Christ and seeke some easier kinde of life for flesh bloud Neither can we truely repent vntill by some crosse we know this world to be a place of sorrowe and not of mirth and delight For so long as we make our prosperitie a bulwarke to beate downe all harmes we are to looke for aduersitie to beate downe the high saile of our proude hearts whereby we gadde after our owne lustes and leaue the anchor of peace which is our trust in God Let vs learnâ— then when the world beginneth to fauour vs and we haue as it were an hundreth thousand soldiers to beare vs vp not to be secure for there is nothing more easie for a man then for to make him selfe beleeue that he shall alwaies continue in happy estate and thinke he shall die in the nest But we must be as birds on a bough to remoue at Gods pleasure and that without resistance when the Lord shall visite vs. And because we are giuen to much to thinke that wee haue the things in our owne right which we houlde of the free goodnes of God wee are taught in affliction how hainous vnthankfulnes it were to binde the Lord continually to intertaine vs in this life at so full Charge and cost without respect of his free vndeserued giftes or to holde plee against and sue him as it were by an obligation at whose handes we ought to begge daily and at whose gate we receiue all our mainteinance or to make a rent charge of all that which he giueth of his hee liberalitie Thus in the end wee make a chalendge of ownershippe of Gods giftes and make accompt to haue their companie to the graue whereby wee prouoke the Lord often to prooue to our faces that all that wee haue is but lent and borrowed Let vs then haue such an eye to euery blow that whensoeuer the Lord shall lay any crosse vpon vs wee bee ready to receiue it to yeelde vp our bonds vnto him the condition whereof is that wee be readie to remooue whensoeuer he pleaseth knowing that Gods prouidence forceth vs alwaies to the best and as most may make for the hastening of our soules to our euerlasting inheritance Let vs learne not to reckeÌ„ without our host that we hold our prosperitie of the Lord not in â—ee simple but as tenants at will that is from day to day resigning to God the soueraignetie of reuoking vs when it pleaseth him Thus it becommeth the Lord to change our estate that wee be come not snatled in the giftes of prosperitie and become so folish as not to keepe on our way to the heauenly life Our natural inclination is to forget that we are on earth as pilgrimes to leape vp into the clouds and to promise vnto our selues the whole course of our liues to be in prosperitie and so long as God letteth vs alone at our ease we take our selues as it were to be petty Gods But when we see our selues shut vp and know not what will be the end of our misery findeing our selues to be intertained in this life but as iorney men waged for the present day but not knowing what will become of vs the day following we desire to take our â—est in the bosome of Gods prouidence and so much we strike our sailes the lower when the Lord proclameth warre with our secure prosperitie which perswadeth vs that we shall liue for euer and driueth vs from bethinking vs of our miseries and frailâ—iâ—s Wherefore let vs cut out our prosperitie by the patterne of humilitie and in our best estate putte our selues in readinesse to suffer aduersitie and wheÌ„ we are well to looke for worse keepe a good watch when God handleth vs most gently that in abounding we may foresee our wants in health our sicknes and in prosperitie our calamitie concerning things of this life the faithfull are to stande in a doubt that that which they holde with one hande may be taken away with the other Wee must not thinke that we shall euer be shut vp in a mewe so that we should see noe crosse but we must lay open our selues to receaue stripes from the Lord knowing that our least cryes will stay his greatest scourges Let vs loue to bee assaulted but not vnmeasurably because God will assist vs. Let vs looke to fal but on our knees because Gods hand doth hold vs vp Let vs looke to bee humbled but in mercy because the Lord sustaineth vs and as we are asâ—ured where misery hemmeth vs about on euery side to haue an ouâ—-gate in euery danger so it is our part continually to confesse before the Lord that wee euer giue new occasions that hee should follow vs with newe punishmentes and that our sinnes doe often shake of the wings of Gods mercy vnder the which we haue beene long comforted For Gods children acknowledge themselues without ceasing that God hath roddâ—s in a readines though they see noe present euill to beat them from their sinnes and bende all their care how they may rather suffâ—r adâ—ersitie to Gods glory then to steepe securely in prosperitie vnto their owne pleasure Now when the Lord doth as it were holde vs on the racke for these causes before named we must pray vnto him that howsoeuer he keepeth vs in the presse wee may haue a breathing while to consider our daies spent in pleasure and to examine our vnthankfulnes which shutteth vp the doore of Gods mercy from vs. And because our afflictions are the sorer when they come the nearer to the soule we may with our selues conclude to hold on the way of our thorough-â—aire and though wee see nothing but thornes of temptations and bryers of euill affeâ—â—ions so as wee must bee faine to leape ouer hedges rockes and ditches yet must we not cease to continue in Gods seruice For if that were not what triall and examination of our faith should there bee weare wee as in a faire medowe that wee might runne on a longe by the water side in a shade and that there might be nothing but pleasure and ioy all our life time who could vant that he had serued God with good affection But when GOD doth send vs things cleane contrary to our desires that we must bee faine one while to enter into a quagmire and another while to march vpon ragged rocks stones then wee shall haue the vse of a well ex-excised minde in prayer in repentance and in contempt of this life And why doeth the Lorde some time suffer vs to pyne away and to languishe in continuance of griefe seeinge that hee coulde cleane ridde vs at the first doubtlesse to this end that wee might confesse his mercy more freely and bite of his iuststice more sharpely Let vs now learne to holde all the passions of impacientie in bondage both by comparing our euils which the wonderfull mercies of GOD and our smale sufferings with the intollerable conflictes of our forefathers For there is noe greater cause of our
gifte in that kinde who by conference writing or otherwise hath not bestowed some parte of his trauaile vnto your comforte I coulde my selfe name a greate number besides those aboue mentioned but your selfe can remember many more nowe the testimonie of so many faithfull seruantes of Christ witnessing the grace and goodnesse of GOD towardes you must bee as the voyce of GOD himselfe who is not as man that hee shoulde lie or as the sonne of man that hee should repente or alter that which hee hath once testified And if Iob doe acknowledge that the comforte of one faithfull witnesse on the behalfe of GOD is enough to the erecting and chearing of the heauiest minde what can Sathan say vnto the testimonie not of 2 or 3 witnesses which the lawe onely requireth but vnto the testimony of 2 or 3 score the meanest and weakest whereof should be able to answere in your behalfe vnto all that the enemie is able to obiect against you The second thing I note is that these haue not come vnto you by errour or by chance but by speciall addresse of Gods mercifull prouidence as sent from the throne of grace to binde vp your wounde and to minister comfort vnto your conscience The third that these speake not their owne wordes nor of themselues but are the faithfull interpreters and declarers of the will and counsell of God not indeede immediatelie from himselfe but by viewing and esteeming of the worke of God and the fruites of his grace in those that are his The fourth that as they declare vnto the afflicted that fauour of God towardes them which themselues are not able for the present to discerne so they commend them by praier vnto the Lorde who hath promised to heare and to graunt their requestes The fift that for comfort in this cause we must passe out of our selues in whom there is nothing that may ease our griefe and cast our eye and cogitation onelie vpon Christ in whom all fulnesse of saluation doth dwell considering that this is one of the meanes whereby Sathan doth most distresse and anguish the afflicted soules that he holdeth them in the cogitation of their sinnes and transgressions against GOD and suffereth them not to see that length breadeth height and depth and to knowe that loue of Christ that passeth all knowledge that they might be filled with all the fulnesse of God The sixt that the Lorde both mercifullie blesseth the labours of his seruantes in comforting his children and also graciouslie heareth their prayers and supplications made in their behalfe vnto his maiestie And the last that God in his good time erecteth the mindes of the afflicted and openeth their mouthes to praise his name and to protest his goodnes that hee hath brought againe their soule from the pitt and hath shined vpon them with the light of life Which effect of the grace of GOD because you haue both seene in others and felt in your selfe manie times you haue greate cause to hope and expecte the returne of his comforting hande in due season who also shall once determine these conflicting daies and set vs in that peace which shall neuer bee interrupted and wherein all teares shall be wiped awaye from our faces for euer The malice of the enemie during this life hath no ende nor measure at all and therefore wee may iustlie feare all extremity of attempt against vs but we must strengthen our selues in him who can and will inable vs vnto all thinges The Last and most grieuous assaulte of sathan against the afflicted is that he calleth into doubt their election For because that saluation is onely of the elect he laboureth by all meanes to shake this grounde and pillar of comfort and if it be possible to subuert and ouerthrowe the same It behooueth vs to take heede howe wee carrie our selues as in that temptation which all others is moste difficulte and dangerous First therefore wee muste beware of that gulfe wherein the enemie hopeth to deuoure vs that we enter not into the secrete and hidden counsell of GOD. For the secretes of the Lorde are for him selfe But the thinges that are reuealed are for vs and our posteritie after vs for â—uer as Moses saith what then hath the Lorde reuealed concerning our election First the spirite of GOD witnesseth vnto our spirites that wee are the Children of GOD. Then it teacheth vs to crie Abba Father and stirreth vp in vs those gronings that cannot bee expressed From these let vs descende vnto faith it selfe the voyce whereof if it bee not suppressed by the grieuousnesse of temptation soundeth cheerefully vnto vs that wee are beloued of GOD redeemed be Christ and fellow-heires with him of his fathers kingdome If heere also the enemye haue darkened our senses and obscured our light Wee muste of necessitie with Iob releeue our selues from the fruites of our faith these what they are hath alreadie beene sayde If necessitie doe soe compell vs wee must flye vnto the times that are past referre our selues vnto the testimonies of the faithfull ministers of GOD who as they are for their wisdome and manyfolde experience better able to iudge of our estate then our selues so haue they power and authoritie from GOD to decide the controuersie betweene vs and our enemie and to pleade our cause against him Also where the enemie from our presente trouble and torment of minde seeketh to driue vs vnto dispaire wee are to vse against him his owne weapons for amongest manie testimonies of our state in grace and fauour with GOD there is none more euidente and sensible then is that conflicte which wee finde and feele in our selues of the spirite againste the fleshe of faythe against vnbeliefe of a sanctified minde against that parte that is vnregenerated and finally of the newe creature against the olde man and of Christ himselfe in vs against the power of Sathan If hee replie that this is not so but the contrarie Wee may answere that albeit there haue beene many times wherein wee haue had a more presente and mightie hande of the Lorde vppon vs yet euen nowe Sathan himselfe cannot denie but wee hate sinne and loue righteousnesse that we loue God and to our power obeye his will and flie the baites and occasions of euill whereof if if there were for the presente no manifest and apparant effectes as yet by the grace of GOD there are notwithstanding the onelye affection and desire of the heart thirsting and longing after God his kingdome and righteousnesse are sufficiente argumentes of the worke of grace begunne in vs which shall so longe be continued by the good hande of our heauenlie father vntill it be consummated and perfected in the life to come For if it be God as the Apostle faith that giueth both the will and the deede hee that hath giuen vs to desire to obey his wil will also inable vs vnto the doing of the same And seeing the worke of sanctificatioÌ„
but becommeth eternall For euen the heathen men thought that death was the end of all misery the perswasion whereof made them beeing in some misery to make an ende of themselues and hasten their owne death as Sathan doth make many now a daies to doe who are ignorant of the hell which is a place of farre greater paines than any they can suffer in this worlde whatsoeuer Howebeit a tormented conscience if before it was begun is now continued or if it was not before now beginneth and neuer endeth world without ende For though true it is that sicknes pouerty imprisonmeÌ„t or banishmeÌ„t haue ended their term in death yet a wouÌ„ded hart which was teÌ„poral in this life is nowe eternall after this life that which before death was in hope recouerable is after death made vncurable vnrecouerable It is good therefore to consider if euen in this life the torment of conscience be so fearefull how much more grieuous it is to susteine it in hell where that is infinite which here is finit where that is vnmesurable which here is mesurable where is the sea of sorow wherof this is but a drop where is the flame of that fire wherof this is lesse then a sparke But to shut vp this argument Some there haue beene who through out all their life time haue been free from all other troubles so as either they felt them not at all or else in very small measure and by that meanes neuer knewe what outward trouble meant As for example some men there haue beene who for sicknesse neuer knewe there headeach for pouertie neuer knewe what want meant who for discredite were neuer euill spoken of who euer put farre from them the euill daye of the Lorde who made a league with death as it were a couenant with hell who thought they could crucifie euery crosse rather thaÌ„ come vnderany crosse yet they could neuer escape a wounded conscience either in this life or in the life to come True it is that Gods Children by faith repentance do often escape it but the wicked and such as are borne vnto it as to their sure inheritance the more they flie from it the more it pursueth them If we haue transgressed the Ciuil Lawes the Iudge by bribes may be corrupted if a man haue committed some capitall offence by flying his Country he may escape the Magistrates handes but our consciences telling vs that we haue sinned against God what bribe shall we offer or whether shall wee flie whether shall wee goe from his spirit or whether shall we goe from his presence If we ascend into heauen is not he there If wee lie downe in hell is hee not there If we flie to the vtmost parts of the sea is he not there also There needeth no apparitor to summon vs there needes no Bayly arraunt to fetch vs there needes noe accuser to giue in against vs sinne will arrest vs and lieth at the Doore our owne Conscience will impannell a Quest against vs our owne heartes will giue in sufficient Euidence and our owne iniquitie will plead vs to be guiltie to our owne faces Thus we se both by the experience of theÌ„ that haue suffered the wound of the spirit and by the comparinge of it with other euils what a waight most grieuous and burden intollerable it is to haue a tormented conscience Now let vs shew how we may preuent by what meanes Gods children falling into some degrees of it for if it rage in extremity it is an euill vnrecouerable may safely and quietly be deliuered from it And here a iust complaint is to be taken vp it is a wonder to be marked if we may wonder at Gods works that we se many so carefull watchfull to auoide oâ—her troubles and so few or none take any paines to escape the trouble of minde which is so grieuous We se men louing health and loathing sicknes in diet temperat in sleepe moderate in Phisicke expert skilful to purge to auoide such corrupt humors which in time may breed though presently they do not bring forth some daÌ„gerous sicknes yet to auoid the diseases of the soule no man abateth his sleep no man abridgeth his diet no man prepareth Phisicke for it no man knoweth when to be ful and when to be emptie how to want and how to abound Others carried away with the loue of riches very â—ly to fall into pouerty will not sticke to rise early to take sleep lately to fare hardly to teare taw their flesh in labour by land by water in faire foule wether by rocks and by sands from farre and from neare and yet to fall into Spirituall decaies to auoid the pouertie of conscience no man taketh such paines as though saluation and peace of minde were not a thing worthy the labouring for Some ambitiously hunting after honor not easily digesting reproaches behaue themselues neither sluggishly nor sleepely but are actiue in euery attempt by loue by counsell by prudence prowesse by wit by practise by labor learning by cuÌ„ning diligence to become famous to shun a ciuill reproach yet to bee glorious in the sight of God and his Angelles to fall before the heauens and in the presence of the Almightie to bee couered with shame and confusion of Conscience we make none account as they who neyther vse any means to obtaine the one nor auoide those occasions which may bring the other Others vnwilling to come within the reach and daunger of the Lawe that they may escape imprisonment of bodye or confiscation of goodes will be painefull in penall statutes skilfull in euery branch of the ciuill law and especially wil labour to keepe themselues from treasons murthers fellonies and such like offences deseruing the punishment of death yet wheÌ„ the Lord God threatneth the seazure both of soule and body the attaching of our spirits the confiscating of our consciences the banishing of vs from heauen the hanging of vs in hell the suspending of our saluation the adiudging of vs to condemnation for the breach of his CoÌ„maundements no man searcheth his eternall Lawe noe man careth for the Gospell neither the sentence of euerlasting diuorsement from the Lord neither the couenant of reconciliation is esteemed of vs. And to reach our Complaint one degree father Behold the more we seek outward pleasures and to auoide the inward trouble of minde the more we hast and runne into it suddainely plunge our selues in a wonded spirite ere we be aware VVho posteth more to become rich who hopeth lesse to be come poore than the marchant man who aduentureth great treasures who hazardeth his goods who putteth in ieoperdie his life and yet sodenly he either rusheth vpon the rocke of hardnesse of heart or else is swallowed vp of the gulph of a desparing minde from which afterwards he cannot be deliuered with a ship ful of golde Woful profe hath confirmed how some men wholly set on
raging is the strength of sin Neither for all this must we cease to sorrowe for our sins nor dispaire on the other side although our sorrow bee but small For if we be sorrowfull for the hardnes of our hearts if we can be grieued for that we are no more grieued for our sins if we can but sigh and groone because we feele our iniquities it is so much a greater comfort vnto vs as it is a greater testimony that our heartes are not altogether hardened so that if we feele â—orrowe indeede although wee weepe not yet we may gather comfort considering that this sorrow is for sinne with a loue and hunger after righteousnes yea if our assaults be distrust pride arrogancy ambition enuie concupiscence as whoâ—e as the fyre in the furnace all our daies and though Sathan layeth out oyle in great measure out of measure that it is the wonderfull mercy of the Lorde that we stand and though our prayers be dull and full of wearisomenes if the striuing and strayning of our selues to goodnesse be so hard that we knowe not whether we striue for feare of punishment or for loue of so good a Father yet if we feele this in our selues that we would faine loue the Lord and be better and beeing wearied and tyred with our sinnes long gladly to enioye the peace of righteousnes and desire to please God in a simple obedience of faith then let vs comfort our selues there is no time to late to repent in For he commeth quickly to Christ although in the houâ—e of death that commeth willingly and in a desire of a better life howsoeuer sinne and Sathan at that time would especially perswade him For as the humming Bee hauing lost her sting in an other doth still notwithstanding make a fearfull and grieuous noyse by her often buzzing about vs but is nothing able to hurt vs so sin death hauing lost their stings in Christ Iesus do not cease at all euen in the height of the parching heat of our consciences to make a murmuring and with furious stormes of temptations to terrifie vs and our consciences albeit they can neuer sting vs. Wherfore if Sathan charge our consciences with sin if we can feele the things a little before mentioned in our consciences let vs bid him not tell vs what we haue beene but what we woulde be For such we are by imputation as we be in affection and he is now no sinner who for the loue he beareth to righteousnes would be no sinner Such as we be in desire and purpose such we be in reckoning and account with God who giueth that true desire and holy purpose to none but to his children whom he iustifieth Neyther vndoubtedly can the giltines of sinne breake the peace of our conscience seeing it is the worke of an other who hath commended vs as righteous before God and saued vs. It must indeed be confessed that our owne works wil do nothing in the matter of iustification which from Christ in Christ is freely giuen vnto vs it must be granted that in our selues we are weaker then that we can resist the least sinne so farre of is it that we can encounter with the law sinne death hell and Sathan and yet in Christ we are more then conquerers ouer them all When the law accuseth thee because thou hast not obserued it send it to Christ say there is a man that hath fulfilled the law to him I cleaue he hath fulfilled it for me and hath giuen the fulfilling of it vnto mee I haue nothing to do with thee I haue another law which striketh thee down euen the law of liberty which through Christ hath set me free For my conscience which henceforth serueth the law of grace is a glorious prince to triumph ouer thee If sin come and would haue thee by the throat send it to Christ say as much as thou maist do against him so much right thou shalt haue against me For I am in him he in me wherfore O sin I am righteous through my Christ which is a condemning sin to condemne thee which art a condemned sinner If death creepe vpon thee attempt to deuoure thee say vnto it Christ hath ouercome thee opened to me the gates of euerlasting life thou wouldest haue killed him with the sting of sin but the same being of no force thy purpose O death hath failed and he being my life is become thy death If Sathan sommon thee to answer for thy debts send him also to Christ and say that the wife is not suable but the husband enter thine action against Christ mine husband and he will make thee a sufficient answere who then shall condemne vs or what iudge shall daunt vs syth God is our iudge and accquited vs and Christ was condemned iustifieth vs he is our iudge that willeth not the death of a sinner he is our man of law who to excuse vs suffered himselfe to be accused for vs. O gluttonous hell where is thy defence O cruell sin where is thy tyrannous power O rauening death where is thy bloody sting O roaring Lion why doest thou freete and foame Christ my lawe fighteth against thee O lawe and is my liberty Sinne against thee O sinne and is my righteousnes Christ against thee O diuell and is my sauiour Death against thee O death is my life Thou diddest desire to paue my way to the burning lake of damned soules but contrarie to thy will thou art constrained to lift vp the ladder wherby I must ascend into the new Ierusalem Wherfore if we shal finde our selues forsaken of God so as we perceiue nothing but matter of dispaire let vs still hold our owne in the certainty of our faith stay our selues sith Christ is giuen vs of God that he might extinguish sin triumph ouer the law vanquish death ouercome the diuell and destroy hell for our onely comfort and consolation But peraduenture some will say my faith is weake and colde and my conscience is as a â—laming lampe and burning furnace I feare the Lorde will still pursue mee with his wrathfull indignation Thou doest well to feare but feare and sinne not For feare which subdueth the securitie of the flesh is in all most requisite in that the weaker we are in our selues the stronger we are in God But that feare is dangerous which hindereth the certainty of faith in that it incourageth our enemy more fearcely to set vpoÌ„ vs when we comming into the campe will cast away our armour especially which should defend vs. Comfort thy selfe the Lord will not quench the smoking flaxe nor breake the brused reede he looketh not on the quantitie but on the qualitie of our faith For as a good mother doth not reiect hir childe because through some infirmitie it is weake feeble and not able to go alone but rather doth pitie and supporte it least peraduenture it should fal recompenseth that with more motherly affection
make no more application the holy annointing which you haue receiued will bring the old mercies of God vpon others and vppon your owne soule vnto remembrance and leade you into all truth which shall bee requisite for your saluation Put your trust in the Lord and be you assured beleeue his ministers you shall prosper The Lord Iesus came not to breake the brused reede nor to quench the smoaking flaxe his grace shall bee euer more sufficient for you and his vertue shal vnto the end manifest it selfe in your weakenes Now therfore I beseech him to preserue your body soule spirit vnto his most glorious appearing Faithfull is he that hath called you promised who wil also performe it Amen From my house in London in Warwicke lane Anno 1591. Feb. 24. Yours in Iesus Christ as he haâ—h beene Richard Greenham A letter consolatory written to a friende afflicted in Conscience for sinne Grace and peace in Iesus Christ. MY very good and louing friend in the Lord Iesus I vnderstand by M. H. who ofte trauelleth into those parts that you require of mee letters of comfort for reliefe of your afflicted and distressed conscience Wherein I could bee glad to performe any deutie that is within the compasse of my poore abilitie But your best and soundest comfort as I take it lieth in those that haue them selues bene exercised with that triall who from the comforts of Christ that haue abounded in them are best able to comfort those that are in like sort afflicted by the hand of God Agine I haue written vnto you many times of this argument If my letters remaine with you they may alwaies speake for mee that which I am able to say to that point If you require more then I haue written before this then were it reason you should sende mee my former letters that I might knowe where to begin that which remaineth My leasure is not great as you knowe and there is nothing whereinto I enter more vnwillingly then into this labour of writing Yet that you may vnderstand that I haue not altogether forgotten your ould loue towardes me nor haue suffered mine affection towards you vtterly to decaye I will indeauour at once as briefelye as I may to remember vnto you so far as I can call to minde the summe of all that I haue written vnto you heretofore The question as I take it that that lieth in controuersie betweene your coÌ„science and the enimie is of the assurance of your saluation Wherein I would haue you first to consider what is or at any time past hath beene the testimony of the Spirit of God vnto your spirit and then I doubt not but either from present sence of the same spirit of God crying in your heart Abba Father or from the remeÌ„brance of the daies of old wherin you had a coÌ„fortable assurance of Gods fauor you shal be able to repel the force of this temptation coÌ„sidering that the holy Ghost caÌ„notly that God whom he loueth vnto the end he loueth because his gifts calling as the Apostle saith are such as whereof he doth not nor caÌ„not repeÌ„t him TheÌ„ coÌ„sider the nature of faith which how weak vnperfect soeuer it be it caÌ„not be denied eueÌ„ by Sathan himselfe to be faith according to that which is saide I beleeue Lord helpe thou my vnbeliefe And if you haue faith euen as a graine of mustard seede c. that Faith apprehendeth Christ Iesus in whome there is all sufficiency of saluation and in whome wee are compleat so that whatsoeuer scruple ariseth from our selues or is inforced of the enimie from any imperfection that is in vs it neede not at all to dismay vs because wee saue not our selues but are saued by him who is made vnto vs from God wisdome righteousnes sanctification and redemption that who so glorieth should glorie in him And in deede there is no surer refuge when the enimie distresseth vs then renouncing our selues to professe the onely name of Christ Iesus who died for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification For if the enemie shall say wee haue sinned our answere is Christ hath died for vs yea is risen againe yea is ascended into heauen c. If he say we want the righteousnes of the law we must answere Christ hath fulfilled the lawe that wee by him might be made the righteousnes of God If hee say wee are in nature corrupt and therefore both vnworthy and vnfit for the kingdome of heauen we must answere him with the wordes of Christ himselfe for there sakes haue I sanctified my selfe Fynally whatsoeuer shalbe obiected against vs by the enimie our answere must bee that in Christ all the promises of God are yea and in him they are Amen That all fulnes dwelleth in him and that in him wee are perfected so that wee may boldly say with Saint Paul there is no damnation to those which are in Christ Iesus If Sathan his importunitie and impudencie will not thus bee answered we must ende all disputation with him by our selues and send him vnto Christ who amongst other parts of his office towardes vs performeth also this for vs both before his heauenly father and against all our aduersaries that he is our aduocate to pleade and defende our cause which yet is not so much ours as his owne because the question is not of our merits or satisfactions which we freely renounce but of the merite of his obedience and of the value of his death vnto the saluation of those that beleeue in him So shall wee at once stoppe vp the mouth of the enimie when refusing to pleade our own cause we referre our selues vnto Christ whome wee knowe to bee the wisdome of God and able to answere all that can possibly be obiected against vs. For seeing Sathan is a wrangling and subtill sophister it is our furest and safest dispatch to break of all dispute with him and to send him thither where he may receiue his best answere and we neede not to doubt but he that hath answered the iustice of God and canceled the obligation that was against vs before his heauenly father will easily defeate whatsoeuer the olde serpent our accuser the Deuill is able to alledge against vs. But if wee cannot so auoide his assault but needes we must enter the combat with him let vs take vnto our selues that courage that becommeth the souldiors of Christ and in the name of the Lorde Iesus manfully oppose our selues knowing that hee which hath brought vs into the battell will both saue vs and deliuer vs out of all dangers Then if the enimie shall say that wee haue no faith and therefore haue no interest in Christ we may answere that our beleeuing dependeth not vpon his testimony it is enough that our selues doe know and feele by the grace of God that wee doe beleeue As for him we doe the rather perswade
things he had somtimes inioyed he doth not only expresse the great affection he had to be restored vnto his former estate but also giueth the atteÌ„tiue reader to vnderstand a secret worke of that grace of God from the remembrance of that which had been insinuating an hope of that which shold be as the eueÌ„t it self afterward declared which issue of his troubles S. Iames would haue vs diligently to consider when he saith Ye haue heard of the sufferings of Iob and haue seene the ende of the Lord. But it fareth in this case with the afflicted soule many times as it doth with those that gredily striue for the goods of this world Their affection of hauing more is so strong doth so violently possesse and carry them as it not only depriueth them of the vse of that they haue but also maketh them forget the same which is yet moâ—e protest against it as if they had it not at all So the humbled afflicted spirit ouerborne for the time with present griefe and anguish of minde not onely vseth not the comforts it hath cannot presently discerne but also causeth an vtter forgetfulnes of them and which more is protesteth against them as if they were not yea as we se often in Iob he so complaneth of the contrary as if the Lord had not only forsaken his seruant but had armed himselfe and did fight against him to destroy him Here therfore we must bridle chastise our impatient and murmuring spirit and remember that of Iob so farre contrary to the other that though the Lord should destroy him yet he will trust in him Neither must we so much vexe and vnquiet our haâ—ts for that we want as labour to make vse of that we haue which though it seeme little vnto vs for the present yet in truth is more then Sathan by all his force is able to ouercome as may appeare vnto vs by that endles resistance which the spirit of god dwelling in vs maketh against him For he that so fighteth is not yet captiue he that standeth in face of the enimie and endureth all his assaults is not yet vanquished Yet that he holdeth out in so great weaknes of his owne against so strong furious assaults of the enimy it plainely argueth that he standeth by a greater strength then his owne by which as he is presently preserued that hee fals not into the hand of his aduersary so nede he no doubt therby to be finally deliuered be crowned with victory tryumph in despite of Sathan all hee is able to worke against him But if the enimie whose quarrelling with vs is endles as his malice is vnsatiable will not thus leaue vs giue vs rest then as I said before it is our best safest way at once to end all disputation with him And we cannot better shake him of theÌ„ by exercising our selues in prayer reading and meditâ—tion of the word of God by diligent walking in the works labours of our callings for there is no greater oportunitie nor aduantage that can be giuen vnto the aduersary then if he shal finde vs idle vnoccupied If the minde be alreadie possessed of occupied in good things it cannot so easily be trsaÌ„ported vnto that which is euill But if he finde the house emptie and fit for him he then entreth without difficultie In the question of faith wee haue comfort also from the works effects therof in our selues For as the tree is knowne by the fruits so faith wanteth not her fruites wherby she may be discerned These are of diuers sorts sorow for sinne past hatred of euill care and indeauor to auoide it both in generall and in particular the loue of God of his righteousnes desire care with labour contention to please him both in generall perticular duties And here againe wee haue a lawful necessary recorse vnto the time past For albeit wee haue nothing to glory in before God when the question is of the cause of our saluation yet the effects of this grace and fauour of God towards vs in the former fruites of our faith may yeeld vs noe small comfort in the time of our heauinesse and of the anguish of our spirites here of it is that the Prophet in the psalmes doth so often protest his obedience vnto God care to doe his commaundements hereof it is that Iob vnto the comforting of his distressed conscience remembreth the course of his former life led in the feare of God and obedience of righteousnes For although we may not attribute any merit vnto our workes but must giue the whole glorie of our saluation vnto Christ alone yet our works doe witnes for vs that we are the children of God because wee are guided by his spirite and as the Apostle saith though the body be deade in respect of sinne yet the spirite is life for righteousnes sake Also the gratious effectes of Christ himselfe dwelling in our heartes by faith are sure and certaine testimonies that we are members of his bodie doe belong vnto him because as branches implaÌ„ted into him which is the vine we bring forth fruite according vnto the nature of the vine If it be said we doe yet sin our answere is that that happeneth vnto vs not from the new creature but from that other part yet remaining in vs stil subdued vnder sin in which the Lord of mercy doth not esteeme vs but in that new man which is fashioned againe according vnto his own image In so much as S. Paul doubteth not to say that the sins of the faithful proceding froÌ„ the remaÌ„der of corruption yet abiding in theÌ„ are not their workes but the works of the flesh which being already wouÌ„ded vnto death by the power of the death of Christ languisheth more more shal finally be abolished by death which is the end accomplishment of our mortification fully endeth the battell betweene the flesh the spirit What shall I say of the loathing of this life and the vanitie thereof of that desire which is in the children of God to be dissolued to be with Christ of conteÌ„meÌ„t in all estates patience in afflictions constancie in the truth loue towards those that loue the Lorde pitie towardes those that are in misery and the desiring of the good euen of their enimies and those that hate them Which vertues though they beare not an equall saile by reason of the weaknes of the flesh and of the malice and resistance of the enimie yet are they vndoubted testimonies of our loue towards God which is not but in those who are first beloued of him and haue tasted how good and gratious hee is If wee shall looke vnto the exercises of pietie and of the worshippe of GOD though wee may here as els where complaine of our wants and defectes yet wee shal through
vrge this argument no further I knowe that the benefites of this life are common for the most part both to the reprobate and to thé elect yet both in those which are common there is a great and large difference and there are some so singular as carry with them a stronger testimony of the fauour of God then that it may without impietie be denied In common benefits it holdeth that as thinges most aduerse are yet turned vnto our good so much more the good giftes and blessinges of God doe carry with them a testimonie of his loue and fauour towardes vs. For as the Lord speaketh vnto vs in the worde and by his spirit so his good and fatherly prouidence towardes vs is not without voyce but foundeth aloud vnto the declaration of his loue But there are as I saide some benefites so speciall that the vse of them is propper onely vnto his children Remember with me the first time of this trouble and dismaying of your conscience and remember with all howe many meanes the Lorde hath ministred vnto you for your comforte What shall I saye of those whom the Lorde hath put euen into your bosome the more nearelie to apply his mercie vnto you Master C. Master B. Master R. c. all so furnished vnto your comforte that you may well thinke they were as so many hands stretched out from heauen to supporte and strengthen your weakenesse withall if I shoulde set my selfe to remember howe mamy other the seruantes of God haue by diuine prouidence beene directed to minister comfort vnto you the number woulde be innumerable Master S Master F. Master D. Master B Master G. Master G and almost who not of those that haue beene trained and brought vp in that schoole Consider howe greate a mercy this hath beene that so many excellent Physitions of the soule shoulde at seuerall times apply themselues if not vnto the cure at the least vnto the mitigating of your disease I will not examine howe many and greate comfortes you haue receiued from them by worde in presence and by letters in absence this onely I aske of you whether you haue not knowne all these to beare vnto you the same testimonie to speake the same comforte and to confirme you in the same assurance of the loue of God towardes you Nowe what spirite must that be that shall contradicte the spirite of GOD in the mouthes of so many and faithfull witnesses My good friende marke that I will saye vnto you as the patient that is sicke in bodie willinglye resigneth himselfe vnto the sentence and direction of his skilfull and faithfull Physition so muste the Children of GOD in thir spirituall maladies yeelde them selues vnto the physitions of their soules so much the more because the Lord hath giuen vnto the ministers of his Gospell the power of binding and loosing both in the publique ministerie of his worde and also in the priuate consolation of his children I will not speake of that which is publique although not altogether vnfitt vnto my purpose considering that that which is publiquely spoken as vnto all hath also a particular addresse vnto those that are the Lordes As when the Lorde saith by his prophet Blessed are all they that mourne in Sion I will for the present rest in that vse of this power of binding and loosing which is priuate and perticular Remember that of Saint Iames who saith that vpon the praiers of the elders of the Church the sinnes of the diseased shall be forgiuen him which wordes can haue no other sense but that by them shall be pronounced vnto him the forgiuenes of sinnes A most excellent practise wherof we haue in our Sauiour himselfe Luke 7. where first he proueth by argument vnto Simon the Pharesie that the mourning sinner was pardoned all hir sinnes and therefore was now no sinner and wicked one as he vncharitably esteemed her to be theÌ„ turning himselfe vnto the distressed soule first saith thy sinnes are forgiuen thee and afterward thy faith hath saued thee go in peace Wherin though there be some thing extraordinarie in our SauiourChrist as the son of God yet is it that power which he hath communicated vnto all his seruantes saying whose sinnes you forgiue they are forgiuen c. which is nothing else but whose sinnes vpon due examination and triall of their repentance you pronounce to be forgiuen they are forgiuen Heere againe remember my deare friende howe many of the faithfull and expert seruants of Christ haue examined your estate by conference with your selfe and haue founde all signes vnto health and saluation Vnlesse therefore Sathan dare contradict the spirite of GOD speaking by the mouthes of so many witnesses hee cannot saye but you are the Lordes Nowe for your selfe I am assured that you will not nor dare not say but this hath beene the constant testimonie of all the seruantes of God sente vnto you and that they were such as you had no cause to suspect their partialitie or flatterie in anie sorte Howe is it then that the voyce of so many shoulde not bee vnto you as the voyce of GOD himselfe Who though hee doe not speake vnto vs nowe immediately from heauen as in some times past yet hee speaketh vnto vs by the mouthes of his seruantes his Prophets When Dauid saide in the horrour of his soule I haue sinned against the Lorde was it thinke you a small comforte that Nathan saide immediately vnto him the Lorde haâ—h pardoned thy sinne I will say nothing of the prayers of so many of the seruantes of Christ as haue commended your cause vnto the Lorde which cannot be frustrate the Lorde himselfe directing them to pray according to his worde and vppon the assurance of his promise Read Iob. 33.23 If there be present with him that is with the afflicted soule as verse 22. a messenger from God an interpreter of the will of God such as is one of a thousand who may signifie vnto man the equitie of the Lord and intreating him for fauour shall say Redeeme thou him that he goe not downe into the pit by that redemption which I haue founde when he hath humblie besought the Lord he doth graciously receiue him that he may beholde his face with ioy and he restoreth vnto man his righteousnesse In which words there are many excellent thinges to be noted for the comforte of those that are afflicted The first is that the anguished soule finding no comfort at home and in her selfe by reason of the strength of temptation must seeke reliefe abroade at the handes of those whom God hath appointed to make glad the sorrowfull minde and to giue rest vnto the wearied and distressed conscience Wherein you must consider with all thankefulnesse howe greate mercie the Lorde hath shewed vnto you for I doe perswade my selfe as before I haue saide that since the time of your affliction there hath not beene almost one that hath had any extraordinarie