me Isa 49.14 he hath withdrawn himself in the comforts of his Spirit from me so that I am desolate and afflicted the troubles of my heart are enlarged For thy comfort and direction 1. ◠Know Comfort is not of the necessary being but of the happy well-being of the Saints it is rather a partial reward then a particular grace an earnest of glorification rather then a part of sanctification It is the light not the heat of the Sun that makes the day and it is the grace not the comfort of the Spirit that makes a Saint 2. For thy direction 1. Be zealous to find out the Achan to discover the cursed thing if any there be which hath caused or occasioned this desertion and having found it be humbled in repentance for commonly Spiritual comforts take their first rise from Penitential sorrow § 24. 2. After humiliation enquire of God in the means of grace press near to him in his ordinances especially this of the blessed Eucharist And in this holy Sacrament hear Christs Venite ad me his Come unto me Mat. 11.28 extending it self to the hungry that they come and be satisfied to the thirsty that they come and be refreshed to the weary that they come and be eased to the weak that they come and be strengthened to the sick that they come and be healed to the fainting that they come and be revived to them that are fallen that they come and be restored yea to all that have faith and repentance that they come and be saved Here the treasury of heaven here the fountain of life here the storehouse of comforts are all set wide open Here O ye afflicted souls here you are at the right door knock and knock hard be not answered without admittance God loves an holy importunity and know the Lord is here Christ is here life is here salvation is here here dwells everlasting mercy here dwells eternal peace Oh look in look in with all reverence and faith into these sacred mysteries of grace and love and see see there the delights of Paradise and rivers of joy feeding them Oh how the Angels sing whilst devout souls exult at this blessed Feast of the Lord of life and Prince of peace § 25. 3. To preserve the comforts of the Spirit when received of God in Christ be faithful in the exercise of grace For God imprints his love upon the heart in the characters of grace which the more large the better read yea Grace is Gods seal and the more visible the stamp the more evident the assurance the more evident is our assurance the more full will be our comforts Further know the wayes of holiness are as beds of spices Cant. 4.16 the more we walk in them the more they requite the soul with their sweet delight and spiritual refreshments Thus must mans obedience be conformable to his devotion his conversation to his supplication not doing that which may drive God from him in justice whilst he would have God turn to him in mercy Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me c. Vers 18. Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins § 1. AFfliction is the proper object of compassion misery the proper object of mercy And therefore we read how Pilate willing to release Jesus he brings him forth having his back furrowed with the whips his head harrowed with the thorns and his derisive purple stained yea drencht with blood and presents him thus ghastly a spectacle to the Jews with an Ecce homo Joh. 19.5 behold the man supposing so sad a sight would have moved malice to mercy and envy it self to compassion Now what Pilate did to the Jews with Christ Christ in a fit resemblance and apt allusion does with the Penitent to his Father he brings him forth in the Court of Conscience having his heart wounded with sorrow his spirit broken in contrition and his soul fainting in languishments of repentance and presents him so sad a spectacle to the Father with an Ecce homo Behold the man § 2. Behold the man once so lofty in his pride now so lowly in his penitence once so hardened in his rebellion now so humbled in his contrition once so obstinate a sinner now so pittiful a penitent And oh whilst this man of sorrows mourns in affliction how does the Father of mercies melt in compassion When the wounded sinner is presented by the wounded Son and the Penitents tears cry aloud with the Mediators blood how must the Fathers compassion needs melt into sins remission Of which sacred truth and heavenly comfort was David well assured when in this his Psalm of penitence he makes this prayer of faith Vide afflictionem Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins § 3. Observe we in these words two particulars 1. The proper object of Divine mercy 2. The firm ground of the Souls peace 1. The proper object of Divine mercy it is affliction and pain Look upon my affliction and my pain 2. The firm ground of the Souls peace it is sins forgiveness Forgive me all my sins § 4. 1. The proper object of Divine mercy Look upon mine affliction and my pain This affliction and pain is either that of the penitent Sinner or that of the devout Saint That of the penitent Sinner who having withdrawn himself from the world and retired into the secret closet of his Conscience Isa 38. how does he with Hezekiah even Recogitare annos in amaritudine animae Overturn the Annals of his life in the bitterness of his soul And after a strict survey having faithfully observed the sins which he hath committed and the several circumstances by which they are aggravated he then sums them up into a Catalogue which is no sooner in his eye but sorrow is in his heart endeavoring to blot out those letters of guilt with his tears of repentance through faith in the blood of Christ § 5. And whilst he sets his sins in order before him Oh how does a secret affrightment chill his blood and make his heart to tremble in the apprehension of their loathsome filth and dreadful curse yea he beholding himself under the heavy sentence of the laws condemnation Oh how how is he wholly encompassed with terror and amazement When he looks within him Oh the terrors of an accusing conscience and a killing guilt When he looks without him Oh the horror of a deserved death and a tormenting Hell When he looks above him Oh the dread the dread of an offended Majesty and an avenging Judge Oh whither whither then shall this poor penitent fly for succour Where oh where shall his affrighted and afflicted soul seek for shelter Where but at the cross of his Redeemer § 6. And when Christ so full of pitty so full of love when he beholds the humble suppliant and sincere penitent in the lowest depth of his humiliations pouring out his complaint at the foot of his
cross when he hears his mournful sighs his painful groans the earnest messengers of his afflicted soul it is then as possible for Christ to forget the passions of sorrow which he suffered as not to compassionate this poor penitent sinner for whom he suffered he who stopped not his ears at the Jews blasphemies will certainly not stop his ear at the penitents complaints he that turned not away his face from his enemies buffettings will not turn away his eyes from the suppliants tears though the Devil hath bereaved the sinner of his purity yet can he not deprive his Saviour of his pitty Christ doth not Christ cannot so remember the sins that man hath committed that he forget the soul which himself hath purchast his eye and nothing indeed else can do it but his eye of mercy that looks through the guilt of sin to behold the sorrow of the sinner and that affliction moves his compassion so that the penitents prayer is rightly formed when it takes in Davids petition Look upon mine affliction and my pain c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys de poen hom 5. § 7. Thus then sin brings forth sorrow and the Daughter devours the Mother sorrow doth destroy sin as the worm hath its original from the wood and the wood its decay from the worm but this sorrow here of affliction and pain in the penitent sinner that it does become destructive of sin is not from any proper vertue in its self but from that power it receives from the love of God and faith in the blood of Christ 1. From the love of God A servile fear and a mercenary hope a servile fear in the dread of hell and a mercenary hope in the desire of Heaven are the common motives to repentance which yet are then onely to be approved as good and holy when they exclude not the love of God and of Christ For as St. Paul in 1 Cor. 13.3 Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am nothing So again though we dissolve our eyes into tears and break our hearts with mourning and have not charity all will be as nothing nothing available to eternal life § 8. The will we say simply embracing good is good yet if it so embrace the less as to reject the greater good the will becomes inordinate not that the less is accepted but that the better is repulst to repent then with pain of soul that we may avoid the pains of Hell and obtain the bliss of Heaven is certainly good in it self yet if excluding and repulsing the sincere love of God and of Christ it becomes an inordinate act and its self so far from true repentance that it is a sin to be repented of Observe the love of God and of Christ is the perfection of all the graces Col. 3.14 and is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The bond of perfectness § 9. Now observe then further the beginning the progress and the end of practical vertues have all their due measure though not their equal degrees of goodness fear that is servile and hope that is mercinary are good in the beginning of Christian discipline and evangelical holiness But then they must have their progress to that end which gives perfection even the grace and exercise of love wherefore know we that repentance and affliction of mind which does exclude the love of God is infernal that of the damned in Hell That repentance and affliction of mind which does not express Though it does not exclude the love of God that is legal from the spirit of bondage but that repentance and affliction of mind Rom. 8.15 which does not onely express but also arise from the love of God that is truly Evangelical from the Spirit of adoption which alone can give salvation by vertue of the promise he that repenteth and beleeveth shall be saved § 10. This the second particular that the sorrow of affliction and pain in the penitent becomes destructive of sin through the power of faith in the blood of Christ for that Levit. 10.3 God he will be sanctified in all them that come nigh unto him And therefore he being a consuming fire in the fury of his vengeance Heb. 12.29 when we humble our selves before him though with the deepest of afflictions unless it be by faith in Jesus Christ as the Mediator God will be a just Judge to condemn rather then a merciful Father to forgive for it is not our tears without Christs blood not our sorrows without his sufferings not our affliction without his passion that can quench the fire of Gods wrath satisfie the severity of Gods Justice and move the tenderness of his mercy When therefore acted by love and strengthened by faith we pour out our complaints unto our God in a sincere repentance our affliction and pain shall become the proper object of his divine mercy and grace so that we may pray with confidence as holy David Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins § 11. 2 The affliction and pain which is that of the devout Saint especially either in the meditations of Christs sufferings or in the exercise of fervent prayer or in the sence of their own infirmities 1 In the meditation of Christs sufferings here I shall shew you a mystery a mystery of godliness known onely to the devout Saint that the meditation of Christs sufferings it afflicts by compassion and delights by complacence and so is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bitter sweet to see the sorrows of death seize the soul of life yea the soul of him whom the devout Saint loves better then life how Oh how must this needs be bitter But now to see the fire of love drink up this sea of sorrows and all in tenderness of endeared affection to his beloved Spouse the penitent soul Oh how how must this needs be sweet How can the devout Saint meditate upon his crucified Saviour but with unspeakable anguish and yet with incomparable delight Beholding amidst the excess of his love the pangs of his sorrows § 12. Whilst the devout soul then meditates upon Christs passion this or the like Soliloquy is a part of her devotion O my crucified Jesus how grievous is his sorrow how gracious is his love he loves his torments and takes pleasure in his sufferings he dies with joy that he may dye with grief for me O love ecstatical Wherefore as I cannot but grieve in his grief so I cannot but joy in his love that 's mine anguish this my ravishment so that as I sorrow with him as my beloved so I glory in him as my Saviour Thus is the devotion of the godly in the meditation of Christs sufferings a mystical Benjamin a child of grief and love in an amorous compassion and a dolorous complacence of the soul with Christ which amidst
of fears but the Light of the Spirit brings comfort of soul in a discovery of Gods love in Christ which discovery being permanent our comforts shall not be transient Whereas cursory views and passing glances of divine objects leave the heart unsatisfied being more troubled for their absence then pleased with their sweetness It is the rising then of the Sun of righteousness Mal. 4 2. which gives day to the inward man and his continued beams bring the soul its renewed joys Wherefore then let the deserted soul present its self in all its languishings and thus bespeak God and Christ in this blessed Sacrament O my God! my soul seeks what it has lost oh let it find what it seeks even comfortable communion with thee in the Lord Jesus For this for this it is that I here call and cry Turn thee unto me § 17. 2. To the secret anguish is applied a soveraign balm Have mercy upon me Such are the wounds of an afflicted soul as no balm can cure but that of a compassionating mercy Misericordia â—eliaâ—uata mercy which melts to supple and to heal Though then the deserted soul hath the same promises the same Mediator the same God which it had before its desertion yet it does not find comfort till it have the same mercy And therefore does St. Paul happily joyn the Father of mercies and the God of all consolations 2 Cor. 1.3 For that indeed God were not the God of consolation were he not the Father of mercies all remission of sins all power of grace all manifestations of love yea the earnest of glory are all the of-spring of mercy brought forth of her womb brought up in her lap yea nourished with the milk of her breasts and cherished with the warmth of her bosom § 18. Who art thou now that languishest in desertions Know the door of mercy is not shut because thou shouldst not enter but because thou shouldst knock if thou wouldst obtain mercy then it must be by prayer and that through Faith in the promise Faith I say in the promise for how know we Gods good will but by his holy Word So that the truth of his promise presents us the sweetness of his mercy and seeing the fathers mercies melts at the Sons mediation Heb. 2.17 Bern. de grad hum go unto God by Christ by Christ as a merciful and faithful High Priest a merciful High Priest compassiâ— cum impossibilitate perdurat though Christ be now gloriously impâ—ssible yet is he still graciously compassionate yea he is one that proportions his pitty to our misery Heb. 5.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his compassion to our affliction such compassion as is a Soveraign balm to cure the secret anguish of a deserted soul applied here by David when he cries unto God in prayer Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted the troubles of my heart are inlarged c. § 19. 3 To the high aggravation is applied a full deliverance O bring thou me out of my distresses Now the soul begins to recover her former taste of heavenly sweetness now she begins to feel the warmth of those sweet imbraces from the everlasting arms of her dearest Jesus And therefore does she pursue this begun recovery to a full deliverance even a deliverance from all her distresses of doubts and fears and terros which deliverance from those distresses is by the sacred testimony of Christs spirit evidencing the sincerity and truth of grace and thereby a personal interest in the promises of life and love Joh. 14.26 § 20. To make it appear how the Spirit is the Comforter and by his testimony to the soul free 's it from its distress observe this gradation 1. The Gospel proposeth salvation through Christ in the free promise and now press this grape examine this truth and the wine of comfort is no more but this that salvation may be mine if I beleeve But then 2. A further progress is made by faith in casting the soul upon Christ for salvation according to this promise and in this the foundation of comfort is laid firm the root is fixt yet the fruit is not grown this is sufficient to life and salvation in the end but is not effectual yet to peace and consolation in the way wherefore to all this that salvation through Christ is offered in the promise and that the promise of Christ for salvation is received through faith to all this must be added this testimony of the Spirit that that faith is sincere and so that salvation sure And this testimony it is that confirms the souls peace and gives inlargement to its sweetest comforts § 21. Thus Faith in the habit it is medium incognitum say the Schools it is often hid in the soul and the quickenings of the Spirit it is which bring it into act And by the actings of faith come the renewings of comfort thorow communion with Christ When the Sun of righteousness then appears with healing in his wings Mal. 4 2. the clouds of fears are scattered the storms of terrors cease the night of unbelief doth vanish yea Psal 24.8 when Christ the King of glory sets up his Throne in the heart and rules with the golden Scepter of his grace then do proud lusts stoop then do the powers of darkness fly and so the deserted and afflicted soul is brought out of all its distresses Thus have we seen the case and the cure of a deserted soul the case rightly stated and the cure fitly applied the case rightly stated I am desolate and afflicted the troubles of mine heart are inlarged the cure fitly applied Turn thee unto me have mercy upon me O bring thou me out of my distresses § 22. Who art thou now that looks upon what is said of spiritual desertion as strange doctrine Let me tell thee thou hast had little acquaintance with God if thou knowest not yet what it is to lose him to lose him in the comforts of his Spirit thou hast room I question not for profit for pleasure for sin for Satan but no room for God for Christ and so not having injoyed the comforts of the divine presence thou knowest not the discomfort of his absence O what is it that we see daily some men lose their Estates and they grieve heavily some men lose their Friends and they go mournfully some men lose their Health and live sadly But how many lose their God their Saviour their soules and yet neither grieve nor mourn nor are heavy for it Oh ye who are guilty of this self and soul-murder did the day break upon your souls 2 Pet. 1.19 the Spirit of truth enlighten and awaken your consciences Oh how would amazement seize you and the terrors of death fall upon you § 23. But who is it that having Sions sorrow in his heart and her tears in his eyes comes unto me with her complaint in his mouth Oh my God hath forsaken
able to save unto the uttermost all those that come unto God by him Let thy Conscience then O dejected Penitent object the hainousness of thy sins and raise them to the greatest height by all aggravating circumstances as being committed against the dictate of reason and the light of knowledge as being reiterated again and again after solemn resolutions and the gracious enlightenings of the Spirit here thou being truly sensible of thy sin mayst not despair of mercy seeing Christ is not only able Heb 2.17 but also willing to save those who come unto God by him Rev. 12.10 even unto the utmost of what their Consciences can accuse or Satans malice aggravate The Rules of Direction 1. Raise thy faith and this by a frequent meditation upon the promises of grace and life By which meditation the soul shall the better suck out the sweetness and digest the nourishment of Gods mercy and truth And because Pattern prevails above Precept take this Instance for thy imitation Suppose thou fixest thine eye and thoughts upon that blessed truth and comfortable Text of S. Paul's This is a faithful saying 1 Tim. 1.15 and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of which I am chief Upon this let thy soul dwell a while by serious meditation and in these or the like expostulating thoughts let thy faith gather strength and renew its vigor How Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners What was this the very end and purpose of Christs coming in the flesh and suffering on the Cross that he might bring men sinful men to salvation O divine Cordial to an afflicted soul O sweet comfort to a penitent Sinner I am convinc'd the words are gracious but how shall I be assured the saying is true Why it is the Word of God and shall I then distrust its truth Vain heart be not so deceitful it is a faithful saying this a saying as firm as God is holy as true as Truth it self But what right have I I so vile a Wretch to so divine a Truth Why my right lies in Gods mercy which here extends to all That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners it is a saying worthy of all men to be received Of all men sure then in that all I am included my particular is involv'd in this general Ps 78.41 Isa 59.1 for who shall limit the Holy one of Israel Ay but will God have respect to so hainous a sinner Have not my grievous sins made me unworthy of so gracious mercy Jam. 2 13. Yes unworthy but not uncapable It is the glory of Gods mercy to forgive sins the greater then my sins the greater his glory in their forgiveness Though then I be the chief of sinners I will rely upon my God in my Jesus for his chief of mercies and so resolve to apply the truth and comfort of this Evangelical doctrine delivered by the Apostle that this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of which I am chief Thus in thy greatest dejections endevour to raise thy faith by meditation on the Promises to the greatness of thy sins opposing the riches of Gods mercy to the horror of thy guilt the fulness of Christs merits both unmeasurably infinite and gracious And as the skill of a Physician is the more eminent in curing a dangerous sickness Rom. 5.20 so is the goodness of Gods mercy more glorious in pardoning and the power of his grace more evident in healing hamous sins Bonitas invicta non vincitur infinita misericordia non finitur Gods invincible goodness is not by sin conquered nor his boundless mercy by guilt limited And therefore may he alone despair of pardon who can be more wicked then God is gracious And as for the merit of Christ it is a superabundant merit Though the purity of all the Heavenly Host is not able to wipe off the stain nor their death sufficient to expiate the guilt of the least transgression Joh. 1 29. 1 Joh. 1.7 2.2 yet is the least drop of the blood of the Son of God an expiatory sacrifice for the whole World how much more then shall these his streams of blood be sufficient in their fulness of merit for the most hainous sins of a relapsed Saint There may be then some disease of body which is opprobriū medicorū past the Physicians skil to cure but no wound no distemper of soul can pose or puzzle the mercy of God or merits of Christ to heal We cannot then dishonor Christ more then to distrust his grace and love to undervalue his merits and blood Joh. 15.13 Rom. 5.8 especially he having given so great a testimony of his love by his death and made so firm a Conveyance of the merits of his death in his promises yea and vouchsafed so sure a seal of those promises and of that merit in his Sacraments Be it so then O thou dejected and afflicted soul be it so that thy troubled Conscience does rage as the sea with uncessant accusations be it so that sin and hell besiege thee round with the bitter terrors of everlasting death and that now the waves and surges of temptations swell and overflow thee yet shalt thou not faint not sink not perish 1 Pet. 1.5 whilst the Son of God supports thee through faith in his merits a faith fixt upon the promises of grace and life in which promises thou mayst behold thy sins thy hainous sins thy mountain-sins swallowed up in the Sea of his blood yea thou mayst behold thy guilt thy horrid guilt long since cancell'd on Golgotha Col. 2.14 and expiated by the death of thy Redeemer 2. Renew thy Repentance and this in a deep contrition of heart and sincere humiliation of soul There being no flying from God but by flying to him no flying from his wrath but by flying to his mercy for which we have the comfort and encouragement of a gracious Advocate of a perfect Mediator 1 Joh. 2 1. 1 Tim. 2.5 Christ Jesus blessed for ever This of Contrition and Humiliation is that God calls for from revolting Judah Joel 2.12 and which he requires of all backsliding children even that they turn unto him with all their heart with fasting weeping and mourning Sighs and tears they are the Penitents best oratory for so saith David Ps 6.8 The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Know then O thou afflicted soul though thy relapses into sin may hide Gods countenance yet upon repentance renewed they shall not banish thee from his presence though they beget a strangeness for a time yet shall they not beget a parting for ever And so however Satan aggravating thy sin may cloud the Joy yet shall he not take away the God of thy salvation Now to further thy raising thy faith and renewing thy repentance look upon the
sweet is thy mercy let be the more eager my longings that so my whole life on earth may be a continued breathing after that eternal fellowship and communion with thee in Heaven thus thus let me wait even all my life all the day Vers 6 7. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake O Lord. § 1. O My God thy former mercies are pledges to me of thy future grace Wherefore remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses which have been ever of old Psal 90.2 exhibited by thy Spirit in this Sacrament Are not thy mercies O Lord like thy self from everlasting to everlasting thy mercies they have been ever of old and sure the streams cannot fail where the fountain is inexhaustible and such is thy good goodness § 2. But how is it then that my soul dwels in darkness if thou be light how is that I remain disconsolate and miserable if thou Lord art so gracious and merciful thou lovest to be importuned in prayer Isa 43.26 and thereby as it were minded of thy mercy not that that thou art forgetful of thy love but that thou wouldst have us sensible of our wants Wherefore least thou shouldst do as my sins have deserved cast me out of thy thoughts let my humble suit mind thee of thy mercies Thy tender mercies for it is no ordinarie medicine that will cure my soar no mean mercy that will save my soul the sadness of my affl ctions requires the tenderness of thy compassions wherefore Remember O Lord thy tender mercies Psal 42.7 § 3. Mercies O how does one deep call upon another the depth of my multipli'd miseries calls loudly calls upon the depth of thy manifold mercies even that mercy whereby thou dost pardon my sin and help mine infirmities that mercy whereby thou dost sanctifie me by thy Grace and comfort me by thy Spirit that mercy whereby thou dost quicken me with life and preserve me from death that mercy whereby thou dost deliver me from Hell and possess me of Heaven Remember O Lord all those thy mercies thy tender mercies which as they have been of old unto thy Saints so now seal them unto thy servant in this blessed Sacrament § 4. And as thou seals me thy tender mercies so convey unto me thy loving kindnesses even those enligthning gifts those beautifiing graces those refreshing comforts those divine manifestations of thy presence those secret aspirings of the soul those devout raptures of the Spirit those divine meltings of the heart that peace of conscience that joy in the holy Ghost all these thy loving kindnesses let me in some proportion of measure taste if not in some measure of fulness enjoy in a blessed communion with thee my Jesus in this sacred solemnity § 5. Thy Saints of old how have they come from this thy Table satisfied with good things and like Giants refreshed with wine Psal 65.4 furnished to every good work and strong to resist the temptations of Satan having been made partakers of thy precious blood which thou shedest for them how have they been animated in the profession of faith to shed their dearest blood for thee Yea remember those thy former mercies to mine own soul when I have come with sorrow and returned with joy come trembling in fear and returned exulting through faith come fainting and weak returned strengthened and confirmed And what Lord hath thy Table been so sweet a refreshing and shall it not be so still to my soul if I come the oftner shall I return the sadder and by how much I am the more eager in my desires wilt thou be the further off in thy fulness § 6. This indeed my sins have deserved but thy mercies they are tender and will not deal with me according to my deserts wherefore remember then thy old mercies not my old sins thy tender compassions not my present transgrssions call not to mind the sins of my youth to visit them upon the years of my riper age wean me from my youthful sins and give me not over by a just judgement upon their provocation to more manly more stubborn impieties Just it were that the sins of my greener years should deprive me of thy blessing in my riper age but whilst my sins move thee to wrath let thy compassions move thee to mercy that so my former unworthiness with-hold not from me the blessing and grace of thy present Ordinance remember thou me in this according to thy mercy for thy goodness sake O Lord. § 7. According to thy mercy not mine for I have forsaken those mercies thou madest mine own in being cruel to my self by my sin Jon. 2 8. Psal 59.10 17 through distrust of thy promise upon presumptions in thy mercy yea let it be for thy goodness sake not mine for in me Rom 7.18 that is in my flesh dwelleth no manner of thing that is good let thy goodness then be the motive thy mercy the rule of all that grace and of all those blessings thou vouchsafest unto my soul Vers 8 9 10. Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way The meek will he guide in judgement and the meek will he teach his way All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies § 1. GOod and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way The true knowledge then O God of thy will is the gracious manifestation of thy goodness Good is the Lord in the graciousness of his promises upright is the Lord in the truâ—h of his performances and this grace and truth which is the habitation of his Throne is the refuge of the sinner the sanctuary of the penitent whom he teacheth in the way even the way of truth the way of holiness the way of life § 2. The Lord is good And where Oh my soul canst thou better tast the goodness of the Lord then in this blessed Eucharist Psal 34 8. the sacred feast of the Lords goodness and as his goodness doth invite thee so let his uprightness encourage thee for that faithful is he who hath p omised faithful to give according to his promise healing for thy wounds strengthning for thy weakness comfort for thy sorrow yea give that which is the compendium of all spiritual good things Rom 5.1 2 Peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost § 3. Why art thou so heavy O my soul and why art thou so cast down within me Psal 42.11 Is it because thou hast broken the Covenant of thy God even the Covenant of reconciliation sealed thee by the Sacrament and that thus by thy sin thou art become at enmitie with thy maker Be it so yet will not the Lord who is good be as gracious
wages of iniquity 2 Pet. 2.15 to curse Israel he tempts Judas with horrid treason to betray his Master Luk. 22.2 3. he tempts Annanias Act. 5.3 4. with cursed sacriledge to alineate to his own use what he had dedicated to Gods service Thus also when he sees the heart set upon ambition Numb 16.1 he tempts Corah with desperate rebellion he tempts Absolon with unnatural treason 2 Sam. 15.10 he tempts Arrius with blasphemous Heresie he tempts Julian with horrid Apostacy § 16. But now on the contrary as an Arrow shot against a Rock may be broken but cannot enter thus temptation to the soul it shall be repell'd where no lust is within to give admittance Wherefore though Satan tempt our Saviour yet are the darts of his temptations shot in vain He finds nothing in him Joh. 14.30 nothing in Christ of carnal or earthly affection whereon his temptation might fasten it self In us then it is the treacherous correspondencie of the flesh with Satan and the World which betrays our souls to their assaults So that to fortifie the soul against their sinful temptations the surest means is to mortifie the flesh in its corrupt affections Rom. 8.13 § 17. Now when the solemnity of the holy Eucharist is celebrated Job 1.6 it is a day when the sons of God come to present themselves before the Lord and we may be sure Satan will also come among them not only to accuse every unworthy Receiver but even to tempt the worthiest that receives tempt him with wandring and worldly thoughts with flat and dull affections yea it may be with spiritual pride with formal hypocrisie or impure imaginations Wherefore it will be a second Case seasonably proposed How we may best attend this sacred solemnity that we be not entangled in Satans net Answer By having our eyes ever towards the Lord our souls fixt and intent upon Christ in the sufferings of his Passion the power of his Resurrection the glory of his Ascension and the benefit of his Intercession And this with the enlargements of contrition of faith of love of prayer and of praises § 18. This a fit exercise for the whole solemnity of Administring but especially in the very act of receiving when the Minister comes towards thee O thou devoted soul with the Sacramental pledges of Christs body and blood raise thy self in this or the like ejaculation of fervent prayer O my Jesus thou boundless mercy and glorious purity by thy Spirit pierce into every faculty of my soul cleanse out every corner of my heart and so sanctifie and enlarge me that I may become a fit temple an holy habitation for thee the Lord of life and Prince of glory This done when the sacred bread is administred to thee with a Take eat the body of our Lord Jesus Christ then in thy silent meditations by a commemoration of faith behold Christ in the garden Luk. 22.44 and see him in his anguish of soul and agony of blood prest under the weight of mans sin and Gods wrath This being over behold him betrayed by Judas apprehended by the Jews and dragged away to the High-Priests palace where Mat. 26 67. in thy commemorations of faith behold him spit upon blindfolded and buffeted and after that hurried away to Pilate's Judgment-hall where being falsely accused see him unjustly condemned and after he is scourged with whips Mat. 27.2.11 crown'd with thorns and sceptred with a reed mock'd and despightfully used behold him in thy meditations bearing his cross till he faints under it § 19. At last coming to Mount Calvary see his limbs stretcht and violently distorted his hands and feet digg'd and bor'd and at length his precious body nail'd to his Cross where fix thy meditations of faith in an exercise of contrition and love that as S. Paul thou mayest become crucified with Christ Gal. 2.20 and with good Ignatius in a Pathos of devotion cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh my love and therein my life my joy my Jesus he is crucified And in this melting extasie of contrition and love continue till the Cup be presented thee with a Drink this the blood of our Lord Lord Jesus Christ which thou receiving as from Christ in an awful and devout reverence in a renewed contrition of heart and devotion of love renew thy meditations of faith and in them whilst thou beholdest thy Saviour hanging upon his Cross seeing thou canst not conceive his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his unknown sufferings as the Greek Church calls them seeing thou canst not conceive the Sea of sorrows which overwhelmed his soul see oh see those Rivers of blood which overflowed his body And life flowing out with the blood see him seal a Consummatum est to his Passion and our Redemption with a giving up the ghost § 20. And here say within thy self Who is it in a challenge to the Law and Sin and Satan who is it that condemns seeing it is Christ that dyed Rom. 8.34 my Surety my Saviour who thus offers up himself a sacrifice for my sins And therefore presenting thy self in the presence of thy God and his holy Angels raise thy soul in this apprehension of faith That whatsoever is the guilt of Sin the accusation of Satan or the curse of the Law all is taken away cancelled and abolish'd by the merit of Christs passion And therefore in thy meditation of holy faith send forth this ejaculation of fervent prayer Look down oh look down heavenly Father from thy celestial sanctuary and behold the sacred Hoast the death the passion of my crucified Saviour whose blood of sprinkling speaks better things then that of Abel's even things of grace and mercy of pardon and peace Eph. 4 8. Col. 2.15 § 21. And here from the Passion of thy Saviour proceed in thy meditations of faith to his Ressurection and behold him leading Captivity captive triumphing gloriously over sin and Satan death and hell From his Resurrection follow him to his Ascension and raised by faith Heb. 7.25 behold him at the right hand of the Father in glory where He ever lives to make intercession for us And therefore presenting thy self before the Throne of grace powre out thy soul in prayer in the mediation of Christ Jesus that God would make good to thee the institution of this holy Sacrament as the seal of his Covenant of grace giving thee a communion with the Lord Jesus in all his benefits that so the pardon of thy sins being sealed a supply of grace exhibited and the earnest of glory confirmed thy whole man may be further sanctified and eternally blessed And now let the close of all be lauds and praises even Halleluiah salvation be unto our God and unto the Lamb for ever Rev. 7.10 Vers 16 17. Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted The troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of
us belongeth confusion of f ce to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers because we have sinned against thee Yea humility prompteth the soul in the midst of Gods judgments to an advancement of his mercy Thus the Psalmist Psal 1â—3 10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins neither hath he rewarded us according to our iniquities and it is the humble acknowledgment of Gods Church in her lamentations of sorrow saying Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed § 15. 2. Faith the Apostle calls faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the substance Heb. 11 1. so the subsistence of things hoped for the subsistence makeing that glory and blessedness that salvation and deliverance to have a present subsistence with us which we look upon through hope as in their future existence to us Wherefore then is it that the conscientious confessoâ—s of Christs truth so calmly so patiently yea so chearfully suffer the disgrace of the world and the violence of the wicked is it not because they see by faith that to suffer for righteousness truely makes them what Turtullian elegantly stiles them Coelestis gloriae candidatos Candidates of the celestial glory haveing received the earnest of the spirit the seal of their redemption 2 Cor. 1.22 Ephes 4.30 Rom 8.23 the first fruits of glory they see by faith that whilst men load them with injuries they heap up their rewards whilst they spoil their earthly goods they encrease their heavenly treasure yea each scornful reproach they see by faith it does but add a flower to their garland each violent act a jewel to their Crown 2 Cor 4 17. all their light affliction which is but for a moment they see by faith how it works for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory § 16. 3. Hope such as that of Davids which he commends unto the Church upon his own experience of good success Psal 130.7 Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plentious redempteon Wherefore when the Church mourneth and the gates of Zion languish this the hope which strengthens the patience and comforts the souls of Gods Saints that he will either vouchsafe them a temporal deliverance or crown their sufferings with an eternal salvation this that hope of which saith the Apostle Rom. â— 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non confundit so the vulg it brings no shame of face no confusion of soul it fears no deficiency on Gods part and preserves from Apostacy on mans part and so becomes a right what the Apostle stiles it the Anchor of the soul Heâ— 6 â— both sure and stedfast § 17. 3. What the best duties of devotion Answ Solemn humiliation fervent prayer and a worthy receiving the blessed Eucharist 1. solemn humiliation solemn for time for measure and the manner of performance for time some day in the week or at least in the moneth set apart and dedicated to this service For measure not the dropping of a tear the breathing of a sigh and so away Psal 51 1â— no we must offer unto God the Sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit the sorrows of our contrition must be like that of one mourning for the dead a funeral sorrow the deepest of mournings yea Zech. 12.10 like that of one mourning for her onely Son the saddest of Funerals Indeed the Church by our sins is laid in the depth of calamities fit it is that we for our sin lie down in the deepest of humiliations For manner of performance confessing the guilt of sin bewailing the bitterness of distress deprecating Gods wrath and imploring his mercy § 18. To affect our souls with the greater relentings of contrition and meltings of compassion see oh see we how this Church our Mother Lam. 1.1 sits as a disconsolate widow mourning in her distress her hair dishevel'd her beauty defac'd her garments rent her body wounded her blood flowing her spirits fainting yea see see a flood of tears overtakes her streams of blood her sorrow accompanies her pain and her mourning her affliction And yet how do too too many who boast themselves her Sons Oh! how do they by their oaths their drunkenness their whoredoms and other their abominable pollutions how do they even drag this their Mother by that hair which sorrow hath dishevel'd How do they trample upon her whilst she sits in the dust how do they widen her wounds sharpen her pains imbitter her sorrows and every way aggravate her misery Wherefore as many as are affected with the Churches deep affliction and wait upon God for her gracious restauration let them thus wait even in this sacred duty of holy devotion Solemn humiliation Iam. 5.13 § 19. 2. Fervent prayer this is St. James's Catholicon his general remedy for all spiritual distempers If any man among you be afflicted let let him pray the Original is very emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken in the large sence as here most proper we may thus paraphrase the words of the Apostle Doth any among you suffer any evill of body or of mind as the readiest means of his redress and succour let him pray and in our prayers do we prescribe to our selves some solemn service of devotion more peculiarly appropriate to this sacred blessing Nehem. 1. Dan. 9. the Churches restauration and peace Thus did Nehemiah thus did Daniel and Psal 137. the faithful are so zealous for Jerusalem the type of the Church that they seal the resolution of earnest prayer with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this dreadful imprecation Psal 137.6 that if they remember her not their tongues may cleave to the roof of their mouthes intimating this zealous wâ—sh that they may never have tongues to pray for themselves if they forget to pray for Jerusalem § 20. 3. The blessed Eucharist here we have an unmoveable center to rest on God our portion Christ our fulness an object larger then the heavens Oh that our faith were now suitable to its object the firmness of our trust to the fulness of our God our Jesus had the widow of Sarepta prepared more vessels she had received more oil 1 King 17.14 and that we receive less in the supplies of grace and the bounties of love from God and Christ it is because we are straitned in our faith not God or Christ straitned in his bounty we less capable to receive not he less willing or able to give the Widows vessels were all filled and here each humble soul shall be replenish'd according to the measure of their capacity not the riches of Christs fulness who as the Sea can fill the vessels though never so large and therefore where the measure is but little there the vessels are but small Enlarge we then the thirsting desires of our soul that the fountain of Christs
implore its deliverance And when when more seasonably help the Church with our prayers then now when her Prayers are violently wrested from the Church § 22. But more especially 2 to mind us of the fit season and service to pray for Israels deliverance even the celebration of the blessed Eucharist Seeing so great wrath is come upon us from the Almighty do we this day lay hold on the horns of the Altar do we in the celebration of this blessed Sacrament deeply sigh and contritely mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the Land that so Ezek. 9.4 with those Penitentiaries in Ezekiel we may receive our mark even that blood of Christ upon out souls that so the destroying Angel may yet pass over us and in the behalf of this our Israel do we in our most enlarged devotions make this or the like intercession unto God in the holy Eucharist Look down oh look down heavenly Father from the height of Heaven thy celestial Sanctuary and behold the sacred Hoast the blood of our Jesus speaking better things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 even things of grace and of mercy of pardon and of peace of reconciliation and of restauration And seeing in him thy justice is satisfied let thy wrath be appeased and through the merit of his blood oh let the bleeding wounds of our fainting Land be healed and the faintâ—ng heart of our languishing Church reviv'd § 23. And here let the outward distractions of our Israel minde us of the inward distempers of our hearts the great profanations in the Church prompt us to a strict purifying of our Consciences yea our longing desires after better days quicken our holy endeavours after better lives So shall we find by an happy experience God who did watch for our deliverance when we knew not our danger In the Powder-plot 1605. he will not sleep now we know our danger and pray for our deliverance No as for the Enemies of Sion evil shall fall upon them and sudden desolation Isa 47.11 nescient ortum ejus they shall not know from whence it ariseth But as for the Israel of God he shall deliver them as a bird out of the Fowlers net Ps 124 6 7. and as a prey out of the Lyons teeth at once making it the praise of our faith then to believe when our trust seems to be against hope Rom. 4.18 and the glory of his power then to save when our condition seems to be past succor And thus for the share we have in the sorrow of Israels troubles we shall have our portion in the joy of Israels deliverance Is 35.10 if not whilst the Church is militant on earth yet most assuredly then when triumphant in heaven of which this blessed Sacrament is the seal and pledge confirming the Royal grant of this humble Petition to every faithful soul that prays with David Deliver Israel O God out of all his troubles Halleluiah THE Preacher's Tripartite BOOK II. To administer COMFORT BY CONFERENCE with the SOUL IN ITS Spiritual Conflicts Reduced to particular CASES of CONSCIENCE Viz. 1. The importunate Crowd of Vain Thoughts 2. The frightful Suggestions of Foul Thoughts 3. Some late Relapses into Sin 4. Daily Conflicts with Sin 5. A Distrust of the Graces sincerity in general of Faith and of Repentance in particular 6. The sense of Barrenness in holy Duties 7. The misapprehension of Gods withdrawing the Comforts of his gracious presence 8. The misinterpretation of the Order of Gods Providence as to the Tribulations of the Godly and as to the Prosperity of the Wicked 9. The long Continuance of Temptations and Afflictions By ROBERT MOSSOM LONDON Printed by Thomas Newcomb 1657. TO THE Right Honorable Lady FRANCES Marchioness of HERTFORD c. MADAM I Acknowledge it mine ambition that I seek your Honor's Patronage but dare adventure upon this guilt in confidence of a Favorable Pardon as well as an Honorable Protection to your Suppliant I know no vice in Morals unpardonable like that of Ingratitude and therefore to avoid the sin and censure of this Apostacy I declare it Madam your Reward of Goodness exceeding the Merit of a former Present which hath obliged the duty of this Dedication What are the charitable supplies of your Eleemosynary bounties notwithstanding Modesty is at once the Vail and Ornament of your Vertues there is a Trumpet of Honorable Fame that proclaims it That I have my self received an encouragement of my Studies by your Nobleness I willingly embrace this opportunity thankfully to acknowledge and record Besides Madam it were improper to intitle the SOUL'S CONFERENCE to any other then an experienced Piety whose Spiritual Conflicts sustained can give testimony to the Comforts administred which not Greatness but Goodness can best approve and Patronize Here then Madam to your Goodness as great in Honor and to your Honor as great in Goodness is humbly presented this Freewill-offering the Work and the Author and no Votary can do more then make his whole Possession one Oblation as ambitious to bear the name and attribute of being NOBLE MADAM Your Honors Faithfully Devoted Servant R. MOSSOM CONFERENCE WITH THE SOUL In its Spiritual Conflicts THE INTRODUCTION IT is the great design of Satan in a malicious envy to Man if he cannot spoil us of our Crown Lam. 3.17 18. then to rob us of our Comfort If he cannot deprive us of Grace then to bereave us of our Peace Which thing he doth not only attempt but often attain by raising in our hearts an infernal fog of diffidence and distrust Ps 77.8 9. Ps 88.5 6. begetting such doubts and fears and affrighting terrors as do make the Soul against all the light of counsel and of comfort in the Word conclude against it self to have lost all interest in Gods love Job 38.2 and Christs merits Lam 5.22 Isa 49.14 all Communion with the Spirit of grace and of life pleading with much vehemencie of passion and impatience that its former hopes have been but deceitful presumptions and its exercises of holiness hypocritical delusions Oh the thick darkness which this mist and fog of Satans suggestions casts upon the inward man How doth it become the very shop of fears the womb of terrors Ps 23 4. yea the valley and shadow of death the cheering light of the Sun of Righteousness being thereby eclipsed from the Soul Now there is no greater advantage unto Satan in his temptations then the ignorance and error of the mind when the Understanding is darkened or deceiv'd darkened through want of knowledge or deceiv'd with a false light For Satan he works still contrary unto God and yet in imitation of him too And therefore as God in his operations of grace to beget life Eph. 1.17 18. he first enlightens and illuminates so Satan in his temptations unto sin to destroy grace he first darkens and deceives 2 Cor. 4.4 Eph. 4.18 Luk. 22.64 He doth with the
have no more Sacrifice for sin because Christ being denied none other Messias was to he expected and as for the Sacrifices of the Law they were now no more available to take away sin they being ended and fulfilled in Christ So then there is no more sacrifise for sin to wilful Apostates but there is still a sacrifice for sin to humble Penitents The merit of Christs passion shall nothing avail him that renounces his Christianity but it shall much avail yea effectually save him who bewails his iniquity Obj. 3 3. Obj. Against the renewing of Repentance And this Objection is raised from that of the Apostle Heb. 6.4 c. where he saith that it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the World to come if they fall away to renew them again unto repentance From hence the relapsed Saint in his deep distress of Conscience frames this objection Seeing I have been once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have been partaker of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the World to come and now having fallen away from my God by my multiplied iniquities it is impossible that I should be renewed again unto repentance Answ Answ This place as that other before mentioned is not to be understood of falling but of falling away not of the Children of God falling through sins of humane infirmity but of the Professors of Christ falling away through the sin of wilful Apostacie Of which sin many in the primitive times became guilty either through fear or through covetousness renouncing the faith of Christ and returning again to Judaism or Heathenish idolatry and of such it is that the Apostle here speaks when he tells us that they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh v. 6. and put him to an open shame For they that fell away to Judaism did as much dishonor injure and abuse Christ as if with the Jews they had actually spit upon him buffeted him and crucified him And for such to renew them again to repentance it is impossible Impossible non physicè sed moraliter as the School speaks Impossible according to the ordinary course of the Church according to the common and usual way of salvation otherwise our Saviour tells us in the like case With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible True it is Mat. 19 26. Novatus and his followers from this Heb. 6.4 and that Heb. 10.26 did deny repentance and admission into the Church not only to those who fell away from the faith but also who fell into any scandalous sin but for this were they justly condemned by the Church of God for Heresie So that this place of the Apostle is to be interpreted as meant of such professors of Christ who fall away from the faith by wilful Apostacie as did Judas and Julian Not of such servants of God who fall into sin through some prevailing temptation as did David and Peter 4. Obj. Against a partaking of the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist Obj. 4 Alas how shall I so unworthy a person be a worthy partaker of that holy Sacrament And to receive unworthily 1 Cor. 11.27.29 is to increase the horror of my guilt not regain the favor of my God I believe indeed but alas it is but faintly I repent but it is but weakly And what shall I then so vile a sinner attend so dreadful a solemnity Answ O thou dejected yet penitent soul Answ who art dismaied in thy self having weakened the power of grace by thy relapses into sin oh let not the weight of sin or the weakness of grace so thy repentance be faithful and thy faith sincere let not either deter or detain thee discourage or withhold thee from this blessed Ordinance but attend unto our Saviours call and come at his gracious invitation Hearken and hear Come unto me Mat. 11.28 all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Even because weary come and be refreshed even because burdened come and be eased because weak come and be strengthened because poor come and be enriched because sick come and be healed because wounded come and be cured because sad come and be comforted because dull come and be quickened because relapsed come and be restor'd Come to this spiritual feast with thy wedding-garment Mat. 22.12 Gen. 27.15 the pure robe of Christs righteousness put on by faith and thus clothed with the sweet smelling raiment of our elder Brother thou shalt obtain a multiplied blessing from our heavenly Father even a blessing of righteousness of peace a blessing of mercy and of love of grace and of strength of comfort and of joy Râ—m 86. the testimony of the Spirit setting on the seal of the Sacrament for the recovering and continuing the renewing and confirming the assurance of Gods love in a communion with Christ in his fulness It remains then O thou afflicted soul that thou fix upon the immutability of Gods love and the stability of his Covenant together with the merit of Christs passion and the benefit of his intercession these the sure Grounds of Comfort Again do thou raise thy faith renew thy repentance and apply thy self to a worâ—hy partaking of the blessed Eucharist these the faithful Rules of Direction All which the God of mercy and compassion bless unto thy soul and make effectual to thy salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen CHAP. IV. The Souls Conflict from the daily Assaults of Sin WHich Conflict that it is truly spiritual and sincere will appear by these signs Rom. 7.21 22 24. 1. The sanctified person acts against the power whilst he groans under the weight of his sin Ps 51 2.7.10 He hates its pollution as well as dreads its guilt He abhors its filth as well as fears its punishment 2. The Saint of God in his spiritual conflict he is both earnest to discover his corruptions and zealous to subdue them 1 Cor. 9.27 whereas the Natural man seeks out his corruptions as the Coward does his enemy unwilling to find him and afraid to fight him 3. Whereas the Natural man like a Neuter in a State is offended with the tumult and uprore that disquiets him the Spiritual man like a loyal Subject is incensed against the Rebel-Lusts that raise this tumult Ps 18.23 and cause this disquiet 4. His heart does as suddenly startle at the motions of sin as the Lamb does at the presence of the Wolf and this from that great contrariety and secret antipathy which is betwixt sin and grace the flesh and spirit an antipathy as great as that betwixt light and darkness Christ and Belial 2 Cor. 6.14.15 heaven and hell Lastly above all the evils sin brings upon the soul this that
passions does this distemper work in the whole man Wherefore seeing it is no Natural cause that can calm the soul nor any Spiritual remedy that shall cure the body they must be join'd together the Physitian for the body and the Minister for the soul and Gods blessing for both Which blessing he vouchsafe through Jesus Christ Amen CHAP. VIII The Souls Conflict from the misinterpretation of the order of Gods Providence in the Tribulations of the Godly and the Prosperity of the Wicked TEmporal afflictions when sanctified by grace they become the spiritual physick of the soul which though administred by the no less tender then skilful hand of Providence how do we vain and foolish Patients how do we embitter our condition by chewing the pills we should swallow We mingle our passions with our crosses and through impatience struggle with our yoke thereby making our burden the more heavy our afflictions the more grievous whereas did we by a divine art poise the burden we bear by casting one part upon God as to support and deliverance Ps 55.22 1 Pet. 5.6 7. and taking the other part upon our selves as to duty and obedience the weight of our present Cross would be the less and of our future Crown the greater But now amidst the many troubles of anxious thoughts and various temptations nothing more afflicts yea endangers the soul then the murmuring discontents of an envious impatience beholding perjury and murder violence and oppression made as steps to mount the throne whilst innocencie and integrity faith and truth are trampled in the dust Job who so bitterly complains of the arrows of God Job 6.4 ch 21.6 7 c. was deeply wounded with this dart of Satan this murmuring impatience of afflicted souls in an envious discontent griev'd that iniquity prospers in their enemies whâ—lst innocencie suffers in themselves But that we may calm this bosom-tempest and still this secret murmur we will give answer to the Souls Complaint whilst buffeted by Satan in this Spiritual conflict The Words of Complaint Oh the deep infidelity of my false heart and diffident impatiencie of my troubled soul wounding my Conscience and grieving my Spirit with a secret muttering yea sometimes an open complaint against God in the order of his providence Whilst I behold the prosperity of the wicked and the tribulations of the godly Babylon sit as a Queen and Jerusalem lie in the dust yea whilst I see Religion supprest with Violence Truth blasphemed by Heresie and Piety smother'd with Contempt and on the contrary I see Profaneness exalted Sacriledge magnified and Injustice prosper Upon these thoughts oh how does Satan suggest to my troubled mind and discontented soul no less then blasphemy either against Gods omniscience or against his justice Against his omniscience denying that all-seeing eye of his providence as if the world were govern'd blindfold and ready I am to say with those the Psalmist speaks of Ps 73.11 Doth God know and is there knowledge in the most High If this cloud be dispell'd this temptation repulst Satan he renews his assault and my affliction by blasphemous thoughts against Gods justice as if he regarded not the sufferings of the good notwithstanding their innocencie he continuing his blessings upon the evil notwithstanding their iniquity Mal. 3.14 So that I am ready to say with those profane persons and distrustful souls It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we keep his ordinances Oh! these these thoughts of Atheism and infidelity of envy and impatience I find by sinful and sad experience they are a smoky vapor ascending from the infernal pit which clouds the judgment of my mind damps the comfort of my soul choaks the life of grace and even drives away the Spirit of my God 1. The Grounds of Comfort as to the Tribulattons of the Godly Job 5.6 1. The order of Gods providence Affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground it is not a thing that happens by chance but is ordered by providence Which providence of God as it is general over all the Creatures so is it special over all his Children in which special providence of his it is that as he afflicts in mercy and truth so he saves in wisdom and power 1. He afflicts in mercy and truth God it is that afflicts Men that injure or oppress Isa 10.5 are but his Instruments to chastise by his providence ordering their rage for the trial of the faithful their malice for the correction of his children Thus Deliver my soul says David deliver my soul from the wicked which is thy sword Ps 17.13 14. from the men which are thy hand O Lord. The wicked who persecute are Gods sword with which he wounds his hand with which he strikes Job 2.7 ch 19.2 Thus Job when Satan himself had smote him yet we hear his complaint Have pitty upon me have pitty upon me O my friends for the hand of the Lord hath touched me Thus God it is that afflicts and that in mercy God we say he hath paternum animum as well as maternum affectum his love is fatherly for care as well as motherly for tenderness As a Father then he will sometimes humble his children by afflictions sustaining them with his hand not as a mother still indulge them in delights cockering them on his knee And as he afflicts in mercy so in truth Hear David's acknowledgment unto God saying I know Ps 119.73 O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Wherefore it 's well said that all the troubles and distresses which befall the faithful though amarae sagittae yet ex dulci manu Dei though bitter arrows yet from the sweet hand of God whose special providence over his children is such that he afflicts them even in mercy and in truth 2. He saves them too in wisdom and in power his wisdom ordering the means and his power effecting the work of their salvation notwithstanding all difficulties and seeming impossibilities of their deliverance all secondary causes being linkt together in one chain of Divine providence which the Heathens feigned to be fastened at Jupiters Chair and we Christians believe to be held in Gods hand Isa 41.10 in him is the sole ordering and disposing of them And therefore Fear thou not says God to the true Israel fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Gods patronage and protection is not like that of men of which Salvian complain'd in his times that Hac lege defendunt miseros Salv. de gub Dei l. 3. ut miseriores faciant defendendo Upon this account they defend the miserable that they may make them the more miserable by defending them like the thorny bush to which
path and leavest the beaten road even that which is right via regia the Kings high-way that way which the King of heaven Christ the Prince of glory Heb 2 10 Luk. 2â— 26 9.22 23. both by precept and by pattern by doctrine and example hath chalkt out to us If then we be of the Israel of God having escaped out of the Egypt of an unregenerate state we must expect our Red sea of persecutions our fiery Serpents of temptations and our long Wilderness of afflictions all which we must pass through before we attain the heavenly Canaan the inheritance of promise and of rest And now that we be not discouraged with the difficulties of our passage look we into the Word of life and Gospel of our salvation and there see besides the reward of glory to crown our constancie see the hand that sustains the might that strengthens us to overcome even the power and grace of Christ See the refreshings which keep our souls from fainting and add to our constancie chearfulness even the councels and comforts of the Spirit And these we shall administer to the distressed soul which in its long and continued Conflict makes this sad and languishing complaint The Words of Complaint How long oh how long have I waited for the returns of my God of my Jesus I have often prayed and long expected and yet no comfort comes unto my soul my distress of conscience still continues because my God hides his face and withholds the light of his countenance from me Yea he hath not only laid me in the darkness but also shut me up that I cannot come forth Mine afflictions compass me daily yea all the day they come about me like waters and threaten the swallowing up of my soul And oh what is my help my hope but my God But alas he refuseth to be intreated I am weary of my groaning I have cryed day and night and yet he heareth not so that though the desires of my soul be towards his name and the remembrance of his holiness yet how are my fears and my terrors increased lest I be cut off from his hand cast out of his presence and become one of those that go down into the pit I have been so long in darkness that Satan pleads it in my misgiving thoughts as too plain a sign of being a child of darkness for that sure if the Sun of righteousness were risen upon my soul those clouds this mist that darkness would not continue but as he brings healing in his wings so would he bring comfort in his light refreshings by his Spirit and deliverance by his power The Grounds of Comfort 1. The firm assurance Christ gives of his indulgent care over his Church and chosen Thus he comforted Sion of old When the Prophet in much Pathos of joy Isa 49.13 calls upon the inanimate creatures to make up the Jubile Sing O heaven and be joyful O earth and break forth into singing O mountains for God hath comforted his people and will have mercy upon his afflicted Yet it is Sion's deep complaint in the depth of her calamity v. 14. The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But see see the love of God to his afflicted Church exceeds that of the tender mother to her sucking child Naz orat 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no bowels more tender then those of a mother yet more tender far are those of our heavenly Father For so says God in a pathetical expostulation of faithfulness and love v. 15. Can a mother forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea she may forget yet will I not forget thee Think not then O thou afflicted soul when God hides his face that he forgets thee or when he withdraws a while he then forsakes thee For how have we seen the careful and tender Mother wave the Child in her loving arms and pleas'd with its embraces threaten its fall that so fear might make it cling unto her bosom with the more sportful eagerness Thus even thus it is with the humble Saint and his gracious Saviour Videtur deserere quia non vult deseri Christ seems to forsake him on purpose that he may not be forsaken of him And this according to the tenor of Gods everlasting covenant That he will put his fear into the hearts of his chosen that they shall not depart from him Yea Jer. 32 4â— see the indeleble characters of Christs love and the infallible testimony of his care Says Christ to his Spouse his Church and in her to every faithful soul Behold I have engraven thee in the palms of my hands Engraven how why sâ— â—9 16. not with the carving tools but the piercing nails and not upon the skin but quite through the flesh not cover'd over with precious gold but colour'd through with more precious blood which neither age nor eternity shall wear out Thus thus have I engraven thee in the palms of my hands Humanitùs dictum saith Jun us it is spoken after the manner of men Jun. in loc but it is indeed an emphatical expression outvying the highest Courtship of the most amorous Lover to his beloved He it may be will have her Picture hang in his bosom that so forsooth she may be near his heart But Christ he hath his Spouse engraven in his hands that so she may be ever in his eye as well as in his heart she is his care as well as his love Wherefore that the Saints and chosen of God are often and long afflicted is not through want of love to pitty or of care to regard or of power to relieve No sure for what Father or Mother is not compassionately affected affectionately moved with the sufferings and sorrows of their dear children What tender Husband or what indeared Friend will not engage himself for the comfort succour supply and safety of whom he truly loves and lovingly tenders And therefore as David frames the Argument Ps 94 9. He that made the ear shall not he hear He that formed the eye shall not he see and he that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know So say I He who implants love and compassion in his creatures shall not he be much more loving and compassionate to his Saints He who imprints those tender affections in fathers husbands friends shall not he be more tenderly compassionate to his Church and chosen Yes sure Wherefore then Exod. 3.7 Jer 31.20 Ps 65.2 Ps 56.8 Mal. 3.16 he hath an eye of Providence to see their distress bowels of pitty to compassionate their trouble ears of mercy to hear their prayers bottles of love to hold their tears a book of remembrance to register their complaints yea Satan and the World shall know he hath Judgments of righteousness to plead their cause Vials of wrath to avenge their blood an arm of power to deliver their persons and a crown of
manifestation of himself to his Saints In this Sanctuary is the Golden Pot of Manna even an abundant fulness of Divine Joy whose sweetness is incorruptible and everlasting yea here is Aarons Rod which being withered after budded flowred and brought forth ripe Almonds that is the dead bodies of Gods Saints raised to life are cloathed with immortality and glory Or further By the Tabernacle and Sanctuary was represented not onely the Mystical but also the Natural Body of Christ not onely his Church but also himself He the Ark of the Testament as the Word of the Father placed in the Tabernacle as cloathed with flesh He the Table of Shew-bread as our Life and Food in the Eucharist he the Candlestick as our Spiritual Light he the Incense in the sweet savor of his Merits he the Sacrifice in the sufferings of his Cross he the Altar in the efficacy of his Mediation by which ouâ— persons and our Prayers our selves and our services become accepted of the Father Further yet The Tabernacle and Sanctuary was a Map of the Universe the greater World and of Man the lesser World 1. A Map of the Universe the greater World the outward Court representing the outmost Creation the holy Place the Church of Christ and the Holy of Holies the Heavenly Presence 2. A Map of Man the lesser World consisting of Body Soul and Spirit the outward Court that 's the Body 1 Thess 5.23 the inward Tabernacle that 's the Soul and the holy Sanctuary that 's the Spirit by which Spirit we have our communion yea and our communication too with our God And well may the Temple of God be compared unto man 1 Cor. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.16 seeing man so often in Scripture is called The Temple of God Now how well might David in all these Representations of the Sanctuary contemplate a Beauty and that Beauty divine even the Beauty of the Lord No wonder then if David be so importunate in his suit to have his dwelling in so pleasant a seat as the House of the Lord an Habitation which hath Heaven for its prospect the beauty of the Lord for the object of the eye and delight of the Soul But however David doth behold the beauty of the Lord in the Sanctuary yet where is that beauty in our Churches what is that glory of his presence as may denominate them his Houses Why see it in our Churches sacred Liturgy both as to the decency and order of her daily Service and Sacramental Administrations First As to the decency and order of her daily Service There being nothing in Devotion nothing in Doctrine nothing in Substance nothing in Circumstance but what Gods Word either explicitely commands or implicitely allows O lovely Order of holy Worship right a form of Divine Service as being a continued Exercise of all the parts of holy Worship taking up the whole minde and soul of the Spiritual man In this Divine service the Church by an orderly progress of Piety and performance of Devotion sometimes makes confession of sin sometimes deprecations of wrath sometimes Petitions of mercy sometimes intercessions for all men even all estates and conditions of men whatsoever from the highest Prince to the meanest Peasant from the holiest Saint to the vilest sinners Turks and Infidels not excepted Yea in this Form of Divine service and Publick worship see how the Church of Christ doth sometimes adore Gods sacred Majesty sometimes extol his glorious attributes sometimes commemorate his famous acts sometimes recount his gracious blessings sometimes denounce his severe judgments sometimes declare his Fatherly promises sometimes set forth his heavenly praises Sometimes the Church makes profession of her Faith sometimes she publisheth the commands of her God sometimes she is humbled in larger yet not long winded supplications sometimes she is exercised in shorter yet piercing and pathetical ejaculations All which hang together not as mens extemporary non-sense like ropes of Sand but in an orderly composure like a chain of Gold one part still linkt within another to become a fit ornament to set off the Churches beauty whereby she is the more comely and fair in the eyes of her beloved Secondly View we the Beauty of holy Worship in the Churches Publick Administrations to instance in that one of the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist O how does Divine Order Reverence and Devotion mutually contend which shall give greatest lustre to the Beauty of this solemnity First the judgment is rightly informed from sacred Scripture in the Mysteries of that blessed Sacrament And the judgment being rightly informed by instruction the affections are divinely raised by exhortation set on with that perswasive argument and inforcing motive the riches of grace and promises of life which God hath vouchsafed unto his chosen through Christ This done the Church proceeds to an oral confession of sins and upon that a Ministerial absolution of the penitent and after with heart and hands and eyes lift up to Heaven all joyn together in the devout Harmony of Prayers and Praises Then the Faithful Pastor of the Flock having offered unto God the Sacrifice of his own Rev. 8.3 and others Devotion ascending up before the Throne of Grace as sacred Odors made acceptable through the Incense of Christs merits he proceeds with fear and reverence to the Consecration of the Sacramental Elements and how is this why observe It is with a most pathetical commemoration of Gods love of Christs passion and of mans redemption yea with an obediential and Eucharistical acknowledgement of Christs holy Institution with the Order and End of the blessed Sacrament Upon which is pronounced the Word of blessing with Prayer consecrating the Bread and Wine to be the Sacramental signs and seal of Christs Body and Blood The Consecration ended View we the Administration in which the dearest pledges of Divine love are delivered with a Summary Recapitulation of the whole Sacraments mystery That so the Soul of the receiver may have a present impression of renewed Devotion in the very act of receiving This Ministration being performed the close of the whole service is applicatory of the whole solemnity in most devout and pathetical Prayers with Heavenly and Evangelical praises which being ended the Congregation is dismist with a Ministerial Benediction Now ex pede Herculem know ye the Eagle by its Feather the Diamond by its spark the excellency of the Churches Liturgy by this one part of her Publick service the solemnity of the Eucharist of which Sacraments administring I may say what St. Paul said of the Corinthians prophesying 1 Cor. 14.25 That if an unbeliever or any one except a pertinacious Separatist come into the Congregation of Gods people while they are exercised in this solemn service of Divine Order Reverence and Devotion he will be ready to fall down upon his face and worship God reporting that God is in them of a truth I may confidently affirm That so lovely is the Beauty of the Churches Order