readie to goe forward in our Pilgrimage let vs first of all take heede to the Heart for it is the Rudder of the whole Body let vs knit it vnto God by this three-fold Cord whereof I haue spoken so shall our wayes bee ordered aright and wee shall make an happie progresse euery day in that way which leades to eternall Life By Determination wee begin to keepe a good course by Supplication we continue in it by Consideration we see whether we be right or wrong If we be out of the way Consideration warnes vs to returne againe into it Happie is that man in whose life one of these three is alwayes an actor Consideration so necessary that without it no state of our life can be well ordered Therefore Consideration is so necessarie that without it no state of Life can rightly be ordered The Mariner considers his course by his Compasse if hee neglect it hee runneth into remedilesse Dangers The Merchant who aduiseth not his Affaires with his Accompt Booke becommeth quickly a Bankrupt The Pilgrim who hath proposed to himselfe an end of his Iourney considers euery houre whether or no he be in the right way that may bring him to his proposed End and if he see many wayes before him he stands and aduiseth with himselfe which of them hee should chuse neyther will hee goe forward till hee haue by inward consideration resolued what is best How much more should he whose course is to the Kingdome of Heauen consider his wayes and thinke with himselfe that euery way directs not a man to that Ierusalem which is in Heauen Therefore walke on in this way for it is not a way that can bring a man to any desired place but his walking in it And then a man walkes on in this way when first hee neyther goeth backe nor standeth still as vpon Iacobs Ladder the Angels were ascending or descending none stood still and the man being cured of the Palsie is bid Take vp his Bed and walke Hee that goeth not forward here is going backward remember Lots wife and forget not your owne soules So that a Christian man is stil mouing and proceeding in godlinesse forgetting that which is behinde and pressing hard to the marke that is before him And seeing Sathan is most fierce in our end to hinder vs of the Crowne therfore we should be more watchfull and diligent to goe through For if we can labour a while we shall be euer safe neuer feare him any more neuer lose that Crown which the righteous Iudge shall giue vnto vs who loue his appearing So that a godly life leads a man home to Heauen the great Citie of the great King the end of which is rest and glory for euermore Therefore let vs alway bee prepared for it as the good Israelites of God with our Loynes girded vp and our Staues in our hands readie to take our Iourney from Egypt to Canaan whensoeuer the Lord our God shall commaund vs. As Fowles desirous to flye stretch out their Wings so should Men desirous to be with the Lord stretch out their Affections towards the Heauens Abraham sat in the Doore of his Tabernacle Wee should not soiourn in the Body like Ionas in the Ships sides but like Abraham in the dore of the Tabernacle Exo. 12.11 Gen. 18.1 â— Kin. 19.9 when the Angell appeared vnto him Eliah came out to the mouth of the Caue when the Lord appeared vnto him And in like manner wee must all reioyce to come out of the Caue and Tabernacle of this wretched Body if wee would meete with the Lord yea euen while as wee dwell in the Body if in our affection wee come not out and stand as it were in the doore of our Tabernacle but like Ionas Ionas 1.5 sleeping in the sides of the Ship wee lye downe in the hollow of our heart sleeping in carelesse securitie it is not possible that the Lord can be familiar with vs. Happie were wee if such affection were in vs toward the Word of God as heere was in Dauid So should wee finde that manyfold comfort in it which hee found What comfort wee should find in it if our affection to arâ—s it were like Dauids to the reioycing of his heart If wee receiue it when wee heare it with a liuely Faith it shall be to vs what euer wee desire If wee be in Trouble it shall be to vs a word of Consolation If wee be in Ioy it shall augment our Ioy. Certainely if we knew it we would be more delighted with it it is the Seede of our New Birth it is the Foode that conserues an immortall Life in vs it is a preseruatiue against all Euill it is the Restoratiue of our Soules in all Diseases it is the Staffe of our Infirmities it is our Armour against our Enemies it is the Light of our Eyes euen that Day-starre that shineth in Darkenesse If wee walke in the Light thereof it shall leade vs to the bright-shining Sunne of Righteousnesse Christ Iesus The Conclusion LEt vs therefore suffer our selues to be guided by him who is infinitely wiser then we and loueth vs better then wee loue our selues and let vs receiue this fauour of God that so seruing his glory our glory may also be aduanced Let vs not be troubled nor shaken with feare when wee see the Persecutors come to the end of their Enterprises and the Children of God afflicted That is to them sayth Saint Paul a manifest token of Destruction Philip. 1.28 and to vs of Saluation Augustine There is no greater Curse sayth Saint Augustine then the prosperitie of the Wicked because it is a strong Wine to make them drunke in their Iniquities and to make a heape and treasure as it were of the Wrath of God vpon them It seemeth to vs that the World goeth to confusion and disorder when the Wicked triumph and the Children of God weepe but on the contrary that is to vs a manifest token of the iust Iudgement of God as S. Paul sayth 2. Thes 1.5 that we are also made worthie of the Kingdome of God for which also we suffer For it is a iust thing sayth he with God to render Afflictions to those that afflict vs. And to vs that are afflicted deliuerance then when the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from Heauen with the Angels of his Power and with a flame of Fire to doe vengeance vpon those that did not know God and obeyed not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ the which shall bee punished with an euerlasting Punishment from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his Power when hee shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be made wonderfull among all the Faithfull Wee are so impatient so hot or so foolish that wee consider nothing but the beginning of the Worke of our God but wee must ioyne them together and consider the accomplishment of them as Saint Iames teacheth vs. Yee
Bernard When we aske of God saith S. Bernard euen those things that concerne this present life our praiers are not so soone out of our mouth but they are written in his booke and we ought saith he to bee assured that he will either giue the thing it selfe which we haue asked or other things which hee knoweth to be more profitable for vs. To conclude Prayer is the most mightie and fruifull work of Charitie seeing by it we help our neighbours present and absent knowne and vnknowne great and little and that both with Spirituall and Corporall good things drawing by our Prayers the blessing of God vpon them Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his Will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ To whom be glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A NECESSARY Prayer for the great deliuerie from the Gun-powder Treason O Blessed Lord and euerliuing God whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Wee thy poore vnworthy Creatures do heere powre forth our hearts vnto thee that we may neither vngratefully remember thy gratious benefits nor vngratiously forget thy seuere Iudgements who both in the one and the other hast beene beyond all measure so gratious vnto vs. We thanke thee O Lord for all the externall and internall graces bestowed vpon vs the Spirituall and Corporall the Ecclesiasticall and Terrestiall blessings which we haue receiued O Lord thou knowest that without thy helpe we cannot auoid our ruine We beseech thee O Lord let this thy mercy towards vs and our great deliuerance daily put vs in minde to be thankfull vnto thee O God we were without all meanes to foreknow such a miserie and without all Iudgement to vnderstand such a mysterie haddest not thou O Lord of thy great loue to true Religion and mercy to vs giuen meanes to discouer it O Lord if this had not beene we had beene blowne vp we had beene smothered we had beene dismembred we had beene persecuted we had been vndone Wherefore good Lord seeing thou didst bring vs to the graues mouth but hast not giuen vs ouer vnto death wee haue imprinted in our minds the horror of the danger and excited our soules to thankefulnesse for the rescue and therefore wee prayse thee wee blesse thee wee worship thee wee glorifie thee and wee render to thee all thanks Honor and power wee ascribe vnto thee for this thy gracious preseruation And wee beseech thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome To this end wee beseech thee to blesse our gracious King Iames our supreme Head next vnder thee O Lord make all thy good to goe before him day and night vphold his Crowne maintaine his State giue him continuall peace long life and much happinesse mercifully heare him in all his Petitions and effectually worke for him in all dangers Furthermore we beseech thee to blesse our Noble Prince Charles the Prince Elector Palatine the Lady Elizabeth his Wife and their hopefull Issue and the righteous Cause and when it shall make most for thy glory and their good giue them victorie O Lord ouer all their Enemies And we entreat thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome thy assistance to the Gospell and euer blesse the Persons and Consultations of that High Court with holinesse safety that we may inioy our Liues Liuings our Religion our King and that his Off-spring after him may sit vpon his Throne till the comming of Christ Iesus to our comfort thy glory to whom we offer our selues our soules and bodies to be at thy seruice for euer and euer Amen Amen ¶ A Morning Prayer for a Familie O God of glorie and Father of mercy eternall and incomprehensible Maiestie in whom we sinfull Creatures doe liue mooue and haue our being fauourably heare our vnperfect Prayers and mercifully grant our needful suites We sinfull creatures doe sue vnto thee for grace hoping in thy mercie towards vs which is ouer all Keepe vs we beseech thee this day as thou hast kept vs this night past Keepe vs in thy feare faith and loue O Lord turne thy face from our sinnes wherein we haue so delighted and blot out all our misdeeds alter our hearts and wash and cleanse vs from all staines and corruptions in the blood of thy Sonne forgiue vs all that is past euen all the euill that wee haue done or thought and graunt vs the assurance of that forgiuenesse sealed vp in our Consciences by thy holy Spirit Kindle thy loue so feruently in our hearts that wee may detest whatsoeuer is against thee and thy Word Forgiue vs our great contempt and intollerable barrennesse in good workes our soule vnthankfulnesse and the abuse of thy graces and strike our stony Hearts with the Rod of thy feare that wee may attayne vnto a due thankfulnesse for thy benefites and a most vnfayned and earnest repentance for all our sinnes O Lord wee pray thee send thy blessing vpon all our labours and giue vs a willing minde to helpe them that haue neede according to our abilitie and so prepare our hearts in all our businesses that wee may alwayes begin it in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing that whatsoeuer wee shall doe it may prosper Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Mediator and Redeemer in whose Name wee further pray vnto thee saying that forme of Prayer that hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ An Euening Prayer for a Familie BLessing and glory and wisedome and thanksgiuing and power and might be vnto thee O Lord most high and immortall God for thy gracious goodnesse and mercie extended to vs this day past and alwayes notwithstanding all our Wickednesses which cry dayly against vs and our Enemies that would swallow vs vp Wee beseech thee O Lord be still our God and our Lord and continue thy gracious and mercifull fauour vnto vs forgiue vs all the euill that wee haue committed this day or any time heretofore teach vs to sorrow for our sinnes and separate them from vs that would separate vs from thee O Lord pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes remoue from vs those things which our Consciences are afraid of assure vs of thy gracious Pardon and renew vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may vnfainedly hate and detest whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee and graunt good Father that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee in holynesse and newnesse of life Bee thou our shield and defence against the suggestions illusions and temptations of Sathan against all the allurements and baits of the flesh with all alterations prouocations changes and chances of the world sanctifie vs with thy grace that we may keepe our bodyes
and be glad in it Now it is not enough to keepe that day as an idle holy day to rest from labor and work to ring Bels and make Bonfiers to giue our selues to eating drinking and swilling to sports and pastimes for this is no honour to God But first our thankefulnesse must appeare in a most reuerent and thankefull commemoration and Remembrance of this so great and wonderfull a deliuerance wee must call it to mind thinke of the greatnesse of it wee must speake of it to our Children and Posterity and call vpon them to bee thankfull for the Child that is yet vnborne is bound to blesse God for it Exodus 12.6 Secondly we must sing Psalmes of praise and thanksegiuing vnto God in token of thankfulnesse and that publikely in the Church and Congregation of Gods people Thirdly we must come together into Gods house to heare his word and call vpon his name and that is a speciall part of our vnfained thankfulnesse Fourthly wee must testifie our thankfulnes in most hearty dutiful obedience which is the greatest and the best sacrifice 1. Sam. 15.22 And if this be wanting all that wee do is nothing worth Esay 29.13 so that for our generall deliuerance there should be a generall thanksegiuing in a generall reformation of Church and Commonwealth of our hearts and sinfull liues otherwise wee are indeed vnthankefull if still we liue in sin rebellion Then notwithstanding our keeping a day ringing of Bels sport and play if their follow no reformation of our liues wee may iustly feare a more dreadfull iudgement if not vtter ruine and destruction to follow Now alas where is this vse of Gods mercy and our deliuerance where doth the people reforme their liues reforme their wayes grow more religious conscionable and carefull to heare reade pray in their families it is but a wonder of nine dayes men make little or no vse of it but to talke of it and speake of it And lastly our thankefulnesse should beget in vs an earnest hatred of Popery and superstition so vilde faulse mischieuous bloody and cursed religion to abhorre it to haue nothing to do with it but to abandon it which that all estates and degrees of men may do the Lord grant for his mercy sake Amen Verse 1. They had swallowed vs vp quicke when they were so wrathfully displeased at vs. THis repitition is not in vaine for whiles we are in danger our feare is without measure but when it is once past wee imagine it to haue beene lesse then it was indeed and this is the delusion of Sathan to diminish and obscure the grace of God Dauid therefore with this repetition stirreth vp the people to a more thankefulnesse vnto God for his gracious deliuerance and implyteth the dangers which they had passed Whereby we are taught how to thinke of our troubles and afflictions past least the sence and feeling of Gods graces vanish out of our Minds And heere note how God dealeth with his people in their distresse who suffereth their enemies so farre to preuaile ouer them and deferreth his helpe so long till it seeme vnpossible for them to escape so that they are compelled to confesse and acknowledge that they must needes haue perished if the mighty hand of God had not deliuered them These two things then wee see the Israelites here to acknowlegde first that the Lord was on their side that is succoured and deliuered thē then also that it had not beene possible but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not preserued and defended them Dauid saith Psalm 129 1.2.3 that albeit he was persecuted and sore oppressed for his profession yet no troubles could make him swerue from the Testimonies of God Trouble is the best tryall of true Religion It is no great thing to cleaue vnto the Testimonies of God when none pursues them for it when authority allowes it when honour and prosperity followes it It is no great praise then to professe it When the Lord gloried of his Seruant Iob That he was an vpright man fearing God yet Sathan replyed Iob. 1. And what maruell doth Iob worship God for nothing he knew there were many hirelings temporizers in the world that worshipped not God sincerely and therefore would not continue it hee thought Iob to bee one of these lay now thine hand vpon all that he hath and hee shall blaspheme thee to thy face But he was deceiued for the more he was crossed the neerer did he cleaue vnto the Lord. Let vs remember as Saint Paul hath warned vs wee haue not yet resisted vnto blood neither that which S. Peter cals the fierie triall haue we endured and yet what a shame is it to see how many are become coulder in Religion an euident argument that they were neuer truly religious for if they cannot stand against offences how should they stand against oppressions and persecutions They haue swallowed vs vp quick in these words he expresseth not onely the strength and rage and cruelty of the enemies but also how weake and vnable the Isralites were to withstand them and here he vseth a similitude takē of fierce and outragious beasts whose property is when they haue taken their prey to swallow them aliue Likewise when wee would expresse the cruelty or malice of any towards vs we are wont to say he hateth mee so deadly that hee could finde in his heart to eate mee or swallow mee vp quicke the Prophet meaneth then that their enemies were so many and so mighty that they needed no armour or weapons to destroy them but were able like fierce and cruell beasts to swallow them vp aliue being so weake and so little a flocke let vs learne then to sing with Dauid If the Lord had not bin on our side whose mighty hand hath deliuered vs whose power alone hath preserued vs and although the world rage against vs though Sathan vexe vs neuer so sore they cannot hurt vs. Be of good comfort saith Christ our Sauiour For I haue ouercome the world Againe I giue vnto them euerlasting life and none shall take them out of my hands First this teacheth vs to remember and meditate of all such gracicious deliuerances which he shewed vnto vs either in general or particular from treasons trecheries conspiracies the like in regard wherof we had long since bin consumed had not God taken our parts against those that rose vp against vs whose purpose was to haue deuoured vs in regard of which treason we may truly say as Dauid now may England say If the Lord had not been on our side if the Lord himselfe had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs viz. the Papists they had then swallowed vs vp quick when their wrath was kindled against vs c. Let vs againe remember how nere their purpose hath bin broght to passe ready euen to take effect as we haue spoken in the 1. verse yet their net is broken and wee are
force of the streame is easily plucked vp and carried away such was the people of Israel in Dauids time being compared to the Gentiles round about them such is the Church at this day compared to the Aduersaries such is euery one of vs in respect of the force and power of the malignant Spirits we are like a withered leafe soone blown from the Tree and he like a mighty winde or tempest not only blowing downe leaues but plucking vp and ouerthrowing trees and all what are we then poore wretches able to doe of our poure and strength for our defence we must learne therefore by faith wholy to rest vpon God for what is our victory but euen our faith let this be then our assured trust let this be the rock of our safety helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mighty waters carry vs not away Teaching vs thus much that though we haue many enemies sore aduersaries as Dauid Christ had yet they shall not preuaile against vs but wee shall preuaile against them do they what they can as Dauid and Christ did Israel in Egypt was cruelly handled but yet the more the Egyptians did vexe them the more they multiplied grew as it is in Exodus 3.12 And when they had done all the spite that they could against them yet at the last they were deliuered out of their hands they themselues being oftentimes plagued by the Almighty for their sakes in the end most fearefully drowned in the red Sea as it is most apparant in the 14 chapter of the same booke Mention is made of a great battell fought betweene Christ and the Deuill Reâ—el â—â— 7 their Armies but if you marke the sequell thereof you shall finde that Christ and his side had the victory for as it is witnessed of the Dragon who is the Diuell and his Angels who are his souldiers that they preuailed not neither was there plague found any more in Heauen in the 8. verse of this chapter so it is recorded to the glory and comfort of all those that take Christs part that they ouercome the Deuil the accuser of Gods children by the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony in the eleuenth verse therof but to omit other Testimonies and examples whereof the holy Scripture is full and frequent in this case let the words of our Sauiour Christ suffice vs at this time Mat. 16.18 he tels vs that the gates of Hell whereby is meant all the power and force thereof shall not ouercome his Church c. or be able to ouerthrow such as doe depend vpon him by a true and iustifying faith In the seuenth Chapter of the same Booke Mat. 7.25 towards the latter end thereof he doth shew the stablenesse of them that belong vnto the Lord and haue care both to heare the Word of the Lord and doe it by a notable comparison whereby hee doth resemble them to an House which is built vpon a Rocke which cannot be cast downe by any tempest of weather whatsoeuer but doth stand alwayes still and cannot fall a thing neuer to be thought of enough it is so full of comfort and consolation vnto euery godly soule chiefely vnto him that is afflicted heere in this world Obiection But what may the reason thereof be may a man say that thus the godly should alwayes preuaile and be neuer ouerthrown by their enemies but ouercome them rather experience doth teach vs that they are fewer in number then the wicked are that they are weaker for power and strength that they are more simple for wit and pollicie and that they are more carelesse for diligence and watchfulnesse then their Aduersaries bee how then comes it to passe that they haue the vpper hand Answere The Prophet Esay doth declare it vnto vs in the 8. chapter of his Prophesie and the 10. verse thereof it is in few words because the Lord is with them and for them For first he is stronger then all being able to resist all power that is deuised against him and his and to doe whatsoeuer he wil both in heauen and in earth 2. He is wiser then all knowing how to preuent them in all their wayes also how to bring matters to passe for the good of his people 3. Hee is diligenter then all to stand as it were vpon his watch and to take his Aduantage when it is offered him Psal 121.4 for Hee that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe Lastly he is happier then all to haue good successe in all his enterprises for hee doth prosper still in all things which hee doth take in hand and none can resist a thought of his yea the very word that goeth out his mouth Esa 55.11 doth accomplish that which he will prosper in the thing whereunto hee doth send it In warre all these foure things are respected in a Captaine that will still ouercome first that he be strong secondly that he be wise thirdly that he be diligent and lastly that he be fortunate for the victory goeth not alwaies with the strong nor alwayes with the wise nor alwayes with the diligent nor alwayes with the fortunate but sometimes with the one of them and sometimes with the other but looke wher all fowre doe concure together there is allwayes the victory and therefore seeing all of them are in God it is no maruell though those whose battels he doth fight do alwayes ouercome and get the victory Obiection But mee thinks I heare some obiecting against that which hath beene said saying that it is not true that Gods children doe alwaies preuaile against their enemies but that their enemies often preuaile against them for wee see that they are murdred and put to death mention is made thereof in the booke of the Reuelation and in other of the holy Scriptures besides and a thousand examples euery where doe demonstrate the same dayly vnto vs for wee doe behold still with our owne eyes and heare with our owne eares that the godly haue the worst end of the staffe and that the wicked do beare sway and dominion ouer them how then is it true which hath beene spoken that do the vngodly what they can yet the righteous shall still preuaile against them as heere Dauid and Christ did Answere The answere hereunto may easily bee collected out of Pauls words in the eighth of the Romans the latter end of the chapter which was touched before where hee doth declare that though wee bee killed all the day long and bee accounted as Sheepe for the Slaughter yet wee bee notwithstanding that euen then and therein Conquerours yea more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs Howsoeuer that this may seeme a Paradoxe to flesh and bloud and bee as a Riddle vnto some of GODS owne Children themselues yet it is true in Diuinity and a cleere poynt to them whose eyes are opened to behold the mysteries of
with fearefull Agonies of Conscience let vs looke vnto God who kills and makes aliue who casteth downe and rayseth vp Let vs for a while beare his indignation he abides but a moment in his anger if we find that by them wee are more humbled wakened out of securitie and stirred vp more feruently to pray and that the life of Sinne is weakened in vs let vs be out of all doubt that these inward Troubles are Sufferings with Christ Luk. 22.44 whose Soule for our sinnes was heauie vnto the death and his Body did sweat bloud through the vehement anguish of his Spirit And as for outward Sufferings Comfort against outward afflictions which we suffer they are either such as concernes our Name our Goods or our Persons As for those which concerne our Name it is a singular pollicie of Sathan to beare downe the children of God in the estimation of others that they who are glorious in the light of their owne Conscience may be made filthie by the false reports of others and so made vnprofitable to doe others the good that they would But let vs in such tentations learne from Dauid to looke vnto God 2. Sam. 16.1 and not to Shimei vsing the vndeserued Contumelies of Men as profitable meanes to worke in vs that inward humiliation which our manifold sinnes though not against Man yet against God requireth of vs. So shall we suffer with him who being the innocent Lambe of God sustained neuerthelesse great contradiction of Sinners reproched to be one possessed with a Deuill notwithstanding that hee was the very Sonne of God filled in his Manhood with the Holy-Ghost For sometime they accuse them publikely and in Iudgement Laban searched narrowly Iacobs Stuffe to see if he could get any thing wherewith to charge him but more narrowly doe Worldlings search the words and deeds of the Christian seeking whereupon to accuse them and where they can find none yet vpon shadowes of euill they seeke to disgrace them Moses a man approued of God yet accused as an Vsurper Ieremy the Prophet albeit he so loued his Countrey people that in secret his Soule mourned for their desolation yet did they accuse him of Treason alledging that he had made defection to the King of Babel Daniel a man beloued of God accused and condemned of Darius his Councellors as a Rebell to the King The Israelites who returned from Captiuity accused by Toby Sanballat of Sedition The Christians of the primitiue Church oppressed with horrible Slanders The first Weapon wherwith Sathan fights against the godly is the tongues of the wicked for hee looseth their tongues to speake euill before hee loose their hands to doe euill to thē Therfore said Augustine Augustine The tongue of the wicked is a dayly Furnace wherein the godly are tryed Let no man thinke to serue God in a good conscience but he must be purged in this Ouē Ye are not of the world saith our Sauiour therefore it is that the world doth hate you and speake euill of you Ioh. 15 19. And as for their priuate Surmisings Sometime they speake euill of thē priuately and that either maliciously charging them with sinnes they haue done but haue repented they are of two sorts sometime they charge Gods children with euil which they haue done indeede but whereof they haue repented them And herein they are malicious that the sinnes which God hath forgiuen they will not forget But this should not prouoke vs to impatience seeing they blame vs for nothing for which we blame not our selues Why shall wee be commoued Let vs not thinke shame to say with the Apostle It is true I was such a one but now I am receiued to mercy Augustine I will not so loue my selfe that I will hate him that reprooues me for that which I haue reprooued in my selfe of whatsoeuer mind hee doe it but looke how farre he accuseth my fault so farre will I prayse my Physician who healed me Sometimes againe their surmisings are most false Or else falsly charging them with things they neuer did they charge vs with things which wee neuer did but these backe-bitings should bee disdained of vs like the barking of beasts Who knowes with Iob that his witnesse is in heauen and can say with the Apostle that he hath a good conscience within him what needs he to care for the iudgement of men without him for God will not faile in due time to cleere their innocency according to his promise in the Psalmes saying Commit thy way vnto the Lord trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe he shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light and thy iust dealing as the noone day Iudge therefore of thy selfe and others with a righteous iudgement if heauen approue thee care not if earth cast thee out if God iustifie who can condemne if Christ will confesse thee let thy friends deny thee thou hast a sure word and promise of God by which thou mayest apprehend in sorrow ioy in trouble peace in nothing all things in death it selfe life eternall Get faith and thou shalt clearely behold thy happinesse if all the world should set it selfe to make thee miserable get faith and thou shalt thinke him onely happy whom God so esteemes although the world do disesteeme thee Let not therefore the detracting speeches of men interrupt our peace No speech of man can make vs any other thing then that which we are Mat. 5.11 remembring their tongues can make vs no other thing then we are it is the fanne of the floore of the Lord that can separate the chaffe from the Corne. Secondly their euill speaking commends vs to God blessed are yee when men reuile you and speake all manner of euill of you for my sake be glad and reioyce for great is your reward in heauen Augustine Wtih this meditation did Augustine confirme himselfe against the detractions of his aduersarie who sought to empaire the credite of his name hee that willingly would empaire my name against his will encreaseth my reward And Dauid gloryeth in this that the rebukes of them who rebuked the Lord had fallen vpon him I haue spoken the more of this purposely partly because it is a common craft of Sathan to oppresse good men with misse reports and partly because our weakenesse is easily ouercome with this temptation seeing the Lord wil◠haue vs to sustaine the strife of tongues let vs then strengthen our selues Let vs so walke through good report that we be not puft vp and through euill report that we be not cast downe but that by weapons of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left wee may ouercome Miserable are those who band their tongs to speake against the godly Miserable therefore must they be who bend their tongs to speake against the godly and them whom the Lord approues of That rebuke which the Prophet gaue to Iehosaphat when hee went out to helpe
wicked king Achab Wilt thou helpe them that hate the Lord Wee may turne to those in our time that are enemies to the children of God Wil ye hurt them whom the Lord helpeth The children of God in all their infirmities haue the holy Spirit for their helper it cannot then otherwise be but in the end comfort must â—e to them and confusion vnto their enemies 2. Chr. 19.2 onely let those who are troubled by the malice of the tongues of wicked men make sure to themselues that they haue the spirit of grace and of glory resting in them partaker with them of their afflictions then let them be assured that either their enemies shal become their friends or then the righteous Lord shall render vengeance vnto those that trouble them For euery cuppe of trouble which the wicked fill vnto vs they fill with their owne hand another cuppe of wrath vnto themselues which how euer for awhile they set by them yet as the Lord liueth they shall bee compelled in the end to drinke them out And as concerning the losse of worldly goods whosoeuer bee the instrument learne thou to take it as a cup out of the hand of thy heauenly Father after the example of Iob Iob. 1.21 who passing by the Sabeans and the Caldeans looked to the hand of God The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken sayth hee blessed bee the name of the Lord. It is not for lacke of loue that the mother withdrawes from the childe the vse of the Pappe but that shee may acquaint him with stronger meate and if the Lord take from vs these transitorie things it is not because wee are not beloued of him but that wee may set our hearts vpon those things which are more weightie and permanent which if wee doe then are our sufferings with him Who beeing rich became poore that in all things wee might bee made rich in him And the same are wee to doe in those troubles which wee sustaine in our bodyes Heb. 12.9 For if as the Apostle sayth wee haue had fathers of our bodyes who haue corrected vs and wee haue giuen them reuerence should wee not much rather bee in subiection to the father of spirits that we might liue And if wee can yeeld our bodyes to Physitions to be cut or burnt at their pleasure how much more should wee submit them to the Lord in all humble contentment to bee chastised as hee will seeing hee protests himselfe he doth it not but for our singular profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse There is nothing that may comfort a naturall man but Duuid had it yet cannot all these keepe him from that heauinesse whereunto as witnesseth S. Peter the children of God are subiect in this life through their manifold tentations the men of the world are so farre froÌ„ this disposition that if they haue health and wealth they maruell what it is should make a maÌ„ heauy they are not acquainted with the exercises of a feeling conscience they know not the defects of the spirituall life and are not grieued at them being dead in sin they feele not that they want life all their care is to eate and drinke and make merrie but miserable are they for in their best estate they are as Oxen fed for the slaughter woe to them that laugh now they shal mourne Mat. 5.5.6 but blessed are they who mourne now for they shall be comforted Therefore there is a time appointed wherein mourners shall be comforted Pro. 24.26 The iust man falleth seuen times a day that is into distresse and trouble but riseth againe The state of the godly in the Sea of this World is like the Sea Euripus that ebbes and flowes seuen times a day it ebbes no oftener then it flowes againe so the godly haue as many comforts as sorrowes According to the saying of our Sauiour Christ Ioh. 16.20 Ye shall indeed sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy It had beene a great comfort if Christ had onely promised that their sorrow should be mitigated and more to haue said it should be shortly ended but to say it shall be turned into ioy Comfort against contempt of men whereby they scorne the godly for sighing and teares ministreth abundant consolation and strength in the patient expecting of so happie a change And here because the prophane World makes a scorne of the contrite disposition of the godly laughing at their teares taunting them in their sighes and sobs let vs looke here to Dauid if it cannot alway be an argument to moue men to godlinesse yet is it forcible to moue God to mercy The broken heart for the griefe of Sinne and loue of Righteousnesse how euer the World despise it the Lord will not despise it yea it is the Sacrifice of God acceptable to him in Christ Iesus Seeing then that all they which will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution wee must hold fast this Consolation whereby we may as it were season these Afflictions namely that the Holy-Ghost doth here prophesie That wee must sowe in teares but biddeth vs be of good comfort notwithstanding for the more plentifull and bitter the teares be the greater laughter and ioy shall follow Like as he setteth forth also a contrary example The World soweth in laughter but afterwards it reapeth in euerlasting sorrow anguish and miserie But our Tentations and Afflictions doe here endure but for a little time Let vs therefore patiently suffer in hope that in stead of this painefull sowing for so small a time wee shall hereafter reape euerlasting ioy and blessednesse And this also bringeth great Consolation That albeit our whole Life be full of Sorrow bitter Afflictions and sowing altogether in Teares yet God will suffer no Tentations alwayes to continue but like as Stormes and Tempests haue their Seasons and afterwards commeth faire Weather as also after Labour followeth Rest and Quietnesse euen so experience doth teach vs that when our hearts haue beene vexed and oppressed with cogitations of Desparation Mistrust Impatience before God and the World for a day two or three or else longer God rayseth them vp againe with some Spirituall comfort therefore our afflictions are tempered with some consolations that we should know that God will not suffer vs to be altogether swallowed vp with sorrow He will correct vs as the Psalmist sayth but will not giue vs ouer vntill death Let vs learne therefore to know these things and that we must suffer Afflictions and sowe in Teares lest when Tentation commeth we be offended as though some new or strange thing were happened vnto vs and so flye from God and fall to dispaire and let vs hold fast this consolation that our Haruest is in Heauen euen Life euerlasting which we shall reape with ioy As the Wine fayled in that Banquet whereat Christ was present so oftentimes fayleth ioy euen in the heart where Christ dwelleth but as in the one
AN EXPOSITION ON THE CXXIIII CXXV CXXVI PSALMES Called the Psalmes of DEGREES Or The Churches Deliuerance PLAINELY SET FORTH for the benefit of Gods Church By T. S. Psal 40.12 Innumerable troubles saith Dauid haue compassed me Psal 129.1 2. They haue oftentimes afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say but they could not preuaile against me Psal 116.12 What shall I render vnto the Lord for his benefits towards me Seene and allowed LONDON Printed by B. A. for William Lee and are to be sold at his shop neere Sergeants Inne in Fleetstreet at the signe of the golden Buck. 1621. TO THE HONORABLE and my especiall good Master Mr. THOMAS MVRRY Secretary to the Prince his Highnesse Grace Mercie and Peace be multiplied in this world and eternall Glorie in the world to come Honorable Sir WE reade in the Booke of Exodus how God by MOSES Exod. 35.45 and MOSES from God commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings and gifts for the erecting and building of the Tabernacle Whereof some brought more rich sumptuous and costly gifts as Gold Siluer Eare-rings Rings and Bracelets all being Iewels of Gold Some more meane base and of lesse value worth and estimation as Rammes skins Badgers skins Goates haire and such like all which they did performe and execute so willingly readily chearefully and freely that they brought too much and more then was sufficient for the seruice of this Sanctuary Exo. 36.5.7 and the vse of the worke of the Tabernacle which the Lord commanded to be made This most notable rare and admirable example of their willing hearts and minds in seruing God with their earthly goods I haue propounded to my selfe to be imitated and followed in a two-fold respect First for consolation herein comforting my selfe that God who accepted their meanest offerings towards the building of an earthly Sanctuarie will much more accept allow and approue of this Spirituall offering which so voluntarily and cheerefully I bestow to the glory of God furtherance of the worke of his Spirituall Sanctuary for God doth loue a cheerefull Giuer and regardeth more the heart in giuing then the gift it selfe Secondly for instruction teaching mee not to burie my gifts and Talents in the Earth with that euill and slothfull Seruant mentioned of in the Gospel Mat. 25.25 but to put them forth and imploy them to the vse and benefit of Gods people the good of his chosen the profit and commoditie of all true hearted and truly deuoted Christians Sir to this end therefore I haue written this little Booke First to admonish some kinde of people who for lacke of experience neuer feeling other daies then these full of peace and quietnesse that thereby they might learne the better to apply vnto themselues whatsoeuer they shall heare or reade of the tryall of GODS Children lest falsely imagining the same to appertaine either to the times that are past or to other Nations it fall suddenly vpon them as a Thiefe in the night and they be destitute of all hope and comfort Last of all to comfort another sort whom it hath pleased God to presse downe with sorrowes and to exercise with the continuall afflictions calamities of this Mortall life as no times seeming fauourable vnto them they can scarse receiue the words of any comfort And wheras euery one in his calling is bound to doe some thing to the furtherance of the holy building I haue according to my duty brought my poore basket of stones to the strengthening of the walls of that Ierusalem whereof by grace we are all both Cittizens and Members And heere I present vnto your Honor this poore Talent of mine which may it please you to accept at my hands as at one that wisheth all happinesse to you and yours in the Lord. Your Honours acceptation shall be my sole satisfaction the bond of my dutie hath this onely bound of my hope humbly crauing that your fauourable wisedome would supply the wants of this thing and that this so simple a gift may be accepted of you rather for my good meaning and the end whereof I do it then for the value of the thing it selfe If you iudge them worthy vouchsafe them I pray you your Patronage if not your pardon at least your gracious and fauourable acceptance according to the kindnesse of your nature and wonted courtesie in other matters The which thing if you will bee pleased to doe it shall not onely greatly reioyce mine heart but make mee much indebted vnto you for the same The Lord for his Sonnes sake graunt that this labour of mine may bee accepted of the Saints and tend vnto Gods glorie and I heartily beseech the Lord the GOD of all Grace and Giuer of all Blessings that hee would multiply his heauenly Grace vpon you and yours that you may alwaies walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things Thus crauing pardon for my boldnesse I humbly take my leaue The God of heauen giue you that blessing of blessings which Ierome saith few men haue that you may goe on from Grace to Grace and be a long time happie in this life and for euer happy in the life to come Your Honors humble Seruant in all obseruant to be commanded THOMAS STINT TO THE CHRISTIAN READER GEntle Reader the most skilfull Fisher may sometimes catch a Carpe for no doubt but there are many busie Braynes itching Eares taunting Tongues and carping Conceits that will critically play the right Momes especially they that doe least good will finde greatest fault with others good Endeuours But from such I appeale to thy courteous and charitable Censure with consideration of want of time commending this Booke to thy courteous entertainment Reade it at thy leysure and marke it well begin not alone but make an end for haply as it is in Saint Iohns Gospell the best Wine is reserued till the last And thus I bid thee heartily farewell in the Lord. A Plaine and familiar exposition vpon the 124.125.126 Psalmes called the Psalmes of degrees written for the benefit of GODS Church COncerning the Booke of the Psalmes it is an Epitome of the whole Bible teaching vs what we are to belieue and do both to God and man in which we may as in a glasse clearely behold the nature of God his wisedome goodnesse and mercy towards his Church and children as also most notable spectacles of his fearefull wrath and vengeance against the wicked and vngodly Next concerning the Title of the Psalmes first here riseth a question wherefore they are called the Psalmes of degrees or starres or after some translations of the ascending vp wherein the opinions of the Interpreters be diuers all which it shall not be needfull to rehearse Some expound these Psalmes steppes or ascending vp to signifie a compleating or finishing because they were commonly song in the end when the people should depart and the diuine seruice was finished and therefore were called the Psalmes of the ascending
names to be enrowled among his Souldiers and seruants swearing binding and oblieging our selues to reounce the seruice of the diuell the world and the flesh And this oath of resignation we haue renued so oft as wee haue communicated at his holy table whereof it is euident that they who haue giuen their names to Christ and yet liue licentiously walking after the flesh are forsworne Apostates guilty of perfidie and of foule Apostasie and desertion from Iesus Christ And thirdly Not onely are wee bought and sworne but we haue receiued wages and payment in hand Thirdly wee haue receiued wages before hand of seruices to be done which should make vs ashamed if wee haue so much as common honesty to refuse seruice to the Lord whose wages wee haue receiued already It may be sayd to euery one of vs as Malaciah in the name of the Lord spake to the Leuites of his time Mala. 1.10 Who among you shuts the dore of the Temple or kindles a fire vpon my Alter in vaine And who among vs can stand vp and say that he hath done seruice to the Lord for nought Consider it when you will for euery peece of seruice ye haue done to the Lord ye haue receiued wages more then ten times who hath called aright on his name and hath not beene heard who hath giuen thankes for benefits receiued and hath not found Gods benefits doubled vpon him who hath giuen almes in the name of the Lord and hath not found encrease I speake not of rewards which God hath promised I speake of that onely which we haue receiued already the least of all Gods mercies shewed vnto vs already doth farre exceed all the seruice that wee poore wretches haue done vnto him as therefore wee are content to receiue the Lords pay so let vs neuer refuse to giue the seruice of our bodies and spirits vnto him This is the couenant which wee haue made euery one of vs in our Baptisme and entrance into the Church of God before the presence of God and his Angels before the congregation and Church of God but alas we breake it dayly and haue no care nor consciēce to keepe it Well let vs know this for a certaine that the Lord will one day require our couenants vowes made vnto him for hee lookes wee should aswell keepe them as make them Well then wouldst thou bee loth to breake thy vow couenant or promise made to an honest mā especially it being in thine owne powre to keep it and such a promise as the keeping whereof may procure thee much peace liberty and happinesse I know you would Oh then let vs bee as carefull to keepe promise with God to renounce the world the diuell and our sinfull lusts so shall wee bring much honour to Almightie God and eeuerlasting good vnto our owne soules If the Lord himselfe had not bene on our side when men rose vp against vs c. We learne hence Publicke thankesgiuing after deliuerance required that it is the dutie of euery Christian man and woman to pray in publicke and priuate for the safetie and good estate of the Church So likewise it is our dutie publikely to render thankes vnto God for deliuerance bestowed vpon the same We must not be like the nine Leapers who haue wide mouthes to beg but no heart nor mouth to giue thankes for benefits receiued It hath euer beene the care and religious custome of Gods Church and people after great and notable deliuerances from apparant and common Iudgments to render heartie and earnest thankes vnto God in solemne and publike manner Gen. 8.20 When Noah and his Sonnes and family were newly deliuered from perishing in the flood he did the first thing builde an Altar offer sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord so Moses and the Children of Israel after their deliuerance out of Egypt when they were safe and their enemies drowned doe deuoutly and publikely sing praise and thankes vnto the Lord. Iudg. 5.1.2.3 Deborah and Barake doth the like And the Iewes being deliuered from Hamans treason Hcster 9.19 20. reioyce and keepe a solemne day to sing praise vnto the Lord. Well then let vs apply this vnto our selues we are by Gods blessing the true Church and people of God professing the Gospell of Iesus Christ truly hating all superstition and Idolatry and for this cause cannot want many enemies the Papists the most subtill cruell and malicious enemies of Gods Church haue often set vpon vs assaulted vs sought to haue inuaded our King and Countrey as in eightie eight by sundry treasons to kill our late Queene of famous and blessed memorie And to destroy our gracious King Queene and all his posteritie But amongst the rest and aboue all the rest none comparable to that last treason which was most close and cunningly wrought a long time in contriuing most bloudie and deuilish most barbarous and sauage threatning and seeking to destroy and roote out our King Councell Spirituall and Temporall Magistrates ayming at the vtter subuersion of our English Nation both Church and Common-wealth And surely if we consider well of it I doe not see in all the Bible the like deliuerance so wonderfull and admirable First being so long a time in hatching and contriuing with such secresie and concealement Secondly being vnder the ground in hell as it were in a place vnder the earth desiring darkenes more then light because the deede was euill Thirdly being brought so neare the execution of it and neuer knowne nor suspected before Fourthly being disclosed so strangely euen by one of the traytors themselues one of the chiefe Actors in the tragedie Being so generall so fearefull and so monstrous that it should not haue bin onely to the destruction of one or two but of the chiefe of the whole land King Queene Prince Iudges Bishops in a word the flowre of the whole kingdome the want of any one whereof were a blemish to a State and would bring a ruine to a kingdome Now doe as Ahashuerosh did Hest 6.1.2 cause the records to be read and chronicles to be searched ancient and moderne diuine or prophane amongst the Turkes or Painims yea if hell keepe any records search there and see if yee can patterne this conspiracy or match this danger But there is no councell against the Lord mans wisedome is foolishnesse vnto him his greatest strength but weakenesse his life but a breath and his honour but a blast So then we see we haue as great cause to render thankes vnto the Lord as any people or nation vnder heauen that fifth day of Nouember is a day to be remembred and neuer to bee forgotten a glad and ioyfull day and we ought euery one in publicke and priuate to stirre vp our hearts in thankesgiuing vnto the Lord For it was the Lords doing and it is maruelous in our eyes It is the day which the Lord hath made for the glory of his Name let vs reioyce
the Almighty and to see the deepe things of the Lord. For tell mee I pray you is not hee a Conquerour yea more then a Conquerour that doth so subdue his enemies that they can no more rise vp against him A man may vanquish his enemie and beate him cleane out of the field yet afterward hee may gather a power against him againe and put him to the worst But heere Satan the world and all our enemies are so beaten downe and troden vnder foote by all such as suffer and dye for the truth that they can neuer assault them any more to stirre either tongue hand or foote against them to doe them any hurt for they goe immediately vpon that their death and passion to Heauen and vnto all that happinesse which is prouided there for them as Iohn doth shew Apo. 14.13 saying Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord euen so saith the spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Christ a powerfull Sauiour stronger thē Samson yea then that strong one Iudges 16.1 O wonderfull worke Surely the weakenesse of God is stronger then man he is that strong one indeed stronger then Sampson when the Philistians thought they had him sure within the ports of Azzah Hee rose at midnight and tooke the doores of the gates of the Citty two Posts and carried them away with the bars thereof on his shoulders vp to the top of the mountaine which is before Hebron But our mighty Conqueror and deliuerer the Lord Iesus hath in a more excellent manner magnified his power for being closed in the Graue clasped in the bands of death and a stone roled to the mouth of the Graue the Sepulcher sealed and guarded with souldiers hee rose againe the third day before the rising of the Sunne hee carried like a victor the bars and Posts of death away as vpon his shoulders and vpon the mount of Oliues he ascended vpon high leading Captiuity captiue 2. King 18.35 Let Satan boast like Rabsecha that the Lord is not able to deliuer Ierusalem out of his hands Deut. 26.29 hee is a blasphemous lyer the Lord will rebuke him and will shortly tread Satan vnder our feet It is the curse of the wicked he shall bee oppressed and there shall bee none to deliuer him Psal 143.12 But blessed bee the Lord who hath prouided a strong deliuerer for vs who certainely shall set vs free glory therefore bee vnto him for euer It is good for vs to know this as also to thinke oftentimes vpon it for first by it we may learne to take heed we goe not about any thing which may be hurtfull or pernicious vnto Gods children for if we doe we see heere our labour shall bee in vaine wee shall not preuaile against them but they preuaile against vs. Hee is a very foole that will attempt a thing which he knowes for certaine hee cannot bring to passe and which hee is sure will bee his bane and destruction but wee know that wee cannot preuaile against the faithfull and wee are sure that our plots against them will turne to our ouerthrow and therefore let vs beware that wee lift not vp our selues against them at any time Againe from hence wee learne euen so many of vs as doe truely serue the Lord and feare him from our hearts that there is no cause vvhy wee should feare Man or vvhat hee can doe against vs. Oh wee may reioyce and be glad as it is required of vs in which places you may reade at your leasure feare not beloued bee of good comfort Zeph. 3.14 though that you haue enemies in euery Corner yet be not discouraged you shall haue the conquest And the Lord your God shall deliuer you 1. Pet. 3 14. out of all your troubles according to the saying of Dauid Psal 34 9 Great are ihe troubles of the righteous but ihe Lord deliuereth them out of them all he is wise he doth know how to do it and he is omnipotent he is able for to do it and as for his willingnesse he is ready at all times to accomplish it wherfore be I say of good comfort and feare not but trust in the Lord and commit your wayes vnto him and he shall bring all things to passe according to your hearts desire in the end he that deliuered Noah from the floud Lot from Sodome Iacob from Esau Ioseph from Potiphar Moses from Pharaoh Israel from Egypt the three Children from the Fire Peter from Herod Mordecay from Hamman and here Christ and Dauid from all sorts of enemies He euen he will deliuer you out of all trouble If you say that your enemies are many and that the whole world is against you I will say againe to you with Elisha the Prophet 2. Kin. 6.16 2. Chr. 32 7 and Hezechiah the King that there are more with vs then are against vs for God and all the Hoast of Heauen is for vs if you say againe that your enemies are wise and politicke and they are able to ouer-reach you by their craft and cunning considering that you are but simple and ignorant like Doues I will answere you with the Apostle 1. Cor. 1.25 That the foolishnesse of our God who is on our side is wiser then their best wisedome and that he will destroy their wisedome and bring their vnderstanding to naught to doe vs good If you say in the third place that your enemies haue hemmed you in and compassed you about that it is vnpossible for you to escape them I will answere you with the Angell Gabriel 1. Cor. 1.19 that with God nothing shall bee vnpossible and with the three Children Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that GOD both can and will deliuer you Dan. 3.17 when they say Behold our GOD wee serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot fierie Furnace and hee will deliuer vs out of thine hand O King If you say lastly that your Enemies haue already taken you and doe put you dayly vnto death I will answere you with Paul in Romanes the eight verse the seuen and thirtieth which place was touched before and with Iohn in the Reuelation the twenty two chapter the twelfth verse that by this meanes you do ouercome your enemies most of all For when you resist thus vnto bloud and dye for the truth you giue your enemies such an ouerthrow that they neuer rise vp against you any more and as for your selues you enter presently into Heauen the onely place which you striue for Euen as hee hath the victorie most in this vvorld who doth enter into the Cittie and take all the spoyle thereof and doth confound his aduersaries that they can neuer stirre any more against him In consideration of all which things cleaue fast vnto Christ I beseech you and feare no danger or perill but reioyce in the Lord and be glad alwaies fighting for the Crowne of righteousnesse which shall bee giuen
them not to bee outwardly adorned with plaited hayre and wearing of gold or putting on gorgeous apparel but let it be the hid man of the heart in that which is not corruptible euen the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price 1. Pet. 3.3 4 5. for after this manner the holy women in olde time were adorned c. Let women and men also marke that place well but women especially as being most giuen to pride and it being properly spoken to them where we see pride in apparrell flatly forbidden by the Word of God howsoeuer my words may seeme vnsauory to the wicked and I dare say to no other but such as beare a proud minde And thus I conclude from that which hath beene sayd that the proud vnlesse they will forsake their abominable pride for then they shall haue mercy shall be as certainely damned Pro. 28.13 as God hath appointed a Iudgement day Esay 14.15 and proud Lucifer shall be brought downe to hell Mat. 11.23 and thou Capernam which art exalted vnto heauen shalt bee brought downe to hell Verse 5. But praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth FRom the meditation of his enemies malice hee returnes againe to the meditation of Gods mercy and so it is expedient for vs to doe lest the number and greatnesse and malitiousnesse of our enemies make vs to faint When we looke vpon them it is good that we should cast our eyes vpward to the Lord then shall we see they are not so neere to hurt vs No enemy so neere to hurt vs as God is neere to helpe vs. as the Lord our God is neere to helpe vs and that there is no euill in them which wee haue cause to feare but wee shall finde in our God a contrary good sufficient to preserue vs. Comfort against the contempt of men And truely it should greatly comfort all the godly to remember that such as are their enemies are Gods enemies also sith they are farre from the obedience of Gods Law what maruell then if they be also farre from that dutie of loue which they owe vnto vs it may content vs to want that comfort in men which otherwise we might would haue when we consider that God wants his glory in them let this susteine vs when we see that godlesse men are enemies vnto vs. Comfortable examples thereof Otherwise we could not endure if when Satan his instruments come neere to persue vs the Lord were not neer to protect vs. Comfortable is it Gen. 31.24 that when Laban with great fury followed Iacob the Lord stepped in betweene them and commanded Laban not to hurt him and when Sathan many a time intended to destroy Iob he found that hee could not Iob. 1 10. because the Lord was a hedge and defence vnto him This is of GODS maruellous working that wee being in the middest of the wicked who like so many rauenning Woolues thirst for our bloud and before the mouth of that great roaring Lyon that seeketh to destroy vs wee should still bee preserued for the which wee may giue thanks with Dauid Praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth Hee exhorteth the faithfull to bee thankfull for their deliuerance and expresseth vnto them how and as it were with what words they should declare their thankfulnesse wherein hee setteth foorth yet further by another similitude that it could not bee but they must vtterly haue perished if God had not miraculously defended them but praysed be the Lord which would not suffer vs so to perish Hee saith not Which deliuered vs albeit he did indeed mightily deliuer them but which hath not giuen vs as a prey for this is it which here specially the holy Ghost setteth foorth that the wicked cannot hurt the godly be they neuer so many mighty furious cruell and terrible like to raging and violent waters like to cruell and outragious beasts falling vpon them with open mouth except the Lord giue them into their hands Let vs therefore with Dauid sing prayses vnto the Lord our God which keepeth and defendeth vs. Let this bee then our assured trust let this bee the rocke of our safetie helpe and succour that God will be our defender and keeper that the great flouds and mightie waters carry vs not away The godly liue in this world like sheepe among wolues What the wicked are to the godly Euery wicked man in whom Sathan ruleth is like a Cananite to an Israelite a thorne in our eye a pricke in our side yea and as a dart of Sathan shot at vs to driue vs away from the feare of God if so wee can take them it should greatly strengthen vs to indure all troubles that can come from them There wil neuer bee peace among them betweene whom the Lord himselfe in Paradise proclaimed enmitie and howsoeuer to strengthen themselues in an euill cause the wicked goe together by bands and companies yet shall it not auaile them nor hurt vs. Babels builders Moab Ammon and Edom conspiring in one may tell vs though hand ioyne in hand the wicked shal not escape vnpunished the wicked are like thorns before the fire their multitude may well imbolden it but cannot resist it not one of theÌ„ shall escape the strokes of God though for a time he deferre his iudgements First this teacheth vs to remember the iudgements of God vpon the wicked that so seeing Gods dealing with them we may better rified by their example to take heede of the like sinnes that wee may preuent the lâ—ke iudgements This is a notable means against sin often enioyned vs in holy Scripture both generally and specially Generally O come and see the works of God Psal 66.5 how terrible hee is in his doing towards the children of men Psal 105.5 Vers 7. Remember the maruellous works that hee hath done his wonders and the iudgements of his mouth Hee is the Lord our God his iudgements are in all the earth And we are not onely to remember them but in remembrance of them to talke of them Praysed bee the Lord which hath not giuen vs ouer for a prey vnto their teeth publishing and declaring them vnto others that so they also may be kept froÌ„ the like escape the like punishments as Dauid did With my lips haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth Psal 119.13 Dauids practise was to meditate of the iudgemeÌ„ts of God in so much that he laid the iudgemeÌ„ts of God before him I remembred thy iudgements of old and comforted my selfe Psal 119.30 Vers 52. Specially we are commanded to remember Gods particular iudgements and this also is a speciall meanes to keepe vs from sinne First let vs remember his Iudgements on the wicked Angels 2. Pet. 2.4 for God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast
compelled them to sigh and cry vnto God but the seruice which the regenerate man giues to the Lord is voluntarie done as vnto his most lawfull Superiour with gladnesse ioy and contentment of mind Happie is that man who can make this reply to his spirituall Aduersarie when hee is challenged of his sinnes Augustine It is true O enemie that I haue done many things by thy inticement yet herein I reioyce whatsoeuer seruice I haue done to thee it is now through the grace of God the matter of my griefe but the weake seruice I haue giuen vnto God is the matter of my ioy The comfort of a Christian militant in this body of sinne is rather in sinceritie and feruencie of his affections then in the absolute perfection of his actions Hee fayles many times in his obedience to Gods Precepts in regard of his action but loue in his affection still remaynes So that both before the Tentation to sinne and after it there is a Griefe in his Soule that hee should finde in himselfe any corrupt will or desire contrarie to the holy Will of the Lord his God The Snare is broken and we are deliuered Wicked men are subtill in inuenting wayes to hurt and craftily lay manie Snares wherein to trap me but my defence is in thee onely Dauid was in many most desperate dangers yet still hee found the Lord prouiding vnlooked for Deliuerances The strong Citie of Keilah could not defend him the Lord warned him to come out of it and hee was a shield vnto him The solitarie Wildernesse of Maon could not secure him for euen there Saul and his souldiers had compassed him but God had a care of him and turned his pursuers another way These the fore-passed experiences of Gods louing care and fauour towards him doe now confirme him to rest in God how many wayes soeuer his enemies pursue him Hee will still make the Lord his refuge Psal 119. and shield and trust in his word c. Therefore Dauid sayth in the Psalmes Psal 4. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in distresse implying that hee was in a strait and as it were strongly besieged with enemies or dangers but the Lord inlarged him and so preserued him Psal 25.15 He will bring my feet out of the Net The godly may be in as great danger as a silly Bird in a Net but the Lord will breake the Net that the Bird may escape who deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs 2. Cor. 1.10 in whom wee trust that hee will hereafter deliuer vs. First Gods care of his Children though it free them not from the exercise of Troubles yet it leaueth them not till hee haue deliuered them Can a Mother forget her Child shee may let it get a knocke and feare it with the sense of some danger but leaue it in danger shee cannot And who be they towards whom the Lord thinketh thoughts of peace or to whom he will remember mercy but Vessels of mercy Once haue I heard sayth Dauid yea twice Psal 72.11 that mercy belongs to God and therefore it is so true as it can neuer bee false once yea twice that is once by the Scriptures and another time by the Holy Ghost Secondly Gods promise is that he will not suffer his to be tempted aboue that they are able to beare and therefore at length they finde him Psal 73.2 As Dauid saith My feet were almost gone but not altogether The man of God may slip and slide and much adoe to keepe his feet but at worst his feete are but almost gone and this comes from Gods promise Thirdly Gods prouidence limiteth the times in which his Church shall suffer no longer sometimes a longer time as Israel in Egypt 400-yeares sometimes shorter seuentie yeares in the Babylonish captiuitie Reu 2.10 sometimes shorter then so ye shall suffer tribulation for ten dayes Sometimes three dayes as Ionas in the Whales belly and Christ in the graue sometimes but one night Sorrow may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning And sometimes there is but an houre for the power of darkenesse then Gods time is come and the godly see the saluation of the Lord. Lastly he deliuers them in their troubles by his presence First of power And so a 4. like the Son of God was in the furnace with the three children And it is sayd I will be with thee in sixe troubles and in seuen in fire and water Secondly of grace his right hand is vnder their heads he giues thē grace sufficient proportions their strength to the burthen mitigates their sorrow makes them possesse their soules in patience yea reioyce in sorrow which else would sinke them and at length recompenseth their light affliction with an eternall weight of glory Verse 7. Our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen and earth THis is the conclusion of thankes-giuing containing a worthy Sentence of great comfort that against sinne The name of the Lord is our onely sanctuary and succour in all afflictions the horror of death and other dangers their is no other helpe or safetie but onely the name of the Lord if that were not sayth he wee should fall into all manner of sinne blasphemy errors and into all kinde of calamities but our helpe is in the name of the Lord which preserueth our faith and our life against the diuell and the world And as ye heare in the other verses before so he sheweth in this verse also that God suffereth his Saints to be tempted and in their temptaion to fal into great distresse onely the word of the Lord sustaines vs and assureth vs that our light and momentary afflictions shall cause to vs at the length an infinite weight of glory These prayers of Dauid are penned with such heauenly wisedome that they are conuenient for the state of the whole Church and euery member thereof The Church is the bush that burnes with fire but cannot bee consumed euery member thereof beareth a part of the crosse of Christ neuer without some affliction we know that in afflictions it is some comfort to vs to haue our crosses knowne to such How God is a spectator and partaker with in all our afflictions as of whom we are assured that they loue vs it mitigates our dolour when they mourne with vs albeit they bee not able to helpe vs but the Christian hath more solid comfort to wit that in all his troubles the Lord beholds him like a king reioycing to see his owne seruant wrastle with the enemy he looks with a mercifull eye pittying the infirmity of his owne when he sees it and with a powerfull hand ready to helpe but because many a time the cloud of our corruption commeth betweene the Lord and vs lets vs not see his helping hand nor his louing face looking vpon vs wee haue neede to pray at such times with Dauid
is the heritage of the Lords seruants and the portion of them that loue him for the Church is that Arke which mounts vp mounts vp higher as the water increaseth but cannot be ouerwhelmed Mat. 7.25 the bush which may burne but not be consumed the house built vpon a rocke which may be beaten with winde and raine but cannot bee ouerthrowne Besides all this it is not enough that wee are compassed about with firy walls that is with the sure custody the continuall watch and ward of the Angels but the Lord himselfe is our wall so that euery way wee are defended by the Lord against all dangers Therefore in our greatest mutations our hearts shold not be moued from confidence in God All which should learne vs in the greatest changes and alterations that fall out in the world to rest assured that the Lord will worke for the good of his Church though the earth should bee mooued and the Mountaines fall into the middest of the Sea yea though the waters there of rage and bee troubled yet there is a Riuer whose streames shall make glad the Cittie of God in the middest of it Yea if they who should bee the nourishing Fathers of the Church doe forsake her and become her enemies they shall most assuredly perish but Comfort Ioy and Deliuerance shall appeare vnto Gods people out of another place the Lord for awhile may put the bridle of bondage in the Philistians hands for to humble Israel for their sinnes but it shall bee taken away from them at the length then shall his Church with Ioy draw water out of the Well of Saluation and prayse the Lord their God saying Though thou wert now angry with mee yet thy wrath is turned away and thou comfortest me yea Sion shall cry out and shout for ioy for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of her And therefore in our lowest humiliation let vs answer our enemies Reioyce not against mee O mine enemies though I fall I shall rise when I shall sit in darkenesse the Lord is a light vnto me I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgement for mee hee will bring me forth to light and I shall see his righteousnesse then hee that is mine enemy shall looke vpon it and shame shall couer him who sayd to mee Where is the Lord thy God now shall hee bee troden vnder as the myre in the streets yea so let all thine enemies perish O Lord. The hilles stand ahout Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord about his people Therefore seeing the Lord doth thus compasse the godly with such mercies O then labour to be godly men And such as trust in God to whom all these precious promises are made O how excellent is thy mercy therefore the children of men shall trust vnder the shadow of thy wings Here is a great comfort for the godly who haue no small securitie hence that whatsoeuer their outward estate is or may bee Gods mercy compasseth them as the hills compasse Ierusalem First if Sathan assalt vs on euery side wirh temptation to vexe and disquiet vs with inward feares hee shall not haue so nimble eyes to spy our weakenesse as the eye of the Lord to spye meanes to strengthen vs. Let him obiect the greatnesse and infinite number of our sinnes yet hee shall but amplifie the great mercy of God which is greater and more large then all the sinne and misery in the World Thus Moses comforteth Gods people Deu. 4.31 The Lord thy God is a mercifull God hee will not forsake nor destroy thee nor forget the couenant of thy fathers which hee sware vnto them 〈◊〉 118. â—â— Secondly if vnmercifull men compasse them and come about them like Bees and sharpen their stings yet the mercies of the Lord are neerer them then that they can hurt them Thus Dauid comforted himselfe Psal 86.14.15 O Lord the prowde are risen against mee but thou Lord art strong and mercifull gracious and long suffering and a pitifull God Thirdly if a man should conflict with Gods owne hand by inward temptations or outward tryals of sicknesse pouertie persecution if he were so beset as hee could see nothing but troubles without feares within now is the time to mound fence himself with this comfortable doctrine that euen now Gods Mercies doe guard and compasse him seeing he cannot deny himselfe nor faile of any of his promises Dauid when hee was to chuse of the three rods of God the Sword Famine or Plague he chose to fall into the hands of God because he is mercifull He may afflict and chasten vs a while 2. Sam. 24.14 Isai 45.7.10 Psal 103.8 and for a moment seeme to fosake vs But with great compassions he will gather vs for he chides not alwayes neither retaineth he his wrath for euer Fourthly if a man were in the hands of death and the messengers thereof had already taken hold on him as on Hezekiah Yet euen then he need feare none ill seeing Gods mecrcies compasse him This is euer our couer though wee cannot alway see it as Elisha his seruant saw not the great mercies of God compassing him and his Maister Euen then when wee know not Gods mercy is all about vs. There are still more with vs then against vs our mountaine is alway beset with heauenly warriors Was Ionas euer more compassed with mercies then when he was in his owne sence cast off and compassed with waues and weeds Was Israel euer more coÌ„past with mercy then when they were compassed with Mountaines Sea enemies Death and deadly things these our extremities are Gods oportunitie Nay fifthly suppose a man were in the house of death in the graue yet euen this separates not from Gods mercyes which being eternal leaues vs not in death but when we are most compassed with dust and corruption shall then bee most abundant and mightie for vs. Oh therefore let so many as trust in God flye in all their straights to this sanctuary which can make not onely deaths fore-runners but euen death it selfe welcome which depriues vs of all things else but this mercy into the full estate of which it setteth vs. Let vs therefore labour aboue all things in the world to get part in this mercy by getting assurance of the pardon of sinne get this and thou gettest a mercy reaching vp to heauen a crowne of blessings a plentifull redemption Our Prophet here calls it a compassing mercie for a godly man thinketh not himselfe compassed with mercy when hee is compassed onely with outward blessings when God hath hedged about his house and he hath wealth to tumble in though the world breath after nothing else but when he hath a voyce telling him that God in Christ is merciful to his sin and hath couered his iniquitie oh now thinkes Dauid himselfe compassed with mercy and not before although he was a king and had
can confesse But Sinne shall slay the vngodly Psal 34.24 As for the righteous the promise is though they fall they are not cast off Not that their sinne doth not deserue they should but because the Lord puts vnder his hand and reneweth his grace to rayse them to repentance Moreouer wee are here admonished of the great danger that followeth these Afflictions and Tentations which they that through impatience forsake the Word and Faith doe fall into Therefore the Lord here sheweth himselfe so carefull for his people lest they should fall into this danger for their state which haue once forsaken the Word is much more perillous then it was before and into such as our Sauiour Christ pronounceth in the Gospell doe enter seuen Spirits much more wicked then the first Luk. 11.26 Wee must therefore patiently suffer and perseuere in all Tentations and rather abide all extremities then once shrinke from the Word of Life lest wee bee possessed with seuen Spirits more wicked then the first And moreouer wee must assuredly trust as wee are taught in this Verse that so long as wee haue a desire and a purpose so to doe the Lord will neuer forsake vs or suffer vs to fall into this impietie For heere haue wee a manifest promise and a liuely description of the Lords singular care and prouidence ouer vs namely that hee is mindfull of the end of our tentations and afflictions so that wee onely continue constant and patient vnto the end And if that Heathen Poet sayd Endure and reserue your selues for more happie things Virgil. how much more should Christians diligently stirre vp themselues with mutuall exhortations to patience and perseuerance whether they outwardly suffer in things pertayning to the Bodie and to this present Life or inwardly in Conscience For wee haue a God which euen in Death in Hell and in the middest of all our Sinnes can saue and deliuer vs. A Christian therefore must bee readily prepared not onely with strength to stand against the enemy but with stedfast purpose also to continue vnto the end For he runneth not in such a race wherein there is any end of his course during this life but he runneth as it were in a circle in the which hee must haue a continuall recourse thither where he first began Our course and race is as it were in a circle which hath no end therefore our Sauiour Christ saith He that continueth to the end he shall be saued We must not be then discouraged by the importunitie of our enemy or ouercome with tediousnesse and long continuance but wee must fight not onely against the power and subtiltie of our enemie but also against our owne weaknesse and wearinesse for as in them who wrastle with any equall strength sometimes the one is aboue and sometimes the other till at length one bee ouercome So is it in this combat in the Christian somtimes the power of nature othertimes the power of grace preuailing but this comfort we haue that at the length grace shall preuaile and the power of corrupt nature shall bee captiued vnder the obedience of Christ Hence we learne that it is not enough for a man or woman to begin well or to take some liking of religion as to reuerence Gods Ministers to desire to heare them to ioyne with the people of God in prayer to bring forth some good fruit in outward reformatioÌ„ of life c. vnlesse he perseuere persist and go on vnto the end He that endures to the end shal be saued Mat. 24.13 Reu. 2.10 And be thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee a Crowne of life If a righteous man leaue his righteousnes c. he that puts his hand to the Lords plough Eze. 18.24 Luke 2.21 and looketh back is not worthy of the kingdome of heauen Againe It had beene better for them that they had neuer knowne the wayes of godlinesse then afterwards to fall away 2. Pet. 2.21 And therefore in the Scriptures such as haue had some beginning and after fallen away are noted to haue bene exceeding wicked men as we see in Iudas Math. 27. First a Preacher and an Apostle a man well esteemed that had excellent gifts to preach pray and cast out Diuels afterward an hypocrite a theefe a traytor a reprobate Herod had many things in him at first reuerenced Iohn Baptist heard him gladly did many things at his request yet afterwards a bloody persecuter Demas once a sound professour as it seemed and one that was deere vnto Paul but afterwards left his profession and fell in loue with the world c. and therefore it is a speciall dutie required of euery Christian to continue stedfast Be thou faithfull vnto the end 〈◊〉 2.26 and I will giue thee a Crowne of life Hence we see that it is a dangerous thing to reuolt and goe backward in matters of religion to lose our first loue It is a fearefull signe of a reprobate and cast away when men slacke hand and slip necke out of chollar grow carelesse in the seruice and worship of God for a man to grow there is some hope though hee doe but creepe in religion but for a man to goe backeward or to stand at a stay is dangerous for it is certaine Not to go forward in Gods matters is to goe backeward not to increase is to decrease not to grow better is to waxe worse it is a hard matter to make a good beginning Wee are not easily brought to set one foote forward in the waies of godlinesse but then to trip while we are in our iourney and to waxe weary of wel doing This is a fearefull sinne Let this admonish vs all Mat. 24.13 as wee doe loue our owne soules to labour for constancie and perseuerance that we may hold out vnto the end that our workes may bee more at last then at first Râ—â— â— that we be sure to dig so deepe that we lay the foundation of our faith vpon the rocke Christ and for want of this godly care and circumspection â—forehand many haue at the first giuen their names to Christ who afterwards when they were to take vp the Crosse of Christ haue gone out and turned their backes vpon Christ Saul began well but afterwards he waxed worse and in the end became an open persecutour Ioash behaued himselfe vprightly of the Lord. But after his death he fell into Idolatrie What did it profit Lots Wife to goe out of Sodome insomuch as afterward she looked backe and was turned into a pillar of Salt So then wee see here that it is not enough to begin well neither is it enough to proceede well It is required of vs to perseuer well and to continue in a constant and setled course euen to the end So that if wee looke to partake of eternall life and happinesse for euer with God Reu. 2.10 We must be constant in the profession of his truth in all
Persians thought it a peece of their silly glory not to grant accesse easily vnto their subiects yea not to those of most noble ranke therfore ye see how fearefull Hester the queene was to goe in vnto the king vnsent for but the Lord out God Ester 2.15 king of kings proclaimes vnto vs free accesse as oft as we are disposed to call vpon him reddy at all times to extend the scepter of his peace towards those who seek him in spirit and truth yea though with Dauid thou preuent the morning and rise at midnight to call vpon him thou shalt finde him euen then waiting vpon thee come whē thou wilt thou shalt finde him but canst not preuent him Let vs therefore vse our libertie well and see wee neglect not to begin in time our acquaintance with the Lord by frequent speaking vnto him if so be wee looke hereafter for euer to remaine with him Verse 6. They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Amongst other things which properly pertaine to the redeemed this also is one that they are subiect to many temptations according to the saying of Saint Peter By many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of heauen Therefore the profession of a Christian man is rightly called the profession of the crosse so it behooued Christ the head of his Church to suffer and the prophets through inspiration of the Holy Ghost did testifie before of his passion and of his glorification which should follow and how can it bee but that Christians must needs suffer behold now therefore the miserable image of a Christian which is redeemed notwithstanding hee is full of sinne full of discomfort full of death he is like vnto Lazarus lying before the rich mans gate he like to Iob oppressed with infinite miseries and calamities here then thou wilt say who would desire to be a Christian harken therefore what Peter saith Brethren 1. Pet. 4.12 thinke it not strange concerning the fiery tryall which is to try you as though some strange thing hapned vnto you but reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christ his suffrings that when his glory shall bee reuealed yee may bee glad also with exceeding ioy for this is the Image of Christ of his Church and of all the brethren that wee should suffer but looke not to the sufferings and tribulations onely but behold also the fruit that followeth name-by that they which sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Our nature obhorreth affliction It is not without cause that the Prophet takes so great paines to confirme vs against affliction because our nature abhorreth nothing more then it When Iesus went vp to the mount to preach all his Disciples went with him but when he went to mount Caluarie to suffer they all fled from him he hath many Disciples to follow him by profession but few to follow him by patient suffring It is Sathans voyce in Peter to our blessed Sauiour when he made mention of his suffrings Master pittie thy selfe And it is his dayly voyce in our corrupt nature so oft as wee are called to suffring O man pittie thy selfe but the answer giuen by the head were also good to be giuen by the members Goe behinde mee Sathan hee knoweth very well partly by the quickenesse of his naturall wit and partly by long experience being now very neere sixe thousand yeares olde that man now likes nothing worse then the Crosse Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath saith hee will he giue for his life etc. Iohn 1 4. Hee hath tolde vs himselfe wherein his strength lyeth to wit that by trouble hee preuayleth most to make man impatient and so driue him to blaspheme God and therefore most of all wee are to confirme our weakenesse against the crosse Here first we learn that sufferings must go before glory the husbandmen must labour before he receiue the fruits neither is he that striues for crowned except hee striue as he ought The Prince of saluation was consecrated by affliction it behooued him first to suffer and then to enter into his kingdome all that professe him are desirous with the sonnes of Zebedeus to sit some at his right hand and some at his left but are not so content to drinke of his cup and be baptized with his baptisme they would all enioy thee Barnard knowing that pleasures for euermore are at thy right hand but are not content to follow thee they all desire to reigne with thee but not so to suffer with thee but this is a prepostrous way it is to deuide those things which the Lord hath ioyned together except we first suffer with him we shal not hereafter reigne with him Secondly let vs marke here the different courses of the Christian and the Worldling the Christian by temporall trouble goes vnto eternall glory Different courses of the Christian worldling worth the noting c. the Worldling by temporall glory goes to eternall shame If you goe to the Schoole of Iesus the first A. B. C. of Religion taught you there will be this Matth. 10 38. If any man will be my Disciple let him deny himselfe take vp his Crosse and follow mee If you goe to the Schoole of Sathan the first A. B. C. of Atheisme taught there is this All the Kingdomes of the World will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship mee The Lord Iesus through light and momentarie Afflictions leads his Children to an infinite weight of glory but Sathan through the perishing pleasures of Sinne leads his miserable Captiues to euerlasting paine Therefore it is said by our Sauiour of the one Blessed are yee that mourne for yee shall bee comforted And of the other Woe bee to you that laugh now for yee shall wayle and weepe The end of a Christian better then his beginning As there is no comparison betweene these two so blessed shall wee be if wee make choyse of the best Moses esteemed the Rebuke of Christ greater Riches then the Treasures of Egypt because hee had respect to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 And shall not wee reioyce in our present Afflictions considering they are the way vnto our Glory If wee sowe in Teares wee shall reape in Ioy The end of the Godly is better then their beginning For the Light of the Righteous encreaseth more and more like the Sunne vnto the Noone-day They begin with Teares and they end with Ioy but the Light of the Wicked is like vnto the Light of a Candle it shineth for a while and incontinent endeth in stinking Smoake As Baltazars Banquet was concluded with a Cup of Wrath so all the pleasures of the Wicked ends in paine At that Banquet in Canaan Iohn 2. the Lord Iesus brought in the best Wine at the last But Sathan doth with his miserable Banquetters as the Gouernour of that Feast speakes hee presents his best first and after when they haue well drunke brings
Bondage of Sathan shew that yee are faithfull and not Traytors to Iesus Christ be ye without reproach and single hearted The Children I say of God vnreproueable in the middest of this crooked and peruerse Nation Phil. 2.15 amongst whom ye shine as Lights in the World which beare before you the Word of Life shew your selues to feele the wholsome Grace of God which teacheth you to renounce all Infidelity and worldly lustes to liue soberly Titus 2.12 iustly and godly thinke in your selues that the friendship of this World is Enmitie to God and that ye cannot be friends to the World but that ye must needs be Enemies to God Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse Iames 4.4 Eph. 5.11 but rather reprooue them so as your holy conuersation may serue for a proofe and checke to such as walke disorderly Remember what God said to Man Isaiah 33.6 The feare of the Lord is true wisedome and to depart from euill is Vnderstanding Let the fauour of God bee our Treasure walke as it were before him as he commaunded Abraham Thinke that ye are not your owne to liue for your selues according to your owne wisedome and pleasure but that ye appertaine vnto God that ye might liue vnto him and according to his Wisedome and Will reuealed in his Word vnto vs. That Man hath much profited who knowing that hee is not his owne hath taken away from himselfe and his owne reason all Lordship Dominion Rule and Power to resigne it to God and to suffer himselfe quietly and directly to be guided according to his pleasure There is no vice more common more pernitious or more hard to cure then the loue of our selues and therefore there is no lesson more necessarie then that which Iesus Christ taught his Apostles that to be of the number of his Disciples wee must renounce your selues renouncing then our selues hate yee that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good inclined by Charitie to loue one another procure things that are good not onely before God Col. 3.12 but also before men If it be possible so much as in you lyeth haue peace with all men be we as the elect of God holy and beloued clad with the bowels of compassion of kindnesse of humility of meekenesse of long suffering forbearing one another and forgiuing one another euen as Christ hath forgiuen you loue one another as God hath loued you For heerein is the difference betweene the children of God and the children of the Deuill and wherein ye may be knowne to be the Disciples of Christ yee are all members of one body let there be no diuision or parts taking among you 1. Cor. 12.19 but feele the afflictions of them that weepe to weepe with them and reioyce with those that reioyce to praise God with them 3. If ye be the Citizens of the Ciâ—ie of Ierusalem and will haue a sure dwelling in it Psal 15. walke in integrity labour to deale iustly speake the truth from your hearts keepe you from slandering couetousnes â—nd all other corruption acknowâ—edge in all men the Image of God whereunto you owe honor â—nd helpe especially those that are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 Ye are debtors to your neighbours of all that ye haue or are able to doe to bee disposers of it with condition that ye render to God an accompt Fourthly honour the graces of God in your Brethren and couer their infirmities by Charitie Iames 1.19.20 c. Bee quicke to heare but slow to speake and slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous in the sight of God Doe not desire hope or imagine any other meanes to prosper by then by the blessing of God and doe not looke that hee should aduance by the aide of his blessing that which he hath accursed by his mouth so goe forwards in the amendment of your liues that this day may passe yesterday Zeale to the puritie of the Doctrine with the holinesse oâ— your liues that the ignorant seeing your blamelesse conuersation and esteeming you by your good workes may glorifie God 1. Pet. 2.12 and imbrace the Gospell with you when it shall please God to call them haue minde of that great Curse pronounced by the high Iudge against such as offended any of the verie least Furthermore reioyce in the Lord indeuour to be perfect be comforted be of one consent 2. Cor. 13.11 liue in peace and the God of Loue and Peace shall be with you But as it is God that worketh in vs both to will and in worke to accomplish according to his good pleasure so aboue all things imploy your selues to pray feruently and continually Chrysostom Prayer saith Saint Chrysostome is the Soule of our Soules for it also is the soule which quickeneth all the actions of the Children of God It was the lifting vp of Moses hands to heauen which strengthened Iosua and his army Exod. 17.11 and gaue him victorie ouer the Amalekites and indeed without the grace of God that which we obtaine by prayer all that we doe is but vanitie Faith is the key that openeth the Cofers of the treasures of our God Prayer is the hand to draw it out to inrich our selues Prayer lifteth vp our hearts from earth to heauen it renueth the memorie of the promises of God to confirme vs it assureth vs against all that we can feare it obtaineth all that we can desire it giueth rest and contentment to our soules it keepeth and strengtheneth the feare to offend God it increaseth the desire to goe vnto him whom in praying we feele to be the spring and fountaine of all good things it ingendereth in vs a stedfast dispising of the World and renouncing of the Flesh it representeth vnto vs the heauenly and euerlasting felicities that we may aspire to the inioying of them There is nothing more to be desired then to be conuersant with him without whom wee cannot be happy but he that will alwaies bee with God hee must alwaies pray or reade For when we pray we talke with God and when wee reade God talketh with vs the more we are exercised in Prayer to God the more we increase in godlinesse therefore also we may not be wearie or faint-hearted in Prayer although the Lord deferre to make vs feele the fruit of our Prayers for we haue a promise of him that cannot lye that whatsoeuer wee aske of God in the name of Iesus Christ it shall be giuen vs if he deferre for some time to make vs feele the fruit of our Prayers it is for our greater benefit Let vs continue still wayting knowing assuredly that he according to his fatherly loue and bountie desireth our good can according to his infinit power giue that which we aske of him and according to his truth will heare vs. He also according to his wisedome knoweth the fittest time as is before said