The righteous mans way Wherein are given certaine directions, how men may profitably meditate upon the Commandements of God: that so through such manner of meditation, the Lordes Commandements may finde place in mens hearts, to serve in them as guides unto all their actions and thoughts. Directions most needfull for these times, seeing most men laying the commandements of God aside, doe leade their lives in disobedience to Gods commandements; and this, not onely to the scandall of Christian religion, but also to the extreame hazard of their own salvation.

8. CHAP.

THe seventh Motive, or Inducement, to the keeping willingly and with delight Gods Commandements, is, Their profiting them that obserue them. For besides the profite of those blessings which Gods Promises, Deut. 11. 8. Deut. 11. 2••. Deut. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 1. comfort us of, there are other pro∣fites which the commandements themselues bring with thē to the observers of them. As David saith, Ps. 119. 24. Thy Tes∣timonies are my Counsellers. And Ps. 119. 22. Except thy Law had been my delight, I should haue perished in myne affliction: I wil ne∣ver forget thy Precepts for by them thou hast quickned me. Again, Ps. 119. 104. By thy Precepts, I haue gotten understanding. And Ps. 119. 100. I understood more then the Ancients, because I kept thy Precepts. Againe, Ps. 119. 129. The entrance into thy Word shew∣eth light, and giveth understanding to the simple. Lastly, Ps. 119. 98. By thy commandements thou hast made me wiser then myne enemies: for they are ever with me. I haue had more understanding then all my Teachers: for thy Testimonies are my meditation. Thus by this holy mans experience we find, that the cōmandemēts

of the Lord shew a Light, and giue understanding; they quicken one, they are as Counsellers, they make us wi••er then our enemies; yea, they prevent our perishing in Af∣fliction. Precious benefites truely are these, and such will appeare to be unto him, who duely considers each of these things what it is. There is not one of these things but wee would be delighted to haue it fulfilled in our selues: for who desireth not every of these things, if there be any possibili∣ty of attaining thereto? Would you then attaine to these things, doe as did this holy man, exercise your selues in the commandements to doe them. For certainely as the com∣mandements, issued in the originall from God who dwel∣leth in glorious light, so they themselues partake of the na∣ture of light, giving light also unto him that receiues them into him by Meditation, setting himselfe to doe them in his life and conversation. A worldly minded man injoying the light of this world, can hardly be perswaded that darkness is in himselfe: but, as a blinde man though he be in the light of this world yet is himselfe darke, so is a worldly minded man, though he injoy the light of this world. Let the sim∣ple or ignorant therefore, or the worldly minded, (for there is no worse simplicity and ignorance then worldly minded∣nesse) take unto them the commandements of God: let them learne them by heart: let them think or meditate on them one by one: let them set themselues to put them in execution in their actions, and in their conversation, and they shall finde a mervailous change in themselues: a change, I say, nothing lesse mervailous, then if a blind man ever blind, should receiue sight, or darknesse should be changed into light. Surely, as is the morning light after the dark shadow of the night, so will the simple, the ignorant, or worldly mine∣ded, by receiving the commandements be inlightned, be∣comming of darke, light, and of ignorant, to be men of un∣derstanding.

A worldly minded man would hardly think that his wisedom can be foolishnesse; for finding himselfe wise, and wiser then many, either in contriving to increase his gaine, or in dexterity of apprehension and invention in matters of State or Pollicy, though he know not, or care not for to walke in the commandements of God, yet he thinks himselfe wise, and sufficiently wise for his part; but, as the Apostle, 1. Cor. 1. 20. saith: Hath not God made the wisedome of this world foolishness? So there is nothing truer, then that a man wholly worldly minded, nothing minding the commandements of God to doe them, or obserue them in all his Actions and Thoughts, is not wise as he thinketh, but contrariwise is even filled with foolishnesse. Let such therfore, if there be any heart in them to doe themselues good, learne also the commandements of God, endeavouring that they, as Guides, goe with all their plots and devises, to the ruling them when they tend unto straying from the way of Righteousnesse, and then they shall change their wise∣dome, from foolishnesse to wisedome indeed. If their gain, if their promotion will not stand with the observation of Gods commandements, and therfore they thinke that it were not wisedome for them, by observing the comman∣dements, to depriue themselues of such gaine or promoti∣on, let them know, that when they haue reared up their state unto the uttermost, then they are but as men who are foolishly under some old Ruines, which are ready to fall up∣on them to their destruction, if wisely they hasten not them∣selues from under them. As for the poore of the world, the simple (I mean) or unlearned, let them also know, that if unto this poverty of theirs they joyn also worldly-mindednesse, nothing caring to know the commandements of God, and to be ruled by them in their poore plots and contrivings for meanes of living, or for gaine, then they are of all men the

most miserable and truely base, as being both poore and wicked, and in the wrath of God. But if they will resort to their Teacher, and pray him to acquaint them with the Commandements of the Lord, setting themselues also to rule their Acts, and their Thoughts by them, then shall they feele a wisedome to grow in themselues, changing them in their minds within, making them of simple or ignorant, to be of good understanding, and truely wise. Therfore also the commandements which most import us are such, as which the simplest may understand, that so none may plead for his ignorance, but every one of what condition soever he be, low as well as high, poore as rich, shallow as deep of judgement, may better both his understanding and also his condition. And verily a worthy work is it in a Pastor, to haue an eye to his Auditories knowledge or ignorance, observa∣tion or neglect of the commandements of the Lord, ben∣ding his Instructions and Exhortations, his giving consola∣tion or denouncing of judgement accordingly. For cer∣tainly it is one of the chiefest parts of his office, to haue a watchfull eye over the manners and conversation of his peo∣ple, observing their change or not changing, from wicked∣nesse unto Righteousnesse, from prophanesse unto Holiness. I cannot therfore but much commend them, who insist much upon instruction and exhortation concerning Man∣ners, observing in their Auditories the defects or unrighte∣ousnesse, and sharply reproving the same, and that plainly: Teaching them withall, and that frequently, the way of Righteousnesse, being carefull to impresse in them, now some, then others of the commandements of God, and shewing them how they should make use of them in their common Actions and Conversation. I cannot like that su∣perficiall and too generall kinde of touching at wickedness, which the teachers of these our time too much (for the

most part) now affect; for hereby they speake, not as to their own people; but as of things which concernes not them as guilty, saue onely to heare of them as the text giues oc∣casion, and this but as for a warning. For the Teachers of these times seeme to be loath to exasperate any by a just re∣proofe of wickednesse evident in them, speaking alwaies so generally rather, that men may take or leaue the reproofe at their own pleasure. For my part I thinke this to be a fault, whilst a Pastor, though wickednesse be even manifest in any of his Auditorie, yet he dares not reproue any one plainly thereof, but must ever speak in generall manner, leaving the party to take or leaue the reproofe at his pleasure. Indeed without certainty and evidence, none ought to be publique∣ly reproved, for publique reproofe is a kind of punishment, and not being surely grounded may be rather a scandal then a just reproofe; but where the wickednesse is manifest, as be∣ing a thing generally noted of the neighbours, I think that Pastor failes of his dutie, who reproveth not the same open∣ly and plainly in his hearer, that so a just reproofe may touch the conscience, and peradventure leade his hearer to repen∣tance. If these things were done both by people and Pastor, it would certainly appeare by present experience also in eve∣ry Age, that the Commandements of the Lord shew light, and giue understanding to the simple. And it is this sence in our selues of so blessed a change of our mindes within, that is a kind of Quickning, which they certainly will with comfort of heart feele, who set themselues to the Lords commande∣ments to obserue them, as for Guides of their Action and Communication. For as he that walketh in trespasses and sinnes, is said of the Apostle Ephes. 2. 1. to be dead even while he is aliue: So certainly, the change from so walking in trespasses and sinnes, unto an obedience or guiding our deeds or speech by the Commandements of God, is ever

accompanied with a kinde of Quickning (as feeling peace with God) which the soule in a man that so doth will cer∣tainly haue a sense of Therefore profitable is it that a man use himselfe to know the commandements of God, learn∣ing them more and more in time; but with this resolution of minde withall, to doe as they direct him, as occasion is offered for making use at any time of any of them. Let men therefore with this holy man use them as Counsellers, con∣sulting ever with them before any thing be done or said, or thought; for assuredly he that so doth shall finde that they will be unto him faithfull Counsellers, and deep a••o in wisedome, shewing him the true and happie way of a most excellent and blamelesse life. Which that a man may the better and with the more ease doe, it is convenient that hee get a ready knowledge of the commandements, least else for want of a ready knowledge, the commandement be to see•• when any thing is to be done or said. But it will greatly fur∣ther a readinesse of remembrance, if the commandements be by some skilfull hand digested into such an order, as that the most usuall Actions of life, and the most usuall speech, may haue annexed to them severally the commandements which most aptly serue as Guides in them. For men more easily apprehending variety of common or usuall actions or life, or speech, then they doe a variety of commandements, they will both then more easily apprehend a variety of com∣mandements, they being joyned with the usuall actions of life, or commonnesse and most usuall speech and conversa∣tion, and also they will haue the commandement the more ready at hand, as they haue occasion of such Action or Speech, unto which they finde the commandements an∣nexed▪ It is good to further good things by all good means, and people haue need of such furthering, because they are commonly dull of apprehension, and carelesse of Re∣membrance

as concerning duties.

Another benefite which the Prophet David found by Gods commandements, was, that he was by them made wi∣ser then his enemies: for surely some enemies of his laying wait for his falling, indeavoured either to bring him by some or other snare, or else oppression or distresse, into some or other evill Action, that so Advantage might be taken there∣of, to ruin him even by publique justice; but he having his eye to the Commandements of God, shunning the evill which they discovered and forbad, deceived them in their expectation concerning the end of their plots Even so, full many are they who industriously plot, to bring the Saints into some open scandall, by getting them, either by smooth flattery, or couloured violence, to doe some evill thing or other, that therupon they may haue opportunity to shame them, if they cannot also ruin them. Therfore a happy man shall he assuredly prooue, who consulteth frequently with the commandements of God; for, making them to goe commonly with his Actions and Speech as Guides unto them, he shall prevent his falling into the snares, which it may be unknown enemies lay for him. Much like as when some desiring the fall of some one, will close with him by some that haue familiarity with him, to get him, either by way of conference of State matters to speak evill of some in Authority; or by way of Society to become a drunkard with drunkards for cōpany or good fellowships sake, (as they use to speak): or by way of pleasure to become a haunter of har∣lots: or by way of questioning and disputation, to become a holder of some punishable errour. These, and many other traps doe wicked persons and politique lay, to intrap them unto shame at leastwise, if not unto perdition also, who let not loose the raines to runne with them in the full speed of that ungodlinesse wherein themselues delight; but he that

hath an eye upon the commandements of the Lord, eschew∣ing by their direction the evill, will (unawares peradvent•••••••• at the present to himselfe) proue wiser then his enemies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unknown to him at the present, laid such snares for his fa••••••∣ling. Yea, the Prophet shewes by his experience further, that he that doth set his eye upon the commandements, shall not onely finde a wise prevention of the drift of his foes, but also shall finde a sustaining him by them in his Af∣flictions. And indeed sometimes when Afflictions happe∣neth upon a man, he is then more ready to run into further and further evill, through discontent of not being kept of God from affliction when he sets himselfe to his comman∣dements, then he is to turne in his heart to the Lord with prayer, remaining withall constant in obedience. But when once a man hath gotten such a victory over the evill inclyna∣tion of his flesh, as that with a resolute heart he hath made Gods commandements his delight, then even under the hea∣vy pressure of Afflictions, he shunnes the running the high way of Discontent unto perdition, staying himselfe by the Law of his God, from doing or thinking those evill things which Discontent would easily take hold of, and so saveth himselfe from perishing in his Afflictions. To conclude, as you desire to haue the darkenesse of this world expelled out of you, and the Light of God to inlighten you to salvation: as you desire, of simple or ignorant, to become men of good understanding: as you of dead, even while you are aliue, would be quickned with the life of Righteousnesse through the Spirit: as you would, in stead of the false and pernici∣ous incytements of the flesh, haue faithfull counsaile: as you would prevent the traps of your foes, becomming wiser in preventing, then they in plotting: Lastly, as you would eschew shipwrack in the storme of Afliction, so haue a resolute courage and minde in you, to set the Com∣mandements

before you, in all your Deeds, Communi∣••ation; yea, and Thoughts, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that you be ruled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, to doe in all things as they instruct and teach you. Thus having shown unto you some of the speciall Mo∣••••ues, or Inducements, by which men may be brought on to willing obedience unto the Commandements, I will now proceed to shew also some of the speciall Meanes, wherby to attain to keep the Commandements as the Saints haue kept them.