THus in this verse David accuseth the wicked : in the next , three , hee proveth against them his accusation . And in the fift , sheweth the hand of God upon them , and against them for that wickednesse .

In the accusation of this verse he calleth them fooles , whom he accuseth , he accuseth these fooles of wickednesse inward in heart , and outward in life , and maketh them the onely authors of that double wickednesse .

Of the name I have spoken : whence I tooke occasion briefly to moove the understanding of religion , and practise of godlinesse , that you might cleare your names from the imputation of foolishnesse , because as Salomon saith , The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome .

You have seene the sinne it selfe so closely carried [ non est deus ] there is no God where wee shewed what it was by Interpreters thought not to be , namely , no resolved and concluded deniall of God .

For many have desired to be perswaded in their harts that there was no God , and have pleased themselves in thinking so , and have harkened to the discourses of others that haue disputed against God , and have endeavoured to perswade others that could never perswade themselves , and have reioyced to propound arguments concluding against God subtilly and probably framed , whereunto it pleased them , if men have answered weakely .

Yet was there never any searching spirit , or any other of whatsoeuer stampe of wickednesse that could silence his owne conscience , and make his heart to subscribe to this degree of Atheisme . For their conscience is Consistorium a consistorie , because they are convented , accused , and condemned : and besides the law of nature , which ( as the Apostle saith ) Rom. 2. 15. is written in their hearts , which Bullinger saith , is the verdict of the conscience , it will checke them , and not suffer them to sleep securely in this degree of Atheisme .

Yet do we not hereby discharge the fool of the imputed wickednes of his heart , neither gainsay the Prophet which saith , The foole in his heart denyeth God , & truly , nullum genus ●odie est hominum tetrius : there is not a worse kinde of men liuing then a close Atheist . Let us then shew what their Atheisme is that they are charged with . August . upon this P●al . hath this saying , Rarum hominum genus est , qui dicantin corde suo , Non est deus : at vero in aliointellectu discusso inuenitur esse in pluribus , quod in paucis & raris , & pene nullis esse putabatar , that sort of men , saith he , is seldome to bee found , which saith in their hearts ther is no God , but take these worde in another sence , and then that number shall be found verified in many , which was supposed to be in few , and those seldome seene ; or almost none at all : and then hee calles out a number of Atheists , saying , Prodeant in medium qui male vivunt , insp●ciamus facta flagitiosorum , f●ci●orosorum , sceleratorum quorum magna turba est . Let them that are of wicked lives , stand forth , let us looke into the doings of wicked , and naughtie men , whose number we shal finde to be great , and of these hee saith , Is●i tales sunt , ut dicant in corde suo , Non est deus , such are these that say in their heart there is no God .

So that in Saint Augustines opinion , every impenitent sinner is a denier of God : for he that feareth not in the sight of God to doe wickedly , is as one that acknowledgeth no God , yea though he were withall a cunn●ng Hypocrite , that had learned & could say much of God . And of this minde is the Doctor of the Gentiles , who saith , they professe that they know God , but by their works they deny him , and are abhominable and disobedient unto every good worke , reprobate . For either they remember not God at all , as it is said of them , Psal . 10. 4. the ungodly is so proud that he careth not for God : non est deus in conspectu eius , neither is God in all his thoughts : or else they seeke to suppresse every remembrance of him , as they are reported to say , Iob 21. 14. they say unto God , depart from us , wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes : or if they continue to remember God , then they conceive falsely and wickedly of him , either that hee seeth not , or seeing , marketh not , or marking , regardeth not , that it misliketh him not what they do , or if he misliketh , will never punish , loving their iniquitie no lesse then themselves doe in the Psal . 10. vers . 11. Hee hath said in his heart , that God hath forgotten , hee hideth his face and will never see . After , in the same Psalme 10. verse 13. Wherefore doth the wicked contemne God ? hee saith in his heart , Thou wilt not regard . And in the Psalm 94. vers . 6. They slay the widdow and the stranger , and murther the fatherlesse , Yet they say , Non vid bit dominus , the Lord shall not see , neither will the God of Iacob regard it . They de●y the knowledge of God and his government in all the degrees thereof , in his observation of all things , his mislike of all things , and his upright iustice in condemnation of evill , and denying his knowledge , rule and iustice they deny God : yea some goe so farre , that they doe not onely either forget or contemne the iustice of God , and promise themselves immunitie in their sinne , but they thinke their workes please God , and that they are in favour , and may expect reward . Moses speaks of men . Deut . 29. 19. that when they heare the words of the curse , yet blesse themselues in their hearts saying , we shal haue peace , though we walke according to the stubbornesse of our owne heart . David produceth God complaining o● their impietie , Psa , 50 21. Haec fecisti , & tacui , these things hast thou done , and I held my tongue , therfore ●hou thoughtst that I was like hee , ( that is ) that thy dongs pleased , and I delighted as much therin as thy selfe , for so doth S. August inte●pret those words , ( that I was like thee ) in his book de ovibus , saying , Revera , hoc cogitant mali , quum multa fecerant mala , & mali sibi accidere nihil vident , non tantum placentipsis sua facta mala , sed etiam deo placere putant , in tantum procedit impietas , ut & deum similem . sibi existimet impius contemptor , & cum deus adducat eum docendo , monendo , hortando corripiendo , ad similitudinem suam , non solum , non sequitu● similitudinem dei , sed deum vn● addueere ad similitudin● suam , that is , verily thu● think the wicked with themselues , when they haue committed many wicked acts , & yet see no harme to happen vnto them for so doing , they do not only please themselues in their owne wickednesse ▪ but further perswade themselues , that the same is pleasing to God . So far forth proceeds the impiety of this wicked contemner of Almighty God , that he doth thinke God to be like unto himselfe , & when God doth endeauour to draw him unto his owne likenesse by instructions , admonitions , exhortations and corrections , hee w●ll not onely not bee brought to Gods likenes , but would haue God to bee like him : This , Augustine takes to be the meaning of Davids words ( thou thoughtest that I was like thee ) that is , thou thoughtest thy sins pleased mee . Yea some expect prosperity and a blessing upon their most desperate sins , as the Prophet Malachi noteth their words , Mal . 3. 15. W●e count the proud blessed , even they that work wickednes are set up , & they that tempt God , euen they are deliuered , these were the words of the wicked , which God complaineth of , as words of stoutnes against him . Men of this opinion deny God . I apply unto you that which S. Cyprian spake of some in his time : walking in darkenes they suppose they have the light ; they hold the night for day , and destruction for salvation , that while they faine and devise an opinion , somewhat like to be true , they may annihilate the truth it selfe by their subtilties . Let mee report unto you August . his words concerning these men , Qui putat deo placere facta mala , non eum putat deum : si enim deus est , iustus est , si iustus est , displicet ei iniustitia , displicet iniquitas : tu autem quum putas ei placere iniquitatem , negas deum . He that thinkes his wicked deedes please God , thinkes him to be no God , for if hee be God , he is iust , if he be just , surely thē is unrighteousnes and iniquitie unpleasing to him : therefore ( saith this good Father ) while thou thinkest iniquitie to be pleasing unto God , deniest God .

Thus we see , that though men cannot with all their cursed endeavour grow unto an argued resolution in their hearts that there is no GOD , because their conscience , which the learned both olde and new haue called forum , a court o● iudgement will at one time or other condemne them & strongly reply against them , ( Paul saith , Rom. 2. their conscience doth witnesse to them ) & make them acknowledge both the being , power , and gouernement of God : yet while they doe not know God aright , & seek to drown such knowledge of him as they haue , while they do not feare nor walk in his lawes , but contemne him and follow their owne lusts , thinking either that he seeth no● , or marketh not , or m●sliketh not , yea , liketh well their doing , and will reward them with prosperity , they are guilty of this impured wickednes , & say in their hearts there is no God . To feare no God , is to deny God : for God is greatly to be feared . Deus charitas est , & per odium negatur , charitas christus , sapientia , est justitia , v●ritas , sanctitas , fortitudo , & his similia per insipientiam negatur sapientia , per iniquitatem iustitia per mendacium veritas , per turpitudinem sanctitas , per imbecillitatem animi fortitudo , & quotiescunque vincimur vitijs atque peccatis , toties ▪ deum negamus ; sicut a contrario quoties boniquid agimus , toties deum confitemur : that is chiefly as often as we suffer our selves to be overcome of vice , and yeeld unto sinne , so often wee deny God ( saith this good Father ) as on the contrary , as often as wee doe good , so often wee are said to acknowledge or confesse God . But ( saith the Prophet ) Wickednesse saith to the wicked man ( even in my heart ) that there is no feare of God before his eyes : his owne rooted wickednesse prompteth him in his heart to feare no God , as if there were no God to bee feared : and whiles hee feareth none , hee obeyeth none , but securely transgresseth the Law of God , and becommeth an Atheist . For truely ( saith Hillarie ) Quum quis transgrediturlegem dei , deum negat . Hee that transgresseth the Law of God , denyeth GOD : And if hee goe further in wickednesse to thinke that God likes it , or doth not mislike it , hee proceedeth further in Atheisme : Augustine saith . Quum dicis in corde tuo , favet iniquitatibus meis deus , nihil aliud dicis , quam quod non est deus : when thou sayest in thy heart , God doth favour mine iniquities , this is as much as if thou didst say , ( There is no God . ) This discourse may serve as a good warning to teach us to flye sinne . I dare say for all here present that heare mee this day , that not any one dareth say there is no God , & many that shall reade this title ( of the Atheist ) will bee ready to say , Is there any such ? that dare say , or dare thinke , that there is ●o God ? neither is there any would be judged an Atheist and a denyer of God , but rather we wil challenge to be esteemed and named good Christians , and worshippers of God .

Let me tell you , & tel you that it is truth , and let these few lines witnesse against you : the hypocrite is a close Atheist : the loose wicked man is an open Atheist , the secure , bold , and proud ●ransgressour is an Atheist : he that will not be taught & reformed , is an Atheist . O man , thou that thinkest God sees not thy works , thou art ●n Atheist : thou that thinkest not to come to iudgement for thy workes , thou that sayest in thy heart ( if it ●e left till then ) I shall doe well enough ; thou that say●st , Si deus omnes puniret ●●●entes , quando ad me ve●ier ? ●f God hath a list to punish ●ll offendors , wh●n will hee come to mee ; and ●o eue●y one that evill doth and thinkes to prosper in the sight of God , as Nathan said to Dauid , Thou art the man so I to every one of these , quisquis fuerit , quintus fuerit , whosoever hee shall bee , how great soever , thou that thus doest , art an Atheist , thou that thus thinkest , ar● an Atheist : And this is the fault of too many of us , that while we professe to know God , by vorkes , doe deny him ( as Paul speaketh ) and wanting his feare , depart and goe from him , as Ieremy speaketh .

Thus much briefely for the inward wickednesse of the heart , that hee chargeth this close foole withall , fooles indeede to say in their hearts there is no God : and because they are foolish , their wickednesse bursteth forth , and they have corrupted ) and thus I am fallen upon the next words , ( They have corrupted . )

These words shew from whence all their wickednesse issueth from , a voluntarie desertion of their owne hearts corrupting themselves . But in this place wee will skippe over these words , that wee may come to take a view of the outward wickednesse of their lives , that hee chargeth them with ; and when wee have seene both the inward and outward , then will we search out the root & originall cause of all .

The outward wickednes of their lives , is set downe in the last words of the verse , they have done abhominable wickednesse , there is none that doth good . ] In which words the Prophet maketh two branches of their outward wickednesse .

1 The first branch beareth their presumptuous sin , in the evill that they have done , in these words [ they have done abhominable wickednesse .

2 The second branch beareth their slothfull sinne in the neglect of all good duties , in these word● [ there is none that doth good .

First is their presuming sinne , in the evill that they have done which he calleth W●ckednesse , in regard of the forme and nature of the act on being contrary to Gods law , to holinesse , to righteousnesse , mercy , and faithfulnesse , and he calleth them ( abominable wickednes ) that is , execrable , deseruing presently to be detested and abhorred of all that heareth it : and he ca●leth them so , in regard of the measure and excesse of the sinne , and the high pride and intemperancie of the heart that doth them , there is not a sinne of any nature , but it is as big as one of Herods wormes , which devoured his bowels . For sin , in the height & excesse therof becommeth abhominable , whichin the lowest measure is unlawfull and uncomely . As the fornication of Sichem with Dinah , was wicked and uncomely : but the dealing of the Beniamites with the Le vites wife was abhominable . The lying of the Egyptian midviues was not right , howsoever God blessed them for their mercie and love shewed to the seed of Israel . But when men of Belial swore falsely against Naboth , & false witnesses rose up against the life of the Lord Iesus , lying in them became abhominable .

Now in that hee makes their actions abhominable wickednes , he noteth a difference betweene fooles and men made wise unto salvation ; betweene men unregenerate , & those whose hearts God ( in some measure ) hath sanctified . Both commit actions which for their form are wicked , because they are contrary to the law of God . but only the actions of the unregenerate , whose hearts God hath not renewed , are abhominable . They continue in sin , and become by continuing abhominable , while the other returneth unto God daily , and the unregerate grow to the habit and custome of iniquitie , and therby become abhominable while the regenerate are stayed by modesty , & euen lessen that which they haue done , by the humility and sorrow of their contrite heart .

One principall difference which maketh the wickednes of the unregenerate abhominable , is , they goe , perseuere , and retract none of their doings : while the regenerate , stayeth , retracteth and repenteth , Greg . Rom. in Iob : Reproborum proprium esse solet semper prava agere , & nunquam quae agerint retractaereomne enim quod ficiciunt , caeca mente pertranseunt , nisi quum puniti fuer ●t non agnoscunt . At contra , electorum est actus s●os quoti●ie ab ipso cogitationis ●onte discutere . It is the propertie of the wicked alwaies to be exercised in euill , and neuer to returne from their wickednes which they haue done : for their minds being blinded , they lightly let passe by euery thing that they doe , neither acknowledge their sinnes , but when they haue bin punished for thē : wheras ( on the contray ) the elect and regenerate daily examine , and finde out their actions by a serious consideration with themselues .

A second thing making their wickednes abominable is , that they take pleasure in evill , & go on with delight : while the regenerate mourn for the evill they do , & exercise their hearts with that sorrow that Paul speaketh of {αβγδ} . Godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation , not to be repented of . The same father saith of the unregenerate , Mortis suae negotium ridentes peragunt Another minde and gesture of the godly Paul sheweth us in himselfe , whom the consideration of his sinfulnesse made to c●y out , writing to the Romans miserego homo ! O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver mee from the body of this death ?

Thirdly , this maketh their wickednes abominable , that they will not be brought to acknowledge their guiltines before God , but they will hide it , extenuate it , or poste it over to others ; and if that cannot helpe them , in the end confesse it with despaire ; and their sorrow Paul cals {αβγδ} the sorrow of the world , which , if God preventeth not , it is their way to desperation : for the Apostle saith , that {αβγδ} , it worketh death . This was in that abhominable wicked one , I meane Iudas . In text it is written of him , {αβγδ} hee repenting : but this Bernard cals crudelis & desperata penitentia . Thus do all abominable sinners when they repent . While the regenerate ingenuously confesseth and powreth his soule forth in secret , that there might be an healing of his infirmities , and a washing away of al their sins with the true teares of repentance , as David confessed before Nathan , & Peter wept bitterly . Impijs non est sic : with these fooles it is not so : they follow the fashion of Saul , culpas aliquando negando tegunt , saith Greg . Rom. aliquando in alios transferunt , tegunt quidem negando , quum latere possunt : sed dum quasi in aperto deprehensitenentur , quod negare nequcant , alijs ascribunt . And this is impudencie in sinne , while thou thinkest thou canst prevaile , to excuse it with lying , when thou canst hide it no longer , to put the blame upon others , & in no case yeeld thy selfe faulty against God , and at last if the fault bee found in thee , to despaire ; confessing ( as Iudas did ) when his master was condemned . For euen such men ( saith Greg . ) conf●sse their sins , sed deflere contemnunt , their hard heart cannot melt into teares of contrition , for their hearts are harder then the stones . We reade that the rock tender●d w●t●r unto Moses at the third stroke : but the stony hearts of these men receive many strokes from the Prophets of God , & wil not send forth the teares of repentance . Are they not like the Smiths anvile , the more they are stricken , the more hard they are growne ? like unto that abhominable wicked one ( I meane Pharaoh ) who would not relent , albeit God had inflicted so many great and grievous plagues . And such were the Israelites , of whom the Prophet Ieremy speaketh , Thou hast smitten them , but they have not sorrowed , that is , they have sinned so long , that now they are past feeling .

But the regenerate , culpas quas vocibus confessionis aperiunt , districtae animadversionis fletibus insequuntur , they confesse their faults , and pursue themselves for them with teares of sharpe indignation , knowing that initium salutis , the first step of repentance is notitia peccati , the finding out and acknowledgement of sinne . This wee may see by Dauid , who being overtaken by committing wickednesse , as soone as hee saw what hee had done , hee was mightily troubled , & cried out , Ps. 51. 3. My sin is ever before mee , that is , continually in my sight . Many other things might be said to set out the abomination of these fooles , and vnregenerate persons . But to vs it may bee more profitable to hearken to the words of exhortation when wee are warned to abstain from wickednesse , that wee grow not to bee abhominable in it , for many of vs are ouer far gone already . Some sweare abominably , some curse and raile abhominably , some are abhominable in their drunkennesse , some are abhominable in fornication , in their pride , in the reuenge of their hearts , & in al other sins O let vs , let vs in the feare of God take heed to the growth of sin , let vs resist sin in the beginning , while it is breeding , and not suffer it to grow into habit and custome . For if sin once growes to habit or custome , needs must it become abhominable , & conclude with finall impenitency , & the end of that must be finall destruction . If we giue way at any time , any way , vnto this close Atheisme , wee must know that we entertain the fore runner of abominable wickednes . It is like a serpent if it get in the head , the whole body will easily follow : let vs kil sin in the egge , in the conception ; else it wil proue a cocatrice . A plant may easily bee pluckt vp while it is yong ; but if it be well grown , & well rooted , it cannot be rooted up without much digging : So it is with sinne . It is said of those that should take the Babylonish children and dash their head against the stones , that they were blessed : we may say that they are most blessed , who kill sin in the infancy , in the womb , before it be brought forth , lest it bring forth wickednes , the wages whereof is death , not the death of the body , in separating the body from the soule : for the reward of all these ( that are abhominable in the sight of God ) is the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone , which is the second death , Reu . 21. 8. And this is the death of the soule , in separating the soule from God . Oh wofull wages of abominable wickednes ! Happy , O terque quaterque beati , happy , thrice & ever happy were all these that are abominable in wickednes , if they might goe unpaid . But the justice of God is such , that he wil render vengeance in flaming fire to all those that forget God ▪ what saith Salomon ? hearken unto my words , keep thy hart with aldiligence : because wickednesse will dwell in our hearts , Rom. 7. 20. but let it not raigne . Rom. 6. Let us evermore abhor these their abominable actions done , that we may avoid their hell●sh passion , which is their portion , with which we wil leaue these ahominable fools , with their wickednesse acted ; and come to the second branch of their outward wickednes which is their duties neglected : and that in these words there is none that doth good .

Now it will appeare , that fruitfulnes of sinfull action , and barrennes of good action , makes vp the fulnesse of all outward wickednes . The fruits of their sinfull actions wee haue seene . And now followes the b●rrennesse of their goodne●● .

And how can it bee otherwise , but that where there is most fruitfulnesse of vice and wickednes , there should be withall barrennes of all vertue and goodnesse ? for , what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnes ? ( saith Paul ) 2 Cor . 6. 14 what communion hath light with darknesse ? the answer is negatiue , none . The abhominable wickednesse which they had done , was vnrighteousnesse and darknesse : & good works which they did not , were righteousnesse & light ; and therefore no maruell that good works could not be found , where abhominable wickednes occupied & had possessed the whole man before .

Saint Ierom of those words of the Apostle before saith , exempla valde contrari● proponens , ostendit nemine● posse esse iustum simul & in iustum : being first uniust b● committing abhominabl● wickednesse , how could they after be iust by doing goo● workes , while they retaine● still their first habit o● wickednesse ?