request not that the Lorde did not heare from the beginning but now in the ende he feeleth an answere in his soule that God hath granted his desire As Psal. 69. The Lord hath heard my petition 66. 18. 19. God hath heard me and considered the vâ—…yce of my prayer Where note two things if we desire to be heard first that we haue a feeling of our wants as here in troubles 2. That we cry mightily and continue God in the end wil heare vs as he did Dauid in the end alwayes and after much crying I will be with him in troubles This is the 2. promise Some man will thinke this no special promise for that God is both by his essence infinit filling heauen and earth by his prouidence watchfull present and carefull ouer all and euery one of the creatures in heauen and earth And yet further is hee not with his beloued children alwayes in a more speciall manner by his spirite of sanctification and comfort effectuallie also working by the â—…ath and resurrection of Iesus Christ to make them new creatures All this is true both of the generall prouidence of God and of his speciall working and grace in the Saints But yet they are not alwayes alike comforted For the Lorde doth otherwhiles more graciously shew himselfe at one time then another For may not the King to those of his housholde more louingly shew his countenance at one time then another and frowne at other times vpon them and yet they bee his seruants So is it with Christ and his members The righteous soules of the faithfull sometimes eate and drinke and feast with Christ yet at other times they cry much they aske many watchmen for him and seeke him with much sweating before they can find him And that the Lord Iesus doth more familiarly shew his face and communicate his graces vnto his Saintes in troubles and in their grieuances the experience of Gods people in al ages can testifie and this we haue before partly vouched Dauid cryeth Hide not away thy face from me for I am in trouble and they cryed to the Lord in their trouble and hee deliuered thâ—… out of their distresse O that men would therfore prayse the Lord. Master Philpot sayth to Lady Vane Belieue me dear Lady there is no such ioy in the world as the people of Christ haue vnder the crosse These holy ones haue often many desertions and yet in the midst of their agonies Christ will suddenly shine foorth as bright as the Sun after a cloudie blacke tempest as in Maister Glouers storie appeares and many others And this blessed presence wee speake of make so many of Gods people so constantly and so cheerefully to offer vp themselues a liuing sacrifice to bee rosted and tormented with fire in smithfield and many other parts of the world 6. Question What wonderful communion there is between Christ and his holy members best knowen to his people in afflictions Cant. 2. 16. My welbeloued is mine and I am his verse 15. I will bee with him in trouble FIrst let vs here consider in what manner the holy Scripture speaketh of this great communion and fellowship between Christ his members Thus Iohn writeth of it first in his Epistle That I say which we haue seene and heard declare we vnto you that ye may haue fellowship with vs and that our fellowship also may bee with the father and his sonne Iesus Christ. Againe in his Gospel most comfortably on this manner I pray not for these alone but for theÌ„ also which shall beleeue in me through their word that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they all may be one in vs that the world may beleeue that thou hast sent me and the glorie that thou gauest mee I haue giuen them that they may be one as wee are one I in them and they in me that they may bee made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent mee and hast loued them as thou hast loued mee And the Apostle speaketh of this communion when hee saith Tempt your selues whether you be in the faith do ye not know that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be refuâ—…es Because this blessed vnion communion and fellowship is spirituall and misticall the holy Scriptures do striue to helpe our weaknesse to conceiue rightly the trueth of it by sundry Metaphors and borowed speeches as Iohn in the sweet parable of the vine and vine branches in which place the whole comparison if we make supply out of other places standeth vpon sundry most familiar similitudes as to expresse the singular loue and care of God ouer his people and the effectuall power of the Ministerie of his holy word woâ—… in them so to instruct vs of the VI separ bâ—… vnion betweene Christ and his holy members 1. The heauenly Father is compared to the husband-man 2. The ministers vnto the husbandmans laborers 3. The people and the Church of God vnto the vineyard or husbandry 4. Christ and his members vnto the vine and vine branch 5. The spirituall vnion liâ—…e and growth of the faithfull in Christ vnto the naturall coniunction life and growth of the naturall vine and her branches 6. Lastly as the husbandman on earth loueth careth for and purgeth his vine with his handes and instruments his corne fieldes c. so the heauenly father loueth and purgeth his Church and his people by his Spirit word and sacraments c. And like as wise Princes commit their sonnes to the custodie and instruction of wise and faithfull men so the heauenly Father commendeth the education of his children to his holy labourers and by their Ministrie hee prepareth such on eaith as he purposeth to aduance to the kingdome of his glory to be fellow heires with Iesus Christ in heauen Againe all that heauenly and most sweet parable the song of Salomon tendeth principally to expresse this inspeakeable communion comparing it often vnto the holy vnion which is betweene man and wife in that mariage which is in the Lord and so doth the Apostle and concludeth â—…that wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones 3 And this firme coniunction which 〈◊〉 in this mysticall body is againe notably â—…id before vs by the similitude of the naturall body and the essentiall parts of the same 1. Cor. 12. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Thus when we see by these few places how the holy spirit doth demonstrate vnto vs a most certaine and reall coniunction and communion betwixt Christ and all the faithfull heere on earth And yet heere is no corporall commixtion of our soules with his or any coniunction of natures neither is this a bare consent of mindes onely but an inspeakeable coniunction is 〈◊〉 by meanes of the words of reâ—…ation without and the holy spirit of Christ within working effectually almightie in power to knit together
the heate of the Sunne and long trauel greatly reioyce when they come to a couert where they may rest and refresh their wearie bodies So the spirits of the faithful much disquieted with the afflictiōs of this life can find their sweet sleepe when they can by a holy faith in Iesus Christ repose themselues as in the bosome of the Almightie Where first wee are to learne how louingly the holy Ghost doth warne vs to cleaue vnto God and to perseuere in his holy worship in afflictions in time of triall wherein the wicked runne to any of the creatures rather then to God yea sometimes to Sathan himselfe before they seeke any refuge or comfort in the Almightie Such as rest in the ordinary creatures only are meere Atheists such as seeke to Sathan and his artes are bewitched Papists Idolaters and such like Such as when all helpes faile them are driuen at last by theyr corrections as Iob speaketh to come vnto the Lord are weake in the faith Such as first seeke reconciliation and peace with God by Iesus Christ and then desire a blessing in the vse of the creatures are wise and good Christians The Prophet saith not they haue a sure defence in war which haue many men many horses c. in famine store of corne and good prouision in pestilence good naturall preseruatiues and curatiues but that such as haue a strong faith in Iesus Christ are then greatly blessed and shall be mightily preserued Some thinke it is a light matter to come to God by faith and to lye downe as it were in his bosome confidently in afflictions But this is one speciall brand and marke of the faithfull and that which God most desireth and a point without the gracious assistance of Gods spirit which is not in the power of flesh and bloud to practise There is a notable storie 2. Chron. 13. 18. of Abiah and his people of Iudah of whom it is said that they preuailed against their enemies because they stayed vpon the Lord God of their father And the like we haue 2. Chron. 16. 7. of Asa his falling away in his latter age in his afflictions first he is said to haue run from the Lord to Gods professed enemies the Syrians and to haue made a couenant with them to helpe him in his warres against the Israelites at which time Hanni the seer came to the King and spake these words Because thou hast rested vpon the King of Aram and not rested in the Lord thy God therefore is the host of that King of Aram run away from thee and thou verse 9. shalt haue warres againe And then the Prophet confirmeth his prophesie by the kings former experience in the victories the Lord gaue him before by faith when hee cried to God in feruent prayer saying 2. Chron. 14. 11. Helpe Lord for we rest on thee The Ethiopians and Lubbims were they not a greast bost with charrets and horse exceeding many yet because thou didst rest vpon the Lord hee did deliuer them into thine hands then hee added this notable argument For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth to shewe himselfe strong with them whose h◅art is sound towards him In the like maner he is noted in his sicknes not to haue sought the Lorde in the first place but the Phisition In all extremities then our first refuge must bee by faith vnto the true God for he will be and must be if we regard but our alleageance only we owe vnto his maiestie first sought for and honored before the creatures I. Question What benefite comfort and rest Gods people may receiue by faith in the Pestilence THe blessed faith of the Saints of God is a wonderfull supernaturall grace by the which we greatly please God and without it we displease him in althings without exception This great grace and gift of God as it is most needfull at all seasons and turnes so most of all in extremities for if it then faile vs we shall be carried away as with a maine saile from the Creator to the creature and and we shall fixe all our sences vpon them and confidence in them forget the great Lord and gouernour of all the host of heauen and earth This vertue greatly pleased Iesus Christ in his miraculous cures on earth and doth no lesse doubtlesse please him now in heauen The faith of the Gospell or Euangelicall requires 1. that you beleeue that the Messias is come 2. that you beleeue that Iesus Christ the sonne of the Virgin Mary is God and Man or God manifested in the flesh and that very Messias which was to come 3. that you beleeue in him for your perfect redemption 4. lastly it was required in these which resorted vnto him for miraculous cures that they carried with them a particular faith to be healed that is a comfortable perswasion of heart that hee both could and would heale them and such afflicted persons as they prayed for might be healed This holy faith I say greatly pleased Christ in earth and shall preuaile with him in heauen also for all mercies and blessings to the worlds end And the contrary sinne did hinder many graces streaming sweetely from him vnto the Iewes and so doth still to all vnbeleeuers among the Gentiles This the Euangelists tell vs where they say that when hee camo to Capernaum his owne Countrey Hee did not many workes there for their vnbeleefes sake And another saith Hee coul◅ not there do any great workes for their vnbeleefe and that he maruelled at their vnbeleefe Wee see then how insidelitie may keep◅ backe from vs Iesus Christ with all his riches The faithfull euer returned from his Maiestie both sweetely comforted with his blessings and graciously strengthened with his louing commendations The Centurion which came vnto him in Capernaum with a good heart and a sound faith first he receiued this blessing Goe thy way and as thou hast beleeued so be it vnto thee and his seruant was healed the same houre Then followed this comfortable commendation Uerily I say vnto you I haue not found so great faith euen in Israel Againe the woman with the bloudie Issue shee receiued many mercies from Iesus Christ first this comfort hee calls her Daughter secondly this blessing the issue of her bloud was stayed and healed thirdly this commendation Daughter bee of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole Againe two blinde men crie to be healed hee asked them of their faith Beleeue ye that I am able to do this they said yea Lord and then hee said vnto them according to your faith be it vnto you and they were healed Of a Cananitish woman it is written that she was most earnest with Christ and she is at last gratiously comforted first with this commendation O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee as thou desirest secondly with this blessing Her daughter was made whole in that instant The like commendation and comfort
Pestilence 3. To what ende the Lorde thus smiteth his owne people in the Church with the Pestilence and what vse we are to make of this and of all kindes of afflictions To come then to the Booke of God first let vs learne I say wherefore the Lord hath sent in all ages this destroyer into the world And next we will in like manner consider of the instruments and meanes whereby the Lorde poysoneth the Elements and so smiteth man with the Pestilence And lastly to what ende hee thus proceeds in execution of his feareful iudgements The causes which moue the Lorde to persecute the worlde vniuersally with the Pestilence are the intollerable sinnes of men and in the Church these speciall impieties and wickednesses which followe as motiues and causes of this euill are offered vnto our wise and godly consideration First I sinde that ignorance contempt and negligēce in the pure worship of God causeth the Lord to smite vs with the Pestilence Moses saith to Pharaoh Exod. 5. 3. Let vs goe three dayes iourney into the wildernesse and sacrifice vnto the Lord our God Then hee addeth this reason Least he bring vpon vs the Pestilence or sword Contrarily to the true worshipper it is said The Lord shall blesse thy bread and thy water and I will take away all sicknesse from the midst of thee A second cause is infidelitie and rebellion against the word and the holy ministrie of the same Thus saith the Lord Num. 14. 11. 12. How long will this people prouoke me◅ How long will it be ere they beleeue me Here is the cause I will smite them with the Pestilence Here is the effect A third cause is this to trust to the creatures in extremities and not in the Lorde as to men and armour in times of warre this was Dauids sinne for it is said Sathan stood vp against Israel and prouoked Dauid to number Israel 1. Chron. Chap. 21. verse 1. Here is the cause So the Lord sent a Pestilence and there feli of Israel seuentie thousand men verse 14. Here is the effect Contrary vnto this sinne is the patient resting of the faithful vpō god in aducisities to whom it is said Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most high shall abide in the shadow of the Almightie A fourth cause wee finde is spirituall and corporall whoredome and all superstition whatsoeuer of this cause Moses writeth Num. 25. and Dauid Psalme 106. 28. 29 They ioyned themselues vnto Baal-peor and did eate the offerings of the dead thus they prouoked God to anger with their owne inuentions thus farre the cause the effect And the Plague breake in vpon them A fifth cause is blasphemie and all the prophanation of the most great and glorious name of God and the want of a due feare and reuerence in his worship according to his name power and maiestie If thou wilt not feare this glorious and fearefull name of the Lord thy God Here is the cause want of reuerence of God and all that is contrary to this feare all prophanation of this great name of God the effect followeth Then will I make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed euen great plagues and of long continuance and sore diseases and of long durance all the diseases of Egypt e◅ery plague c. A sixt cause is the gracelesse contempt of the holy word and of the messengers and Ministers of the same Thus saith Ieremie to the Iewes in Ierusalem which would not be taught by Gods word and despised the Prophets of God chap. 29. 18. I will persecute them with the sword with the famine and with the Pestilence Here is the effect first the cause followeth because they haue not heard I. obeyed my word saith the Lord which I sent vnto them by my seruants the Prophets c. In the seuenth place all the sins of Sodome pride fulnes of bread want of mercy idlenes c. may be numbred These caused the famine warres and pestilence in Zedekiahs miserable kingdome Ezech. 16. 46. 47. and Iere. 29. 17. 18 And the eight cause is the affliction grieuance of Gods people Tyre and Sidon they shal be smitten from the Lord with the pestilence saith Ezechiel for afflicting Gods people I will send her pestilence and blood into her streetes the cause is added they shall be no more a pricking thorne vnto the house of Israel nor a grieuous thorne Eusebius speaking of the famine warres and pestilence in the East parts vnder Maximinius and at the same time in Rome and West parts vnder Maxentius he sheweth the cause in these wordes Quis autem sicausam tantorum malorum inquirat persecutionem aduersus nos motam causae loco assignare dubitauerit c. Who shall doubt to affirme that the persecution or affliction of Gods Church and people was the cause of all the euils that fell vpon the world vnder those two Tyrants for tenne yeares space for when they gaue libertie to the Christians their plague ceased To the same purpose he writeth againe in the same story shewing how all the calamities which came vpon the world they are sent from God for the affliction of his people Let the ninth cause bee the abuse of the holy Sacraments as in generall of all diseases so no doubt one especiall of the pestilence Thus the Apostle speaketh For this cause meaning the abuse of his Sacrament first many are weake secondly many are sicke thirdly many are asleepe i. dead already I. Cor. 11. 30. This also is a generall impietie which hath ouer-spread Citie Towne and Countrey for Saboths and Sacraments be exceedingly prophaned by reason of the blinde ministrie of the land Christ is not preached his diuine mystries be not opened to the people The precious and the vile are alike accepted to the Lordes Table The idolater and blasphemer the murderer and bloody man the adulterer and whoremonger the vsurer and oppressor are thought worthy men to sit and feast with Iesus Chaist The tenth cause the Lorde Iesus saith the Pestilence is one of the messengrs of his comming These messengers some of them are long before Luke 21. verse 12. as persecution for the Gospell Before all these they shall lay hands on you c. Some not long before as famine warres Pestilence earthquakes c. verse 9. But after these the ende followeth not by and by some shall be euen in his comming verse 26 the powers of heauen to be shaken the Sun to be darkned the Moone to loose her light the starres to fall the whole frame of heauen to passe away with a noise 2. Peter 3. 10. the element◅ and the whole earth to consume away with heat and lastly the great signe of the sonne of man shall appeare The Plague then in these times is the sword of reuenge drawne foorth against all nations when the Lorde sendeth it for the contempt of the Gospell of
my name and dependeth vpon me and so resteth in my shadow c. shall be kept and comforted in the pestilence But thou knowest me and louest me c. wherfore I shall preserue and comfort thee in this Pestilence HEre learn how greatly God loueth fauoureth and deliteth in such as know him and hang vpon him as vpon their almightie father in trouble Feare not little flocke saith our blessed Sauiour it is thy fathers will to giue thee a kingdome hee that will giue the greater will assuredly giue the lesse Thy father will giue thâ—…e a Kingdome therefore much more the transitorie benefites of this life It is our fathers will to giue vs immortalitie in heauen it is not to be doubted therefore he careth for vs in a speciall manner in this mortalitie vpon earth The word exalting is a Metaphore borrowed from their manner of protection in wars in elder times they made their towers of defence their fortresses vpon high rocks or high hilles that they might haue the greater aduantages against their enemies This then is the meaning of the holy spirit here I will set thee aloft so as thine enemies the wicked spirits shall not touch thee with any mortall wound By the name of God hee vnderstandeth all the properties and proper adiuncts or attributes of God whereby he is discerned in his word from all the creatures most mightie most iust most prouident most mercifull By knowing Gods name hee meaneth both to know and acknowledge conâ—…esse the care the prouidence and merâ—…ie of God in his deliuerance as Psal. 1. 6. God knoweth vs wheÌ„ he acknowledgeth 〈◊〉 to be of his number we know Gods â—…me when by his good word and holy â—…pirit discerning the same we distrust in â—…ll other power and acknowledge his â—…and only to be able and ready to saue vs â—…nd deliuer vs. Note here how the knowledge loue of God be inseparable companions He that loueth God knoweth God and is taught of God As all spirituall graces they are not of nor by nature but by grace so likewise this knowledge spoken of in this place Verse 15. He calles vpon mee and I will answere him I am with him in troubles I will deliuer him and glorifie him With length of dayes will I satisfie him and shew him my saluation The Argument is thus set in forme Hee that knoweth me loueth me and cals vpon me in troubles shal be heard deliuered and comforted c. Thou art one of that number which truely know me loue me and worship me in prayer wherefore thou shalt bee heard and comforted HEre the Psalmist commends vnto vs another singular preseruatiue which is prayer To stirre vs vp vnto this holy exercise there are added sundry most sweete and comfortable promises First God is ready to answere that man before described in afflictions Secondly God is with him in troubles 3. God will deliuer him out of this danger 4. God will bring him to honour and glory 5. The Lorde will satisfie him with dayes and yeares 6. He shall see the saluation of God First here concerning prayer note who it is that prayeth rightly profitably to be heard The same man that is said the verse beâ—…re to know God to loue him and by â—…th to rest vpon him he shall call shall â—…e heard Euery man cannot pray to bee â—…eard for the carnall man here can do noâ—…ing for the faithfull say Wee know not 〈◊〉 to pray as we ought but the spirit it selfe â—…keth requests for vs with sighes and grones â—…ich cannot be expressed In the Lawe â—…o kindes of sacrifices were reiected 〈◊〉 lame and the blinde sacrifice What â—…crifices must now bee offered if wee â—…ke the Apostle hee will tell vs wee â—…st offer vp our selues and our spiriâ—…all seruice vnto GOD. If then we bee â—…nde or lame all our seruice displeaseth â—…od We be blind when we care not for â—…e light of God of such it is written â—…ouerb 28 9. He that turneth away his eare 〈◊〉 hearing of the Lord his prayer is abhoâ—…able We be lame when any proud sin â—…gnes ouer vs without repentance and â—…uch the Lord saith Prouer. 21. 27. The â—…rifice of the wicked is an abhomination â—…o God These men be fooles saith the â—…lmist and pray not at all verse 4. the â—…e saith the Preacher and willeth them to hearkeÌ„ vnto God speaking before they presume to open their mouthes before him rude vntaught not knowing how and what to speake 2 He that will pray must first beleeue saith the Apostle How can they call vpon him in whom they do not beleeue And Iames addeth He must be a righteous man And yet these holy ones cannot alway pray for how ofteÌ„ come they to the Lords gate and yet haue the repulse how often mourneth and roareth the holy man of God Dauid and cannot be heard And the Church cryeth after Christ mightily and for a long time cannot finde him The Psalmist seâ—…meth to giue a reason of this when he saith If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not heare me A third thing required in prayer is a feeling of our wants A fourth point is an earnest desire to obtaine that we aske as the widdow Lukâ—… 18. 12. And a sist point not to waxe faint in prayer Now for the vse and practise of this holy preseruatiue according to the charge oâ—… God Call vpon me in the day of trouble c. The holy men of God haue euer vsed it â—…n the elder Churches Hezekiah being smitteÌ„ with the pestilence first it is said He turned his face to the wall 2. he power forth his prayer O Lord remember now I haue laboured to walke vprightly and with a sound heart before thee 3. It is saide hee wept sore 4. I haue heard thy prayer and â—…ene thy teares 5. He receiued this comfortable answere Behold I heale thee David in like manner when hee was smitten with the plague he crieth to God saying Lord thine arrowes are light vpon mee and thine hand lieth vpon me and so continueth amplifying shewing the greatnesse of his euils and then he concludeth no doubt hauing receiued comfort verse 15. On thee O Lorde do I wayt thou will â—…eare me my Lord my God And Iob wept much and prayed and vsed the mother of all good learning often a sweete and comfortable meditation with prayer let all the faithfull flye to this Christ spends mights in this exercise so the faithfull in the Act. 2. 4. 13. 14. and Paul in all his Epistles And I will heare him Here is the first promise which is added vnto this precious preseruatiue of prayer But doth not God heare and see alwayes Answer That is true but by hearing in this place is meant to like and to grant his petitions as else where often Dauid in the end of many Psalmes addeth that God hath heard him and granted his
speaketh we shall hardly finde one such amongst a thousand Thirdly he addeth they must be the Elders of the church that is such as are best knowne to thee thine owne wise pastor c. which can best discerne al thy sores or that minister which hath bene Gods most holy ordinance either for thy conuersion or confirmation Question BVt here now a question may bee demanded whether the same Ministers of God which serue the Lord in their publike ministry and come to the holy assemblies are charged also in this place to attend vpon the visitatiō of the sicke in time of pestilence Answere TO this I answer with men of iudgement that it were very expedient that at such times there should be certaine speciall men chosen for this purpose men knowne both for their ministery godlinesse and sinceritie of life who should not neglect their dutie concerning eyther the soules or bodies of the faithfull which they could performe or cause any way to be done for their good Secondly I answere that I cannot see how the Pastor notwithstanding can neglect any of his slocke committed of the Lord vnto his charge in any calamitie or the pestilence For the Apostles charge is so general in my iudgement that it excludeth all exceptions of persons time and sicknesse Any man may send in any sicknesse for the Elders of the Church But here let wise Christians be carefull as not to abuse the loue of their kinsfolkes and friends so to preferre the health of all the congregation before their own and so to striue to content themselues with the presence of such as the magistrates haue selected and appointed for this purpose This religious loue care for the church was in Boz who being sicke himselfe of the plague at Lausanna would not haue M. Ioh. Caluin and P. Viret to come vnto him when they offered freely most lo◅ingly to come visit him because saith he we must preferre the benefit of Gods Church and the glorie of God before our owne comforts and the preseruation of our owne life Fourthly these men must be men of great loue mercy compassion for this cause hee willeth vs to take the Elders of our Church that is such louing knowne mercifull men as can will mourne with vs and for vs. Psal 41. 1. Blessed is hee that iudgeth wisely of the poore the Lord shall deliuer him in time of trouble A notable example of this compassion is in Iobs friends for first they came to comfort him secondly they wept greatly when they sawe him thirdly their great griefe is signified in renting of their cloathes fourthly their compassion in sitting by him seuen dayes and seuen nights in silence This is the time when Gods children must striue to shew their affection and brotherly kindnesse towards the Saints Fifthly these holy Elders which visit the sicke must affect one thing be of one minde and of one accord for the cri◅s and praiers of such men be very strong and can soonest and best preuaile with the Lord according to his owne truth holy promise Uerely I say vnto you that if two of you shall agree in earth vpon any thing whatsoeuer they shall desire it shall be giuen them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered togither in my name there am I in the midst of them The truth of this promise is to be seene in the practise and praier of the holy Saints The disciples which were met togither to pray for the good successe of the gospel for spirituall courage boldnesle in their ministry for the cōfirmatiō of their doctrine by signes wonders I it is said of the whole multitude of thē which beleeued there prayed That they were of one heart of one soule Ast. 4. 31. 32. They lift vp their voyces vnto God with one accord ver se 24. 3. After prayer they obteined all that they asked For it is said first that they were confirmed presently with a myracle The place was shaken where they were assembled togither and all were filled with the holy Ghost vers 31. 2. They receiued their second request spirituall boldnesse courage for it is said they spake the word of God boldly ver 31. 3. Lastly the Gospell was more glorified had a more free passage daily And the day of Penticost when they waited togither in praier for the gifts of the holy Ghost It is said they were altogither with one accord in one place And the holy Disciples which beleeued they are said that in hearing the word in praier they continued with one accorde daily in the Temple These Elders then of whom Iames speaketh must be thus affected Religious men faithfull men deuout men righteous men and such will not lightly iarre or disagree but be most carefull to keepe the bandes of loue in holy peace and vnitie with heart and minde affecting one thing and bearing with them of weaker iudgement till the Lord hath reuealed better things vnto them These men thus hauing one heart and one mouth may send forth such cries vnto the Lord as shall be heard and none other Sixtly S. Iames requireth that they be faithfull men righteous men and m◅n of good feeling They must haue faith for otherwise they cannot pray as wee haue before shewed ver 15. of that 19. Psalme they must be righteous men for otherwise they shall be reiected of God in this sacrifice which they offer Pro. 21. 27. and the sicke can haue no comfort in them And they must haue a good feeling of the wants of their brother otherwise their praier will not worke and be effectuall so the promise is to be vnderstood the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much which is working and effectuall Seuenthly they must instruct and admonish the patient and by mutuall conference so stirre him vp to open and re◅eale such sinnes and euils as most grieue his hart and conscience They must know his passions his life his calling his knowledge his feare his affections his loue and all his conuersation and how long he hath knowne Iesus Christ. Againe here they must be wise to discerne whether Sathan hath wounded him with any siery dart and so hath caused him to doubt of his election vocation faith repentance c. They must be prouided of examples which may shewe him how that other of Gods children haue so bene smitten haue languished long and yet at last were graciously restored But nothing comparable to our owne experience Here let them pray earnestly for the spirit of iudgement for that Sathan hath many strange inuisible delusions and remember the prouerbe That a gracious speech heateth the passions of the soule A word spoken in his place is like app◅es of golde with pictures of siluer Eightly Saint Iames requireth in the visitors of the sicke verse 15. a praier of faith They must
translated out of Dutch into Latine and in English thus much God hath created phisicke and giuen vs a minde and reason that euerie man should haue a care of his owne bodie for health and life whosoeuer vvil not vse these vvhen as vvithout the hurt of his neighbour hee may the same man betraieth his owne life and there lacketh little but that before God he is made a murtherer for by the same reason hee may despise meate and drinke rayment and housing and trusting too much vnto his faith saie if God vvill hee can preserue me without all these thinges then the which follie this is yet greater that hee whiche after this sorte casteth off the care of his bodie he may hurt and infect others also and so through his negligence he may purchase the blame of a murderer Some men doe indeed as foolish men doe in a common firing which will not come and helpe the citie but let the fire alone that the whole citie might be burned namelie vpon this trust doubtlesse if God will ◅e can without water quench the fire But friend thou oughtest in no wise so to deale Nay it is vnlawfull and shamefull which thou perswadest thy selfe but rather vse remedies and medicines and doo whatsoeuer anie way may helpe perfume thine house orchard or streete flie the infested places and so behaue thy selfe as one willing to quench and not to maintaine this open fire Againe it followeth in the same treatise If Sathan by the will of God either by himselfe or his Ministers hath wrought vs this deadlie infection I on the other side before all things will pray vnto God that of his mercie he will take away the same from vs then I will put to my simple helping hand both by perfuming aud clensing of the ayre by vsing of medicines and also in sbunning the infection where my presence is not necessarie Lest I might seeme my selfe to haue neglected some thing or to be cause of death vnto other who through my negligence may take harme But if God neuerthel◅sse will haue me vi◅ited with this sicknesse or call me out of this world vnto his kingdome yet I haue done but that which was my dutie neither haue I offeded◅◅n any thing either against my selfe or my neighhour but vvhere my seruice is needfull there I will let passe nothing of all things which either can or ought to be done of me Behold this is that godly faith indeed which doth nothing rashly neither tempteth God in any thing Thus thē I conclude when thou shalt haue wisely considered and discerned the causes of the pestilence then turn to God as the Prophet biddeth with all thine heart with fasting with weeping with mourning and slie aloft by faith into the secret place almightie shadow blessed protection of the Lord and there rest patiētly as vnder his holy wings euer praying for the increase of faith and patience that thou maist quietly wa◅t and depend vpon God and for a good conscience that so thou maist auoyde false foolish vaine and wicked feares and cheerfully standing in thy place and carefully call for the protection of the mightie blessed and holie Angels for the communion and presence of Iesus Christ so shalt thou chase far*away from thee the wicked and vncleane spirits which are sent of God to poysen and to destroy men with the pestilence And lastly when thou hast vsed al the meanes before shewed for thy spirituall helpe and comfort thou must neglect no ordinance nor helpe of God in nature both for thy cure and preseruation The wicked indeed inuert peruert this order as did Asa and therefore no maruell if they receiue often a curse in steed of a blessing for if phisicke giue them health of body their soules notwithstanding are neuer cured or made any better by their chasticements but they daily gather more strength to commit sin with greater boldnesse MAISTER GREENEHAMS PRAYER O God most mighty glorious and righteous O Father most louing gracious and merciful which keepest couenant and mercie in Iesus Christ for all those which receiuing the first fruites of thy holy spirit walke before thee in vprightnesse of their heart we thy vnworthy children come vnto thee in the name of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lord beseeching thee to renue and encrease thy holy spirit in vs and to purifie our hearts more and more by faith that we may haue a clearer sight and a surer perswasion of thy fatherly goodnesse vnto vs and that we may more readily perform our dutifull obedience vnto thee For we do acknowledge confesse vnto thy sacred Maiestie that wee haue yet neuer hitherto worthily estemed thy mercies towards vs nor sufficiently expressed the fruites of our bounden dutie towards thee but that stil we remaine ignorant and forgetfull of many good things which wee ought and might know And we confesse Lord we are slack vnto those things which thy holy spirit offereth to our mindes vnapt to do them soone weary of wel-doing and wherein we please thee something we please our selues too much Moreouer we likewise confesse that we are ignorant of many euill things that we haue done doo or may doo forgetfull of diuers things which sometime we haue had knowledge and remorce of And now the thinges which come to our remembrance and are in our sight do not appeare to be so sinfull in any measure as they are and ought of vs to be regarded Yea we are beguiled or euer we are aware with our present corruptions and they cleaue so fast vnto vs that wee can hardly leaue them but most hardly be brought to true repentance of them We besee◅h therfore thy sacred Maiestie to worke in vs by thy holy spirit a wise and carefull searching out of and into our sinnes that by thy lawe wee may be conuinced of them awakened by thy threatnings rebuked for them by thy iudgements executed vpon the wicked and exercised towarde thy children seruants and friends that so we may feare and tremble for them And by the serious premeditation of the vncertaine houre of a most certaine death of the day of thy generall in◅itable and dreadfull iudgement of the horrible euerlasting paines of the wicked in the helles and their losse of the inestimable ioyes of the heauens stirre vp our dead heartes to seeke thee O Father in thy Christ and thy sonne our Lorde and Sauiour in the Gospell And finally wee pray that wee may be euen confounded in our selues by the fruitfull remembrance of thy blessed sufferings the most precious bloud-sheading and death of our Lorde Iesus Christ that so wee may bee humbled after that manner and measure thy children should bee beseeching thee that wee may so aforehand accuse our selues before thy blessed Maiestie that our aduersarie may haue no power hereafter to accuse vs so iudge our selues that we be not iudged by thee so with shame sorrow feare trembling acknowledge the