Seven sermons on several select subjects preached

Psalm 23.4. Thy Rod, and thy Staff, they comfort me.

THIS Psalm St. Bernard calls a noble and illustrious Psalm. The Jews did use to repeat this Psalm when they sate down to their meat. In it David sets forth two things: His Experience, and his Confidence: His Confidence, in the first and last verses: In the first verse; The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore I shall ⟨p. 24⟩not want. In the last verse; Surely that goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life; here is David's Confidence: His Faith was risen up into a great degree of confidence. But that which I shall speak to is, of David's Experience, in the words that I have read; Thy Rod, and thy Staff, they comfort me.

What is here meant by Staff? a Staff is for support, whether it be the Staff one walks with, to support the body; or whether it be the Staff of Bread that supports the Life of Man. Staff is for support; so here in the Text; Thy Staff comforts me. By Staff is meant metaphorically, the Staff of Gods supportation; Thy Staff comforts me. Gods Providence it is a Wing to cover the Saints; it is a Breast to feed them; and it is a Staff to uphold them. In the most calamitous times, the Church of God hath the Staff of Gods Supportation; and this is the reason that the Church is preserved, in despite of all malice and opposition. ⟨p. 25⟩This Bush burns, yet it is not consumed. Though the Lion roar, yet the Lambs of Christs fold are in safety. Though the Rulers take counsel against the Saints of the Most High, yet they are kept alive: Here is the reason, thy Staff doth comfort me. The Saints have always the Staff of Divine Protection: God secretly preserves them, and sets an invisible Guard about them. We see the Staff that smites the Godly; but we do not see the Staff that upholds them. We see their danger, but we do not see their defence. God is their Staff of support. Gods continual care of his Church, is as a Wall of Brass, against which the Gates of Hell shall never prevail. The Church of God hath God for her Guardian: The Enemies must first overcome God, before they can overcome his Church, saith Luther.