on the i19. Pfaltne, 559 delivered out of it,vnlelfc wepraywith theProphet for theright knowledge of the lawOf God :fo that weeare much to thankcour God,chat hegiuethvs in another fucha fight of Note. ourowne corruption: Asin thefiat verle, there is a notable commendation ofthe word : fo is thereallo a fin- gular declarationof hisfaith : Thyword, OLord, is a lanterntomyfeete, anda light unto my path. This feetnethto allmen,tohauebeen learned longagoe,and belched out in timeof Poperie,& thatit is no new thing,buta laying very wellknowne : but when we lookinto the feuerallpraetiles ofmen,which isthe righteous iudgeofall mens iudgetnents,we that lindemen to befarreftomany inwardfaith thewed infach fruits. This madetheProphet to (weare,in that hefaw on one fide his' happines fogreatin theword, and thecorruption ofhis heart on theother fide. And inmeditating dayAnd night inGods law, and cone- deringhis righteous iudgements,llee faith in trueth,Thy word isa lantern,&c. If weewill looke intoour lelues,we !hallfinde,that thofethings which ferme to bemolt eafily belee- ued,are furtheftfrom faith,and that thingsmolt eafie to be learned,are furtheftfrom pea- &ire. True itis,' euery manwill fay,Who will not beleeuethis ? whata beaftwere lie that would denie the truth ofGods word ? Butalas, our careleffe reading,our rare meditating, ourcold praying,and praifingof God for his word,ourfeldome conference of the word wit teftifie againft vs in time tocome,that weneuer truly beleeued.Wemutt firft look and note ourfelucs,and then welhall profit fomewhatmore. The man of Godoppofethhere the wordtomans wifedome,which hehadinentioned in theverfe going before,as light is eontrarieto darkors. Foras in darkoesweecannot goe tafely, without the lightofa Ian- .. terne,or fuck like :euen fo are we in ignorance and rebellion, ifwee be not continually' guided by the word of God and his Spirit. Thisthen is a furtherthing, how durft blind bayardsbe fo bold,who lining in the darknes ofEgypt,think they are in the light,and be- ing vnableto difcerne betwecneprefumption and delpayre,betweenpromifes and threat- nings,betweene thingsftreightly commanded,and voluntarily done, fuppolethemfelues tobe fharpe fighted ? Nay,we fhall finde thefefruits tobebut in few. It isfaid,Mat. z 2.21. The light ofthebody is theeye,ifthen'thineeyebefrngle,thy wholebodylhal beiight.z3.But ifthirie eyebewir!ed,rbenallthy bodie f a!6bedark!. WhereourSauiourChriftborrowethhis Ipeecli from thefenfes ofthe bodie,and trantlateth it to the powersofthe foule. For ascuery part of thebodie is light?òme,whileftthe eye teeth :foa man beingenlightenedwith the word, simile. and the Spirir,hauing hiseyes alwaies to heauen, bath his affections aright : and on the contrarie,as all things are lothfome tothat bodie,wbich for wantof theeyes is wholydar- kened : fo aman'fitting in the darknes of ignorance,hauinghismind wholy fet on earth- ly things, háth hisaffealions difordered. Now,that there is no light invs,but all is darknes inour routes, the ApoftlePeter doch plainly thew it,a.Pet. t .r 9. we hone amiß farewordof theProphets, to thewhichye doe well, thatye take heede,as to afare light in a dark! place,&c. Where bee commending theChri- ftiáns for their care ofthe word, fhewethichat it is a light in the darke,andteachethvs, thic bowmuch knowledge wee haue, fomuchwee are in good affections. AlfoPani,E= Old. 4. i7. i 8.faith,7 reflifie in the Lord, thatyehenceforthwalke not,as other Gentileswalk!, in the vanitieoftheir minde, rS.Hating their cogitation darkened, andbeingfirangersfrom the lifeofGad,throoglrthe ignorance that is in them,&c.Wherebee fheweth,chat theman vnre- ggenerare bath his minde,vnderlfanding, and heartcorrupt and blinde in that life, which God liueth in his,and that as the man which feeih being in darknes,or in light the blind man gropeth vrecrtainly ; turn fò all outdoings are endleffe and headleflè, which are without the light of knowledge, Shall wethmkenow thatcueryman beleeuethtisistobe true ? No, for if theydid,they would doe ótherwife. If they felt thisin affection in any meafure, would theynot conicSimile öutoftheir prifon tothe libertieofGods faints,wouldtheynotatioid the darkeneflè tofee the bright funnet What a folliewere itfor a man, who hauing leales and gleamy difeafea on his eyes mightbe ttired,and will not?Tisis is a double fault,thatwhen men may know, y{ ilfitl! ire- they will lie in errours and ignorance, and whentheymaybe conuerted they will dwell rave, and"' ftillinHerefie.Ohwhatathingisthis, wilfullietorernaineindarkenefè,andtoIleepeat ntaryperdiri- Bbb 4. the
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