But now the Prophet declareth, how and by what means God is with him, and doth deliver him from all troubles. And this means of Gods presence and defence, he openeth by divers Allegories and Translations, wonderful meet and apt to express the thing that he would show to the world. The first Translation or Allegory, he taketh of the nature of a rod: the second, of a staff, and saith, They did comfort him and defend him: the third, he taketh of a table, which he saith the great shepherd prepared before his face, against as many as troubled him: the fourth, he taketh from the nature of oil, and of a cup that was always full, wherewith he was not only satisfied, but also joyfully replenished in all times, and all troubles whatsoever they were. By the rod, is many times in the scripture understanded the punishment and correction that God useth, to call home again, & to amend his elect & beloved people, when they offend him: He punisheth them, and yet killeth them not, he beateth them, until they know their faults, but casteth them not away: as he said to king David,1 that when he dyed, his kingdom should come unto one of his own children: & in case he went astray from his law, he would correct him with the rod of other Princes, and with the plagues of the sons of men, but my mercy (saith God) I will not take from him, as I did from Saul. This same manner of speech may ye read also in his. 89. ⟨image 30⟩Psalm, and in the Proverbs of his son king Solomon ye have the same doctrine:2 He that wanteth a heart, must have his back beaten with a rod. And in the same book he saith, He that spareth the rod, hateth the child. So doeth king David here confess, that it is a very necessary and requisite way, to keep the sheep of God from perishing, to be chastened and corrected when they wax wanton, and will not hear the voice of their shepherd. And it is the part of every wise godly man, to love this correction and chastisement of the Lord, as Solomon saith:3 He that loveth discipline and correction, loveth knowledge: he that hateth to be rebuked, is a fool. And king David saith, It is to my great good commodity, 4that the Lord chasteneth me. This rod of correction, David saith, is one of the instruments and means, wherewithal God preserveth his sheep from straying.
But nowe the Prophete declareth, howe and by what means God is with him, and doth deliuer him from all troubles. And this means of Gods presence and defence, he openeth by diuers Allegories and Translations, wonderfull méete and apt to expresse the thing that he would shew to the world. The first Translation or Allegorie, he taketh of the nature of a rod: the second, of a staffe, and saith, They did comfort him and defend him: the third, he taketh of a table, which he saith the great shepheard prepared before his face, against as many as troubled him: the fourth, he taketh from the nature of oyle, and of a cup that was alwayes full, wherwith he was not onely satisfied, but also ioyfully replenished in all times, and all troubles whatsoeuer they were. By the rod, is many times in the scripture vnderstanded the punishment and correction that God vseth, to cal home againe, & to amend his elect & beloued people, when they offend him: He punisheth them, and yet killeth them not, he beateth them, vntill they know their faults, but casteth them not away: as he saide to king Dauid,1 that whē he dyed, his kingdome should come vnto one of his own children: & in case he went astray from his lawe, he would correct him with the rod of other Princes, and with the plagues of the sonnes of men, but my mercy (saith God) I will not take from him, as I did from Saule. This same manner of speache may ye reade also in his. 89. ⟨image 30⟩Psalme, and in the Prouerbes of his sonne king Solomon ye haue the same doctrine:2 He that wanteth a heart, must haue his backe beaten with a rod. And in the same booke he saith, He that spareth the rod, hateth the childe. So doeth king Dauid here confesse, that it is a very necessarie and requisite way, to kéepe the shéepe of God from perishing, to be chastened and corrected when they waxe wanton, and will not heare the voyce of their shephearde. And it is the part of euery wise godly man, to loue this correction and chastisement of the Lord, as Solomon saith:3 He that loueth discipline and correction, loueth knowledge: he that hateth to be rebuked, is a foole. And king Dauid saith, It is to my great good commoditie, 4that the Lorde chasteneth me. This rod of correction, Dauid saith, is one of the instruments and meanes, wherewithall God preserueth his shéepe from straying.
- 12. Reg. 7.
- 2Prou. 10.
- 3Prou. 12.
- 4Psal. 119.
