so that in manner I was forced and compelled, through indignation, to judge of God as other evil men did, and grievously offended his high majesty, in thinking his doings not indifferent, in troubling the good, and quieting of the bad. (Psalm xxxvii. lxxiii. Hab. ii.) THE FOURth verse. 4. For they are in no peril of death, but are lusty and strong. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. I perceived further (saith the Prophet), that the wicked lived not only quietly and pleasantly, but also died (in manner) without heaviness or any great torments. Besides all these felicities, pleasures, and ease for their own parts in this world, it happeneth when they die, they leave also pleasant and delectable mansion-houses, great riches, and large possessions to their children. THE FIFTH AND SIXTH VERSES. 5. They come into no misfortunes like other folk, neither are they plagued like other men. 6. And this is the cause that they be so holden with pride, and overwhelmed with cruelty. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. If any miss of loss and damage in this world, it is they if sickness flieth from any, it flieth from them so that much felicity and little adversity cause them to know neither God, their neighbours, nor themselves. THE SEVENTH VERSE. 7. Their eyes swell for fatness, and they do what they lust. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. Such as flourish with riches and authority, were proud and arrogant; for all things come so abun dantly unto them, that they have more than they look for. THE EIGHTH VERSE. 8. They corrupt other, and speak of wiched blasphemy; their talk is against the Most Highest. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. They afflict and cruelly persecute the good and innocent, and they are come to this insolency and pride, that they would not only their abomination should be known, but also they themselves boast of it, and in most abomination most extol and magnify themselves. THE NINTH VERSE. 9. For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, and their tongue goeth through the world. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. They be so blinded and deceived with the felicity and trouble of this world, that they spare not God nor godly men; but speak against both, and do their wills and pleasures. THE TENTH, ELEVENTH, TWELFTH, THIRTEENTH, FOURTEENTH, FIFTEENTH, SIXTEENTH, AND SEVENTEENTII VERSES. 10. Therefore fall the people unto them, and thereout suck they no small advantage. 11. Tush (say they), how should God perceive it? Is there knowledge in the Most Highest? 12. Lo, these are the ungodly; these prosper in the world; these have riches in possession. 13. Then have I cleansed my heart in vain (said and washed my hands in innocency. 14. All the day long have I been punished, and chastened every morning. 15. Yea, I had almost said even as they: but lo, then should I have condemned the generation of thy children. 16. Then thought 1 to understand this, but it was too hard for me, 17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I the end of these men.. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. Because the wicked men prosper so well in this world, the people of God conform and apply themselves to do as they do, and frame their lives and manners unto the rule and fashion of such wicked people as prosper; and they suck and draw into their minds the wicked men's opinions and conversations, and so replenish themselves with iniquity, as the thirsty man doth replenish himself with water. And when the people see the best part turn unto the manners of the worst, and be as evil or worse than the worst, they muse and think whether there be any God, or knowledge in God, that suffereth those abominations. And not only the common people (saith the Prophet Asaph) stood in a mammering, whether God took any heed or cared for the world, seeing that wicked men did so prosper, and the godlier sort so vexed: but I myself also, considering these things with myself, fell into such madness and error of judgment, that I had done evil so to apply myself to virtuous and godly life: seeing I was vexed and turmoiled with continual miseries, and seeing that there was never a day that did not bring her cross and trouble to the servants of God and virtuous people. These things (saith the Prophet) fondly and foolishly I spake to myself many times; but when I weighed the thing with more judgment, and considered the matter more deeply with myself, I thought, if I thus judge and speak of God, do I not reprove, reprehend, and condemn the life, conversation, and labours of all godly men? the which will not be drawn nor enticed from godly life and the love of virtue by any misfortunes or afflictions in this world; neither do they judge that they have studied and followed godliness in vain, whatsoever trouble hath, happened to them in this world. And therefore, when I assayed to compass the cause and verity of these things, the greatness thereof brought me into much fear and carefulness. And further I perceived that I could not come to the knowledge of these things, except the Almighty God would reveal and open unto me the mysteries and secrets of his providence and wisdom, that I might see and understand what end and outgoing these wicked men should have, that with most abomination and blasphemy in this life had most felicity and pleasure; and by tarrying in the thoughts and cogitations of this case and matter, at last I found, that these wicked. men and women, whose felicity and prosperous estate tormented me, their end was most miserable, full of wretchedness and pain. THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETRENTH VERSES. 18. Namely, thou settest them in slippery places, and castest them down, and destroyest them. 19. Oh! how suddenly do they consume, perish, and come to a fearful end! THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. Doubtless the felicities and pleasures, Lord, that thou gavest to these wicked doers, are slippery and brittle for so may I well call them, because such aș enjoy them (for the most part) so abuse them in this life, that they lose the life everlasting. THE TWENTIETH VERSE. 20. Yea, even as a dream when one awaketh: so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. These wicked men's felicity vanished, as the dream of him that is awaked; for as the dream for a time sermeth to be true, and as long as he sleepeth he supposeth it to be as he dreameth; but as the dream. passeth, the sleep being broken, so doth these wicked men's felicity, when they depart out of this life. THE TWENTY-FIRST, TWENTY-SECOND, TWENTYTHIRD, AND TWENTY-FOURTH VERSES. 21. Thus my heart was grieved, and it went through my reins. 22. So foolish was 1 and ignorant, even as it were a beast before thee. 23. Nevertheless, I am always by thee: for thou hast holden me by the right hand. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and after that receive me with glory. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. Before (saith Asaph) that I saw such wicked men, as flourished in all felicity and pleasure, cast down headlong from their places, I was wonderfully troubled and no marvel; for I was but a fool and an idiot, that perceived not the judgment of the Lord, but as a beast before thee in that respect, O Lord; yet didst thou conduct me (such a fool as I am) to the understanding of thy pleasure, in such difficult and hard causes. And in their pleasures thou shewedst me their loss and damnation, and in mine own adversity and trouble shewedst me my salvation and perpetual health. THE TWENTY-FIFTH AND TWENTY-SIXTH VERSES. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon the earth, that I desire in comparison of thee. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. THE PLAIN EXPLANATION. When the Prophet hath weighed God's judgment towards such as with iniquity lived in all pleasure, and perceived that their pains were for ever, and |