166 eYVlaffer greenhorns Readings thereinno juftcaufe ofpretermitting this purpofe, then is there iuft caufe of forrowing for breakingthecouenant. But herewefieanhelpc,wehaue notdone this easketo day, becaufeof idlenes : what then ? Wemuff returne to the affuranceofforgiuenes of finnes, andmuff redeeme that with double diligence, which weehaue loft throughwilful' negli- gence. Thusweefee, how eitherfor to prickevs to good, or flay vs from fome euill, wee may make a couenant vpon condition,in a defrre ofGods glorie, and incraning Godsgrace. And thus muchof his care and confcience toGods judgements: now let vs coneto time third argunscnt,which ishis afiétion. Verf. r 07.Iamvery foreafffilïed: OLord,guickenmeaccording to thy word. INthat the manof God vfeththis as a reafon before hisprayer, it feemeth flee was not meanelytroubled,butforelyvexed,ásweemayfeeinioyningthatwhichhefaith inthe. verfefollowing : Myfettle iscontinually inminehand, etdoe notforgetthy law. Where inca-. rying hisfouleinhis hand,hemeanetb, that he¡atis no affurancedins life, but is in con-, trnuall dangerofit,aswe countthofe things which be inòurhand, to behardly fore,and inperill to flipfrom vs,as wemay fee byother places ofthe word. As in the bookeof Iud- ges*tab faith,Icarriedmy life in mineownehand,that is,Ididhazardmy life. t ,Sanr.a8.zt. wherethePythonillefaith, ¡hawput myfouleinmy hand:which is all one, asif the fhould fay, Ihaue ventured mylife,or Iwasac deathsdoore. Iob. r 3.r4.WhereforedoeBeare my flefh with my teeth,andput myfoule inmy hand?As if lice fhould fay, Whydoe I putmy lire in danger?For euen as water lyingin our hand isToone Ilipt out ; fo ourfoule beinginour hand,ssPaid tobeatdeaths doom. Befides,he confellèth thathe hadmany fnares, and peftilent deuifès ofhis enemies laid againit him, fóthat at his lealt going altray, bee was layd for, and readie to betaken. In, that he needed thus to pray,wcemay fee how reafonmight hauemoued him to the con- trarie. Flefhand blood might bauetaught Daniel, that infuclr narrow fearch lice might haue flautistswindow when heprayed,or haue conueiedhimfelfe into fome fecret cham- ber,andfo tohaue viedfomepolicie,and providedmanes tohauefaued himfèlfe,had not the fpirit of Godmightily preuailed in himagainif all fuch temptations So when by reafon offomeimminent dangeiwee areat ourwits end,Sathanwould base vs togoein by-paths,and nottomake the word of God a lanterneto ourMete. Saul, when flee could hearenothing from the Lord,wasdriuen thus byhis excreame daunger to go tothe wit- ches. Wee fee then howneceffarieit is for Gods children, inthe time oftriall,to pray for their dircbtionin theright wales, Againe,becatlfewhen we arehardly dealtwith, wee are readieto revengewith policie,we feehow heprayeth tokeepehimfelfearight. It was vndoubtedly thegreat mercie OfGod to Dauidthen topray,thac no affecîionof againff defrre reuengemight enter intohim. Oh how needful' then is it for vs, when thewicked (hall ofaenenge, deale with vs vnreafonably,to prayto the Lordtobe keptin judgement from policie,and in affectionfrom reuenging,and that we may flay our judgement on Gods promifes,and our affeítionsonhis dealings? Thirdly, if all meanes be wanting to vs , thenwillthediuell mouevs todefpaire, and there- fore greatneed haue weto pray, that wee maybe deliuered from thedarkenef e ofdefpaire, by thelaisrerneof Godsword. VVc feehow necelfarily the man ofGod prayed tnot tobetemp- tedabouehis firength , and that the rod ofthe wickedfhouldnotfall onhislot, leafshec fhould puthis handvntowickednelle ; and therefore craned wifedome inGods word, faithinhis pro- miles, and patiencein hisgoodneffe. Wefcethen the plaine meaningof theman of God in this verfe,ifwe callto minde in this word very fore affb'ded,that which wehaueheardbefore, that his eyesfailed, his heartfainted, his fpirit panted, hisnaturali powersmelted, and to be briefe, that he was animageof death. As a man cannot abide greatprofperitie,no more canhe abide greataduerhtie. For as weearepufr np with sheone, fo wecaretaif dowsewith the other, by 'MandlinGods prouidence ,anddefpaireofhispromifes. Experience teacheth vs,Maras alittle prolperitie makethvs to forget God, to many inconueniences by affliaion may befall vs,as ey. Met
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