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
into the mire through weakness yet thou shalt not with the Swine wallow in it with delight 4. Be humbled in the sense of that body of sin carnal concupiscence Jam. 1.14.15 Rom. 7.23 the polluted fountain from whence issues all our filthy streams of sinful thoughts words and actions It may be God suffers Satan to shake the vessel that the dregs may appear to pursue us with his temptations that we may the better discover our corruptions and so discern the true womb of all our misery that which breeds and fosters all our disquiet Whilst then we bewail the guilt and pollution of our actual transgression with David Ps 51.5 pass we from the branches to the root let the stream lead us to the Spring that of Original corruption which defiles the whole man and maintains an irreconcileable war with the sanctifying grace of Gods Spirit Rom 8 7 8. Gal. 5 17. Though we are ingrafted into Christ yet will God have us mindful of our old stock that we may the better glorifie him in the poweâ— of his grace which sanctifieth and saveth us And indeed unless we bewail sin in the affection as well as in the action unless we be humbled for our corrupt dispositions as well as for our particular transgressions our Repentance cannot be found nor our Peace setled Our Repentance not sound which must be a thorow-hatred of the whole body of sin our Peace not setled Rom. 8.1.14 which must be not only from mercy pardoning but also from grace subduing sin Lastly Increase the importunity of thy prayers as thou seest sin increase in the impurity of its pollutions And to strengthen thy prayer fix thy faith upon the promises those of the Gospel of Christ and Covenant of thy God as That he will blot out our transgressions and remember them no more Jer. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.12 Luk. 11 13. Zech 13.1 That he will put his fear into our hearts and that he will give his holy Spirit to them that ask it Especially look up unto Christ as the fountain set open to Judah and Jerusalem even to all penitent sinners to wash in for sin and for uncleanness And if thus O thou afflicted soul if thus thou make good the combat by prayer and penitence our Lord Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation Heb 2.10 Mat. 12 20. will make good the Conquest through grace and mercy by sending forth Judgment unto Victory victory over Sin and Satan and all the Powers of darkness Thus Blessed Jesus save the Soul which thou hast purchased sustain by thy grace whom thou hast redeemed by thy blood Amen Amen CHAP. V. The Souls Conflict from a Distrust of its Graces sincerity in general and of Faith and Repentance in particular THe most gracious testimony of Gods love is from the immediate light of his countenance which displays upon the soul such evident beams and refreshing rays of his Fatherly goodness as do become the sure witness and sacred seal of the Spirit testifying to the inward man the eternal favor of his God This estate it is gracious and blessed but it is not constant and continued yea it is oftentimes even to the best of Saints very much discontinued witness David's Usque quo How long Lord how long wilt thou hide thy self Ps 89 46. Ps 6 3. for ever And again My soul is sore vexed but thou O Lord how long Now in the night of Temptation when we have lost the sight of the Sun it is no small comfort that we have the light of the Stars when we see not the immediate rays from the manifestation of Gods divine presence a sweet comfort it is that we see him by reflexion in the light and vigor of his spiritual graces which confirm to us this comfortable assurance that he will yet rise again upon our souls But oh Act. 27.20 how many even of the holiest Saints as S. Paul in his tempest so they in their temptation they see neither the light of the sun nor of the stars neither the comfort of Gods presence nor of his graces Ps 88.6 15 16 And such a state of darkness as this must needs bring fear horror and amazement to the soul And in this distress hear the afflâ—cted Saâ—nt thus complain The Words of Complaint Oh! how do I feel the struglings and alas they are but the struglings of good d sires My soul conceiveth and travelleth in paâ—n with holy purposes but alas she wants strength to bring forth into actual performances Whereas looking upon the true Saints and servants of God I see faith hath life in them and they life by it but clouds of unbelief darken my soul and the bonds of death take hold of me I see them as Temples of the Lord they receiving daily Oracles from his mouth and still offering him the continual sacrifice of a contrite heart But alas I pray and he heareth not I call and cry but he answereth not and no wonder seeing my soul which should Eagle-like with faith and fervor mount aloft through diffidence and deadness of heart creeps in the dust Oh! my corruptions they are increased and my contritions diminished my temptations they are stronger and my graces they are weaker Ah! what said I weaker I would to God I could say upon assurance that I had any grace at all pure and sincere For woe is me such is my darkness of mind deadness of spirit and hardness of heart that I cannot but with much horror of soul and trouble of conscience call in question the sincerity of all grace especially the sincerity of my Faith and of my Repentance whether such as may obtain remission of sins and reconciliation with my God through Jesus Christ 1. The Grounds of Comfort as to the distrust of Graces sincerity in general 1. It is not more the policie and design of Satan to perswade the Hypocrite that his life is gracious his grace sincere Luk 18.9.11 Job 4.6 8.6 15.5 and his heart upright then it is to perswade the true Saint that his heart is corrupt his grace counterfeit and his life hypocritical The former he does to harden in presumption the latter to sink in despair Know then for thy comfort there is no such deliquium animae that there are not some reliquiae gratiae there is no such faintness of soul that there are not some remains of life As a Spring when stopt at one place it breaks out at another so Grace if not discovering itself in some particular acts it shews it self in some other proper operations Yea God in wisdom suffers some one grace in its acts to be the more dampt and deaded that some other may be the more quickened and enlarg'd As how often is it that God suffers our faith to be weakened that our fear may be awakened Ps 55.5.6 Ps 42.1 2 3. 2 Cor 12.7 Stimulus in carne He abates the fervor of enlarg'd devotions to
God my Jesus be gone from me yet will I mourn after him if happily I may find him whom my soul loveth O return return my joy my Jesus For till thou dost return I shall lie down in sorrow without thee my soul refuseth to be comforted The Grounds of Comfort 1. As thy distress is not without a promise thy misery without a Redeemer so nor is thy state and condition without many presidents even a cloud of witnesses whose sad experience will give full testimony to this certain truth Ps 55.5 That God oftentimes not only withholds the comforts of his good Spirit but also afflicts with the terror of our own hearts That oftentimes he hides the grace of the Gospel and discovers the rigor of the Law Ps 88.14 15.16 revealing guilt and concealing mercy yea oftentimes he rebukes the heart with secret checks of conscience and convictions of Spirit so that in the sad apprehension of sin and guilt death and hell the soul languisheth with frights and fears with horror and amazements Yet further he oftentimes renews the charge of former sins in the Court of Conscience making a man to possess the iniquities of his youth Job 13.26 and by his Spirit writing such bitter things against him that the soul is struck with the deep impressions of dread and horror in the apprehension of Gods shutting the gate of mercy and peace Ps 77.7 8 9. his refusing to be intreated or to hearken to any terms of reconciliation so that no holy duties or sacred ordinances for a time either administer comfort or discover love That this is the sad experience of the most eminent Saints the Book of Job and Psalms of David will sufficiently testifie And yet withall this testimony too they give of God and of Christ that he lifteth up those that are cast down Ps 37 24 42.11 147.7 8. 148.3 he healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds yea he gives liberty to the Captive health to the sick life to the dead and the divinest comforts to the most dejected souls so that they rejoice in his salvation and exult in his praises 2. This the condition of our present estate to be freed from the discomforts of afflictions as from the power of sin but in part Our graces are imperfect and therefore needs must our peace Our life 's a pilgrimage 1 Pet. 2.11 2 Cor. 10.4 a warfare and so hardship travel danger distress yea conflicts and wounds they are proper to our condition and therefore we may not think them strange but expect them with resolution bear them with patience and pass them through with constancie The day that hath no night no cloud the joy that hath no mourning no grief the crown that hath no cross no care is reserv'd for heaven not found on earth peculiar it is to the state of blessedness and eternity So that I cannot but question the uprightness of that mans heart who never question'd the goodness of his estate I cannot but doubt that mans assurance who never doubted and fear those comforts which were never discomforted There is certainly a woe to that peace which Satan does not sometimes disquiet True it is God could send forth his Saints as the Sun in its course to attract the eyes of all Beholders and make them in their splendor of graces ouâ—vie Solomon in his lustre of glory But this God hath not thought so agreeable to his wisdom in his dispensations to his Church and chosen 1 Cor. 1. â—3 14 c. he will rather have the Saints excellencie cloth'd with humane frailty and their inward worth vail'd with outward contempt Yea their life is so hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 that themselves oftentimes feel not the quickenings discover not the actings of their own graces for that a cloud of secret trouble darkens the light of all their comforts Doubtless had Adam continued in his primitive integrity God would have communicated himself to man not only by faith and reason but also by sense and external manifestation But now he conveys spiritual things in a spiritual manner We walk by faith and not by sight As is the manifestation of the Divine presence 2 Cor. 5 7 1 Cor. 13 9. such is our participation of Divine comforts all in part and imperfect 3. Though thy comforts are fled from thee yet the God of thy comforts abides with thee though thou wantest Christ in that blest Communion of joy and peace yet thou hast not lost him in that best communion of grace and life Spiritual joy though a sweet flower of Paradise yet a fading flower though a spiritual yet a temporal blessing a separable adjunct of grace and so not of the necessary being but of the happy well-being of a Christian a partial reward rather then a particular vertue Let this then be a firm ground of solid comfort That though thy light of Joy be extinguisht yet thy seeds of Grace are preserv'd thy heart hath its holy affections though emptied of its divine consolations For tell me who is' t that supports thy soul but the same God who conceals his love Does he not incline thine heart to fear and faithful obedience Ps 23 3 4. Isa 2â— 8 even when now he withdraws himself from thy soul in the light and comforts of his countenance And if so what thou dost possess is far more precious then what thou hast lost Communion w th Christ in the sanctifying influence is more excellent then communion with him in the comforting light of his Spirit Besides having the fountain thou wilt not be long without the streams having Christ the fulness of comforts thy soul shall not long remain discomforted God will lighten thy candle uncloud thy sun restore thy comforts Ps 7 120 21. This is Davids confidence Thou Lord which hast shewed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken me again and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth thou shalt increase my g eatness and comfort â—e on every side Hear Gods profession and promise Isa 57.15 Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones And how revive them why by healing them with his grace leading them with his councels and restoring comforts to them See then the mercy is thine the promise is thine only thou must know and acknowledge the time of dispensing the season of performing is Gods who orders all things in number weight and measure 4. Those rebukes of the Spirit which so much torture thy conscience and that hiding his face which so much sads thy heart is all from a fatherly tenderness of care and love not from an avenging severity of justice and wrath God deals with the soul as David
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
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
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
2 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Doctrine and Instruction secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Argument and Conviction thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction and Reformation For Doctrine and Instruction in what concerns God and Christ Creation and Redemption Sin and Grace Death and Life Mercy and Blessedness For Argument and Conviction in discovering and refuting Errors in discerning and confirming Truth For Correction and Reformation in what concerns minde and manners the inward and the outward man in thoughts in words and in works And of these three does consist the Apostles perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Form of Institution in Righteousness That the Man of God even the Preacher of the Gospel may be perfect yea thorowly furnished unto all good works especially that of his Ministry And needs must the Scriptures be abundantly sufficient for the people if such for the Preacher Acts 20.27 whose office it is to declare unto them the whole Councel of God 2. It s sacred Authority this especially for the proving deciding and determining all Controversies in Doctrines of Faith And therefore to the Law and to the Testimony is the challenge of the Prophet Isa 8.20 from the command of God and they Who speak not according to this Word have no Light of truth and righteousness in them From this full sufficiency and self authority it is That the Word of God is the Canon and Rule of Faith The Canon I say and Rule for seeing we are commanded to prove the doctrines 1 John 4.1 whether they be of truth and try the Spirits whether they are of God and seeing it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prove by tryal as the Goldsmith does his Gold by the Touchstone or the Carpenter his work by the Rule if thus prove and try some Touchstone and Rule there must be of tryal and proof Gal. 1.8 and what is this but the Word of God For If any man or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel then that which we the Apostles of the Lord have preached let him be accursed is that dreadful Anathema pronounced by St. Paul And thus the holy Scriptures being the Rule of Faith as a Rule hath its just measure inherent in its self not depending upon the hand of the Artificer so the Scriptures have their infallible truth in themselves not depending upon the judgment of the Church Yet we must know withal that though the Church does not give yet does she declare the authority of the Scriptures and so by â—er testimony with John Baptist points us unto Christ in the infallible truth of his Word 1 Tim. 1.15 Thus that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners we come to hear it because the Church doth so teach us but we believe it because the Scriptures so teach the Church And this is right the Apostles determination against Papist and Sectary both Rom. 10.17 That Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God We are to hear the Church but the Word of God is the object of our Faith and this the Church proposeth to be believed to be believed upon this ground of Faith Dominus dixit the Lord hath said or Christus mandavit Christ hath commanded it This for the inherent attributes of Gods Word full sufficiency and self authority 2. It s transient operations viz. By a divine light and sacred power 1. It s divine Light the Word like the Sun it carries with it that brightness whereby it enlightens and that influence whereby it quickens the inward man As light it discovers the hidden things of darkness the Souls guilt the hearts deceitfulness Satans subtleties sins enormities As light it distinguisheth betwixt good and evil truth and falshood faith and heresie Yea as a light it guides and directs the whole man Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a lanthorn to my paths a lamp unto my feet for the instructing my minde and ordering my affections and a lanthorn to my paths for the leading my judgment and the directing my conversation 2. It s sacred power either governing what is under its command or subduing what is against its dominion First Governing what is under its command Jam. 2.8 Therefore a Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Royal a soveraign a supream Law regulating the affections restraining the lusts conforming each faculty of the Soul to its self Secondly Subduing what is against its dominion Discomfiting Satan in his assaults 2 Cor. 10.4 5. overthrowing sin in its strong holds breaking down the Bulwarks of the flesh and leading into captivity the corruptions of nature Such such the light and power of the Word through the Spirit as convinceth man of sin in himself humbling him in repentance and withal discovering righteousness in Christ by Faith by Faith to believe and in believing to finde rest unto his Soul However then rational discourses rhetorical flourishes Scholastical disputes may please the fancy raise admiration astonish the minde yet in this is the vigor and life of Religion and Faith to quiet the Conscience and give rest to the Soul the sole property and power of Gods Word This the first particular chiefly considerable in our Saviours instruction the object of our Faith the Word of God in which we have whatsoever hath been commanded of Christ to be taught 2. The means of communicating this object and declaring this word the Ministry of the Church by which we are taught whatsoever Christ hath commanded And therefore saith our Saviour expresly to his Disciples and in them Luke 10.16 to the whole Ministry of his Church he that heareth you heareth me And by this St. John gives us to know the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error 1 John 4.6 even by a conformity to the doctrine of Christs Church He who is of God heareth us In which Church Christ hath given some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists Eph. 4.11 14. and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and all to this end to preserve the unity of the Faith Where observe to a confutation of the Popes infallibility on the one hand and the factious Enthusiasm on the other the Apostle does not say as doubtless he would had he been of the Jesuites belief that for the preserving of the one Faith Christ had given one Head and so with some Apostles had ordained St. Peter the chief Apostle and with some Pastors had ordained one Universal Pastor to whom all Doctors and Teachers yea all Nations and Languages should repair for the resolutions of Faith and ultimate determinations of the Truth Again the Apostle does not say as doubtless he would had he been of the factious humor that for the work of the Ministry and perfecting the Saints he had ordained as some Pastors and Doctors so distinct from them some gifted Tradesmen some illuminated Mechanicks Who is it