The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

Vers. 119 Thou hast taken away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

Vers. 119 Thou hast taken away all the wicked of the earth like drosse: therefore I loue thy testimonies.

Mark the propriety of the word, he saith not thy statutes do I love, but thy testimonies, ¹he saith here thus much: seeing O God, thou hast summoned the wicked, I will embrace more joyfully the record and covenant of my salvation, made unto me in thy word. For when we see Gods judgements on the ungodly, this ought wonderfully to commend Gods mercy in free saving us from the like, that whereas we were in the like condition of sin, he might have measured the like to us, and yet vouchsafed to make his covenant in force unto us. Was it not a great mercy to save Noah and his, when all the world besides was washed away with water? Did it not wonderfully commend the goodness of God, that in the great destruction of Sodom he should deliver Lot? What a thing is this, that the Lord will make a covenant with us as with Noah, that if we shall trust in Christ, we shall never be confounded? Again, when the man of God seeth the wicked deceived, because they trusted not in the word, this maketh him to love the word, and assureth him, that there is an end of all perfection, but the law of God is exceeding large, that it never fails in trouble, nor deceiveth any in death. Wherefore this must make us to love it also. And if we compared this word with other vanities of the world, and felt in it such joys, and most specially in death and in troubles, and that when all fails, this doth minister sufficient comfort; surely the persuasion hereof would move us pathetically to express our minds, and say with the Prophet, Oh how love I thy law it is my meditation continually.

MArke the proprietie of the word, he saith not thy statutes doe I loue, but thy testimonies, ¹he saith here thus much: seeing O God, thou hast summoned the wicked, I will embrace more ioyfully the record and couenant of my saluation, made vnto mee in thy word. For when we see Gods iudgements on the vngodly, this ought wonderfully to commend Gods mercie in free sauing vs from the like, that whereas wee were in the like condition of sinne, he might haue measured the like to vs, and yet vouchsafed to make his couenant in force vnto vs. Was it not a great mercie to saue Noah and his, when all the world besides was washed away with water? Did it not wonderfully commend the goodnesse of God, that in the great destruction of Sodome he should deliuer Lot? What a thing is this, that the Lord will make a couenant with vs as with Noah, that if wee shall trust in Christ, we shall neuer be confounded? Againe, when the man of God seeth the wicked deceiued, because they trusted not in the word, this maketh him to loue the word, and assureth him, that there is an end of all perfection, but the law of God is exceeding large, that it neuer failes in trouble, nor deceiueth any in death. Wherfore this must make vs to loue it also. And if wee compared this word with other vanities of the world, and felt in it such ioyes, and most specially in death and in troubles, and that when all failes, this doth minister sufficient comfort; surely the perswasion hereof would mooue vs pathetically to expresse our mindes, and say with the Prophet, Oh how loue I thy lawe it is my meditation continually.