of thy goodnesse and for thy great Names sake we beseech thee take away our stony hearts and give us hearts of flesh enable us to repent what we have done and never more to do what we have once repented not fostering any one sin in our souls Reform and change our minds wills and affections which we have corrupted remove all impediments which hinder us from serving of thee and direct all our thoughts speeches and actions to thy glory as thou hast directed our eternal salvation thereunto Let not Satan any longer prevail in causing us to defer our repentance since we know that late repentance is seldom sincere and that sicknesse is no fit time for so And because infidelitie is the bitter root of all wickednesse and a lively faith the true mother of all grace and goodnesse nor are wee Christians indeed except we imitate Christ and square our lives according to the rule of thy Word Give us that faith which manifesteth it self by a godly life which purifieth the heart worketh by love and sanctifieth the whole man throughout Yea since if our faith be true and great a work as many have found that are now in Hell Neither is it reasonable thou shouldest accept of our feeble and decrepit old age when we have spent all the flower and strength of our youth in serving of Satan not once minding to leave sin until sin left us saving it can no more be severed from unfained repentance and sanctification then life can be without motion or the sun without light give us spiritual wisdom to try and examine our selvs whether we be in the faith or not that so we may not be deluded with opinion onely as thousands are Yea O Lord give us firmly to resolve speedily to begin and continually to persevere in doing and suffering thine holy will Inform and reform us so that we may neither mis-believe nor mis-live subdue our lusts to our wills submit our wills to reason our reason to faith our faith our reason our wills our selvs to thy blessed Word and Will Dispell the thick mists and clouds of our sins which corrupt our souls and darken our understandings separate them from us which would separate us from thee Yea remove them out of thy sight also we most humbly beseech thee as far as the East is from the West and in the merits of thy Son pardon and forgive us all those evils which either in thought word or deed we have this day or any time heretofore committed against thee whether they be the sins of our youth or of our age of omission or commission whether committed of ignorance of knowledge or against conscience and the many checks and motions of thy holy â—…pirit Discover unto us the emptinesse vanity and insufficiencie of the things here below to do our poor souls the least good that so we may be induced to set an higher price upon Jesus Christ who is the life of our lives and the soul of our souls considering that if we have him wee want nothing if we want him wee have nothing And now O Lord seeing thâ—… time approacheth which thou hast appointed for rest and because wee can neither wake nor sleep without thee who hast made the day and night and rulest both therefore into thy hands we commend our souls and bodies beseeching thee to watch over us this night and preserve Finally O Lord give unto us and increase in us all spiritual graces inlighten our minds with the knowledge of thy truth and inflame our hearts with the love of whatsoever iâ—… good that we may esteem it our meat and drink to do thy blessed will Give us religious thoughts godly desires zealous affections holy endeavours assured perswasions of faith stedfast waiting through hope constancy in suffering through patience and hearty rejoicing from love regenerate our minds purifie our natures turn all our joies into the joy of the Holy Ghost and all our peace into the peace of conscience and all our fears into the fear of sin that we may love righteousnesse with as great good will as ever we loved wickednesse and go before others in thankfulnesse towards thee as far as thou goest in mercy towards us before them  Give us victory in temptation patience in sicknesse contentment in poverty joy in distresse hope in us from all our spiritual and bodily enemies from thievs fire and from all other dangers troubles confidence in the hour of death give us alwaies to think and meditate of the hour of death the day of judgment the joies of heaven and the pains of hell together with the ransome which thy Son paid to redeem us from the one and to purchase for us the other so shall neither thy benefits nor thy chastisements nor thy Word return ineffectual but accomplish that for which they were sent until we be wholly renewed to the image of thy Son These things we humbly beg at thy fatherly hands and whatsoever else thou knowest in thy divine wisdome to be needful and necessary for our souls or bodies or estates or names or friends or the whole Church better then we ourselvs can either ask or think and that for thy Names sake for thy promise sake for thy mercies sake for thy Sons sake who suffered for sin and sinned not and whose righteousnesse pleadeth for our unrighteousnesse in him it is that we come unto thee in him we call upon thee who is our Redeemer our Preserver and our Saviour to whom with Thee and thy blessed Spirit be ascribed as is most due all honour glory praise power might majesty dominion and hearty thanksgiving the rest of this night following and for evermore Amen A Praier to be used at any time O Almighty Eternall most Glorious and onely wise God giver to them which want comforter of them which suffer and forgiver of them that repent whom truly to know is everlasting life Wee thy poor creatures acknowledge and confess unto thee who knowest the secrets and desires of all hearts that of our selvs we are not worthy to lift up our eyes to heaven much less to present our selves before thy Majesty with the least confidence that thou shouldest hear our praiers or accept of our services but rather that thou shouldest take these our confessions and accordingly condemne us to the lowest place in Hell for our continually we have used all our wisedom to commit the foolishness of sin our whole conversation hath been to serv Satan and fulfill the lusts of the flesh Wee even suck in iniquity like water and draw on sin as it were with cart-ropes  Neither is there any part power function or faculty either of our souls abusing thy mercy and those many means of grace which in â—…hy long suffering thou hast affoarded for our reclaiming Wee are the cursed seed of rebellious Parents wee were conceived in sin and born the children of wrath And whereas thou mightest have executed thy fierce displeasure upon us
hast done well to send me again to our School of Philosophy whereas if we finde but a little pleasure in our life we are ready to do at upon it Every small contentment glues our affections to that we like neither can we so heartily think of our home above whilest we are furnished with these worldly contentments But when God strips us of them straightways our minde is homeward If this world may be compared to Athens of which a Philosopher said that it was a pleasant City to travel through but not safe to dwell in If by smarting in our bodies states or names we are saved from smarting in our souls If it was good for Naaman that he was a Leper good for David that he was in trouble good for Bartimeus that he was blinde if with that Athenian Captain we should have perished for ever in case we had not thus perished for a while if our peace would have lost us in case we had not a little lost our peace Then refuse not the chastening of the Lord neither be grieved with his correction as Solomon adviseth Prov. 3. 11. And so much the rather 1 First because our strugling may aggravate cannot redress our miseries 2 Secondly because the Lord will be sanctified either of us or on us one of the two as Saint Anstine speaks 3 Thirdly because that is little which thou sufferest in comparison of what thou deservest to suffer for thou hast deserved to be destroyed and he that hath deserved hanging may be glad if he scape with whipping Besides as David told Saul he could as easily have cut his throat as he had his coat or as Caesar boasted to Metellus he could as soon make him hop headlesse as bid it be done so the Lord may expostulate with thee and much more Wherefore be patient I say but not without sense be not of those Stoicks stocks rather you may stile them who like beasts or rather like blocks lie under their burthen and account it greatest valour to make least ado and lay it as little as may be to heart For if you mean to be the Kings sonnes you must bring him the fore-skins of an hundred Philistines shew him the fruit of your former sufferings But above all let us not resemble the wicked who if affliction comes to them receive the curse with cursing and if the Devil throw but one crossâ—… to them they will take their souls and throw them again to him for they presently break out either into some cursed rage or into the rage of cursing or into some cursed action An usual thing when men are crossed by the creatures I might say their own husbands or children to fall a cursing and blaspheming them to whom we may say as the Prophet did to Sennacherib 2 Kings 19. 22. Whom hast thou blasphemed And against whom hast thou exalted thy self Even against the Holy One of Israel Whom are you angry withal Doth the rain and waters or any other creature displease you Alas they are but servants if their Master bid smite they must not forbear they may say truly what Rabshakeh usurped Are we come without the Lord Isai. 36. 10. Yea are we not sent of the Lord in love and to do you good and to give you occasion of rejoycing afterward if you bear the Cross patiently and make that use of it which others do and the Lord intends Yea Saint Paul could rejoyce even in tribulation But alas these are so far from rejoycing with that blessed Apostle that they rave in tribulation and like some beasts grow mad with baiting or like frantick men wounded who finding ingredients prepared to dress them tear them all in pieces But let us not be like them if Satan robs us of a bag of silver let not us call after him and bid him take a bag of gold also If he afflict thee outwardly yet surrender not to him the inward rail not at the Hangman but run to the Judge fret not with Joash 2 Kings 6. 33. but submit with Hezekiah Isai. 39. 8. When Gods hand is on thy back let thy hand be on thy mouth If thou beest wronged call not thine adversary to account but thy self and let it trouble thee more to do ill then to hear of it be more sorry that it is true then that it is known Yea neither rage at the Chirurgion as mad-men nor swoun under his hand as Milk-sops but consider with whom thou hast to do The Lord the Lord strong merciful and gracious slow to anger and abundant in goodness and truth reserving mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty but visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon childrens children unto the third and fourth generation Exod. 34. 6 7. And this if any thing will do It was before the Lord saith David and therefore I will be yet more vile Reproach in Gods service is our best preferment the Lord so noble the servant cannot be too bumble even Bucephalus that disdained any other rider in all his trappings would kneel down to his Master Alexander and go away Proud of his burthen Yea to go yet further let us with good old Eli who was a good son to God though he had been an ill Father to his sons even kiss the very rod we smart withall and say It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good for whatsoever seemeth good to him cannot but be good howsoever it seems to us Yea let us receive his stripes with all humility patience piety and thankfulness resolving as that holy Martyr John Bradford who said to the Queen how much more did he mean it to the great King of Heaven and Earth If the Queen will give me life I will thank her if she will banish me I will thank her if she will burn me I will thank her if she will condemn me to perpetual imprisonment I will thank her A man will easily swallow a bitter Pil to gain health The stomach that is purged must be content to part with some good nourishment that it may deliver it self of more evil humours and the Physician knows what is best for the Patient the Nurse better then the Infant what is good and fit for it Now the Tenant is more noble then the House therefore why are we not more joyed in this then dejected in the other since the least grain of the increase of grace is more worth then can be equalled with whole pounds of bodily vexation Yea let us take them as tokens and pledges of Gods love and favour who loves his Children so as not to make wantons of them They that would tame pamper'd Horses do add to their travel and abate of their provender as Pharaoh served the Children of Israel Which of us shall see pieces of Timber cut and squared and plained by the Carpenter or Stones hewn and polished by the Mason but will collect and gather that
favourably with thee touching thy naturall death hee is mercifull if not thou must not think him unjust Though the Devill and the world can hurt us aswell as other men in our outward and bodily estates as the Devill had power over Job in his Ulcers over his children in their death over Mary Magdalen that was possessed and over that daughter of Abrahams Luk 13. whom hee kept bound 18. years ver 16. yet they can do us no hurt nor indanger our souls they shall lose nothing but their dross as in Zachary 13. 9. Isa. 12. Let them sluce out our blood our souls they cannot so much as strike let wild beasts tear the body from the soul yet neither body nor soul are thereby severed from Christ. Yea they can neither deprive us of our spirituall treasure here nor eternall hereafter which makes our Saviour say Fear yee not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Helt Matth. 10. 28. The body is but the Bark Cabinet Case or Instrument of the soul and say it falls in pieces there is but a pitcher broken the soul a glorious Ruby held more fit to bee set in the crown of glory than here to bee troden under foot by dirtie swine and therefore so soon as separated the Angels convey her hence to the place of everlasting bliss Alas what can they do they cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Rom 8. 38. 39. Yea they are so far from doing us harm as that contrariwise wee are much the better for them In all these these things wee are more than conquerours through him that loved us ver 37. Whatsoever then becoms of goods or lives happie are wee so long as like wise Souldiers wee guard the vitall parts while the soul is kept sound from impatience from distrust c. Our enemie may afflict us hee cannot hurt us Objection Nevertheless that which I suffer is exceeding grievous Answer Not so grievous as it might have been for hee that hath afflicted thee for a time could have held thee longer hee that toucheth thee in part could have stricken thee in whole hee that laid this upon thy body hath power to lay a greater Rod both upon thy body and soul. Again there is no chastisement not grievous the bone that was dis-jointed cannot bee set right without pain no potion can cure us if it work not and it works not except it make us sick Nay my very disease is not so painfull for the time as my remedy how doth it turn the stomack and wring the in trails and work a worse distemper than that whereof I formerly complained neither could it bee so wholesome if it were less unpleasing neither could it make mee whole if it did not first make mee sick But wee are contented with that sickness which is the way to health There is a vexation without hurt such is this wee are afflicted not overpressed needy not desperate persecuted not forsaken caâ—…t down but perish not how should wee when all the evill in a City coms from the providence of a good God which can neither bee impotent nor unme cifull It is the Lord let him do what hee will Woe worth us if evills could come by chance or were let loose to light where they lâ—…st now they are over-ruled wee are safe In the name of God then let not the tall stature of the Anakims nor the combination of the Edomites nor the politick counsels of all the Achitopels and Machivillians nor the proud looks not the big words of all the Amaziahs combining themselvs together deter or dismay you Let not the over-topping growth of the sons of Zerviah seem too hard for you for God is infinitely more strong and mighty to save us than all our enemies are todestroy us and he hath his Oar in their Boat he hath a speciall stroke in all actions whatsoever and can easily over-reach and make stark fools of the wisest by making their own counsels and endeavours like Hushai's to overthrow those intentions which they seem to support As touching the continuance of afflictions God so ordereth and tempereth the same in his merciful wisdom that either they be tolerable or short either our sorrows shall not be violent or they shal not last if they be not light they shal not be long grievous and sore trialls last but for a season Pet. 1. 6. A little while Joh. 16. 16. Yea but a moment 2 Cor. 4. 17. Hee endureth but a while in his anger saith the Psalmist but in his favour is life weeping may abide for a night but joy cometh in the morning Psal. 30. 5. And this had hee good experience of for if we mark it all those Psalms whose first lines contain sighs and broken complaints do end with delight and contentment he began them in fear but they end in joy you shal see terrible anguish fitting in the door irremediable sorrow looking in at the window despair bordering in the margent and offering to creep into the text yet after a sharp conflict nothing appears but joy and comfort God loves to send relief when wee least look for it as Elisha sent to the King of Israel when he was rending his cloaths 2 Kings 5. 8. Hear what the Lord thy Redeemer saith by Isaiah For a moment in mine anger I hid my face from thee for a a little season but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee Isa. 54. 8. It is but a little for a moment that his anger lasts his mercy is everlasting and I hid my face never turn'd my heart from thee Ioseph when hee lay down to sleep was full of care about his Wives being with child Matt. 1. 20. but hee awakened well satisfied ver 24 To day a measure of fine flower is lower rated in Samaria than yesterday of dung Although Christ's Star left the wise-men for a time yet instantly it appeared again and forsook them not till they had found Christ which was the mark they aimed at Matt. 2. 9. Afflictions are like running waters which make many grounds fruitfull but tarry with none of them Yea it is a rule in nature that violent things cannot last long The Philosophers could observe that no motion violent is wont to bee permanent and Seneca concludes That if the sickness bee tedious and lasting the paiâ—… is tolerable but if violent short and so of spirituall temptations the which were so vehement upon Luther that the very venom of them drank up his spirits and his body seemed dead so that neither speech sence blood or heat appeared in him but this sharp fit lasted but for one day so if wee suffer much it shall not bee long if wee suffer long it shall not bee much Some misery is like a Consumption gentle but of long continuance other like a Fever violent but soon over If our sorrows be long
thou and thy money perish Thou wouldest go the naturall Way to work What shall I do to inherit eternall life but it is impossible to inherit it by any thing that wee can do for all our righteousnesses are as filthy ragges Isa. 64. 6. Yea if our doings could have done it Christ dyed in vain whereas if Christ had not died wee had perished every mothers child of us 1 Cor. 15. 22. and 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Ephes. 2. 1. Colos. 2. 13. Ezek. 18. 4. Job 11. 50. Rom. 5. 6. 8. and 14. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 3. Matth. 18. 11. O fool dost thou not know that our sins are his sins and his righteousness our righteousness Jer. 23. 6. Psal. 4. 1. and that God esteems of Faith above all other graces deeds or acts of thine as what did our Saviour answer when the people asked him What shall wee do that wee might work the works of God The work of God is that yee beleeve on him whom hee hath sent Joh. 6. 28 29. and yet thou talkest of thy worthiness and thou takest this for humility too but it is pride for if thou wouldest deny thy self and bee nothing in thine own eyes renounce thine own righteousness and wholly and onely rest on thy Saviour Jesus Christ for thy salvation thou wouldest not hope the more in regard of thine own worthiness nor yet doubt in respect of thine own unworthiness But thou wouldest first bee worthy and deserve of God and then accept of Christ and deserve Christ at Gods hands by thy good works and graces which pride of thine and opinion of merit is a greater sin then all thy other sins which thou complainest of and except you do abandon it and wholly râ—…ly upon the grace and free mercy of God for salvation Christ shall profit you nothing Gal. 2. 16. and 5. 1. to 7. Colos. 3. 11. for nothing is available to salvation but faith which worketh by love Gal. 5. 6. whence it is called righteousness through faith ver 5. Faith is the staffe whereupon wee stay our selvs in life and death by saith wee are blessed Gal. 3. 9. by faith wee rejoice in tribulation Rom. 5. 2. by faith wee have access unto God Ephes. 3. 12. by faith we overcome the world 1 Joh. 5. 4. the flesh Gal. 5. 24. and this is the shield whereby wee quench the fiery darts of Satan and resist his power Ephes. 6. 16. Yea whosoever seeks to bee justified by the Law they are abolished from Christ and â—…aln from grace Gal 5. 4. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and bee not tangled again with the yoke of bondage And say Lord wee are not worthy to bee servants and thou makest us sons nay heirs and co-heirs with thee of everlasting glory Objection I grant the Lord is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and abundant in goodness and truth forgiving iniquity transgression and sin but hee is just aswell as mercifull and therefore hee will not acquit the wicked Exod. 34. 6. 7. but reward them according to their works Revel 20. 12. 13. and 22. 12. Answer Hee will therefore pardon all thy sins if thou unfainedly â—…pent and wholly rely upon Christ for thy salvation by a lively saith because hee is just for as the Lord cannot in justice let sin go unpunished for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. Death in the person if not in the surety and therefore hath punished the sins of all men either in his Son or will throughly punish them in the parties themselvs so the same justice will not admit that the same fins should be twice punished once in our Saviour and again in the faithful or that a debt once paid should be required the second time 1 Joh. 1. 9. Now that Christ hath sufficiently satisfied for all the sins of the faithful and paid our debt even to the utmost farthing it is evident by many places of Scripture as Isa. 53. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Heb. 9. 26. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 3. 25. 26. 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. and sundry others Are we bound to perform perfect obedience to the Law hee performed it for us were wee for disobedience subject to the sentence of condemnation the curse of the Law and death of body and soul hee was condemned for us and bore the curse of the law hee died in our stead an ignominious death did wee deserve the anger of God hee indured his fathers wrathfull displeasure that so he might reconcile us to his father and set us at liberty Hee that deserved no sorrow felt much that wee who deserved much might feel none and by his wounds wee are healed Isa. 53. 5. Adam eat the Apple Christ paid the price In a word whatsoever wee owed Christ discharged whatsoever we deserved he suffered if not in the self same punishments for hee being God could not suffer the eternall torments of Hell yet in proportion the dignity of his person being God and Man giving value unto his temporary punishments and making them of more value and worth than if all the world should have suffered the eternall torments of Hell for it is more for one that is eternall to die than for others to die eternall Therefore was the Son of God made the Son of man that the Sons of men might bee made the Sons of God and therefore was hee both God and man lest being in every respect God he had been too great to suffer for man or being in every respect man hee had been too weak to satisfie God Seeing therefore our Saviour Christ hath fully discharged our debt and made full satisfaction to his Fathers justice God cannot in equity exact of us a second paiment no more than the Creditor may justly require that his debt should bee twice paid once by the Surety and again by the Principall Again secondly it is the Lords Covenant made with his Church and committed to writing Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 10. 16 17. Psal. 32. 10 Isa. 55. 7. Ezek. 18. 21 22 23. and 33. 11. Mal. 3. 17. Confirmed and ratified by his seals the Sacraments together with his Oath that there might be no place left for doubting for God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of promise the stableness of his counsell bound himself by an oath that by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that God should lie we might have strong consolation as the Apostle speaks Heb. 6. 17. 18. And â—…est the affâ—…icted conscience should object that hee entred into covenant and made these promises to the Prophets Apostles and holy men of God but not to such hainous and rebellious sinners who have most justly deserved that God should pour out upon them the Vialls of his wrath and those fearfull punishments threatned in the Law All the promises made in the Gospel are generall indefinite and universall excluding none that turn from their fins by unfained repentance and beleeve in Christ
enough withoâ—… him Luk. 1. 53. Matth. 15. 24. And yet it is strange yea a wonder to see how many truly humbled sinners who have so tender conscienceâ—… that they dare not yield to the least evill for the worlds goods and refuse no means of being made better turn every 〈◊〉 into reprobation every dejection into rejection and if they bee cast down they cry out they are cast away who may fitly bee compared to Arâ—…emon in Plutarch who when ever hee went abroad had his Iervants to carry a Canopy over his head least the heavens should fall and crush him or to a certain foolish melancholly Bird which as some tell stands always but upon one leg least her own weight should sink her into the Center of the Earth holding the other over her head least the Heavens should fall Yet bee not offended I cannot think the worse of thee for good is that fear which hinders us from evill acts and makes us the more circumspect And God hath his end in it who would have the sins to dye but the sinner to live Yea in some respect thou art the better to bee thought of or at least the less to bee feared for this thy fear for no man so truly loves as hee that fears to offend as Salvianus gloâ—…es upon those words Blossed is 〈◊〉 man that feareth alway And which is worth the observing this fear iâ—… a commendation often remembred in holy Scripture as a speciall and infallible mark of God's Children as for example Iob saith the holy Ghost was a just man and one that feared God Job 1. 1. Simeon a just many and one that feared God Luk 2. 25. Corneâ—…us a devout man and one that feared God Acts 10. 2. And so of Father Abraham a man that feared God Gen. 22. 12. Ioseph a man who feared God Gen. 42. 18. The Mid-wives in Egypt feared God Exod. 1. 17. So that evermore the fearing of God as being the beginning of wisdom is mentioned as the 〈◊〉 note which is as much as to say if the fearing of God once go before working of righteousness will instantly follow after according to that of the wise man Hee that feareth the Lord will do good And this for thy comfort when Mary Magdalen sorrowed and wept for her sins Luke 7 50. Christ tells her Thy faith hath made the whole intimating that this weeping this repenting saith is faith indeed And the like to the Woman with the bloody issue who presuming but to touch the hem of his garment fell down before him with fear and trembling Mark 5. 27 to 35. And that humble Canaaniâ—…e Matth 15. 22. to 29. And that importunate blind man Luke 18. 38. to 43. As if this humble this praying saith were onely the saving faith Neither can thy estate bee bad for as Saint Ambrose told Monica weeping for her seduced Son Fieri non potest ut filius istarum lachrymarum pereat It cannot bee that the son of those tears should ever perish Wherefore lift up thy self thou timorous fainting heart and do not suspect every spot for a plague token do not dye of a meer conceit for as the end of all motion is rest so the end of all thy troubles shall bee peace even where the days are perpetiall Sabbaths and the diet undisturbed feasts But as an empty vessell bung'd up close though you throw it in to the mid'st of the Sea will receive no water so all pleas are in vain to them that are deas'ned with their own fears for as Mary would not bee comforted with the â—…ight and speech of Angels no not with the sight and speech of Jesus himself till hee made her know that hee was Jesus so untill the holy Spirit sprinkleth the conscience with the blood of Christ and sheddeth his love into the heart nothing will do No creature can take off wrath from the conscience but hee that set it on Wherefore the God of peace give you the peace of God which passeth all understanding Yea O Lord speak thou Musick to the wounded conscience Thunder to the feared that thy justice may reclaim the one thy mercy relieve the other and thy favour comfort us all with peace and salvation in Jesus Christ. Section 8. But secondly if this will not satisfie call to thy remembrance the time past and how it hath been with thee formerly as David did in thy very case Psalm 77. 2. to 12. And likewise Joh Chapter 13. for as still waters represent any object in their bottome clearly so those that are troubled or agitated do it but dimly and imperfectly But if ever thou hadst true faith begotten in thy heart Joh. 1. 13. by the ministry of the Word Romans 10. 17. Jam. 1. 18. 21. and the Spirits powerfull working with it Joh. 3 3 5 8. whereby thine heart was drawn to take Christ and apply him a Saviour to thine own soul so that then wert forced to go out of thy self and rely wholly and onely on his merits and that it further manifested it self by working a hatred of sin and an apparent change in thy whole life by dying unto sin and living unto righteousness and that thou hast not since returned to thine old sins like the Dog to his vomit if it hath somtime brought forth in thee the sweet friat of heavenly and spirituall joy if it hath purified thine heart in some measure from noysome lusts and affections as secret pride self-self-love hypocrisie carnall confidence wrath malice and the like so that the spirit within thee fighteth against the flesh If thou canst now say I love the godly because they are godly 1 Joh. 3. 14. and hast an hungring after Christ and after a greater measure of heavenly and spirituall graces and more lively tokens of his love and favour communicated unto thee My soul for thine thou hast given false evidence against thy self for as in a gloomy day there is so much light whereby wee may know it to bee day and not â—…ight so there is something in a Christian under a cloud whereby hee may bee discerned to bee a true beleever and not an hypocrite But to make it manifest to thy self that thou art so Know first that where there is any one grace in truth there is every one in their measure If thou art sure thou hast love I am sure thou hast faith for they are as inseparable as fire and heat life and motion the root and the sap the Sun and its light and so of other graces Or dost thou feel that Christ is thy greatest joy sin thy greatest sorrow that when thou canst not feel the presence of the spirit in thy heart thou goest mourning notwithstanding all other comforts Assuredly as that holy Martyr said if thou were not a wedding Child thou couldest never so heartily mourn for the absence of the Bridegroom Thus I might go on but a few Grapes will shew that the Plant is a Vine and not a Thorn Take but notice of this
and severall graces will one strengthen another as stones in an Arch. As for example Master Peacock Fellow of a House being afflicted in conscience as thou art and at the point of despair when some Ministers ask'd whether they should pray for him answered By no means do no so dishonour God as to pray for such a Reprobate as I am but his young Pupill standing by said with tears in his eyes Certainly a Reprobate could never bee so tender of Gods dishonour which hee well considering was thereby comforted and restored when neither hee with his learning nor any other Ministers with their sage advice could do any good Again secondly if ever thou hadst true faith wrought in thy heart bee not discouraged for as the former graces shew that thou hast with Mary made choice of that better part which shall never bee taken from thee So this grace of faith is Christ's wedding Ring and to whomsoever hee gives it hee gives himselfe with it wee may lose the sence but never the essence of it It may bee eclipsed not extinguished Fides concussa non excussa The gifts and calling of God are without repentance as it is Rom. 11. 29. Friends are unconstant riches honours pleasures are unconstant the world is unconstant and life it self is unconstant but. I the Lord change not Malachi 3. 6. In a swound the soul doth not excercise her functions a man neither hears nor sees nor feels yet shee is still in the body The Frantick man in his mad fits doth not exercise reason yet hee hath it â—…e loseth the use for a time not the habit Yea a sober man hath not always the use of his sences reason and understanding as in his sleep shal we therefore conclude that this man is senceless unreasonable and without understanding it were most absurd for if we have patience but a while our argument will appear manifestly false Trees and so wee are fitly called bee not dead in Winter which resembles the time of adversity because the sap is shut up in the root and confined thither by the cold frosts that they cannot shew themselvs in the production of leavs and fruits for by experience wee know that for the present they live and secretly suâ—… nourishment out of the earth which maketh them spring and revive again when Summer coms Yea even whiles they are grievously shaâ—…on with the winds and nipped with cold frosts they are not hurt thereby but contrarily they take deeper root have their worms and cankers kill'd by it and so are prepared made fit to bring forth more fruit when the comfortable Spring approaches and the sweet showres and warm Sun-beams fall and descend upon them Elementary bodies lighten and darken cool and warm die and revive as the Sun presents or absents it self from them And is not Christ to our souls the onely Sun of reghteousness and 〈◊〉 of all comfort so that if hee withdraw himself but a little wee become like plants in the Winter quite withered yea in appearance stark dead 〈◊〉 or like Trees void both of leavs and fruits though even then there remains faith in the heart as sap in the root or as pre raked up in the ashes Which faith though it bee not the â—…ie strong yet it is the like precious faith to that of Abrahams whereby to lay hold and put on the perfect righteousness of Christ. The Woman that was diseased with an issue did but touch and with a trembling hand and but the hem of his garment and yet went away both healed and comforted Well might I doubt of my salvation says Bradford feeling the weakness of my faith love hope c. if these were the causes of my salvation but there is no other cause of it or of his mercy but his mercy Wherefore hast thou but a touch of sorrow for sin a spark of hope a grain of faith in thy heart thou art safe enough The Anchor lyeth deep and is not seen yet is the stay of all The Bladder blown may float upon the flood But cannot sink nor stick in fi lt by mud But thou dreamest of a saith without doubling which some doungly boast they have but as no righteousness can bee perfect without sin so no assurance can bee perfect without doubting Take the evenest ballances and the most equall weights yet at the first putting in there will bee some in-equality though presently after they settle themselvs in a just poyse Sin is a cloud that often hinders the Sun from our eyes yet it is still a Sun the vision or feeling of this comfort may bee somtime suspended the Union with Christ is never dissolved An usuall thing with beleevers to have their ebbing and flowing waxing and waning Summer and Winter to bee somtimes so comfortable and couragious that wee can say with David Though I were in the valley of death yet would I fear none ill Psal. â—…3 4. otherwhiles again so deaded and dejected in our spirits that wee are like him when hee said One day I shall die by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. Somtimes so strong in faith that wee can overcome the greatest assaults and with Peter can walk upon the swelling waves by and by so faint and brought to so low an ebbe that wee fall down even in far less dangers as Peter began to 〈◊〉 at the rising of the winde Matth. 14. 29. 30. And indeed if the wings of our faith bee clipp'd either by our own sins or Satans temptations how should not our spirits lye groveling on the ground Sect. 9. But thirdly and lastly for I hasten suppose thou art at the last cast even at the very brink of despair and that thy conscience speaks nothing but bitter things of Gods Wrath bell and damnation and that thou hast no feeling of faith or grace yet know that it is Gods use and I wish wee could all take notice of it to worke in and by contraries For instance in creating of the world hee brought light out of darkness and made all things not of somthing but of nothing clean contrary to the course of Nature In his preserving of it hee hath given us the Rain-bow which is a signe of rain as a certain pledge that the world shall never the second time bee drowned Hee caused Elias his sacrifice to burn in the mid'st of water and fetcheth hard stones out of the mid'st of thin vapours When he meant to blesse Jacob hee wrestled with him as an Adversary even till he â—…amed him When he meant to preferr Joseph to the Throne hee threw him down into the Dungeon and to a golden chaine about his neck he laded him with â—…on ones about his legges Thus Christ opened the eyes of the blind by annointing them with clay and 〈◊〉 more likely to put them out And would not cure Laxarus till after hee was dead buried and stunk again no question to reach us that wee must bee cast down by the Law before wee can
for after an ill harvest wee must sow and after dâ—…ls woe must woâ—… God Yea if it bee possible with the Woman of Canaan let delays and seeming denialls encrease the strength of thy cries And commonly they bee earnest suits which issue from a troubled soul like strong streams in narrow straights which bear down all that stands in their way Nothing so strong as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah â—…or it overcame the roaring Lyon yet the Praier of Faith from the knees of humility and a broken heart will conquer even that Conquerour Matth. 15. 28. And thus you see that nothing can befall us without the speciall appointment of our good God who not only takes notice of our sufferings but sweetneth them with his presence takes our part stints our enemies and so ordereth the whole that our grief is either short or tolerable and that though hee is oftentimes harsh in the beginning and progress and late in coming yet hee coms on the sudden and is always comfortable in the conclusion And lastly that if hee deser his help it is on purpose that our trialls may bee perfect our deliverance welcome our recompence glorious And may not this comfort thee CHAP. 37. That stripes from the Almighty are speciall tokens and pledges of his adoption and love 3 WEe shall bear the Cross with more patience and comfort if wee consider that stripes from the Almighty are so far from arguing his displeasure that contrarily there are no better rokens and pledges of his Adoption and love As many saith God as I love I rebuke and chasten Rev. 3. 19. My Son saith the Author to the Hebrews out of Solomons Proverbs Despise not the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou aâ—…t rebuked of him for whom the Lord loveth bee chasteneth and hee scourgeth every son whom hee receiveth If you endure chastening God offereth himself unto you as unto sons for what son is it whom the Father chastenith not If therefore yee bee without correction whereof all are partakers then are yee bastards and not soâ—…s Heb. 12. 5. to 13. Prov. 3. 11. 12. Hee is a Thistle and not good Corn that cometh not under the â—…ail Yea what use of the grain it self if it pass not the edg of the sickle the stroak of the â—…ail the wind of the Fan the weight of the â—…ilstone the heat of the oven Many a mans fellicity driveth him from God and where happiness domiâ—…eereth virtue is commonly banished And doth not experience shew that fear and joy sweet and sowr sharp and flat one with another do better than either alone for if you bee too 〈◊〉 you make the child a fool if â—…oo fond a wanton The â—…ridle governs the horse the spur quickens him the weight upon the line makes the Jack go the oil upon the wheel makes it go glib and â—…imble The sayls give the speed the ballast steadiness to the motion of the shhip And hereupon God weighs out to us our favours and crosses in an equall ballance and so tempers our sorrows that they may not oppress and our joys that they may not transport us Each one hath some matter of envie to others and of grief to himself Thou dealest mercifully with us lest wee should fall from thee and despair thou beatest us lest wee should forget thee and so perish saith Saint Austin Hee that knows our frame knows wee are best when wee are worst and live holiest when wee are miserablest wherefore by affliction hee separates the sin that hee hates from the sinner whom hee loves and wee are by much the better for this scouring It is the wont of Fathers to hold in their Children when they suffer the children of bond-men to go at large and do as they list yea when diverse children are playing the wantons if wee see a man take one from the rest and whip him soundly we conclude that alone to be his Child Yea wise and discreet Fathers will force their Children earnestly to apply themselvs to their study or labour and will not let them bee idle although it bee holy-day yea constrain them to sweat and ostentimes â—…o weep when their Mothers would set them on their laps and keep them at home all day in the shadow for burning their white Jacob is bound Apprentice while prophane Esau rides a hunting of Elkanah his two wives Hanna was in more esteem with God yet barren and Peninnah less yet shee was fruitfull 1 Sam. 1. They were all gross inconsequences for Gedeon to argue Gods absence by affliction his presence by deliverances and the unlikely-hood of success by his own disability Judg. 6. 13. 15. It is no argument that Christ is not in the Ship because tempests and storms arise The valiant man was here weak weak in saith weak in discourse for rather should hee have inferred Gods presence upon their correction for wheresoever God chastiseth there hee is yea there hee is in mercy nothing more proves us his than his stripes hee will not bestow whipping where hee loves not fond nature indeed thinks God should not suffer the wind to blow upon his dear ones because her self makes this use of her own indulgence but none out of the place of torment have suffered so much as his dear Children If hee had said wee are Idolaters therefore the Lord hath forsaken us because wee have forsaken him instead of the Lord hath delivered us unto the â—…ianites therefore hee hath forsaken us the sequell had been as good as now it 's faulty for sins not afflictions argue God absent Yea commonly the measure of our sufferings is according to the measure of grace in us and Gods love to us Hee is a chosen vessell unto mee saith God to Ananias touching Paul therefore hee must suffer great things for my sake Act. 9. 15. 16. Job for a righteous and upright man had no fellow by the testimony of God himself Job 1. 8. Yet the next news we hear of him Job is afflicted in his Sons in his substance in his body from the crown of the head to the soal of the foot Saint Austin when God called him was far more assaulted by Satan than Alippius because God had endued him with greater learning and gifts and intended him an instrument of bringing more glory to his Name And lastly as Christ was annointed with the oil of gladness above his sellows Psal. 45. 7. so hee was annointed with the oil os sadness above his fellows as was his back so was his burthen as were his parts so were his passions and his stroaks answerable to his strength Never any have had so bitter draughts upon earth as those he loves best and that of Saint Austin is a sure rule whom God smites not hee loves not If hee do not think thee worthy of his Rod he will never think thee worthy of his Crown Yea where he uses not the Rod he means to use the Sword Never was Jerusalems condition so desperate as
part of her silver to the Lord but now she hath lost it shee falls a cursing Judg. 17. 1 2 3. Cataline whiles poor had many seeming virtues but having feathered his nest you could hardly say whether he was most lavish of his money or of his modesty But to be equally good in a prosperous and adverse condition deservs praise When our resolution and practice is like that Maids in Plutarch who being set in the Market to be sold when a Chapman askt her Wilt thou be faithful if I buy theeâ—… said Yea that I will though you do not buy me Wee all are never weary of receiving soon weary of attending we are ready to shrink from Christ so soon as our profits or pleasures shrink from us But if with the Needle of the Compasse in the midst of tempestuous weather we remain alwaies unmoveable and staied upon one point it is a signe the Loadstone of the Gospel hath changed our hearts and we are governed by Christ as the Needle is by the North-Pole Wherefore if God should not frame outward things to thy minde do thou frame thy mind to endure with patience and comfort what he sends and this will be an Odour smelling sweet a Sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God yea herein thou shalt approve thy self with David a man after God's own heart and you know that as David was unto God according to his heart so was God unto David according to his CHAP. 40. Application of the former grounds ANd so you have the residue of the grounds of comfort it remains that I should apply them For this Doctrine though it be better understood then practised as Cassandra was better known than trusted yet being both known applied and duly trusted to will like the Sun not onely delight our understandings with its contemplation but also warm and quicken our affections Wherefore is there any weak Christian so whiteâ—…ver'd with Nicodemus that the reproaches and Persecutions which attend his profession make him ashamed of Christ or cause him to think that it is in vain to serve the Lord whereby he is frighted our of the narrow way that leadeth to life Let him draw near for I chiefly direct my speech unto him Are afflictions and persecutions so necessary and profitable as hath been shewed Doth not God onely gain glory by our sufferings but do they also bring us to repentance and amendment of lâ—…fe stir us up to praier wean us from the love of the world keep us alwaies prepared for our enemies assaults discover whether we are sincere or no make us humble improve all Christian graces in us Is God more specially present with us in afflictions Cannot our enemies diminish one hair of our heads without God's special leave and appointment Hath he promised that we shall not be tempted above our strength Are these stripes the chiefest tokens and pledges of God's love and adoption Were none of his children ever exempted from the like And lastly shall our momentany sufferings be rewarded with everlasting glory Yea shall our glory be increased as our sufferings have been more Then let them serve as so many â—…estoratives to thy fainting spirit yea Lift up thy hands which hang down and strengthen thy weak knees Heb. 12. 12. For I suppose thy fainting and drooping is from fear and thy fear from doubting and thy doubting from unbelief and thine unbelief chiefly from ignorance of these things and whence is thine ignorance of these but this Thou hast never been conversant in the book of God or if thou hast thou didst never seriously ponder these Scriptures which have formerly been rehearsed for hadst thou seriously considered them thou wouldst not have dared to make that an occasion of grief and prejudice which the Spirit of God maketh the greatest cause of joy and confirmation that can be For what can be spoken more expresse direct and significant What demonstrations can be given more sollid What Fortifications or Bulwarks so strong and safe agaiest the affronts of Satan and the World Thou saiest thou art persecuted for well-doing and therefore thinkest it a strange thing God saith it is and ever hath been common to all his children not Christ himself excepted Take notice of these things for it is the God of all truth and blessednesse that speaks them and apply them to thy self as if they were particularly spoken to thee by name even as when twenty be in a room where is a fair well-drawn picture every one thinks the picture looâ—… upon him and have not more modestie or manners in leaving those dishes for thy betters than will do thee good Be not like a Monkey which looking in a glasse thinks he sees another Monkeys face and not his own And know withall that it is no small sin even to doubt when we have God's command and warrant to secure us Thou thinkest thy self miserable God saith thou art blessed Thou saiest thou art hated of the world God saith thou art beloved of Christ who hath chosen thee out of the world Thou thinkest it a shame to be reproached God saith It is thy glory Thou grievest at it God saith thou hast great cause to rejoice for it sheweth thee to be born of God thine enemies to be the seed of the Serpent Thou saiest that all things go crosse with thee God saith That all things shall work together for the best it may be the increase of thy temporal happinesse however that it shall bee for the improvement of thy graces here for the advancement of thy glory hereafter Thou thinkest it a sign of displeasure God saith it is to thy Enemies a token of perdition but to thee of salvation Thou thinkest thy self near forsaken God saith The spirit of glory and of God resteth upon thee Thou saiest thou shalt one day perish God saith that neither things present nor things to come shall ever be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thou thinkest the Lord doth not hear thee because he doth not presently answer thee in the things that thou requirest I tell thee it were ill jor the best of us if we were permitted to be our own choosers Let Peter have his desire and his Master shall not die so Peter himself and the whole world had been lost In unfit supplications we are most heard when we are repelled our God often times doth answer our praiers with merciful denials and most blesseth us in crossing our desires We may ask either bad things to a good purpose or good things to a bad purpose or good things to a good purpose but in an ill season Now if we ask what is either unfit to receive or unlawful to beg it is a great favour of our God to be denied granting is not alwaies the effect of love if so then had Paul been lesse loved then Satan Satan begg'd but once and had his paier granted concerning Job S. Paul begg'd thrice that he might not
be buffeted yet was denied Satan beg'd his shame who envied his successe Saint Paul that freedom from temptation which would have been worse had then wanted yea if granting were alwaies an effect of love then was our blessed Saviour lesse loved than Satan for the Lord would not let the Cup of his Passion passe from him upon his earnest praier which he made as he was Man But you must know that denials in some cases are better than grants the Lord will not take away the body of sin from us upon our earnest praiers yet he granteth us that which is equivalent viz. Grace to subdue our corruptions and withall takes away the occasion of pride which is better for certainly he is more supported of God that hath grace given him to conquer a temptation as had the Martyrs in being able to suffer those tortures than another who is excused to fight Again we must not measure God's hearing of our suit by his present answer or his present answer by our own sense touching the first Zachary a long time failed of a Son for all his Praier but when he had even forgot that Praier he had a Son the Angel brings him good news Luk. 1. 13. Thy Praier is heard When did he make this Praier Not lately for then he was grâ—…n old and had given over all hope of a child so that his request was past over many years and no answer given The like example we have in Hannah who powring out her soul before the Lord in the trouble of her spirit God did not immediately tell her by revelation that she should conceive a Son but he gave her for the present faith which did work in her joy and peace of conscience for saith the text she looked no more sad and when shee had waited his leisure a certain time The Lord remembred her with a Son 1 Sam. 1. There is nothing between God and thee but time prescribe not his wisdom hasten not his mercie now his grace is enough for you his glory shall be more than enough hereafter Tarry a little the Lords leisure deliverance will come peace will come joy will come thy tears are reserved thine hunger shall be satisfied thy sorrow shall be comforted In the mean while to be patient in misery makes misery no misery while we consider that when a little brunt is once past troubles will cease but joies shall never cease Wherefore let us never give over but in our thoughts knit the beginning progresse and end together and then shall we see our selves in Heaven out of the reach of all our enemies 2. To prove that wee are not to judge of Gods answering our praiers by our own sence I need but to instance the woman of Canaan as what can speed well if the praier of faith from the knees of humility succeed not and yet behold the further she goes the worse she fares her discouragement is doubled with her suit It is not good saith our Saviour to take the childrens bread and cast it to dogs here was cold comfort yet stay but a while he clears up his brows and speaks to her so comfortably that 't were able to secure any heart to dispel any fears O Saviour how different are thy waies from ours when even thy severity argues favour The trial had not been so sharp if thou hadst not found the saith so strong if thou hadst not meant the issue so happie It is no unusual thing for kindnesse to look sternly for the time that it may indear it self more when it lists to be discovered It was cold comfort that the Cripple heard from Peter and John when he begg'd of them an alms Silver and gold have I none but the next clause vise up and walk made amends for all O God! we may not alwaies measure thy meaning by thy semblance sometimes what thou most intendest thou shewest leastâ—… In our afflictions thou turn'st thy back upon us and hidest thy face from us when thou most mindest our distresses So Jonathan shot the arrows beyond David when he meant them to him So Joseph calls for Benjamin into bands when his heart was bound to him in the strongest affection so the tender mother makes as if she wou'd give away her crying-child whom she hugps so much closer in her bosom If thou passe by us whiles we are strugling with the tempest we know it is not for want of mercie thou canâ—…st not neglect us Oh let not us distrust thee if thou comest it is to relieve us if thou staiest it is to trie us howsoever thy purpose is to save us Surely God will work done and man must not be of his counsel Wherefore many times he deals with wicked men as Eutrapilus sometimes did with his subjects who when he was minded to do a poor man a mischief would give him abundance of wealth whereas contrarily his children find themselvs crost with a blessing Possidonius tells us of Austin that when there was wait laid for his life through God's providence he mist his way whereby his life was preserved and his adversaries disappointed As when Isabel Queen of England was to repasse from Zealand into her own Kingdom with an Army in favor of her Son against her Husband she had utterly been cast away had she come unto the Port intended being there expected by her enemies but Providence against her will brought her to another place where shee safely landed Yea this I have seen two men striving for the way one receiving a switch over the face draws his Bapyer to kill the other but by a providence in making the offer his saddle swaied to the horse-belly whereby in all likelihood the one was saved from killing the other from hanging for before he could make after him he was rid a mile And have not some been detained by a violent storme from coming home whereby they have been exempt from seeling the down-fall of their house Sure I am the letting fall of my Glove in the dark once proved a means of saving me from drowning while another stepping before me found the danger to his cost And indeed how infinitely should we intangle our selves if we could sit down and obtain our wishes Do we not often wish that which we after see would be our confusion because we ignorantly follow the flesh and blinded appetite which looks on nothing but the shell and outside whereas God respecteth the soul and distributeth his favour for the good of that and his glory It is an argument of love in the Father when he takes away the Childs knife and gives him a book Wee crie for riches or liberty or peace they are knives to cut our fingers wherefore God gives us his Word the riches of verity not of vanity Hee gives us that glorious liberty to be the Sons of God he gives us that peace which the world cannot give nor take away wherefore let the Christian understand God his Physitian Tribulation his physick being
afflicted under the medicine thou criest the Physitian hears thee not according to thy will but thy weal thou canst not endure thy malady and wilt thou not be patient of the remedy No man would be more miserable than he that should cull out his own waies What a specious shew carried Midas his wish with it and how did it pay him with ruine at last Surely I have seen matters fall out so unexpectedly that they have tutered me in all affairs neither to despair nor to presume not to despair for God can help mee not to presume for God can crosse me One day made Marius Emperour the next saw him rule and the third he was slain of his Souldiers Well then if with Paul thou hast besought the Lord often that thy present affliction might depart from thee and canst not be heard in the thing which thou desirest know that thou art heard in that which is more conducible to thy profit and consequently rejoice more in that thy petition is denied than if it had been granted This was the use which Saint Paul made of Gods denial and he knew what he did though he had as much to boast and rejoice of as any one living yet saith he of myself I will not rejoice except it bee of mine infirmities that is afflictions reproaches persecutions inward temptations fears distrust c. But in these I will very gladly rejoice Why That the power of Christ may dwell in me Note his reason he had heard God say that his power was made perfect through weaknesse 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. Neither had he onely cause to rejoice in his infirnities but all God's people have the same cause to rejoice for what the spirit of comfort speaks in this and in all the former places recited do equally belong to thee for thy consolation with all the regenerate for whatsoever was written afore-time was written for thy learning and mines that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. And accordingly will a good hearer apply to himself whatsoever is written in the Word for as the stomach sends the strength of the meat into every member of the body so we should send to the eie that which is spoken to the eie and to the ear that which is spoken to the ear and to the tongue that which is spoken to the tongue and to the hand that which is spoken to the hand and so to the heart and every faculty and member of soul and body if we hear comfort we should apply it to fear if wee hear a promise we should apply that to our distrust if wee hear a threatning we should apply that to our presumption and so fill up the gap still where the Devil would enter And indeed had it not been for this Aqua coelestis David had surely fainted in his affliction Psal. 27. ver 13. 119. 72. but this good Word from heaven fetch him again when he was ready to sink and indeed if Moses and the Prophets the Evangelists and Apostles will not comfort us in this case then as Abraham told Dives in another caâ—… nothing will perswade nor prevail Believest thou the former Scriptures spoken by Christ and his Apostles I know that thou believest with some mixture of unbelief and art almost perswaded not onely to do but to suffer chearfully for well-doing But why dost thou not altogether believe that it is a blessed and happie thing thus to suffer Mat. 5. 10 11 12. That thou hast great cause to rejoice and be glad that thou art counted worthi to suffer shame for Christs name Acts 5. 41. Thou seest it is not for nothing that David acknowledgeth It was good for him that be was afflicted Psal. 119. 71. that Job blesseth the time that ever he was corrected Job 42. That Jeremy praied for correction as a good thing Jer. 10. 24. That a whole Church voted the same Lam. 3. 27. It is not for nothing that Chrâ—…t saith Blessed and happy are yee when men revile you and persecute you That Saint James saith Count it exceeding joy when yee fall into divers temptations James 1. 2. It is not for nothing that Saint Paul saith I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches an â—…cessities in persecutions in anguish for Christ's sake c. 2 Cor. 12. 10. That Peter and John when they were beaten and imprisoned departed from the Council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for Christs name Act. 5. 41. For even bearing the Crosse with Christ is as great a preserment in the Court of Heaven as it is in an earthly Coâ—…t for the Pâ—…nce to take off his own Roab and put it on the back of one of his servants as you may perceive by the Lord's speech to Paul Act. 9. 15 16. 23. ver 11. and our Saviour Christs words to his Apostles Ast. 1. 8. yea to suffer for Christ saith Father Latimer is the greatest privilege that God gives in this world and the story of Job is a book-case to prove it for did not God by him as sometimes a Schoolmaster with his Pupill who when he hath polished and perfected a good Scholar brings him sorth provokes adversaries to set upon him with hard questions and takes a pride to see the fruit of his own labours And in the warrs to have the bottect and most dangerous services imposed upon them by their â—…eneral is accounted the greatest honour neither will he confer the same upon any but the stoutest and most valiant This Rod of the Lord like Abasuerus his Scepter is never stretcht forth toward any of his but in great love and favour It is like the kisse which Cyrus in Xenophon gave to Chrysanthas which was accounted a greater and more special favour than the Cup of gold which he gave to Artabazus Which being so let us in this particular imitate the Muscovitish women who will not think their husbands love them unlesse they chastise them and the Indians who are ambitious to be burnt with them and the Thracians who are proud to wear their scarrs Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of AEgypt Heb. 11. 25 26. And the Apostles esteemed it a grace to be disgraced for him and shall we grumble or think much at it No in the greatest extremity of straights let us acknowledge it a favour and give him thanks and so much the rather for that it is more acceptable to God to give him thanks once in adversity then six hundred times in prosperity as a grave Divine well observs and indeed it is the summe of all Religion to be thankful to God in the midst of miseriex True it is hard for Job when the terrours of God fight against him and the arrows of the Almighty stick so sast 〈◊〉 him that the venome thereof hath drunk up his spirit Job 6. 2 3 4. to think it a special favour and dignity but so it was being
rightly considered It was hard for Josephs brâ—…hren to hear him speak roughly unto them take them for spies accuse them of theft and commit them to prison Gen. 42. 30. and think it is all out of love much more hard for 〈◊〉 to bee cull d cut from the rest and committed to ward while his brethren are set at libertie Vers. 24. and yet it was so yea he loved him best whom he seemed to favour least yet such is the 〈◊〉 of our nature that as weak eies are dazled with the â—…ght which should comfort them so there is nothing more common with God's Children than to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 causes of 〈◊〉 joy and 〈◊〉 with that which is intended for their confirmation Even Manoah conceivs death in that vision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 did consist Judg. 13. 22. And the Shepherds Luk. 2. who were sore afraid when the Angel of the Lord came to bring them good tidings of great joy to all people viz. their Saviours Birth which â—…as Christ the Lord Vers. 9. 10. But what hath been the answer of GOD alwaies to his children in such their extasies but this Fear not Gideon Judg. 6. 23. Fear not Joseph Mat. 1. 20. Fear not Zachary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13. Fear not Abraham for I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. Fear not Paul for I am with thee and no man shall lay hands on thee to do thee hurt c. Acts. 18. 9. 10. the words are often repeated as Pharaohs dreams were doubled for the surenesse Yea to the end that we should be fearlesse in all our sufferings so long as we suffer not as evil doers 1 Pet. 4. 15. Fear not as one well notes is the first word in the Annunciation of Christs Conception and the first word in the first Anâ—…iation of his Birth and the first word in the first Annuuntiation of his Resurrection and almost the last words in his last exhortation a little before his death are Let not your hearts be troubled and be of good comfort strengthening his followers and sweetâ—…ing his Cross by diverse forcible reasons 〈◊〉 21. Mark 13. And the words of dying men have ever been most emphatical most effectual Nay more than all this if yet thou wilt not be comforted look but Joh. 16. 20. and thou shalt have thy Saviour assure â—…hee by a double bond His Word I say Oath Verâ—…ly verily I say unto you that though for the present you do fear and sorrow and weep yet all shall be turned into joy 〈◊〉 that joy shall no man be able to take from you v. 22. And so much of the Patience of the Womans seed Innocency Felicity If you will see the Malice of the Serpents seed Subtilly Misery Read the three soregoing parts viz. The cause and cure of Ignorance Error c. The cure of Misprision Characters of the kinds of preaching The last whereâ—… sold only by James Crump in Little Bartholomews Well-yard A two-fold PRAYER for the Morning and for the Evening as also another to be said at any time Jer. 1â—… 25. Pour out thy fury upon them that know thee not and upon the families that call not on thy name Psal. 145. 18. Rom. 10. 12. The Lord is nigh and rich unto all that call upon him in truth Isa. 65. 24. Before they call I will answer and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear Jer. 33. 3. Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not 1 Joh. 5. 14. If wee ask any thing according to his will he heareth us Joh. 16. 23. Mat. 21. 22. Whatsoever yee shall ask the Father in my Name believing he will give it you Psal. 55. 17. Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray A PRAYER for the Morning O Lord prepare our hearts to Pray O Most glorious LORD GOD and in JESUS CHRIST our most merciful and loving Father in whom wee live and move and have our being in the multitude of thy mercies we desire to approach unto thee from whom all good things do proceed who knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking It is true O Lord if we should consider onely our own unworthiness and how we have heretofore abused thy goodnesse and long-suffering towards us wee might rather despair with Judas and like Adam run from thee then dare to approach thy glorious presence For we confesse O Lord to the shame and confusion of our own faces that as we brought a world of sinne into the World with us and deserved to dye so soon as wee began to live so ever since that thou hast spared us we have done nothing but add sinne unto sinne as thou hast added mercy to mercy For we have been no lesse rebellious unto thee then thou hast been beneficiall unto us We do daily and hourely break all thy commandements adding unto that our originall corruption which we were conceived and borne in all manner of actuall transgressions by sins of Omission sins of Commission sinnes of Ignorance sinnes of Knowledg sinnes against conscience yea sinnes of Presumption and Will fulness and that in thought word and deed We have sinned against thy Law and against thy Gospel against thy mercies and against thy judgments against the many warnings and the abundance of meanes afforded by thee to reclaime us against the spirit â—…of grace cotinually knocking at the doors of our hearts with infinite checks and holy motions as our first Parents left us a large stock of sinne so we have improved the same beyond measure O that we could have so improved that stock of grace which wee have received from thee But whereas thou gavest us as large a portion we suddenly lost it We were created indeed by thee after thine own image in righteousness holiness in knowledg of the Truth But alas now our understandings are so darkned and dulled our judgmeÌ„ts so blinded our wils so perverted our affections so corrupted our reason so exiled our thoughts so surprised our desires so entrapped and aâ—…l the faculties and functions of our souls so disordered that we are not sufficient of our selves to think much lesse to speak least of all to do ought that is good And yet usually like Bladders we are not more empty of grace than we are blown up with pride whereby with Laodicea we not once see our own spiritual misery and nakednesse but think we are rich and good enough as wanting nothing when as scarce Our eares have been alwaies open to the 〈◊〉 shâ—… unto thee we have abused our eyes to wantonnesse our mouthes to filthynesse and our feet have been swift to all evill flow to ought that is good any â—…ark of grace yet appears in us Yea so far have we been from loving and serving thee that we have hated those that do it and that for their so doing And so far have we been from performing that vow which we made to Christ
in our Baptism when we took his presse-mony to be his Souldiers and serve him in the field of this world against his and our enemies that we have renounced our vow made â—…o him â—…dd fled from his standard yea fought for Satan and the World seeking to win all we could from Christ by tempting to sin and by persecuting such as were better then ourselves so that all our recompence of thy love unto us hath been to do that which thou hatest and to hate those whom thou lovest Yea we cannot deny but we have persecuted thee with Paul denied thee with Peter betraied thee with Judas and crucified thee with those cruel Jews And as wee have committed one sinne on the neck of another so we have multiplyed and many times repeated them by falling often into the same wickednesse whereby our sinnes are become for number as the sands of the Sea and as the Stars of Heaven Now Lord it being thus with us how can we expect that thou shouldest hear our praiers grant our requests yea how can wee look for other at thine hands then great and grievous yea then double damnation as most justly we have deserved Yet  Yet most most merciful Father being that thou hast given thy Son and thy Son himself for the ransome of so many as shall truly repent and unfainedly believ in him who hath for our sakes fulfilled all righteousness yet suffered on the Crosse and there made full satisfaction for the sins of all thine Elect. And seeing thou hast appointed Praier as one special means for the obtaining of thy grace unto which thou hast annexed this comfortable promise that where two or three be gathered together in thy Name thou wilt be in the midst of them and grant their requests and since our Redeemet hath assured 〈◊〉 that And likewise knowing that mercie pleaseath thee and that the sole perfection of a Christian is the imputation of Christs righteousnesse and the not-imputation of his own unrighteousnesse whatsoever we shall ask thee in his name thou wilt give it us  We are emboldened to sue unto thee our God for grace that we may be able to repent and believe Wherefore for thy promise sake for thy Sons sake and for thy great Names sake we beseech thee send down thy holy Spirit into our souls regenerate our hearts change and purifie our natures subdue our reason rectifie our judgments strengthen our wills renew our affections put a stop to our madding and straying fancies beat down in us whatsoever stands in opposition to the Scepter of Jesus Christ and enable us in some measure both to withstand that which is evil and perform that which is good and pleasing in thy sight Yea give us repentance never to be repented of and possess our souls with such a dreadfull awe of thy Majesty that we may fear as well to commit small sins as great ones considering that the least sin is mortall without our repentance thy mercy as wel fear to sin in secret as openly since there is nothing hid from thee as well condemne our selves for evill thoughts as evill deeds considering that the Law is spirituall binding the heart no lesse then the hands as well abstain from the occasions of fin as sin it self and consider that it is not enough to abstain from evill unlesse wee hate it also and do the contrary good And because every day which does not abate of our reckoning will increase it and that by procrastinating we shall but heap unto our selves wrath against the day of wrath Good Lord suffer us not we beseech thee to defer our repentance lest the custome of evill makes it altogether unalterable in us or lest we dye before we begin to live or lest thou resusest to hear us another day calling upon thee for mercy because we refuse to hear thee now calling to us for repentance And now O Lord since thou hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day we beseech the to defend and dierct us in the same and as thou hast blest us in our lying down and in our rising up so protect prosper us in our going forth in our coming home shield and deliver us from the snares of the Hunter who lieth in waite for our souls and is continually labouring our everlasting destruction And no lesse arm us against the allurements of the world wherein we shall meet with many provocations and temptations and that 〈◊〉 may not lead ourselvs nor be Wherefore if we be not yet converted let this be the happy hour of our conversion that as our bodies are risen by thy power and providence from sleep so our soules may daily bee raised from the sleep of sin and the darknesse of this world that so we may enjoy that everlasting light which thou hast prepared for thine and purchased with the bloud of thy dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Give unto us we beseech thee a true lively and justifying faith whereby we may lay hold upon those gracious promises which thou hast made unto us in him and wherewith we may vanquish all our spirituall adversaries Seal up unto us the assurance of our salvation by the testimony of thy blessed Spirit Give to led into temtation give us wisdome to beware of men even of associating our selves with the vitious like Joseph lest otherwise with David we be drawn to dissemble or with Peter to deny thee for sin is of a catching and infectious quality and our corrupt hearts are like tinder which will kindle with the least spark especially O Lord keep us from yeelding to their solicitations or following their customs of drink ing swearing slandering and making the worst construction of thinâ—…s of mocking and scoffing at religion or the religious let not custome and example any whit prevail with us without or against thy written Word lest we misse of the narrow way which alone leadeth unto life onely give us wisedome and grace to look upon thy Sons whole life see how he would speak and do before we speak or do anything then having thy word for our warrant and thy glory for our aime let no censures not flowts of anydiscourageus us thy servants that wisdome which descendeth from above that we may be wise unto our eternall salvation so shall our hearts instead of a Commentary help us to understand the Scriptures and our lives be an Exposition of the inward man Give us grace to account all things in this world even as drosse and dung that we may win Christ Jesus and Heaven and happinesse by means of him Give us single hearts and spirits without guile that wee may love goodnesse for it self and more seek the power of godlinesse then the shew of it and love the godly for thy sake and because they are godly Grant that in the whole course of our lives we may doe unto all others as we would that they should doe unto us considering that whether we