Psal 119. Behold mine affliction And notwithstanding godly men be full of afflictions sorrowes and sicknesses necessities molestations and disgraces yet al these or whatsoeuer other calamities vanish away in time and the hope of Gods fauor blessed reward from him shal out liue all these and take place when these are abolished Psal 37.37 Marke well the vpright man and hehold the iust for the end of that man is peace that which he desired hee shal enioy a faithfull man shal not be frustrated of his expectatiō nor defeated of that hee hopes for According as the Psalmes sayth The poore man shall not alway be forgotten Psal 31.29 the expectation of the poore shall not perish for euer for that is euer grounded vpon faith and faith is surely grounded vpon Gods promises Dauid was a godly man and dearely beloued of the Lord his God yet he was sore humbled by affliction Ioh. 15.2.1 for euen those branches which are fruitfull God will purge to make them more fruitful Our nature is so rebellious that without sore afflictions it cannot bee tamed and subdued Stones cannot bee squared for Pallace worke without strokes of the hammer gold cannot be purged and prepared for worke without fire neither is corn separated from the chaffe without winde we are Gods corne let vs abide the winde of temptation to clense vs from the chafe of our corruption wee must suffer the fire of afliction that wee may bee fined and made vessels of honour for the house of God and we must be content that the hammer of God strike vpon vs to beat away the prowd lumps that so we may bee squared and made readie like liuely stones to be layd in heauenly Ierusalem By the which examples we may learne to know the will of the Lord and to seeke our helpe and safety at his hands which suffereth his people to bee exercised in the furnace of Egypt not to their vtter destruction but onely to kill the old man with his vain hope and confidence which hee hath in his owne strength this is the cause why God suffereth his people so to be exercised For it is not hearing reading talking or teaching onely which maketh a Christian man but practise is that which is further required in a true Christian That is to say the crosse to plucke downe the flesh and bring it to nothing that man dispairing of his owne strength and seeing no succour in himselfe should resigne himselfe wholy to the Lord looking with patience and hope for helpe at his hands To know this doctrine is one peece of the victory for they that know it not when temptations assayleth them either doe dispayre or seeke other helpes Let vs learne then out of this Psalme that it is the will of God to exercise his Saints with troubles and afflictions Iam. 1.12 Blessed is the man who endureth temptation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the Crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them who loue him Therfore this is a necessary conclusion our helpe is in the name of the Lord it is a short sentence but it setteth foorth most worthy doctrine and consolation whereof especially in these latter dayes we haue great need seeing the Pope together with the greatest part of the world so cruelly persecute the doctrine of the Gospel c. In respect of these huge mountaines what are we small mole-hils yea though they were no force nor powe of man for vs to feare how are wee able to stand against not onely so many Diuels but euen the very gates of hell also and yet this experience wee haue of the great mercy and goodnesse of the Lord our God that when we are euen in the hands and neuer so much oppressed yet are we not forsaken but are safe through our confidence and trust in his helpe but to this wisedome it is impossible for vs to attaine without continuall afflictions The fruit of afflictions Whereby it is necessary that the confidence of all worldly succours should be beaten downe for vexation and trouble bringeth vnderstanding as Isaiah sayth whereby we are compelled to cry Helpe Lord for else wee perish So in the last houre when death approcheth there is nothing wherein mans heart can repose it selfe or finde comfort but in the helpe of the Lord there is rest and quietnesse there is perfect peace he that can then say my helpe is in the name of the Lord and lay hold on Iesus Christ by a true and iustifying faith dyeth happily and is out of all danger Thus we may learne what it is to haue and enioy God euen to rest in sure trust of his mercyfull helpe and succour in all dangers these are the words therefore of a triumphing and victorious faith our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord which made heauen and earth as if he sayde the maker of heauen and earth is my God and my helper Ye see whither he flyeth in his great distresse hee dispaireth not but cryeth vnto the Lord as one yet hoping assuredly to finde reliefe and comfort rest thou also in this hope and doe as he did Dauid was not tempted to the end he should dispaire In the temptations of sinne and of the wrath of God what we ought to doe thinke not thou therefore that thy temptations are sent vnto thee that thou shouldest bee swallowed vp with sorrow desparation if thou be brought downe to the very gates of Hell beleeue that the Lord will surely rayse thee vp againe If so thou be bruised and broken know it is the Lord that will helpe thee againe If thy heart be full of sorrow and heauinesse looke for comfort from him who said Psal 51.17 That a troubled Spirit is a Sacrifice vnto him Thus hee setteth the eternall God the Maker of Heauen and Earth against all Troubles and Dangers against the flouds and ouerflowings of all Tentations and swalloweth vp as it were with one breath all the raging furies of the whole World and of Hell it selfe euen as a little drop of water is swallowed vp of a mightie flaming fire and what is the World with all his force and power in respect of him that made Heauen and Earth Let the World fret then let it rage then so that this succour neuer fayle vs and if it be the will of God that wee shall suffer Trouble and Affliction yet in him wee shall ouercome at length Onely happie and sure is the estate of that man who is in Christ neither Life nor Death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God in Christ Iesus Our helpe standeth in the Name of the Lord which hath made Heauen and Earth Hence I gather this Doctrine That no elect child of God that is truely regenerate and borne anew and a liuely member of Christs mysticall Body can perish and finally fall away Rom. 8.30 For whome hee predestinateth him hee calleth whom
hee calleth hee iustifieth whome hee iustifieth hee glorifieth The gift and calling of God is without repentance My sheep heare my voyce and follow me and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish Iohn 20.27 28.29 neither shall any man take them out of my hands And the reason is we beare not the roote but the root beares vs our saluatiō depends not vpon our selues for then indeed we were in danger to fall away euery moment of an houre but it dependeth vpon him because we are in him through him we grow and increase yea the older we be in Christ the more do we fasten our roote and floorish they which are planted in the courts of the Lord shall florish in their old age and bring forth much fruite Vse And whereas other branches are many times pulled from their stocke either by the violence of the winde by the hands of men or at least consumed by length of time it shall not be so with them that are in Christ for they are kept by him as the root bearing branches Because I am not altered nor changed therefore are you not consumed O yee sonnes of Iacob and therefore right happy is the state of that man who is in Christ Iesus For neither life nor death things present Rom. 8.18 nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God And this comfort is confirmed to vs by most sure arguments Arguments to proue a Christians perseueranee Phil. 1.6 The first is taken from the nature of almighty God he is faithfull which hath promised And I am perswaded saith the Apostle Rom. 6.9 that he who hath begun this good worke will performe it vntill the day of Christ Iesus The second is taken from the nature of that life which Christ communicateth to his members We know that Christ being raysed from the dead dyeth no more This life of Christ is communicated to vs so that it is not wee that liue in Christ but Christ in vs. The third is taken from the nature of that Seed whereof wee are begotten 1. Pet. 1.3 4. Wee are borne anew not a mortall Seede but of immortall Now as the Seed is so is the life that comes by that Seed Our life therefore must needes be immortall This confuteth a damnable Doctrine of the Papists who hold and reach That a man elected called iustified and sanctified may for euer fall away and bee damned that he which to day is the deare child of God to morrow may become the child of the Deuill to day a member of Christ to morrow a Limbe of the Deuill to day an heire of saluation to morrow an heire of damnation Now what Doctrine can be more deuillish and vncomfortable this is nothing else but to set vp a Gibbet to torment the poore soules of Gods children to ouerthrow the nature of Faith to make God feeble and weake 2. Pet. 1.10 Psal 15. or foolish and vnwise which is manifest Blasphemy But we see here the Word of God tells vs this cannot be Rom 8.1 8.35 for what shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Nothing This may serue to reproue another sort of men who are ready to abuse this Doctrine Tush sayth the carnall and loose Christian it skils not how a man liues whether well or ill he that is elected and is a member of Christ shall be saued and he that is reiected shall be damned though he liue neuer so well Therefore they take libertie to sinne and make no conscience of any sinne whatsoeuer But they must know that God decrees a man as well to the meanes as to the end and it is impossible a man should be elected and called but he must liue well so he that is not elected called cannot liue well And it is all one as if a man should neuer eate or drinke and yet hope to liue and like well or lying in the fire or water and vsing no meanes to come out should not perish But wee must know that the end and the means must goe together and for a man to neglect or reiect the means it is in vaine for him to hope to be saued for if thou belong vnto God thou shalt in time be called and sanctified and where this worke is not yet alreadie wrought that man is as yet in the state of damnation Our helpe is in the name of the Lord. Here is matter of endlesse comfort to euery child of God that truly repents beleeues in Iesus Christ that howsoeuer throgh the malice of Sathan the temptation of the Deuill the alluremēts of the world and the corruption of our flesh we may grieuously sin fall Rom. 8.1 yet there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ the gates that is Matth. 16.18 al the power of Hell shal not preuaile against vs. If euer thou foūdst the sound work of grace in thee thou foundst Iesus Christ to dwell in thy hart by faith so that thou hatest all sin desirest in all things to please God though Sathan rage storme and all the gates of Hel rise vp against thee yet thou mayest comfort thy selfe in the Lord and say with Paul There is no condemnation to me that am in Christ which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thou mayest triumph with Paul and say Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen And if God be with vs who can be against vs. And againe I am perswaded nothing can seuer me from the loue of God in Christ Iesus no not sinne nor death it selfe Oh happie then and blessed is the estate of that man who is in Christ neyther life nor death things present nor things to come shall separate him from the loue of God PSALME 125. They that put their trust in the Lord c. THe Psalme going before is a Thanks-giuing The argument of the Psalme or a Sacrifice of Prayse because the godly see and by experience feele that the Lord is faithfull and helpeth them in the time of need This Psalme following contayneth also in a manner the same matter for it pertayneth to the Doctrine of Faith and exhorteth the faithfull likewise to a sure trust and affiance in the helpe of the Lord in all their necessities whereunto hee stirreth them vp with great and excellent promises It may also easily bee vnderstood by that which wee haue said before for like as God maketh all things of nothing and of Darkenesse Light so hee worketh by his Word that in Death there is nothing but Life They then which sticke to the Word and Promise of God and follow the same doe finde it true which Dauid sayth Hee spake the Word and it was done But before wee can come to this experience we must abide some trouble and therefore haue need of such exhortation as this Psalme here setteth forth Verse 1. They that put their trust in the Lord
297 Comfort See Crosse Affliction Temptation Trouble and Sinne. Confidence In our greatest Mutations we must put our confidence in God 162 Constancie The constancie of Gods Children 147 Consideration so necessarie that without it no state of our life can be well ordered 382 384 Contempt Comfort against contempt of Men. 84 353 Conuersation In our Christian conuersation there must be a continuall progresse 247 Conuersion A true signe of conuersion 256 Corruption See Flesh Couetousnesse Many walke in the ruggie way of Couetousnesse 247 Creator Euery Creature in their kind sends vs to the Creator 239 Creature It is a vaine thing to take pleasure in the Creature 240 Crosse How a sanctified Crosse is discerned 96 D. DAnger breedeth feare without measure 23. Past by dangers are to be cald to mind 44 Day how it should be spent 320 Death The godly need not feare it 168. It is a Victorie if we suffer for Christ 396. Life and it two Twinnes 397 Degrees See Psalmes Deliuerance Publique Thanksgiuing required after it 15. Application of this to our Times especially to the Powder-Treason 16 17 c. In what sort we should be thankfull for Deliuerance from it 20 c. Gods Deliuerances to be remembred 28. God still deliuers his 60 109 176. Depart How the wicked depart from God 233. Desire Our perfection stands rather in desire then deeds 222. God still giue vs more then we desire ibid. Determination an helpe to godly conuersation 382 384 Despaire Wee should not dispaire for our grieuous sinnes and falls 250 E. ELect No elect Child of God can finally perish or fall away 125. We must labour to be in the number of the Elect. 273 End The end of a Christian better then his beginning 30. See accomplish men Enemies We are vnable of our selues withstand them 27. The faithfull still preuaile against their enemies 47. God preserueth hiâ— from all enemies 60. Dauids enemies described 70 F. FAith Not to trust to that which the eye seeth but to that which the word offereth and promiseth is a matter of Faith 157. The nature of Faith 148 Faithfull No force can preuaile against them 58. God hath a double care of them 186. Their state but weak being left vnto themselues 228 Fauour In what fort we should remember Gods fauour to vs. 44 Fall The child of God cannot finally fal away 125. What to bee done in our fals 249. We must not lye still in them 250. and must beware of falling againe 251 Flesh There is fleshly corruption in the Christian Militant but he followes it not 107 Sathans darts may afflict the flesh but cannot surmount the Spirit 173. He that walketh after the flesh encountreth with death 379 Fruits See Heart and Tongue G. GEntiles The Gentiles being pertakers of the deliuerance from sinne and death do magnifie God for it as well as the Iewes 295. 296. 299. They and the Iewes are become one Church 300 Gifts See Trouble God There is all things in God fit to be in one on whom we are to place our trust 140 Godly What the wicked are to the godly 87. They are esteemed in a miserable case by the wicked 149. Comfort for them when the wicked esteeme them not 179. What their state is in this world 353 Godlinesse True godlinesse indureth great temptations 96. It is great gaine 141. We must go on in the waies thereof vnto the end of our liues 385 386 Gospel Wee should comfort our selues with the Gospel when Sathan terrifieth with the law 292. The inestimable benefit of the Gosp 302 Goodnesse We must not trust to our owne power and goodnesse 231 H. HEart Who are the good and true of heart 207. The marke of a sanctified heart 214. We must offer the first fruits of our heart to God euery morning 313 Humilitie How humilitie is wrought in the godly 71 Hurt No hurt befals them whom Gods loue 86 I. IEwes and Gentiles are become one Church 300 Ignorance Many walke in the blind waies of Ignorance 243 Impatience See Affliction Ioy. The Ioy of the godly for their deliuerances 26. Especially their redemption by Christ Iesus 263. 264 c. The worldling hath no true Ioy 374. The ioy which God hath reserued for vs in heauen we must not expect to haue on earth 374. Ioy oftentimes faileth the most faithfull 357. The godly haue only true ioy 365 Iudgements Vpon the wicked to be remembred and taken heed of 88. 89. The remembrance of them hastens repentance 92 Iustification How to proue our Iustification 254 K. KIng The godly haue free accesse to the King of heauen 322 Knowledge Speculation a naked knowledge without experience and practise 289 L. LAughter See Gospel and Ioy. Law The office of the law of God 286 302. Sathan terrifieth with it 288. An answer fit to be giuen Sathan when he terrifieth with the Law 291 Life Our life lies open to Sathans snares 99. Three profitable helpes for a godly life 381. An exhortation to a godly life 401. Wee must prepare our selues for the life to come 377 387. Life and Death two twins 397 Lot The lot of the righteous what it signifieth 182 Loue. The vice of self-selfe-loue hard to be cured 404 M. MAn There is no cause why we should feare man 59. Because men cannot hurt vs vnlesse God permit it 399 Meanes See Saluation Mercy God compasseth his with his mercies 165. What mercies the godly doe chiefely esteeme 170. Gods mercies is with his Children in the house of death 160 Morning See Heart and Prayer Mortall Man is vaine and Mortall 79 Mourning The causes of mourning without vs 370. and within vs 371. Hardnesse of heart hinders it in this age 369. Reasons moouing vs to Mourning 358. The godly subiect to it in this life 360. If we mourne not now we shall not reioyce hereafter 366. The scoffers of Mourning reproued 366. 367 Mutations See Confidence N. NAme Our onely Sanctuary is in the name of the Lord in all our afflictions 115. Comfort against such as seeke to take away our good name 342 Nets See Snares O. OBiection See Question Occasion Wee must be carefull to auoid all occasions of doing euill 249 Office What the intent and office of Gods Law is 287 P. PEnitent A true penitent man walkes cleane contrary to his former course 237 People See Beleeuers Permission Without the permission of God neither the deuill 398. nor men can hurt vs. 399 Perils See Danger and Snare Persecutors We should not be dismaied though we see the Persecutors come to the end of their enterprises 390 Perseuerance Arguments to prooue Christian perseuerance 126. Confutation of the Papists in this point 128. We are constantly to perseuer in a religious course 202 252 Pope See Traditions Powder See Treason Prayer The Spirit of Grace and Praye must be ioyned together in the faithfull 306. The excellency and necessitie of Prayer 407. c. We must not bee weary or faint-hearted in Prayer though God deferre to make
compelled them to sigh and cry vnto God but the seruice which the regenerate man giues to the Lord is voluntarie done as vnto his most lawfull Superiour with gladnesse ioy and contentment of mind Happie is that man who can make this reply to his spirituall Aduersarie when hee is challenged of his sinnes Augustine It is true O enemie that I haue done many things by thy inticement yet herein I reioyce whatsoeuer seruice I haue done to thee it is now through the grace of God the matter of my griefe but the weake seruice I haue giuen vnto God is the matter of my ioy The comfort of a Christian militant in this body of sinne is rather in sinceritie and feruencie of his affections then in the absolute perfection of his actions Hee fayles many times in his obedience to Gods Precepts in regard of his action but loue in his affection still remaynes So that both before the Tentation to sinne and after it there is a Griefe in his Soule that hee should finde in himselfe any corrupt will or desire contrarie to the holy Will of the Lord his God The Snare is broken and we are deliuered Wicked men are subtill in inuenting wayes to hurt and craftily lay manie Snares wherein to trap me but my defence is in thee onely Dauid was in many most desperate dangers yet still hee found the Lord prouiding vnlooked for Deliuerances The strong Citie of Keilah could not defend him the Lord warned him to come out of it and hee was a shield vnto him The solitarie Wildernesse of Maon could not secure him for euen there Saul and his souldiers had compassed him but God had a care of him and turned his pursuers another way These the fore-passed experiences of Gods louing care and fauour towards him doe now confirme him to rest in God how many wayes soeuer his enemies pursue him Hee will still make the Lord his refuge Psal 119. and shield and trust in his word c. Therefore Dauid sayth in the Psalmes Psal 4. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in distresse implying that hee was in a strait and as it were strongly besieged with enemies or dangers but the Lord inlarged him and so preserued him Psal 25.15 He will bring my feet out of the Net The godly may be in as great danger as a silly Bird in a Net but the Lord will breake the Net that the Bird may escape who deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs 2. Cor. 1.10 in whom wee trust that hee will hereafter deliuer vs. First Gods care of his Children though it free them not from the exercise of Troubles yet it leaueth them not till hee haue deliuered them Can a Mother forget her Child shee may let it get a knocke and feare it with the sense of some danger but leaue it in danger shee cannot And who be they towards whom the Lord thinketh thoughts of peace or to whom he will remember mercy but Vessels of mercy Once haue I heard sayth Dauid yea twice Psal 72.11 that mercy belongs to God and therefore it is so true as it can neuer bee false once yea twice that is once by the Scriptures and another time by the Holy Ghost Secondly Gods promise is that he will not suffer his to be tempted aboue that they are able to beare and therefore at length they finde him Psal 73.2 As Dauid saith My feet were almost gone but not altogether The man of God may slip and slide and much adoe to keepe his feet but at worst his feete are but almost gone and this comes from Gods promise Thirdly Gods prouidence limiteth the times in which his Church shall suffer no longer sometimes a longer time as Israel in Egypt 400-yeares sometimes shorter seuentie yeares in the Babylonish captiuitie Reu 2.10 sometimes shorter then so ye shall suffer tribulation for ten dayes Sometimes three dayes as Ionas in the Whales belly and Christ in the graue sometimes but one night Sorrow may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning And sometimes there is but an houre for the power of darkenesse then Gods time is come and the godly see the saluation of the Lord. Lastly he deliuers them in their troubles by his presence First of power And so a 4. like the Son of God was in the furnace with the three children And it is sayd I will be with thee in sixe troubles and in seuen in fire and water Secondly of grace his right hand is vnder their heads he giues thē grace sufficient proportions their strength to the burthen mitigates their sorrow makes them possesse their soules in patience yea reioyce in sorrow which else would sinke them and at length recompenseth their light affliction with an eternall weight of glory Verse 7. Our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen and earth THis is the conclusion of thankes-giuing containing a worthy Sentence of great comfort that against sinne The name of the Lord is our onely sanctuary and succour in all afflictions the horror of death and other dangers their is no other helpe or safetie but onely the name of the Lord if that were not sayth he wee should fall into all manner of sinne blasphemy errors and into all kinde of calamities but our helpe is in the name of the Lord which preserueth our faith and our life against the diuell and the world And as ye heare in the other verses before so he sheweth in this verse also that God suffereth his Saints to be tempted and in their temptaion to fal into great distresse onely the word of the Lord sustaines vs and assureth vs that our light and momentary afflictions shall cause to vs at the length an infinite weight of glory These prayers of Dauid are penned with such heauenly wisedome that they are conuenient for the state of the whole Church and euery member thereof The Church is the bush that burnes with fire but cannot bee consumed euery member thereof beareth a part of the crosse of Christ neuer without some affliction we know that in afflictions it is some comfort to vs to haue our crosses knowne to such How God is a spectator and partaker with in all our afflictions as of whom we are assured that they loue vs it mitigates our dolour when they mourne with vs albeit they bee not able to helpe vs but the Christian hath more solid comfort to wit that in all his troubles the Lord beholds him like a king reioycing to see his owne seruant wrastle with the enemy he looks with a mercifull eye pittying the infirmity of his owne when he sees it and with a powerfull hand ready to helpe but because many a time the cloud of our corruption commeth betweene the Lord and vs lets vs not see his helping hand nor his louing face looking vpon vs wee haue neede to pray at such times with Dauid
wicked king Achab Wilt thou helpe them that hate the Lord Wee may turne to those in our time that are enemies to the children of God Wil ye hurt them whom the Lord helpeth The children of God in all their infirmities haue the holy Spirit for their helper it cannot then otherwise be but in the end comfort must â—e to them and confusion vnto their enemies 2. Chr. 19.2 onely let those who are troubled by the malice of the tongues of wicked men make sure to themselues that they haue the spirit of grace and of glory resting in them partaker with them of their afflictions then let them be assured that either their enemies shal become their friends or then the righteous Lord shall render vengeance vnto those that trouble them For euery cuppe of trouble which the wicked fill vnto vs they fill with their owne hand another cuppe of wrath vnto themselues which how euer for awhile they set by them yet as the Lord liueth they shall bee compelled in the end to drinke them out And as concerning the losse of worldly goods whosoeuer bee the instrument learne thou to take it as a cup out of the hand of thy heauenly Father after the example of Iob Iob. 1.21 who passing by the Sabeans and the Caldeans looked to the hand of God The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken sayth hee blessed bee the name of the Lord. It is not for lacke of loue that the mother withdrawes from the childe the vse of the Pappe but that shee may acquaint him with stronger meate and if the Lord take from vs these transitorie things it is not because wee are not beloued of him but that wee may set our hearts vpon those things which are more weightie and permanent which if wee doe then are our sufferings with him Who beeing rich became poore that in all things wee might bee made rich in him And the same are wee to doe in those troubles which wee sustaine in our bodyes Heb. 12.9 For if as the Apostle sayth wee haue had fathers of our bodyes who haue corrected vs and wee haue giuen them reuerence should wee not much rather bee in subiection to the father of spirits that we might liue And if wee can yeeld our bodyes to Physitions to be cut or burnt at their pleasure how much more should wee submit them to the Lord in all humble contentment to bee chastised as hee will seeing hee protests himselfe he doth it not but for our singular profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse There is nothing that may comfort a naturall man but Duuid had it yet cannot all these keepe him from that heauinesse whereunto as witnesseth S. Peter the children of God are subiect in this life through their manifold tentations the men of the world are so farre froÌ„ this disposition that if they haue health and wealth they maruell what it is should make a maÌ„ heauy they are not acquainted with the exercises of a feeling conscience they know not the defects of the spirituall life and are not grieued at them being dead in sin they feele not that they want life all their care is to eate and drinke and make merrie but miserable are they for in their best estate they are as Oxen fed for the slaughter woe to them that laugh now they shal mourne Mat. 5.5.6 but blessed are they who mourne now for they shall be comforted Therefore there is a time appointed wherein mourners shall be comforted Pro. 24.26 The iust man falleth seuen times a day that is into distresse and trouble but riseth againe The state of the godly in the Sea of this World is like the Sea Euripus that ebbes and flowes seuen times a day it ebbes no oftener then it flowes againe so the godly haue as many comforts as sorrowes According to the saying of our Sauiour Christ Ioh. 16.20 Ye shall indeed sorrow but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy It had beene a great comfort if Christ had onely promised that their sorrow should be mitigated and more to haue said it should be shortly ended but to say it shall be turned into ioy Comfort against contempt of men whereby they scorne the godly for sighing and teares ministreth abundant consolation and strength in the patient expecting of so happie a change And here because the prophane World makes a scorne of the contrite disposition of the godly laughing at their teares taunting them in their sighes and sobs let vs looke here to Dauid if it cannot alway be an argument to moue men to godlinesse yet is it forcible to moue God to mercy The broken heart for the griefe of Sinne and loue of Righteousnesse how euer the World despise it the Lord will not despise it yea it is the Sacrifice of God acceptable to him in Christ Iesus Seeing then that all they which will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution wee must hold fast this Consolation whereby we may as it were season these Afflictions namely that the Holy-Ghost doth here prophesie That wee must sowe in teares but biddeth vs be of good comfort notwithstanding for the more plentifull and bitter the teares be the greater laughter and ioy shall follow Like as he setteth forth also a contrary example The World soweth in laughter but afterwards it reapeth in euerlasting sorrow anguish and miserie But our Tentations and Afflictions doe here endure but for a little time Let vs therefore patiently suffer in hope that in stead of this painefull sowing for so small a time wee shall hereafter reape euerlasting ioy and blessednesse And this also bringeth great Consolation That albeit our whole Life be full of Sorrow bitter Afflictions and sowing altogether in Teares yet God will suffer no Tentations alwayes to continue but like as Stormes and Tempests haue their Seasons and afterwards commeth faire Weather as also after Labour followeth Rest and Quietnesse euen so experience doth teach vs that when our hearts haue beene vexed and oppressed with cogitations of Desparation Mistrust Impatience before God and the World for a day two or three or else longer God rayseth them vp againe with some Spirituall comfort therefore our afflictions are tempered with some consolations that we should know that God will not suffer vs to be altogether swallowed vp with sorrow He will correct vs as the Psalmist sayth but will not giue vs ouer vntill death Let vs learne therefore to know these things and that we must suffer Afflictions and sowe in Teares lest when Tentation commeth we be offended as though some new or strange thing were happened vnto vs and so flye from God and fall to dispaire and let vs hold fast this consolation that our Haruest is in Heauen euen Life euerlasting which we shall reape with ioy As the Wine fayled in that Banquet whereat Christ was present so oftentimes fayleth ioy euen in the heart where Christ dwelleth but as in the one
Bernard When we aske of God saith S. Bernard euen those things that concerne this present life our praiers are not so soone out of our mouth but they are written in his booke and we ought saith he to bee assured that he will either giue the thing it selfe which we haue asked or other things which hee knoweth to be more profitable for vs. To conclude Prayer is the most mightie and fruifull work of Charitie seeing by it we help our neighbours present and absent knowne and vnknowne great and little and that both with Spirituall and Corporall good things drawing by our Prayers the blessing of God vpon them Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his Will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ To whom be glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A NECESSARY Prayer for the great deliuerie from the Gun-powder Treason O Blessed Lord and euerliuing God whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Wee thy poore vnworthy Creatures do heere powre forth our hearts vnto thee that we may neither vngratefully remember thy gratious benefits nor vngratiously forget thy seuere Iudgements who both in the one and the other hast beene beyond all measure so gratious vnto vs. We thanke thee O Lord for all the externall and internall graces bestowed vpon vs the Spirituall and Corporall the Ecclesiasticall and Terrestiall blessings which we haue receiued O Lord thou knowest that without thy helpe we cannot auoid our ruine We beseech thee O Lord let this thy mercy towards vs and our great deliuerance daily put vs in minde to be thankfull vnto thee O God we were without all meanes to foreknow such a miserie and without all Iudgement to vnderstand such a mysterie haddest not thou O Lord of thy great loue to true Religion and mercy to vs giuen meanes to discouer it O Lord if this had not beene we had beene blowne vp we had beene smothered we had beene dismembred we had beene persecuted we had been vndone Wherefore good Lord seeing thou didst bring vs to the graues mouth but hast not giuen vs ouer vnto death wee haue imprinted in our minds the horror of the danger and excited our soules to thankefulnesse for the rescue and therefore wee prayse thee wee blesse thee wee worship thee wee glorifie thee and wee render to thee all thanks Honor and power wee ascribe vnto thee for this thy gracious preseruation And wee beseech thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome To this end wee beseech thee to blesse our gracious King Iames our supreme Head next vnder thee O Lord make all thy good to goe before him day and night vphold his Crowne maintaine his State giue him continuall peace long life and much happinesse mercifully heare him in all his Petitions and effectually worke for him in all dangers Furthermore we beseech thee to blesse our Noble Prince Charles the Prince Elector Palatine the Lady Elizabeth his Wife and their hopefull Issue and the righteous Cause and when it shall make most for thy glory and their good giue them victorie O Lord ouer all their Enemies And we entreat thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome thy assistance to the Gospell and euer blesse the Persons and Consultations of that High Court with holinesse safety that we may inioy our Liues Liuings our Religion our King and that his Off-spring after him may sit vpon his Throne till the comming of Christ Iesus to our comfort thy glory to whom we offer our selues our soules and bodies to be at thy seruice for euer and euer Amen Amen ¶ A Morning Prayer for a Familie O God of glorie and Father of mercy eternall and incomprehensible Maiestie in whom we sinfull Creatures doe liue mooue and haue our being fauourably heare our vnperfect Prayers and mercifully grant our needful suites We sinfull creatures doe sue vnto thee for grace hoping in thy mercie towards vs which is ouer all Keepe vs we beseech thee this day as thou hast kept vs this night past Keepe vs in thy feare faith and loue O Lord turne thy face from our sinnes wherein we haue so delighted and blot out all our misdeeds alter our hearts and wash and cleanse vs from all staines and corruptions in the blood of thy Sonne forgiue vs all that is past euen all the euill that wee haue done or thought and graunt vs the assurance of that forgiuenesse sealed vp in our Consciences by thy holy Spirit Kindle thy loue so feruently in our hearts that wee may detest whatsoeuer is against thee and thy Word Forgiue vs our great contempt and intollerable barrennesse in good workes our soule vnthankfulnesse and the abuse of thy graces and strike our stony Hearts with the Rod of thy feare that wee may attayne vnto a due thankfulnesse for thy benefites and a most vnfayned and earnest repentance for all our sinnes O Lord wee pray thee send thy blessing vpon all our labours and giue vs a willing minde to helpe them that haue neede according to our abilitie and so prepare our hearts in all our businesses that wee may alwayes begin it in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing that whatsoeuer wee shall doe it may prosper Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Mediator and Redeemer in whose Name wee further pray vnto thee saying that forme of Prayer that hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ An Euening Prayer for a Familie BLessing and glory and wisedome and thanksgiuing and power and might be vnto thee O Lord most high and immortall God for thy gracious goodnesse and mercie extended to vs this day past and alwayes notwithstanding all our Wickednesses which cry dayly against vs and our Enemies that would swallow vs vp Wee beseech thee O Lord be still our God and our Lord and continue thy gracious and mercifull fauour vnto vs forgiue vs all the euill that wee haue committed this day or any time heretofore teach vs to sorrow for our sinnes and separate them from vs that would separate vs from thee O Lord pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes remoue from vs those things which our Consciences are afraid of assure vs of thy gracious Pardon and renew vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may vnfainedly hate and detest whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee and graunt good Father that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee in holynesse and newnesse of life Bee thou our shield and defence against the suggestions illusions and temptations of Sathan against all the allurements and baits of the flesh with all alterations prouocations changes and chances of the world sanctifie vs with thy grace that we may keepe our bodyes