the heate of the Sunne and long trauel greatly reioyce when they come to a couert where they may rest and refresh their wearie bodies So the spirits of the faithful much disquieted with the afflictiōs of this life can find their sweet sleepe when they can by a holy faith in Iesus Christ repose themselues as in the bosome of the Almightie Where first wee are to learne how louingly the holy Ghost doth warne vs to cleaue vnto God and to perseuere in his holy worship in afflictions in time of triall wherein the wicked runne to any of the creatures rather then to God yea sometimes to Sathan himselfe before they seeke any refuge or comfort in the Almightie Such as rest in the ordinary creatures only are meere Atheists such as seeke to Sathan and his artes are bewitched Papists Idolaters and such like Such as when all helpes faile them are driuen at last by theyr corrections as Iob speaketh to come vnto the Lord are weake in the faith Such as first seeke reconciliation and peace with God by Iesus Christ and then desire a blessing in the vse of the creatures are wise and good Christians The Prophet saith not they haue a sure defence in war which haue many men many horses c. in famine store of corne and good prouision in pestilence good naturall preseruatiues and curatiues but that such as haue a strong faith in Iesus Christ are then greatly blessed and shall be mightily preserued Some thinke it is a light matter to come to God by faith and to lye downe as it were in his bosome confidently in afflictions But this is one speciall brand and marke of the faithfull and that which God most desireth and a point without the gracious assistance of Gods spirit which is not in the power of flesh and bloud to practise There is a notable storie 2. Chron. 13. 18. of Abiah and his people of Iudah of whom it is said that they preuailed against their enemies because they stayed vpon the Lord God of their father And the like we haue 2. Chron. 16. 7. of Asa his falling away in his latter age in his afflictions first he is said to haue run from the Lord to Gods professed enemies the Syrians and to haue made a couenant with them to helpe him in his warres against the Israelites at which time Hanni the seer came to the King and spake these words Because thou hast rested vpon the King of Aram and not rested in the Lord thy God therefore is the host of that King of Aram run away from thee and thou verse 9. shalt haue warres againe And then the Prophet confirmeth his prophesie by the kings former experience in the victories the Lord gaue him before by faith when hee cried to God in feruent prayer saying 2. Chron. 14. 11. Helpe Lord for we rest on thee The Ethiopians and Lubbims were they not a greast bost with charrets and horse exceeding many yet because thou didst rest vpon the Lord hee did deliuer them into thine hands then hee added this notable argument For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth to shewe himselfe strong with them whose h◅art is sound towards him In the like maner he is noted in his sicknes not to haue sought the Lorde in the first place but the Phisition In all extremities then our first refuge must bee by faith vnto the true God for he will be and must be if we regard but our alleageance only we owe vnto his maiestie first sought for and honored before the creatures I. Question What benefite comfort and rest Gods people may receiue by faith in the Pestilence THe blessed faith of the Saints of God is a wonderfull supernaturall grace by the which we greatly please God and without it we displease him in althings without exception This great grace and gift of God as it is most needfull at all seasons and turnes so most of all in extremities for if it then faile vs we shall be carried away as with a maine saile from the Creator to the creature and and we shall fixe all our sences vpon them and confidence in them forget the great Lord and gouernour of all the host of heauen and earth This vertue greatly pleased Iesus Christ in his miraculous cures on earth and doth no lesse doubtlesse please him now in heauen The faith of the Gospell or Euangelicall requires 1. that you beleeue that the Messias is come 2. that you beleeue that Iesus Christ the sonne of the Virgin Mary is God and Man or God manifested in the flesh and that very Messias which was to come 3. that you beleeue in him for your perfect redemption 4. lastly it was required in these which resorted vnto him for miraculous cures that they carried with them a particular faith to be healed that is a comfortable perswasion of heart that hee both could and would heale them and such afflicted persons as they prayed for might be healed This holy faith I say greatly pleased Christ in earth and shall preuaile with him in heauen also for all mercies and blessings to the worlds end And the contrary sinne did hinder many graces streaming sweetely from him vnto the Iewes and so doth still to all vnbeleeuers among the Gentiles This the Euangelists tell vs where they say that when hee camo to Capernaum his owne Countrey Hee did not many workes there for their vnbeleefes sake And another saith Hee coul◅ not there do any great workes for their vnbeleefe and that he maruelled at their vnbeleefe Wee see then how insidelitie may keep◅ backe from vs Iesus Christ with all his riches The faithfull euer returned from his Maiestie both sweetely comforted with his blessings and graciously strengthened with his louing commendations The Centurion which came vnto him in Capernaum with a good heart and a sound faith first he receiued this blessing Goe thy way and as thou hast beleeued so be it vnto thee and his seruant was healed the same houre Then followed this comfortable commendation Uerily I say vnto you I haue not found so great faith euen in Israel Againe the woman with the bloudie Issue shee receiued many mercies from Iesus Christ first this comfort hee calls her Daughter secondly this blessing the issue of her bloud was stayed and healed thirdly this commendation Daughter bee of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole Againe two blinde men crie to be healed hee asked them of their faith Beleeue ye that I am able to do this they said yea Lord and then hee said vnto them according to your faith be it vnto you and they were healed Of a Cananitish woman it is written that she was most earnest with Christ and she is at last gratiously comforted first with this commendation O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee as thou desirest secondly with this blessing Her daughter was made whole in that instant The like commendation and comfort
least of it sometimes in their mirth-making feasting gaming c. Fourthly an arrow if it come neere the heart giues a deadly wound so this euill if it come once neere the heart the Phisitions confesse it incurable In the 6. verse The 2. trophes set down verse 5. are expressed verse 6. Hee deliuers his meaning in plaine tearmes which hee had vttered before verse 3. and 5. in metaphors and in borrowed speeches The Hebrew hath in verse 5. The feare of the night the arrow that flyeth c. then the verse 6. The Pestilence so that we may very fitly ad the word I meane or I vnderstand the better to expresse the Prophets minde It is said againe 1. that the Pestilence walketh in the darknes 2. that it destroyeth at noone-day The pestilence as some of iudgmeÌ„t auouch is more violent in the night then in the day at mid-day then in any other part of the day First for the night the ayre is made more grosse and thicke with the coldnes of the night and then the strong contagious poyson spread in the ayre being driuen togither as in the generatioÌ„ of meteors thunder and lightnings in the middle region of the aire it is made more violent and deadly where it lighteth or smiteth any man Secondly where it is saide to destroy at noonday the cause of this they say is for that in the day the pores of our bodies are opened and then when the Sun is in the highest pitch of the meridionall line most open in all parts and arteries This time therefore are we most apt to receiue any poyson and this infectious vapour can soonest pierce into our secret parts And it is knowne by the experience of many yeares that albeit the heate of the Sun cause not this pestiserous exhalation yet it may cause it to be more violent and that all windes that come from that part breed putrifaction and rottennesse in all places This saith one Aphorisme of Hipocrates which is Venti meridionales hyemales sâ—…nt mortales South windes in winter doo bring death or mortalitie But I iudge the simple meaning of the holy Ghost may be this That the Pestilence spares not where God sends it but smites downe at all times as at midnight so at mid-day all alike in saire weather and in soule in the mountaines and in the vallevs in the best ayres and in the worst c. And therefore when God shootes this arrow men are warned here to be in a readines at all times and in all places Watch saith our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for ye know not what houre the theefe commeth Thus much briefly for the sense and meaning of these two verses Now let vs consider yet somewhat more carefully seeing the Pestilence breeds so many feares and terrors night and day and is so great an enemie and destroyer of man-kinde what instrumentes and meanes the Lord vseth for the affliction of his people in the Pestilence 3. Question How the wicked spirits are Gods speciall instruments in the Pestilence 3. Surely hee will deliuer thee from the snare of the hunter verse 3. FIrst here it seemes to mee very expedient that wee take a short viewe in the booke of God how Sathan and his wicked spirits come to this great Dominion principalitie vpon earth among men and then wherfore he so hunteth and striueth by all meanes in all ages for the death and destruction of mankinde The holy Ghost telleth vs that Sathan and his angels were created Angels of light and companions in grace with the elect Angels of God commended and blessed of God in that generall benediction and commendation of all the creatures But they continued not long in that loue and obedience of God being made mutable and hauing a freedome of will as all the rest of their owne accord God so permitting it and denying in that instant the assistance of his grace and mightie hand of his holy spirit they disobeyed and displeased the Almightie and so fell from that blessed light to extreame darkenesse and from that wonderfull glory to inspeakable and endleste consasion Afterwards these wicked spirites haue neuer rested to blaspheme God and to dâ—stroy man by all the meanes they can for Sathan is a murderer and euer hath sinned with al his wicked angels from the Beginning He first began with our first parents for hee knew the rootes once infected the whole bodie armes branches are soone poysoned And to the ende hee might inuisibly deceiue them he first possessed the serpent for this cause the Scriptures call him that old Serpent Mâ—…tum spiritualibus virâ—…bus licet The Diuell can doe much by his spirituall strength saith one To be short the holy Ghost sheweth it how after this by certaine degrees he sought and had entrance into the woman Fâ—…st that lying spirit perswadeth her most impudently of the vntruth of Gods law and holy word concerning the forbidden fruite Secondly by long conference with that wicked spirit the woman beginneth to doubt and to call in qustion the certaintie of Gods loue and holy truth Genes cap. 2. 17. cap. 3. 2. Thirdly as that holy light of God was emptyed out of the minde by degrees so Sathan stept in for where that light is hee hath no entrance Fourthly when Sathan had once possessed her minde blinded it he then soorthwith slipt into the hart there wrought infidelitie first he blindes iudgement then he easily corrupts affections Fiftly when the heart was thus poisoned he easily filled it with euill thoughts vncleane lustes and wicked imaginations Sixtly wicked lustes of the heart beeing set on fire with the sight of the forbidden fruite stirred vp the affections the affections the will the mutable will the endeuor Seuenthly from this inward corruption and subscription vnto Sathans sophistrie and calumniation against the trueth followed that outward rebellion and manisest apostacie and falling away from God Lastly the woman bewitched by Sathan was the second instrument to deceiue the man who yeelded in all pointes by degrees as the woman and so was brought to the same most horrible condition of death and condemnation And thus began Sathan in our first parents to exercise his spirituall iurisdiction and kingdome vpon earth Man is not able to expresse how blessed and how glorious man then was before he fell to this league and societie with Sathan Hee was more beloued of God more deare and precious vnto the Almightie than all the frame of heauen and earth and all things contained therein For that hee was the end and last of all his creation prouided for of all necessaries before his creation onely created with that wonderfull consultation of the Trinitie the onely creature vpon earth resembling his God in many beautifull graces the glorious Lorde and Emperour ouer all creatures in body shining like the Sunne and immortall Math. 13. 45. In minde beautified with wisedome and knowledge Col. 3. 10.
request not that the Lorde did not heare from the beginning but now in the ende he feeleth an answere in his soule that God hath granted his desire As Psal. 69. The Lord hath heard my petition 66. 18. 19. God hath heard me and considered the vâ—…yce of my prayer Where note two things if we desire to be heard first that we haue a feeling of our wants as here in troubles 2. That we cry mightily and continue God in the end wil heare vs as he did Dauid in the end alwayes and after much crying I will be with him in troubles This is the 2. promise Some man will thinke this no special promise for that God is both by his essence infinit filling heauen and earth by his prouidence watchfull present and carefull ouer all and euery one of the creatures in heauen and earth And yet further is hee not with his beloued children alwayes in a more speciall manner by his spirite of sanctification and comfort effectuallie also working by the â—…ath and resurrection of Iesus Christ to make them new creatures All this is true both of the generall prouidence of God and of his speciall working and grace in the Saints But yet they are not alwayes alike comforted For the Lorde doth otherwhiles more graciously shew himselfe at one time then another For may not the King to those of his housholde more louingly shew his countenance at one time then another and frowne at other times vpon them and yet they bee his seruants So is it with Christ and his members The righteous soules of the faithfull sometimes eate and drinke and feast with Christ yet at other times they cry much they aske many watchmen for him and seeke him with much sweating before they can find him And that the Lord Iesus doth more familiarly shew his face and communicate his graces vnto his Saintes in troubles and in their grieuances the experience of Gods people in al ages can testifie and this we haue before partly vouched Dauid cryeth Hide not away thy face from me for I am in trouble and they cryed to the Lord in their trouble and hee deliuered thâ—… out of their distresse O that men would therfore prayse the Lord. Master Philpot sayth to Lady Vane Belieue me dear Lady there is no such ioy in the world as the people of Christ haue vnder the crosse These holy ones haue often many desertions and yet in the midst of their agonies Christ will suddenly shine foorth as bright as the Sun after a cloudie blacke tempest as in Maister Glouers storie appeares and many others And this blessed presence wee speake of make so many of Gods people so constantly and so cheerefully to offer vp themselues a liuing sacrifice to bee rosted and tormented with fire in smithfield and many other parts of the world 6. Question What wonderful communion there is between Christ and his holy members best knowen to his people in afflictions Cant. 2. 16. My welbeloued is mine and I am his verse 15. I will bee with him in trouble FIrst let vs here consider in what manner the holy Scripture speaketh of this great communion and fellowship between Christ his members Thus Iohn writeth of it first in his Epistle That I say which we haue seene and heard declare we vnto you that ye may haue fellowship with vs and that our fellowship also may bee with the father and his sonne Iesus Christ. Againe in his Gospel most comfortably on this manner I pray not for these alone but for theÌ„ also which shall beleeue in me through their word that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they all may be one in vs that the world may beleeue that thou hast sent me and the glorie that thou gauest mee I haue giuen them that they may be one as wee are one I in them and they in me that they may bee made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent mee and hast loued them as thou hast loued mee And the Apostle speaketh of this communion when hee saith Tempt your selues whether you be in the faith do ye not know that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be refuâ—…es Because this blessed vnion communion and fellowship is spirituall and misticall the holy Scriptures do striue to helpe our weaknesse to conceiue rightly the trueth of it by sundry Metaphors and borowed speeches as Iohn in the sweet parable of the vine and vine branches in which place the whole comparison if we make supply out of other places standeth vpon sundry most familiar similitudes as to expresse the singular loue and care of God ouer his people and the effectuall power of the Ministerie of his holy word woâ—… in them so to instruct vs of the VI separ bâ—… vnion betweene Christ and his holy members 1. The heauenly Father is compared to the husband-man 2. The ministers vnto the husbandmans laborers 3. The people and the Church of God vnto the vineyard or husbandry 4. Christ and his members vnto the vine and vine branch 5. The spirituall vnion liâ—…e and growth of the faithfull in Christ vnto the naturall coniunction life and growth of the naturall vine and her branches 6. Lastly as the husbandman on earth loueth careth for and purgeth his vine with his handes and instruments his corne fieldes c. so the heauenly father loueth and purgeth his Church and his people by his Spirit word and sacraments c. And like as wise Princes commit their sonnes to the custodie and instruction of wise and faithfull men so the heauenly Father commendeth the education of his children to his holy labourers and by their Ministrie hee prepareth such on eaith as he purposeth to aduance to the kingdome of his glory to be fellow heires with Iesus Christ in heauen Againe all that heauenly and most sweet parable the song of Salomon tendeth principally to expresse this inspeakeable communion comparing it often vnto the holy vnion which is betweene man and wife in that mariage which is in the Lord and so doth the Apostle and concludeth â—…that wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones 3 And this firme coniunction which 〈◊〉 in this mysticall body is againe notably â—…id before vs by the similitude of the naturall body and the essentiall parts of the same 1. Cor. 12. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Thus when we see by these few places how the holy spirit doth demonstrate vnto vs a most certaine and reall coniunction and communion betwixt Christ and all the faithfull heere on earth And yet heere is no corporall commixtion of our soules with his or any coniunction of natures neither is this a bare consent of mindes onely but an inspeakeable coniunction is 〈◊〉 by meanes of the words of reâ—…ation without and the holy spirit of Christ within working effectually almightie in power to knit together
euerlasting chaines vnder darknesse vnto iudgement of the great day A. In the beginning God did so but afterwards for the execution of his iustice and will hee suffered some part of of them to slie about in the aire but at his pleasure he can shut them vp againe in prison for proofe Reuel 9. 1. 2. The bottomlesse pit opened by an Angel and thence come foorth many euill spirits This same bottomlesse pit is shut vp by an Angel Reu. 20. 7. and Sathan is bound a thousand yeares Thus it appeares now and then they are shut vp and againe loosed when the Lord wil* therefore they intreat Christ Luke 8. not to cast them into the deep in hell Luke 16. 25. so Matth. 8. 24. Iames 2. 19. And thus farre of the causes mouing the Lord and of the instrumentall and secret causes which the Lorde vseth to smite his people with the Pestilence Now let vs not be brutishly secure and senslesse as the vngodly be but let vs make a holy vse as of all the Lords chasticemēts so of the pestilence comforting euery man himselfe by the word of the Lorde on this manner as followeth First I consider the Pestilence and the like calamities on Gods people to be Gods holy visitation to call men to a serious and a publique humiliation before him that their iniquitie may bee purged and this is all the fruite he desireth euen the taking away of their sinne Hee doth not punish willingly Iere. Lam. 3. 33. And that this is all hee desireth when he smiteth the Church with the pestilence may appeare For the Prophet saith that he contends in measure with it in the branches thereof not simiting them as hee doth the Gentiles And this we shall sinde in due time true if wee compare his lenitie with vs and his fierce wrath vpon many citties in the Popes dominions Conferre Pet. 1. 14. 15. and 2. Chap. verse 12. 18. Secondly I consider the Lords chasticements as effects of the great and certaine decree of God vpon mee Rom. 8. 28. what God hath decreed must come to passe God hath deered to make the Saints through afflictions that is all maner of chasticements whatsoeuer conformable to the image of his sonne Christ The best beloued Sonne wanted not rods all the life hee liued vpon earth and therefore I must not otherwhiles want them I must beare many crosses on earth before I shall be crowned with Christ in heauen Thirdly I know Christ seeth dayly all my sores all my griefs all my paines all my troubles all my teares they are as well knowne vnto him as if they were distilled by drops into his bottle and the number of them by iust account set downe in his register Psal. 56. 8. Thou hast counted my wanderings put my teares into thy bottle are they not in thy Register Fourthly I consider all these greeuances of this life as vndoubted seales of mine immortalitie for the Lorde hauing decreed to bring mee to immortalitie to blisse voyd of all miserie c. The effects of his decree I know and see in my vocation Iustification and sanctification but the life promised as yet I finde not because of my manifold afflictions wherefore I shall vndoubtedly finde it when this life is ended Eiftly I learne in Gods booke that the diseases of the body and all other afflictions of this life they are oftē sent vpon Gods people and holy seruants to worke in them a more serious humiliation for the sinnes of their youth either because they were neuer throughly humbled for them or least they fall dangerously into the same sinnes againe Psalm 25. 6. Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy kindnesse remember thou me euen for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. And Iob complaineth chap. 13. 26. Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the sinnes of my youth Fiftly I consider also that God would haue vs his children beaten as for their owne sinnes so also that he may awaken his enemies and tell them that for their intollerable sinnes their destruction sleepth not 1. Pet. 4. 17. Iudgement must first beginne at the house of God if it first begin at vs what shal be the end of them which obey not the Gospell of God Sixtly I see and know the corruptions of mine heart to be so many and the dulnes and dimmesse of my minde to be such that if I were not often by the crosse brought to hearken and to obey I should neither vnderstand aright the Lords reueiled will nor practise it with any sincerity in my life Psal. 1 19. 71. It is good for me that I haue bene afflicted that I may learne thy Statutes Iob. Chap. 33. verse 16. God openeth the eares of men by their corrections Maister Caluin in his Preface on the Psalmes saith that if God had not exercised him with manv afflictions he could not wel haue vnderstood many Psalmes Seuenthly I finde also another great comfort in all mine insirmities and greeuance◅ I haue heard and knowne the faithfull to confesse Christs presence more familiar sweet and comfortable in their aduersitie then prosperitie and this I finde true in like manner And the rather I obserue this for that the Apostle speaketh thus of himselfe I will reioyce rather in mine infirmities that the power of Christ may soiourn with me therefore I take pleasure in mine infirmities in reproches in necessities c. And I finde true that prosperitie breedes dangerous pride and carnal securitie I sayd in my rest I shall neuer be mooued for thou Lord of thy goodnes hast made my mountaine so strong but thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled then I cryed to thee O Lord and prayed to my Lord. Psal. 30. 8. Eightly I gather also by afflictions experience and this both worketh in me a Christian sympathie compassion towardes other men in their miseries and teacheth mee how to comfort them as I haue beene comforted of the Lorde 2. Cor. 1. 3. 4. Blessed be God euen the father our Lord Iesus Christ the father of mercies and the God of all comfort which comforteth vs in all our tribulation that we may bee able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of God for as the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation aboundeth through Christ. Wee gather experience of Gods loue of our weakenes Rom. 5. 2. 3. Iames 1. 2. strength to endure cōtempt Lastly I consider death whether by pestilence or otherwise as the complement of my mortification for in mortification I am crucified and die dayly but in death I shal finde the full destruction of the whole bodie of sinne The Phisitions say death is the last phisition which endes the most grieuous pangs and dangerous diseases by Phisicke incurable so I know that death shall put an ende to all the euils that Sathan sinne and the
haue so accounted it Gen. 15. 15. Thou shal come to thy fathers in peace and shalt be buried in a good old age So Gedâ—…on is buried in a good age Iudges 8. 32. And Dauid full of daies riches and honour 1. Chron. 29 28. Surely olde age and gray haires is a Crowne of glory to the righteous and godly man For thus the holy Spirit speaketh Age is a Crowne of glory when it is found in the way of righteousnesse but all things are turned into sinne and accursed to the wicked and vngodly Againe Gods children are more satisfied here on earth with a fewe daies then the wicked are with Nestors yeares And concerning long dayes in heauen there shall be dayes continually and no more nightes The heauenly Ierusalem hath no neede of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God doth light it and the Lambe is the light of it The 6. and last promise I will shewe him my saluation This promise of all the rest is most comfortable And here two things must be considered First who see their saluation or to whome it is shewed Secondly where and when it is shewed vs and seene by vs. For the first not euery man can see into this mysterie no not euery professour of the Gospell first he must be as he is described in this Psalme a faithfull man a godly man a righteous man watchfull ouer his wayes a deuout man fearing God the Lord doth assure such in time by his good spirit of their election adoption vocation and euerlasting saluation Rom. 8. 15. Eph. 430. All the faithfull ought to striue daily in all religious seare to come to the knowledge and the full assurance by faith of their saluation Secondly if thou demandest when and where the faithfull see their saluation I answere that they see it both on earth and in heauen first in earth they see it as in a glasse two waies â—…st by saith when they see Christ and haue the assurance of his benefits in their hâ—…ts by the holy spirit secondly by â—…eeling when they â—…eele the power and vertue of Christ working in them true moâ—…ficaton and sanctification of life Again they see their saluation in heauen when they come to the present possessioÌ„ of that crown which is purchased for them then shall they no more see darkly for â—…ohn saith We know that when he shâ—… appeare we â—…all bee 〈◊〉 him for we shall 〈◊〉 as he is and be with him where he is 10 17 〈◊〉 24. Note here 〈◊〉 â—…sts and Athâ—…sts till the Lord 〈◊〉 your eyeâ—… with his eye â—…alue you can neuer but doubt of your saluation for he alone doth shew it whom and where and when he will To be short this is a most soueraigne comfort for all Gods people and euer hath bene in all paines and griefes of this present life plagues persecutions and all euils whatsoeuer Iob reioyceth in his miserie saying I am sure my redeemer liueth and I shall see him c. THE 7. LECTVRE The seuenth Question Of the visâ—…ation of the sicke which dutie must also be â—…erformed by some chosen faithfull and discreet men in the Pestilence Iames 5. 14. Is any sicke among you let him send for the Elders c. WE haue already shewed very cordâ—…all and precious preseruatiues both against many euils and specially against the Pestilence And yet there is one more which is giuen vs of the Lord no lesse profitable and effectuall then the rest And this is that comfortable visitation of the sicke which containeth medicines of wonderfull vertue to be ministred by the righteous and religious Elders or holy Ministers vnto Gods people and by the wiâ—…e godly brethren one to an other in all their maladies In the visitation of the sicke Iames teacheth vs what the sicke or visited must doo 1 He must send for the Elders verse 14. 2 Acknowledge his sinnes verse 16. 3 He must beleeue verse 15. 4 He must pray with them verse 16. Secondly what the visitors must be 1 The Elders verse 14. 2 The Elders of the Church verse 14. 3 Faithful men verse 15. 4 Righteous men verse 16. 5 Zealous men 6 Mercifull men 7 Men of one accord Thirdly what the visitors must do 1 They must come to the house of mourning verse 14. 2 They must teach and admonish the patient verse 16. 3 They must striue in fasting and praier for him verse 15. 4 They must pray tn faith verse 15. 5 They must perseuer and expect a blessing assuredly Is any sicke let him send for the Elders 1 HEre againe with Iames wee see that sicknes as all afflictions of this life is common to all the godly with the wicked poore rich strong and weake in faith there is no exception nor priuiledge here to free any man 2. S. Iames would haue the sicke man to sheâ—…e his faith loue by sending first of his own accord for the Elders of the church to instruct him and to pray for him and to comâ—…ort him so the Elders seeing his desire his loue feare shall be stirred vp in a greater affection and compassion towards him againe 3 Wee must here note also wherefore the holy Ghost sends vs first to these spirituall Phisitions of the soule before wee call for the other of the body which must not be despised And this hee doth that these holy men may take a view of the spirituall causes of our euils and labour to remoue them for then our naturall griefs are both soonest holpen most soundly cured so Christ begins his cure Mat. 9. 2. by remouing first the spirituall causes Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee And surely this we finde daily true by our experience that when phisicke â—…res without the Lord as it were the sores plagues of their soules become more dangerous incurable for being nothing humbled nor bettered by the Lords chasticements they walke more boldly in their old sinnes when they recouer health thâ—… before Now lâ—… 〈◊〉 examine with all diligence what speciall points S. Iames commendeth vnto vs concerning the visitation of the sicke First hee saith the Elders must be sent for by these Elders the holy spirit vnderstandeth else-where the holy Ministers chiefly and with them the godly brethren which were their helpers in their ministrie and spirituall seruice vnto God and his church men of knowledge wisedome experience and godlinesse without rebuke Secondly hee saith not one but many Elders not one Elder for here in this spirituall seruice as in many other corporall actions that is true which the Preacher saith Two are better then one Againe the loue iudgement experience faith feeling and praier of many must here be more effectuall and comfortable then of one And yet here cases no doubt may ofteÌ„ so fall out as that some one most rare most expert and wise messengers of the Lord must be sought for albeit as Iob
speaketh we shall hardly finde one such amongst a thousand Thirdly he addeth they must be the Elders of the church that is such as are best knowne to thee thine owne wise pastor c. which can best discerne al thy sores or that minister which hath bene Gods most holy ordinance either for thy conuersion or confirmation Question BVt here now a question may bee demanded whether the same Ministers of God which serue the Lord in their publike ministry and come to the holy assemblies are charged also in this place to attend vpon the visitatiō of the sicke in time of pestilence Answere TO this I answer with men of iudgement that it were very expedient that at such times there should be certaine speciall men chosen for this purpose men knowne both for their ministery godlinesse and sinceritie of life who should not neglect their dutie concerning eyther the soules or bodies of the faithfull which they could performe or cause any way to be done for their good Secondly I answere that I cannot see how the Pastor notwithstanding can neglect any of his slocke committed of the Lord vnto his charge in any calamitie or the pestilence For the Apostles charge is so general in my iudgement that it excludeth all exceptions of persons time and sicknesse Any man may send in any sicknesse for the Elders of the Church But here let wise Christians be carefull as not to abuse the loue of their kinsfolkes and friends so to preferre the health of all the congregation before their own and so to striue to content themselues with the presence of such as the magistrates haue selected and appointed for this purpose This religious loue care for the church was in Boz who being sicke himselfe of the plague at Lausanna would not haue M. Ioh. Caluin and P. Viret to come vnto him when they offered freely most lo◅ingly to come visit him because saith he we must preferre the benefit of Gods Church and the glorie of God before our owne comforts and the preseruation of our owne life Fourthly these men must be men of great loue mercy compassion for this cause hee willeth vs to take the Elders of our Church that is such louing knowne mercifull men as can will mourne with vs and for vs. Psal 41. 1. Blessed is hee that iudgeth wisely of the poore the Lord shall deliuer him in time of trouble A notable example of this compassion is in Iobs friends for first they came to comfort him secondly they wept greatly when they sawe him thirdly their great griefe is signified in renting of their cloathes fourthly their compassion in sitting by him seuen dayes and seuen nights in silence This is the time when Gods children must striue to shew their affection and brotherly kindnesse towards the Saints Fifthly these holy Elders which visit the sicke must affect one thing be of one minde and of one accord for the cri◅s and praiers of such men be very strong and can soonest and best preuaile with the Lord according to his owne truth holy promise Uerely I say vnto you that if two of you shall agree in earth vpon any thing whatsoeuer they shall desire it shall be giuen them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered togither in my name there am I in the midst of them The truth of this promise is to be seene in the practise and praier of the holy Saints The disciples which were met togither to pray for the good successe of the gospel for spirituall courage boldnesle in their ministry for the cōfirmatiō of their doctrine by signes wonders I it is said of the whole multitude of thē which beleeued there prayed That they were of one heart of one soule Ast. 4. 31. 32. They lift vp their voyces vnto God with one accord ver se 24. 3. After prayer they obteined all that they asked For it is said first that they were confirmed presently with a myracle The place was shaken where they were assembled togither and all were filled with the holy Ghost vers 31. 2. They receiued their second request spirituall boldnesse courage for it is said they spake the word of God boldly ver 31. 3. Lastly the Gospell was more glorified had a more free passage daily And the day of Penticost when they waited togither in praier for the gifts of the holy Ghost It is said they were altogither with one accord in one place And the holy Disciples which beleeued they are said that in hearing the word in praier they continued with one accorde daily in the Temple These Elders then of whom Iames speaketh must be thus affected Religious men faithfull men deuout men righteous men and such will not lightly iarre or disagree but be most carefull to keepe the bandes of loue in holy peace and vnitie with heart and minde affecting one thing and bearing with them of weaker iudgement till the Lord hath reuealed better things vnto them These men thus hauing one heart and one mouth may send forth such cries vnto the Lord as shall be heard and none other Sixtly S. Iames requireth that they be faithfull men righteous men and m◅n of good feeling They must haue faith for otherwise they cannot pray as wee haue before shewed ver 15. of that 19. Psalme they must be righteous men for otherwise they shall be reiected of God in this sacrifice which they offer Pro. 21. 27. and the sicke can haue no comfort in them And they must haue a good feeling of the wants of their brother otherwise their praier will not worke and be effectuall so the promise is to be vnderstood the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much which is working and effectuall Seuenthly they must instruct and admonish the patient and by mutuall conference so stirre him vp to open and re◅eale such sinnes and euils as most grieue his hart and conscience They must know his passions his life his calling his knowledge his feare his affections his loue and all his conuersation and how long he hath knowne Iesus Christ. Againe here they must be wise to discerne whether Sathan hath wounded him with any siery dart and so hath caused him to doubt of his election vocation faith repentance c. They must be prouided of examples which may shewe him how that other of Gods children haue so bene smitten haue languished long and yet at last were graciously restored But nothing comparable to our owne experience Here let them pray earnestly for the spirit of iudgement for that Sathan hath many strange inuisible delusions and remember the prouerbe That a gracious speech heateth the passions of the soule A word spoken in his place is like app◅es of golde with pictures of siluer Eightly Saint Iames requireth in the visitors of the sicke verse 15. a praier of faith They must