leaue his father and mother house and home Country and friends and to seeke for seruices in the world abroad Remember still Gods spye your conscience in your bosome see you and we are his secret intelligencer our conscience that wil be vndoubtedly most true and faithfull vnto God and intelligencer against Achitophell Haman Shebnah and others yea against thine owne selfe if thy soule bee vnsanctified you must hunger after Heauen ere it will be had Our heauenly Fathers correcting still whom he loueth and liketh teacheth vs not to dispayre of his fatherly fauours and friendly affections but rather that hee nurtureth vs for our Saluation fining vs as the Siluer and choosing vs in the fire as the purest gold Mark Christs dealing with his chosen members by conuincing their faultes when hee chastneth vs to breake vs of our euill wayes and thereby he bringeth vs to reformation correcting all of vs according to the quality of our offence The hardlier wee are broken from our sinnes the heauier iudgements will he lay on vs to work our deeper humiliation and repentance Feares shal make vs to vnderstand that which exhortations and gentlenesse could not bring vs vnto VVe must be first humbled ere we can be aduanced and haue fainting soules on earth before we can feele the high Holy and helping hand of GOD from on high to stay and heaue vs out of our distresses Relye wee still on God and he will not forsake vs in our daungers But giue vs still such pledges of his neuer failing mercies as may assure our hearts of greater in Heauen where more ioyes are prepared then we can either aske or once thinke of It is well that you thinke sin to be the ground of your afflictions and your offences the cause of Gods displeasure wherfore he sendeth crosses and curses vpon sinners Consider wee first how wee haue falne by wantonnesse of life and vngodly conuersation our neglecting Gods word and will hath brought the cup of Gods indignation vppon vs to reclaime our feete from folly and our soules from sinne Not to acknowledge our selues to haue deserued Gods iudgements because we yet feele them not is Pride of heart and a state most perillous vntill we be humbled God therefore pulled Dauid down though hee were a chosen Vessell when he saw him walke awry God corrects vs to reforme vs making his iudgements as messengers to recall vs from sinne before he enter into iudgement with vs. Beware of grudging at thy crosses or afflictions for our Heauenly father vseth them to amend vs beeing vnwilling the death of any sinner VVee hauing all sinned stand in neede of this Physicke of correction to reclaime vs from straying from our heauenly fathers dwelling beware of being ashamed of our fathers visitation neyther loue we the pleasures of this VVorld more then the ioyes of heauen Be we neuer ashamed of GODS rod for Dauid confesseth and sayth thy Rod thy Staffe doth comfort mee Psalme 23. the rod to correct when I am out of the way and the staffe to comfort and vphold me when I am in the way But intertain we his correction as a benefit and blessing sent from on high profitable for our soules and no way hurtfull to our hearts and still more and more fit you for the company of Gods Children The more sorrowful and sicke you are the more like you are vnto our elder brother Christ Iesus who finished our Redemption through the Crosse and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through tribulations VVhich way whosoeuer is a shamed to follow can neither come to his Kingdome nor set foot in the pallace of Gods most ioyful inheritance If you are now wounded without in your body be carefull to see to the soares of your soules I feare not but that the seedes of Faith lyes still in your heart although the fruite thereof doe not yet plainely appeare I doe perswade my heart that though your eyes waxe dimme yet the Holy Ghost will still giue vnto you the true illumination of your heart soule and seuerall sences If our Sonnes and Daughters haue beene deare vnto vs how much more dearely hath Christ our Redeemer once bought with his blood both our soules and our bodies I beseech you hold it a ioy to dye and to bee out of this sinfull World and to bee deliuered from the thraldome of this sorrowfull life Death is our refuge the helpe of our soules to Heauen there wee liue eternally where is no paine but all pleasure no sorrow but solace no sighing but singing no feare of death but assurance of euerlasting Life It is good for your children to bee afflicted that they may not stray from Gods house but keepe his Word and to learne and obserue his Diuine statutes Though we haue beene long chastned of the Lord but it is that wee should not bee condemned of the Lord. Gods punishing vs doeth with-hold vs from Hell stirring vs daily and earnestly to desire to be dissolued and to bee with Christ our Sauiour in glory Consider I beseech you that when the earthly House of this Tabernacle shal be dissolued we haue a building of GOD an house not made with hands but eternall in the Heauens which who so inheriteth shal be eternally saued I intreate and aduise euery one to be more carefull of their soules then of their bodies still comforting their hearts in their afflictions knowing that the sender thereof is God and the causer thereof our sinnes the longer we be and languish in sinne the more appeareth Gods loue in our sicknes for the which thinke God to bee the sender and likewise our deliuerer in danger and aduersity As the Husband-man doth not put the sickle into the Corne vntill it bee ripe So doeth not God inflict his grieuous iudgements vpon vs vntill our sinnes doe call downe vengeance for the same Art thou desirous to auoide contagious diseases see thou feare more thy sinne then the infected Citty Canst thou remoue thy transgressions from the face of the Lord The Citties contagion shall not hurt thee but if our sinnes remayne vnrepented all the wholesome ayre in all the Countrey cannot helpe thee or comfort thee In this world we can see but Gods backe-parts as Moses did that is but a little of the fauour of God but after this Life is ended we shall see God face to face hauing the ful fruition of him as we therfore wish the saluation of our soules let vs all beware of security or to deferre our repentance least we be cast into Hell fire hauing no lease of our vncertayne liues Labour we all to haue the Candle of Faith burne in the Lampes of our hearts still nourished with the oyle of loue and good workes It may not a little comfort vs in the time of our afflictions and troubles that our heauenly Father hath shewed such loue vnto vs that we should be called the sons and Daughters of God O what a comfort it is to my heart and soule
but God our Lord who is not rigorous to any but righteous to all God sanctifie your afflictions and free you from misery comfort you in Paradise and establish you really with Glory Amen Wednesday Meditations WHen the LORD doth visite vs and not presently free vs out of trouble we must beware and take heed that wee murmure not against God to require or grudge at his chastisements God sometimes suffers his euen to wrestle against desperation and to see no glimering of his mercies sometimes againe hee causeth the hearts of his dearest Children to leape for ioy then making his Maiesty most knowne when it may tend most for the comfort of the Elect Learne wee all to waite the Lords leasure for our deliuerance not to prescribe his time but stay his leasure and willingly waite till he comfort vs againe God forgetteth not to bee gracious though sometimes hee seemeth as though hee would shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure Howsoeuer it pleaseth GOD now and then to humble his Children yet he forsaketh them not for euer What are many nights of afflictions in comparison of the ioyfull morning and sun-shine of the euerlasting mercies and fauours of God These these reioyce our soules and comfort our hearts which are oppressed with sorrow Deutro 8.16 The Lord humbleth his Chosen people and prooueth them that hee may doe them good at their latter end A man may gather more vndoubted assurance of GODS euerlasting fauours towards his soule by inward afflictions then by any outward prosperity in the world Let vs all consider the manner of Gods dealing with his people in the world hee will now and then spoile vs of all our Sences and feeling of his Mercies in Christ yea suffer vs to lie bleeding in our miseries yea scorhed and tormented with the heate of Gods anger for sinne But when our hope rests euen gone then doth our heauenly Father send a gracious raine and a blessed shower to quench the heate of our poore afflicted soules for sinne which shall be as mercy to men in smart and misery Obiect But tell mee this Obiect why seeketh God his seruants in so much misery Ans To make vs all to depend of him onely with faith and patience Answ Secondly to make vs to know and see that wee are nothing of our selues but that all the strength wee haue it is onely in Christ Thirdly to stirre vp our hearts to seeke and pray vnto the Lord more earnestly for helpe and succour Fourthly to make vs esteeme the mercy of God more highly because things easily come by are lightly esteemed but things long in getting costing much trouble and paines are most sett by often therefore doth the Lord deferre his mercy vnto the last gaspe that so it might be the more esteemed Oh waite wee GODS leasure though hee deferre long and seeme to forget vs wee hope Lord for life in the middest of death and say though thou kill vs yet will wee trust in thee although thou deferre thine helpe and comfort for many yeares yet will wee neuer let goe our hold but still hang on thy mercy with our hands of Faith saying thus Lord though thou hast already whipt mee diuers wayes yet will I neuer forget to meete thee with my repentant teares well knowing thou esteemest nothing when Reformation of heart and life is wanting Iudgements come eftsoones from God for our sinnes yet layeth hee no more crosses vpon vs then hee in mercy will make vs well able to beare granting such an issue as wee shall gaine more in the Spirit then wee shall loose in the flesh Content your selfe my Brethren the Crosse in GODS due time shall bee your aduantage and leaue a sure blessing behinde it GOD imposing no punishments vpon vs but for our sinnes the tryall of our Faith Patience c. For our Heauenly Father doth afflict vs with light affliction to make vs runne vnto him and kisse his rod he afflicting vs for our good the reformation of our liues and the saluation of our soules I deny not but the best of Gods children may be afflicted with sicknes and wounds with troubled Consciences Gods rod being good both to purge our corrupt and cankered hearts and for the humbling of them throughly to the exercise of faith patience and prayer Hee knowes little that knowes not this how the poore Members of CHRIST must bee afflicted and liue in sorrow sicknesse and griefe of minde yet granteth the Lord patience to endure all By teares sorrowes and grieuous sicknesse doth God fyle away the cankered rust of our Rebellions that wee might bee more feruent in Prayer hunger more after Heauen and the more eagerly depend of his fatherly goodnesse and diuine graces When wee doe aske one thing hee giueth vs another that 's better for vs that wee might learne wholy to depend of his goodnesse all the dayes of our liues Are you in distresse fling your selfe into the blessed Armes of the LORDS mercy so will hee vndoubtedly giue you euerlasting rest vnto your soules such is the loue of GOD that hee neuer failes nor forsakes his Children Neuer despaire for any troubles but perswade your soule this that the God of peace will shortly treade downe Sathan vnder your feete hee is faithfull that haue made vs this promise Rom. 16.20 Rom. 16.20 Affliction being our portion on earth wee must labour to get faith and patience in our soules that so wee may hold out vnto the end As wee are Gods Children we finde no promise in the Word of God to be freed from temptations and trials pouerty sicknesse c. Howbeit as wee are Gods Children wee haue this promise that these things shall neuer hurt vs because the Lord will so sanctifie them vnto vs as they will surely leaue a blessing behinde them In time of danger and death nought in the world should more comfort vs then this to remember that wee haue walked before GOD in truth and with an vpright heart Esay 28.3 This cheered Ezechiah when hee was going the way of all flesh that hee had vndertaken much paines to know the LORDS Will. The best Christian is the most couetous in all heauenly knowledge of God and our saluation by Iesus Christ the Childe of God is no sooner in perill but the Lord putteth vnder his owne hand to deliuer him from death and danger Forget not God who sayth Esay 54.17.8 For a little time haue I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee Psal 34.17 18. Psal 34.17.18 The Lord is neere vnto all those that are of a contrite heart and will saue such as are afflicted in spirit Doth not our Sauiour comfort his Disciples thus Iohn 14.18 I will not leaue you comfortlesse but I will come vnto you euen I and I am with you to the end of the world Doubt not but there is comming a time of refreshing that will breake out as the rising of the Sunne and the bright beames of the Morning
it is farthest from them Our way to Heauen is not by prosperity or high lookes treading on our Neighbours neckes and contemning of the poore but through persecutions and crosses reuilings scoffings and all ignominies of the world which patiently wee must indure and suffer for our Sauiours sake Shall the Estrich digest hard Iron to preserue her health The Souldier indure hardnesse to achieue the Conquest the sicke Patient swallow bitter pils to be eased of his griefe and shall we neyther abide soares nor sicknesses stormes nor tempests to get into the place of blisse and Kingdome of Glory As Iacob thought his seauen yeares seruice short for the great Loue that he bare to Rachell So should all the tribulations of this World for the Kingdome of Heauen The Lord will surely saue the soules of his Seruants that put their trust in him Psal 86.2 and call dayly vpon him Hee would not bid vs call and cry vnto him vnlesse hee ment to ponder our humble desires let vs truely worship him on earth and he will surely glorifie vs in Heauen If wee but once heartily desire to walke in the truth God will so knit our hearts vnto him that we shall surely finde deliuerance from the nethermost Hell God wil not finally faile to strengthen his Seruants to shew some token vpon you for good so as you shall bee both holpen and comforted Psal 86. Though the Lord our God sometimes turnes his face from vs yet will hee at last satisfie vs with his mercies and being his seruants shew vs his glory Psal 90.16 Yea Psal 90.16 the glorious Maiesty of the Lord our God shall be vpon vs verse 17. O perswade your selfe to be vnder the defence of the Lord and to abide vnder the shaddow of the Almighty so shall you be safe vnder the Wings of God his faithfulnesse and Trueth shal be your shielde and buckler So high hath God set an house of defence for all his Children Psa 91.15 as hee will deliuer them from horrour and bring them to honour Psalme 91.15 Oh happy and thrice happy are you when for the voice of your groaning your very bones will scarse cleaue to your skinne and when you doe now and then mingle your drinke with Weeping and washing your bed with brinish teares wayling for your sinnes neuer thinke but that God which hath cast you downe will vndoubtedly take you vp Ps 101.10 Psalme 102.10 What though your Spirit bee vexed within you and that your heart within you be desolate and gasping yet lift your soules to God flye vnto him to hide you so shall he lead you into the Land of Righteousnes keepe you from trouble and guide you into the Celestiall chamber of Presence where as no enemies shall vexe you because you are his Seruants O the mercies of our most gracious God and Heauenly father who whilest in Iustice hee might consume you for sinne Hee sanctifieth vnto you your present visitation that your flesh being wounded with feare you might possesse your soules by dreading the mighty power of God and escape his Wrath neyther strucken with terrour nor once tasting his iudgements Looke you neuer Despaire because God which smiteth healeth Hosea 6. Hosea 6. And tendereth his pardon before that wee perish Ionas 3. Desire wee should still to haue our Heauenly Father to correct vs in mercies to amendment but not to plague vs to our destruction Iudith 8. Iob. Iob. 11. 11. Wis 11. You cannot call faithfully vppon God but he helpeth Nor trust truly in him and be confounded Iob 5. The Lord bringeth backe from the gates of Death and restoreth the sicke to their former health yet vse wee must the Physition and medicinable potions for the procuring and maintayning of our health As King Hezekiah being sicke he prayed and wept vsing these meanes to pacifie Gods anger And though GOD could haue healed Hezekiah without meanes yet God directed his Prophet to apply a playster of Figges to his soare to ripen and heale it Thus are wee taught how to behaue our selues in times of our sickenesse First to pray to our heauenly Father for health and that with troubled teares and penitentiall cryes And then to vse profitable meanes and not to neglect them If at any time men thinke to prepare themselues to dye especially when they are in the greatest dangers sicke and in the way to the Graue and so to iudgement now see you haue a charitable heart towards all men Dauid was carelesse in Gods seruice before he was afflicted Psalme 119. Ieremiah neuer thinketh it too soone to suffer the Crosse Luke 9.23 Our Sauiour sayth that we must take vp the Crosse dayly although nothing did better befit vs then afflictions There is nothing better then it so God doeth vouchsafe to sanctifie it vnto you and giue you the true vse of it For it will make you search your heart and call your former Life to account sicknesse humbleth makes you see your weakenesse compels you to runne to God by most earnest and hearty prayer Inforceth you to deny your selfe and to put your trust and confidence in GODS mercies through the merits of Iesus Christ The Lords bringing any calamities vppon vs or vpon our family is to seeke him early that hee may remooue his Iudgements from vs the sooner All chastisements and afflictions yea all Iudgements and corrections come from the Lord alone hee sendeth them he imposeth them and layes them on vs he moderates them at his pleasure his quiuer rests full of such Arrowes to hit hurt and consume vs or in his Fatherly kindnesse to correct and better vs in our courses Remember wee euer that Sathan who could not enter into the heard of Swine without Christs leaue he hath his power bounded and limitted by God so as he cannot eyther touch vs or torment any of Gods people without his leaue and permission Gods prouidence being ouer the Sparowes in the Field and haires of our head will neuer neglect the Saluation of our Soules being a matter of much more weighty worth and moment This being cleare that all our Afflictions come from God vnto vs we must needes learne patience vnder the crosse knowing that the times thereof are still determined by God and how they will leaue a blessing behind them giuing vs farre more in spirit then we loose in the flesh Assoone as wee are afflicted by the hands of God we should presently labour to haue our Soules and Consciences disburdened of sinne Yea we should learne to bee bettered by our afflictions confesse our sinnes and bewaile them with teares and not with Pharaoh to harden our hearts but to Remember with Trembling that the Righteous themselues shall scarcely be saued We may not measure Gods fauour towards vs by our outward blessings or crosses Eccle. 9.2 All things come a like to all to the Iust as to the wicked Nay afflictions are tokens of the Lords loue the Childe is corrected the seruant cashiered
Are we Gods Wheate Math. 13.12 we must be cut with the Sickle threshed with the Flaile vndergoe many blowes and bee ground to powder with the Mill-stones of afflictions nay baked in the Ouen of a Wounded conscience before wee can bee bread for the Lords Table Art thou the seruant of God thy heart must be wounded for thy sins Who euer were more deiected then Dauid and Iob Iob. 31. Iob 13. Psalme 6. Wounded they were both in bodies and soules the Lord seemed to shoot at them as at a marke the venome of his Arrowes pierced their soules and drunke vp their spirits yet at the last were Their Prayers heard and their teares seene Esay 38.5 One droppe of the blood of Christ Iesus to a dying man for the Saluation of his soule is worth ten thousand Worlds We being wounded must learne to flye to God who only heales and binds vp the wounds of our soules Our God is mercifull and gracious yea his bowels earne within him to doe vs all good Build we vppon his promises as vppon a sure foundation that shall neuer bee remooued Heauen and Earth shall passe away but his Word shal not passe away Wee haue the Word and Oath of God as two vnchangeable witnesses so that wee cannot be deceiued Agayne wee haue the Sacraments of God as two Authenticke Seales to ratifie his promises and to make them sure vnto vs Againe wee haue the pawne of his Spirit to assure vs of his loue and fauour Now as with sicknesse God chasteneth for sinne so is hee indeede the spirituall Phisitian of our soules to heale all our soares and binde vp our wounds Bee not ashamed to lay open your sinnes the soares of your soules to Christ Iesus Are you now spiritually wounded make your moane to Christ Iesus begge as for life and death for one drop of his precious blood to cure your diseased soules there is no plaister to cure vs but the blood of our Sauiour To him therefore let vs runne and make our moane vnto him feare wee not to lay open our wounded soules and distressed consciences vnto him that is a most mercifull Phisitian to our diseased soules The plaister is tempered wilt thou none of it shal thy soule rot in sin wilt thou despise God mercies in Christ Iesus Is not Christ Iesus the Physitian of our soules bindes hee not vp our wounds powres hee not the oyle of Grace into our hearts Cures not he our wounded Consciences Doth not hee wrappe vs in the roabes of his owne Righteousnesse and powre out the oyle of Grace euen the precious blood of his owne heart for our euerlasting Saluation I desire you to know this that it commeth to passe many times in Gods Children that the sence and feeling of Gods fauour is oftentimes extinguished as the comfortable heate and light of the Sunne is taken away by some thicke Clouds Our faith is so weake that some times wee thinke God himselfe to haue forgotten vs and hide his face from vs that hee will see vs no more But as after night the Sunne her selfe doth comfort vs so after the cloudy night of affliction the light beames of Gods mercy doe reioyce our soules So long as it pleaseth God to sanctifie our crosses they shall worke for our good and neuer depart from vs till they leaue a blessing behinde them Doubt you not but hee that is priuy to our prayers will in loue deliuer vs at last from all troubles and calamities Gods humbling vs is to breake downe our pride and conceitednesse to pray the more earnestly neuer to be left to our selues lest wee runne and rush headlong into Hell No crosses should daunt vs but rather driue vs fast forward in the way vnto Heauen Herein are wee discerned to bee the Seruants of God and Disciples of Christ in that wee beare stoutly whatsoeuer burden the LORD layeth vppon vs the patient enduring the heauy hand of the LORD is the way to saue our liues and not to loose them Mark 8.35 Our bodies are all like old rotten Houses which must be pulled down and new builded agayne else can wee not dwell in them with safety and delight our soules lament soare and desire to bee setled in more heauenly habitations still groane we for that glory which commeth after the Resurrection God will hedge thy waies darken thy pathes spoyle thee of thine Honour take the Crowne from thine head remooue thy hopes and beset thy soule with the Armies of afflictions causing thy familiars to forget thee and thy kinred to forsake thee in the middest of all thy maladies yet depend thou on Christ our Redeemer and peace shall come Doth the Lord tarry wee must waite and comfort our hearts vntill he helpe vs. Whatsoeuer our troubles be peace is our best plea stay wee the Lords leasure and hee will comfort our hearts and solace our sighing soules and will thereby make vs more glorious to God and man Care wee for no crosses whilest wee haue such inward comforts the worlds buckerings and buffetings with Sathans winnowings rest all as comfortable crosses to helpe vs to the Crowne As there is no rest without toyle no Peace without Warre so looke wee for no place of blisse vntill we be with Christ our Master well buffetted before hand in the Seruice of God there is little looking for freedome from afflictions the way to Heauen being strawed with thornes rather then flowers Iacob wrestled foure times first in the wombe with Esau Gen. 25.22 Gen. 25.22 secondly in his Iourney with Esau Gen. 32.3 thirdly in Mesopotamia with Laban fourthly at Bethell with the Angell To teach vs that if wee wil be the Israel of God wee must bee armed for all tryals at all times in all places and with all persons well knowing this that at the length wee being the Israelites of God shall neuer be left without a blessing at the last Gods Children shall neuer bee without trouble til the world be with out hatred the Deuill without enuy and our Nature without corruption wee must be fined from our drosse and renewed as the Eagle neuer resting safe and sure vntill wee soare vp into the bosome of our Sauiour God doth not onely by his Word but also by his Iustice make vs fit for his Kingdome Doe you thinke mee now to bee your friend and to speake truth vnto you trust mee there hath no temptation befalne you but that which appertaineth to the Children of God our GOD is faithfull and true and hath promised to giue an issue with the temptation Against temptations heare Esay comforting Gods Children and crying to Ierusalem that her warrefare is accomplished her iniquity pardoned and that shee hath receiued at the LORDS hand double for her sins Esay 40. Dost thou faint art thou weary in him that hath no strength God out Heauenly Father increaseth power verse 31. Such as waite vpon the Lord shal receiue their strength runne without wearisomnesse and walke without
Heauen but by Hell Gods scourging vs sheweth that he loue vs and meaneth to manifest vnto the VVorld whether we be slaues or sonnes There is no greater Temptation then to thinke God our enemy going about to destroy vs in with-drawing the most comfortable signes of his fauour from vs then yet must we rest vpon the Lord and by Fayth cleaue vnto him VVhat though by outward sence we are reiected of God yet by our Faith must wee still apprehend his hidden mercies and behold it a far off in the Glasse of Gods Promises Nay although the Lord fayle vs yet let vs not leaue him vntill that he haue blessed vs well Knowing his loue that he will hold with the one hand when hee assayles vs with the other proouing and Exercising our Faith as hee did the VVomans of Canaan Matth. 15.22 First Math. 15.22 Christ gaue her Faith and by that Faith was shee mooned to seeke to him but when shee was once come vnto him he gaue her three Repulses First by saying nothing Secondly by denying her And thirdly by calling her Dogge Marke we how Christ made shew as though he would neuer haue granted her request yet at euery repulse she grew the more instant crying more earnestly vnto him shee opposed herselfe vnto Christ and would take no deniall Marke wee all here the nature of true Faith if you doe now rest faithfull though you feele your selfe ouerwhelmed with sinne turmoyled with Sathans conflicts yea and God himselfe both angry and offended with you Yet can you lift vp your eye-liddes to Heauen and giue a glimpse at the Brazen Serpent Christ Iesus flinging your selfe into the Armes of GODS mercy and catching hold of that hand buffetting you and kisse it Then feare not we must not passe for the malice of men but haue an eye vnto the mercies of God well knowing that yet it is not made manifest what we shall be But we know that when Christ shal be made manifest we shal be like vnto him for we shall see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.2 Doe not I pray you measure the Loue of God vnto your soule eyther by your prosperity or by your Aduersity well considering that these rest common both vnto bad good Take heede and beware of perswading your selues to bee in the depth of Gods fauours whilest you inioy temporall peace and externall glory for Christ fled into the mountayne when hee heard they would come to make him King choosing rather to bee there alone then for to inioy a transitory Crowne To keepe you now from dispaire consider I pray you all or some of Gods former mercies towards you He hath protected you both in your Infancy Child-hood and Youth and multiplied vpon you many positiue blessings let all these pleaders preuaile for your faithfull and hearty seruice to so heauenly a Maister If any countenance a seruant and giue him meanes and maintenance hee would take it ill to leaue him and serue his very enemies yet so doe sinners that forgetting Gods fauours towards them flye vnto the professed enemies of God yea of Christs Church and Gospell I meane the Deuill himselfe from whom to be saued sigh wee still to be anointed vntill wee be crowned anointed here with the oyle of gladnesse in this Church militant that wee may bee crowned hereafter with the Church triumphant 2. Tim. 48. Desire the Lord to make your bed in your sicknes that the voice of ioy health may bee heard in your habitation account no priuiledge so precious as to be in GODS fnuour and haue accesse to the Throne of Grace and vpon all occasions to see the golden Scepter stretched out vnto you your prayers heard your petitions granted and your suite obtained assure your selfe that Christ sendeth no sinners discontented or empty handed from him Salomon craued Wisedome Paul power against Sathans buffetings Ezechias and Dauid deliuerance from Enemies Moses from drowning and the Theefe from damning No petition put vp from a sorrowfull Soule and a beleeuing and touched Heart but receiueth a gracious answere for GODS glory and our good Serue wee Christ now vpon Earth and wee shall surely sing with him in Glory trust and rely we still vpon God and hee will take vs away as hee did Iosias from seeing of Euils or as hee did good Augustine before the sacking of Hippo by the Vandals or conuay vs to some other place as he did Lot when Sodome was burned or prouide some meanes for our stay as hee did the Arke for Noah when the World was drowned Hee that saued Moses and the Israelites when the Aegyptians were drowned wants no meanes to remooue our painefullest Maladies yea to rescue and redeeme our liues with the death of our Enemies as Haman was hanged for Mordecai saued was the Corne and burnt were the â—ares one and the same Flaile beats Chaffe to be burned and pure Corne to be preserued Be not discouraged at the feare of death knowing that with Christ all Christians must die that the remnants of sinne might bee quite taken away and abolished so as the roote of old Adam may bee most absolutely stocked vp Remember I pray you that flesh and blood must be changed before it can inherit the Kingdome of God 1. Cor. 15.50 Moreouer the blood as it is old beginneth by little and little to condensate and waxe thicke and so to corruption Againe our spirits waste by vse and labour which weares euen the Iron and hardest mettalls and both the body and the minde are weakened by corporall and mentall exercises Both of them like to vnthrifty heires spending faster then either the father or fosterer of them the Heart can digest and gather for them All these things tell vs that dye wee all must rich Diues aswell as poore Lazarus Simon the wiser aswell as Naball the foole Absolom the faire aswell as Thersites the foulest and fulsome Tall Saul must goe to the Graue aswell as little Zacheus godly Ionathan aswell as his vngodly Father both Wife and Husband must participate of the common condition of humane Nature once to dye Know this all of you that no Princes vpon the earth can with-draw their necks from this yoake howsoeuer some seeme as Gods vpon the earth yet must they die like men be they neuer so high of birth or blood Though my brethren and sisters yee weare all golden Crownes let vs all obserue how louing our LORD and Master was vnto Dauid in promising vnto him a Kingdome but for many yeares was he so hunted and persecuted therein that hee knew not which way to turne himselfe to finde peace and safety And why was all this but that hee might first become a good man and then a good King whosoeuer will weare the Crowne of Glory with Christ must likewise with him weare the Crowne of Thornes Our heauenly Father scourgeth vs to see whether wee will heartily loue him being our heauenly Phisitian or no and that with our very soules Deut.
the Word of God standeth not in bare Knowledge but in the practise of life It 's not an halfe seruice but our full obedience that GOD looketh for hee often promiseth vs rewards not for our merrites but to incourage that our labour shal not be lost It is the Lords manner in our greatest weaknes to manifest his power and in deepest danger make knowne vnto vs our saluation Content thy selfe a while with the water of teares and thou shalt be refreshed with the Wine of comfort Acknowledge Christ Iesus to bee now thy Sauiour and thou shalt not once feare him to become thy Iudge After trouble God sendeth comfort to all them which patiently waite on him and constantly put their trust in his mercies The Almighty put Iobs soule in bitternesse but it was to teach him to keepe righteousnesse and not forsake it God dealeth with some as hee did with Iob hee turned his Harpe vnto mourning and his Organs into the Voyce of them that weepes As often as God striketh vs with any kinde of troubles or afflictions whether inward in outward in our goods It is to beate downe our pride and to free vs from afflictions that wee feele not the weight of them nor the heauinesse of his VVrathfull hand or iudgements when he rests angry Sickenesse is GODS Herald which he sendeth to thy house home and heart Our louing God will not afflict thee aboue measure that thou shouldest haue occasion to contend with him It belongeth vnto God to moderate your Corrections and not man Can you pray with vehemency feare not but that both your secret complaynts and sighings are seene of God and sealed vp with Christ in your deepest temptations God both can and will deliuer you Although your deedes haue deserued destruction yet doth God in mercy pitty your frailty The more your Conscience is touched with the feare of GODS iudgements the more hope may you haue to prayse God in the Congregation of the faithfull who sendeth comfort and boldnesse in time of our afflictions who else were ready to drop downe to destruction Howsoeuer eyther sorrowes or sicknesse may somewhat discourage vs yet rest our miseries good meanes to cause vs to feele Gods present care ouer vs. When the Lord afflicteth vs and we crye vnto him we thinke by and by that hee should helpe vs but that is not his due time he hath some worke to worke with vs wee must waite and stay the time before we be comforted and then Physicke and all humane meanes fayling God helpeth that we may learne euer after to looke still to Heauen knowing that not onely our sickly bodies but our sinfull soules and vnsanctified senses such as all ours be must hence be purified or else perplexed Say O my God let neither Man nor misery driue thy Seruant from his Hope of Gods promise and ioy in the highest Heauens and also Eternall felicity Lord be mooued with the complaint of thy poore Seruant and d liuer me in the end from all manner of fearefull dangers Remember that the Lords word and promise is true and vnchangeable hee preserueth the poore from the peeuish and maintayneth the pyous agaynst the proud Crye mightily to our God for this one thing that whilst your afflictions last your faith may not faint Desire the Lord to comfort you both in soule and in body without whose fauour there is no perfect felicity nor hope of blessed immortality What though Sathan hath many wayes to hurt you yet hath our heauenly Father many millions more to saue out of his meere mercy The great power of Christs Kingdome against all Aduersaries thereof teach vs all patiently to indure the Crosse till God destroy the Aduersaries The more your afflictions do increase the more neere shall you feele the helping hand of God assisting you with his spirit of comfort Be not perswaded but that God loueth you farre better then euer your Parents did which very thought should pacifie and bridle your rage Depending vpon the Lord who neuer brake promise with any of his seruants Content your selfe for the treasures of Gods mercies are alwaies layd vp in store for his Children albeit at all times they do not feelingly inioy them How many seeme to be swallowed vp of grieuous afflictions yet rests God at hand to deliuer you And it is our heauenly Fathers loue to cause vs all to feele that wee are mortall and that there is no estate wherein we can liue to haue perfect quietnesse in this world Christ Iesus is come to redeeme the soules of his seruants that put trust in him how then shall the darts of Death endanger vs when death hauing done his worst Christ himselfe then becomes our Redeemer giuing vs for a poore Cottage a rich Kingdome God knoweth what dangers hang ouer our heads and by what meanes to deliuer vs from them Stay his leasure and the LORD will content your minde with that which is most necessary remember how our Faith must bee exercised with diuers temptations Though the iust man dye yet Gods blessings are extended to his posterity and though God suffer some iust man to want temporall benefits yet hee recompenceth him with spirituall treasures such shal bee continually preserued vnder GODS VVings and haue at last inward peace and rest in their mindes The patient hope of the Godly is neuer in vayne but in the end hath good successe though for a time God prooue them with sundry temptations why doth God visite any one with sicknesse but to put both your selfe and others in mind of his chastisments for sinne desire not to be exempted from Gods rod but that he would so moderate his hand that you might be able to beare it let prayer therefore become your refuge yeeld vnto God and not to your own desire Let vs not dispayre be our torments neuer so great but crye we to God with sure trust for our deliuerance doth humane meanes faile waite we for the helpe of God the weaker in body striue we with crying sighes to bee stronger in soule by Faith to the conquering of diseases Death Diuels and danger crye still for Patience to indure the punishments and chastisements which the Almighty sendeth and intreate the Lord not to be seuere against his poore creature neither to wrappe him vp with the wicked to be put to shame This know that it is a very hard thing for the Saints themselues to keepe measure in Words thoughts and gesture when Death and Dispayre assayles them though God deferre helpe yet must we learne to abide with Patience till he heare and helpe vs still remembring that such soules as please him God hasteneth to take them from wickednesse Howsoeuer you feele Gods hand to lye heauy vpon you yet rest vpon his promise and comfort your selfe and soule therein Account it Gods mercy to bee touched with his fatherly hand for each one of vs all is like an vntamed Calfe till the vse of Gods rod call vs home to Heauen Wee are
doth crosse and afflict him therefore GOD doth hate forsake and vtterly cast him off those with whom he so now dealeth It is true that Christ Iesus hath taught vs to call vppon him by the name of a Father who now loueth vs more then our mothers did First instructing vs as parents doe their children Secondly admonishing vs as Schoole-maisters scourging vs now and then with his Rod. Thirdly if we grow stubborne spend-thrifts wanton and prodigall vsing ill company then God draweth vs out by the eares whipping or beating vs till our bones doe cracke yet with a fatherly true affection still to bring vs to amendment or he vtterly cast vs off Our heauenly Father warneth vs by his rods to walke in his wayes and to liue in his obedience which if we dispise and refuse to follow then will the Lord vse his scourges pouerty sicknesse diseases crosses in Children stocke or croppe fire or sword till that wee humbling our selues vnder Gods mighty hand shal subiect our selues to his gouernment suffering in our selues a holy reformation of manners and amendment of life Learne we also to reioyce in the middest of our troubles and afflictions with contented minds and sanctified affections no Parents so louing to their Children as is our heauenly Father for our safety in our sufferings cling wee therefore the faster and the more faithfully vnto God in our troubles God hath turned heretofore the penury and the captiuity of his people vnto their good by greatest crosses working his people their greatest comforts God doth oftentimes make our sicknesses and sorrowfull diseases as purgations to euacuate our pride vayne-glory hypocrisie and the corruptions of our putrified soules And sometimes for preseruatiues to keepe vs from falling into those or the like sinnes And sometimes God vseth them as Cordials to strengthen our decaying graces and to animate vs vnto holy duties to pray Reade and heare the more attentiuely to beare the Rod of God more patiently and to performe each holy duty with the more cheerefulnes Be not ignorant of that Lesson which Dauid teacheth vs all Psalm 119 It is good for vs that wee haue bin afflicted For the learning of Gods Statutes and Keeping of his word and testimonies with-hold vs from going a stray in ill wayes so that each one of vs may truly say of our troubles sorrows and sicknesses that we haue suffered them and haue learned to loue God more and our owne deserts the lesse let vs all learne to make holy medicines for our soules out of such calamities as do often befall vs in the World and so shall we haue no cause to vexe our selues with cures for the sanctified crosses that do vs much good we grieue at the vntimely death of our Children which we hoped should haue beene the staffe of our old Age inherite our houses and keepe still our name but we minde not how many children of as good hope as ours haue prooued parents crosses and some mothers vpon their knees haue wished they had neuer beene borne or that they had then carried them to their graues when they had them to weane Sure it is that God for the most time doth lay such afflictions vpon vs eyther because he will procure vs some good or preuent some Euill by them Which things if we commonly see them come to passe why mourne we so that which tendeth vnto our welfare and greater comfort There is nothing in the world but still works for the best to the children of God aswell the stratagems of Sathan as the imaginations of men are for the Weale of Gods children Yea out of one of the most poisonfull things as sinne and death doth the Lord draw healthfull and medicinall preseruatiues to them that loue him still strengthning their Faith whilest they giue glory vnto God Care you not what outward punishment you indure so that you may feele the guilt of your sinnes washed out of your Conscience and the louing countenance of our heauenly Father in Christ Iesus to wipe your trespasses cleane away Let the goodly sorrows of our seuerall wounded consciences driue vs to GOD who hath vndoubtedly physicke for our sickly and sinnefull soules Are you weake and sicke sad and confounded in minde desire the LORD so to stampe the impression of his sacred spirit into your hearts as washing your selues in the water of Repentance you wallow no more in the mire of former filthines the Lord so kill and clarifie your flesh as the life of Grace may assure your soules of election to glory Remember what Queene Esther did being in danger of death Chap. 14.1 Shee resorted vnto the Lord shee layd away her glorious apparell and put on the garments of sighing and mourning instead of precious oyntment scattering ashes and Earth vpon her Head humbling her body greatly with fasting filling all the places of her ioy with the haire shee plucked from her Head It is very good for GODS Children that this world now and then much discourageth them and that wee and they likewise rest seldome free from one calamity or another to make vs to cry with Christ in our troubles vnto God that he may pitch his Tents about vs so as we finally miscarry not nor goe astray from the Kingdome of God apply our hearts wholy vnto Christ and cleaue we all still vnto him with sure purpose of soule to rest throughly sanctified Beware of temporary faith which is lame of one hand onely able to take Christ but not to giue himselfe to Christ This is to offer the same offering without the burnt offering hast thou Hope against Hope feelest thou Hell in thy Conscience yet here must thou apprehend Heauen and with Ionas in the Whales belly call vpon GOD in faith for faith is the subsistance of things that are not much more then of things that in deed are though not in appearance Be of good cheere for Christ hath fastened Sathan Sinne and Death to his Crosse Now amidst thy bitterest torments and tortures remember how Christ drunke the most bitter and sharpe Cup of his Fathers wrath in our name Remember that Peter suffering for the truth of God returned from the Councell with ioy and gladnesse when hee had beene whipped and had heard that hee should dye a violent death through which conflict and repugnance hee stroue still with violence not for other peoples pleasure but for his owne saluation There is no Christian but he must fight before he can tryumph and be daily calling yea earnest by praying and crauing for helpe at Gods hands remembring that against the ignomy of the Crosse wee haue to set the decree and purpose of God fore-told by the Prophets of Christ How that first of all hee should bee crucified here vpon Earth And then he should appeare from Heauen the Iudge and Restorer of all things that all Beleeuers might be saued and all vnbeleeuers vtterly perish Vnderstand and Know this that God vseth to wrappe vp his Church with the wicked in
and mercy shall embrace you on euery side Psal 31.11 Let this true comfort raise you and me vp as wee are the members of Christ that in our deepest misery and afflictions the Lord is able first to free vs from it or else to deliuer out of it There is neither panges nor any one fit in your sicknesse but it is from God the manner of it the measure of it the time of it the matter of it is of God which giueth vs good assurance and affiance that God will be mercifull and gracious vnto vs seeing hee striketh vs that is our Father and in the stroake be it neuer so sharpe he neuer forgets his former compassion but maketh each thing fall out to our future saluation puts our teares in his bottle and most louingly layes his hand vnder our head that aketh Seeke wee therefore to God for health who as hee smiteth mee so hee will heale me and as he wounds mee so likewise he restoreth me God therefore bringeth downe to the graue that he may raise vs vp againe and puts vs in mind of death by Gods Sergeant aresting vs to bring vs before him God of his goodnesse behold your teares hearken vnto your prayers and mercifully remoue your heauy affliction from you It pleaseth the wisedome of God now and then to confound your pride by weaknesse and to free vs from former sinnes by furnishing vs with most delectable seruices of assured sanctification Afflictions change their nature when they befall the man endued with Gods Spirit all things working together for the best for the loue of all such as feare the God and are called according to his purpose Let none of vs so forget the safety of our soules as not euermore still to remember Christ Iesus how he went as willingly to the Desart to be humbled as vnto Iordan to be exalted Thinke not your selfe to be forsaken of God when you are tempted of Sathan for herein you are resembled to the Sonne of God who being baptised was presently tempted by Sathans subtilties Afflictions soften our hearts when we apprehend Gods mercies in them and can receiue them as the wounds of a friend with the melting of our hearts sent in loue vnto vs to better our behauiours Know I beseech thee thou languishing person that the deeper the sence of misery is the sweeter is the sence of mercy It 's the saying of St. Bernard Deus non infundit oleum misericordiae nisi in vas contritum God powres not the oyle of his mercies saue into a broken vessell For indeed whole vessels are full enough and would run ouer if powred into them and so be spilt on the ground The Lord scourgeth vs to make vs more pliable to his holy will an vnhumbled sinner is vnfit for Gods Instruction and like an vnbroken Colte for the Saddle The deeper your discent in humiliation the higher your ascent in consolation Therefore doth now euen rottennesse enter into your bones that hauing a while trembled you may henceforth rest in the day of trouble remembring how after greatest tempests come the stillest calmes sanctified windes making the trees of Gods Garden to take the deeper rooting It is the manner of our heauenly Father to gaine glory to himselfe by working by contraries when he bringeth ioy out of feares light out of darknesse and Heauen out of Hell God wrestled with Iacob and lamed him ere he blessed him Iosephs leggs were laden with irons and bolts in Pharaohs Dungeon ere hee could weare a golden Chaine and haue dominion in Aegypt The wounds that our God giueth are not mortall but medicinable our God is such a Chyrurgeon that he first woundeth but then heales It is Gods accustomed manner to bring first downe to Hell and then vp againe into the bosome of Abraham Feare not to fall into the Lords Dungeon which will rebound you safely into Heauen his Pallace of priuiledge forget not how repenting Ionas was throwne into the Sea and humbled Glut not your selues with any pleasures of this life neither spend your precious time in fleeting vanities keepe rather your best dainties in the vineger of godly sorrow allay your strong wine with water eate your meate as the Iewes did their Passeouer with sower hearbs Imitate godly King Dauid who caused his bed euery night to swim oftentimes watering his Couch with his teares Psal 6.6 Forget not good Bradford that vsually at his dinner shed teares on his trencher art thou sicke and sinfull stand not reasoning with thine owne distrustfull heart but heare what God sayth by Esay 1.18 If you will wash and cleanse your selues by repentance though your sins were as red as Crimson yet then shall they be as white as Snow Oh but my sins passe the sinnes of all others in greatnesse so much the more haste to repent the more dangerous thy disease is the more physicke must thou vse if thy sinnes be so great as thou complainest why meanest thou to make it greater by thy not repenting Repentance makes sin lesse Impenitency is the condemning sinne Remember that Christ is our Physitian and Repentance is his Phisick Math. 9. In death Sathans temptations and our Consciences accusations will be strongest therefore our preparation against them should be more then ordinary We may not once despaire of our heauenly Fathers prouidence but call to minde how louingly the father entertained his sonne after hee had misbehaued himselfe in rude and riotous courses As our heauenly Father is often shewing vs many fauours so now and then he pincheth vs with too too heauy crosses because we should not be ouer-ioyed with any of Gods fauours but prepare for some following after-claps being as content to endure the one as cheerefully to receiue the other with him shall we raigne wee shall hereafter for euer liue with him in glory with whom now wee are in misery if we now take vp our crosse following him with sanctified contentation wee rest then assuredly happy when we beare each affliction with ioy in the Spirit submitting our selues to the yoake of our God then contented with our states then wee weare our chaines and weepe shedding many teares Our sufferings are no arguments of Righteousnesse but our Righteousnesse an ornament vnto our sufferings Are we in troubles lye wee in troubles flye we vnto Christ our Lord and Master for ayde who in mercy will heare vs and deliuer vs by the strength of his mighty power be our state neuer so desperate he can helpe it and we are neuer past helpe so long as we desire to be holpen The greatnesse of our perill can be no stop to our deliuerance because the power of our deliuerance is infinite Tribulations are the way to the kingdome of Heauen through stormy tempests are we brought to the Kingdome of Heauen being the Hauen that all hunger for Be of good courage for al the diuels in hell cannot damne vp the way betweene vs and the Kingdome of Heauen Through the straite way haue all