As in the first verse, there is a notable commendation of the word: so is there also a singular declaration of his faith: Thy word, O Lord, is a lantern to my feet, and a light unto my path. This seemeth to all men, to have been learned long ago, and belched out in time of Popery, and that it is no new thing, but a saying very well known: but when we look into the several practises of men, which is the righteous judge of all mens judgements, we shall find men to be far from any inward faith showed in such fruits. This made the Prophet to swear, in that he saw on one side his happiness so great in the word, & the corruption of his heart on the other side. And in meditating day and night in Gods law, and considering ⟨p. 473⟩his righteous judgements, he saith in trueth, Thy word is a lantern, &c. If we will look into our selves, we shall find, that those things which seem to be most easily believed, are furthest from faith, and that things most easy to be learned, are furthest from practise. True it is, that every man will say, Who will not believe this? what a beast were he that would deny the truth of Gods word? But alas, our careless reading, our rare meditating, our cold praying, and praising of God for his word, our seldom conference of the word will testify against us in time to come, that we never truly believed. We must first look and note our selves, and then we shall profit somewhat more. The man of God opposeth here the word to mans wisdom, which he had mentioned in the verse going before, as light is contrary to darkness▪ For as in darkness we cannot go safely, without the light of a lantern, or such like: even so are we in ignorance and rebellion, if we be not continually guided by the word of God and his Spirit. This then is a further thing, how durst blind bayards be so bold, who living in the darkness of Egypt, think they are in the light, and being unable to discern between presumption and despair, between promises and threatenings, between things strictly commanded, & voluntarily done, suppose themselves to be sharp sighted? Nay, we shall find these fruits to be but in few. It is said, Matth. 22. 23. The light of the body is the eye, if then thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be light. 23. But if thine eye be wicked, then all thy body shall be dark.
As in the first verse, there is a notable commendation of the word: so is there also a singular declaration of his faith: Thy word, O Lord, is a lantorne to my feete, and a light vnto my path. This seemeth to all men, to haue been learned long agoe, and belched out in time of Poperie, and that it is no new thing, but a saying very well knowne: but when we looke into the seuerall practises of men, which is the righteous iudge of all mens iudgements, wee shall finde men to be farre from any inward faith shewed in such fruits. This made the Prophet to sweare, in that he saw on one side his happines so great in the word, & the corruption of his heart on the other side. And in meditating day and night in Gods law, and considering ⟨p. 473⟩his righteous iudgements, he saith in trueth, Thy word is a lanterne, &c. If we will looke into our selues, we shall finde, that those things which seeme to be most easily beleeued, are furthest from faith, and that things most easie to be learned, are furthest from practise. True it is, that euery man will say, Who will not beleeue this? what a beast were he that would denie the truth of Gods word? But alas, our carelesse reading, our rare meditating, our cold praying, and praising of God for his word, our seldome conference of the word will testifie against vs in time to come, that we neuer truely beleeued. We must first looke and note our selues, and then we shall profit somewhat more. The man of God opposeth here the word to mans wisedom, which he had mētioned in the verse going before, as light is contrarie to darknes▪ For as in darknes we cannot goe safely, without the light of a lanterne, or such like: euen so are we in ignorance and rebellion, if we be not continually guided by the word of God and his Spirit. This then is a further thing, how durst blind bayards be so bold, who liuing in the darknes of Egypt, thinke they are in the light, and being vnable to discerne betweene persumption and despayre, betweene promises and threatnings, betweene things streightly commanded, & voluntarily done, suppose themselues to be sharpe sighted? Nay, we shall finde these fruites to be but in few. It is said, Matth. 22. 23. The light of the body is the eye, if then thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be light. 23. But if thine eye be wicked, then all thy body shall be darke.
