Selected quad for the lemma: life_n
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A09646
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The cure of hurtfull cares and fears. By master Thomas Pierson late rector of Brompton-Brian, in the county of Hereford
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Pierson, Thomas, ca. 1570-1633.
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1636
(1636)
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STC 19910; ESTC S111955
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18,628
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96
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blessings to his servants and of their deliverance from evills he retayneth and exerciseth divine liberty and soveraignty Some he maketh high others low some rich and others poore Iob 34.19 To one he giveth five talents to another two to another one Matthew 25.15 He suffered no man to doe wrong to Abraham Isaac and Iacob but rebuked Kings for their sakes Psalm 105.14 Yet he will suffer Ioseph to be sold for a servant and to be layd in irons wrongfully verse 17 18. and hee suffers his servant Iob to be robbed of his goods bereaved of his Children sore afflicted in his body and grieved by his dearest friends so as he escaped but with the Skin of his teeth Iob 19. verse 19 20. 3. Gods good pleasure to exercise his Children in affliction for their good foure wayes 1. To purge out some corruption For the third it pleaseth God many times to exercise his deere children under sore afflictions for his glory in their good sundry wayes as First to purge out some corruption and to make them white Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them and to purge and to make them white Iob 23.10 When hee hath tryed mee I shall come forth as the gold 2. To teach them obedience Secondly to teach them obedience as well in eschewing evill Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word as also in doing good so Christ Iesus learned obedience by the things he did suffer Heb. 5.8 and the Apostles learned by afflictions to trust in God 2 Cor. 1.9 Thirdly 3. To try their faith and patience to try their faith and patience as hee did in Iob whence great afflictions are called fierie tryalls sent to try Gods Children 1 Pet. 4 12. as Hebr. 11.36 37. Others also were tryed by cruell mockings and scourgings yea by bonds and imprisonments they were stoned sawen asunder tempted slaine with the sword c. Fourthly 4. To further them in holines and happinesse for their furtherance in grace and holinesse here and in joy and happinesse hereafter Iames 1.3 The tryall of faith worketh patience Hebr. 12.10 God doth chasten us for our profit that we might bee partakers of his holinesse verse 11. though it bee not joyous for the present yet after it yeeldeth the quiet fruit of righteousnesse Affliction is Gods Schoole wherin he teacheth the soules of his Children many a sweet lesson as Psalme 119.71 It is good for me that I have beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes This brings down their hearts and causeth them to be more frequent in humble and earnest prayer and more carefull to meditate on Gods word and works as Psalme 77.2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord verse 3. I remembred God I complained I considered the dayes of old c. all which are notable means of growth in grace whereby no doubt their present joy future glory shall bee much increased for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The tryall of faith shall be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ Iesus 1 Pet. 1.7 If wee suffer we shall also raigne with him 2 Tim. 2.12 All which are great benefits of afflictions and may well perswade us that in the very extremity of them Gods love in Christ is constant towards us For what shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword c. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8.35.37 38.39 God correcteth every son whom he receiveth and therein offereth himselfe unto us as to sonnes Hebr. 12.6 7. These things well understood and thought upon will much enable faith to quiet and stay the heart in any distresse whatsoever Application of the doctrine in a case of spirituall distresse through feare of damnation For to beginne with the greatest matter of all say thy soule is perplexed about thy salvation thou hast great feares of hell and little hopes of heaven what must thou now doe Answ First look thou stand rightly in covenant with God through faith in Christ Iesus in whom hee revealeth himselfe to bee the God of grace and mercy justifying the ungodly and saving sinners and believe in the Lord Iesus Secondly whether thou use the means ordained to this end Now Gods meanes for this blessing is to believe in the Lord Iesus Acts 16.31 Beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life What it is to believe Now thus to beleeve is to rest and rely upon that which Iesus Christ as Redeemer and Mediator hath done and suffered for the salvation of his Church Aske then thine owne heart whether thou bee not perswaded that which God in Christ Iesus is plentifull redemption and salvation and in none other demand againe whether thou doe not unfeignedly desire to be found of God in Christ and to rest and rely upon that which hee hath done and suffered for thy justification and salvation Then consider whether thou doe use Gods Ordinances conscionably and in an holy manner to get this grace of faith and to grow therein Gods Ordinances we know GODS means for faith the Word and Prayer are the word and prayer for faith commeth by hearing the word of God preached Rom. 10.14 17. and prayer obtaines the HOLY GHOST Luke 11.13 Which is the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore did the Disciples by prayer seeke faith at Christs hands saying Lord increase our faith or put faith into us The holy manner of using the meanes of faith in 3. things 1. Breaking of the course of every knowne sinne Luk. 17.5 The conscionable and holy manner of using the foresaid Ordinances stands in three things First breaking off the course of every knowne sinne which is a worke of darkenesse wherein wee cannot live and have fellowship with Christ 1 Ioh. 1.6 Therefore Solomon saih Turne you at my correction Lo I will powre out my spirit upon you Proverbs 1.23 and Iohn Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by preaching repentance unto the people Matth. 3.1 2 3. without which there is little hope of attayning true faith in Christ Mat. 21.32 Secondly 2. Hartily desiring the grace we seeke for we must truly and hartily desire the grace we seeke for This desire is spirituall hunger and thirst whereto God
Pro. 14.10 It is one of the mysteries of the kingdome which is not knowne by nature but by the gift of grace Matthew 13.11 The Philistims could not read Sampsons riddle till they had plowed with his Heyfer Iudges 14.18 No more can naturall men discerne the sweet content of grace but by the operation of the Holy Ghost the only worker of grace But whence is it 2. Objection saith the natural man that some who are strickt and zealous in Religion and seeme to make great conscience of their wayes doe yet spend their dayes in much bitternes and sorrow giving smal evidence that any such joy is to be found in their Religion Answ Answer Surely God doth then visit upon them the dayes of Baalim Hos 2.13 wherein they went after their owne sinfull pleasures and forgot the Lord therefore doth the LORD write bitter things against them and make them to possesse the sinnes of their youth Iob 13.26 Because they have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord therefore is this evill happened unto them Ieremy 44.23 But yet if this their sorrow for their former sinnes bee godly which wil best appeare by the amendment of their lives they shall finde by good experience that of very faithfulnesse God afflicted them as David did Psalme 119.75 For the LORD will not cast off for ever but though hee cause griefe yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 3.31 32. In duetime he will comfort all such mourners and give them beauty for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Isaiah 61.2 3. For to the upright there ariseth light in darkenesse that is joy and gladnesse in distresse Psalme 112.4 And though for a time they be in heavinesse yet peace shall come They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength Isaiah 40.31 Many be the troubles of the righteous but the Lord will deliver them out of all Psal 34.19 2. Vse for reproofe Worldly care is unworthy the holy profession of adoption Secondly this shewes plainly how unworthy of the Lord and of their holy profession of adoption many that live in the bosome of the Church doe lead their lives For what is more ordinary than to call God Father in saying the Lords Prayer And yet who can say my heart is cleane I am free from these worldly carking cares For though like bitter sap it sometime lye hid in the root of the heart yet indeed hath it a daily spring time as may appeare by these bad fruits which doe fearefully abound in many mens lives First Five evidences of worldly care 1. Vngodly practises to get worldly wealth manifold unjust and ungodly practises to get or encrease worldlie wealth as false weights and measures lying swearing and forswearing extortion stealing oppression and the like Where any of these are in use practice plaine evidence is given of distrust in GODS providence and so of the dominion of this sinfull worldly carking care For were men indeed perswaded that the power to get wealth came from God Deut. 8 18. and that his blessing made them rich Proverbs 10.22 they would content themselves with the moderate use of lawfull meanes to serve his providence wherein they might comfortably wait for his blessing and not betake themselves to such ungodly courses as are plaine services of the Divell the God of this world for the wealth thereof 2. Ordinary use of wicked meanes to remove corporall evills Secondly the ordinary use of wicked and forbidden meanes to prevent or remove worldly losses and corporall evils as to consult with Magicians witches or Sorcerers as Saul did when he was distressed by the Hoast of the Philistims 1 Sam. 28.7 Seeke me a woman that hath a familiar spirit c. And Ahaziah King of Israel who sent to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron whether hee should recover of his disease 2 Kings 1.1 2. This is a most fearefull proclaiming of distrust in GOD when they seeke to the divell Gods utter enemy Is it not because there is no God in Israel that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron ver 6. Thirdly 3. Neglect to sanctifie the use of lawfull meanes by prayer the ordinary neglect to sanctifie the use of lawful means by prayer to GOD for his blessing Thus Asa one of the good Kings of Iudah sinned when being diseased in his feet he sought unto the Physitians and not unto the Lord 2 Chron. 16.12 And it is the common course of many families to follow their worldly busines diligently but seldome or never to sanctifie their labour and paines by prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God the giver of all blessings 4. Excessive sorrow and feare in times of danger Fourthly excessive sorrow and feare in times of danger and distresse with great deadnesse of heart when outward meanes do faile and dangers approach as though the power and mercy of God for their helpe and safety were tyed to the meanes This was the sinne of Israel at the Red Sea when the Hoast of Pharaoh drew neere unto them they were sore afrayd and cryed out against Moses for bringing them out of Aegypt Exodus 14.10 11 12. Hence also came all their murmurings in the wildernesse when they wanted bread or flesh or water as Exodus 16.3 and 15 24. They had not yet learned to rest and rely upon his power and providence that brought them thither Fifthly 5. Frailties hearing of GODS Word fruitlesse and unprofitable hearing of Gods word For the cares of this world are one kind of spirituall thornes that choake the seed of grace in the ground of mens hearts that it brings no fruit to perfection Luke 8. verse 14. All these give plaine evidence of worldly carking care justly deserve reproofe for transgressing this holy command that bids us Be carefull for nothing 3. Vse for admoni ion This lesson most needfull though hard to corrupt nature For admonition it serves fitly to move every one to endeavour obedience to this command in labouring to free his heart in every thing from distrustfull worldly care A lesson most needfull in these evill dayes and perillous times hard indeed to our corrupt nature which the Scripture calleth flesh and bloud But the child of GOD must looke to a better guide and not plead for it for flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15.50 The wisdome of the flesh is death and so rebellious to the will of God that they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.6 7 8. Now the practise of this duty stands in this Wherein the practise of this duty stands that using lawfull meanes moderately for the fruition of blessings or freedome from evils we then sanctifie the same by prayer to GOD for his mercy and blessing and then leave the issue and successe wholly to