earnestly to raise them vp againe that so together with them thou maist be perfected Heb. 11. vlt. that so maintaining the fellowship here on earth thou maist be better fitted to the communion in Heauen 6. And as thou hast hereby greater occasion to aduance the mercy of thy God in not leauing thee altogether in sustaining thee so wonderfully and saue thee in this thy decay so shalt thou be prouoked hereby to trust more perfectly thy God though he should abase thee further not only in leauing thee to this inward triall of a languishing spirit and eclipse of ioy but as the manner of Gods prouidence is to prepare vs by these inward afflictions to outward troubles for the further triall of our faith and increase of his power and mercy in our protection and deliuerance If now it shall please our glorious God to lead vs through fire and water to pronounce a sentence of death against vs that we may not trust in ourselues but in the liuing God which raiseth from the dead That so after we haue suffered a little we might be fitted to eternall ioyes that so in our outward sufferings our inward consolations may abound Is not here a gracious recompence of our former losse Is not here a maruellous meanes so to restore the same that God may haue the glory that we by this meanes may be prepared vnto glory shall not our loue be now gloriously tried in suffering for the will of God shall it not be much more testified in enduring so great afflictions shall it not hereby be purged of all selfe-loue and carnall respects that so it may be fitted to fulnesse of ioy shall not our patience here be tried in waiting the good pleasure of our God that so we may be perfect and intire wanting nothing 1. Iam. 3.4 Surely howsoeuer it fall yet let it comfort vs that the holy Ghost doth not here challenge the Church of Ephesus that it hath lost all her loue or that it hath absolutely lost her first loue but only that it hath left it for a time and therefore it may recouer againe And it hath but left her first loue not altogether is bereft of all loue well may it leaue it first loue but it shall not loose all And for our further satisfaction take we these rules that we are soundly in some measure recouered and haue regained true ioy and comfort of our saluation 1. If our ioy beeing restored wee are also more enabled in the practise of godlinesse growing more in grace and in obedience to the word 2. If our ioy bee daylie accompanied with sorrow for sinne and feare of our selues that wee may fall againe with more sobriety in the vse of worldly comforts and more hunger after durable ioyes 3. If wee are more weaned from the loue of the world and take lesse ioy in the flesh and earthly things knowing no man after the flesh 4. If we can reioyce in the further encrease of the Church and flourishing estate thereof abroad though it go not so well with our owne particular 5. And can also weepe with them that languish abroad though our owne cup run ouer 6. Still submitting our selfe to the crosse 7. And triumphing in our greatest tribulations 8. If our ioy be powerfull to raise vs daily from sinne that so renuing our repentance it may be increased 9. If it be sincere and pure not so much resting in our selues as that God may haue the glory euen comforting our selues that for Gods sake principally we haue done his will and not for any by respects vnto our selues And this is the last lesson to be obserued out of this Scripture Namely That the Saints shall not loose vtterly Doct. 7. The Saints shall not loose their first loue Reason 1. Ose 2.19 Esa 49. Esa 27. though they may leaue for a time their first loue Luk. 11. Psal 92. 2 Tim. 4.19 1. Because the Lord hath promised to continue his loue towards them Ioh. 13. 1. Ioh. 17. Ierem. 31.33 c. 2. Their afflictions doe tend to their perseuerance as purging out their sinnes Esay 1.25 3. Their sinnes turne to their continuance in grace 1. as making them afraid of sinne 2. and more expert to conquer the same 3. more fit for grace by making them more humble and hungry after it 4. more mercifull to others and therfore mouing the Lord to haue more compassion on them 4. His hand is continually put vnder vs in our greatest failings and therefore wee shall rise againe Psal 37.24 5. His end in leauing vs for a time is to make vs take faster holde on him to make vs more deny our selues that we may be found in Iesus Christ in heauen 6. Their Sauiour liueth and triumpheth to make them more then conquerours Rom. 8.36.37 Ioh. 12.32 and to draw vp all after him 7. The spirit and word shall abide in them to hold them on in grace Ioh. 15. And therefore 1. This condemneth the blasphemie of Papists who teach that the Saints may fall finally and therein doe impeach the power and faithfulnesse of God or that they may so loose their faith for the present that it must be repaired anew againe 2. It checketh the insolencie of the wicked that reioyceth at the fals of the Saints and insult ouer them seeing that though they fall they shal rise againe Mic. 7.9 Psal 41.11 3. As also it reprooueth the infidelity of the Saints who doubt of their recouery and wrong the faithfulnesse of God and power of their faith grieue the blessed Spirit and deny in a sort the merit of Christ 4. Heere is first instruction for the world to iustifie Gods faithfulnesse seeing hee doth not forsake for euer Lam. 3.24.25 5. Heere the Saints are lessoned as to feare their fals and not to sinne vpon presumption of recouery so not to distrust of Gods mercy in their greatest failings seeing the Lord is faithfull and they shall recouer thogh not so sensible a measure as before they had yet sufficient to fit thē to the enioying of that happinesse that the Lord Iesus hath purchased for them And therefore let them vse the holy meanes that they may recouer namely such as are before laid downe in the recouery out of apostasie and regaining first loue and hold out to the end And if happily with all our labour we shall yet be to seeke of what we would haue For the further satisfying and comforting of the conscience obserue we thdse two things First that it is one thing to leaue our first loue and to be luke-warme neither hot nor cold We may not haue such feeling of Gods loue as formerly we had Difference between leauing first loue and lukewarmnesse and this may prouoke vs to more industry to recouer againe as the ioy of Gods spirit may be an occasion by reason of spirituall pride that we may remit of our zeale and yet we may still be resolute in iudgement what should be done though happily in our practise we may abate of what we haue formrly done 1. Wheretas luke-warmnesse ariseth frome a peruerse and deceiued iudgement that we are rich we want nothing and therefore what need we now be so earnest and painful why may we nor abate of our labours and sit downe and take our ease may we not be wholly c. 2. Hereupon it is another note of luke-warmnesse to grow indifferent to any side to be between both ready to entertaine what may stand with the streame and so to runne with the tide as occasion serueth But it is not so with such as haue simply lost their first loue they are neuer quiet till they haue recouered againe they cannot endure any other loue to share in their affections oh it reioyceth them to consider what a true and faithfull loue they had they are now more fond of him when he absents himselfe at euery stone must be rowled all corners searched to find him againe Cant. 5. and they giue not ouer till they haue recouered him 2. That there is great oddes between leauing our first loue and loosing it altogether we may leaue in regard of a former measure and yet hold a true gaine which shall cleere vs of luke-warmnesse and though we leaue a measure yet we loose not all because the least remaining will be a meanes to recouer againe if not so much as we haue had yet so much as shall serue both to keepe from finall apostasie and further to eternall glory 6 And therefore here is matter of exceeding consolation to the elect of God not to trust their owne vnbeleeuing hearts much lesse Satans lies but to rest on the faithfulnesse of God not iudging themselues by what they are in their decay but by what they were in their first loue and so pressing the Lord in his faithfullnesse and their former experience they shall be vpheld in their greatest failings by a secret power and in good time the Lord will appeare vnto them to bring foorth their righteousnesse as the light and their wel-doing as the noone day that so their latter end may be better then their beginning Glory be to the Lord Iesus
before we are healed And do not our great sinnes require a sharpe corrasiue can we be brought to sound repentance till we be cast out of our selues and but by a sentence of death euen by the terrors of hell must we not haue some sence of what we haue deserued that so we may by repentance auoide the vengeance to come And may it not now so fall out that the Lord will not heare our prayers because we regard iniquity in our hand shall Israel preuaile while the excommunicate thing remaines Are we fit for the comfort and ioy of Gods fauour so long as our sinne stands before him to grieue his spirit must he not goe vnto his place that we may seeke him diligently 8 God knoweth what is fittest for vs and he doth what is best for our present condition to bring vs to repentance And therefore in stead of complaining on God that he hath done vs wrong herein let vs in the name of God complaine against our selues What is it which he could haue done which he hath not done vnto vs And what haue not we done against him which we should not doe how haue we not in all things requited him euill for good And therefore in stead of desiring comfort let vs search and trie our hearts how we haue offended our gratious God let vs iudge our selues that we may not be iudged of him so shall we take Satans office out of his hands in accusing of our selues 9 The way to preuent satans accusation is to accuse and iudge our selues so shall we stop his mouth and confound his malice and making hereby our way vnto the throne of grace we shall find the blood of Iesus to speake better things for vs then the blod of Abel first to wash vs thorowly from our sinnes and then to minister ioy and gladnes vnto our soules 10 That we are not the greatest sinners For our further comfort herein because when we are about this practise of iudging of our selues and the Lord by this inward rod drawes vs thereto It is now Satans policie to keepe vs in these distractions and so to sucke vs in despaire by perswadings that our case herein is singular Either none are so grieuous sinners as we are or else none so deeply plunged in this extremity as our selues Therefore learne we this to resist his fiery darts First though we should be the greatest of all sinners yet shall the mercy of God appeare the greater in pardoning so grieuous a sinner more glory shall redound to his name in being so incomparably mercifull more loue is due from so great a sinner more care to please so bountifull a Father Secondly it will not appeare that we are greater sinners then any so long as we feele our sinnes and desire to be eased of them seeing these two things make vp the measure of sinne Who is the greatest sinner either not to feele sinne at all by reason of hardnesse of heart and the conscience being past seeking or else to despise and reiect the remedy against sinne though we haue some sense thereof either through Pride that we need it not or through despaire that we thinke it will doe no good Thirdly though we are not the greatest sinners in comparison of others 11 It is not vnprofitable to commence our selues to be the greatest sinner yet shall it not be amisse to comence our selues to be such partly because we know our owne estate best and not others and therefore in this respect we may esteem our case more hainous then any other and partly because we are more enflamed with the loue of Christ and so in the abundance of his loue doe discerne our vnworthinesse and corruptions more and more in our selues That so still we may more deny our selues and labour to be found in Christ not hauing our owne righteousnesse ought we not in charity to thinke others better then our selues may we not hope the best of the worst because the Lord may recouer them And is there any outwardly so vile but that our hearts tell vs we find far more fearfull corruptions within vs then possibly we can challenge others by that which appeareth outwardly and shall not our charity to others call vs more into our selues that so we may more narrowly search our owne hearts more iudge our selues that we may not be iudged of the world shall not the sence of our vilenesse make vs more compassionate vnto others that so the Lord may haue compassion on vs And can we be too vile in our eies that so we may hunger more earnestly after the mercy of God And therefore though others may be greater sinners then we yet is it wisedome for vs to feele our selues to be the greatest that so there may be no place left for going further on the score that we may now thinke it sufficient that we haue spent the time past yea too much that we haue already so prouoked our God that we may not differ our repentance any longer that the meanes of God may not be reiected of vs. If we wisely consider the policy of satan herein howsoeuer he lay to vs that we are the greatest of all sinners yet hereby he intends to plunge vs deeper in sinne to driue vs to despaire that so we may despise mercy so depriue our selues of the possibility of it And therefore to admit wee were the greatest sinners though we feele our selues to be in worse case then any this shall be a meanes to be more emptied in our selues the more to faint after the mercy of God in Christ Iesus Nay is it not satans policie by perswading vs that we are of all sinners the chiefe if he cannot plunge vs in despaire yet to make vs secure and carelesse We know the worst and therefore let vs make no bones of sinne let vs not trouble our selues with any such reckoning Gods mercies are greater Christ merit is sufficient doe we what we can Gods purpose can not be altered Thus doth satan play vpon the left hand and on right now vrging to despaire because neuer any so bad as we then prouoking to presumption be we neuer so bad And doth not our wise and gracious God bring light of this darknesse that because we are so vile therefore we not presume any further It is the wonder of Gods loue to tender grace to so great sinners and shal be the glory of our father to giue hope to such castawayes it shall be our greater comfort that he accepts such forlorne wretches It shall be our greater care now to redeeme the time and to labour more abundantly in more powerfull obedience to testifie againe our loue to so exceeding bountifull a Sauiour And shall we then doubt that our God will againe receiue vs into fauour who hath so freely loued vs being his enemies And therefore To this end call to mind former mercies Be we wise now to call to mind the dayes of
old remember we that the fauour of God hath formerly shined vpon vs meditate we of the wonderfull things that the Lord hath done for our soules and can the Lord forget to be mercifull shall the couenant of the day and night be broken Ierem. 33.20.21.22 that then should not be day and night in their season Then may the couenant of the Lord be broken with his seruants surely al the armie of Heauen cannot bee numbred neither the sand of the sea measured so will the Lord multiply his mercies vnto his children so will he neuer faile them Heb. 12 3. Esay 49.15 nor forsake them though a mother should forget the fruit of her wombe yet wil I not forget thee saith the Lord though I correct thee in iudgement yet will I not vtterly cast thee off Ierem. 30.11 saith the Lord for I am God in the midst of thee whom I loue I loue vnto the end Ioh. 13.2 and therefore for a while haue I forsaken thee yet in euerlasting compassions will I gather thee againe Esay 54.8 As I haue sworne that the waters of Noah shall no more goe ouer the earth so haue I sworne that I will not be angry with thee for euer nor rebuke thee to thy destruction yea well may the mountaines remoue and the hils fall downe though heauen and earth shall passe and the night and the day shal be no more neither yet shall the couenant of my peace fall away sayth the Lord that hath compassion on thee for my word endureth for euer I haue sworne by my holinesse that I will not faile Dauid And what shal then separat thee frō the loue of God 13. That all the Saints haue drunke of this cup vnto thee hall thy greatest sins serue to magnifie the loue of God vnto thee Oh but here Satan doth reply that herin thy case is singular neuer any so deiected and cast down as thou art the saints of God haue passed their time more cheerfully they haue been confident in God resolut of his fauour they haue been heard of the Lord in their greatest extremities they haue been deliuered reuiued again and therfore seing thou remainest stil in this agony canst find no cōfort hath not the Lord forsakē thee that reiects thy praiers that neglects thy teares seeing thy afflictiō encreased thou seest no end therof Surely the Lord giue vs vnderstanding in al things say our case were such as neuer were any like vnto vs yet may not the Lord doe with vs what he will if he should cast vs into hell should we not desire his glory aboue all things And if by this our greater abasing he intends to propose vs as ensamples to them which shal beleeue in time to come to make vs presidents of his exceeding mercies shall not he haue the more glory and we haue the more comfort in the end And yet for our present comfort herein is there any tentation here befallen vs that belongs not vnto man that the Saints of olde haue not gone before vs in that euery childe of God more or lesse must certainely vndergoe nay haue not many of Gods children exceeded vs in this temptation Iob. 3.1.6.2 Psal 77. consider wee the example of Iob and Dauid of Ieremie and the rest haue not the venome of Gods arrowes drunke vp their spirits haue they not broken out into many bitter complaints and blasphemies through the extremity of their paines haue they not euen seemed to forsake the Lord and giuen ouer their interest in his loue and goodnesse Ier. 20. And hath the gratious Lord yet kept thee from these horrible out-breakings or mayst thou happily bee left so farre as the worst yet seeing our gratious God hath restored euery one of them yea then refreshed them when they haue bene at the worst wll he not also raise thee vp againe oh thou of litle faith 14 That God differs our restoring and refreshing in great mercy If thou thinkest he will not because he doth it not consider how long this rod hath lien vpon thy betters and canst thou not bee content to stay the Lords leisure as well as they shall not the Lord recompence thy longer stay with more durable comforts Had not Dauid these buffetings euen all his life haue not many of Gods deare children beene exercised heerewith to their death yea in their death haue been hereby stumbling to the world as if they died desperately vnto whom their holy life doctrine was a condemnation because they would not bee reclaimed thereby and shall this encourage to prophanesse and exclude vtterly repentance to see such die so vncomfortably whose life was so conformable to the word so contrary to the world And therefore though I cannot heere promise thee any time when the Lord will returne thy captiuity and refresh thee with former comfort yet I dare promise thee that there is a time of refreshing Act. 3.19 at hand And whatsoeuer thy emptying bee now yet then thou shalt be filled with the fulnesse of God and so enioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore yea all thy abasings in this life shal be meanes to further and hasten thee thereunto if thy afflictions are at the worst they will haue the sooner end and thine euerlasting ioyes shal be begun the sooner though it should by thy death yet thou shalt be a great gainer by it And I dare promise thee further that the Lord will lay no more vpon thee then thou art able to endure 2. Cor. 10.13 but will giue an issue with the tentation that thou mayst be able to beare it though the righteous perisheth and no man regards it Esay 57.1.2 yet they are but taken away from the euils to come 2. They shal rest in their beds sorow shal flie away 15. That we must not iudge our selues by our tenrations Only here let me adjure thee to stay thy selfe herein by these rules First that thy God will not esteeme of thee as thou art in thy tentations they proceed of Satans malice and thine own infirmity therefore thy gratious Father will not impute them vnto thee yea thou striue against them condemnest them therfore thy louing Father will not condemne thee for thē Secondly be thou wise to iudge of thy better part thou striuest and canst not preuaile thou prayst and art not heard what then are thy prayers not heard at all because thy particular request is not granted Is not thy person euerlastingly accepted and so a cuppe of colde water shall not loose his rewarde In the name of GOD I adiure thee therefore not to iudge peremptorily of thine estate by any present or particular action or successe Is not the Lord wise to turne thy sinnes to good and will he then let thy true endeauours fall to the ground though hee answers not thy prayer in yeelding thy particular request yet doth hee not answer it better in giuing thee still grace to pray vnto
so vsing all meanes to giue him hope of recouery 6. Powerfully To humble him for his sinne by denouncing the wrath of God against the same I haue somewhat against thee that is I haue a controuersie with thee I am angrie I will be auenged of thee for it adding to our reproofe denunciation of vengeance 7. Constantly and seasonably not letting him lye in it taking the fit time c. as Abigail did 1. Sam. 25. meeting with the beginnings of euill and not giuing ouer till either wee haue reclaymed or made inexcusable 8. Impartially and sincerely not sparing the greatest nor dearest vnto vs no nor the house of Iudah Amos 7.8 1. Sam. 12. Esay 58.1 no not the most excellent Church not Dauid though a King not our children not any Eli 1. Sam. 2. Lastly heere is great comfort 3. Vse of comfort that being reprooued for sinne we are iudged in this life and so by the grace of God being brought to repentance we shall not be iudged in the life to come 1. Cor. 11.31 32. Thirdly in that the holy Ghost testifieth heere Doctrine 4. The least sin in the Saints is sufficient to make the that Christ doth come against his Church for this sin here we learne That though God loueth alwayes the person of his children yet he is displease with their sin he will come agaīst them for it and chastise them for the same Psal 89. 2. Sam. 8. c. Ezech. 18. And that because he is 1. Righteous and hateth iniquitie Psal 5.4 and therefore will not endure it in his owne 2. He is mercifull and therefore will not suffer sinne to dwell in his children but by his corrections will clense them Esay 1.25 Esay 27. Iere. 19. Psal 89. 3. The sinnes of his children doe more grieue him and indeed are more grieuous in themselues First because They haue more grace to resist Secondly doe giue more offence to the weake Thirdly open the mouth of the wicked more to blaspheme God and his truth 2. Sam. 12. 4. That the wicked may haue their vengeance hereby sealed vp in that the Lord spareth not his owne children Prou. 11.32 6 That his children might not be condemned finally 7 That he might weane them from the world and prouoke them to draw neere vnto him in prayer and so haue in our selues further experience of his loue in the issues thereof 8. Their sinne is not theirs but proceeds from Satan and the old man which he therefore remoueth by his chastisements that so he might manifest and confirme his loue more and more to their persons in fitting them to glorie But how stande it with Gods iustice to punish sinne in the Elect which he hath punished in his Sonne Answere He doth not punish sinne in vs as he did in his Sonne according to the exactnesse of his iustice and defect of our sinne for then we shall neuer be able to abide it 2. He doth not intend to punish sinne but to amend the sinner and so qualifies his corrections accordingly As accompanying them with the word giuing vs strength to beare them or framing them to our weaknesse ministring abundant consolations to conteruaile them and giuing a gratious issue out of them either taking away the rod or geuing patience to endure it And this serueth 1. Vses 1. Of conuiction to those that by reason of prosperity flatter themselues in integritie 2. Those that are impatient vnder the rod deseruing the same To condemne the wicked that flatter themselues in their righteousnesse because they prosper and are not plagued like others nor afflicted as the sinners seeing they are fatted vp hereby to the day of slaughter and the elect by afflictions prepared to happinesse Ierem. 12.3 Act. 14.23 24. Iob. 21. Psal 17.14 2. To reprooue the sinners that prouoke the Lord by their sinne to become their enemie and then being afflicted complaine of wrong and condemne the loue and faithfulnesse of God as if in chastising them he hated them seeing of very loue and faithfulnesse he doth correct them Psal 119. Psal 73. Iob 6.9 3. 3. Those that iudge peremptorily the estates of men by outward things Vse 2. Instruction how to keepe God our friend 2. To be patient vnder the rod. 3. To try our estate by the vse of the crosse To reprooue the world that iudge of men by these outward things seeing all things are alike vnto all men Eccl. 9.1 Secondly here is instruction 1. To teach vs how to keepe God to be our friend namely by keeping our selues from sinne or else by renued repentance dayly renouncing and reforming the same 2. To beare patiently the hand of God seeing we haue deserued hell and this affliction which is but for a moment will procure vnto vs an inestimable weight of glory 2. Cor. 5.16 3. To trie our estate vnder the rod namely 1. if we feele the Lords displeasure and so feare and depart from euill Prou. 14. 2. If wee can finde comfort in the word 3. And wait patiently on our God in our greatest afflictions 4. Not seeking so much the remoueall as to haue the corrections sanctified vnto vs. 5. Either by bringing some sinne past to light and iudging for it or else preuenting sinne to come 6. Making vs more tender in conscience 7. More compassionate to our brethren 8. More out of loue with the world 9. More to long after heauen 10. More zealous in holy duties more iealous of our selues more confident on God more readie for death And thus doth the holy Ghost amplifie the sinne of this Church by signifying that the Lord is angrie with her for the same 1. But let vs consider what this sinne is namely That she hath left her first loue a sinne of omission she hath failed in that zeale c. How the saints though leauing their first loue yet may be iustified that they faint not Quest But how may she be sayd to haue left her first loue seeing she hath formerly the testimonie that she endured patiently and did not faint Answ She might faile in the measure of her loue though not in the substance and trueth thereof 2. She might faile in the outward action though not in the inward purpose 3. She might haue been formerly zealous but now she was decayed and her present decay might not being preuented breed a further relapse and so threaten either some grieuous scourge to pluck her out of this pit or else might occasion finall Apostasie 4. She might maintaine the doctrine of the Gospell though to the enduring of manifold afflictions for the same and yet neglect the holie discipline and so grow remisse and carelesse in the practice of godlines 5. She might not be so zealous as she was and yet haue so much zeale as not to giue ouer finally for a time she might be cooled but not quenched in her zeale c. And yet wee see the Lord is not satisfied herewith but she must recouer what
grow secure and dead in the performance of holy duties performing them for custome carnally hypocritically c. Libertine 9. Or grow inconstant in holy duties intermitting the set times of prayers hearing the word c. 10. Or grow negligent in conuerting others 11. Or admit of humane inuentions with the worship of God 12. And vpon pretence of peace giue way in the least against conviction of conscience 13. Or prooue vnthankfull vnto God for his particular mercies 1. Rom. 14. Or fall into grosse sinnes and lie in them without repentance Psal 51. 15. Or iudge vncharitably of our brethren withdrawing our compassions from them Secondly Motiues to prouoke vs to constancie in weldoing consider we these motiues to make vs abound in good workes and grow constant therein 1. Consider we the faithfulnesse of our God who loueth to the end Ioh. 13.1 2 Remember we the continual seruice of the Saints in heauen they incessantly glorifie God and also continually 1. Thess 4. Reuel 4. 3. Consider wee the power of Iesus Christ still remaines to couer our imperfections and to strengthen vs to perfection Heb. 12.1 2. and to this end makes continuall intercession for vs. 4. Know wee that the Comforter doth abide with vs for euer Ioh. 17. to lead vs into all trueth and so forward in all holinesse Ioh. 15.16 5. 1. Pet. 4 15. Consider we that the righteous can scarcely be saued 1. Pet. 4.15 and what paines the best haue taken toward heauen 6. Remember we that Iesus Christ hath taken away all the rigour of weldoing and yet enables vs by his spirit to perfection accepting our weakest endeuours so they bee sound and enabling of vs to fulfill all righteousnesse in due season 7. Discerne we often how wee haue failed heretofore and this shal prouoke to more industrie hereafter 8. And lay wee to heart the sudden comming of Christ and so we shall be prouoked to make haste 9. And propose wee vnto our selues that glorious Crowne and so we shall fight that good fight of faith and finish our course with ioy 10. Obserue we the prouidence of our gratious Father in turning about all things that they shall worke together for the best to further vs to happinesse Rom. 8.28 1. As causing our greatest afflictions to be meanes of remoouing all lets especially our sinnes and spurres to perfection Esay 1.25 2. And making our very sinnes matter to preuent or subdue sinne and so to prouoke vs to more endeauour of holinesse by how much we haue bene cast behinde and what shall then separate vs from the loue of God what shall not further vs to hasten to perfection Rom. 8.33.34.35 11. To this end take we a view of the speciall priuiledges of godlinesse which are 1. That it onely hath the promise of this life aswel as of a better 2. It onely can giue vs sound Comfort in our greatest troubles 3. And giue vs certaine victory ouer them all Onely this sanctifieth all Gods blessings vnto vs that they may bee pledges of eternall life 1. Tim. 4.5 This onelie giues contentment in all occasions and so doeth possesse vs of heauen in this life 1. Tim. 6. 12. And seeing that in our Fathers House are many Mansions and those that are most faithfull shall haue greater increase of glorie Therefore let this encourage to increase in grace that so we may bee partakers of greater happinesse Lastlie 13. Consider wee how vnwearied the wicked are in euill what policie they vse to continue therein vsing variety of Obiects to preuent loathsomenesse and satiety arming themselues with diuersitie of meanes whereby they may bee better able to accomplish their lustes and with more pleasure enioy them longer And shall they take more paines to goe to hell then 〈◊〉 to Heauen Shall they bee still striuing and neuer wearie to their owne Condemnation and shall not wee bee still endeauouring to make sure our Election Thirdly practize we these meanes of Growth and Constancie 1. Retaine wee soundnesse of iudgement concerning the power of godlinesse 2. Doe we all things from the ground of the heart as in the sight of God 1. Thess 1. 3. Cleaue wee still to the power of the worde and striue wee to increase in knowledge 1. Phil. 1. Coll. 4. Practize we constantly the dueties of pietie and charitie not seruing God by spurs but keeping a constant course in holinesse that so the seruice of God may be more easie and comfortable 5. Watch wee daylie ouer our hearts in a true searching and examining the same Psalm 4.5.6 6. See that wee renew our repentance as often as we sinne 7. Labour wee the conuersion of our brethren and iudge we charitably of them 8. Make wee conscience especially of Sabbaoth duties because our powerfull practize thereof shall better enable to a generall encrease and to constancie therein And 9. Auoide we curiositie of knowledge and medling in others affaires 10. And sticke we not in the beginnings and elements of Religion Hebr. 6.1 11. And because wee shall bee sure to encounter many enemies that will seeke to hinder vs in this spirituall groweth therefore put wee on the whole armour of God that so we may resist in the euill day Ephes 6.11.12 12. Especially seeing the loue of the world will mainely endeauour to presse vs downe and hinder our proceeding vpon pretence of prouiding things necessarie c. therefore that wee may in nothing be carefull let our requests be manifest vnto God in prayers 13. And labour wee true contentation in whatsoeuer outward measure the Lord hath dispensed that so we may still hunger after spirituall graces 14. And prepare we our soules daily to afflictions submit we to whatsoeuer our louing Father shall lead vs into that so carnall securitie may bee preuented our corruptions purged and wee daily prouoked to perfection 15. Quicken we and enlarge our desires of heauenly things and this wil be a meanes to spurre vs forward to practize Measure wee not our condition by any measure atetained but still forget we what is behinde and hasten to that before 16. Walke wee alwayes in feare of our selues and suspect we all our workes yea then most when we enioy greatest graces Pro. 28.13 and maintaine wee tendernesse of Conscience in all things 17. Remember we our ends and vncertaintie of our life and the account we must make 2. Cor. 5.10.11 18. And resigne we our selues daily into the hands of our God resting on his prouidence 1. Pet. 5. Mat. 6. 19. Entertaine wee cheerefully the motions of the Spirit and put them in practize diligently Eph. 4. Thus shall we grow constant in well doing and perseuere vnto the end Meane to preuent Apostasie in the sense of our failing 1. Meane while let it stay vs from Apostasie that our gratious God requires no more then hee giues if hee giue vs but one Talent hee wil not require according to three and therefore though wee be farre from what we should
the Lords and depend only vpon him Mat. 11. 4. If we cannot become all vnto all that so we may win some vnto Christ 1. Cor. 9. Thus may we discerne some footsteps of spirituall pride thus haue you heard how to master the same Secondly touching policy by it 2 Policie a meanes of cooling our first loue I meane that wisedome which ciuill gouernment discouereth in managing it affaires for the adorning preseruing thereof This how soeuer it may be an handmaid to Religion yet carrieth some sway in the manner thereof as 1. In ordering the time and place Policy how a friend to Religion and outward decency for the diuine worship 2. In compelling the outward man to the outward forme and meanes of religion 3. As also in executing the holy censures of the Church vpon the refractary and obstinate 4. And in protecting the innocency and vprightnesse of the Saints from the rage and wrongs of the wicked and 5. Punishing the enemies of the Church Yet may it also proue an enemy to sincerity and so be an occasion if we be guided thereby to leaue our first loue and that in these respects As First How an enemy and so a meanes of leauing our first loue when it vndertakes to iudge and authorize the rule of religion namely the word of God 2. When it adioynes to the same the inuentions of man making it equall with the word of truth 3. When it stands more vpon the forme then the power of godlinesse 4. When it excludes the substance of religion for the outward complement thereof The practise of popery in maintaining their religion 5. When it becomes a meanes to iustifie the wicked and condemne the righteous Esay 5. Mat. 27. 6. When it presumes to limit sincerity to times persons and 7. When it insulteth and lords it ouer the conscience by inquisition into the secrets of the heart and violent forcing the same contrary to the tendernesse and true information thereof 8. When it fashions the forme of religion according to the frame of worldly gouernment as Antichrist patched vp his anarchy partly from the Iewish Synagogue partly from the forme of the heathnish Empire Thus may policy be an enemy to Religion and so a meanes of the leauing of our first loue And thus may we learne to preuent this great mischiefe 1. That in matter of religion we consult not with flesh and blood pinning neither our iudgement nor practise vpon the sleeues of men Gal. 2. 2. That we admit no humane inuention as part of Gods worship Mat. 15. 3. And considering that the wisedome of the flesh is enmity against God resolue we to endure the contradictions of the world in the worship of God and that that is sincerest which the word most condemnes 4. That in all matter of diuine worship we be ordered and informed according to the word as well for matter as manner agreeable thereunto 5. That we do all things as in the presence of God out of the good purpose of our hearts to be approued of him in the inward man and not with bodily seruice to be seene of men Mat. 6. 6. That we are more conscionable in priuate duties in the closet family sanctifiyng the publike worship by priuate preparation and trying the publike worship by priuate examination 7. That we measure not the worship of God either by any measure we haue already attained as if we had holinesse enough or by any outward successe thereof in the world 8. As by the acceptance of men by prosperity or by any particular issue 9. For the present that in the greatest measure of sanctification we stand not vpon the euidence of our owne conscience As to be iustified thereby though we know nothing by our selues but still deny our owne righteousnes that we may be found in Christ to be still enabled by his righteousnesse to haue the testimony of the acceptance of our persons and so to haue the comfort not only of the acceptance of present seruice but to be enabled by Christ to constant obedience 1. Cor. 4.4.5 Phil. 3.10.11.12 10. That in the worship of God we be not misled by carnall ends as profit pleasure vaine-glory c. But that in all things we purpose the glory of God and the saluation of our soules subordinate thereunto 1. Cor. 10.31 11. That in our best measure we acknowledge our selues vnprofitable seruants and so cast our selues vpon the meere mercie of God in IESVS CHRIST Luke 17.10 Thirdly And so may also Prosperity coole first loue 1. If either hauing much we set our hearts vpon it Prosperity an occasion to coole our first loue and how Psal 62.10 and so are withdrawne to execute the lusts of our hearts 2. Or are afraid of afflictions and decline them by carnall meanes 3. Or measure our estate in grace by our prosperity 4. Or are not willing to be abased as we do abound 5. Or grow secure and vncharitable hereby either despising our poore brethren or insulting ouer them 1. Pet. 5. much lesse being inlarged in compassion of their affliction Psal 30.6 or open handed to relieue them or promise constancy of this ticklish estate vnto our selues 6. Or grow to despise the simplicity of the Gospell as if it were then but in it infancy And so as power is in our hands adorning the worship of God with vaine pompe and outward complements As if this were an argument of the increase and perfection of religion that it is now more glorious acceptable to the world 7. Lastly whereas prosperity vsually puffes vp with a conceit of goodnes if now therfore being aloft when we haue brought religion to our lure as to countenance our greatnesse and sort with our excesse we shall now as the manner is grow to esteem basely of religion as stooping to our lusts and so either neglect the power thereof in our obedience thereunto or rest in the forme thereof contenting our selues with carnall and corrupt meanes will not this corrupt the iudgement and so make way for apostasie will not this coole our zeale and dead our hearts making vs confesse indifferent lukewarme c. And therefore that prosperity may not work these effects in vs 1. Know we that where God giues more there he requires more at our hands 2. That hereby we are preuented of many lets which might hinder our proceeding and supplied with many helps to do more good to abound in thanksgiuings And therefore carry we our selues thus in our outward encreasing 1. Acknowledging that from God we haue receiued it and therefore shame we to honour God with our substance and with the first fruits of our increase 2. Be we alwaies jealous of estates especially when we most aboūd that so being humbled in our outward measure we may grow in the inward 3. Imploying our Talents now more plentifully to the good of others especially to further them to grace not contenting our selues to giue almes for bodily
this serueth further 4. Of reproofe 1. For reproofe of our times who may bee iustly charged to haue left our first loue by trying our selues by the former meanes whereby this first loue is slaked 2. And yet lest this generall reproofe may bee peruerted to the disgrace of the power of godlinesse and discouragement of such who desire to walke with God in a dayly encrease therefore seeing God hath a few names in Sardis that endeauour to keepe themselues vnspotted of the world and so are not onely signes and wonders in the world because they will not runne with it into the same excesse but are therefore chalenged of reuolting and falling from their loue for their further establishing and comfort Know wee that wee may bee subiect to a false imputation of leauing our first loue in many respects As 1. The Saints may be vniustly charged to haue left their first loue and how Math. 22. And that first in the true discerning vse of our Christian libertie wherby wee submit ourselues to lawful authoritie 2. In that we are endowed with outward prosperity when vpon the iust consideration of the nature of our Christian liberty as being spirituall wee limit our zeale within the bounds of our callings so giuing vnto God the things that are his that wee deny not also vnto Cesar that which is This moderation howsoeuer with the Anabaptist it be traduced as lukewarmenesse and temporizing with the world to auoyd affliction yet indeed it is an holy rectifying and ordering of our zeale by humility and wisedome that so it may hold out and bee perfited through patience and that from the commandement of the Lord our God Rom. 13. 2. We may be falsely charged to haue left our first loue when wee are outwardly encreased with temporall blessings As if because prosperity is apt to coole by making vs secure and forgetfull of our God therefore it must needes follow that wheresoeuer there is outward abundance there is inward leannesse and barrennesse Psal 106.15 Which imputation is heereby proued to be most vniust 1. Both because the Saints of God haue increased outwardly and thriuen inwardly too as Abraham Dauid c. 2. The vertue of that promise makes hereunto that if all things then surely outward blessings shall worke together for the good of the elect Rom. 8.29 especially seeing the Lord giueth grace to vse these gifts aright 1. Tim. 4.8 1. And seeing godlinesse hath the promise of this life aswell as of a better and the more the Saints partake of the mercy of God the more their thankfulnesse and obedience doeth increase and beeing knit vnto the Lord with more bonds seeing the more they receiue the more they feare themselues and so by imparting liberally vnto others doe ease themselues of the burthen 1. Iohn 4.20 Gen. 20. and approue their loue vnto God by their vnfained loue vnto his Saints as hereby they are more deepely interessed in the prayers of the Saints so is heauen more enlarged to the encrease of their loue The Lord heares the prayers of the poore and enlargeth the hearts of his stewards 2. Cor. 1.7.8 to loue that God more feruently that so enables them to comfort others And so being faithfull in a little they are still encreased See the dayly sacrifice for the right vse of prosperity 3. Spirituall wisedome in auoyding of troubles an occasion to charge vs with losse of first loue vntill being full of grace and abounding in euery good worke they are made meete partakers of that glorious inheritance 1. Colloss 12. Math. 25. 1. Cor. 15. And may not out spirituall wisedome in auoyding of vnnecessary troubles expose vs sometimes to this false imputation that we haue left our first loue 1. Yea surely if either by wise and modest answers we auoyd troubles 2. Or by concealing of that trueth which wee are not bound in conscience to discouer we so escape 3. Or by auoyding the rage of our enemies when our time is not yet come wee are yet freed from troubles by remouing from our habitations 4. Or by changing our habits and features wee so auoyd the fury of the aduersary if by any of these through the blessing of God we escape such troubles which others for want of this wisedome are ouertaken with presently we are charged with want of zeal we are condemned to bee lukewarme to haue left our first loue and c. 5. Especially if wee vse our goods as a meanes to redeeme the body from trouble oh this is censured as vnlawfull and so auoyding troubles as by vnlawfull meanes wee are challenged of cowardize want of zeale corruption c. An imputation how vniust and vncharitable it is may appeare by these circumstances 1. And cleared from this imputation Faith how and whom to be giuen account of 1. To the magistrate and minister and why Because we are not bound to giue an account of our faith to euery priuate man but only to the Magistrate and whomsoeuer hath lawful authority to require it at our hands as the Minister and such as haue charge ouer vs. And that because Hereby they may haue comfort in discharge of their duety that they haue not laboured in vaine or 2. May be humbled in our want of profiting and growing in knowledge and so encrease their paines and prayers for vs. 3. They are in Gods stead and in refusing to giue an account vnto them wee deny and renounce euen God himselfe 4. They may be prouoked hereby to perseuerance and maintenance of the trueth 5. Though they must not bee Lords ouer the conscience to make or alter the trueth yet they are witnesses vnto the conscience concerning the trueth yea they are approuers and maintainers thereof to the comfort of the beleeuer and furtherance of his faith And therefore Though we giue not account of our faith either 1. To the scorner that hereby will take occasion to insult and blaspheme our God and his sacred truth 2. Or to the open enemy that as he hath no calling to require Faith to whom not to be giuen account of so we haue warrant to conceale it as being bound to preserue life and not cast pearles to swine 3. Or to the ignorant that desireth not information thereby lest we beare the aire run before we are called expose our profession to contempt c. 4. Or to the priuate Christian otherwise then in a case of necessity on our parts to remoue a false imputation and on his part to guide him that is in darkenesse and desires our helpe Yet doe we not herein betray our faith but rather wisely maintaine the honour and preserue the vertue therof both in defending the same from the reproches of the wicked as also in reseruing the vse thereof to it fit season and occasion when our God shal be best glorified our profession iustified and brethren informed and confirmed thereby And this is 1. When wee haue an especiall calling to
either of doubting in faith or corruption in life 1. Cor. 8. Rom. 14. 4. That herein also wee not onely auoyde what may hurt but in all spiritual wisedome doe that which may further to the best good euen the saluation of the soule 1. Cor. 9. 5. And all this to the onely praise of our glorious God through Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 10.31 Thus may wee bee falsly charged to haue left our first loue and thus may we be established against these false imputations But say what others fasten vpon me 8. Whether want of feeling of former comforts may be a iust imputation that we haue left our first loue that I feare in my selfe I feele not that joy and inward comfort I sometimes had these ouerflowings and extraordinary sweetnesse though I faint after them and refresh my soule with the meditation thereof yet I finde them not so abound and runne ouer as in former times may I not hereby conjecture that I haue lost my first loue nay may I not feare that all is lost Nay now I finde it contrary with me insteed of ioy I am ouerwhelmed with sorrowes insteed of Gods gratious presence I feare hee hath forsaken mee I haue no answere in prayer no comfort in any duety the sorrowes of the deepe doe seaze vpon me and the jawes of hell doe gape vpon me Surely the Lord giue thee wisedome heerein that thou doest not wrong thine owne heart and prejudice the wisedome and mercy of thy God Remember that thou liuest by faith not by sense 2. Cor. 3.7 though thou seest no outward meanes yet thy saith will assure thee that God is able will prouide him a sacrifice Gods prouidence discouered herein Iob. 13 15. Gen. 22. Yea though thou hast no inward feeling of comfort yet shalt thou trust in God euen though he kill thee And this is the victory of thy faith euen to beleeue aboue feeling thus is thy faith perfited euen laying holde on things not seene when it is depriued of the sense of things past Heb. 11.1 present And may not thy God withdraw these comforts from thee for the further tryal of thy faith and loue vnto his Maiestie that thogh thou want that comfort which heretofore thou hast had yet stil thou canst giue glory vnto thy God in beleeuing his word and enlarge thy loue vnto his Maiesty Rom. 4.20 euen when he seemes to haue forsaken thee And canst thou haue a better tryall of the power purenes of thy faith then aboue hope to beleeue vnder hope in the promises of thy God subiecting thy chiefest good vnto the glory of thy God and through want of present sense being guided to forget what thou hast enioyed lest through spirituall pride thou mightest rest therin rob God of his glory thou doest the rather make haste to that which is before by the power of thy faith seeing a farre off yea laying fast hold on eternall life by renuing thy strength in Iesus Christ And seeing wee are now assured of the trueth of our conuersion by this seale of Gods loue shed abroad in our hearts working in vs a feare of his Maiesty and refreshing our hearts with vnspeakeable cōforts haue we now such need of the continuance of them as if all were lost because we still feele them not or we could not goe forward without the daily sence thereof will we still be children that haue neede of dandling and entticing with such toies or rather are we not growing to be men and so to be hardned with trials and strange abasings And is it not best to be abased within that so we may be fitter for any outward emptying Is it not fit to be a while disused of these spirituall ioyes that so we may most hunger after euerlasting ioy that we more earnestly labour and hasten thereafter And may we not giue our God iust cause to withdraw his countenance from vs by falling into grosse sinne doting on the fading ioyes of the world c. and so we may be so wisely scanted of perfect ioy as that still we shal be recompenced with what is fitter for vs for the present with what may further vs to eternall comforts Is not the Lord herein wonderfull that by withdrawing sense of present ioy he both purgeth vs of such euils as may corrupt the same namely spirituall pride and security and also causeth vs hereby to lay faster hold on Iesus Christ who only must perfect the worke that is begun in vs And canst thou expresse thy loue in greater measure vnto thy God then to loue him then when he seemes to haue forsaken thee then to follow after him when he seemes to run from thee doth not this aduance the sincerity of thy loue doth not this exceedingly approue thy conformity to thy Sauiour that as he was contented to be abased in himselfe yea to become of no reputation that thou maist be accepted so thou art contented to be emptied that God may be glorified thou canst willingly want present comfort that thy God may haue vnfained worship when now not so much for thine owne sake as for his glory thou dost beleeue in him when though he kill thee yet thou wilt trust in him And canst thou be a looser where the Lord is such a gainer by thee canst thou leaue thy loue when the Lord doth purpose to trie the soundnesse of it when the Lord prouoketh thee to liue by faith when by the power of faith he will thus enable thee to lay hold of eternall life Note Surely as this is the life of faith to exceed present sense so this want of present comfort thus conceiued and applied shall be both a meanes to enable thee to make better vse of such ioy when the Lord shall againe turne his countenance vpon thee and in the meane time minister exceding comfort vnto thy soule that thou dost constantly beleeue in Resolution herein and vnfainedly loue the Lord thy God And therfore doubt not herein of any decay of thy loue vnto thy God because the Lord in his wisedome for thy triall withdrawes the present pledges of his loue from thee For neither couldst thou endure at all in thy sense of this want of present comfort if thy God did not secretly vphold thee with inward and vnspeakable consolations And in that thou discernest want of ioy may it not be so much because thou wantest that which thou hast had Note as that by faith thou apprehendest that vnspeakeable ioy which thou hast not which that it doth euacuate and empty thee of sense of present comfort it is no more maruell then that the glorious light of the Sun should obscure the light of a candle or that a drop shold not be discerned being cast into the main ocean Only for thy full satisfaction herein examine thy heart in this case by these rules Triall hereof First that thou hast not giuen thy God iust occasion to withdraw these
him doth he not recompence thee bountifully in teaching thee patience to wait vpon him and must not patience bring foorth the perfect worke hadst thou not then need of patience when thou hast done the will of God that thou mayst receiue the reward and what is the reward thou waitest for is it only that thy prayers may bee granted for the present mayst thou hereby happily haue thy reward already and so to bee depriued of that great recompence of reward And doth not the Lord begin this recompence in answering thy prayers to what is fit for thee doth he not prepare thee to this recompence by enabling thee hereby in patience to possesse thy soule and to waite the good pleasure of God doth hee not hereby teach thee to commit thy soule in well doing into the hand of thy gratious Creator that so thou mayst work out thy saluation in feare and trembling and so be made meet for that glorious inheritance To auoyd idlenesse and walke faithfully in our callings tenuring our repentance for former failings 3. And therefore let my adjure bee pretious vnto thee not to disquiet thy selfe for delay of comfort but rather to take heed of idlenes and curiousity whereunto Satan will now labour to draw thee as taking aduantage of thy dumpishnes and distraction Be diligent in Gods feare so farre as thou knowest in thy calling God hath placed thee in iudge thy heart soundly for former sailings and then I dare assure thee thou shalt not want comfort in thy obedience vnto God if fit for thee for the present and the more thou fittest thy selfe hereby for ioy the sooner it shall returne either in this life if thy wayes are now constant and more spirituall or else in the life to come neuer to faile againe But of this more hereafter and commenced and especially in a treatise if God will to bee published to this purpose called the Cure of a wounded Spirit If yet thou art doubtfull of thy abiding in loue As thou maist decay so thou art iealous of thy self herein I say vnto thee Prou. 28.13 How to know whether we haue left our first loue By these markes Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies And that thou maist be resolued whether thou art decaied or no obserue for thy triall these markes therof which are apparant symptomes of the leauing our first loue 1. Know thou that if thou hast lost that peace of conscience wherby thou wast wont to come with boldnes into the presence of thy God and powre out thy soule in strong cries and teares vnto thy God and so canst not pray with that euidence as in former times with that patience and constancy ouercomming thy God 2. If thou growest fearefull of troubles and vsest carnall policy to preuent them 3. If thou growest worldly and couetous withdrawing thy hand from the necessities of thy brother and neglecting the occasions of charity c. 4. If thou growest negligent in hearing the word contenting thy selfe either with none or an vneffectuall Ministery 5. If thou canst dispense with thy selfe in vaine sports and recreations gaming vaine talke c. wherof heretofore thou madest some conscience wasting thy time and wit in them 6. If thou canst frame to all companies and temporize with each as presuming vpon thy protection from thy Christian calling Ephes 5.1 7. If thou art afraid of death and neglectest the daily and constant examination of thy waies and holy duties in priuate vnto thy God 8. If thou canst so ioy in these earthly things as either not to feele a loathsomnesse in them or not to vse them as sparkes to increase the fire of thy spirituall ioy 9. If thou measurest the happinesse of the life to come by that sense which for the present thou hast thereof thou dost not liue by faith and therefore thou hast left thy first loue Symptomes that follow the leuuing of our first loue And for thy comfort obserue herein an especiall mercy of thy God that there will follow this losse of loue 1. Inward trouble of conscience which will giue thee no rest till thou hast resolued thy case with God and recouered Psal 6.38 c. 2. Some outward sensible stripe either in thy goods person children to open thine eyes the better and bring thee to repentance Iob. 33.15.16 3. Now the world will not faile to flatter thee and as it were to owne thee that so thou maist suspect thy selfe the rather 4. And yet that thou maist discerne the worlds loue thou shalt not want some mocke and reproach to cast the durt of thy decay in thy face that so thou maist be ashamed and confounded in this decay 5. And happily thou maist be giuen vp to some grosse sinne the more to discredit thee with the world that so thou maist not be corrupted with the flattery thereof And therefore thus thou maist recouer out of this decay How to recouer first loue 1. Rest vpon the promises of thy God that thou shalt recouer out of any effects that proceed from thence and thy latter end shall be better then the beginning 2. Meditate on the former experience of the ioy of the spirit that so thou maist presse the Lord from his wonted mercies Psal 77. 1. Sam 17. 3. Consider the meanes that the Lord vsed to plant this ioy and loue in thy heart and by the same know that he will renue this worke and therfore at no hand be driuen from the meanes Cant. 1. Cant. 4.5 4. Resolue that thy former estate was better then now Ose 2.8.9 and therefore returne to thy first loue againe that so the Lord may renue and increase thy loue vnto him 5. Acquaint the experienced souldier with this thy estate that so he may be a meanes to quicken thee againe 6. Giue we not ouer our pursuit of these comforts spare we no paines thinke we all time too little impose we extraordinary afflictions as fasting and so groning vnder the burden and detesting our selues giue we the Lord no rest till he hath returned to his rest and recouered our decaies Cant. 5. To this end vse we the meanes before set downe to recouer from Apostasie And be we comforted that we shall not altogether loose our labour though we haue left this loue How far we shall recouer 1. Either we shall recouer what we haue lost in the same kinde namely the like ioy and extraordinary comforts of thee 2. Or else if we haue it not in this fruit of our loue yet we shall be sure to recouer in another kind which shall be more profitable to further vs to happinesse 3. As the lesse we feele this loue the more we shall expresse our care to vse all holy meanes whereby we may recouer it againe 4. The more we shall learne to liue by faith in the expectation of a greater measure 5. The more compassionate thou shall be to others that are cast downe by this affliction and so labour more