perceiue his Election and Saluation The saying is as true as ancient We must goe by the gates of Hell to Heauen we must after a sort be in Hell before euer we can be capable of Heauen aboue That is in the Hell of an ashamed countenance and a confounded conscience before euer the Lord will say vnto our soules that he is our Saluation and Redemption Our humiliation by the Law must first preceed the saluation of the Gospell so then they are not conuerted that more or lesse are neuer humbled To be troubled and amazed for our sinnes is to be fitted for Heauen and first we must be lost ere we can be found and must be condemned before wee can be reprieued or saued We must be ashamed of our sinnes affrighted at our follies and confounded in our consciences before the Lord wil once say to our soules I am thy Redemption Are you amazed at your sins be not disparaged so farre you are in this your Hell from Hell as you are composed thereby and made fitter for Heauen which is the throne of the Euer-liuing Lord GOD. Againe we must labour to haue the spirit of Bondage become the Spirit of Adoption to our soules and we must acknowledge our seuerall diseases before Christ will heale vs. As euery one can rest content to haue Cstrist our Iesus so must we rest content to haue him our Lord and be conformable vnto him in bearing the Crosse if euer we meane or looke to be glorified with him in Heauen We must needs feele our sicknesse ere wee befit for Righteousnesse soule afflictions must not fright you from Almighty God but make you rather runne vnto him for defence as the Chickens do from the Kite to their Hen 2 Cor. 12.17 18. The more you trust in God the sooner will he support you and the more earnestly you cry and craue for iustice the sweeter will be your end and the more ioyfull your deliuerance Forget not to be thankfull for the least measure of Faith and Grace wel knowing that the want of these soone worketh mans ouer-throw Vnderstand I beseech you that though Death be the deliuerer of euery faithfull man and woman from the body and prison of sinne to Eternall Felicity Our Sauiour by his Death and Passion hauing killed the sting of death in vs and a though Paul once rauished with an high Contemplation Wished to be dissolued and to be with Christ. Philip. 1.23 Yet haue we no warrant euery man to pray for the hasting of his owne death being to euery Faithfull particular man the same thing that the generall transmutation wil be at the latter day to the whole body of the iust and Elect except that the Elect after the generall dissolution attayne to a greater degree of Glory Christ came not to Call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance To seeke the lost Sheepe to finde the lost Greate and reclayme the lost Sonne or meet with the lost treasure Submit your desires to GODS will and leaue your indeauours with patience to be ordered by the Lords prouidence earnestly desiring preseruation from Death you patiently submitting your selfe vnto GODS pleasure eyther for Life or Death For the best and surest way to finde Fauour in the Eyes of the LORD Almighty is to desire him to doe with vs what hee seemeth or thinketh good for referring our selues to his Diuine prouidence hee will euer deale most graciously and louingly with vs. God is our GOD willing to shew vs grace and mercy he will turne to vs and be fauourable 〈◊〉 he takes away our manifold iniquities and cast our sinnes in the depth of the Sea Agayne Psalme 103.8.9.10 The Lord is full of Compassion and mercy long suffering and of great goodnes He will not be alwayes chiding neyther keepeth he his anger for euer He hath not dealt with vs after our sins nor rewards according to our iniquities But looke how high the Heauen is in comparison of the Earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him Looke how wide also the East is from the West so farre hath he set our sinnes from vs. Yea like as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so is the Lord pittifull to them that feare him For he knoweth whereof we be made hee remembreth that we are but dust Psal 145.8 Ioel. 2.13 Mat. 26.11 2. Cor. 1.3 Ephe 2.4 2 Tim. 1.13 Of the great mercies of God towards vs sinners read at your leasure Psalme 145.8.9.147.8.10 and in Ioel 2.13 Math. 26.11 2 Cor. 1.3 Ephes 2.4 1 Tim. 1.13 vnto 18. verse All these places yeelde words of rare comfort pronounced by the Eternall Verity it selfe and therefore not to be mistrusted or dispayred of Let vs not abuse GODS mercies making them a cloake to couer our sinnes presume we not saying Eccles 5.6 Eccle. 5.6 The mercie of our God is great he will forgiue my manifold sins for mercy and wrath come from him Forget not that golden saying of St. Paule Rom. 8.28 All things worke together for the best to them which feare God Rom. 5.4 Yea the afflictions and troubles of Gods children are so sanctified vnto them by Gods spirit that by the same they are made partakers of Gods holinesse Hebr. 1.12 Heb. 1.12 By the same they inioy the quiet Fruite of Righteousnesse by it likewise they attaine to a greater measure of ioy in the Holy Ghost Agayne Hereby is the world crucified vnto you and you vnto it Rom. 8.8 Hereby are we made conformable to the death of Christ by this are we kept from the condemnation of this World and by the same likewise learn we experience patience Hope c. I beseech you all to ponder weigh and consider how your crosses are mercy your losses gaines your afflictions schooling and each aduersity as a Lesson receiue your Crosses as comming from Christ written both for thy Learning and Comfort manifesting by these tokens that he loueth you meaning thereby to draw you euen into his Bosome hereby we are assured of our heauenly Fathers good will towards vs. We may not in our miseries still looke for Gods but likewise at his ineffable mercie our Parents disobedience in eating the forbidden Fruite did banish them out of the most pleasant place of the World yet shewed GOD his fatherly Kindnesse vnto them before he droue them out for he made them Coates to arme them against all weather More then that hee comforted them with the promise of the blessed Seed Iesus Christ which should restore that Saluation vnto mankinde which they had lost by yeelding to the Serpents intisements Loe here the most louing and Kind dealing of GOD with Man hee will make vs smart a little for our sinnes here is his Iustice but yet so that he will not vtterly forsake vs or giue vs ouer for euer here is louing mercy Auoyde therefore Sathan once I say agayne auoyde cease to suggest or ingest into any mans heart that he should thinke because that God
to correct and chastise you till hee haue pardoned and purged your offences and so burne his rod by which hee hath punished you Esay 33.1 Remember that as God was the Authour of Israels Captiuity for their sinnes so was hee for his mercies their Redeemer to restore them to Liberty God in the middest of all his threatnings remembreth his and comforteth them There is no greater signe of our Heauenly Fathers loue then when hee correcteth vs for our amendment preseruing vs in despite of our Enemies to that end whereunto he hath appointed vs euen to the Glory of Gods Name and good of his Church See Esay 44.2 and Chap. 30.10 10.24 What though we be forsaken for a time yet the Lord casts vs not off vtterly as though he our Husband were dead but in our dreadfullest afflictions still followeth vs with his fatherly fauours and manifold mercies to make vs all praise God in Syon let vs still acknowledge God to be the Authour of our afflictions to the intent that wee may still seeke to him for remedy Let your heauy sinnes bee continually before your eyes as one that tyeth a thing to his hand for a remembrance so will hee forget them cast them behinde his backe and tread them vnder feet The Lord comfort and refresh your soule still treading downe the insurgent Enemies that rise vp against you Let no aduersity vtterly discomfort you but wisely consider that there may bee cause of a Womans separation from her Husband and a ioyfull meeting and comming of them both together againe Wee can neuer be too timely exercised vnder our Crosse but wee are to pray that when our afflictions grow greater our patience also by experience may bee stronger and thou Lord become a Sanctuary vnto vs in the soarest times of our saddest afflictions Desire the Lord so to mitigate your afflictions as you lose thereby neither Sence nor Reason nor arrogate any thing to your selfe but trust in the Lord your God who alone doth saue soules Let no sins so throw you downe as once to despaire of your heauenly fathers mercies In the dayes of your afflictions and miseries remember that God promised to comfort his Church in all heauinesse and deepest distresses blesse God for your punishments for thereby he calleth you from your iniquities as from the beginning God hath exercised his people vnder the Crosse so since Christ was offered hath hee left this exercise vnto his Church vntill the Dead rise againe and Christ gather his into his Kingdome in the Heauens The Lord giue you patience and constancy to abide the paines and plagues which the Lord inflicteth vpon you for the humbling of your soule and hasting it to eternall happinesse And doubt not but for your induring a painefull death the Lord our God will giue you a precious Life and as you yet mourne with men cause you to tryumph with Iesus Christ and for anguish here below dwell and rest with Angels aboue Remember the three Children in the fiery Furnace they would not come out nor depart thence for any feare till the Lord bid them neither came Noah out of the Arke till the Lord called him forth Stay your soule vpon God who is now onely to comfort you and remember how that our abhominable sinnes bring vpon our soules these horrible afflictions in our last dayes As you are one of Christs members you may not hasten too much but learne patiently to abide the Issues of Gods promise As the Maiesty of God hath strooke you downe so I doe not feare but that his powerfull and heauenly hand will againe raise you vp God that by one Angell could destroy all the world assureth his Children so of his loue that rather then they shall perish hee will send forth double power euen Christ Iesus the Head of Angels to deliuer vs. What troubles soeuer befall the Church of Christ and his Members they come by the Counsell and prouidence of God Dan. 12. and still haue happy Issues to all faithfull beleeuers Dan. 12. The Angell noteth first how the Church shall bee in great afflictions and trouble at Christs comming but God shall send his Angell to deliuer it meaning Christ that is promised by the preaching of the Gospell Therfore be not discouraged though Christ come not so soone as wee cry and call for him for what hee doeth is to try our patience that wee with the Elect of God might bee the more pure in our hearts and purged truely with his Church Be you neuer so weake or sicke yet remember who hath sayd Hosea 13.14 Hosia 13.14 I will redeeme thee from the power of the Graue I will deliuer thee from Death O Death I will bee thy death O Graue I will be thy destruction Fly to the Lord in Death and he will be thy Life to auoide the Lords Iudgements you must learne to become obsequious to his Will so will hee take away your Iniquities and receiue you most graciously Loue we the Lord God of Hostes who is in Christ Iesus now become our heauenly Father whosoeuer so doth are blessed their branches shall spread their beauty shall be like the Oliue-tree and their smell like Lybanon which shall reuiue as the Corne flourish as the Vine and their sent shall be like Wine of Paradise yet for all that shall the godliest bee so shaken with terrible temptations that they shall not looke for continuall quietnesse in this world but still assure themselues and soules that wee and they shall be preserued in our deepest dangers because God may destroy his Enemies but will deliuer his Children Doth any aduersity come without Gods appointment Esay 45.7 God dealeth not with you as he doth with other people but warneth you both by punishments and Prophets to beware of his plagues you are told by Esdras the mildnesse of the Almighty 2. Booke 1.28 I haue prayed you as a Father his Sonnes as a Mother her Daughter and as a Nurse her young Babes 2 Esd 1.28 that you would bee my people as I am your God and that you would bee my Children as I am your Father God our heauenly Father compareth himselfe to an Henne gathering her Chickens vnder her wings Math. 23.37 And can wee once thinke that hee will cast vs out from his sight Mat. 23.27 Although you see no Prophets yet should you hate your Iniquities and though the Lord God Almighty bee not seene with bodily eyes yet should our hearts beleeue what hee doth both teach and tell vs what best tendeth to his Glory 2. Esdras 3.28 Are they that dwell at Babylon better then they which haue dominion in Syon The Heathen may flourish there which neuer once thinke on the Commandements of God but in the world to come true Israelites finde peace with God and Angels 2. 2 Esd 7.33 Esd 7.33 Remember that the Almighty shall appeare vpon the seate of Iudgement when miseries shall vanish away and long suffering shall haue an end
but God our Lord who is not rigorous to any but righteous to all God sanctifie your afflictions and free you from misery comfort you in Paradise and establish you really with Glory Amen Wednesday Meditations WHen the LORD doth visite vs and not presently free vs out of trouble we must beware and take heed that wee murmure not against God to require or grudge at his chastisements God sometimes suffers his euen to wrestle against desperation and to see no glimering of his mercies sometimes againe hee causeth the hearts of his dearest Children to leape for ioy then making his Maiesty most knowne when it may tend most for the comfort of the Elect Learne wee all to waite the Lords leasure for our deliuerance not to prescribe his time but stay his leasure and willingly waite till he comfort vs againe God forgetteth not to bee gracious though sometimes hee seemeth as though hee would shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure Howsoeuer it pleaseth GOD now and then to humble his Children yet he forsaketh them not for euer What are many nights of afflictions in comparison of the ioyfull morning and sun-shine of the euerlasting mercies and fauours of God These these reioyce our soules and comfort our hearts which are oppressed with sorrow Deutro 8.16 The Lord humbleth his Chosen people and prooueth them that hee may doe them good at their latter end A man may gather more vndoubted assurance of GODS euerlasting fauours towards his soule by inward afflictions then by any outward prosperity in the world Let vs all consider the manner of Gods dealing with his people in the world hee will now and then spoile vs of all our Sences and feeling of his Mercies in Christ yea suffer vs to lie bleeding in our miseries yea scorhed and tormented with the heate of Gods anger for sinne But when our hope rests euen gone then doth our heauenly Father send a gracious raine and a blessed shower to quench the heate of our poore afflicted soules for sinne which shall be as mercy to men in smart and misery Obiect But tell mee this Obiect why seeketh God his seruants in so much misery Ans To make vs all to depend of him onely with faith and patience Answ Secondly to make vs to know and see that wee are nothing of our selues but that all the strength wee haue it is onely in Christ Thirdly to stirre vp our hearts to seeke and pray vnto the Lord more earnestly for helpe and succour Fourthly to make vs esteeme the mercy of God more highly because things easily come by are lightly esteemed but things long in getting costing much trouble and paines are most sett by often therefore doth the Lord deferre his mercy vnto the last gaspe that so it might be the more esteemed Oh waite wee GODS leasure though hee deferre long and seeme to forget vs wee hope Lord for life in the middest of death and say though thou kill vs yet will wee trust in thee although thou deferre thine helpe and comfort for many yeares yet will wee neuer let goe our hold but still hang on thy mercy with our hands of Faith saying thus Lord though thou hast already whipt mee diuers wayes yet will I neuer forget to meete thee with my repentant teares well knowing thou esteemest nothing when Reformation of heart and life is wanting Iudgements come eftsoones from God for our sinnes yet layeth hee no more crosses vpon vs then hee in mercy will make vs well able to beare granting such an issue as wee shall gaine more in the Spirit then wee shall loose in the flesh Content your selfe my Brethren the Crosse in GODS due time shall bee your aduantage and leaue a sure blessing behinde it GOD imposing no punishments vpon vs but for our sinnes the tryall of our Faith Patience c. For our Heauenly Father doth afflict vs with light affliction to make vs runne vnto him and kisse his rod he afflicting vs for our good the reformation of our liues and the saluation of our soules I deny not but the best of Gods children may be afflicted with sicknes and wounds with troubled Consciences Gods rod being good both to purge our corrupt and cankered hearts and for the humbling of them throughly to the exercise of faith patience and prayer Hee knowes little that knowes not this how the poore Members of CHRIST must bee afflicted and liue in sorrow sicknesse and griefe of minde yet granteth the Lord patience to endure all By teares sorrowes and grieuous sicknesse doth God fyle away the cankered rust of our Rebellions that wee might bee more feruent in Prayer hunger more after Heauen and the more eagerly depend of his fatherly goodnesse and diuine graces When wee doe aske one thing hee giueth vs another that 's better for vs that wee might learne wholy to depend of his goodnesse all the dayes of our liues Are you in distresse fling your selfe into the blessed Armes of the LORDS mercy so will hee vndoubtedly giue you euerlasting rest vnto your soules such is the loue of GOD that hee neuer failes nor forsakes his Children Neuer despaire for any troubles but perswade your soule this that the God of peace will shortly treade downe Sathan vnder your feete hee is faithfull that haue made vs this promise Rom. 16.20 Rom. 16.20 Affliction being our portion on earth wee must labour to get faith and patience in our soules that so wee may hold out vnto the end As wee are Gods Children we finde no promise in the Word of God to be freed from temptations and trials pouerty sicknesse c. Howbeit as wee are Gods Children wee haue this promise that these things shall neuer hurt vs because the Lord will so sanctifie them vnto vs as they will surely leaue a blessing behinde them In time of danger and death nought in the world should more comfort vs then this to remember that wee haue walked before GOD in truth and with an vpright heart Esay 28.3 This cheered Ezechiah when hee was going the way of all flesh that hee had vndertaken much paines to know the LORDS Will. The best Christian is the most couetous in all heauenly knowledge of God and our saluation by Iesus Christ the Childe of God is no sooner in perill but the Lord putteth vnder his owne hand to deliuer him from death and danger Forget not God who sayth Esay 54.17.8 For a little time haue I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee Psal 34.17 18. Psal 34.17.18 The Lord is neere vnto all those that are of a contrite heart and will saue such as are afflicted in spirit Doth not our Sauiour comfort his Disciples thus Iohn 14.18 I will not leaue you comfortlesse but I will come vnto you euen I and I am with you to the end of the world Doubt not but there is comming a time of refreshing that will breake out as the rising of the Sunne and the bright beames of the Morning
leaue his father and mother house and home Country and friends and to seeke for seruices in the world abroad Remember still Gods spye your conscience in your bosome see you and we are his secret intelligencer our conscience that wil be vndoubtedly most true and faithfull vnto God and intelligencer against Achitophell Haman Shebnah and others yea against thine owne selfe if thy soule bee vnsanctified you must hunger after Heauen ere it will be had Our heauenly Fathers correcting still whom he loueth and liketh teacheth vs not to dispayre of his fatherly fauours and friendly affections but rather that hee nurtureth vs for our Saluation fining vs as the Siluer and choosing vs in the fire as the purest gold Mark Christs dealing with his chosen members by conuincing their faultes when hee chastneth vs to breake vs of our euill wayes and thereby he bringeth vs to reformation correcting all of vs according to the quality of our offence The hardlier wee are broken from our sinnes the heauier iudgements will he lay on vs to work our deeper humiliation and repentance Feares shal make vs to vnderstand that which exhortations and gentlenesse could not bring vs vnto VVe must be first humbled ere we can be aduanced and haue fainting soules on earth before we can feele the high Holy and helping hand of GOD from on high to stay and heaue vs out of our distresses Relye wee still on God and he will not forsake vs in our daungers But giue vs still such pledges of his neuer failing mercies as may assure our hearts of greater in Heauen where more ioyes are prepared then we can either aske or once thinke of It is well that you thinke sin to be the ground of your afflictions and your offences the cause of Gods displeasure wherfore he sendeth crosses and curses vpon sinners Consider wee first how wee haue falne by wantonnesse of life and vngodly conuersation our neglecting Gods word and will hath brought the cup of Gods indignation vppon vs to reclaime our feete from folly and our soules from sinne Not to acknowledge our selues to haue deserued Gods iudgements because we yet feele them not is Pride of heart and a state most perillous vntill we be humbled God therefore pulled Dauid down though hee were a chosen Vessell when he saw him walke awry God corrects vs to reforme vs making his iudgements as messengers to recall vs from sinne before he enter into iudgement with vs. Beware of grudging at thy crosses or afflictions for our Heauenly father vseth them to amend vs beeing vnwilling the death of any sinner VVee hauing all sinned stand in neede of this Physicke of correction to reclaime vs from straying from our heauenly fathers dwelling beware of being ashamed of our fathers visitation neyther loue we the pleasures of this VVorld more then the ioyes of heauen Be we neuer ashamed of GODS rod for Dauid confesseth and sayth thy Rod thy Staffe doth comfort mee Psalme 23. the rod to correct when I am out of the way and the staffe to comfort and vphold me when I am in the way But intertain we his correction as a benefit and blessing sent from on high profitable for our soules and no way hurtfull to our hearts and still more and more fit you for the company of Gods Children The more sorrowful and sicke you are the more like you are vnto our elder brother Christ Iesus who finished our Redemption through the Crosse and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through tribulations VVhich way whosoeuer is a shamed to follow can neither come to his Kingdome nor set foot in the pallace of Gods most ioyful inheritance If you are now wounded without in your body be carefull to see to the soares of your soules I feare not but that the seedes of Faith lyes still in your heart although the fruite thereof doe not yet plainely appeare I doe perswade my heart that though your eyes waxe dimme yet the Holy Ghost will still giue vnto you the true illumination of your heart soule and seuerall sences If our Sonnes and Daughters haue beene deare vnto vs how much more dearely hath Christ our Redeemer once bought with his blood both our soules and our bodies I beseech you hold it a ioy to dye and to bee out of this sinfull World and to bee deliuered from the thraldome of this sorrowfull life Death is our refuge the helpe of our soules to Heauen there wee liue eternally where is no paine but all pleasure no sorrow but solace no sighing but singing no feare of death but assurance of euerlasting Life It is good for your children to bee afflicted that they may not stray from Gods house but keepe his Word and to learne and obserue his Diuine statutes Though we haue beene long chastned of the Lord but it is that wee should not bee condemned of the Lord. Gods punishing vs doeth with-hold vs from Hell stirring vs daily and earnestly to desire to be dissolued and to bee with Christ our Sauiour in glory Consider I beseech you that when the earthly House of this Tabernacle shal be dissolued we haue a building of GOD an house not made with hands but eternall in the Heauens which who so inheriteth shal be eternally saued I intreate and aduise euery one to be more carefull of their soules then of their bodies still comforting their hearts in their afflictions knowing that the sender thereof is God and the causer thereof our sinnes the longer we be and languish in sinne the more appeareth Gods loue in our sicknes for the which thinke God to bee the sender and likewise our deliuerer in danger and aduersity As the Husband-man doth not put the sickle into the Corne vntill it bee ripe So doeth not God inflict his grieuous iudgements vpon vs vntill our sinnes doe call downe vengeance for the same Art thou desirous to auoide contagious diseases see thou feare more thy sinne then the infected Citty Canst thou remoue thy transgressions from the face of the Lord The Citties contagion shall not hurt thee but if our sinnes remayne vnrepented all the wholesome ayre in all the Countrey cannot helpe thee or comfort thee In this world we can see but Gods backe-parts as Moses did that is but a little of the fauour of God but after this Life is ended we shall see God face to face hauing the ful fruition of him as we therfore wish the saluation of our soules let vs all beware of security or to deferre our repentance least we be cast into Hell fire hauing no lease of our vncertayne liues Labour we all to haue the Candle of Faith burne in the Lampes of our hearts still nourished with the oyle of loue and good workes It may not a little comfort vs in the time of our afflictions and troubles that our heauenly Father hath shewed such loue vnto vs that we should be called the sons and Daughters of God O what a comfort it is to my heart and soule
and to admiration of his healing medicines Pray wee and God will prosper physicke that he giueth for ease and the prolonging of our liues mourne wee for our friends as if wee suffered great harme our selues Couer we their bodies and lament we them as they are worthy powring out our teares ouer them as if wee had suffered much harme our selues in our bodies soules sences and substances When the dead is once at rest let his remembrance rest and comfort wee ourselues againe for him when his spirit is departed from him desire your most heauenly Father to make you ready for himselfe and fit to atchiue his Kingdome for the only sufferings of his Sonne There is not one of Gods Children but must prepare their soules vnto diuers temptations Resolue we our selues euer in this life to liue and remaine as in a continuall rough battell and fight where no truce is to bee looked for but perpetuall combats and raging assaults From our birth to our death it 's now no new thing to be tempted and troubled with diseases in body or discomforts of minde praise wee God for our lot be your molestations short or lingring welcome bee Gods wande be it for wealth crosse or comfort hee first hath suffered more for you then hee will inflict vpon you in your troubles still call on him and vnder his wings shall you be safely couered The Almighty so strengthen your faith as you may stand fast to the end still beleeuing the Lord our God in all his promises Learne we all to shew forth the fruites of our faith obedience loue charity and hearts purified from sinne and still more and more prepare we to Christ Iesus our heauenly Bridegrome at his comming with more alacrity and ioy triumphant then either mouth or man can conceiue or vtter Christ by the sacrifice of his death will take away all our sinnes where there is neither sighing nor sorrow but triumphant ioyes in the highest Heauens Though the Lord send afflictions yet will hee not forsake vs for euer what though hee afflict to day yet will he haue compassion vpon thee to morrow according to the multitude of his mercies God doth seldome punish willingly the Children of Men for his compassions are many and his fatherly louing kindnesses are so many and so multiplied that wee cannot number them Maintaine Lord the cause of my soule for thou hast redeemed my life from the euill imaginations of the wicked and vengeance of the vile If you were dead and buried yet can God reuiue you and by his great mercy free you from all iniquity and still keepe you in the number of the faithfull The Almighty so exercise your contrite heart as both it sole sences may be laudably imployed in the Lords seruice Sicknesse to the seruants of God doth bring infinite ioy and much goodnesse it 's a purgation and cleansing of our sins the mother of fortitude spirituall strength against our frailty and sure defence against all worldly troubles A purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a comfortable guide to reduce vs from hell and bring vs all to the Celestiall Paradise I beseech you to remember what troubles and calamities are a purchasing of grace and pardon a merry time of life and a continuall remembrance of Christs owne blessed life death and passion We are all duely to consider how that our humane bodies are as darke and filthy prisons of our soules liuing as in exile banishment and misery The Almighty deliuer you from hell sinne and eternall death for euer The Lord comfort you and are you from sin and strengthen your weake heart against Sathan who still standeth against you to seduce you but remember you Gods Angels that are ready prest for to aide you his grace for to guide you and his fauour for to feede you Arme Lord thy Seruants heart with perpetuall peace and patience giue thy weake Creature grace most ioyfully to beare the burden of the Crosse As Heauen is incomparably greater then the Earth so the Mercy of our heauenly Father rests incomparably greater then the seas of our sinnes Lord free you from bitter sorrows all sinnes and grieuances whatsoeuer they bee The Almighty of his mercy renue your Repentance and vnburden you of the weight of all your great bonds most grieuous sins lay we fast hold on Christ his mercy death and passion Ioh. 3.16 The life of each one of vs being but a vitall Laborinth and a confused Chaos affoording vs nought but fraude folly and fleshly sensuality and troubles to try vs and sundry aduersities to disquiet vs from the King in his throne to the Captiues in the chaines All must taste of miseries discontentments and sorrows before our soules by death be deliuered from their terrestriall burden Although it bee an happy thing to die in Iesus Christ yet such rests the foolishnesse of our corrupt flesh that wee are loath to remooue from bad to better from Sinners to Saints and heauenly Associats we lose nothing in our changing our bad place for a better But one thing we that are Gods Children must still bee most carefull of to dread furious foes dangers Comfort wee our hearts in our deepest distresses acknowledging God to be more able to defend vs then all foes to confound vs not any Gods Children but burdned with calamities Nebuchadnezar King of Babell was turned out a grazing seuen yeares Gods Children are more afflicted then others Luke 13.16 The daughter of Abraham was for 18 yeares bound of Sathan likewise the man whom our Sauiour cured had beene diseased 38. yeares Comfort your heart in your afflictions knowing God to bee the sender of afflictions by reason of our sins It 's the Lord who killeth and maketh aliue bringing to the graue and raising vp againe 1. Sam. 2.6 If Christ had not beene the Sonne of God Sathan would neuer haue so much assaulted him and his Members for his sanctifying and sauing of innumerable Saints and Soules Labour wee all for the Word and Gospell of Trueth whatsoeuer our temptations are let vs all and euery one weepe for our owne sinnes and not once stubbornely defend the perpitrating of the least of any vile and corrupt sinnes and offences Almighty God so moderate your greatest crosses and grieuances as your soule may euer sing with Saints Our most gracious father deferreth his helpe not that hee will not helpe vs but to exercise our Fayth and stirre vp in vs the calling vppon his name and still being acquainted with Gods mercies reioyce Night and day in his Euerlasting fauours would you haue peace none but Christ can giue it you and he will giue to none but to the penient to none but the Faithfull Set wee our Lord Iesus Christ betweene GOD and our sinnes let it rest our desire to spend our selues in sighes and teares of true Repentance and then rayse vp our humble Soules to a liuely Confidence in our onely Sauiour and All-sufficient Redeemer by whose
disconsolate distresse Let your still armed confidence tyre out your tormented sorrowes or sickenesses whatsoeuer Let vs all rest vndaunted well knowing that God sustaynes vs who doubts of the Sunnes being although it doe not alwayes shine Or of the faith of Iob though it were ouer-whelmed for a while Know this we should all that the Elect themselues may fall though built vpon the Foundation of GOD yet the Lord keepes them from perishing though when they stand he keepes them not from falling That blessed Apostle Saint Paule tooke betweene Damascus and Ierusalem the happiest fall that euer the Earth was honoured withall In via Iudaeus cecidit vt resurgat Christianus sayth Chrisostome Hee fell in the way a Iew or rather from a Iew that he might arise a Christian It is our heauenly Fathers mercy that rayseth vs when wee are fallen but our faith must keepe vs from falling When wee are raysed wee stand by Faith and wee come through Faith into this Grace wherein we stand Shall we stand by the habits of Gods mercy and grace Rom. 5.2 and shall wee fall from the acte thereof by a wilfull Apostacy God forbid Let vs rather perseuer in Faith and that vnto the Death weighing what wauering Age we are fallen into and strange opinions euen of the pillars of these times Content wee our selues to passe from troubles and calamities into euerlasting ioyes for Death is but an entrance into blisse and as it were a casting Anchor into the Hauen of Heauen Crye to God with Dauid What profite is there in my Blood when I shall go downe into the graue of forgetfulnesse Likewise Hezekiah prayed against Death desiring to be reconciled vnto God to giue satisfaction to God and his children None so free from sinne but stand in great neede to bee purified from sinne and purged from the soares blaines and blemishes of iniquity Beware of grudging when the Lord striketh you because it is alwayes for our good and he resteth both able and willing to deliuer vs at his pleasure Psal 33.17 Behold the Eye of the Lord is vppon them that feare him Psal 33.17 and put their trust in his mercy to deliuer their soules from Death rest there neuer so many turbulent tryals Yea it is indeede our commodity that God doeth not accomplish his promises so soone as wee could wish that staying with patience his leasure wee may bee crowned with the more glory in the end As euery father nurtureth his sonne so doeth the Lord his children but it is to walke in his waies The Children of God shall knowe this that all sorrows and sicknesses crosses and troubles are to prooue vs whether wee will Loue the Lord God with all our hearts and Soules Deut. 13.3 in our greatest griefes and saddest sorrowes yea or no. Deut. 13.3.4 Gods seruants must bee no flinchers but both followers and fighters in the Lords quarrell preferring the Lords glory before their owne soules safety Do not thinke that each trouble commeth on you because the Lord is not with you For the most tender hearted mother will now and then hide her selfe from her Childe to trie the kinde and louing affection thereof towards her that afterwards finding the loue of her little one shee may as it were put it in her bosome So our heauenly father to finde out our corruptions whereof wee our selues are ignorant hee doth swinge vs for our follies that falling weeping at his feete he might louingly take vs vp and kisse vs with his mouth No euils come vpon vs but when we forsake God who rideth vppon the Heauens for our helpe and on the Clouds for his owne glory Deut. 33.16 When the hand of God is vpon you repent of your sins heartily rather then by your power and pollicy to resist the working thereof whatsoeuer your disease is fayle not for to consecrate your selfe both soule and body to the Lord of glory and you shall not doe amisse No remedy but we must needs enter into the way of all the World know we all therefore in our hearts and perswade our soules that all the good things which the Lord hath promised vs shall come to passe vnto vs and no euill can come vnto vs but by our Disobedience God that plagued Egypt brought Israel out of Egypt Hee that brought Israel into the Red Sea knew how to bring them out to their enemies confusion and the comfort of his children Do we according to the course of nature we may hope vndoubtedly to liue in the state of grace the Lord beeing farre more willing to blesse then to curse But alas it is the nature of our flesh no longer to obey God then when we are vnder the Whippe or scourge Therefore doeth the Lord make it oftentimes the end of his punishment to call vs to Repentance that wee may seeke both for health and helpe at his hands The Church of Christ now is and must be still subiect to manifold afflictions how be-be it God at length will giue ioyfull issue deliuering them from all troubles Desire rather the comfort of your poore soules then the ease of your bodies for the Almighty giueth much bitternesse to their soules that now and then had the fairest bodies to cause vs to haue more care and respect to the inward man then to the outward forme It is vsuall with God to plunge into aduersities not to hurt but to heale not to kill our bodies but to saue our soules from destruction It is GODS mercy towards his Children and his fauour vnto his Friends and followers to make them pertakers of piety and examples of Holinesse in their places I desire you call vnto minde this one thing which is that although Dauid were annoynted King and that by a Prophet yet God would trye him in sundry sorts before he had the vse of his Kingdome Art thou a Dauid thinke it not much to fall vpon thy face to the ground before Ionathan to crouch knees and kisse to saue thy life much more for a while to be sicke that in fine thou mayest become a Saint In man resteth no Iustice what 's good in vs rests all of Gods mercy from him we receiue it It is our infirmity that in time of our sorrows we do no more comfort our selues in the Lord our God then we doe In each trouble and aduersity wee are to consider the prouidence of God and not like raging Beasts to forget both our owne duty and contemne GODS appointment ouer vs. It is Gods pleasure to make as though he would leaue vs for a time yet if wee trust in him wee shall bee sure to finde comfort Our heauiest lamentations ought not to bee excessiue but moderate well considering this that wee are to praise and glorifie GOD in all his doings and remembring that many sobbes and feares both follow and befall the faithfull ones yet shews GOD himselfe most liberall to his seruants when they seeme to bee vtterly destitute of any comforts at
euill wayes to remembrance and turne our feete to Gods Testimonies It is the Promise of God 2. Samu. 7.14.15 To Dauid and his Posterity 2. Sam. 7.14.15 that hee will be his Father and the Father of his Seede and sinning he will chasten vs with the rod of men and with the plagues of the Children of men That is gently as Fathers chastise their Children but neuer take his mercies from vs. Why are wee often scourged of our heauenly Father but because we are frozen in the dregs of corruptions wee spend our dayes in carelesse security without an holy feare of his Name Therefore commeth his holy hand to change our estates to awaken vs from wickednesse to chasten vs with his rods and to purge vs with fire Turne wee our hearts towards our heauenly home cease wee neuer vntill wee get fast hold of his most holy hand that can powerfully draw vs thorough Hell to Heauen It is Gods fauour to call vs from Hell by afflictions and thereby to breake in vs the power of sinne and to let out such corrupt blood as else would much hinder the thriuing of the best graces of our most mercifull Father more soules and this is oftentimes one cause why wee are eftsoones held long in the Cabin of Care and bedd of Afflictions and woes by reason that through wilfull wantonnesse wee abuse our strength and to the great dishonour of God and ruine of our soules Did not the sufferings of our Sauiour shield vs from damnation Seeke yee euer to bee bettered in Obedience reformed in the whole man humbled vnder Gods hands examining your hearts what sinnefull actions haue passed from you that the Lord should thus strike and visite you After sight of your sinnes bee sorrowfull in soule and humbled in heart marking well what God doth still aime at Not by sorrowfull sicknesse to destroy you or to confound you but to enforce you to call your owne soule to sigh and your very heart so to see your owne sinnes as in a sanctified course you may come home to your selfe and say from your soule this surely resteth the correcting hand of God which now striketh me for my sinnes I will now therefore returne vnto my heauenly Father by true repentance for hee that now striketh mee will both heale mee and helpe mee or perceiuing of Gods anger and feeling of his Iudgements vpon vs should cause vs to sigh and sobbe and goe softly yea to seeke the Lord earely who in Iudgement remembreth Mercy and howsoeuer God whip and scourge vs that are his Children yet his mercies will he neuer take from vs. Be you sure that God humbleth you no otherwise in the world then hee handled his onely Sonne who hath begun to drinke to you this bitter potion not onely assaying it but drinking to you a full draught It 's not onely a comfort but a glory to bee partner and fellow-sufferer with CHRIST who delighteth to see in vs some representation of himselfe Wee are no members of Christ if wee participate not with him of the persecutions and iniuries of this life Our heauenly Father will neuer hold backe his mercies from those whom our Sauiour entreateth mercies wee can not bee ouercharged who are charged with Christ who from euery crosse hath now taken away both the Infamy and the Curse and hath made it a Tribunall and a Throne of Iudgement for for all the World Christ hath now made the action of bearing the Crosse both inblameable and honourable Are you afflicted in Conscience get you vnto Christ that good Samaritane who will powre Wine and Oyle into our wounds Christ suffered all had all against him for vs and will wee contentedly suffer nothing for him did euer any trust in God and was not deliuered Or did God euer finally forsake those whom hee fauoured Or is deliuerance from temporall calamities an assured signe of Gods fauors Surely no for the Iudgements of God are both secret and vnsearchable nothing making vs miserable or happy but that which is eternall Cry wee therefore Lord so sanctifie our griefes as thou communicate therewith thy Graces vnto vs. Let euery calamity and crosse admonish vs of our Disobedience that first brought into this world sicknesses and sorrowes molestations and miseries diseases and death O let vs be glad to suffer troubles and trauels in this world esteeming our whole time of life as the forty yeares trauell into the Land of promise or as the sixe dayes of labour which goe before the Sabbath of rest O Lord we are all but as Lamps of Clay and as vnpolished peeces of Wood yet doe wee humbly present our selues vnto thee make of vs what it pleaseth thee Wee offer our selues wholy vnto thee desiring to depend altogether vppon thee This World Iere. 30.7 is a time of Iacobs trauell yet shall hee be defrom it The Lord of Hostes will breake the enemies yoake from off his owne peoples necke so that Strangers shal no more serue thēselues of Iacob This is the comfort of Gods people that howsoeuer God punisheth yet it is to saue them though hee correcteth vs by his Iudgements yet wil he not vtterly cut vs off in his anger If our bruisings were incurable then were our wounds dolourous if no Plaister or Medicine could helpe vs then were our case most desperate But wee haue a Sauiour and most kinde Samaritane restoring our soules both from death and danger yet as the Iron must bee well heated in the fire ere it can be wrought with the Hammer and driuen out on the Anvile So may wee not passe to the Pallace of Paradise till first wee suffer many stroakes of holy temptations and passe thorough the fire of piercing tryals The holy Saints and blessed Martyrs haue thus passed through this world of woe and come to the Crowne of glory God is eftsoones sending troubles and afflictions to such as hee best loueth because they should not busie their thoughts with worldly occasions but still be labouring and hasting on their Iourney towards Heauen It is the wisedome of God to deale roughly with his chosen Children making their liues both painefull and labourious to them to cause them to make the more haste to finish their Iourney without loytering in the shadow of this world and so to loose the day-light and goe on stumbling in the darke Nothing is more honourable for any Knight or Souldier then to beare the Armes of his King and Captaine neyther to any true Christian then for to suffer trauell and persecution as his forgiuer and keeper Iesus Christ hath done Learne wee all to wade thorough calamities after our Captaine looking for that Day which may enrich vs with eternall happinesse I beseech you make benefit of your present tribulation Gods people must remember that it is safer sayling through the bitter stormy seas of afflictions then dancing at pleasure vppon the calme streames of Vanities But who flyes from Prosperity as from the Pestilence Or thinke themselues safest when
it is farthest from them Our way to Heauen is not by prosperity or high lookes treading on our Neighbours neckes and contemning of the poore but through persecutions and crosses reuilings scoffings and all ignominies of the world which patiently wee must indure and suffer for our Sauiours sake Shall the Estrich digest hard Iron to preserue her health The Souldier indure hardnesse to achieue the Conquest the sicke Patient swallow bitter pils to be eased of his griefe and shall we neyther abide soares nor sicknesses stormes nor tempests to get into the place of blisse and Kingdome of Glory As Iacob thought his seauen yeares seruice short for the great Loue that he bare to Rachell So should all the tribulations of this World for the Kingdome of Heauen The Lord will surely saue the soules of his Seruants that put their trust in him Psal 86.2 and call dayly vpon him Hee would not bid vs call and cry vnto him vnlesse hee ment to ponder our humble desires let vs truely worship him on earth and he will surely glorifie vs in Heauen If wee but once heartily desire to walke in the truth God will so knit our hearts vnto him that we shall surely finde deliuerance from the nethermost Hell God wil not finally faile to strengthen his Seruants to shew some token vpon you for good so as you shall bee both holpen and comforted Psal 86. Though the Lord our God sometimes turnes his face from vs yet will hee at last satisfie vs with his mercies and being his seruants shew vs his glory Psal 90.16 Yea Psal 90.16 the glorious Maiesty of the Lord our God shall be vpon vs verse 17. O perswade your selfe to be vnder the defence of the Lord and to abide vnder the shaddow of the Almighty so shall you be safe vnder the Wings of God his faithfulnesse and Trueth shal be your shielde and buckler So high hath God set an house of defence for all his Children Psa 91.15 as hee will deliuer them from horrour and bring them to honour Psalme 91.15 Oh happy and thrice happy are you when for the voice of your groaning your very bones will scarse cleaue to your skinne and when you doe now and then mingle your drinke with Weeping and washing your bed with brinish teares wayling for your sinnes neuer thinke but that God which hath cast you downe will vndoubtedly take you vp Ps 101.10 Psalme 102.10 What though your Spirit bee vexed within you and that your heart within you be desolate and gasping yet lift your soules to God flye vnto him to hide you so shall he lead you into the Land of Righteousnes keepe you from trouble and guide you into the Celestiall chamber of Presence where as no enemies shall vexe you because you are his Seruants O the mercies of our most gracious God and Heauenly father who whilest in Iustice hee might consume you for sinne Hee sanctifieth vnto you your present visitation that your flesh being wounded with feare you might possesse your soules by dreading the mighty power of God and escape his Wrath neyther strucken with terrour nor once tasting his iudgements Looke you neuer Despaire because God which smiteth healeth Hosea 6. Hosea 6. And tendereth his pardon before that wee perish Ionas 3. Desire wee should still to haue our Heauenly Father to correct vs in mercies to amendment but not to plague vs to our destruction Iudith 8. Iob. Iob. 11. 11. Wis 11. You cannot call faithfully vppon God but he helpeth Nor trust truly in him and be confounded Iob 5. The Lord bringeth backe from the gates of Death and restoreth the sicke to their former health yet vse wee must the Physition and medicinable potions for the procuring and maintayning of our health As King Hezekiah being sicke he prayed and wept vsing these meanes to pacifie Gods anger And though GOD could haue healed Hezekiah without meanes yet God directed his Prophet to apply a playster of Figges to his soare to ripen and heale it Thus are wee taught how to behaue our selues in times of our sickenesse First to pray to our heauenly Father for health and that with troubled teares and penitentiall cryes And then to vse profitable meanes and not to neglect them If at any time men thinke to prepare themselues to dye especially when they are in the greatest dangers sicke and in the way to the Graue and so to iudgement now see you haue a charitable heart towards all men Dauid was carelesse in Gods seruice before he was afflicted Psalme 119. Ieremiah neuer thinketh it too soone to suffer the Crosse Luke 9.23 Our Sauiour sayth that we must take vp the Crosse dayly although nothing did better befit vs then afflictions There is nothing better then it so God doeth vouchsafe to sanctifie it vnto you and giue you the true vse of it For it will make you search your heart and call your former Life to account sicknesse humbleth makes you see your weakenesse compels you to runne to God by most earnest and hearty prayer Inforceth you to deny your selfe and to put your trust and confidence in GODS mercies through the merits of Iesus Christ The Lords bringing any calamities vppon vs or vpon our family is to seeke him early that hee may remooue his Iudgements from vs the sooner All chastisements and afflictions yea all Iudgements and corrections come from the Lord alone hee sendeth them he imposeth them and layes them on vs he moderates them at his pleasure his quiuer rests full of such Arrowes to hit hurt and consume vs or in his Fatherly kindnesse to correct and better vs in our courses Remember wee euer that Sathan who could not enter into the heard of Swine without Christs leaue he hath his power bounded and limitted by God so as he cannot eyther touch vs or torment any of Gods people without his leaue and permission Gods prouidence being ouer the Sparowes in the Field and haires of our head will neuer neglect the Saluation of our Soules being a matter of much more weighty worth and moment This being cleare that all our Afflictions come from God vnto vs we must needes learne patience vnder the crosse knowing that the times thereof are still determined by God and how they will leaue a blessing behind them giuing vs farre more in spirit then we loose in the flesh Assoone as wee are afflicted by the hands of God we should presently labour to haue our Soules and Consciences disburdened of sinne Yea we should learne to bee bettered by our afflictions confesse our sinnes and bewaile them with teares and not with Pharaoh to harden our hearts but to Remember with Trembling that the Righteous themselues shall scarcely be saued We may not measure Gods fauour towards vs by our outward blessings or crosses Eccle. 9.2 All things come a like to all to the Iust as to the wicked Nay afflictions are tokens of the Lords loue the Childe is corrected the seruant cashiered
13. Great cause haue wee all to loue him and that both with our hearts and soules because the LORD assureth vs of the Victory but that it shall vndoubtedly goe on our side howsoeuer both Sathan and Sinners shall straine themselues to the vttermost against vs Deu. 8. Moses shews vs how that it resteth Gods will that we all must bee afflicted lest wee should boast of our owne power strength and abundance It is Gods order that hee keepeth vs withall assoone as we first enter into his Schoole he beginneth with the scourge making vs to feele hunger thirst pouerty sicknesse sorrowes and sundry kinds of aduersities because wee are all for the most part of vs so wedded to our wanton wayes and wills and so peeuishly proud in our owne conceits that our heauenly Father must perforce subdue vs by some afflictions else will we not acknowledge him to be our Master Although the Theefe vpon the Crosse was receiued at the last into mercy yet must wee all learne to leaue our sinnes before they leaue vs lest our GOD forsake vs and giue vs ouer vnto Sathan It is a priuiledge belonging vnto vs all which rests Christs that God our heauenly Father accepteth our wills and endeauours of obedience for perfect obedience it selfe Eccle. 25.10 Great is he that findeth Wisedome yet is there none aboue him that feareth the Lord the feare of the Lord passeth all things in cleanenesse Prou. 14.27 It is the well-spring of life to auoide the snares of death Affliction and not prosperity resteth for the most part the badge of Gods Church and true note of the members of Christ Gods Word it selfe teacheth vs that Christ his Kingdome is not of this World The Israelites which were the people of God did soiourne as strangers and were euill intreated 400. yeares from Abrahams time to Moses for it is the condition for the most part of the Church of God still to be giuen into the hands of their enemies Ier. 12. It is truely said that Crux est Ecclesiae nota the Crosse is a note of the Church Marke not triumphs but troubles doe point out the Lords Seruants and singularize his Saints vnto whom not any disease plague or punishment can come without Gods prouidence or sending it It 's not the washing of my flesh in water but Christ my Sauiour his cleansing our soules from sinne that purgeth vs from all impurity As pure Oyle must not be beaten and the best Lamps burned so the best Christians first crossed that at the last they bee crowned and shine as Lamps before the Lord continually Let this be a medicine to each Malady that God by his scourge calls vs to glory Let no afflictions mooue vs knowing that as wee are Christs members we are borne thereunto and therefore if wee feele not Gods fauour as wee wish wee must not thinke our selues miserable because our life lieth hidde with Christ in God Col. 33. Therefore may wee not hold it as a hurt vnto vs that we rest depriued here of sundry signes of Gods fauour he louing vs neuerthelesse as it manifestly appeareth by Moses and many others who had many tempests and troubles that some euen desired to be wiped out of GODS Booke who yet haue had workes and faith towards the Almighty 2. Esdras 13.23 Blesse the Lord for his Fatherly rod and welcome his Wand Wisd 20. what he doth it 's in loue to free vs from wickednesse and conuince vs of sin Learne we therefore to be patient vnder the hand of Gods lashing vs for so it becommeth the children of God and members of Christ Iob. 33. It is by afflictions and corrections that GOD openeth our Eares that were sealed vp abating our pride verse 17. And keepeth backe our soules from the Pit our life from the Sword yea God will first cast downe vnto Hell before he heaueth thee to Heauen and doome thee to Death ere hee bring thee to Life because that neither one nor other should be pertaker of his prayse and glory It is Gods ordinance in this world that his Church and Children yea euery member of his body should be vnder the Crosse to learne the better to put their whole trust in him and seeke the comfort of the Spirit which neuer failes to help the faithful into the land of Promise Howsoeuer God leaueth vs for the tryall of our Faith The two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper remayne as pledges of our Saluation The first washing away the guiltinesse of sinne and the latter strengthning our Faith to our very soules receiuing both the body and blood of Christ Iesus though that no man liuing can deserue Saluation yet as Gods adopted sons and children must we all learne by our good VVorkes to glorifie our Heauenly Father declaring our true thankefulnesse for our Redemption through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour and by good VVorkes assuring our Election and winning others into Life by our holy conuersation in Christ Iesus Remember that GOD beeing made man for vs hath in his owne Nature suffered whatsoeuer our sins deserued and made vs with himselfe the children of God and heires of eternall life VVhereof least we should doubt the Lord hath appoynted the Sacraments as outward tokens to bee seene and felt of vs that we should not doubt of beeing partakers of Christ himselfe and his benefits his righteousnesse and Holinesse is ours wee beeing borne anew by the Holy Ghost and walking in righteousnes all our dayes Learne we all to be no lesse thankfull for sicknesses then for health for sorrowes then for comforts imprisonment then for liberty knowing sanctified sorrows open the gates of Heauen vnto the Eternall maiesty of God Our heauenly Father so loues vs that he will lay no other burthen vpon vs then shal be to our good and profit It may be that wee haue both called and cryed vnto God in our extreamities and haue not bin released what of that yet must we quiet our mindes in this that as Children wee haue layde our complaints griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of our heauenly Father who when he seeth it time conuenient wil vndoubtedly helpe vs as certaynely as you and I haue soules he neuer forgetteth the sorrows of his Seruants he still seeth their teares and putteth them in his bottle Our Heauenly Father which hath the issues of Death in his hands wil deliuer you from danger shed you neuer so many teares they shall all be dryed from your Eyes As our Victories in the field come not by our owne strength wisdome and pollicy but by the Diuine will and pleasure of our heauenly Father So in our sicknesse and weaknesse it is neyther physicke nor Physition potion or playster drugges or dainty Dishes can fit vs for Paradise but Fayth may conuay our soules past the mountaynes of Lebanon to the Paradise of God not onely to behold it with our Eyes a farre off but aboue the order of nature most comfortably to enioy it Consider often that
the Word of God standeth not in bare Knowledge but in the practise of life It 's not an halfe seruice but our full obedience that GOD looketh for hee often promiseth vs rewards not for our merrites but to incourage that our labour shal not be lost It is the Lords manner in our greatest weaknes to manifest his power and in deepest danger make knowne vnto vs our saluation Content thy selfe a while with the water of teares and thou shalt be refreshed with the Wine of comfort Acknowledge Christ Iesus to bee now thy Sauiour and thou shalt not once feare him to become thy Iudge After trouble God sendeth comfort to all them which patiently waite on him and constantly put their trust in his mercies The Almighty put Iobs soule in bitternesse but it was to teach him to keepe righteousnesse and not forsake it God dealeth with some as hee did with Iob hee turned his Harpe vnto mourning and his Organs into the Voyce of them that weepes As often as God striketh vs with any kinde of troubles or afflictions whether inward in outward in our goods It is to beate downe our pride and to free vs from afflictions that wee feele not the weight of them nor the heauinesse of his VVrathfull hand or iudgements when he rests angry Sickenesse is GODS Herald which he sendeth to thy house home and heart Our louing God will not afflict thee aboue measure that thou shouldest haue occasion to contend with him It belongeth vnto God to moderate your Corrections and not man Can you pray with vehemency feare not but that both your secret complaynts and sighings are seene of God and sealed vp with Christ in your deepest temptations God both can and will deliuer you Although your deedes haue deserued destruction yet doth God in mercy pitty your frailty The more your Conscience is touched with the feare of GODS iudgements the more hope may you haue to prayse God in the Congregation of the faithfull who sendeth comfort and boldnesse in time of our afflictions who else were ready to drop downe to destruction Howsoeuer eyther sorrowes or sicknesse may somewhat discourage vs yet rest our miseries good meanes to cause vs to feele Gods present care ouer vs. When the Lord afflicteth vs and we crye vnto him we thinke by and by that hee should helpe vs but that is not his due time he hath some worke to worke with vs wee must waite and stay the time before we be comforted and then Physicke and all humane meanes fayling God helpeth that we may learne euer after to looke still to Heauen knowing that not onely our sickly bodies but our sinfull soules and vnsanctified senses such as all ours be must hence be purified or else perplexed Say O my God let neither Man nor misery driue thy Seruant from his Hope of Gods promise and ioy in the highest Heauens and also Eternall felicity Lord be mooued with the complaint of thy poore Seruant and d liuer me in the end from all manner of fearefull dangers Remember that the Lords word and promise is true and vnchangeable hee preserueth the poore from the peeuish and maintayneth the pyous agaynst the proud Crye mightily to our God for this one thing that whilst your afflictions last your faith may not faint Desire the Lord to comfort you both in soule and in body without whose fauour there is no perfect felicity nor hope of blessed immortality What though Sathan hath many wayes to hurt you yet hath our heauenly Father many millions more to saue out of his meere mercy The great power of Christs Kingdome against all Aduersaries thereof teach vs all patiently to indure the Crosse till God destroy the Aduersaries The more your afflictions do increase the more neere shall you feele the helping hand of God assisting you with his spirit of comfort Be not perswaded but that God loueth you farre better then euer your Parents did which very thought should pacifie and bridle your rage Depending vpon the Lord who neuer brake promise with any of his seruants Content your selfe for the treasures of Gods mercies are alwaies layd vp in store for his Children albeit at all times they do not feelingly inioy them How many seeme to be swallowed vp of grieuous afflictions yet rests God at hand to deliuer you And it is our heauenly Fathers loue to cause vs all to feele that wee are mortall and that there is no estate wherein we can liue to haue perfect quietnesse in this world Christ Iesus is come to redeeme the soules of his seruants that put trust in him how then shall the darts of Death endanger vs when death hauing done his worst Christ himselfe then becomes our Redeemer giuing vs for a poore Cottage a rich Kingdome God knoweth what dangers hang ouer our heads and by what meanes to deliuer vs from them Stay his leasure and the LORD will content your minde with that which is most necessary remember how our Faith must bee exercised with diuers temptations Though the iust man dye yet Gods blessings are extended to his posterity and though God suffer some iust man to want temporall benefits yet hee recompenceth him with spirituall treasures such shal bee continually preserued vnder GODS VVings and haue at last inward peace and rest in their mindes The patient hope of the Godly is neuer in vayne but in the end hath good successe though for a time God prooue them with sundry temptations why doth God visite any one with sicknesse but to put both your selfe and others in mind of his chastisments for sinne desire not to be exempted from Gods rod but that he would so moderate his hand that you might be able to beare it let prayer therefore become your refuge yeeld vnto God and not to your own desire Let vs not dispayre be our torments neuer so great but crye we to God with sure trust for our deliuerance doth humane meanes faile waite we for the helpe of God the weaker in body striue we with crying sighes to bee stronger in soule by Faith to the conquering of diseases Death Diuels and danger crye still for Patience to indure the punishments and chastisements which the Almighty sendeth and intreate the Lord not to be seuere against his poore creature neither to wrappe him vp with the wicked to be put to shame This know that it is a very hard thing for the Saints themselues to keepe measure in Words thoughts and gesture when Death and Dispayre assayles them though God deferre helpe yet must we learne to abide with Patience till he heare and helpe vs still remembring that such soules as please him God hasteneth to take them from wickednesse Howsoeuer you feele Gods hand to lye heauy vpon you yet rest vpon his promise and comfort your selfe and soule therein Account it Gods mercy to bee touched with his fatherly hand for each one of vs all is like an vntamed Calfe till the vse of Gods rod call vs home to Heauen Wee are
and mercy shall embrace you on euery side Psal 31.11 Let this true comfort raise you and me vp as wee are the members of Christ that in our deepest misery and afflictions the Lord is able first to free vs from it or else to deliuer out of it There is neither panges nor any one fit in your sicknesse but it is from God the manner of it the measure of it the time of it the matter of it is of God which giueth vs good assurance and affiance that God will be mercifull and gracious vnto vs seeing hee striketh vs that is our Father and in the stroake be it neuer so sharpe he neuer forgets his former compassion but maketh each thing fall out to our future saluation puts our teares in his bottle and most louingly layes his hand vnder our head that aketh Seeke wee therefore to God for health who as hee smiteth mee so hee will heale me and as he wounds mee so likewise he restoreth me God therefore bringeth downe to the graue that he may raise vs vp againe and puts vs in mind of death by Gods Sergeant aresting vs to bring vs before him God of his goodnesse behold your teares hearken vnto your prayers and mercifully remoue your heauy affliction from you It pleaseth the wisedome of God now and then to confound your pride by weaknesse and to free vs from former sinnes by furnishing vs with most delectable seruices of assured sanctification Afflictions change their nature when they befall the man endued with Gods Spirit all things working together for the best for the loue of all such as feare the God and are called according to his purpose Let none of vs so forget the safety of our soules as not euermore still to remember Christ Iesus how he went as willingly to the Desart to be humbled as vnto Iordan to be exalted Thinke not your selfe to be forsaken of God when you are tempted of Sathan for herein you are resembled to the Sonne of God who being baptised was presently tempted by Sathans subtilties Afflictions soften our hearts when we apprehend Gods mercies in them and can receiue them as the wounds of a friend with the melting of our hearts sent in loue vnto vs to better our behauiours Know I beseech thee thou languishing person that the deeper the sence of misery is the sweeter is the sence of mercy It 's the saying of St. Bernard Deus non infundit oleum misericordiae nisi in vas contritum God powres not the oyle of his mercies saue into a broken vessell For indeed whole vessels are full enough and would run ouer if powred into them and so be spilt on the ground The Lord scourgeth vs to make vs more pliable to his holy will an vnhumbled sinner is vnfit for Gods Instruction and like an vnbroken Colte for the Saddle The deeper your discent in humiliation the higher your ascent in consolation Therefore doth now euen rottennesse enter into your bones that hauing a while trembled you may henceforth rest in the day of trouble remembring how after greatest tempests come the stillest calmes sanctified windes making the trees of Gods Garden to take the deeper rooting It is the manner of our heauenly Father to gaine glory to himselfe by working by contraries when he bringeth ioy out of feares light out of darknesse and Heauen out of Hell God wrestled with Iacob and lamed him ere he blessed him Iosephs leggs were laden with irons and bolts in Pharaohs Dungeon ere hee could weare a golden Chaine and haue dominion in Aegypt The wounds that our God giueth are not mortall but medicinable our God is such a Chyrurgeon that he first woundeth but then heales It is Gods accustomed manner to bring first downe to Hell and then vp againe into the bosome of Abraham Feare not to fall into the Lords Dungeon which will rebound you safely into Heauen his Pallace of priuiledge forget not how repenting Ionas was throwne into the Sea and humbled Glut not your selues with any pleasures of this life neither spend your precious time in fleeting vanities keepe rather your best dainties in the vineger of godly sorrow allay your strong wine with water eate your meate as the Iewes did their Passeouer with sower hearbs Imitate godly King Dauid who caused his bed euery night to swim oftentimes watering his Couch with his teares Psal 6.6 Forget not good Bradford that vsually at his dinner shed teares on his trencher art thou sicke and sinfull stand not reasoning with thine owne distrustfull heart but heare what God sayth by Esay 1.18 If you will wash and cleanse your selues by repentance though your sins were as red as Crimson yet then shall they be as white as Snow Oh but my sins passe the sinnes of all others in greatnesse so much the more haste to repent the more dangerous thy disease is the more physicke must thou vse if thy sinnes be so great as thou complainest why meanest thou to make it greater by thy not repenting Repentance makes sin lesse Impenitency is the condemning sinne Remember that Christ is our Physitian and Repentance is his Phisick Math. 9. In death Sathans temptations and our Consciences accusations will be strongest therefore our preparation against them should be more then ordinary We may not once despaire of our heauenly Fathers prouidence but call to minde how louingly the father entertained his sonne after hee had misbehaued himselfe in rude and riotous courses As our heauenly Father is often shewing vs many fauours so now and then he pincheth vs with too too heauy crosses because we should not be ouer-ioyed with any of Gods fauours but prepare for some following after-claps being as content to endure the one as cheerefully to receiue the other with him shall we raigne wee shall hereafter for euer liue with him in glory with whom now wee are in misery if we now take vp our crosse following him with sanctified contentation wee rest then assuredly happy when we beare each affliction with ioy in the Spirit submitting our selues to the yoake of our God then contented with our states then wee weare our chaines and weepe shedding many teares Our sufferings are no arguments of Righteousnesse but our Righteousnesse an ornament vnto our sufferings Are we in troubles lye wee in troubles flye we vnto Christ our Lord and Master for ayde who in mercy will heare vs and deliuer vs by the strength of his mighty power be our state neuer so desperate he can helpe it and we are neuer past helpe so long as we desire to be holpen The greatnesse of our perill can be no stop to our deliuerance because the power of our deliuerance is infinite Tribulations are the way to the kingdome of Heauen through stormy tempests are we brought to the Kingdome of Heauen being the Hauen that all hunger for Be of good courage for al the diuels in hell cannot damne vp the way betweene vs and the Kingdome of Heauen Through the straite way haue all