finde I for thee in the Oracles of God Art thou a Libertine vsing all libertie for an occasion to the flesh x Gal. 5.13 a contemner of Gods ordinances his words and Sacraments his Ministerie and Ministers Thou art not spirituall y Rom. 7.14 cap. 8.14 nor led by the Spirit but carnall altogether and sold vnder sinne thou despisest God z 1 Thes 4.8 thou committest sacrilege a Rom. 2.22 thou iudgest thy selfe vnworthy of euerlasting life b Act. 13.46 thou puttest from thee the meanes thereof and turnest the same into lasciuiousnesse c Iude ve 4. no remedie remaineth nor healing to thee that mocketh the Messengers of God that despisest his words that misusest his Prophets d 2 Chron. 36.16 These things I finde in the Scriptures against thee but except thou repent No comfort finde I for thee in the Oracles of God I personate no man but if the witnesse within the Conscience accuse any testifying and saying Thou art the man to whom it is spoken spoken bee to him and this further in the Spirit of our God against the workes of the flesh which are manifest and are these Adulterie fornication vncleannesse lasciuiousnesse idolatrie witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies enuyings murthers drunkennesse reuellings and such like Qui talia agunt e Gal. 5 21. They which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God Gal. 5.21 Seeing then that these things are so that some comfort themselues without the Word and that without the Word there is no solid comfort A necessitie is laid vpon vs both for the vse of edifying and the issue of the point to reason in plaine euidence and demonstration of the Spirit De Afflicto consolabili De Sermone consolabundo De Ratione consolandi Touching The afflicted that are consolable The word which comforteth the afflicted The manner of comforting them by the same word 1. De afflicto consolabili Of the afflicted that are consolable All men haue not faith f 2 Thes 3.2 nor the knowledge of God g 1 Cor. 15 34. nor bee in their affliction comforted by the Word neither indeed can be because they are not corrigible not docile not humble nor humbled The shaking of the hand of the Lord which hee shaketh ouer them not feared nor had to worke any feare in their heart the spirit of bondage But had once this and but once had Running there is to God and flying to Iesus Christ without back-sliding in heart or any departing from him Contrà Not hand nor receiued at all no comfort at all nor conuersion at all neither any constant worship In Rom. 8.15 Yee haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare Not to feare againe as bondslaues but first they feared hauing the spirit of bondage as all haue that labour and are heauie laden the curses of the Law may be denounced a thousand times and ten thousand kinds of strong iudgements inflicted in vaine except the spirit of bondage be sent into the heart to worke feare therein and in that feare to bring men home vnto God in Christ Thunder and raine and earthquakes haue beene and yet mens hearts haue beene little moued but the spirit of bondage D. Preston of the new Couenant pag. 392 393. or of feare on the people they feared exceedingly when it thundred and rained in wheat haruest h 1 Sam. 12 18. likewise at the great showres of raine in Ezra's time i Ezra 10.9 likewise the Iaylor although all was safe k Act. 16.29 This spirit the plough of God with which hee ploweth vp the heart before hee soweth therein the word of his grace which bringeth saluation This spirit obliterates the image of the old man and prepares a place for the impresse of the new whose motto is l Pro. 28.14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes i. in a filiall manner for the seruile is the Deuils Ye see the reason brethren why some afflicted are not consolable not consolable Actus actiâ—oâ—um est in patiente pradisposito not corrigible not corrigible not fearing not fearing not hauing to feare the sprit of bondage Therefore if yee feare not nor haue had to feare the spirit of bondage Yee haue cause to feare because ye haue not Christ * Rom. 8. yee know him not nor what hee hath suffered for you yee haue no fellowship in his sufferings not being made conformable to his death But afflicted if ye feare as sonnes in bondage if feeling the weight of the iudgement inflicted and seeing your sinnes yee flie from them as from the face of a serpent vnto the Propitiatorie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.25 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Io. 16. vlt. which is Iesus Christ Be of good cheere the good spirit of God is vpon you for good and truly and thorowly humbled thereby yee shall be deliuered from the temporall bondage into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God As the Law is good Rom. 7.12 so the spirit of bondage As the Law but a temporarie Schoole-master vntill faith bee informed so the spirit of bondage vntill the spirit of Adoption be infused and as the Sunne of righteousnesse ariseth with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 So the Spirit of adoption commeth with libertie in his armes God hauing sent the spirit of his sonne into the hearts of his sonnes they cry Abba father m Gal. 4.6 the loue of an indulgent father apprehended not the seueritie of an austere Iudge and God beheld not as a consuming fire n Deut. 4.24 that will deuoure them but as a faithfull Creator that will haue a desire to the workes of his hands o Iob 14.15 Afterwards there 's no seruile but a filiall feare i. a mixture of feare and loue the spirit of loue leading in the way euerlasting the spirit of feare preuenting Reconciliation and fetching home againe them that being brought home turne againe vnto folly lose themselues and runne as sheepe astray Loue hauing respect vnto all the Commandements to keepe the same feare preseruing the heart from the deceitfulnesse of sin for as feething liquor filthy fâ—um so the heart boyling with feare casts out sinne suffers it not to oestuate it selfe into the inward parts adhere it may but enters not into the frame fabricke or constitution of the heart to bee mingled and confounded The feare of the Lord is cleane p Psal 19.9 they also pure in heart that haue it in their heart hauing such an heart that admits not the mixture of any sin but as base and reprobate stuffe resists and reiects it So then we say for the verdict of the Inquest That without the humbling and cleansing feare there 's no token for good in or out of affliction nor comfort by the Word 2. De Sermone consolatorio Of the word which is the comfort in Affliction The substantiall Word there is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
THE SAINTS SOLACE OR The Condition And Consolation Of The Saints in the Earth Deliuered in certaine Sermons at Eatonbridge in Kent By the Minister there Psal 94.19 In the multitude of the sorrowes that I had in my heart thy comforts haue refreshed my soule LONDON Printed by Iohn Hauiland for Robert Bostocke and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Kings head 1630. TO The right worshipfull Sir Robert Heath Knight his Maiesties Attorney Generall Grace and all good blessings from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ Right Worshipfull WHat the Elders of the Iewes vnto Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Centurious loue vnto their Nation a Luk 7.5 might bee said vnto all of your loue and care of our Eatonbridge where by Baptisme you were initiated and whereof the spirituall wealth b Esth 10.3 you haue earnestly sought both by your owne bountie and other annuall pensions procured by you from your worthy friends * and worshipfull alliance in the adiacent parts vnto the Minister which should bee there resident to edifie the people on the most holy faith It is not to be forgotten of any how you began to honour God whew he began to honour you and how hee hath gone on in honouring you as you haue him If any should I cannot nor will forget your great goodnesse extended towards me of all the Lords seruants the least and vnworthiest since you first saw me your counsell countenance and encouragement after my first entrance into that Cure now eleuen yeares past and lately your powerfull hand stretched out in the happie strength thereof to saue mee from the reproches of them that would haue c Psal 57.3 swallowed mee vp are if I would ingratefully be silent most euident testimonies to the vnderstanding world And yet vnto all these as if all these were small in your sight it pleased you afterwards to adde other fauours when you tooke me to your house and sent mee home not emptie but full of comfort and courage in the worke of the Ministerie for the time to come As Dauid vnto the Lord I might say vnto you Is this the manner of man d 2 Sam. 7.19 What shall I render vnto you for all your benefits towards mee My selfe I owe you and such as I haue giue I you These few impolished papers But what are these of which the acceptation will be the augmentation of my debt or why these rather than some other of my labours is that place which some haply iudge if I would needs to it more worthy the presse Nothing but pressure God is witnesse brought me to the presse and these being mine immediate Meditations after the Commencement of my terrible troubles and the fruits of those sorrowes or sorrowfull thoughts which were then in my soule would as I thought vnto the people of God be acceptable as is vnto God himselfe the broken spirit the broken and contrite heart e Psal 51.17 Nothing else Right Worshipfull but these rude lines which in the dayes of my trouble I found by enquiring in the Sanctuarie of God or otherwise by reading meditation obseruation and experience haue I Me penes to present vnto you but for you and your honoured family all prayers and supplications in the spirit I will as my daily sacrifice offer vpon the golden altar f Reuel 8.3 vnto him who regardeth and despiseth not the prayer of the destitute g Psal 109.17 The Lord blessed you and assist you in your high calling The Lord giue you the price of that other high calling of God in Christ Iesus h Phil. 3.14 for which with all Saints you presse vnto the mark The Lord make you famous in Bethlehem and alwayes to doe worthily in Ephratah i Ruth 4.11 The Lord increase you more and more you and your children Blessed bee yee of the Lord which made Heauen and earth k Psal 115.14 15. Thus recommending this little booke with my selfe the poore Author thereof vnto your implored Patronage and Proâ—ection I craue pardon for my boldnesse and rest Your Worships euer and in all dutie bounden Peter Bostock Eatonbridge Iune 7th Anno Salutis 1630. THE SAINTS SOLACE OR Comforts for Afflicted PSAL. 119. VER 50. This is my comfort in my affliction THE Booke of Psalmes a common promptitarie of Medicine Commune quoddam Medicina promptua arium Ambr. many authorities out of it in the booke of Iesus Christ a Law in which his delight was and his Disciples exercised what other song in the house of their Pilgrimage or reioycing the Saints together what other Odes vsed All admirable but a Ambr. Hic psahâ—us tribus in rebus on nibus â—ntecellit 1. Vtilitate 2. Longitudine 3. Elegantia artificio alphabetico Bellar in tit bâ—ius psal as the Suns the Moones light this surpasseth all The song of songs which was Dauids indited for matter accurately b Muscubus Wilcos ibid. composed for memorie exquisitely many prayers to God many praises of his Word many professions of obedience comprised therein Octonaries 22. the parts thereof euery verse of the 8. in euerie one beginning in the Hebrew with one letter this Section with Zaiin * Zaiin quasi Ziu i. telum quod claua figura esse vidcatur a club in figure in signification a weapon defensiue and offensiue for vse A defence to them that decline not from the Law of God Hâ—ius â—â—â— vid v. 51 52 53 54 55 56 but remember his Name his Word his Iudgements of old his Statutes and Precepts to keepe the same An offence to the proud that haue the humble in derision and to the wicked that forsake the Law What other mysterie better in the letter for the vse of edifying As other haue laboured with that in Thren Hieron in Thren Ier. we might with the Alphabeticall artifice here but comfort in affliction being vnum illud that one thing which we seeke we will set our heart on that one thing and giue our selues wholly thereunto D. King Episs Lond. lect in Ion. The World a Sea in a Similitude swelling with pride and vainglorie the wind to heaue it vp blew and huid with enuy boyling with wrath deepe with couetousnesse foming with luxuriousnes swallowing and drinking in all by oppressions dangerfull for the Rockes of presumption and desperation rising with the waues of passions perturbations ebbing and flowing with lightnesse and inconstancy brinish salt with iniquitie bitter and vnsauourie with all kinde of miserie The confession in the Text of an expert Nauigator as the light in the Admirall by which so many as saile after him through that vast turbid belluous and circumfluous Ocean may for the strengthning of their sea-sicke Soules behold His Condition Affliction and Consolation The Word 1. His Condition or state of life seasoned with Affliction Afflicted hee was greatly a Psal 116.10 and
of the Lord wherefore should I wait on the Lord any longer What hope is in or is of such Not the Anchor which is firme but the Spiders web which perisheth Woe vnto the people that be in such a case what is ours now The Church in tribulation S. Iohn subscribed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc 1.9 A brother and Companion in tribulation How doe wee or what when When Hannibal besieged Sâ—guntum a confederate Citie with Rome the Capitoll of Rome one said was assailed the danger and losse abroad is ours ours the common calamities of the dayes the dayes are euill yea so euill they are that a man may say I haue no pleasure in them h Psal 60.1 2 3. Hath not the Lord cast vs off Hath hee not scattered vs Is hee not displeased with vâ— Doth not the earth tremble Is it not broken Doth it not shake Haue wee not hard things shewed vs and beene made to drinke the wine of astonishment Behold we not the shaking of the hand of the Lord which hee shaketh ouer vs stretched our still not turned away his wrath i Isa 9.12.17.21 for all that is done the enemie hath done exploits groweth horribly boasteth himselfe in mischiefe cryeth there there so would wee haue it ensignes set up for signes the profession in corners Religion in the straits schisme and vngratious heresie a float a floud of many waters roares in our eares the first borne of many the hope of Germany how suddenly surrepted Ah alas The Lord calleth vs to weeping and to mourning and to baldnesse and to girding with sachcloth k Isa 22.12 13. yet behold among vs ioy and gladnesse slaying oxen killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine dissolute and resolute we we refuse to be reformed we walke contrarie to the Lord who striketh and walketh therefore contrarie vnto vs yea in furie as hee spake in Leuit. 26. l Leuit. 26.28 chastizing and punishing vs seuen times more rebellious more and more I close with one of Ieremies Lamentations m Ier. 8.18 When I would comfort my selfe against sorrow my heart is faint in me Vse 3 3. For information and sith that the Lord afflicteth whom he loueth may the afflicted bee informed by three notes whether or no they are afflicted in loue For first whom the Lord loueth hee loueth vnto the end and will not cease from arguing and chastening them vntill they be conuerted and reclaimed so much the spirit expresly n Reuel 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As fathers conuince before they chastise their children make knowne their faults and multiply stripes vntill they coÌ„fesse theÌ„ promise reformation semblably the Lord not leaue will hee them whom he chuseth halting betweene two but cause them by chastening them to approach vnto him o Psal 65.4 and 94.12 compared The purifying hand vpon them the drosse is purely purged and the tinne taken away p Isa 1.25 euerie sonne which is scourged commeth out from among the multitude which doe euill toucheth not the vncleane thing q 2 Cor. 6.17 is thorowly separated before hee bee receiued or can be Bee it so that the wicked the hooke in their nose returne not are not purged in the fornace from their filthinesse nor will bee what shall bee done Not purged thereby they shall neuer hee purged r Ezek. 24.13 Vessels of wrath to be filled with the furie of the Lord But correction in loue causeth the Beloued to come in confessing their sins and their profiting appeareth in the amendment of their life Dauid scourged was sensible of his fault and corrigible the correction of the Lord he refused not but receiued for his good confessed the same Good it is for me that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne thy statutes Å¿ Psal 119.67.71 for before I was afflicted I went astray Psal 119.67.71 but now haue I kept thy word Manasseh taken among the thornes and bound with setters knew at length that the Lord he was God t 2 Chron. 33.12 Ephraim bowed yeelded u Ier. 31.20 Israel vexed with all aduersitie torne and smitten approched x Hos 6.1 2. When a man chastized approacheth vnto the Lord and yeeldeth himselfe confesseth and forsaketh his sin hee may count it all ioy yea giue glorie to the Lord and make thus confession y Psal 119.76 I know O Lord that thy iudgments are right and that thou hast in faithfulnesse afflicted thy seruant Note 2 The second loue-token is Consolation receiued in the dayes of euill coÌ„municated afterwards for whom the Lord loueth he comforteth in euerie tribulation and inableth them thereby to comfort them which are in any trouble By the comforts wherewith they were themselues comforted of God z 2 Cor. 1.4 6 7. As sufferings abound so consolation aboundeth and is participated to them that are partakers of the sufferings Dauid scourged for his sin was comforted humbled for it afterwards what would hee Teach transgressours the wayes of God conuert sinners vnto the Lord a Psal 51.13 Peter hauing erred and being conuerted what should hee strengthen his brethren b Luk. 22.32 When a man is refreshed being afflicted and as he hath receiued any grace if he as a good steward minister the same vnto other lying in the like distresse and communicate with their affliction he hath not been afflicted and refreshed in vaine but to good effect in loue and in mercie to be a vessell of mercie and conduit of loue from the fountaine to the cisterne from the Lord to his chosen in the great tribulation Note 3 The third is a minde content with the present things and present state this the obsignation of the spirit e Ephes 4.30 a certaine diuine impression of light a secret manifestation of grace the God of all grace to them that open vnto him when hee knocketh at their doore with the hammer of the crosse manifesting d Io. 14 2â— himselfe in an admirable manner and filling their hearts with vnexpressible gladnesse e Act. 14.17 giuing them Manna supping with them f Reu. 3.20 bringing them to the banquetting house g Cant. 2.4 5. staying them with flagons comforting them with apples girding their hearts with his peace which passeth vnderstanding h Phil. 4 7. powring the spirit of grace and supplications vpon them i Zach. 12.10 giuing them an vnderstanding that they may know him that is true k 1 Io 5.20 opening the treasures of his all-sufficiencie fashioning their hearts and adapting their mindes to the present condition whatsoeuer it is no sutablenesse nor agreeablenesse between the minde and the condition What is the life but a kinde of liuing death but suiting and agreeing the condition to the minde the appetite accommodated and thing desired had had is that one thing which is instar omnium as it were all things Men of heauie hearts mirth and musike grieue when as weeping