Sermons Upon Psalm 101, Sermon · Pages 51-102
I hate the works of them that fall away. By them that fall away, the scripture cōmonly vnderstandeth such, as leaue the standing that sometime they had, that …s, forsake and turne away from the holy profession and good life, which before they made shew of, as the sow washed to her myre, and the dogge to lick vp againe his filthy vomit: according to the speech of Saint Peter. This Dauid saith, he did hate. 2. Pet. 2.22His speech must be marked of vsus, for it sheweth the vehemencie of his affection against this iniquitie. Hee saith not, I mislike it, or it discontenteth me, but I hate it, I abhorre it, it is an abhomination vntounto mee And indeed thus wee ought to be disposed, against eueryevery sinne, especially against the height of sinne, and highest of sinners. Saint Iude willeth vsus to hate the garment spotted by the flesh: Vers. 23.and this Prophet in another Psalme saith, Psa. 139.22that hee hated the wicked with an vnfayned hatred; not in respect of their persons, but in respect of theyr horryble transgressions, by the which they rose vp against Go… himselfe, as it is there written. This i… the zeale that ought to be in vsus, and the… fore be we redeemed after this maner t… be zealous, Tit. 2.14.as the Apostle speaketh I hi… zeale is not only in our feruent and burning desire toward that which is good but also in a vehement loathing & detestation of all that is euill. Let vsus look vntounto it, and take heede of lukewarmnes seeing the Lord threatneth to spue ou… such. Apoc. 3.16.And yet is this a common corruption: men doe good things coldly, as i… they had no life at all in them. So they pray, heare the word, and do the worke… of charity and mercy, as if they did them with wearines, and had no comfort i… them.
There is no heate in them against sin… and sinners; when their owne faults and the faults of others bee in question, they thinke it sufficient to say, it is naught, or it was not well done, when oftentimes they smile and laugh at whoredome, dronk ennes, theeuery, swearing, profaning of the sabaoth and such like. …o far off they be from the zeale of God, …hich cannot but worke in such as hauehave …, an earnest inward dislike, and wring …orth from them speeches and actions … shew it abroade. Such was the zeale …f Moses, when for the peoples Idola…ie, hee brake the tables of the Lawe: Exo 22.19. Num. 25.8.Of Phineas when he slew the Israelite …nd the Midianitish woman commit…ng fornication: Ezra. 9.3.Of Ezra renting his …othes, & tearing the haire of his face, …hen he heard of the vnlawful mariages …mong the people of God: Neh. 13.15Of Nehemi…h, against such as profaned the sabaoth …y their markets, protesting hee woulde …y them by the heeles if they did it any …ore: Neh. 13.21. 2. Pet. 27.Of Lot vexing his soule in So…ome at their wretched conuersation; Ioh. 2.15.…nd of Christ himselfe whipping the …uyers and sellers out of the Temple. …rue it is, the actions of some of these …ere extraordinary, neither is it lawfull …or eueryevery priuate man to follow them. …ut thus far eueryevery of them doe require …ur imitation, that our hearts inwardly …e no lesse set on fire against sinne, than were theirs and that so far as our calling will giuegive vsus leaue, wee doe outwardly i… speech or otherwise make the affection of the heart to appeare. Hee saith tha… this should not cleaue to him; his meaning is, that howsoeuer others turned aside or fel away, yet he would still continue in his vprightnes. And so hee doth teach vsus in the ordering of our life, not so much to looke what others do to follow them, but to consider what God commandeth vsus, and to doo that: for we liu… not by the example of any, but by th… rule of Gods lawe. He dooth not bid v… in all things to follow any man: and indeed if we did, in many things we should doo amisse. S Paul himself, requireth v… to follow him no otherwise but as he foloweth Christ. 1. Cor. 11.1This is a thing that needeth to be vrged: for many offend very much in it. They thinke they may lawfully do that which others do, and therfore do rather respect what is the course of other men, thā what it is that God cōmandeth. And yet their madnes herein appeareth the more, that they propoūd… to themselues the examples of the worst places, and the worst disposed persons. As for example, they which dwell in towns wher the light of Gods word shineth, discouering al darknes whē they be …alled vponupon to doe their duetie to leaue this disorder or that, in the abuse of the …abaoth or otherwise: They streyght al…eadg, that in such a town & such a town (naming a town vntaught) they do so, & why should not we do so too? So is it for speciall persons, the most parte take example frō profane & godles men, wheras our safer course were, if we wold needes be directed by others, to looke to such as be better taught thā our selues, & hauehave gotten a greater measure of spirituall grace. Pro. 2.20.So Salomō exhorteth vsus to walk in the way of good men, & in the Epistle to the Heb. Heb. 6.12.we be called vpō to be followers of such as through faith and patience hauehave attained the promise. And yet these must not otherwise bee regarded, but as they treade in the steppes of the LORD. For what man was euer without faulte? woulde any thinke that his wife had warrant to playe the harlot, because other women doe so? or would any man take it well, that his seruant should say vntounto him, other mens seruants commit whoredome, haunt alehouses, be gamesters, lie out of their houses, neglect their busines, therefore I wil do so too. Euen so know it thou, that it shall not help thee before the Lord to say that others did this or that, therfore thou thoughtst it lawfull for thee to doe the same. For God gaue not thee (as I saide) the examples of men to liue by, but his owne commandements. Whervnto men fearing God hauehave had regard, when all others liuing in their time & in those places were corrupt and naught. So was Noah a iust man in his generation, Gen. 6.9.when all flesh was gone out of the way. 2. Pet. 2.7.Lot cōsented not to the wickednes of the Sodomites, but was grieued at it. Iob feared GOD in the land of Vz among the heathen & ther kept his childrē in good order. Iob. 1.1.Luk. 1.6.Zacharie & Elizabeth in those euill dayes walked in all the commandements of GOD. Ios. 24.15.And Iosua vowed yt whatsoeuer others did he & his house would serue the Lord. And this ought to be our course, we must chuse rather to goe to heauen alone, than to hell with companie; to walke in Gods commandements though there be no other to goe with vsus, rather than to ioyne with all the world in abomination and sinne; we must be content though for our fewnes this waie, men note vsus, poynt at vsus, and say, there is a professor, a holy man, a Gospeller or such like: we may not be like others whatsoeuer in any thing that is euill, but still keepe our selues in the feare of God, notwithstanding all else should goe aside from him.
Concerning them that hauehave begun wel, and continue not, their state is fearefull, for the Lord requireth, that we hold on to the end telling vsus, that such onelie be blessed, so as whatsoeuer they hauehave done or suffered before for his sake shall be in vaine except they perseuer, according as it is plainely to be gathered from the words of our sauiour Christ. Matth. 24.13 Ezech. 18.24.And out of Ezechiel, where wee bee taught, that if the righteous man forsake his righteousnes, and returne againe to the seruice of sinne, then al his former goodnes shall be forgotten, and he shal dye in the iniquity which he hath committed. Yea Saint Peter saith, 2. Pet. 2.22.it had been better neuer to hauehave knowne the waie of righteousnes, than hauing entred into it to forsake it, and to returne to the former bondage, like the sow to the mire, & like the dogge to his filthie vomit: whereupon it is that in the word of God, we bee so often exhorted to continue in the truth, and that S. Paul praieth to God for some that they might hold on to the end. Phil. 1.10.And let vsus I beseech you looke wel vntounto it, that we do not vponupon any occasion suffer our selues to bee drawne out of the way, vnlesse we meane to lose all wee hauehave done before. Let vsus not be wearie of well doing, Gal. 6.9.there will come a time to reape, if we faint not, when wee shall see, that our labour in the Lorde was not vaine: 1. Cor. 1 5.58let vsus vse all good meanes of praier, preaching, the Sacraments, and other christian exercises publique and priuate, that we may not onelie continue in the good whereinto wee bee entred, but also increase and goe forward, euer waxing better, as Salomon saieth, The waie of the righteous is as the sunne that shineth brighter and brighter, Pro. 4.88.euen till the perfect daye. And so much the rather ought wee to bee carefull of this, because as sathan and our owne corruption, will doo what they can to keepe vsus from euer entring into the right waie; so beeing entred, they will not cease, to doo what they can to push vsus out of it againe: whereupon there is sometimes offer made vntounto vsus of profits, or of pleasures and delights if we will leaue that good course of ours; sometimes wee bee threatned with the losse of friends, with the losse of goods, and of life it selfe. Now it shall bee impossible against the alluring intisements of the one, and the battering cannon shot of the other, to keepe fast the faith and a good conscience, except by praier and other holie meanes, wee get vntounto our selues inuincible strength, which also God hath promised to giuegive, if wee seeke it at his hands and bee not wanting vntounto our selues. Euen as we see the field alreadie fought & won, not only by Christ himselfe our head but also in his name by many our brethren compassed with like infirmities, whose bodies bee asleape in the earth, their soules in heauen triumphing ouer satan, sinne, the world, and all their enemies. It followeth.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: we doo commonlie call it frowardnes, when vponupon eueryevery small occasion we bee disquieted, testie, and angrie; which indeede is a great fault: for patience becommeth the children of God, they must not rashlie bee angrie, nor easilie prouoked to wrath: Eccles. 7.11Bee not thou of an hastie spirit to be angrie (saieth Salomon) for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles. But by a froward heart here, wee are to vnderstand a thing more generall, namely a corrupt heart, that stoopeth not vntounto God such as be the hearts of all men by nature. So as Dauid here voweth no other thing, than that which Christ calleth vsus vntounto, Matth. 16.24. Ephes. 4.22when he saith let a man denie himselfe: and Saint Paul, where he saith, put off the olde man; he meaneth then, that he would looke to the reformation of that heart of his, which by nature was peruerse, froward and crooked, he would labour to bring that into good order. Wherein he sheweth great & singuler wisdome: for this is the right way to amend the life, Pro. 4.23.if men begin at the heart. From thence commeth life and death, from thence issue adulteries, fornications, euill thoughtes, murthers, theftes, false testimonies, slanders: Matth. 15.19. Matth. 12.34.of the aboundance therof the mouth speaketh, as it is in another place; yea the eyes see, the hands worke, the feete goe, and the whole outward man is applied; that is as it were the commander and directer of al the members and parts of mans bodie. Therefore as hee that desireth to hauehave sweet and wholsome water flowe, must first purge and make cleane the spring head, so he that desireth to hauehave his outward conuersation reformed, must begin at the heart, praying that that may bee cleane, Psa 51.10.as Dauid dooth in another psalm. And indeed they that cōtent thēselues to do some good deeds, or to leaue some euill things outwardly, without labour to plant sound knowledge in the heart, with louelove of the one & hatred of the other, do like those foolish mē which pretending a desire to hauehave al weedes remoued out of their gardens, cut off only the toppes & let the rootes grow, or desiring to hauehave wholsome hearbs & flowers growe, plant only the leaues of them. Let vsus therfore keep the heart with al diligence; & seeing it is in vsus by nature no otherwise, Ier. 17.9.than deceitfull and foule, ignorant and naught altogether, like an old rotten filthy garment that cannot be amended, let vsus put it off as S. Paul saith, refusing to take any direction from it, and wholy resigning vp our selues to the Lord, praying him to giuegive vsus a new heart and to take away the old, Ezech. 11.19as he hath promised.
I will know none euill: Psal. 1.6. Matt. 7.23.that is, I will acknowledge or like of no euill, as this word knowe, is diuers times thus taken in the scriptures: so then whereas in the verse going before, he vowed to do no euill, here he voweth that his inward affection should be answerable to his outward practise. And it is a thing worthy to bee remembred and followed of vsus; for there bee many, which outwardlie leaue euil, whose heart notwithstanding taketh pleasure in euill, so as they had rather do it, if they were not for some outward respect of fauour, shame, credit, or punishment kept from it; in whom sinne is rather restrained, than mortified or slaine by the spirit, as it is in the faithful. Rom. 8.13.And so they shew themselues to be very hipocrites, & in a fearefull cursed estate. We must therfore learne of the prophet here, yt all outward leauing of euill, must com from an heart abhorring euill, if we wil hauehave our leauing of it, to please God. For otherwise what do we more thā the heathen, who for some causes absteined from euill things, although the heart were altogether set vponupon mischief? And thus much concerning that which Dauid voweth for his owne person. In that which followeth in the Psalme, he sheweth vsus what a one hee woulde bee toward others, in the common wealth as he was a magistrate, and in his house as he was the master of it. And this is to be marked of vsus, as an especiall signe of a good conscience in the Prophet. For he contenteth not himselfe, with generall well dooing, but also promiseth to performe such dueties as apperteined to his more particular callings: euen as this was his duetie, and is the duetie of eueryevery of vsus, not onelyonly to learne what apperteineth to vsus as we are Christians, but also what we ought to doo in this or that calling, wherein God hath set vsus. For thus hath he disposed of things in this world, as it is in the house of a great personage, where beside the common seruice of the house, manie hauehave their speciall offices, one in the chamber, another in the hall, another in the stable, another in the pastures, which eueryevery one in this seuerall place must looke vntounto So hath the Lord don with vsus here: beside the general duties cōmon to all that professe his name, one of vsus is a Magistrate, another a Minister, another a housholder, one a sonne or daughter, or a seruant: one a rich man another a poore man, one a buier, another a seller: eueryevery of vsus ought seriouslie to consider, what place we hauehave, and to doo such dueties as belong vntounto the same. For as it will not discharge him that hath the charge of the chamber, kitchen, or stable in a noble mans house, to busie himselfe neuer so much in such things as belong to al the houshold, if in ye meane time the things of their proper offices be neglected: so will it not discharge vsus before God, though we shew great zeale in the cōmon dueties of christianitie, if we be careles & negligent in our particular callings. Therefore it is in the word of GOD, that each state is taught seuerallie. Kings and magistrates what belongeth to them, Ministers, what to them, priuate men, fathers, mothers, husbands, wiues, childrē, seruants, rich, poore, their dueties proper to their seuerall places, that no man might think to goe awaie with a shew of a generall good meaning, yt is not careful to do that which apperteineth to his place. This is the rather to be stood vponupon, because the most part be faultie about it, the nūber being very few, which hauehave any conscience at all of their speciall office and calling. Where almost is a minister that doth the workes of a minister? Where is a magistrate that dooth the workes of a Magistrate? Where is the housgouernor, the rich man, poore man, husband, wife, childe or seruant, which throughlie weigh what it is that GOD requireth of them in that state of theirs? And yet it is a common thing in men, when they will praise a Minister, to say hee is an honest man, hee liueth well, though hee preach not: whereas the thing that dooth speciallie commend a Minister indeede is his preaching, when it may be trulie saide of him, he is a skilfull and painefull teacher. So they say of men in place of gouernment: they bee good gentlemen, and keep good houses; whenas oftentimes many of thē punish not offences, and suppresse not disorders in the places where they dwell, as were their dutie. Whereas the proper commendation of such were this: hee is a good iustice, hee hunts out naughtie persons, hee flieth no paines nor expences to finde out euill dooers, hee examines causes wiselie and through…ie, the countrie hath much good by him, they that liue well hauehave succour and defence from him. So likewise they praise houskeepers and such as bee rich, saying of them, that they be ho…est, dealing vprightly and iustly, when …n the meane time, they bee carelesse to order their children and seruants in the …eare of God, as is the duetie of such as …aue the charge of famelie, and relieue …ot the necessities of the poore, as appertaineth to such as hauehave riches and a…oundance. We hauehave therfore as you see …ur lesson to learne here of Dauid, which …s to consider what is the speciall calling …f each of vsus, and to do the workes of the …ame according as he voweth.
Him that priuilie slandereth his neigh…our I will destroye. The Prophet speaking of destroying, doth teach vsus according also as wee hauehave heard before, that a magistrate must be a punisher of euil doers. This is a speciall end why he beareth the sword, euē to draw it out vntounto execution where God commandeth. Rom. 13.4.And as it is in the book of the prouerbs, where Salomon saith: Pro. 20.26.A wise king scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them; meaning that he dooth sharply punish whē occasion requireth. To neglect this is an heynous offence… the Lorde in such a case pronounceth them accursed that doo his worke negligently, Iere. 48.10.and with-hold their swords from bloud. Ahab not slaying Benhadah king of Siria, heard a fearefull sentence from the Prophet of the Lord: 1. King 20.42.Because thou hast let a man goe, whome GOD had appoynted to death, therefore shall thy lif… bee for his life, and thy people for his people. 1. Sam. 15.23After the like manner was it said by Samuel to Saul, for sparing Agag king o… the Amalakits. The holy ghost saith tha… they are blessed, Psal. 137.9.which dash yong Childrē against the stones, when God would hauehave execution done. And howsoeuer these be examples takē from that which the Lord required to hauehave done, to the professed enemies of his people, and the reprofes be against such as spared them: yet the truth holdeth against all the wicked, that the sinne is feareful and dangerous, to pittie, spare, and not to punish, whē the Lord commandeth. This would be remembred, for euen they that be not of the worst disposed, but hauehave excellent graces in them, be too too remisse in this matter: insomuch as there is scarse any so base and vile, whose fauour and good opinion they desire not to reteine, and therefore forbeare them in their euills, farre more than is meete and comely for gouernement: so as peraduenture it were not easie to determine, whether they doo more harme with their softnes toward these, than they doo good by the louelove and fauour which they pretend to the godlie.
Hee nameth here some vices for all; concerning slandering, it is when by reports otherwise than duetifull, the credit and estimation of another is impeached: and by neighbour, we are to vnderstand all with whome any way wee may hauehave to doo, as our sauiour Christ teacheth vsus in the parable of the Samaritan. Luc. 10.30.Now when hee speaketh of slandering priuelie, he setteth out vntounto vsus the practise of slāderers, which is, behind a mans back to speake euill when hee shall not knowe it, nor hauehave place to defend himselfe; like a coward that not daring looke a man in the face, nor any way prouoke him when hee might drawe for his defence, comes behinde him at vnwares & thrusts him through. The great vprightnes & indifferency of Dauid herein is to be obserued. For, he saieth not, I will destroy such as slander me their prince, o… the nobles and officers whome I depute vnderunder me, but he yt slandereth his neighbour, whatsoeuer; how poore, meane & base he bee, I will take his cause into my hands, I wil be aduenged vponupon him, that offereth this iniurie to the lowest of my subiects. Touching the punishment of slanderers, the lawe of GOD was that hee which accused his neighbour, of that he could not proue, should suffer the same penaltie, which the party accused should hauehave suffered, if it had been true, euen vntounto death it self. Deu. 19.19Dauid therfore voweth that according to the lawe of GOD, hee would set himselfe against slanderers, and prosecute them with as much extremitie as he might euen to their destruction if the qualitie of their offence required it. Hee teacheth vsus therefore, that slandering is a great offence, from the which euerie one ought not onelie to absteine himselfe, but also to doe what hee can to suppresse it in others, that the good name and estimation of all (so farre as is right) may bee vpholden. Which wee knowe is a verie precious thing, better than a good oyntment, as it is in the booke of the preacher, Eccle. 7.3.and to bee chosen aboue great riches, siluer and golde as it is in the Prouerbs. Pro. 22.1.Whereupon also S. Paul requireth vsus to follow after such things as bee of good report. Philip. 4.8.The thing it self being so pretious, vntounto euerie man of any vnderstanding, that he had rather forgo whatsoeuer, yea many their owne liues: it cannot be but a great iniquitie, to rob and spoyle any of this so excellent a iewell. And yet it is certaine, there is much inclination in our nature vntounto this corruption. We imagine that whatsoeuer good opinion is conceiued of any other, is so much derogation from our selues, whereupon it commeth to passe, that we bee very readie, to speake that to their reproache which wee ought not: yea we take pleasure to heare the good name of another called into question, it tickleth vsus and goeth downe our bellies smoothlie, as if wee were flattered, and wee are content to sooth men on, till wee hauehave the vtmost of their poyson powred out against such, whose name and credit ought to hauehave beene spared. But we must beware of both these; for as the thiefe and receiuer bee alike, and both punishable euen by the lawes of men: so assuredlie to bee a slanderer, and an entertainer of slanders, bee both a like before GOD, such as beare false witnesse against their neighbour, and be culpable of iudgment. As it is saide by Salomon. Pro. 17.4.The wicked giueth heede to false lippes, and and a lyar harkeneth to the naughty tongue. According also as in the 15. Psalme these two things be matched together as the markes of them that be of the true Church here, Psa. 15.3.& shal triumph in heauen, neither to slander themselues, nor to receiue false reports against their neighbours. If then our calling bee not such as we may punish them, yet let vsus so carie our selues to them, as they may see that wee take no pleasure at all in their wretched course, but are much discontented with it. Euen as Salomon doth teach vsus, when hee saith: Pro. 25.23.As the north wind driueth away the raine, so doth an angry countenāce the slandering tongue. For as it is said, that there would bee no theeues if there were no receiuers: So certainly there would be fewer slaunderers, if there were not such as tooke delight to heare slaunders. They that bee of great calling hauehave speciall cause to looke vntounto this: For, as their fauour is much desired of men, so there wilbe such as will not stick to doe what they can (if it be possible) by slanders to bring all other into discredit, that they alone, or such as they like may hauehave all the credit. And euen they which bee wise and feare God, be in danger to be ouertaken with such lewd persons, except they be very watchfull. For Dauid himselfe, notwithstanding this his solemne vowe, grieuously trespasseth against it, 2. Sam. 16.3.4.as we hauehave the history in the second of Samuel. Where it is recorded, that vponupon the false accusation of Siba an vnfaithful seruant of Mephiboseth, he condemneth an innocent and very trustie subiect, cōfiscateth all his goods, and giueth them to the wretched slāderer, who (keeping his maisters Asse from him when hee would hauehave ridden after the king in his flight from Absalom) accused him of treason against Dauid, as if he meant to take ye oportunity of his absēce to recouer the kingdome to the house of Saul. When faithful Mephiboseth was so farr off from any such treachery, 2. Sā. 16.24that during the time of the kings trouble, he neither washed his feete, nor dressed his beard, nor washed his cloathes; as a man forelorne with sorrow for the trouble of his gracious soueraigne. If Dauid were thus fowly ouerseene, what danger be we in, except we take great heed. We must not then be hastie to credit eueryevery thing told vsus, but inquire further of matters, alwayes reseruing one eare for the partye accused to hauehave his purgation if hee hauehave any, as before we hauehave giuen the other eare to the accuser.
This doctrine concerning slanderers, forbiddeth not iust and necessary information and entertainment of it, against euill doers, without which faults, cannot be knowne nor iustice executed as is requisite. And therefore wee see it put in practise in eueryevery well ordereed state, that there be such which serue for this purpose. Magistrates & gouernours, cānot see & heare disorders eueryevery where. Yea they that hauehave but few seruants and Children, cannot alwayes bee eye witnesses of that which they doo euill. It is therefore necessary that they hauehave some faithfull and trustie to giuegive them intelligence of things done amisse, that so they may more easily be amēded. The magistrates which prouide not for this, doe much hinder iustice, and giuegive liberty to doe euill. And the house-gouernours that neglect it, shall hauehave many disorders committed by their children, and seruants, to their dishonour, which peraduenture woulde bee otherwise, if they were carefull to appoynt some to watch ouer the rest, and could patiently heare when they be told of their abuses. Which we are the rather to marke, because there are such, as be bolde to open their mouthes against others, yet frett and chafe as if there could be no greater iniurie offered them, when in the zeale of God and louelove of them, they be tolde of the horrible abuses that bee committed by such as be to their house. When indeede it is a duety due vntounto thē, which men that feare God ought to make conscience of, and for the which they rather deserue to be thanked, than misliked or frowned vponupon. 1. Sam. 2.22.24.Elie though none of the best priests, yet so farr as we can reade fumed not, neither complained as of a wrong done, when the ill behauiour of his children was brought vntounto him. The fault was for the which the Lord was so highly displeased, that he corrected thē not so sharply as their offences did deserue. Iacob being a holy and wise man, careful to hauehave good order in his house, it seemeth was well content that his Son Ioseph should obserue the behauiour of his brethrē to make relatiō to him, which the story saith he did: And peraduēture yt was not the least cause, Gen. 37.2.why they were so cruell against him. Howsoeuer therfore slandering be naught, & slanderers worthie of sharpe punishment, yet it is necessary, that there be some to obserue the offences publike and priuate to informe of them. EueryEvery good gouernour & housholder that desire to hauehave things in order, must chuse out some of speciall trust, to help them this way, to whome also in wisedome and the feare of GOD, with due regard they ought to giuegive eare. And thus much of this poynt.
Him that hath a prowde looke, &c. By both these he vnderstandeth one sorte of euill men, euen such as thinke well of themselues. Howbeit because the heart is the seate of pride as it is of eueryevery other iniquitie, and that being vnsearchable and knowen onelyonly vntounto God who tryeth the reines, Ier. 17.10.can not be discerned but by that which is outward, and floweth frō it as fruit from the tree, & water frō a fountaine; therefore Dauid alleageth one infallible signe of it, a prowd looke, by the which a prowd heart is traced vntounto, as a Deere or an Hare are traced to the place where they be, by their footing. Touching prowd persons and the affectiō of Dauid toward thē, we hauehave it here declared: namely that he wold not abide any such, wherin like a good magistrate he sheweth himselfe to resemble God, vntounto whom the prowd bee an abhomination, as it is said by Salomon: pride also being one of the seuen things that his soule abhoreth. Pro. 6.17.Yea God doth resist the prowd as it were making war vponupon thē, giuing his graces to the humble, Iam. 4.6.as ye Apostle saith: And indeede of this minde ought eueryevery gouernor to bee, yea eueryevery one of vsus in whome the image of God ought to appeare. It becommeth vsus to be affected as he is, to louelove where he loueth, and to hate where he hateth. For as much then as God hateth the prowd, & liketh wel of the lowly, eueryevery one that desireth to shew the likenes of God in himself, ought to be of the same mind to banish pride from himselfe, & to banish prowd persons frō his house & state, so far as he may. If men would consider it well, they might easily see, there were no cause at al why they should lift vp themselues. For, what bee they by nature? To let pas the frailty & mortality of the body, bee they not altogether corrupted in their better part, Gen. 6.5.euē in their soule & spirit? Eph. 2.3.is not their vnderstanding poysoned & their will wholy peruerted? bee they not as it were a dunghill of sin, & so the heires of damnation, ouer and aboue that which they deserue by theyr continuall actuall rebellion in the breach of Gods commandements? Is the dogge, toad, or serpent, that creeepe vponupon the earth more vile than they? no verilie. And if there be any good spiritual grace io vsus, or any outward blessing to adorne and beautifie vsus, what hauehave we that we hauehave not receiued, and if wee hauehave it frō elsewhere, why should we be proud, as if we had not receiued it, 1. Cor. 4 7.as Saint Paul sayth? Would we not think him worthy to be laughed at as a foole, that hauing borrowed of another a silke gowne, and a chayn, should prowdly iet in it, as if it were his own? As worthie they be to be cronicled for fooles, which be prowde of the good gifts which it hath pleased God to lend them, and thereof onelyonly to make them his stewards. The case then standing so, you see howe wee ought to striue against this corruption, and howe much it becommeth vsus to hate it, wheresoeuer we finde it. As indeede they that giuegive themselues ouer vntounto pride, are not onelyonly fighters against GOD, but also dangerous for the countries & houses in the which they liue. Prowd persons that thinke well of themselues for their birth, wisedome, riches & so forth, in the common wealth can abide no superiour, eueryevery such they enuie, him that is their equall they disdaine and thinke scorne of, their inferiours they would tread vponupon if they might. Hence come (for the most part) treasons against their soueraigne Princes, and abhominable practises to set vp themselues further than is meete, euen to the crown it selfe. Hence come wretched attēpts to bring such out of the way, which they thinke be likely to hinder them. Their expenses commonly be great aboue their abi…itie, in respect wherof not hauing the …eare of God, they enter into sinful courses against their tenaunts and other sub…ects by one exaction or other, to beare …ut that which their pride spendeth. In the house they be no lesse dangerous to serue: for, hauing this high mind, they will grudge at the dueties they owe to such as they serue: as for any officers deputed to gouerne them, they wil thinke much to be ordered by any such, their fellow seruants they wil disdaine: eueryevery small occasion will be taken to giuegive reproachfull speeches; yea with such (as we vse to say) there is but a worde and a blow. The least thing that is spoken to range them in the common order of their fellowes, is thought sufficient mater of quarrell, they must be gentlemen alone, and eueryevery other a raskall, or else there is no patience, nor dealing with them. Besides, their apparrell must exceede, for richnes and for fashion, they think it their great disgrace to bee behinde any, yea that any should hauehave a stuffe so costly, or a fashion so rare a… theirs. So they often spend more tha… way in a quarter, than their wages or other allowance is for a yeare. Then mus… come shiftes pilfi…es in yt house yea som… times taking a purse by the high way, o… some harlot must help him, or elssome o… ther wretched course, to the dishonor o… God, of the house where they serue, an… to the hurt of others, must bee taken t… recompence that which they hauehave spen… prowdly & vainly. Themagistrates the… fore that mean to preuent inconueniences in the common wealth, must hauehave … watchful eye & punishing hand toward prowd persons, as those that be very dāgerous to the state. And they that desire to hauehave their houses peaceable and in good order, must abandon al such sinful persons from them. Now that which we ought to mislike and punish in others, we must beware that we draw them not on our selues to any such wickednes, as it is the custome of many: who as if their children and seruants were not by nature prowd enough, prouoke them vntounto it, suffering them, yea egging them to weare such apparrell, as is not onelyonly a plaine and euident demonstration of a prowd and profane heart alreadie, but also a forcible meane to increase that corruption further in them But aboue all things let vsus take heed of pride in our selues, abstaining from the leaste shew of it, to the end we may with more ioy & authority withstand it in others. Now in that the prophet ioyneth these two together, a prowde looke and a high hearte. Hee assureth vsus that these bee inseperable companyons where the one is there is the other, wher a prowd looke is there is a prowd heart. Therefore oftentimes in the scriptures, haughtie eies, Pro. 6.17. Isa. 2.11.and a prowd looke, by a figuratiue speech the effect for the cause, are put for pride it selfe. And in the third of Isai, Isa. 3.16.the Prophet complaineth, of the pride of the daughters of Zion, saying: They went with their necks stretched out and wandering eyes, making tinckeling with their feete, aleadging these outward gestures, as certaine tokens of pride and lightnes. For, howsoeuer the heart in it selfe be vnsearchable, yet by such things as these, God will hauehave it tryed and layd open. According also as in the Epistle of Saint Peter, 2. Pet. 2.14some are saide to hauehave eyes full of adultery: the meaning of the Apostle is, that their eyes bewrayed them to hauehave filthy and vnchast mindes. And let vsus I bescech you marke this well. It is a common thing with many, when they be reproued for their outward ill behauiour, their stately lookes, wanton eyes, idle wordes, and prowd apparrell, to say: my heart is as good as any mans, or as yours that finde fault with me, I meane no hurt to any man and such like. But this cannot be so, when the outward mā is not answerable. 1. Cor. 6.20God will bee glorified of vsus in bodie as well as in spirit, he hath made and redeemed both. Yea hee hath prouided to bring that to light which is within by that which we are without. Are then our countenances, speeches, goings, and apparrell prowd? They vndoubtedly bewray a prowd, a wanton, & a naughty heart: bee our actions abroad, cruell, hard, outragious and extreame, they declare that the heart within is such and so it is to be said of all the rest. Reforme then thy outward behauiour, or else pleade nothing for the innocencie and vprightnes of thy heart, for there is no truth in thee. Let vsus goe forward.
6 Mine eyes shall be. As in the verse going before he hath shewed whome he would punish and banish from him: So here hee tells vsus, whome hee would fauour, put in office vnderunder him in the common wealth, and entertaine to waite vponupon his person & houshold busines. Euen the faithfull of the land, expressing further whome he meaneth by such, where he addeth, Hee that walketh in the perfect way. For hee is faithfull that walkes in the perfect way, and hee walkes in the perfect way, that is faithfull. By the perfect way, as we hauehave heard in the second verse, is vnderstoode the waies of Gods word, his meaning then is plaine, that such as shewed themselues faithfull by framing their liues to the word, should hauehave his fauour, beare office, and serue him. He, he, saith Dauid the speech is doubled, he alone and no other. It is to be marked of vsus that he calleth those faithfull, which walke in the perfect way: he saith not, they that fulfi… the perfect way, & offend not at al: ther… be none such. But he that is carefull to liue after that rule, though heretofore h… hauehave been faulty and doth still slip som… times, yet if it appeare that hee hat… repented, and that hee now striueth t… master Sathan and sinne, he walks in th… perfect way. Euen as men are truly sai… to walke in a way, when they goe in i… although somtimes they trip, yea stūble and take a fall. Such as these the scriptures call righteous, and saith of them that they sin not, Ioh. 5.18.because they studie to doe righteously, & for Christs sake hauehave their sins forgiuen. This poynt we must remēber, for there be many, who althogh they take shameful liberty to themselues to doe most outragious things not to be named, yet if the questiō bee of a professor of the faith and true religion, they speake of him as if such a one ought to be perfect and altogether without fault. Therefore if they know any thing done by him before his profession and calling, thogh he hauehave neuer so throughly repēted, yet that they vpbraid him with and cast in his teeth. If there be any infirmity at all in his life present, notwithstanding in cōparison of thē, he be as an angel of God & a saint indeed. Yet they twit him by that, and eueryevery molehill is made a mountaine, a small fault a very haynous sin; when in the meane time they see not beames in their own eyes. But oh wretched mā or womā whatsoeuer, whomade thee to condemne him whome God absolueth, and pardoneth being penitent? And why art thou so beastly to call into question the profession of thy brother? because peraduenture in some small things he is faulty or not so as he should, his generall care being good, when thou art in thy doings tenne thousand times more abhominable to God, and all good men than he is? nay why doest thou suspect him, where there is no cause, or reprouest him for an euill dooer in that which he doth well? and why seest thou a moate in his eye, and seest not the beame that is in thine own? Let vsus therfore iudge charitably of such as professe the truth, if they walk in the perfect way, they be accounted faithfull, howsoeuer they may bee faultie in many thinges through infirmitie, as in many things wee sinne all saith Saint Iames.
The Prophet voweth that his eyes should be vponupon such to fauour them and to vse their seruice. Iam. 3.2.And so he doth teach vsus vponupon whom especially to set our harts euen vponupon those that feare GOD, our goodnes must reach it selfe vntounto them, as we be taught in another Psalme: we cannot any way pleasure GOD with any thing we doo the good will wee beare to him, Psal. 16.3.we must shew by dealing well with such as be his. They bring his letters of commendation in their behalfe, euen his letters pattents, requiring vsus in his name, and as we fauour him, to care for them. That which is done to them is lent vntounto him, and he will repay it, Pro. 12 17.Mat. 10.42euen to a cup of cold water. If they bee vnable to recompence vsus, he will reward it at the resurrection of the iust. Luk 14.13.The not comforting, relieuing, or helping of these, when we can is damnable, as Christ saieth. Goe you cursed, when I was hungrie, Matth. 25.42. &c.you did not feede me, &c. how fearefull then is their estate, that disquiet, trouble, vexe and persecute these? Hee saith not, you kept their own meate, cloathing, or houses from them, which many doo: he saith not you cast them in prison; but onelie you comforted not, clothed not, visited not these, poore, naked, hungrie and in prison. The matter then is very dangerous, not to shew our selues very carefull for these. Whereupon it is, that not onelyonly here Dauid voweth to set his eyes vponupon such all the land ouer, Psal. 16.3.but also that his delight was in them; and that he was a companion to all those that feared God and kept his testimonies. Psal. 119.63.Though he were a King, he disdained not the familiaritie of a poore godly man, euen to giuegive him his hand, and to entertaine him, as one in whose acquaintance hee tooke pleasure. Euen as also in another psalme he teacheth, that it is a marke of such as shall bee saued, Psal. 15.4.to despise the vile and wicked, and to make much of them that feare the Lorde. Whereunto agreeth the saying of Saint Iohn: 1. Ioh 3.14.Wee knowe wee are translated from death to life, because wee louelove the brethren. And indeede this is an vndoubted proofe of the louelove of GOD within vsus, as the same Apostle saieth: 1. Ioh. 5.1.euerie one which loueth him that begat, loueth also him that is begottē of him. He that loueth the father loueth his children, and he that loueth the master dooth also louelove his seruants. Yea the meanest of a house is welcome vntounto vsus, we vse him with al curtesie, if we hauehave a reuerend & honorable opinion of such as they serue. Euē so it cānot be but they shall bee most deare vntounto vsus, in whome wee see the feare of GOD as the marke of his Children, if wee bee affected to his Maiestie, as is our dutie. For, how can we louelove GOD whome wee neuer sawē, and not louelove our brother whom we see? Can wee blesse God, and not blesse his children made after his image? How can the louelove of God be in vsus, when wee are not touched with the care of his seruants? We may then well see, what great cause there is, why wee should with Dauid be very carefull all we can, whether we be magistrates or priuate persons, to comfort all such as feare God. And so much the rather, because they being not of this world, but strangers here, Iob. 5.19.doo lie open to many violences and oppressions of the wicked, in respect whereof they neede comfort, beside the common aflictions they be subiect vntounto with all men.
Besides this his generall fauour to these, hee voweth to vse them in his gouernment, and to hauehave their seruice in his house. These be also speciall things, wherein the Prophet is worthie of singuler commendation. He knew that he could not order the affaires of his state, and the matters of his house alone, but that it was necessarie to hauehave some to deale for him and vnderunder him. And in verie deede the case so standeth: princes and great personages, be not without cause called heads, and so compared because as they direct others, so they stand in need of many parts to doo things for them, eyes to see, eares to heare, hands to doo, and feete to goe for them. If these be such as they ought, much good may come to others by those that be in great place. If these bee naught, howsoeuer such as they be vnderunder be full of goodnes, and hauehave a desire that it may spread abroad, yet shall it not reach to such as they would hauehave it come vntounto. They that be of high calling for this purpose may fitlie be likened, to great ponds full of sweete and wholsome water, that might be beneficiall vntounto many, if there were sound and sweet pipes to conueigh it: whereas on the otherside it yeeldeth no benefit at all, if the pipes bee stopt, poysoned, and corrupted. So is it with these. The good is vnspeakeable, which a state reapeth by a good Prince, and any place by those that bee the chiefe in those parts, if such as bee deputed vnderunder them be good. But if they be naught, superstitious, couetous, oppressors, and cruell, their goodnes is after a sort shut vp in themselues, it disperseth not it self abroad for the comfort of those that need and desire it. Hereof it commeth, that when there bee good Princes, yet things doo still continew out of frame. As wee see in the daies of Iosia, a most christian and carefull King, 2. Cro. 44.3.4.8.that feared God betimes, and twise in his dayes reformed Religion, the first reformation not being perfect inough. His remembrance is as the perfume made by the art of the Apothecarie, and as musick at a banquet of wine. There was not a King before him nor any after, 2. King. 23.25.that like Iosiah turned to God with all his heart, as he did Yet was there in his daies in his kingdome, Soph. 1.horrible abominations, Atheisme & cōtempt of God, pride in apparell, oppression and cruelty, yea much damnable idolatry, notwithstanding the good king, by his lawes had takē as good order against these as hee could. The cause of all this was, that such as were vnderunder him in the common wealth, and in the church, did not that which hee willed. See Soph 3.3, 4.According as in the third of Sophonie it is cōplained, that the princes were as roring lions, the iudges as woolues in the euening, which leaue not the boanes till the morrow: that the Prophets were light and wicked persons, and the priests such as polluted the sanctuarie, and had wrested the lawe of God to serue their own turne And so what maruel, though in a rare kings daies, iniquity ouerflowed and abounded. 1. King. 12.The like fel out in the daies of Rhehoboam, by following the ill counsell of such as he put in trust, by occasion wherof many fel from the house of Dauid, and cleaued to Ieroboam, and so the kingdome before being one & intire, was after parted and diuided. So assuredlie wee must thinke of all states, where the chiefe magistrate is wel affected & carefull, that the cause why things bee no better ordered, is for that they which hauehave the execution of good lawes established for the church and common wealth, neglect that which is their dutie, not restraining sin as they might, nor aduancing godlines, as is inioyned. Dauid foreseeing al these, voweth that he would set his eyes vpō the faithful to place such vnderunder him. And so hee dooth teach the princes of the earth whō they are to appoint in such a case, euen them that walk in the perfect way. EueryEvery officer bee hee neuer so lowe, ought to be a punisher of wickednes & a mainteiner of wel doing. Now how is he like to doo this, except himselfe bee well disposed? Is hee like to suppresse sin in others, that fauoreth it in himself, or is he like to vphold godlines in another man, that doth abhor it in his own person? The counsel therfore of Iethro was very good, and not without iust cause approued of Moses, when hee gaue aduise, that the officers ouer tennes, should be men of courage, Exod. 18.21.fearing God, dealing trulie, and hating couetousnes. When it is so, common wealths & states be like to florish, then shal religion prosper, the good shall be defended, the euill shall bee punished, and eueryevery one shall quietlie enioy his owne. Euen as it came to passe in the daies of the good kings of Iudah, and as Salomon saith: happie art thou O land when thy King is the sonne of nobles, Eccl. 10.17.and thy princes eate in time, for strength and not for drunkennes. The people themselues doo so sensiblie see this, that they reioyse when the righteous be in authoritie, as it is in the Prouerbs. Pro. 29.2.Wheras cleane contrarywise they sigh and mourne, when the wicked bee set vp: as it is in the same place. Howsoeuer therefore it fall out oftentimes, that Princes goe on foote like slaues, & slaues be on horseback like Princes, as it is in the Preacher; Eccles. 10.7that is, the vnworthie be put in authoritie, and the worthie bee kept out, yet wee bee taught here in the holy vow of the Prophet another manner of lesson, namely that so it ought not to bee. And indeede their fault cannot but bee very grieuous, which put the wicked in authoritie: for, beside the great harme they do by this meanes, hindring iustice & offering the wel disposed vntounto spoile, which be sure to finde no fauor at their hands, they do so much as in them lieth, make vsus beleeue that the almighty God himself is such a one, filthy & abominable (which I trēble to speake) seeing eueryevery gouernour ought to beare his image, and to resemble his maiestie. Those men therfore be worthy of great blame, which be so farre off from agreeing with Dauid in this poynt, that cleane contrariwise set vp the euill, and thinke such vnfit to serue their Princes, and to beare office, whome they perceiue to be faithfull, zealous of true religion, and friendly to such as feare GOD. His care to hauehave men thus qualified, to waite vppon his person and houshold busines, is no lesse praise worthie. He assured himselfe, that they would bee faithfull to him, which were faithfull to God. And surelie it cannot bee otherwise. Hee that truelie feareth God, honoreth such as hee hath set ouer him, hee will bee trustie in whatsoeuer is committed vntounto him, not onelyonly in respect of the person of his Lord and master, but also in all his affaires. The treacherous treasonable and vnfaithfull seruants, that deale vntrustelie with their busines, and dare laye violent hands vponupon such as they serue, bee they that knowe not the true GOD, and hauehave no conscience of his waies, which serue vppon no other ende, but to serue their owne turne, and so they may do… that, bee content that the persons o… them, and their estates vppon whome they attend, doo miscarrie, as wee hauehave had manie such fearefull examples i… the Worlde. And therefore it is a… thing to bee woondred at, that grea… personages trust themselues and thei… their affayres with such men as commonlie they doo. It is to be acknowledged as a great merciemercy of GOD, that they continew safe so much as one houre. They then that hauehave to entertaine seruants, doo learne here of Dauid, what choyse to make, euen of them that feare GOD, such will not onelie deale faithfullie and painefullie, with the thinges that bee vnderunder their custodie, but also hauehave a promise of the blessing of GOD to goe with them, so as their Masters may perswade themselues that things shall prossper vnderunder their hands. Such a seruant was hee whome Abraham sent on his message, Gen. 24.12.33.about the marriage of his Sonne, hee praieth to GOD for good speede in his iourney, when he commeth to the house where his busines was, he refuseth to eate, till he had first done that hee came for, and how well things went with him, Gen. 30.29.30 Gen. 31.33.39.40it is apparant in the Historie. Such a seruant was Iaakob to Laban, taking great paines in Winter and Sommer, daye and night with his cattell: in whose time the substance of Laban much increased. Such a one was Ioseph to Potiphar, Gen. 39.3.8.12.keeping fidelitie to his master, when the strumpet his mistris intised him to vncleannes. Concerning whome also it is saide, that for his sake GOD blessed the house of the Aegiptian. Seeing then there is so much benefit by it, men ought to bee carefull to get to themselues such seruants. They bee wise, and knowe how to order things, when to giuegive, and to whome, and when not, euen to doo al… things in their season, euen to the honor and comfort of such as they depend vppon. Pro. 14.35.Whereupon Salomo… saieth: The pleasure of a King is towar… a wise seruant, but his wrath is towar… him that is froward. But peraduentur… some will aske, where shall a man com… by such a seruant as Abraham had: to whome it might bee answered: wher… shall a man finde such a master as Abraham was? Gen. 18.19.Hee taught his house hold to walke in the Lords statutes, a… God saieth of him. If masters did so… and vsed the meanes for the instructio… of their famelie, bringing them to th… publique ministerie, seeing them there to carie themselues reuerendlie, and to learne what is taught: If they gaue countenance to such as hauehave some good inclinations in them, and frowned vponupon those that bee disordered and wanton, there were great hope and likelyhoode that in time they should hauehave faithfull, obedient, and trustie seruants. But the most part care no further, but to hauehave their busines done, therefore can be content that some of their house come not to houshold praiers scarse once in a weeke, and to the Church scarce once in many sabaoths, some such as follow them there be, that be as soone out at one dore, as they bee in at the other, they bring their masters to their pewes, & then goe away themselues, and if they tarrie at Church it is not to learne. They bee not called to account of any thing learned, they see thē not catechised at home, they encouraged them not, but rather discouraged them in well dooing. No maruell therefore if they hauehave so few good, & so many bad, & that townes and countries (as wee say) ring of their disorders. Themselues be the speciall causes of all, and deserue many vexations, dishonors and shrewd turnes by such, seeing they hauehave no more care to bring them into good order.