giuing sanctification and holinesse while we â—ye in sinne we can haue uâ— peace of conscience therefore no health of countenance The wicked may haue confident faces foâ—eheads of brasse a whores forehead impudent and such as cannot blâ—â—h yet follow them to their ends you shall know they haue a doloroâ—s wound in the conscience When the world smileth they are in their heiâ—ht of countenance at least they can 〈◊〉 vâ—ltu simulare but their hearts tell them what they are iâ— aduersinie and inâ—uitable death approach marke these daring spirits Hâ—mâ—n was of so proud a countenance when hee had the Kings fauour that the least neglect of him seemed a capitall crime when â— bâ—t was clouded hee hâ—sted home mourning and his head couered Ahiâ—hâ—pâ—el was a great Statesman when his oracles were hâ—d in honour but looke after the wretch you shall sâ—e what was the helpe of his countenance not God but popularity David was not discountenanced when Princes did sit and speake against him neither the Apostles when they were scorned reuiled and threatned Paul had discouragements enow of men yet he was not ashamed of his sufferings The holy are bold as Lyons because they are led by the Spirit of God they say Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victorâ—e Zophar aduised well If 〈◊〉 bee in thine hand put it faâ—â—e away and let no wickednesse dwell in thy 〈◊〉 theâ— shall thou â—â—ft vp thy face without spot and shalt bee stable and shalt not feare 4. In giuing victory against all our enemies in all these we are more then conquerers in giuing vs defence against the insulting aduersaries therefore when hee had said Why goe I mâ—urning while the enemie oppreâ—â—eth me He inferreth presently I shall yet giue him thankes 5. In giuing supplies by his euer-present and all-seeing Prouidence The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want How-euer the Saints crie in their distresses as the Disciples in the storme Master carest thou not that â—e perish yet they are assured of his assistance he is with Israel in the Desart with Iacob in his iourney with Eliah at Chebar with the widow at Sarephat with the Children in the fornace it is easier to say all in one word then much lesse in many he is euery where ready to supply his Such experience doth God giue hereof to his that hee is their countenance experience is the cause of that hope which maketh them not ashamed I was saith Paul deliuered out of the mouth of the Lyon and The Lord will deliuer me from euery euill worke and will preserue mee vnto his heauenly kingdome And againe I am not ashamed for I know whom I haue beleeued It is an vsuall argument of comfort with the Saints of God Afflictions begin fiercely but they end mildely and comfortably they come vpon vs like Samsons yelling Lyon at Timnah with open mouth but being ouercome they feedeâ— out hopes with sweet experience of Gods mercies the greater our sufferings the greater our experience of his goodnesse therefore goâ— backe to the carkas look backe to thy former deliuerances and thou shalt haue the better hope for the future Forget not all his benefits and hee will appeare to bee the health of thy countenance looke backe to thine infancy how hee hath fed thee clothed thee preserued thee relieued thee called thee to the knowledge of Iesus Christ taken thee out of the Kingdome of Satan and made thee his sonne consider how he hath giuen thee assurance of a glorious inheritance with the Saints and thou shalt find good cause to say in thy particular as the multitude of Iesus he hath done all things well And thou shalt be more and more assured hee that saued sinners will not condemne the iust he that spared his enemies will not cast away a sonne none but the forgetfull and ingratefull want these arguments And my God MY God by that free couenant which he hath made with me and my feed that hee will bee our God here is further exptessed the ground of his assurance had his trust been in riches they could not haue deliuered him had it been in Princes though they are called gods they must dye like men had it been in humane policie that is subiect to errour had it been in strength youth that must yeeld to sicknesse this to age both to death but they that trust in this Lord shall haue hope in death They that trust in lying vanities forsake their owne mercy The portion of Iacob is not like them for he is maker of all things the Lord of hostes is his name This is Dauids God Doth any aske of his Power it is infinite of his Mercy it is infinite of his Goodnesse it is infinite of his Loue Maiesty Glory Dominion all is infinite of which wee can speake or thinke and so much passing all vnderstanding as that in speaking and thinking of him wee must vaile our hearts for hee dwelleth in the inaccessible light and though he appeare most glorious in his workes yet he is knowne perfectly to none but himselfe though he be one yet is he in all things and being euery where omnipresent hee is in no place included and limited he is the Almighty Maker and Preseruer of all things hee gouerneth ouer all the creatures hee onely is eternall and vnchangeable he onely can doe whatsoeuer he will doe he doth whatsoeuer he pleaseth without any let labour or difficulty When Hierâ— asked the prudent Heathen Simonides what God is he required a dayes respit to answer the second day being asked what God is hee required two dayes study more and so as oft as his resolution was desired he still doubled the number of the dayes till in the end he answered The longer I consider the harder the matter seemeth vnto me Surely such is his glorious Beeing as that it is vnspeakable Moses saw but his back-parts as Moses saw so he speaketh of his seeing to mans capacitie such is he as that it is not the least part of our knowledge to know what hee is not which in a word is to know that hee is nothing of all that which we know This is perfect knowledge so to know God as that thou knowest him to be knowne and yet ineffable therefore wee must alwayes thinke of him of whom we cannot worthily thinke for he is to be beleeued to bee knowne and to be worshipped It is life euerlasting to know him whom he hath sent Iesus Christ and they only know what he hath reueiled of himself to whom by his Word holy Spirit he hath reueiled himself he hath reueiled himselfe One Eternall Almighty Al-wise God this is Dauids GOD three most glorious Persons of infinite Maiestie an holy Trinitie in Vnitie neither confounded nor diuided but one God-head one God most gracious most iust most louing most mercifull most holy most wise the sole
to learne this lesson rightly and throughly to examine the cause of our sorrowes wee should bee soone freed from them for discouering them either to be without good cause or the cause to bee some foule euill in which wee yet lye wee shall bee ashamed of them and turne our sorrow vpon a right obiect and so bee cured Two things are therefore to be obserued in this case 1 We must examine and sinde out the first cause of our sorrow euery man knoweth the next and immediate cause of his griefe but we must not rest there it is not enough for Israel to sorrow because the Lord said I will not goe vp in the midst of thee except they consider why God said so which was because they were a stiff-necked people It is not enough for Ioshuah and the Elders of Israel to rent their cloathes lament their danger and losse of their brethren except they looke to the cause of Gods displeasure there is an Achans wedge some neglect some sinne if Israel be smitten if the Lord giue thee a trembling heart failing eyes and sorrow of minde so that thy life hang in doubt before thee and thou fearest day and night if thou haue no assurance of thy life so that thou say in the morning Would God it were euening and at euening would GOD it were morning for the feare of thine heart which thou shalt feare know it is because thou doest not obserue to doe all the words of this law neither doest thou feare this glorious and fearefull name the Lord thy GOD. All sorrowes are the vndoubted effects of sinne therefore the readiest way to the cure is not to rest till wee haue found out the mischiefe which is hid the excommunicate thing to begin at the roote and cause of the euill which we suffer The Prophet like a skilfull Empericke went roundly to worke Wherefore doeth a liuing man complaine a man for the punishment of his sinne Wee haue transgressed and haue rebelled and thou hast not pardâ—ned And the Psalmist saith Fooles because of their transgrâ—ssion and because of their iniquities are afflicted So Ieremie The Lord our GOD hath put vs to silence and giuen vs waters of Gall to drinke because we haue sinned against the Lord. Whence it appeareth that sinne in generall is the true cause of griefe and impatience More particularly especially these three 1. Ignorance 2. Vnbeliefe 3. The distempers and indispositions of mind which follow them Ignorance hath the first place vnbeliefe the second which the order of the cure importeth to helpe our vnbeliefe wee must first dispell our ignorance the cloudes which darken our minde for How shall they beleeâ—e in him of whom they haâ—e not heard Though it be true vnbeliefe was before ignorance in time and order of causing in the first sinner who did know all things which hee ought to beleeue till beleeuing the Serpent which was his vnbeliefe he transgressed and so brought a natiue ignorance and spirituall blindnesse on all mankinde This ignorance is first our ignorance of God When wee know not or consider not his power and all-disposing prouidence gouerning all things with a sweet and vnresistible omnipotencie then wee repine and murmur then wee striue and wrastle as if wee could preuaile against him Our ignorance of Gods goodnesse and mercy working all things for the best to them that loue him curing their soules with assâ—ictions temporall healing with part of that Scorpion which did sting them our ignorance I say of the worke of God herein causeth that wee looke not beyond our present condition and therefore distrust the issue whervpon wee are deiected and so impatient as if wee were vtterly lost for want of looking to Secondly of our selues and our owne vnwor thinesse which when wee know not or remember not wee thinke we are too good to be so sharply dealt withall that our sorrowes are greater then our sinnes that wee haue not deserued all the miseries wee suffer This ignorance of our selues causeth vs to build hopes farre greater then our foundation to vndertake affaires abone our strength and in the whole course of our liues to carrie a saile too great for our bottome so that when our disproportioned hopes and proiections faile and are ouerset wee grieue we vex as if GOD had done vs iniurie because he gaue vs not so much as our foolish hopes promised vs. 2 Vnbeliefe is a genuine cause of disquiet of minde wee could not be immoderatly grieued or troubled for any temporall euill if wee did confidently beleeue GOD our powerfull and gracious deliuerer at hand This is that old man which lieth murmuring and vexing within vs this is that vnregenerate part which because it is conscious of nothing but sinne therfore can conceiue nothing but iustice in God and feare in it selfe which suspition so multiplieth that vpon euery the least appearance of danger bee it but like the cloude arising out of the Sea which Eliahs seruant saw on Carmel as little as a mans hand it presently resolues of perpetual stormes hopelesse and helplesse conditions therefore our Psalmist saith Hope in God by the cure shewing the cause of the disease that is distrust and want of faith as we shall see hereafter 3 The distempers of mind are diuers 1 Want of foresight and fore expectation of calamities it must needes be that affliction fall very heauily vpon that man who neuer looked for it who made no other account to himsulfe but to be carried to heauen vpoÌ„ downy pillows he that looketh for tryals armeth his minde to entertain them when they come 2 Leuity of minde and weakenesse which cause that euery breath euen common accidents ouerthrow a man and moue him to impatience 3 Surfetting on prosperity whence men grow effeminate and like formall Souldiers trained vp onely for a quiet pomp are dead at the sight of an enemie euery distresse disordereth and confoundeth their thoughts Hee that is not deceiued with prosperity shall not be broken with aduersity therefore GOD saith it is good for a man that hee beare the yoke in his youth as we shall see in the following parts 4 Enuie which hath a long eye into other mens estates not contented with that it selfe hath except others might want that which they haue It is not onely afflicted with it own aduersity but with the prosperity of others also We may add to these and other causes of the mindes disquiet which are in our selues one externall that is the deuill who loueth to bee fishing in troubled waters especially those Marahs of mans sorrow and impatience which are his Nectar and his musick because his desire is to make man repine at GOD be at enemity with men discontented with himselfe impatient at his estate in fine to make the whole life of man misâ—rable euery occurrent hurtfull the whole man lesse then a possessour of his owne soule and all this out of a dâ—mned
in knowing God and in him and by him those infinite good things which he hath communicated to man these onely the eye of the soule can sâ—e it importeth vs to care for this soule about all that which GOD hath giuen vs with it The bodily eyes which perceiue onely things mortall corruptible fraile or changeable are of such excellent vse that if we wanted them wee would giue all wee haue for them If Iesus should now come by the blinde man would not his petition be that of Bartimeus Lord that I may receiue my sight How much more pretious is the soules eye Which of vs had not rather dye many deathes then be metamorphozed into the shape of some beast though wee might still retaine an humane minde how much more had we â—ather suffer then be depriued of reason and vnderstanding haue the soule of a beast in an humane shape Therefore because God hath made man of parts so different of a soule a spirituall and heauenly substance of a body of earth to serue all our conditions and estates neither all soule because our first part is to deale with earthly things nor all body because though wee liue and are lashed for the present about earthly affaires yet we must liue a life spirituall heauenly and free from necessities cares and negotiations Therefore we must now care for our soules and not be like those who as if they were all body all earth and no soule liue out of themselues all their thoughts words and actions are for the body and things temporall as foode rayment riches possessions titles of honour pleasures and the like but as if the soule were some Idea and dreame of a Phylosopher nothing or nothing worth they seldome if euer thinke of it the reason is because for the most part men are either ouercome captiuated of their owne affections so that they onely serue them or are so lazie and stupid that they know not whether they haue a soule or no they cannot looke vp for the most excellent light most offendeth tender eies this maketh those frequent confluences of people to any idle spectacle if it be but to see tripudiantem Simiam a dancing Ape or the like they forget themselues runne in and admire it but for so admirable and excellent a part of themselues as is the soule they haue neyther time to consider nor delight to heare of it What madnesse is it to neglect that for any possession without which wee cannot truely possesse any thing What should a man gaine to get all the world with the losse of the soule without which hee possesseth nothing Thou foole this night thy soule shall bee required of thee then whose shall those things bee which thou hast prouided What exchange shall hee giue for a soule who would redeeme it lost Can these acquests for which the whole world sweateth cause or quiet the soule There is nothing of the world worth this little part of heauen Vnhappie therefore and desperate is the neglect of it if our estate bee impayring wee consult with our friendes if our possession bee in hazard through some cracke in our title we solicite the Lawyer if our bodies the Physician if our soules we will not so much as aduise with our selues alas if the soule be neglected what is the externall man The strong is like blinde Samson puissant to his owne destruction the rich like the Isis-bearing Asle the worldly-wise like the deuill subtill but not innocent the honourable like those images carried in Precession and after their liues holiday cast by into some mustie corner of a dark rood-loft the beautifull but pleasing mischiefs like curious spring-flowers of excellent colours but noysome smells Strength riches wisedome honour and beauty are principally in the soule which like the Kings daughter must be all glorious within the beauty of the soule is a diuine and vndecaying beauty not subiect to time and age wormes and corruption and if God hath expressed such excellencie which is but a reflex of the beames of his incomprehensible glory on the creature in a corruptible body what is that yet vnseene excellencie and beauty of the soule If Moses face yet subiect to corruption was so glorious when hee had talked with God that it must be vayled what shall bee the countenance of a glorified body conformed to the image of Christ and by that thinke what manner of creature the soule shall be when the face of God shall shine vpon it without these cloudes of mortality interposed when we shall be more then restored to that excellency of our first being If thou vnderstandest not this know that the most excellent beauties of the world are seene by light without which they are not and to see spirituall excellencie holinesse and purenesse of heart is the light without which thou canst neither see God bee sensible of goodnesse nor know thy selfe this is like the Sunns brightnes which cannot be helped with any baser light therfore be holy be pure and thou shalt see what excellencie there is in vertue what vertue in the soule Lord how curiously doe men order their gestures of body how doe they bring their words to the file before they haue admittance to the tongue how do they examine their countenance the least errour of their garment is seene and rectified but as if the soule were lesse obserued of the all-seeing God then their lineaments of men here they are precisely curious there negligent and stupid loue thy soule and thou wilt be iealous of it thou wilt bee looking what it wanteth thou wilt confer with it and cheeâ—e it vp as the Kingly Prophet here Why art thou cast downe 2 The second reason to perswade vs hereto is because the cuill here to bee cured is a sicknâ—sse of the soule whether wâ—â— speake of the affection vnder which the Prophet groaned true sorrow like a daring enemie maâ—cheth towards the heart the soules imperiall seat the body is not pained without the suffering of the soule Some indeede can faigne and set off their gâ—iefes with words as if they meant their sale like those counterset Vagrants who lance and sâ—arifie sound parts and make them sores to gaine compassion the talkatiue can tell you sad Tragedies In exiguo Pergama tota mero Of martyrdom in his cups sorrowes in his wine light cares are full of tongues but as here abyssus abyssum depth of griefe called for a depth of talke a Soliloquie It is vsuall in great sorrowes their deepest sources runne stilly and wee talke inwardly our soule to it selfe within it selfe There is an hypocriticall repentance also coloured with faire complexion of religious sorrow which looketh like Iezabel out of her windowes to make loue to the vulgar there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but if it be not in the soule it is no penitent griefe there may bee an elegiacall tongue where the heart is no more affected
then were those hired mourners for Tamuz but true sorrow affecteth the soule and thither must be followed to the cure Or if wee speake of sinne the cause of all sorrowes except wee pull it vp by the roote it is nothing worth which wee doe out of the heart come adulteries murthers and all other siâ—nes for which God smiteth there is the fountain if we could reach a blâ—sphemous tongue not to exceed his yea and nay if the minâ—e be full of blasphemy wee haue but taught him to sin more inwardly if a lasciuious speaker learne a better and more gracefull language then that which wont to defile and embace an obscene tongue if yet these nasty deuils lost and vncleanenesse possesse his heart if he whose eyes were full of adulteric now shew their whites to heauen in prayers yet hath sworne allâ—ageanâ—â— with opportunity and darknes to sâ—rue this â—in his caâ—â—â— without a caste is nothing worth before the seaâ—â—hâ—r of hearts teach a man the laguage of Canaan that his worâ—s may administâ—r grace to the hearets teach him to 〈◊〉 mâ—râ—ifull to giue all his goods to the poore teach him till his actions seene to say for him as Saul said for himselfe I haue performed the word of the Lord yet if hee haue not charity he is nothing If malice pride enuie or couetousnesse cry in the soule like wilde beasts of the Desert and dolefull creatures if vnchaste thoughts reuell there like the Satyrs in the ruines of Babylon I may say as the Prophet of the bleating of those Amalckitish cattell Quid ergo vox pecudum istarum How euer a man learne to personate how holy so euer he seeme except he be such within he is no better then a Pharise How euer to the world Religion may be like a picture where that is most commended which most neerely resembleth life but is not liuing yet God is not deceiued with disguises shadowes colours or representations he condemneth sinne in the heart in the secrets of the soule What euer reformation bee in words or outward actions the soule not amended it is but a false cure a whole skinne ouer-huâ—ts inwardly festring a palliatiue wound healed without before it is sound within which except it breake out againe and admit of cure more sincere is mortall Sinne and griefe begin at the heart which first coâ—â—iâ—â—â—h them and there must finde helpe They are much deceined who thinke to ease the soules griefe with secular mirth so oft the poore Deere shifteth from brake to brake before his liuing passing-bells whiles the messenger of death sticketh in his side and he slyeth the danger which hee carrieth with him all teÌ„poral mirth to a grieued soule is but as Dauids Harp to a distressed Saul the vexing spirit departing for a time presently returneth again it is not Musicke merry company change of place encrease of riches friends or the like though some of these may haue a part caÌ„ cure a deiected soule it must be somthing which can enter into the soul powerfully work vpoÌ„ the cause of sorow that must certifie comfort it They are also deceiued who think that any means any words any counsell can redresse that man whose heart and inward powers of his soule are not both moued reformed with that hee heareth till the soule attend and let in the word the lowdest sonnes of thunder cannot awaken A third reason is the necessary method of curing this euill which is by searching examining iudging correcting or reforming and comsorting the soule As it is a vain inquest which is made after sinnes in generall except wee come home and examine the witnesses of our owne conscience so if we finde not the secrets of our soule sinne will easily auoyde our examination some thinke it an easie matter to bee acquainted with our owne minds but God who made it saith The heart is deceitfull aboue all things How farre doth the wisedome of man search What corner of this great vninerse hath it left vnâ—â—rnayâ—d High are the starry oâ—bes yet Art hath found out many of their motions secret are the vnseene pathes of the deepes yet they are sounded darke and hidden are the deepe veines of the earth yet Art hath found a way into her bowels to ransack her treasuries But amongst all Arts that Art of Arts is not inuented to hold the heart it is easie to finde thy words others can tell thee of them it is easie to find thine actions others obserue them it is not much to know the secrets of thy family though sometimes wee are the last that know those disorders wee are ignorant of those vices of our wiues and children which are in our neighbours songs but with what light wilt thou search the inward house of thy seule this is wrapt vp in suel cloudes and obscurity of spirituall blindnesse that the hardest taske is to finde thy selfe in thy selfe if there be any good thing in thine heart how readily doeth it oft eate that not like the Citie Shop-men the worst first that the better may seeme best but all appearance of good first and at once is cast vpon thine heart like the ground Corne ouer the Well at Bahurim that thou maist not search deeper for the spies The Pharise found what he seemed hee could not finde what he was Let vs search and trie our wayes Our workes doe sometimes deceiue vs when erring we thinke we goe right or going once right we think we doe so alwayes our hearts oftner when he who knoweth he sinneth thinketh in his heart and intention hee is more sound and meaneth better things but let vs search and trie our wayes the vsuall passages of our thoughts and actions their beaten pathes will best lead thee to thy selfe Thou art not such as thou sometimes seemest but as vsually thou art Saul had bin much deceiued in taking himselfe for an holy man because he was once among the Prophets Herod could not haue found himselfe among the obedient hearers because sometimes hee heard Iohn gladly and did many things The wicked maÌ„ strayeth is not in his own way when hee strayeth not from the Lords good thoughts words or actions are no more proper to him then truth to the deuill who speaketh it not but for aduantage When hee speaketh a lye he speaketh of his owne The tempter laboureth in nothing more then to hide a man from himselfe and to keepe from him the knowledge of his own corruptions till it bee too late and there be no more time for repentance to which end he that is the accuser of the brethren hee that durst calumniate holy Iob before God who iustified him will tell the wicked they are holy the deuill is the greatest flatâ—erer and all other Sycophants what euer they stile themselues are but his Pupils hee holdeth false glasses before men and they appeare not to themselues such as they are To this may