1. Use. 1 First, for the confutation of their foolish conceit and expectation, who seeing mighty adversaries against the Church, and few or no friends to interpose themselves, presently conclude, that their case is desperate: down they must: they are utterly undone: and so they begin to forecast in their minds the manner of their overthrow, & the form of their lamentation, when they shall be thus and thus handled. But these men, for all their deep reach, may be deceived; for all their conclusions are grounded on men: they do not consider ⟨p. 63⟩what God may do, as we see in Davids enemies, who perceiving that many did band themselves together, and rise up against him; concluded, 1that there was no help for him in God. But what says David? Lord, thou art a buckler for me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. And in another Psalm, 2Mine enemies (saith he) speak of me, saying, God hath forsaken him: pursue & take him, for there is none to deliver him. These speeches (no doubt) pierced Davids soul: but doth he make the same conclusion? No, he is far from that; he rather layeth faster hold on God, 3seeing cruel men to be so violently bent against him. Go not far from me, O God (saith he) my God haste thee to help me: let them be confounded and consumed, that are against my soul, &c. Indeed if mens opposing of themselves against him, could have kept him from complaining unto God, or God from giving care unto him, his case had been very lamentable: but seeing that was impossible, whatsoever they imagined, there was safety enough for David, and so is there still for all the elect of God.
1. Vse. 1 First, for the confutation of their foolish conceit and expectation, who seeing mighty aduersaries against the Church, and fewe or no friends to interpose themselues, presently conclude, that their case is desperate: downethey must: they are vtterly vndone: and so they begin to forecast in their mindes the manner of their ouerthrow, & the forme of their lamētation, when they shall bee thus and thus handled. But these men, for all their deepe reach, may bee deceiued; for all their conclusions are grounded on men: they doe not consider ⟨p. 63⟩what God may doe, as wee see in Dauids enemies, who perceiuing that manie did band themselues together, and rise vp against him; concluded, 1that there was no helpe for him in God. But what sayes Dauid? Lorde, thou art a buckler for mee, my glorie, and the lifter vp of my head. And in another Psalme, 2Mine enemies (saith hee) speake of mee, saying, God hath forsaken him: pursue & take him, for there is none to deliuer him. These speeches (no doubt) pierced Dauids soule: but doth hee make the same conclusion? No, hee is farre from that; hee rather layeth faster hold on God, 3seeing cruell men to be so violently bent against him. Goe not farre from mee, O God (saith hee) my God haste thee to helpe mee: let them be confounded and consumed, that are against my soule, &c. Indeede if mens opposing of themselues against him, could haue kept him from complaining vnto God, or God from giuing care vnto him, his case had bene very lamentable: but seeing that was impossible, whatsoeuer they imagined, there was safety enough for Dauid, and so is there still for all the elect of God.
- 1Psal. 3.1.2.3.
- 2Psal. 71.10.11.
- 3Verse. 12.13.
