and goodness will never forsake me, but will continually preserve me in all dangers of this life: and when I shall depart from this bodily life, thy mercy will bring me into that house of thine eternal joys, where I shall live with thee in everlasting felicity.

Of this part we learn, that the dangers of this life be no more than God can and will put from us, or preserve us in them, when they come unto us, without danger; also that the troubles of this world be not perpetual nor damnable for ever, but that they be for a time only sent from God, to exercise and prove our faith and patience. At the last we learn, that, the troubles being ended, we begin and shall continue for ever in endless pleasure and consolation, as David sheweth at the end of his Psalm. So doth Christ make an end with his disciples, when he hath committed them, for the time of this life, to the tuition of the heavenly Father, whilst he is bodily absent he saith, at length, they shall be where he is himself, in heaven for ever. For in this life, albeit the faithful of God have consolation in God's promises, yet is their joy very dark and obscure, by reason of troubles both without and within outwardly by persecution, inwardly by temptation. Therefore, Christ desireth his Father to lead and conduct his church in truth and verity, whilst it is here in fight and persecution with the devil, until it come to a perfect and absolute consolation, where no trouble may molest it. For then, and not before (to what perfection soever we come), shall we be satisfied, as David saith: "The plentifulness of pleasure and joy is in the sight and contemplation of thee, O Lord!" (Psalm xvi.) For then shall the mind of man fully be satisfied, when he, being present, may presently behold the glorious majesty of God: for God hath then all joys present to him that is present with him, and

then man knoweth God, as he is known of God. (1 Cor. xiii.) These joys in the end of troubles, should give the troubled man the more courage to bear troubles patiently, and be persuaded (as St. Paul teacheth), that the troubles of this present life be not worthy of the joys to come, which shall be revealed to us, when Christ cometh to judge the quick and the dead. (Rom. viji.) To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and praise, world without end. Amen.

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AN EXPOSITION OF THE SIXTY-SECOND

PSALM.

THE ARGUMENT.

THE Prophet in this Psalm doth declare (by his own experience) how the truth of God's word, and such as favour and follow the same, be esteemed and used in the world, of worldly men, the truth itself rejected, and the lovers thereof slandered and persecuted. And seeing truth and true men, before the Prophet's time, in his time, and after his time, were thus miserably afflicted; in this Psalm he writeth his own condition and miseries, with certain. and most comfortable remedies, which ways the afflicted person may best comfort himself, and pass over the bitterness and dangers of his troubles, and suffer them, as long as God layeth them upon him, patiently. So that whosoever, from the feeling of his heart, can say this Psalm, and use the remedies prescribed therein, by the Spirit of God; doubtless he shall be able to bear the troubles both of the devil and man patiently, and contemn them strongly.

The parts of the Psalm be in number generally two.

I. In the first is contained, how that the favour of God, and his help, are able to remedy all adversities.

II. In the second is contained, how that the favour of man, and his help, are able to redress no adversities.

The first part comprehendeth eight verses of the Psalm. The second part containeth the other four verses that next follow to the end of the Psalm.

These two general parts do contain more particular parts in them, in number six.

1. First, what is to be done by the Christian man that is afflicted.

11. The second part sheweth why the troubled 'man in trouble looketh for help of God.

11. The third part declareth how suddenly God can destroy the persecutors of the truth.

IV. The fourth part containeth the repetition of the first and the second part, with more causes shewed why patiently trouble is to be borne, and faithfully to be believed that God can and will remedy it.

v. The fifth part declareth, that man's power is not to be feared, nor his friendship to be trusted unto; for no man is able to damn or save.

VI. The sixth part setteth forth, how that God hath promised to help the afflicted, and will assuredly 'perform it.

The Psalm with the Parts before named, where they begin, and where they end.

1. "My soul truly waiteth still upon God." The first part teacheth a man to fly unto God in the time of oppression and trouble.

2. "For of him cometh my salvation: he verily is my strength and my salvation; he is my defence, so shall I not greatly fall."

The second Part of the Psalm, that declareth why the troubled Man trusteth in God.

3. "How long will ye imagine mischief against every man? Ye shall be slain all the sort of you: yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.

4. "Their device is only how to put him out, whom God will exalt their delight is in lies: they'

give good words with their mouths, but curse with their heart. Selah."

The third Part of the Psalm, wherein is shewed, that suddenly the Persecutors of the Innocent shall perish. 5. "Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God, for my hope is in him.

6. He truly is my strength and my salvation; he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.

7. "In God is my health and my glory, the rock of might and in God is my trust.

8. O put your trust in him always, ye people; pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope. Selah."

In these four verses is contained the fourth part; wherein is mentioned the repetition of the two first

verses.

9. "As for the children of men, they are but vain; the children of men are deceitful upon the weights; they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.

10. "O trust not in wrong and robbery; give not yourselves to vanity: if riches increase, set not your hearts upon them."

Here is the fifth part, that teacheth no trust to be put in man; for he is not able to damn nor save.

11. "God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same, that power belongeth unto God:

12. "And that thou, Lord, art merciful, for thou rewardest every man according to his work."

In these two verses is comprehended the sixth part, which is, that God hath promised to be merciful in helping the afflicted, and that he will perform his promises.