set vpon Gods seruices only by fits and starts If they haue not present helpe from God they will seeke vnto the world and vnto Satan and to carnall meanes If they cannot mend their estate by prayer they will patch it vp by odde shifts if their hearts haue not present comfort from Gods spirit they will seeke comfort from iesters and leaud companions Commonly such people grow of all other most bitter against those holy exercises which they haue profaned and therefore could haue no benefit by them Such were they of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh who are so impudent and shamelesse that they dare expostulate the matter with God himselfe VVherefore haue wee fasted say they wee haue punished our selues and thou regardest it not Isa 48.3 c See what bragges they make of their seruices they that doe least and worst commonly brag most But what saies the Prophet Behold in the day of your fast yee will seeke your owne will and require all your debts 4. Beholde yee fast to strife and debate c. 5. Is it such a fast that I haue chosen that a man should afflict his soule for a day and bow downe his head like a bull-rush c. Thus wee see what reckoning God makes of their fasting what account so euer they themselues make of it and yet if they faile of their expectation they will quarrell with the Ministers of God with the word of God and with God himselfe because vsing such exercises carnally they receiued no benefit by them Vse 3 3 This must be an instruction vnto vs whē we are to deale with those that are afflicted in their soules that we handle the matter warilie and circumspectly when their hearts are wrought vpon we should not help them too soone out of their sorrow but exhort them to waite for comfort frō heauen for all cannot be presently well with the soule and therefore it is good wisedome to aduise such still to hold on their course Haue they begun to examine their hearts let them rifle yet further into them Haue they begunne to dislike their sinnes and themselues for their sinnes let them get a more thorow detestation and holy indignation against them It is not good for one that takes physicke to giue vp the potion forthwith as soone as it begins to worke Peter as a wise physition gaue other counsell to his hearers that began to bee moued by his doctrine They had beene mockers and scoffers they had crucified the Lord of life and so exceedingly endangered their owne soules wherewith beeing charged by Peter and being pricked and stung in their hearts and consciences they aske the Apostles Men and brethren Act. 2.37.38 what shall wee doe He doth not tell them as some vnskillfull Ministers would your case is good bee not discomforted my soule for yours you shall doe well but hee bids them amend their liues repent and get sound and heartie sorrow for their sinnes that so beeing throughly humbled they might afterwards bee soundly comforted Doct. 4. The eye must affect the heart Vers 51. Mine eye breaketh mine heart The meaning of which words is that his heart was marueilously moued with the things that his eye did behold Whence this doctrine offreth it selfe for our learning That good men must vse their eyes to stirre vp their hearts to pitie and compassion that so they may be pierced with griefe and sorrow This wee haue proued vnto vs in the example of Christ Iesus the most absolute paterne of all holinesse Mark 6.34 For it is said of him by the Euangelist Marke That when he lifted vp his eyes and sawe the multitude which had no faithfull Ministers to instruct them his very bowels were moued with commiseration towards them because they were as sheepe without a shepheard In this regard it is that Salomon describing a good man Pro. 22.9 calls him a man of a good eye and saies of such an one That hee will bestow his bread vpon the poore hee seeth the faces of some pale and of others blacke by reason of long want and forbearance of foode Others hee beholdeth naked and colde and exposed to the iniurie of the ayre and of all sorts of vnseasonable weather Now hauing a good eye hee will not onely take a view of them but bee inwardly affected with the sight of them and from a tender and pitifull heart minister reliefe vnto them Hence was it Act. 7.23 Exod. 2.11 that Moses did not content himselfe to know of the miseries of his poore brethren the Israelites by heare-say but hee would goe out to see their burdens and how they spent their paines and their strength and after all were recompenced with stripes from their taske-masters which did so worke vpon him that it made him stretch forth his hand to auenge some of them So likewise in the Gospell of Matthew it is set downe as the propertie of all holy and religious persons Mat. 25.36 that they will goe to the prison to see and to the house to visit the distressed members of Christ and take all occasions to bring their owne hearts to pitie their poore brethren and will euen compell their inward parts to beare a burden with them that they may bee more helpfull vnto them Vse 1 Which makes greatly for the reproofe of those whose eyes and eares are as filthy sinkes to conuey all vncleanenesse into them who haue eyes full of adulterie 1. An adulterous eye that they cannot looke about them but they are stirred vp to beastly and vile lusts Who haue eyes full of enuie 2. An enuious eye that they cannot beholde their brethren that are equall vnto them or goe before them or come neere vnto them but presently they fret against them and others welfare is their woe and miserie Others haue a wicked eye 3. A couetous eye that they cannot looke vpon their neighbors cattle houses possessions and the like but forthwith their hearts are poisoned with a couetous desire of them and then they cast about how they may make them theirs and if they cannot they eate vp their hearts with discontentment as Ahab did Pro. 28.22 Agreeable to this is the place of Salomon where hee saith A man of a wicked eye lusteth after riches but hee shews there that God meetes with him for hee shal be so farre from getting more that hee shall not keepe that which hee hath but the more he runnes after riches the faster pouertie shall pursue him Another kinde of ill eye is a niggardly eye 4. A niggardly eye spoken of by the wise man in the Prouerbs Pro. 23.6 where hee giueth this counsell Eate not the bread of him that hath an euill eye c. that thinkes all lost that goes from him and all taken out of his stomacke that goes into other mens bowels hee will giue men a welcome for fashion sake but all that eate of his meate are a vexation vnto him and
TWO SERMONS ON THE THIRD OF THE LAMENTATIONS OF IEREMIE Preached at Hanwell in the first yeare of his Maiesties raigne 1602. The one by I. D. the other by R. C. PHILIP 3.1 It grieueth me not to write the same things to you and for you it is a sure thing ISAIAH 55.3 Hearken and your soule shall liue AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Ionas Man and are to be sold at the signe of the Starre at the West dore of Paules Church in London 1608. To the Christian Reader HAuing occasion to reuise notes of certaine Sermons taken by penne from their mouthes whose labours both in word and writing haue been and are no lesse profitable than acceptable vnto Gods Church I thought it not amisse to take some small paines to copie out some of them that if perhaps they should be thought worthie of publike view they might be offered to the light if not they might be reserued for more pruiate vse Amongst the rest I iudged these two Sermons not the vnfittest for such a purpose and so did others whose incouragement also I had for the publishing of them They were preached in the beginning of his Maiesties raigne at that time when generall humiliation by fasting was by authoritie enioyned vpon occasion of the Pestilence then dangerously dispersed which albeit through Gods mercifull prouidence it be now well allayed yet the infection of sinne the very true cause thereof still remaineth and gathereth new strength For the staying whereof if any remedie may be gotten hence I hope for more easie pardon from the authors of my boldenes in publishing and from the reader for my many faylings in penning these their labors I did my best in taking from them and offering vnto thee that and in a manner nothing but that which they then deliuered The substance of the matter I doubt not is all sound and will much content a wise and well affected heart The manner and forme of words and sentences is more imperfect than in the deliuerie it was or now might haue beene if the authors had either penned it before the preaching thereof or vndertaken the thorow polishing of it since But howsoeuer sith that could not bee obtained which might haue beene wished my desire was greater to satisfie thirstie soules with this that is done then was my feare to offend curious heads and itching eares by the manner of doing it IOHN WINSTON THE FIRST SERMON Lamentations chap. 3. vers 48. c. 48 Mine eye casteth out riuers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people 49 Mine eye droppeth without stay and ceaseth not 50 Till the Lord looke downe and beholde from heauen 51 Mine eye breaketh mine heart because of all the daughters of my citie 52 Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause 53 They shut vp my life in the dungeon and cast a stone vpon me 54 Waters flowed ouer my head then thought I I am destroyed ALL these words doe containe a Lamentation of Ieremie and of the rest of Gods people for the iudgements of God on his Church and on Ierusalem his owne citie and for the miserie and calamitie that lay vpon their whole state After this sort they bewaile their heauie case Mine eye casteth out riuers of water c. Now this Lamentation is set forth The diuisiō 1 Partly by the manner of it and 2 Partly by the causes of it 1 The manner of it is declared in the foure former verses and that by diuers circumstances namely 1 By the greatnesse of it for in regard of the miserie of the daughter of his people hee did not onely moisten his eyes with teares but sent forth riuers of teares vers 48. which is an excessiue kinde of speech vsuall in the Scriptures and signifying that he wept abundantly 2 It is set out by the continuance of it Mine eye droppeth without stay and ceaseth not vers 49. Neither shall it cease but I will continue lamenting till the Lord looke downe from heauen and shew some signe that hee doth beholde and pitie our estate vers 50. 3 Their lamentation is set out by the sinceritie of it that it proceeded from trueth and vprightnesse Mine eye breaketh mine heart vers 51. That is the things that I see with mine eye doe cause me to lament wonderfully so heauie is the case of all the daughters of my citie that it euen breaketh my very heart 2 The causes of it are of two sorts 1 Inward which was griefe of heart vers 51. 2 Outward which was the crueltie of their enemies which crueltie is set forth 1 By a similitude taken from fowlers Mine enemies haue chased me sore like a bird vers 52. Implying thereby that they made it a sport a recreation and trade to pursue Gods seruants they did as it were goe a hawking after innocent and harmelesse soules 2 Their crueltie is described by a comparison taken from hunters who vsed to digge pits to the intent that great beasts might fal into them and so be intrapped and thē they would throw stones at them or vse some such meanes to kill them when they durst not goe downe into the pit where they were Such were the plots and endeuours of their aduersaries they were as cunning and as eager in their attempts against the people of God as men would be in killing a Beare or a Lion that otherwise would kill them if they were at libertie vers 53. 3 Lastly their crueltie is set out by a comparison drawne from the inundation of waters their rage was like the violence of mightie riuers and floods that ouerflowe and drowne all that comes in their way vers 54. Vers 48. Mine eye casteth out riuers of water Their affliction was so sore that their case in regard of any earthly succour that could be expected was helplesse and remedilesse In vaine it was to speake vnto men for they were inexorable because they were mercilesse in vaine it was to take weapons they had had too much of that before and by that meanes Zedekiah had euen vndone them and as for other helps they were as farre to seeke as for these Now therefore they fall to weeping and seeke to relieue themselues by teares and by sighes and grones before the Lords throne in heauen Whence ariseth this doctrine That godly sorrow and holy affliction is the best remedie in any sorrow and affliction whether it be from men Doct. 1. Godly sorrow a soueraigne remedie from Sathan or from God himselfe whether it be on bodie on state on name or on the minde and soule of a man whether it bee on particular persons our selues or those that are about vs or on the whole land on church or commonwealth this is the most soueraigne remedie in all miseries and extremities whatsoeuer This inward godly griefe is a salue for euery sore and a plaister for euery wound To weepe and cry and powre out our hearts before God is that course that
they here take and that which wee must take in the like distresse according to the measure of the affliction and as it is more publike or priuate so must be the measure of our lamentation To this there is a promise made in the prophesie of Isaiah c. That when our hands cannot help our selues nor our tongues preuaile with others yet then wee may relieue our selues by our prayers vnto God Isaiah 61. 12. c. for in that place the Lord vndertaketh that mourners shal be comforted c. God the Father sends his owne sonne and the Father and the Sonne doe send the holy Ghost that when men are mourning and seele their pouertie so as it breakes their hearts the spirit which is the comforter may minister comfort vnto them that when they feele their captiuitie and imprisonment as it were Christ Iesus may set them at libertie be they neuer so weake neuer so meane neuer so miserable neuer so sinfull if once they come thus to mourne they shall haue their hearts comforted though they bee couered with ashes God will giue them beautie for ashes and put on them the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauines bestowing vpon them that which shall make them cheerefull euen the oyle of ioy not an earthly but an heauenly oyle And there is great cause why God should deale so with such kinde of persons for Reasons 1 1 Hee is full of pitie and compassion and therefore the prophet Ioel in his 2. Chap. vers 13. biddeth vs rent our hearts and not our garments Ioel. 2.13 that is bring inward sorrow that may crush and breake the heart and then turne vnto the Lord which if we doe wee shal be sure of reliefe and why the Lord is mercifull saith hee and our God is very readie to forgiue When wee see our children mourning and confessing their faults wee cannot but haue our bowels of compassion earning towards them If Iacob had stood by and heard his sonne Iosephs pitifull moane that in the anguish of his soule hee made vnto his brethren when they dealt so vnnaturallie with him would hee not haue pitied him and by strong hand haue rescued him from his cruell sonnes What shall wee then thinke of God he is farre more mercifull than Iacob was and wee are neerer vnto him than euer Ioseph was vnto his father And therefore when wee mourne in a holy manner certainely hee will arise and haue mercy vpon vs. Hee cannot slay when he sees our hearts full of sorrow and our eyes full of teares for the sighs and groanes of his people doe giue him no rest in heauen Secondly this godly mourning must needs be a speciall remedie in all manner of afflictions because it makes our prayers very forcible it sets an edge vpon our petitions and makes vs pray heartily feruently and strongly When Iacob wept in his prayer it was so effectuall that hee preuailed Genesis 32.11 When Gods people ioyned together to powre forth buckets full of teares drawne from the bottome of their hearts before the Lord they were marueilously helped 1. Sam. 7.6 for the great measure of their teares made their supplications more feruent and therefore it is said of Christ Iesus himselfe that in the dayes of his flesh hee did offer vp prayers with strong crying Heb. 5.7 and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death When our Sauiour was about the principal point of his mediatorship then did he gather strength vnto himselfe by this meanes Thirdly this must needs be very effectuall because it is exceeding forcible against sinne for when sorrow comes into the heart sinne goes out it will not lodge there vnlesse it bee cockered and made much of When euery one laments his iniquitie and mournes ouer Christ Iesus whom hee hath pierced by his sinnes then there is a fountaine opened to wash them from all euen from sins that made a separation betwixt God and vs. Zacharie 12. 13. Seeing then that this godly and holy sorrow is a means to make God pitie vs to make vs call earnestly vpon him and to expell sinne which might hinder vs from preuailing with him it must needes follow that of all remedies in times of distresse this is the best and surest Vse 1 This serues for instruction vnto vs to vse all meanes and furtherances whereby wee may attaine vnto this There are many afflictions abroad many neerer home in our owne townes and families nay there are many things amisse in our owne hearts here is a medicine for euetie one of our maladies let vs get it and vse it and all arguments and helps that may continue and increase it as the Nineuites hauing direction by the spirit of God as many of them as were his did when Ionah threatned destruction against their citie within fortie dayes they abased themselues and fell to mourning and vsed fasting to helpe it onward the people must shew it in their countenances the lowing of the beasts and crying of the infants must further them to this holy remorse and griefe for their great and haynous transgressions They had grieued the Lord by their iniquities and therefore now they would grieue themselues with godly contrition for them Hence it was that Gods people amongst the Iewes vsed to weare sack-cloth to lie on the ground and to put dust vpon their heads which were then meanes to further them in the worke of humiliation Therefore now that wee feare danger is neere vs let vs betake our selues to this holy mourning if wee refuse to doe it and still continue to be hard-hearted if the pestilence come into our families wee are likelie to be taken away with the first and to haue not only our bodies but our soules in danger and that of Gods wrath and euerlasting displeasure Therefore let vs seeke to haue our hearts mollified by this excellent meanes of God and for this end consider of the blessings of God plentifully powred downe vpon our nation Nehemi 9. and vpon out selues in particular as they did in the day of their humiliation of whom Nehemiah maketh mention Let vs seriously recount how many mercies wee haue enioyed and how much they haue beene abused how many afflictions wee haue felt and how little wee haue beene bettered how many deliuerances wee haue found and yet how carelesse nay how rebellious we haue beene notwithstanding them all Let vs weigh with our selues what hurt our sins haue done vnto vs how many good thinges they haue turned from vs and how many euils they haue puld vpon vs and aboue all let vs remember what a huge weight and multitude of miseries they haue brought vpon our Sauiour namely debasement and humiliation sorrowes and sufferings assaults and temptations the heauie burden of our guiltines and the greeuous punishment due for our deserts the rage and violence of most malicious men and the wrath and displeasure of the most righteous God torments of bodie and terrors
contrarie to the Law and if I die I die But our Lord Iesus Christ goes beyond them all for when hee was in supreme excellencie hee was so affected with the wofull case of his Elect into which they had brought themselues by their owne rebellions against him that hee humbled himselfe Philip. 2.6.7 and tooke on him the state of a seruant and submitted himselfe to many sorrowes disgraces and sufferings not onely while hee liued but principallie when hee dyed as hath beene before in part declared that so he might deliuer his people from the wrath to come and from eternall death which they had deserued and must haue els indured Reasons 1 And there is great reason why the affliction of the Church should so affect vs and that first in regard of the communion that is betwixt God and them for they are called the Lords flocke his chiefe treasure vnder heauen his first borne yea the very apple of his eye and therefore being so deere vnto the Lord they should be deere vnto vs and we should haue a tender care of them and mourne in our hearts for any euill that befalls them as Ieremie did chap. 30. that the Lords flocke should goe into captiuitie Secondly we should be thus affected in regard of the communion that is betweene them and vs for they are our members yea neerer vnto vs then our bodilie members and wee should haue greater care of the whole Church than of our selues because it more concernes Gods glorie Howbeit indeede in caring for them wee care for our selues too labouring to preuent their afflictions wee preuent our owne and weeping for others miseries we get armor that will keepe off miserie from our selues And that there is no danger in dealing for the seruants of God may appeare in Exodus One would haue thought there had beene some great euill neere Moses and Aaron when they must fetch out of Egypt such a people from such a King not onely by petition but by command and threatning if hee would not yeeld wee would haue imagined that Pharaoh a proud man would neuer haue indured this at their handes and yet wee see they were in perill but of all others most safe 3 Thirdly the affliction of the church must needs work most vpon the hearts of Gods chosen because of the insultations and triumphs of the wicked against them when they cry out where is now there God Exod. 32.1 Numbers 1416. And that was it that Moses did vrge to moue God to spare his people when he threatned to destroy them for their Idolatry he intreats God to remember his great name and to spare them lost the Egyptians should say that hee had brought them out maliciously to slay them in the mountaines and to consume them from the earth or that hee was not able to bring them into the land of Canaan This is it that goes to the heart of the faithfull when they heare profane persons reuilling the hoast of the liuing God Oh these are your professors say they these are they which runne with their bibles to sermons these are they that were wont to brag that prayer would preuent or remoue Gods iudgements doe you not see that they are swept away by the pestilence as well as others that they were pinched with pouertie and necessitie as well as others that these and the like despitefull and bitter speeches and taunts doe wound the verie hearts of such as loue Gods glory and desire the prosperitie of his Saints and so cause them much to bewaile the tribulation of the Church Vse 1 Here are to be reproued all carelesse persons who so it goe well with themselues regard not the Church at all let it sinke or swimme all is one to them So they may bee free from the contagion and sitte quiet in their houses whatsoeuer becomes of their neighbours it skills not They drinke wine in bowles Amos. 6.6 and giue themselues to all excesse but no man is sorie for the affliction of Ioseph This is a great fault in these daies now many Christians are taken away and the sword of the Lord is stretched out still and many are smitten downe on euery side yet there is as much feasting and sporting and frequenting of wakes and that on the Lords sabboth as if all thinges went well with vs. Which argues strange infidelitie and is such a sinne as the Lord will pursue euen vnto death if it bee not reformed Isa 22.12.13.14 as the Prophet Isaiah threatneth In that day saith he did the Lord of hostes call vnto weeping and mourning and to baldnesse and girding with sackcloth and beholde ioy and gladnesse slaying Oxen and killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine eating and drinking for tomorrow we shall dye and it was declared in the eares of the Lord of hostes And what followes therevpon Surely this iniquitie shall not bee purged from you till yee die saith the Lord God of hostes Which being so it stands Magistrates vpon to vse their authoritie for the redresse of such things as are so dangerous to the whole state of the land But there is yet another greater fault amongst vs than this that hath beene named For many do not only walke securely in the affliction of their brethren but desire the continuance and increase of it in hope that they shall enlarge their possessions and better their estate by meanes thereof as if scarsitie of people did bring abundance of riches whereas in trueth it is quite contrarie But howsoeuer those that haue but a glimpse of Christianitie in them would rather haue the societie of others than liue alone in the middest of the earth 3 There is yet a third and worser sort than the former which come iustly vnder this reproofe Such I meane as long for sturs and mutinies and insurrections Poore men say they can get nothing but some fewe great ones carry away all and so they grow to murmuring and repining multiply speeches of discontentment grieuing and lamenting that at the taking away of the former Prince al things should bee so quiet and peaceable Downe say they with these Magistrates and with these Preachers this too much plentie yeelds vs nothing and therefore they could also bee glad of vnseasonable weather that through scarsitie of things there might arise some tumults and so they might get prouision from such as fall into their hands These haue bloudy hearts 4 Yet others there are that are worse than these who doe not onely wish for such troubles on the Church and Common-wealth before they come but reioyce at them when they are come And when others eyes are full of teares their mouths are ful of laughter as Ieremie chargeth the Moabites Hee magnified himselfe against the Lord Ieremie 48.26.27 Moab shall wallow in his vomit and hee also shal be in derision For diddest thou not deride Israell as if hee had beene found among theeues For when thou speakest of him thou art moued This was
these thoughts runne in his head while men sitte at his table This cost I might haue spared this would haue serued my familie all the weeke I had rather haue their roome than their companie that thus trouble and charge me And so his heart is euer full of discontentednesse Thus it is apparant that many haue their hearts sinfullie affected by meanes of their eye as Gods children haue them holily affected Vers 52. Mine enemie chased me sore By these similitudes here vsed it appeares how fierce they were and yet all was without cause as the text witnesseth Indeede God saw in them matter that deserued correction and affliction but their aduersaries had no occasion offered why they should behaue themselues so cruellie towards them Doct. 5. The innocēt molested Frō which this doctrine maybe collected That the more harmelesse men be Psal 35.12.13 c. the more they shal be molested This wee see in Dauid hee prayed and fasted and mourned for his enemies and yet they sought his woe and ruine Therefore hee saith in one Psalme the foundations must bee cast downe Psal 11.3 and what hath the righteous done there was great preparation and there must bee sore and mortall warres they would sweepe all away and not leaue a good man in the land but what hath the righteous done There must bee a great execution but where is the conuiction that is iust nothing Luk. 23.2 So they cryed against Christ Away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him c. But what euill hath he done saies Pilate Oh Pilate must know that men so iust as they were would neuer haue deliuered him into his hāds except hee had beene a notorious offender whereas indeede hee was a lambe without spot and none iniquitie was found with him Agreeable to this is the saying of Dauid the wicked gnasheth his teeth against the righteous Psal 37.12 The more innocent and iust any one is the more hee shal be maligned and pursued And this stands with reason Reason 1 1 Because wicked men haue a quarrell against Gods image in the innocent as Satan their captaine hath and therefore will they be bitter against them This may be seene in Ieremie Jer. 15.10 hee had done them no wrong but brought vnto them the ministerie of saluation and yet euery one curseth him and cryeth out against him and why because God at that time shewed himselfe more cleerely in Ieremie that in any other Act. 7. Act. 22.22 The like violence they shewed against Steuen and Paul casting dust into the ayre and crying out vpon them that one would thinke them brutish creatures And why were they so full of rage against them but because they were full of grace and dealt faithfully in the worke that they were set about because they did helpe to raise vp the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to race the kingdome of Satan more than others But for Iesus Christ who was the ingrauen image of his father they had a greater quarrell against him than euer they had against any Young Bulls of Basan Psal 22. such as were full of might and malice Dogs and Lions such as were full of rage and furie did all beset and compasse him about their madnes was neuer so great against any as against him because none was euer so good as hee 2 An other reason may be because there is a contrarietie betwixt the good and euill though they be of the same countrey of the same towne of the same familie yea of the same parents yet are they not of the same world For so saith our Sauiour Christ to his disciples Iohn 15.19 yee are not of this world c. Esau and Iacob had the same parents and were both together in the same wombe and yet they contend one with another Rebecah their mother would faine know the cause of it the Lord tells her the cause Gē 26.22.23 Two nations are in thy wombe and two manner of people shal bee diuided out of thy bowels c The one the seede of the serpent the other the seede of the woman There is not so great enmitie betweene a man and an adder as there is betweene the righteous and the wicked and therefore no faulkener nor hunter no hawke nor hound are more desirous and greedie of the pray and game than the outragious enemies of the church are of the destruction of Gods seruants because they are possessed with the spirit of Satan and violently ouercaried with hellish fiercenesse 3 Thirdly the carriage of Gods children doth disgrace them and therefore they maligned them because they ran not to the same excesse of ryot with them 2. Pet. 4 4. therefore speake they euill of them For impious persons reason thus They goe to Gods house I goe to the Ale-house They carrie themselues soberly I carry my selfe intemperately They are esteemed I am contemned I know they like not of mee as I doe not of them and therefore what mischiefe I can doe them they shal be sure of it Vse 1 This point ministreth vnto vs matter of instruction that whosoeuer would walke in a godly course should looke for troubles and that sundry waies yea and to haue his very life strucke at by such as are enemies to the Gospell of Christ or if they cannot take away that let him be sure his name shall pay for it and be iniuriously and shamefullie traduced Whosoeuer resolues to liue godly in Christ Iesus must looke for persecution It is impossible that there should be so many fowlers and hunters and not labor to catch somewhat Indeede they wil bee fauourable enough to grosse adulterers theeues and other malefactors and if any be more forward to punish and redresse such Oh it is great crueltie they deale hardly and seuerely they would bee very loath that breed should be taken away But if they be religious persons that are to bee punished no torture is too great no death too grieuous for them therefore let those that are christians looke to it they shall haue great men against them Psal 69.12 as Dauid had princes They shall haue meane men against them as he had drunkards on the ale-house bench to make songs of him There they will vtter their merchandise false tales and vile reports Those that are further off wil bee against them those that are neighbours nay some that are of their owne familie wil bee against them no bands of ciuilitie no bands of kindnes no bands of nature will hold where the bands of Christianitie are wanting Obiection But if the case be so will some say were it not better to let religion alone that one may keepe himselfe quiet with out such disturbance Answere Nay that will not bee a sufficient reason nor a warrantable excuse neither neede any bee so farre discouraged For as Christ saith in the world yee shall haue trouble Joh. 16.33 So he promiseth that in him wee shall haue peace
guiltie soules though they haue beene full of boasting in the daies of their iolitie and haue vaunted what a notable faith they haue yet as Zephanie saith in that day the strong man shall cry bitterly Zeph. 1.14 Howsoeuer they imagine to put off these things yet let them know that their strength wil be found too weake and their skill too small to ward off the Lords blowes The thiefe that hath courage enough to rob and steale vpon the high-waies side yet hath hee little enough when his poore executioner is to deale with him euen so shall it bee with all wicked and proud men when the time of their execution doth approach their hearts shall faile them for the things that shall come vpon them and continue vpon them for euermore Vse 2 2 Secondly this doctrine offereth vnto the godly matter of great consolation albeit their case many times seeme vncomfortable yet they must not iudge according to that which they see for God many times laies such afflictions vpon them that their case is thought both by themselues and others to be desperate and vnrecouerable and yet indeede it is happie and blessed As it fared with Paul who had the sentence of death past vpon him 2. Cor. 4.11 and died dailie almost so that when hee went out in the morning hee was in danger to be slaine ere he returned home againe and yet God did vphold him and made him hereby more confidently and comfortably to rest and relie vpon him So the good Prophets wife thought all help was gone 2. Kings 4.1 c. her husband was gone her goods gone her labor gone her children like to be gone and she had no meanes in the world to relieue her selfe yet euen then when she was almost past hope God prouided a competent estate for her So Hezekiah concludes that hee was gone he should neuer goe to the temple any more Jsa 38.10 neuer see man more among the inhabitants of the world his webbe was cut off c. with many speeches to this effect and yet wee reade how God restored him againe and prolonged his life for many yeares Say then that one haue great discomforts in his soule great breaches in his estate grieuous and dangerous sicknesse vpon his body c. yet here is his comfort that God that raised vp others can and will in due time raise vp him Obiect Oh but my faith faileth me and is it not said according to your faith it shal be vnto you Answer True if you haue no faith you can looke for no mercie but if you haue any faith at all it shal be with you according therevnto but how farre beyond it God tels you not for hee doth for vs many times aboue that that wee can aske or thinke But you imagine you haue no more faith than you haue feeling whereas it is farre otherwise there may be much faith and little feeling faith may be strong and yet strongly assaulted comfort may be departed and yet not vtterlie lost wee may feare wee are cut off and yet not perish for Gods strength and perfection is seene in our weakenesse and imperfection though wee cannot beleeue yet God is still faithfull though children will not credit their parents yet they will relieue their necessities and so will God ours albeit through weakenes of faith wee cannot so fullie apprehend and apply his promises to our selues He sees it is not maliciousnesse nor grosse infidelitie in vs and therefore he will pitie vs and beare with vs rather than in seueritie proceede against vs. FINIS THE SECOND SERMON Lamentations chap. 3. vers 55. c. 55 I called vpon thy name O Lord out of the low dungeon 56 Thou hast heard my voice stoppe not thine eare from my sigh and from my crie 57 Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee thou saidst Feare not 58 O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule and hast redeemed my life 59 O Lord thou hast seene my wrong iudge thou my cause 60 Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuises against me 61 Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord and all their imaginations against me YOu heard in the words immediatly going before The connexion the wofull distresse that the children of God were driuen vnto how they were cast into the dungeon and stript of all outward and inward comforts Now here he shewes what remedie they vsed they cast their burden vpon the Lord and hoped for succour at his hands and the reasons that mooue them so to doe are set downe in the text to be two First The diuision and meaning of the words one is taken from their present behauiour towards God which was that they prayed and sighed and cryed vers 55.56 And that they might bee so much the more regarded they declare that it was not without cause that they were so earnest with God for they called vpon him out of the low dungeon vers 55. that is out of great and grieuous affliction And yet further mischiefe was intended and their aduersaries did speake and plot all crueltie against them vers 60. Thou hast seene all their vengeance and all their deuices against me 61. Thou hast heard their reproch c. And that this might appeare not to be a false imagination and conceite of their owne he saith Lord thou hast seene my wrong c. Thou hast seene all their rage 59. 60. They are all euident and apparant before thee how closely and couertly soeuer matters be caried in respect of men 2 The second reason is drawne from Gods former goodnes and gratious dealing towards them Hee had heard them and drawne neere vnto them he had considered of them and of their cause and they knew hee was still as good as he was wont to be and they vsed as good meanes as they were wont to doe and therefore they conclude that he that drew neere vnto them heretofore would now doe the like againe vers 57.58 These considerations doe reuiue their spirits and raise their hearts euen out of the pit of desperation And thus much for the meaning and order of the words Now let vs harken vnto such doctrines and instructions as are therein contained for our learning Vers 55. I called vpon thy name This is the speech of the whole Church who by reason that they are members of one bodie and temples of one spirit are brought in speaking throughout this whole booke as if they were but one person By low dungeon is meant desperate euils they were as it were shut vp in a dungeon where they had no hope of escaping yet out of the depth of miserie and anguish and horror they called vpon the Lord. Whence naturallie ariseth this doctrine Doct. 1. The faithfull can neuer be driUen from prayer That there is no distresse no breaking and crushing whatsoeuer that shall hinder Gods people from praying vnto him It may for a passion and a
from the stroakes of God as the pestilence or the like yea from the furie of Satan and from the assaults of sinne All other towers are but poore weake cotages Let men dwell where they will whither can they goe but death wil finde them out They may flie from the Plague but God will pursue them for he is not an archer that hath but one arrow or such arrowes onelie as will reach those that are neere but though they should runne to the end of the world hee is able to shoote at them and the arrowes of his vengeance will finde them out No strength can defend them when he comes against them with his strength nay all the power of men is but a broken reede and all meanes of no force in themselues If wee onelie vse them in obedience they will bee as a staffe to leane vpon if wee rest on them they will be as a broken staffe that will deceiue vs and giue vs a fall Vers 56. Thou hast heard my voice stop not thine eares 57. Thou drewest neere c. Whence this doctrine ariseth Doct. 3 That Gods children in their prayers and seruices doe marke and know how they speed VVe must obserue how we speed in religious exercises so that they cannot onlie say I thanke God at such and such a time I prayed but O Lord thou diddest then heare my voice then diddest thou draw neere vnto mee at such a time I was put to it and thou deliueredst mee out of great danger This wee see in the spouse who when her beloued was departed from her saith In my bed night by night I sought him Cant. 3.1.2 whom my soule loueth and found him not Shee had not that ioy and refreshing as she was wont to haue from the vse of the priuate meanes and shee knew it and obserued it full well Then she went abroad and there found as little successe Afterwards shee comes to conferre with Gods Ministers how she might recouer her loue to Christ and the feeling of Christs loue vnto her and yet there shee had not that full successe as she expected Then she goes a little further that is as was before shewed waits patiently vpon God and then she found him whom her soule loued and tooke hold of him that is faster hold then euer she had done before She had paid so dearely for her negligence that she would be warie how she failed in her dutie any more So that when she sped well or ill she knew how it went with her This point is further proued vnto vs out of another verse of this Chapter of the Lamentation Lament 3.8 where these words are vsed VVhen I cry and shoute hee shutteth out my prayer Not but that God tooke notice of it and had a time to reward it but for the present he gaue them no answere They had hard hearts and God saw that one crie and shoute would not be sufficient to mollifie and soften them and therefore he lets them pray and cry againe and againe and yet still they had the repulse and they obserued to their great griefe Psal 66.18.19 Answerable to this is that in the Psalme where Dauid saith If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not heare me But God hath heard me and considered the voice of my prayer Reason And there is reason why as they did marke how they sped so should wee also For vnlesse wee doe so it is impossible that wee should euer bee thankfull for that wee receiue or lay vp any store of comfort against the time to come If wee speed ill wee shall goe away without any care or studie to grow better if wee speed well wee shall depart without any desire of glorifying God or of confirming our hearts for afterwards Whereas diligent obseruation how God deales with vs would worke in vs great experience both for our humiliation and consolation For sometimes Gods seruants haue a comfortable answere to their sutes and then they come away as fresh and nimble and ioyfull as if their hearts had beene made glad by sweet and pleasant wine Ps 109.15 At another time they come limping and fainting away as if they had beene strucke on the head So for the Sermon now and then they depart from it as from some notable feast so merrie and comfortable as if they had made the best bargaine that euer they did in their liues at some other times they come out of the church hanging downe their heads and full of pensiuenesse as if they had receiued the sentence of death What is the cause hereof Profane persons thinke they are the melancholiest and vnconstantest people in the world But will not they themselues looke heauilie on the matter when they are crossed in things that are most deere vnto them And why then should they blame Gods seruants if they be sometimes merrie and sometimes heauie according as they are crossed or comforted in the worde of life which is more deare vnto them then all the treasures of the earth Howsoeuer they may charge them to be vnconstant yet indeede they themselues are more vnconstant For let them haue to deale with some great Iudge about matters of their estate and let them be told this day that they are likely to haue good and fauourable hearing that the Iudge likes well of them and of their cause how ioyfull and iocund will they be How will they talke of it and in a sort boast of it But let them come to the Iudge themselues the next day and let him frowne vpon them and tell them I vnderstand you are a leaud fellow I know your practises well inough looke to your selfe and acquite you well lest I strip you of your lands and life together Will not such a salutation cast them into their dumps and make them looke heauie and sad as if they were halfe dead And if one should aske them why are you so variable They would wonder why he should make such a question Haue wee not iust cause to bee cast downe would they say when the Iudge that gaue mee such good hopes before doth now looke and speake so wrathfullie against mee And wherefore then will you finde fault with Gods seruants who deale with the King and Iudge of heauen and earth in the matter of their saluation whose fauor they esteeme more than all things in the world and whose displeasure they feare more then all the mens in the world yea then death it selfe Why I say doe you finde fault with them if their comforts ebbe and flow as matters goe better or worse betwixt God and them Vse 1 This is for cōfutation of carnall hearers who are affected at all times alike They haue heard many hundred sermons but they were neuer more comforted at one than at another They are none of these changelings but the same men still But let such know that hee that doth neuer feele himselfe sicke it is greatly to bee doubted hee
sure of good successe euen aboue that that they can aske or thinke Whether their requests bee that their enemies may bee repressed or that their owne corruptions may be subdued or whatsoeuer els they shall bee sure to speed well Math. 7.8 So saith our Sauiour VVhosoeuer asketh receiueth and hee that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall bee opened Let one knocke at the chamber of Presence of an earthly King if he be poore and base he shall be bid to stand backe and if he make not the more hast hee may chance to haue a rappe to send him backward but let one knocke at Gods presence chamber how meane and contemptible so euer hee bee hee shall haue no repulse Ps 145.18.19 As Dauid testifieth God is neere to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in truth hee will fulfill the desires of those that feare him Though their hearts bee so oppressed that they can bring no words that is no matter God will haue respect to their verie desires Men will not heare such many times as haue beene good and faithfull seruants vnto them but God will heare such as haue beene rebels against him if once his feare be planted in their hearts This wee see in the booke of Chronicles where it is said 2 Chron. 13.3 that the Israelites liued many yeares without the true God And why because they had no preaching nor powerfull ministerie no Priest to teach them as there it is said yet whosoeuer returned in his miserie and sought God Ast. 2. hee was found of him according to that saying VVhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued An example of Gods goodnesse in this regard we haue in Ionah who albeit hee had dealt foolishly and was cast into the sea for it Luke 23.42.43 yet God heard him out of the bellie of the fish and set him vpon the dry land againe So the theefe on the crosse had beene a notable malefactor yet hee no sooner opened his mouth for mercie but Christ though in great extremitie at that time respected him and his suite neuer casting him in the teeth with his old sinnes 2. Chron. 33. So Manasses had beene a wofull and miserable sinner yet when hee cried to the Lord in his distresse hee heard him set him free and restored him againe to his kingdome Hee had done euill in the sight of the Lord like the abominations of the heathen hee reuiued Idolatrie which his father had abolished worshipped the host of heauen defiled the Temple of God caused his sonnes to passe thorow the fire gaue himselfe to witchcraft and charming and sorcerie and did very much euill in the sight of the Lord and that to anger him After all this God admonished him by his Prophets but hee would not heare Then the Lord brought vpon him the captaines of the host of Ashur which put him in fetters and bound him in chaines and caried him to Babell Now being in sore tribulation he prayed vnto the Lord his God who was intreated by him and heard his prayer And to shut vp all whatsoeuer our case bee in Psalme 107. it is shewed that if wee seeke to the Lord wee shal haue helpe Psal 107.10 c. Some are rebels and care not for the word of God but despise the counsels of the most high then he casts them in prison and binds them in brasse and iron so that all their hope is gone at length they lay about them to cry vnto the Lord which they can no sooner doe but hee breakes the gates of brasse and the barres of iron a sunder and sets them at libertie so that an humble and feruent prayer wee see draws vs out of bondage and sets vs at large and in stead of mourning and heauinesse giues vs matter of reioycing and praising of God Another is cast into the sea euery foote readie to bee swallowed vp the Pilot hath neither skill nor will to helpe yet when their prayers ascend vnto heauen God rebukes the sea and the winds and they are quickly at the hauen where they would be And so for famine and euerie other miserie God hath a medicine for euerie sicknesse and a salue for euery sore and when men crie vnto him hee is readie to help them in all extremities as is there more particularlie and at large specified Vse 1 1 Which serues to reprooue our miserable blindnesse and hardnesse who notwithstanding Gods sufficiencie and readines to helpe yet will seeke vnto vaine helps digging to our selues cesterns that will hold no water If the Lord had euer failed vs or any other that rested on him there had beene some reason to doe so but seeing God would haue vs beholding vnto him and he hath neuer failed any that waited vpon him why should we not turne to God rather than goe to any other Obiect Oh but the times are hard and the world is naught Ansvver It is so to you because you are so to God and iust it is that you should not finde reliefe because you seeke it not where it might bee found Vse 2 Secondly this makes for singular consolation would wee know how it shall goe with vs for bodie and soule for name and state and all then let vs looke what course wee take Doe wee call vpon the name of God Then help and comfort is at hand God is neere vnto all them that call vpon him in truth though not with that strength of faith as they should If wee seeke him hee will be found of vs. Math. 7 8. Hee limiteth vs not for time nor things and therefore we may looke for helpe at all times and in all things and when wee haue most neede then wee shall bee sure of the best helpe But if wee would be certaine of this comfort wee must withall obserue these rules Rules to be obserued Iob 11.14 1 That wee put all wickednesse out of our hearts and out of our hands that wee humble our selues and turne from our wicked waies Let vs remoue our sinnes 2. Chron. 7.14 Jam. 4 8. and God will remoue our crosses So Iames exhorts them Purge your hands yee sinners and your hearts yee hypocrites that is it that they must doe if they would haue God to draw neere vnto them For God loues not to dwell in a heart defiled with sinne he will turne his eyes and eares from vs if we continue in our euill waies because when our tongues crie for mercie our sinnes crie for vengeance Obiect But will some man say who can looke for hearing from God if the case stand thus for who can come to him without iniquitie Answer Though wee cannot come without iniquitie yet wee may come without the loue and liking of iniquitie and with sorrow and shame for our iniquitie and then it neuer hinders our prayers as wee see in the examples before alleaged 2 An other rule is Cant. 3.1
c. that wee must seeke God by all his meanes as in that place of the Canticles before alleged when the Church had lost Christ that is the feeling of his loue and the sense of that communion which formerlie she had had with him she vseth all priuate and publike meanes and at length commeth to conference with Gods seruants which few will doe till they be driuen to it of necessitie and then hauing waited a while she finds him whom her soule loued The same must bee our practise if one medicine will not serue the turne vse another Pray fast meditate conferre and then at last the Lord will be found in mercie But as we are slacke in vsing any of the meanes so shall wee faile in our comfortable expectation of fauor from God 3 The last rule is that we must vse the meanes diligentlie and in good earnest for if wee haue a base account of Gods mercies Iam. 5.16 Psal 72.12 it is iust wee should goe without them The prayer of the righteous auailes much but with this condition if it bee feruent God deliuereth the poore when he crieth If they would haue hearing there must bee crying God powres forth floods of grace Isa 44.3 but vpon whom On the thirstie ground Hence is it that a number reade and heare and pray and yet preuaile not because they doe it so drowsilie and carelesselie The Lord deferres to helpe them because they are not fit for helpe and doe not striue and wrestle in their prayers as Iacob did Hosea 12.3 Let vs therefore vse all the meanes and that with constancie and carefulnesse and then wee shall obtaine our hearts desire in mercie Vers 57. Thou saiedst Feare not Not that there came any such voice vnto their eares or that God vsed any extraordinarie meanes to speake vnto them but when they drew neere to God and cast their cares vpon him and laid open their sorrowes vnto him God did so comfort them as if hee had spoken vnto them they were content to make him their stay and to trust him with their soule and state and all and then hee pacified their hearts and gaue them an expected answere to their prayers Now in that God said Feare not the point is Doct. 7. God onelie frees the heart from feares That God onelie cancure the heart of feares If ten thousand Prophets had said vnto them feare not if God had not said so by his spirit they would haue feared for al that Reasons 1 For first men cannot remoue the cause of feare which God can Thence it is that the wicked flee when none pursueth them Pro. 28.1 whereas the righteous are bold as a Lion Because their sinnes are remoued and they reconciled to God through Christ who hath made a sufficient paiment for them to satisfie his fathers iustice 2 Secondly God onelie can giue saith which rids the heart of feare in which regard Christ saith Math. 8. why did you feare O yee of little faith Implying thereby that all our troublesome distempers proceede from want of faith Now because none can giue that but the liuing God therefore none can heale the heart of feares but onelie God 3 A third reason is because God onelie can put his true feare into our hearts Ieremy 31. Ezekiel 3.6 which is a mightie defence against false feares Godly sorrow is a strong fortresse against worldly sorrow and godlie ioy a strong bulwarke against carnall ioy Therefore it is said Psal 102.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord c. Hee shall not bee afraide of ill tidings Vse 1 First this confutes their follie and error that thinke if they goe two or three miles from the place where the sicknesse is and there haue their gates shut and all things carefullie looked vnto then they should not bee so fearfull as they are as if that outward meanes could cure the heart of feares nay that must bee the Lords worke If they carrie with them the pestilence of an ill conscience an heart full of couetousnesse full of pride and of worldly lusts death will enter into the window if it cannot at the doore and will finde them out and set vpon them at midnight as well as at midday For God hath a quarrell against their sinnes and hee will pursue them whithersoeuer they goe and how can they stand when the curse of God hath them in chase Will you feare the plague sore vpon the bodie and will you not much more feare it vpon your soules Will you fly from that that is but a medicine vnto the godlie and not from that which is the verie bane of the whole man In truth those that carrie with them a heart full of pride and lust and such iniquities as God abhors wheresoeuer they liue are in greater danger than the godly that liue in the pest-house it selfe hauing their hearts purified by faith and their hope setled vpon Iesus Christ And therefore thinke not to put away such feares by gaming and companie-keeping by eating and drinking and laughing for they will returne againe though they may be smothered for a time and an ill conscience will be a fearefull conscience Vse 2 Secondly this doctrine ministreth vnto vs this instruction that if we would be disburdened of feares we should go to God that can worke in vs a thorow cure Not as if the meanes of seruing Gods prouidence were to be neglected or as if wee should not walke circumspectlie and auoide the occasions of danger But when wee doe so we should not rest on the meanes nor thinke I am out of the place where the plague is therefore I am free from Gods stroke If one should say I cannot die till God haue appointed and therefore I may goe into places of infection this were a tempting of God but it were worse for a wicked sinner to thinke I am not neere places of infection therefore I am safe If then wee would bee soundly cured of feares Helps against feares 1. Prayer first let vs goe vnto the Lord with a broken heart and beseech him to put courage into vs and to giue vs assurance of eternall life and the ioy of the holy Ghost then come life or death wee shall not bee much dismayed This is one speciall meanes to free our hearts from vnnecessarie feares euen faithfull prayer as the Apostle shews where hee saies Phil. 4.6 In nothing bee carefull but in all things let your requests be made knowne to God c. He bids them not take away the occasions without but heale the heart within for then they shall bee safe enough The peace of God that passeth all vnderstanding shall keepe their hearts and minds in Christ Iesus that is in a blessed communion with Christ Iesus whereby they shall bee possessed with such peace as none knoweth what it meanes but those that haue tasted of it which quiets and sets downe the heart and minde and settles the same in the assurance
of a happie issue out of all straites and difficulties as wee see in Dauid who hauing committed himselfe to God Psal 3. who was able and had promised to helpe him hee triumphs ouer all his enemies and saith he will not feare though ten thousand should compasse him round about That was some oddes and one would thinke he had little neede to vse such speeches but rather to runne away as fast as hee could at least hee should take little sleepe in the night so long as hee was in such danger or if hee did lie downe and sleepe hee should haue little hope to rise againe in the morning yet wee see vers 5. that hee laid him downe and slept and rose againe because the Lord sustained him and this he got by calling vpon God as it is vers 4. 2 Secondly if we would not be oppressed with feares labor to be righteous for wickednesse makes men dastardlie whereas righteousnesse makes men stout as Lyons 2. Righteousnes Pro. 28.1 that will not looke ouer the shoulder for the barking of euery dogge but walke on without all feare Indeede the child of God will not bee presumptuous neither will hee bee timorous though his enemies sinne Satan and the world bee strong yet hee knows God is stronger and that none euill can come vnto him without the Lord. Which if wee can thorowly meditate vpon and take this receite euerie morning to season our hearts with the feare of God and to wash our hearts and hands from vnrepented sins walke where wee will so it be in our waies nothing shall be able to hurt vs. Vers 58. Thou hast maintained the cause of my soule That is thou hast stood on my part and freed mee from death that was intended against mee For though my name and libertie and riches bee taken from mee yet my life is redeemed and that is thy mercie that bodie and soule are not yet parted Whence the doctrine is Doct. 8. God vpholds his Isa 44.23 That God is the maintainer and vpholder of his people Howsoeuer Kings and Princes bee nursing fathers vnto Gods Church yet that is not because hee needs them but because he would doe them a good turne in imploying them in his seruice And therefore may God be called the vpholder of his people because he saues them frō their firmes and from the punishments due to their sins which no man can doe He watches ouer them night and day and waters them euerie moment Jsa 27.3 and hee will contend with them that contend against his people This should strike a terror into the hearts of those that are iniurious vnto Gods seruants they are bold where the hedge is lowest euerie dwarfe aduentures to leape ouer But let them know that God is as a wall of fire about his Church and hee will maintaine the right of his children Indeede their props are and still haue beene so weake their enemies so strong the standers against them so shamefull and the oppositions so continuall that it is a miracle the Church stands to this day but God hath beene and euer will bee the vpholder of it and therefore it must needs goe ill with those that lift vp themselues against it Vse 2 Secondly here is a notable consolation for the afflicted people of God Howsoeuer they haue fewe meanes and few friends and where they should haue most helpe they haue least where they looked for comfort they finde discomfort and where they thought to bee enriched they are impouerished yet if they can pray all shall bee well If money and friends and large reuenues and the like had beene the vpholders of the Church it would haue gone to the ground long ere this But what saith the Church here O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule There is our stay let vs bee sure wee haue a good cause and lay it before Gods iudgement seate and then though wee be ouerborne God will not bee ouerborne but hee will stand on our side euen hee that loues goodnesse and hates wickednesse and will be auenged on those that bend themselues and their endeuors to do mischiefe vnto his people Wee would willinglie haue him to bee our Iudge who is most iust who carries the greatest loue to vs and our cause and the hardest mind against our aduersaries such an one is God And therefore seeing we haue a good cause to stand in euen the matter of our saluation and enemies whom God hates with a deadly hatred the diuell the world and the flesh c. this should put life and heart into vs to goe vnto Christ Iesus our Iudge who hath so dearely loued vs as to lay downe his life for vs and for the destruction of all our enemies When wee are ouercharged with burdens and temptations let vs lay them vpon him and say Lord thou hast vndertaken to comfort thy children I am not able to vndergoe this that is vpon mee therefore doe thou maintaine my cause and helpe and deliuer mee from my miserie Vers 59. Thou hast seene my wrong From these words this doctrine may be collected Doct. 9. All vvrōgs knovvne to God That there is nothing done spoken or thought against any Christian but God takes knowledge of it there is not one practise slander or deuice of cruell beasts against the sheepe of Christ but God sees it and markes it And this must needs be so Reason 1 1 First because they are his flocke and therefore hee loues to looke vnto them especiallie sith hee hath paide so deerely for them 2 Secondly it is his nature to behold all things Psal 94. Eph. 4.6 For he that made the eye shall not he see c. He is aboue vs all and through vs all and in vs all Yea wee are as it were the apple of his eye Now it is a hard matter for one to come with thornes to put out anothers eye and he not take notice of it and 3 Thirdly God doth the rather obserue the indignities that are offered vnto his children because their profane aduersaries doe hate his image in them For when they were as bad as themselues they could liue with them twentie or thirtie yeares and be good friends with them but when once they renounce the seruice of Satan and of their owne lusts vnto which they are in bondage still then they oppose with might and maine against them Psal 69.7 and therefore it is said for thy sake haue we suffred rebuke shame hath couered our face 4 The fourth and last reason why God must needs take notice of the wrongs done vnto his seruants is because it belongs to him to reward euerie one according to their workes Reuel 20.12 Hee must and will giue them full pay and therefore hee keeps all vpon iust and due record As the workes of the righteous shall stand for them so shall the workes of reprobates be written in great capitall letters against them that all the world may take notice of them at the last day Vse This offers vnto vs matter of singular comfort Howsoeuer the aduersaries be busie and watchful to plot and procure the hurt of Gods Church they cannot be so vigilant for the hurt of it as God is watchfull for the good of it and therefore they may bee sure they shall haue a happie issue out of all their troubles if so be they can make their mone to God and waite patientlie for his mercie Obiection But what neede wee lay open our griefes before him seeing that hee knows them all before hand Answere Though he doe know them yet he would haue you to preferre your bill of complaint and that will be for the increase of your comfort and further experience of his loue and howsoeuer hee purpose to destroy the wicked yet would he haue you to go on in your suite against them still Neither is this to bee restrained onelie to corporall enemies but it holds much more strongly for spirituall enemies Say a man bee surcharged with sinne and Satan let him bemone his case before the Lord and it will be a marueilous ease vnto him If one of our children should but say father or mother I am exceeding sicke readie to saint vnder my paines c. hee neede say no more this would set their hearts and hands a worke to doe him good And is there not far more loue in our heauenly Father Yes surely and therefore in all such extremities let God be our refuge and let vs cast all our cares and sorrows vpon him who is able and willing to beare them and in due season to free vs from them and in the end to make vs gainers by them FINIS