liues thereafter, to obey the doctrine and word of God in heart and life, to be reformed by it, and to bee conformed to it: CHRIST maketh this to bee the eare-marke of thoſe that are his Sheepe, namely this, That they heare his voyce and follow him: And againe,Iohn 10. Heereby ſhall all men know that yee are my Diſciples, and louelove mee, if yee keepe my Commandements. So heereby ſhall men know that wee louelove the Lawe of God, if wee ſtudie to keepe it, to obey it in heart and life: But if wee hauehave in vsus no care to liue thereafter, but breake the Lawe of God continually, and rebell againſt his Commandements: how can wee be ſayd to louelove the Lawe of God? If a man ſhould ſay hee loueth the Kings Lawes, and likes them well, and yet ſhould eueryevery day breake them wittingly and willingly, and bee euer playing the Traytor, would not all men condemne him as an hypocrite and a lyar? So, though moſt men doe ſay they louelove the Word of God, and delight in his Lawe, yet ſeeing they doe daily breake it, and rebell againſt it wittingly, and willingly; by ſwearing, lying, prophaning of his Sabaoth, drunkenneſſe, ſwilling, pride, vncleaneneſſe, &c. It is manifeſt they hauehave no louelove vntounto it.
Thus much of the firſt part, ſhewing that the godly man is well affected to the heauenly Doctrine of the word of God, it is the delight and ioy of his heart.
Now in the ſecond part of the Verſe, the Prophet Dauid ſheweth the exerciſe of a godly man, that as in his heart he loueth and liketh the Word and heauenly Doctrine of the Lawe of God, ſo in his life hee is conuerſant in the ſame, his Meditations are much ſpent therein, hee is ſaid to meditate therein day and night. That is, the godly man doth much muſe and meditate, often exerciſing his minde with calling to minde and remembrance the heauenlie Doctrines, comforts, and inſtructions of the word of God, and this hee doth not ſlightly and careleſly, but ſeriouſly and with good aduice, and to this end doth euermore ſet ſome time apart eueryevery day, morning and euening, two times a day at leaſt, for the performance of this godlie duetie.
Doth meditate day and night.
Doctr. 3. The Lawe of god is a godly mās chiefe delight.HEere wee ſee ſtill, that a godly man, and one that ſhall bee truely bleſſed, the Lord requireth that he be no ſtranger, and ſuch a one as ſeldome, or neuer, ſearcheth the Scriptures, but that hee be much and often exerciſed in the holy and ſerious meditation of Gods Law, in the diligent ſearching, peruſing, and particularly applying of the heauenly doctrine of the word of God. And indeede this is heere ſet downe as a true fruit of our louelove to the word, as the louelove of the word is made a true fruit of a godly man: for as it is impoſſible a man ſhould be truely religious, and feare God, & yet hauehave no ſound louelove nor delight in the word of God; ſo is it likewiſe impoſsible a man or woman ſhould truly louelove the word of God in their heart, that ſeldome, or neuer, beſtow any paines in the ſerious and earneſt meditation of the ſame. Dauid calls God to witnes, that the louelove he bare to the law of God, was exceeding great, when he ſaid, O how do I louelove thy Law! Pſa. 119.97And in the ſame verſe he ſeemes to proue the ſame to God, it is my meditation continually: which indeed is a note of true louelove, to be euer thinking of the thing beloued.
And in very deed, the carefull and diligent ſtudy, the often and earneſt meditation of the word of God, is the very life and ſtrength of all our worſhip and ſeruice of God: for if men ſhould reade much, and neuer meditate, it would doe them no good: if men ſhould heare much, & often, & neuer meditate, they ſhould be little the better. If men ſhould pray much and often, and neuer meditate, they ſhould finde ſmall comfort. If men come often to the Sacraments, and doe not before and after meditate of the Couenant of grace, they ſhould not receiue much good thereby: ſo that you ſee that Meditation is all in all, it puts life to our reading, hearing, praying, receiuing; and without it, al our reading, hearing, praying, and receiuing, will ſtand vsus in ſmall ſtead.
For without this Meditation this Lawe, that is, the word of God, will eyther in time be forgotten, whereby wee ſhall become vnmindefull of it; or elſe it will prooue as a Talent hid in the ground, vtterly vnfruitfull vntounto vsus: for this Meditation indeed is the third ſteppe of a true conuert. The firſt is to heare the word of God readily: the ſecond, to remember it diligently: and the third, to Meditate on it ſeriouſly, and this is compared to the Chewing of the Cud, Deut. 14.6.7, which is neuer found in the vncleane, but in the cleane beaſts.
True it is, that hearing and reading the Word, will beget knowledge, but Meditation is the ſpeciall meanes to worke vponupon the affection, for elſe all our knowledge ſhall onelyonly be in generall, idle and ſwimming in the brayne, which may well bee called braine-knowledge, but no heart-knowledge: but by ſerious Meditation wee doe applie that wee heare, to our owne ſelues in particular: laying the Doctrine to our owne hearts, applying it to our ſelues, to comfort our ſad ſoules, to humble them for our ſinnes, and to ſquare our liues thereby, that wee may in all things keepe a cleare conſcience before God and man. The Lord giues Ioſhuah a ſtraight charge to doe thus: Let not the Booke of the Lawe depart out of thy mouth: But meditate therein day and night: That thou mayeſt obſerue and doe according to all that is written therein, for then ſhalt thou make thy way proſperous, and thou ſhalt then hauehave good ſucceſſe, Ioſhua 1.8. and Deuteron. 6. verſ. 6.7.8. And thus the ſeruants of God hauehave been much exerciſed in meditation, and thereby hauehave growne woonderfull, not only in knowledge, but in practiſe, as we may ſee in Dauid, Pſa. 119. who tooke great delight in Gods Lawe, and made it his meditation continually. And of Iſaac it is reported, that hee went out into the fieldes in the euening to meditate, Geneſis cha. 24.
This reprooues the common fault Vſe 1 in the world, that moſt men vtterly neglect this duety, ſeldome or neuer ſettle themſelues to meditate in the Lawe of God, and his heauenly Doctrine. It is hard to finde a man or woman that makes any conſcience of this duetie, to ſet themſelues apart, and ſet themſelues in Gods preſence, to call to minde, that they hauehave heard and learned, to applie it to themſelues in particular, to humble them, or to comfort them. And this is the cauſe why moſt men hearing, and reading, ſo much as they hauehave, yet profit ſo little in knowledge, faith, repentance, and obedience. They can be content to heare the word preached and taught, and it may be, now and then to reade a chapter: but to thinke vponupon it, to ruminate vponupon the word of God, and as it were to chew the Cudde, to call the ſame to minde againe, to applie it to themſelues, to labour to profit by it: this they cannot indure, this they care not for. For if men did carefully meditate of the things they heard and read, how could they be ſo ignorant in Gods word as moſt be? So voyde of knowledge, faith, repentance, humilitie, zeale, patience, and the like gifts and graces, which accompany godlie and holie meditation? For bookes of Statutes men wil not only hauehave them in their houſes, but at their fingers ends: but Bible they hauehave none: And if they hauehave, it lieth vponupon the deske or table, and they reade it not. And if ſometimes they reade, yet they neuer meditate thereon.
This may admoniſh all men, as Vſe 2 they louelove their owne ſoules, to make more care and conſcience of the performance of this duetie, to call to minde that wee doe heare or reade, to thinke and muſe vponupon it, to chew the Cudde, to lay it to heart; yea, and to applie it to our owne ſoules and conſciences in particular: This is like the rumination or chewing of the Cudde to lay it to bee found onelyonly in the cleane beaſts, whereas they which chewed not the Cudde,Deuter. 14 6.7. were vncleane: This is the marke and propertie of a godlie and Bleſſed man, whereas the not doing it, is the marke of a wicked & vngodly man. Let vsus then remember that we make the word of God our Meditation continually. Many men meditate much, ſome in one thing, and ſome in another, as they are led by fond affection: ſome thinke of honours, ſome of pleaſures, ſome of riches, ſome of one thing, and ſome of another. And of theſe they doate and dreame, talke, and ſpeake continually. But heere wee are taught another leſſon, namely, that our mindes muſt eſpecially be ſet vponupon the word of God, that muſt be our delight, and the ioy of our heart.
3. Point.The laſt point in this Verſe, is the circumſtance of Time, namely, not by fittes: But the godly man keepes a continuall courſe in the ſtudy and meditation of the word of God, ſo as hee ſetteth apart ſome time for the worſhip and ſeruice of God, at leaſt twice a day to meditate and ſtudy in Gods Booke.
Hence wee learne, that eueryevery oneDoctr. 4. A godly man ſets ſome time apart eueryevery day for Gods ſeruice. that will liue a godly life, and ſo pleaſe God, that he may find comfort to his owne ſoule, and be bleſſed in the end, muſt ſet ſome time apart eueryevery day for the worſhip and ſeruice of God, to reade, pray, and meditate: and at the leaſt twice a day to call vponupon his Name, to reade the word of God, and to ſtudy therein. This is that the Lord commandeth his people to offer vntounto him eueryevery day, the morning and the euening ſacrifice, at the leaſt twice eueryevery day, they were commanded to worſhip God: and ſo the holy Patriarchs were wont to worſhippe God morning and euening. So wee reade in Gen. 24.63. That godly Iſaac went out into the fields in the euening to pray or meditate, to make himſelfe fit to pray. And,Iob 1.5. Acts 10.2. Iob roſe vp earely to offer ſacrifice, and called his family together: and this did Iob eueryevery day: and Dauid in many Pſalmes ſheweth that he did ſet ſome time apart eueryevery day, to worſhip God, in praying, reading, meditating, &c. Cornelius worſhipped God continually, 1 The. 5.23that is, eueryevery day, according to the rule of the Apoſtle, Pray continually. And that we ſhould not be weary of well-doing, Chriſt ſpake the parable of the vniuſt Iudge and poore widdow to this end, that we ought alwayes to meditate, pray, &c. and not waxe faint and wearie, Luke 18.1. The meaning is not that men ſhould leaue their callings and other buſineſſe altogether, to attend vponupon hearing, reading, meditating, &c. but that wee ſhould bee much and often in meditating, in prayer, in reading, &c. and in performing theſe bleſſed dueties vntounto almightie God. And at the leaſt, three times a day, to pray and call vponupon the name of God: In the morning when wee doe ariſe, to giuegive vntounto God hearty thankes, for keeping vsus the night paſt, and to craue for a bleſſing at his hands ouer the day following: At noone againe, when when we receiue his good Creatures: And at night when we go to reſt: And this godly practiſe the word of God preſcribes vsus, and the examples of the godly doe teach vsus:Dan. 6.10. Daniel prayed three times a day vponupon his knees vntounto God and praiſed him, as his manner was, though the King had made a ſtrict Law againſt it. Euening, morning, and at noone, will I pray vntounto thee, Pſal. 55.17. And againe, Seuen times a day will I praiſe thee, Pſal. 119.164. That is, many times. For the morning, Earely in the morning will I direct my prayer vntounto thee: Gen. 22.2. Iob 1.5.And thus did Abraham, Iſaac, Iob. Secondly, at noone or mid-day: ſo did Peter, Peter went out to prayer about the ſixt houre, Actes 10.9. That is, about twelue of the clocke, or noone-tide. Thirdly, at night in the euening when wee goe to bedde to take our reſt,Geneſ 24. Pſa. 139 11 Pſal. 19.5. Mat. 13.23. Eſa. 28.3.4 wee muſt then remember likewiſe to render the Lord thankes for the comfort of the day, and to craue his bleſsing for that night. Neyther is this all, but in the night time when ſleepe is departed from a man, and Nature is ſufficed with reſt, he doth euen then call to minde the heauenly Doctrine of the word of God, and doth muſe and meditate therein, as the Text ſaith heere, euen day and night. For God which hath bounded the day with the night, hath ſet no bound to a godly mans meditation. It is nothing to be, firſt, one that heareth the word: ſecondly, one that receiueth it: thirdly, with ioy: if fourthly, it ſhalbe but for a time onelyonly, if he ſhall not alſo continue, and conſtantly perſeuer to meditate therein day and night.
So as we ſee this is our duety, to ſet ſome time apart euerie day to worſhip God, as to heare, reade, pray, meditate, &c. We ſee men doe ſet apart, depute, and ordaine ſome certaine time eueryevery day, for the food of the body, at the leaſt twice a day, to eate and drinke, how much more then ſhould wee bee carefull for our Soules, eueryevery day, to reade, meditate and to pray? Of all the time we ſpend in this world, none will be more comfortable vntounto vsus in death, when wee ſhall goe the way of all fleſh, then that which wee hauehave beſtowed in the ſeruice and worſhip of Almightie God.
There is not now one houre ſpent in the ſeruice of God, but will then miniſter cauſe of ioy and reioycing; neither is there now one houre ſpent in the ſeruice of ſin and of Satan, but the remembrance thereof will then be a terrour vntounto the ſoule, Oh that men would be wiſe, then would they vnderſtand this: they would conſider their latter end, Deut. 32.29.
This ſeemes to reproue the common careleſneſſe of the world, moſt Vſe 1 men and women ſpend al their daies in delights, and vanities, in ſports and paſtimes, in ſcraping and raking together the things of this life, and in the meane time finde no time at al to ſerue God, that in twenty foure houres hardly can ſpare one to ſerue God, one to reade, heare, pray, meditate; yea, how many be there that neuer open their books to reade one chapter in the Bible all the Weeke long: How many be there that neuer ſpend one quarter of an houre in Meditation, which neuer call vponupon GOD from Sonday to Sonday: doth not this proue men to be carnall and vngodly? Do not theſe men do nothing of conſcience, or with delight and louelove to GOD and his worſhip, but all for faſhion ſake, or feare of the Law? What difference is there betwixt thoſe men, who ſeldome, or neuer call on the name of GOD, and the beaſt they ride on? The beaſt ariſes in the morning out of his den and ſtreakes himſelfe, goes to his meate, and ſo to worke: Euen ſo do they, neuer call on the name of God. In this thing wherein do ſuch men differ from a very beaſt? How can ſuch look for any bleſſing from God vponupon their labours? Yea, how can they chuſe but feare ſome fearefull iudgement and curſe of God to ouertake them? And no doubt the cauſe why many ride and run earely and late (and do not call on God for a bleſſing vponupon their endeuours) cannot proſper and thriue in the world: No, God ſends ſometimes iudgements, plagues, and puniſhments vponupon them, and all for the neglect of this godly and Chriſtian duety, it is iuſt with God both to croſſe and to curſe both them and their labours.Pſal. 14.
Againe, by the rule of this doctrine they are no leſſe to be reproued,Note. who can bee content now and then to Heare, Reade, Pray, and Meditate, &c. But this muſt bee at their leaſure, when they hauehave nothing elſe to do; bur to keep certaine times Mornings, Noones, euenings, to leaue all ſports, paſtimes, delights, and buſineſſe to go to GOD, and ſerue him, and call vponupon his name, they cannot abide that, they will not bee ſo tyed and reſtrained; but as the man in the Goſpell, when CHRIST called him, firſt he muſt go bury his father: and him that would go Bid his friends fare-well. So many could be content to ſerue God, and to pray vntounto him, but they muſt keepe their friends company: or as thoſe that were bidden to the feaſt; One hath his oxen and gaine to hinder him, an other his wife, his pleaſures and delights, which hee is married vntounto, and ſo can finde no time to ſerue God, euen the leaſt thing in the world is matter ſufficient to hinder them from ſeruing of God, theſe men ſhew that they find no comfort at all in the ſeruice of Almighty God, no good, no fruit, no benefite: for if they did, they would not be ſuch ſtrangers vntounto it.
Let eueryevery one bee exhorted and Vſe 2 ſtirred on to this duety, if we hauehave not begunne, now to beginne, and in the feare of the Lord to imitate Gods children, as Dauid and the reſt. Let vsus ſet ſome time apart eueryevery day for the word and prayer, elſe wee ſhall neuer prooue our ſelues good Chriſtians, elſe wee ſhould neuer finde true comfort, elſe we can neuer looke for Gods bleſsing vponupon vsus: let vsus then ſet apart ſome of our idle time that wee beſtow in talking, in walking, in playing, in vaine delights, or elſe idlely, and beſtow it on Gods ſeruice and worſhippe, in hearing, reading, praying, meditating, &c. Dauid earely in the morning preuented the day light, yea at mid-night would hee be ſo buſied. The Eunuch in his iourney was reading the Scriptures. Let vsus then neuer ariſe in the morning, or goe to bedde, but as duely let vsus euer be mindefull of this duety. Let vsus not miſ-ſpend our precious time. Let vsus (I pray you) conſider why wee liue heere in the world, not to ſpend and conſume our time in toyes and vanities but to ſerue God, and to ſeeke for comfort and ſaluation vntounto our owne ſoules: Let vsus therefore ſo ſpend it as wee may hauehave comfort in the end.
Laſt of all, we are heere exhorted Vſe 3 to be very carefull, after wee hauehave begunne a good courſe in godlines, to perſeuer and to continue in the ſame, Day and Night, euen vntounto the end; not onelyonly in the day-time of proſperity, but in the night-time of aduerſity, for vntounto GOD The day and night are both alike. Pſ. 139.12.Many make a faire beginning, but the end is very fearefull and dangerous: Many lay their hands to the Lords Plow,Luke 9.62 but in the end they looke back. Lots wife ſeemes as forward as her huſband: ſhee goes out of Sodome as well as hee, ſhee takes her iourney with her husband, but ſhee did not continue and hold out to the end, but lookes backe, contrary to the commandement of God, and ſo was turned into a pillar of Salt: And ſhee being made a ſpectacle to all back-ſliders, our Sauiour puts vsus in minde of her, when hee ſaith, Remember Lots wife. Luk. 17.32And Paul, when hee had Preached the Reſurrection of CHRIST, Agrippa ſaid vntounto him: Thou perſwadeſt mee almoſt to become a Chriſtian, Act. 26.28.But there he ſtayed and reſted and would proceed no further. Theſe are fearefull examples, It had beene better for ſuch, They had neuer knowne the way of righouſneſſe: 1. Pet. 2.21for indeed in a Chriſtian race there is no ſtanding at one ſtay, for not to go forward in Religion is to go backward.
And thus much for the deſcription of a godly man affirmatiuely, ſhewing what hee doth carefully embrace and follow: But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, &c.