the liberty of Christian righteousness. The ungodly have their stated days, stated times, certain works, and certain places; to which they stick so closely, that if their neighbour were perishing with hunger, they could not be torn from them. But this blessed man, being free at all times, in all places, for every work, and to every person, will serve you whenever an opportunity is offered him; whatsoever comes into his hands to do, he does it. He is neither a Jew, nor a Gentile, nor a Greek, nor a barbarian, nor of any other particular person. He gives his fruit in his season, as often as either God or man require his work. Therefore, his fruits have no name, and his times have no name. He does not serve any particular person, nor in any particular time, place, or work; but he serves all in all things. And he is indeed a man of all hours, of all works, of all persons; and, after the likeness of his Father, he is all in all things, and to all men.

But the ungodly, as it is written Psalm viii. fall into their own pit, and are taken in their own net,' and are tormented with the works, times, and places, which they themselves have chosen: out of which, they imagine nothing can be done rightly. And thus, being proud of their own fruits, they do nothing but attack, judge, and condemn the fruits of others, being most free and most ready at all times to censure others; and, in a word, being just such in evil doing, as the godly are in well doing. For they also are men of all hours; calumniating and injuring, not in one way, nor at one time, nor one person only, but all men in every way and at all times, just as circumstances throw them in their way. And even if they should turn this devotedness to what they may call good, yet they would not any the sooner become godly.

His leaf also shall not wither.

He still pursues this most beautiful figure. This "leaf" signifies the Word and doctrine. And we have said, that the palm-tree is always green in leaf and flourishing. But it is said Isaiah i. 30, concerning

the ungodly "Ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth." Only compare therefore all these particulars together. The ungodly walk in their own counsel : the godly man is fixed in the love of the law, and planted by the rivers of water. The former stand in the way of sinners: the latter meditates in the law of the Lord, and gives forth his fruit in his season. The ungodly sit in the seat of the scornful: the leaf of the latter never withers.

And mark this.-He describes the fruit before he does the leaf. And though it is the nature of the palm to put forth its fruit, not among the leaves like all other trees, but among the branches, having all its leaves on the top, so that it might itself seem to produce its fruit before it does its leaves, (and we have said that this figure is taken from the palm,) yet, the Holy Spirit himself always teaches every faithful preacher in the church to know that the kingdom of God does not stand in word but in power, 1 Cor. iv. 20. Again, "Jesus began to do, and to teach," Acts i. 1. And again, "Which was a prophet mighty in deed, and in word," Luke xxiv. 19. And thus, let him who professes the word of doctrine first put forth the fruits of life, if he would not have his leaf to wither: for Christ cursed the fig-tree which bore no fruit. And, as Gregory saith, that man whose life is despised is condemned by his doctrine; for he preaches to others, and is himself reprobated. And concerning such Matthew says, chap. vii. 23, that they shall hear in the day of judgment this sentence, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity:" even though they may have prophesied in the name of Christ, and done many wonderful works by his Word.

But some one may say, There have been many saints and martyrs, but neither their fruits nor their leaves are now remaining, but all have perished with them: nor indeed have we the words of all the apostles: how then can this praise be applicable to all blessed men? I answer:-Their word was not their own word. "For it is not ye that speak (saith Christ) but the Spirit of my Father that speaketh in you." All the saints were

taught by, and they all taught, the same Word: as we read 1 Cor. x. 3, 4, "They did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink.'

This "blessed man" and this fruit-bearing "tree," therefore, may signify the whole church, or those who hold the office of teaching. But there is nothing against its being understood also as signifying every righteous man: because he has likewise the same "leaf:" for if he does not teach others, he certainly teaches himself, meditating with his heart in the law of the Lord, which word remains in him unto all eternity, as it does also in the whole church. And finally, as all the faithful are one body, although this leaf is peculiar to the member that teacheth, yet, by communion, all things belong to all: for the word is mine which my mouth preaches, though I may be the ear or the tongue and so we may say also of every other member throughout the whole body.

And whatsoever he doeth, [or maketh or taketh in hand] shall prosper.

If he saith this with reference to the trunk or palmtree, he alludes to this. The palm is said to be the only tree which still grows upwards against every weight and pressure. And they say that this is seen in beams made of palm-trees.

And with respect to the word "doeth," in this passage, (if I am not too bold,) it does not signify the good works of a righteous man, (for these have been sufficiently commended already under the term 'fruits,') but rather, those performances or productions which we achieve by means of the arts and sciences. For so, the philosophers refer doing' (agere) to wisdom, and making' (facere) to art. And we may see the same distinction in the Hebrew tongue, (according to my bold way of proceeding.) For I generally find the verb ASA to signify making' (facere), and PAAL to signify 'doing' (agere). Thus Psalm xxviii. 5, " Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands:" where "the operation of his hands

sig

nifies the very thing formed. As it is also in another place, "Israel is the work of my hands." And Gen. i. it is said, "And God made," &c. And again, Psalm xcv. 5, "The sea is his, and he made it." But the works of God are those which he does by his creatures; and especially, by his word and his grace; by which, he acts upon us, and makes us act.

Let therefore this "doing" be considered to signify instituting, ordaining, distributing by various ecclesiastical ministrations, and, (as the apostles Peter and Paul did,) acting as stewards of the manifold grace of God, founding churches, and increasing them for thus, the very faithful are said to be of their forming, their work, and their workmanship. Hence Paul 'travailed in birth,' for the Galatians, chap. iv. 19, and 'begat' the Corinthians, 1 Cor. iv. 15. And again, And again, "Are not ye my work in the Lord?" 1 Cor. ix. 1. You understand therefore that this is the spiritual workmanship of a blessed man, not a tyrannical exercise of power, nor a pompous show for these things even the gentiles can do and show forth. But, the doing' of this blessed man, is, making many good, and blessed, and like himself.

And with regard to this "prospering," take heed that thou understand not a carnal prosperity. This prosperity is a hidden prosperity, and lies entirely secret in spirit and therefore if thou hast not this prosperity that is by faith, thou shouldst rather judge thy prosperity to be greatest adversity. For as the devil bitterly hates this leaf and the Word of God, so does he also those who teach and hear it, and he persecutes such, aided by all the powers of the world. Therefore, thou hearest of a miracle the greatest of all miracles, when thou hearest that all things prosper which a "blessed" man doeth. For what is more miraculous, than that the faithful should grow while they are destroyed, should increase while they are diminished, should prevail while others prevail over them, should enter while they are expelled, and should conquer while they are conquered ? For under all these things the world and its prince are

overcome. Yet hath the Lord wonderfully ordained, that, to his saint, that should be the height of prosperity which is the height of misery. This is the prosperity of the wise, and the conversion of men.

But now, we see that word of Proverbs i. 32, fulfilled, “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. For in the present state of the church, we have made names and persons, and have turned the spirit into the flesh; and therefore what is now called a good state of the church, is opulence, tyranny, impurity, the peace of the flesh, and a pomp more than human. For the devil has seen, and at length understood, this spiritual prosperity and therefore, he has turned himself round, and, attacking us in another way, triumphs in our horrible misery. And thus, he who was conquered in a time of conflict, now triumphs in a time of peace and God has for wonderful ends ordained both. Hence, Hilary has wisely and most truly said, that it is the nature of the church to increase in adversity, and decrease in prosperity.' But this wisdom of the cross, and this new signification of things, are not only unknown to the very heads of the church themselves, but also considered by them the most horrible things. And no wonder, since they have left the Holy Scriptures, and have devoted themselves to the unhappy ordinances of men, and to casting up of accounts and sums of money.

The ungodly are not so.

When thou hearest the word " ungodly," remember those things which we have said above concerning ungodliness, lest, like the ungodly, thou shouldst banish these words from thee as applying to the Jews only, and to heretics, and I know not what others who are a great way off; and lest perhaps laying aside the fear of God, thou shouldst not tremble at this word of his. But as he is an ungodly one who is without the faith of Christ, these words should be trembled at by thee, lest thou also shouldst be found to be one of the ungodly. For every truly godly man trembles at every word of God; as Isaiah