withstand them hee notwithstanding comes confidently to God for helpe assuring himselfe that God could saue and deliuer with none 2 Chron. 14.11 as well as with many And so may it as truelie bee said that God can helpe by fewe friends as well as by many yea without all friends and meanes as if wee had all that the world could afford vs. Obiestion Oh but my miserie is desperate Answere Neuer say so What if you be in the low dungeon Was not Ionah so And yet hee prayed and was helped therefore neuer be dismayed Your troubles are great but your God is greater and mightier to helpe you out of them than they are to holde you fast still The Lord hath made the heauens and the earth by his worde and that drowned the whole world in his displeasure This mighty Lord I say rides vpon the heauens as it is Deut. 33. full of maiestie and full of abilitie to deliuer you and to set you free from the strongest bonds of affliction 3. Merciful 3 The third thing in Gods name is that hee is mercifull Which worde signifieth that God hath such bowels of compassion towards his seruants as a mother hath towards the child of her wombe There neede not many exhortations much lesse an eloquent oration to a mother to stirre her vp to succor and relieue her child when it stands in neede of her helpe and yet put all the kindnesse of all the men and women in the world together and it wil come but to a drop in comparison of that sea of mercie that is in our mercifull God Obiect And this propertie is well ioyned with the former for a poore afflicted soule hearing of Gods power might say I know God is powerfull but what is that to me perchance hee may vse his power to my ouerthrow Answer Nay saies he God is as mercifull as hee is powerfull why then should any bee discouraged by miserie sith that is the verie obiect of mercie Whence it is that this argument is often vsed in the scripture Psal 6.2.3 Ps 86.1.2 Lord helpe mee for I am sore troubled Lord saue mee for I am poore and needie And this mercie of God wee may more cleerely see in the Father of the prodigall sonne Luke 15. who perceiuing his lost child comming towards him hee runnes towards his sonne and falls on his necke and kisseth him giuing him all kinde entertainment that might bee his verie miserie was a sufficient motiue to worke vpon his fathers heart neither doth hee at all vpbraide him with his former leaud behauiour Now if any earthly father can bee and ought to be thus mercifull how much more will our heauenly father especiallie since that hee loueth vs better than any earthly father can loue his children and shews forth his loue vpon euery occasion as the Prophet Hoseah testifieth saying Hosea 14.4 In thee the fatherlesse findeth mercie Obiection Oh but I am worthy of no mercie 4. Gratious Answer What of that Gods name is also gracious That is louing and shewing mercie without any merit he will not tarrie till wee deserue it but will freely shew forth his goodnes towards vs. Doe not wee giue foode and raiment to little children that hang on the breasts If parents should stay till they deserue it they would neuer grow to bee men and women Therefore it is said of Abraham Rem 4.5 that hee beleeued in him that iustifieth the sinner Noting thereby that sinne cannot hinder Gods fauor from offenders but that through faith they shal be iustified and made innocent in Gods account as if they had neuer offended at all Let vs not then when wee are in distresse be discouraged by reason of our corruptions but goe to the Lord who wil shew himselfe gratious notwithstanding them all Obiection Oh but what comfort can I sinfull wretch haue to goe to so holy a God Answer Why doe you not know his name He is a gratious God and when wee can finde no matter of worthinesse in our selues he can finde matter enough in his owne nature and in his sonnes merits If wee could finde any desart in our selues or our workes God should lose his name of beeing gratious Obiection But alas I haue prouoked him and iustly drawne his hand vpon mee by mine owne sinnes 5. Slovv to anger What if you haue hee is slow to anger That is long ere hee be prouoked and when hee is prouoked easie to bee appeased Wee can no sooner fall out with our sinnes but hee falls in with vs. An earthly father will not take euerie aduantage against his child and when the child is grieued for a great fault will not good parents be easilie satisfied And why should wee thinke God harder than our selues At least let vs make him as good as our selues and be assured that when wee haue kindled his wrath against vs one teare of true repentance will quench all the flame thereof and draw downe his pitie and compassion vpon vs. To this Dauid giueth testimonie saying Ps 103.8.9 The Lord is slow to anger and of great kindnesse he will not alwaies chide nor keepe his anger for euer And this hee himselfe found by experience For when he beeing a King and that of Gods owne choise set ouer his owne people and withall a holy Prophet in both which respects hee was to bee a patterne of all godlines and righteousnesse vnto others when hee I say after many mercies receiued had grieuously prouoked the Lord insomuch as hee was angrie with him 2. Sam. 11.27 and then did not repent for his sinne but lay in it and added diuers other hainous offences vnto it yet after all this God doth not reiect him but sends his Prophet Nathan vnto him 2. Sam. 12.13 and is more readie to offer him pardon than hee is to aske it and when hee did but beginne to make confession of his sinne God tells him forthwith that hee had put away his sinne And this wonderfull readinesse in God to bee appeased towards penitent sinners the Prophet Isaiah maketh mention of bringing in God himselfe speaking in this manner Isa 57.16 I will not contend for euer neither will I be alwaies wroth For the spirit should faile before mee and I haue made the breath Where wee see that as Psal 103. there is a reason drawne from Gods nature why hee cannot deale rigorously with vs namely because hee pities vs as a father doth his child So here there is a reason brought from our nature why hee cannot be ouer-seuere to wit that then the spirit would faile before him and those whom hee hath made and redeemed would perish and bee vtterly consumed Men were not able to beare the continuance and grieuousnesse of his hand but would sinke vnder their burden and so should be a greater loser than they in that he should lose them whom hee hath so long and so intirely loued for whom hee hath so deerely paide
three supplications to the Iudge we would aske him presently But what answere receiued you If he should tell vs nay I neuer lookt to that we would not thinke hee should speed much the better for all his supplications Such is the case of hypocrites that draw neere vnto God with their lips but not with their hearts though they thinke themselues the safer and better for that yet in truth they are not because they had neuer in their liues any signe of Gods loue towards them for good vpon the making of their suites knowne vnto him And therefore let them get some of this store for that is it that will stand them more in stead than all the goods in the world Vse 2 Secondly here is a vse of comfort for them that haue lost the sight and feeling of Gods fauor Had they it euer at all Then they shall bee sure to haue it againe Psal 77.3.4.5.6 For this was Dauids case Hee did thinke on God and was more troubled hee prayed and his spirit was full of anguish and all seemed to make against him What then I considered saith hee the daies of old and the yeeres of ancient time I called to remembrance my song in the night I communed with mine owne heart and my spirit searched diligently c. He recounts with himselfe how faithfull hee had beene vnto God how mercifull God had beene vnto him and then his little sparke of hope and comfort became a great flame If a man haue old prouision he will doe well enough in the hardest times If one can say frō an humble and sincere heart Lord thou knowest that I haue shed many a bitter teare in secret for my sinnes I haue often with ioy praised thee for thy mercies and powred out my heart in singing Psalmes in priuate I haue sought thee in the night when no bodie was by when no eye was priuie vnto it and at such times thou hast vouchsafed to looke downe from heauen with a mercifull eye vpon me and hast filled my soule with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious c. If I say one haue these and the like euidences from former experience hee may assure his heart that God will still be found of him in goodnesse till the shutting vp of his daies and neuer withdraw his louing kindnesse from him Obiect Oh but now God frownes vpon mee and withholds his louing countenance from me Answer What then Hath there not beene a time when you could say God drew neere vnto you and beheld you with a fauourable eye Yes they cannot denie that why then neuer feare he will returne againe though hee hide his face for a time Albeit heauinesse may indure for a night Psal 30.5 yet ioy shall come in the morning For if God bee once ours hee is euer ours And this should bee the staffe and stay of Christians when they haue lost their feeling Vers 56. Stop not thine eare from my sigh and from my cry Here is shewed what seruice they brought vnto God they did not pray alone but sigh nor sigh alone but cry That is they drew forth their prayers from a feruent heart which was as a thirstie land that gapes for the raine and is euen readie to eate vp and to deuoure the clouds Which words afford vs this doctrine Doct. 5 That they that would not haue God to shut his eares against their prayers Feruencie in prayer requisite Ioel 2.13 must bee sure that they sigh and crie and that their petitions proceede from a broken heart and from an humble spirit So the Prophet Ioel bids them rend your hearts and not your garments c. For till the heart be euen puld in pieces by godly sorrow sinne and lust will not out and then there can bee no acceptance looked for with God either of vs or of our seruices Psal 51.17 Therefore Dauid saith the sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Mark 7.34 1. Sam. 1.15 Therefore did Christ grone in his spirit when he prayed for that poore man in the Gospell So did Hannah sigh and weepe sore and powred out her soule before God Reason And there is good reason to moue vs to labor thus inwardly to bee touched For till wee haue the sense and feeling of our wants wee may well speake but wee can neuer pray till the heart be pained with sinne and corruption it is impossible to be feruent for the pardon of it as it is for one that hath no feeling of pouertie earnestly to intreat for a supply of his necessities and for one that hath no sense of his sicknesse to be an instant suter for the meanes of health Vse 1 First this serues for the reproofe of those that come with drowsie and verball prayers who deale like corrupt and naughtie Lawyers that looke for a fee and yet when they are at the barre tell a drowsie and idle tale without any feeling of their clients cause So many there are that come with words of course to intreat God to pardon their sins and strengthen their faith but neuer powre out their soules before God but onelie spend a little breath And they speed accordingly for their cold prayers bring but cold successe And this is true not onelie of the wicked Psal 32. but euen of the godly Dauid rored and cried but hee was neuer the better till hee confessed his sinne being inwardly grieued for the same but then both sinne and punishment were remoued at once This may teach vs to striue with the Lord in our prayers and supplications laboring for this crying and sighing that is so needefull and then dooing as here the Church did wee shall speed as they did Many there are that sigh in their troubles Iam. 5.9 But how Iames telles vs They sigh one against another and not vnder the burden of their sinnes nor through an earnest desire of Gods mercie They sigh vnder the waight of vnkindnesses that lie vpon them and clamor against men but haue little feeling of their owne vnkindnesses against God to bee humbled for them But these are sighs of the flesh and not of the spirit Let vs grone from a broken heart and the Lord will giue vs life Isa 57.15 when wee are troubled in spirit and the longer we waite and crie the greater measure of comfort we shall haue and the longer it shall tarrie with vs. Vers 57. Thou drewest neere Not in his essence for so is hee alwaies alike neere but in his mercifull presence and with gratious deliuerance Which words thus vnderstood doe yeeld vs this point of doctrine Doct. 6 That in the day that wee draw neere to God in prayer God will draw neere to vs in mercie God is as readie to heare as vve to pray when we send vp our petitions vnto him he will send downe speedie and comfortable helpe vnto vs. Those that are suters vnto God shall bee alwaies
of a happie issue out of all straites and difficulties as wee see in Dauid who hauing committed himselfe to God Psal 3. who was able and had promised to helpe him hee triumphs ouer all his enemies and saith he will not feare though ten thousand should compasse him round about That was some oddes and one would thinke he had little neede to vse such speeches but rather to runne away as fast as hee could at least hee should take little sleepe in the night so long as hee was in such danger or if hee did lie downe and sleepe hee should haue little hope to rise againe in the morning yet wee see vers 5. that hee laid him downe and slept and rose againe because the Lord sustained him and this he got by calling vpon God as it is vers 4. 2 Secondly if we would not be oppressed with feares labor to be righteous for wickednesse makes men dastardlie whereas righteousnesse makes men stout as Lyons 2. Righteousnes Pro. 28.1 that will not looke ouer the shoulder for the barking of euery dogge but walke on without all feare Indeede the child of God will not bee presumptuous neither will hee bee timorous though his enemies sinne Satan and the world bee strong yet hee knows God is stronger and that none euill can come vnto him without the Lord. Which if wee can thorowly meditate vpon and take this receite euerie morning to season our hearts with the feare of God and to wash our hearts and hands from vnrepented sins walke where wee will so it be in our waies nothing shall be able to hurt vs. Vers 58. Thou hast maintained the cause of my soule That is thou hast stood on my part and freed mee from death that was intended against mee For though my name and libertie and riches bee taken from mee yet my life is redeemed and that is thy mercie that bodie and soule are not yet parted Whence the doctrine is Doct. 8. God vpholds his Isa 44.23 That God is the maintainer and vpholder of his people Howsoeuer Kings and Princes bee nursing fathers vnto Gods Church yet that is not because hee needs them but because he would doe them a good turne in imploying them in his seruice And therefore may God be called the vpholder of his people because he saues them frō their firmes and from the punishments due to their sins which no man can doe He watches ouer them night and day and waters them euerie moment Jsa 27.3 and hee will contend with them that contend against his people This should strike a terror into the hearts of those that are iniurious vnto Gods seruants they are bold where the hedge is lowest euerie dwarfe aduentures to leape ouer But let them know that God is as a wall of fire about his Church and hee will maintaine the right of his children Indeede their props are and still haue beene so weake their enemies so strong the standers against them so shamefull and the oppositions so continuall that it is a miracle the Church stands to this day but God hath beene and euer will bee the vpholder of it and therefore it must needs goe ill with those that lift vp themselues against it Vse 2 Secondly here is a notable consolation for the afflicted people of God Howsoeuer they haue fewe meanes and few friends and where they should haue most helpe they haue least where they looked for comfort they finde discomfort and where they thought to bee enriched they are impouerished yet if they can pray all shall bee well If money and friends and large reuenues and the like had beene the vpholders of the Church it would haue gone to the ground long ere this But what saith the Church here O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule There is our stay let vs bee sure wee haue a good cause and lay it before Gods iudgement seate and then though wee be ouerborne God will not bee ouerborne but hee will stand on our side euen hee that loues goodnesse and hates wickednesse and will be auenged on those that bend themselues and their endeuors to do mischiefe vnto his people Wee would willinglie haue him to bee our Iudge who is most iust who carries the greatest loue to vs and our cause and the hardest mind against our aduersaries such an one is God And therefore seeing we haue a good cause to stand in euen the matter of our saluation and enemies whom God hates with a deadly hatred the diuell the world and the flesh c. this should put life and heart into vs to goe vnto Christ Iesus our Iudge who hath so dearely loued vs as to lay downe his life for vs and for the destruction of all our enemies When wee are ouercharged with burdens and temptations let vs lay them vpon him and say Lord thou hast vndertaken to comfort thy children I am not able to vndergoe this that is vpon mee therefore doe thou maintaine my cause and helpe and deliuer mee from my miserie Vers 59. Thou hast seene my wrong From these words this doctrine may be collected Doct. 9. All vvrōgs knovvne to God That there is nothing done spoken or thought against any Christian but God takes knowledge of it there is not one practise slander or deuice of cruell beasts against the sheepe of Christ but God sees it and markes it And this must needs be so Reason 1 1 First because they are his flocke and therefore hee loues to looke vnto them especiallie sith hee hath paide so deerely for them 2 Secondly it is his nature to behold all things Psal 94. Eph. 4.6 For he that made the eye shall not he see c. He is aboue vs all and through vs all and in vs all Yea wee are as it were the apple of his eye Now it is a hard matter for one to come with thornes to put out anothers eye and he not take notice of it and 3 Thirdly God doth the rather obserue the indignities that are offered vnto his children because their profane aduersaries doe hate his image in them For when they were as bad as themselues they could liue with them twentie or thirtie yeares and be good friends with them but when once they renounce the seruice of Satan and of their owne lusts vnto which they are in bondage still then they oppose with might and maine against them Psal 69.7 and therefore it is said for thy sake haue we suffred rebuke shame hath couered our face 4 The fourth and last reason why God must needs take notice of the wrongs done vnto his seruants is because it belongs to him to reward euerie one according to their workes Reuel 20.12 Hee must and will giue them full pay and therefore hee keeps all vpon iust and due record As the workes of the righteous shall stand for them so shall the workes of reprobates be written in great capitall letters against them that all the world may take notice of them at the last day Vse This offers vnto vs matter of singular comfort Howsoeuer the aduersaries be busie and watchful to plot and procure the hurt of Gods Church they cannot be so vigilant for the hurt of it as God is watchfull for the good of it and therefore they may bee sure they shall haue a happie issue out of all their troubles if so be they can make their mone to God and waite patientlie for his mercie Obiection But what neede wee lay open our griefes before him seeing that hee knows them all before hand Answere Though he doe know them yet he would haue you to preferre your bill of complaint and that will be for the increase of your comfort and further experience of his loue and howsoeuer hee purpose to destroy the wicked yet would he haue you to go on in your suite against them still Neither is this to bee restrained onelie to corporall enemies but it holds much more strongly for spirituall enemies Say a man bee surcharged with sinne and Satan let him bemone his case before the Lord and it will be a marueilous ease vnto him If one of our children should but say father or mother I am exceeding sicke readie to saint vnder my paines c. hee neede say no more this would set their hearts and hands a worke to doe him good And is there not far more loue in our heauenly Father Yes surely and therefore in all such extremities let God be our refuge and let vs cast all our cares and sorrows vpon him who is able and willing to beare them and in due season to free vs from them and in the end to make vs gainers by them FINIS
their manner of dealing and this is the propertie of all such wicked Moabites they cannot speake of the calamities of the faithfull but they are wonderfully affected with ioy so that they cannot sit still in their places they are so moued with mirth and laughter These haue cruell hearts and shal be met withall accordingly as Moab was 5 But especially are those here to be condemned that doe not onelie reioyce at the troubles but at the sinnes of those that are religoiously affected if they slippe through infirmitie and fall into any sinne if they bee ouergone with worldlines which is greatly to be taken heede of if they be lifted vp with pride and manifest the same by violence of words or actions or be stained with any the like vices presently they exclaime against them and take on beyond measure â—ot you what say they the great professor hath spoken or done this or that and so they are as glad together as if they had gotten a kingdome and came home in triumph Herein they shew themselues to bee right Satans who takes pleasure in nothing so much as in sinne 6 And yet there is one higher degree of sinne contrarie to the practise of these holy ones which is when men are so farre from grieuing that it goes ill with Gods seruants that if they be somewhat amisse they will make them worse and help forward their misery and for that end misinforme and incense such against them as they know will inflict punishments vpon them These are inspired by the spirit of Satan as those who are mentioned in this text are inspired by the spirit of God Vse 2 2 This is for great comfort vnto them that can mourne for the calamities of the church This is a notable testimonie that they are feeling members and haue in them the life of christianitie when others troubles are theirs others losses theirs others reproches theirs and any distresses and straites of others are made theirs They that lament for Sion Isa 66.10 shal be comforted with Sion God hath promised them singular consolation it is their portion and they may confidently expect it Vers 49. Mine eye droppeth without stay From which words this doctrine may bee gathered Doct. 3. How long humiliation must be continued That wee must neuer cease our humiliation till God giue consolation When the Lord ministreth vnto vs occasion of griefe wee should neuer surcease vntill he reuine our hearts We must not begin in the spirit and end in the flesh but hauing a good entrance wee must goe on with our worke and bring it to perfection and if God giue vs a heart to mourne set to it and neuer giue ouer till hee set vs free Lament 2. vers 18.19 So they are exhorted in an other chapter of this booke Let teares runne downe like a riuer day and night take thee no rest neither let the apple of thine eye cease arise cry in the night powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord c. And iust it is that we should neuer make an ende of mourning till God make an ende of afflicting accordnig to their example who are mentioned in Nehemiah that wept at the hearing of the Law Mehemi 8.9 till they were bid to reioyce It was a notable commendation of that people that they would not leaue off till they had warrant to leaue off So Mordecai when Queene Hester sent him garments to cloath him and would haue had his sackoloth to be taken from him hee would not receiue them Hester 4.4 but humbled himselfe so long till hee was assured of deliuerance So Iacob would neuer let goe his holde Gen. 32.26 but stil wrestles with the Angell and continues weeping and praying till hee obtained a blessing so the woman of Canaan stickes close to it Math. 15.22 c. and is importunate with Christ for her daughter and would neuer desist nor let her suite fall till shee had preuailed with our Sauiour And there are reasons why wee must neuer breake off but still continue our humiliation and feruencie till God shew by good effect that he hath mercifully respected vs and our supplications Reason 1 1 For first what is the ground of true humiliation Is it not sinceritie Now wheresoeuer there is sinceritie there is faith and faith will neuer make an ende till it conquer it neuer giues the onset but it obtaines the victorie For it hath to deale with God and hee neuer bids it make an ende vnlesse it be by way of triall as hee dealt with Iacob and with the woman of Canaan till it haue gotten the desired successe 2 A second reason may be that Gods children haue hope as well as faith now hope neuer makes ashamed Rom. 5.5 because it is neuer disappointed of the thing hoped for 3 Thirdly they haue loue which makes vp a threefolde corde euery twist whereof is stronger than all the cords of the world for loue is strong as death c the coales thereof are fierie coales Cant. 8.6.7 and a vehement flame Much water cannot quench loue neither can the floods drowne it c. In regard of all these it is impossible that those that foundly begin the worke of humiliation should bee put backe vntill they haue obtained their purpose Which may be further seene in the spouse Canticles 3. who neuer giues ouer seeking till shee had found him whom her soule loued Vse 1 1 This therefore is to encourage men to godly constancie and importunitie when any distresse lies vpon the people of God If they be earnest for their deliuerance they shall not misse of their marke but those that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy in the due time of the Lord. Whether they bee futers for the church or commonwealth or for themselues in regard of crosses on their bodies anguishes in their soules or afflictions in their estate the Lord will looke downe from his holy place in heauen vpon them and heare and helpe them at length if they perseuere without fainting This is liuely and notably expressed vnto vs in the parable of the vnrighteous Iudge who though hee feared not God Iub 18.12 nor reuerenced man yet heard the poore widow and in the end did her right against her aduersarie because of her importunitie Oh then what shall wee thinke of God will a man will a wicked man will a mercilesse man bee moued by importunitie and wil not God will not the gratious God will not the God that is full of compassion be moued to auenge his seruants and to minister iustice vnto theÌ„ I tell you saith Christ I that am the wisedome of the Father Luk 18.8 and know all things euen I tell you that he will do it He will auenge them and that quickly It is as possible that God should bee without ease as that they should be without helpe Vse 2 2 Secondly they come iustly here to be reproued that will
and comfort if there were a thousand worlds and all against one of vs yet one comfort of Christ is able to counteruaile all their oppositions If God giue vs assurance of a better life what great matter is it if they depriue vs of this life If wee see the Angels and Saints and Christ Iesus and the whole Trinitie to bee with vs what perill is it if all leaud base sinfull men bee against vs If God promise to make our names and persons glorious what neede wee feare though they seeke to make vs ignominious Not one haire of our head can fall without Gods prouidence Wee are not in their power though we be in their hands They may proceede so farre as to arraigne vs conuict vs and condemne vs and yet except God will they shall not execute vs though our naturall brethren and sisters and friends forsake vs God will giue vs new brethren and sisters and friends that shal bee more kind and faithfull vnto vs than euer they were But if men for feare of difficulties and dangers will not aduenture vpon religion are they sure to keepe themselues from troubles by that meanes Nay if am an will not suffer for a good cause God can and will make him suffer for an ill cause Achitophel would leaue Dauid and take the stronger side though the worser side but was not that to his destruction So Iudas hee would turne from Christ to the Pharises but did that bring him any peace No it tended to his vtter confusion Vse 2 This teacheth vs another lesson that when we see men so hunted and pursued wee doe not condemne them presently and say Surely these are bad fellowes for otherwise they would neuer be so much maligned nor molested But what shall wee thinke of Gods people here that were hunted and chased and that for their liues shall were say that these were the worst in the world Nay rather if we would conclude any thing let it be this These men are enuied and wronged and wee see no euident cause why it should bee so therefore it is likelie they are good men and deale faithfullie Vers 54. Then thought I I am destroyed This was the case not onely of Ieremie but of the rest of Gods seraunts in captiuitie they were euen past hope for any recouerie Doct. 6. Outward afflictions vsually accompained with inward teÌ„ptations The doctrine that here may bee gathered is That when troubles arise against our bodies and states Satan labors to breed troubles in our soules when there are fightings without vsuallie there are terrors within This is manifest in the Chapter that wee haue now in hand vers 17.18 VVhen they were farre from peace and prosperitie then they conclude their strength and hope is perished from the Lord. Hee had made them many gratious promises they could not deny but now they neuer expected the performance of them all their hope was gone And this we see that Gods children haue still beene exercised with great terrors and feares within when they haue beene set vpon by grieuous trials without the trueth whereof we see in Iob and in Ieremie Iob. 3.3 c Ier. 15.10 the violence of whose inward conflicts made them to breake forth into marueilous great distempers Reason And this stands with reason for in those times Satan will be readie to perswade them If God loued you hee would neuer let you bee in this estate 〈…〉 as he dealt with 〈◊〉 Sauiour If thou bee the Sonne of God command that these 〈…〉 should haue said Is this the God 〈…〉 all this while See how hee deales with you 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—ainely forsaken if you will eate stones you may 〈◊〉 prouision he makes none for you and is it likelie then that you are the sonne of God If you thinke you are so still trust no more in him but prouide for your selfe and command that these stones bee made bread that so you may haue reliefe that way Vse 1 Since the case stands thus let vs in time of prosperitie arme our selues with strong reasons whereby we may assure our hearts that the Lord is our God and this will appeare to be no more than needefull if we consider how Gods dearest seruants haue beene and are put to it and though they haue had a good measure of confidence yet their grounds haue beene shaken and they themselues much perplexed God hath turned away his face from them Psal 30. and they haue beene troubled Since I say the case stands thus let vs get good euidence for our happie estate in Christ and for our interest vnto eternall life Let vs haue our hearts seasoned with true pietie with the loue of Gods word with the feare of his name with zeale for his glorie and the like vertues and graces of Gods holy spirit and that before distresses come that so in the euill day we may haue good assurance of Gods vnvaluable and vnchangeable fauor in his sonne For if wee be slacke and negligent herein and onelie hope well and trust that God wil bee mercifull vnto vs and accept of vs for his children then when Satan and affliction and our flesh ioine together and make an assault against vs our hope will proue but a broken reede wee shal be tossed with euerie waue yea sore perplexed and vtterlie ouerwhelmed in the gulfe of distresse if not of despaire it selfe Therefore let men make sure worke before hand especiallie before death approch For otherwise the diuell will tell them that then it is too late to set vpon matters of godlines as hee euer perswaded them before that it was too soone then will hee bring before them all former reckonings and charge vpon them the iniquities of their youth and if their grounds be not very good their hearts will vtterly faile them and then they are vndone for euer For if the Church of God make this wofull complaint that their hope and strength were perished from the Lord how shall wicked vnregenerate persons be able to stand when God shall come against them Not with matters of temptation as he doth against his children but with matters of truth not of mercie but in iudgement not that the diuell makes them beleeue so but that indeede it is so When God shall once begin to draw out his sword against them where will they bee then If Gods children doe feele such a heauie burden of it doe not you thinke it will presse them downe to the gates of hell When no friend shall stand by them no shifts and inuentions of wit shal bee auaileable for them when all mirth will be vncomfortable and euerie thing frowne and looke heauily vpon them God and Satan and sinne and their owne consciences beeing all vp in armes against them When this I say comes vpon them as come it will sooner or later which way can they turne them and how can they shift off that heauie loade of Gods wrath and indignation which will lie as a mountaine vpon their
is quite dead Rom. 7. Paul was once aliue before the Law came and so are all vnregenerate men in their owne conceite they can heare the word without feare and trembling they thanke God and bee neuer troubled in their consciences as some are Doe you thanke God for this senslesnesse Nay doe not so for that is a shamefull taking of his name in vaine but rather repent before God and craue pardon for the same For they that feare least are the most hard-hearted people of all other and they neuer succeed well The like may be said of them who are alwaies alike affected in prayer Pro. 28.13 they neuer yet knew what a faithfull prayer meanes Vse 2 Secondly this is for comfort to those that see how they thriue and marke when they speed well or ill when they come to the word to prayer or the Sacrament if they find a good effect they may bee assured that God loues them and so be thankefull for his mercie and confident thereof for afterwards If they goe away without an answere and without comfort as many times the Saints of God doe they shall gaine a greater measure of humilitie and bee more broken hearted and though they cannot end with thanksgiuing yet they may end with the prayer of the Publican Lord be mercifull vnto mee a sinner And there is as great gaine by humiliation at sometimes as by consolation and sweet feelings at other times For if wee should haue alwaies a present answere wee should grow secure and contemne these answers of God For such is our vile nature that when things grow common they grow by degrees out of reckoning and estimation with vs therefore God will not suffer vs alwaies to haue present hearing Question What is the difference then may some man say betweene the regenerate and vnregenerate sith both of them pray and neither of them haue hearing Ansvver Here is the difference that the one sort are not dead as the other are He that feeles an ague or any other disease and is vexed and pained with it any simple bodie will say surely such a one is aliue and so it may be concluded of euerie Christian that is troubled in his soule that his prayers finde no better accesse vnto Gods throne it is sure such a one hath the life of grace in him which is an euerlasting life But as for wicked men that neuer feele their sicknesse but grow to comparisons that they can pray as well as the best of them they are dead in sinne and without repentance shall perish in their sinnes Doct. 4 Vers 56. Thou hast heard my voice therefore stop not thine eare Whence this doctrine may bee gathered That those whom God hath once heard in mercie hee will alwaies heare preuaile with God once and euer VVhom God once heares in mercie he euer heares With men it is not a good argument to say Sir you paid such such a debt for me you holpe me out of prison such and such a time therefore doe it againe for it may be hee hath by that meanes so weakened his estate alreadie that he is not able to doe the like againe But it is otherwise with God all his former benefits are of so many bonds for new biessings if hee inclined his eare vnto vs such and such a time when wee powred out our prayers and teares before him wee shall finde the like successe againe vpon the vse of the like meanes Reason The reason hereof is drawne from Gods nature He is Iehouah yesterday to day and the same for euer Heb. 13.6 If hee haue receiued vs vesterday he can and will doe it in like sort to day yea and hence-forward for euer there is no change in him There remaines the same cause of mercie still in his nature hee had as much reason to loue Peter after his sall as before And when Christ prayed that Peters faith might not faile that proceeded from Christs goodnesse not from Peters If our prayers haue beene once a sweet smelling sacrifice in the nostrils of the Lord they shall neuer bee reiected by him once welcome to him and alwaies It is an argument that will surelie preuaile with God Heb. 12.2 Lord thou drewest neare once therefore doe it still To this purpose it is said that Christ is the author and finisher of our faith where once he hath laid the foundation hee will reare vp the building and bring it to perfection So is it said in the Psalme Psal 90.2 From euerlasting to euerlasting thou art our God If euer God should haue refused to shew vs fauor it would haue beene then when wee were dead in sinne but euen then hee sought to vs ere wee sought after him and before wee imagined any such matter hee was at the cost to bestow his sonnes bloud vpon vs that his spirit might bee shedde abroad in our hearts that wee might haue experience of his loue that wee might haue title to his sonnes death and merits and beeing once his sonnes and daughters might still bee fauoured relieued and succoured by him Let vs consider what wee doe and be thorowly grounded and perswaded vpon good warrant before we take comfort to our selues in Gods mercies but when wee haue a good foundation to build our assurance vpon let vs know that all Gods mercies are euerlasting mercies Vse 1 First this doctrine makes for the reproofe and terror of such men and women as hope that if the pestilence or death or any other heauie affliction should come they should bee in case good enough and doe as well as the best And why They will make many good prayers and desire God to bee mercifull to them and to forgiue them Well what wil they answere to this They haue made good prayers as they call them heretofore but what entertainement did they find with God They haue heard manie a sermon but what grace haue they gotten thereby They haue come to the Sacrament as often as their neighbors but what mortification haue they gained by it Nay surelie they cannot say much for such matters they are thigns that they neuer marked Then their case will bee hard when trouble comes If they haue no old store they will bee shut out as the foolish virgins were Math. 15. A Christian hath an old stocke which he liues vpon God hath heard him often hee hath giuen thankes to God as often or at least verie often hee hath gone through the pikes but still God hath beene at his right hand the remembrance whereof will much sustaine the heart But as for them that haue no experience of Gods former fauors in answering them in the daies and times when they haue called vpon him they can haue little hope that they shall finde any kindnesse from him when afflictions take hold of them If a prisoner that hath deserued death should say hee hopes well and lookes for fauor And why He hath euerie day put vp two or