A plain and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…

That which the heart most wisheth, whether it be good or bad, the tongue, hand and head, with all the other members, are ready to procure. Jeremiah complained of the wicked, which delighted in wickedness: that they gave themselves to fraud¹ and falsehood, and took great pains to do wickedly. And Isaiah commendeth the godly, which set their minds on godliness, that with their souls, they desired the Lord in the night: and therefore with their spirits within them, they would seek him in the morning. When Ahab had apprehended an hope of glory and ⟨p. 2⟩wealth, to be won at Ramoth in Gilead, he presently casteth about how to come by it, and then he soliciteth Jehoshaphat to bear him company, and then he appointeth his flattering prophets to give him encouragement, and then he scorned at Micaiah that foretold the peril, and then he goeth on obstinately rather then resolutely to try the success. And Davids principal care was to please the Lord, and to procure comfort to his own soul, and therefore he resolved, for that purpose, to walk in the laws of the Lord, and to banish from him all corrupt and pernicious companions. Away (saith he) ye wicked; for I will keep the commandments of my God. In which examples aswell of the one, as of the other, our text is verified, though in contrary manner. For both these kings were inflamed with contrary desires, the one of his own glory, the other of the Lords: both of them separated themselves, the one from good counsel, the other from bad: both of them practised that which they deemed best for their turns, the one contempt against Gods word, the other obedience to it. Reasons. 1

That which the heart most wisheth, whether it be good or bad, the tongue, hand and head, with all the other members, are ready to procure. Ieremie complained of the wicked, which delighted in wickednesse: that they gaue themselues to fraude¹ and falshood, and tooke great paines to do wickedly. And Esay commendeth the godly, which set their mindes on godlinesse, that with their soules, they desired the Lord in the night: and therefore with their spirits within them, they would seek him in the morning. When Achab had apprehended an hope of glorie and ⟨p. 2⟩