but God our Lord who is not rigorous to any but righteous to all God sanctifie your afflictions and free you from misery comfort you in Paradise and establish you really with Glory Amen Wednesday Meditations WHen the LORD doth visite vs and not presently free vs out of trouble we must beware and take heed that wee murmure not against God to require or grudge at his chastisements God sometimes suffers his euen to wrestle against desperation and to see no glimering of his mercies sometimes againe hee causeth the hearts of his dearest Children to leape for ioy then making his Maiesty most knowne when it may tend most for the comfort of the Elect Learne wee all to waite the Lords leasure for our deliuerance not to prescribe his time but stay his leasure and willingly waite till he comfort vs againe God forgetteth not to bee gracious though sometimes hee seemeth as though hee would shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure Howsoeuer it pleaseth GOD now and then to humble his Children yet he forsaketh them not for euer What are many nights of afflictions in comparison of the ioyfull morning and sun-shine of the euerlasting mercies and fauours of God These these reioyce our soules and comfort our hearts which are oppressed with sorrow Deutro 8.16 The Lord humbleth his Chosen people and prooueth them that hee may doe them good at their latter end A man may gather more vndoubted assurance of GODS euerlasting fauours towards his soule by inward afflictions then by any outward prosperity in the world Let vs all consider the manner of Gods dealing with his people in the world hee will now and then spoile vs of all our Sences and feeling of his Mercies in Christ yea suffer vs to lie bleeding in our miseries yea scorhed and tormented with the heate of Gods anger for sinne But when our hope rests euen gone then doth our heauenly Father send a gracious raine and a blessed shower to quench the heate of our poore afflicted soules for sinne which shall be as mercy to men in smart and misery Obiect But tell mee this Obiect why seeketh God his seruants in so much misery Ans To make vs all to depend of him onely with faith and patience Answ Secondly to make vs to know and see that wee are nothing of our selues but that all the strength wee haue it is onely in Christ Thirdly to stirre vp our hearts to seeke and pray vnto the Lord more earnestly for helpe and succour Fourthly to make vs esteeme the mercy of God more highly because things easily come by are lightly esteemed but things long in getting costing much trouble and paines are most sett by often therefore doth the Lord deferre his mercy vnto the last gaspe that so it might be the more esteemed Oh waite wee GODS leasure though hee deferre long and seeme to forget vs wee hope Lord for life in the middest of death and say though thou kill vs yet will wee trust in thee although thou deferre thine helpe and comfort for many yeares yet will wee neuer let goe our hold but still hang on thy mercy with our hands of Faith saying thus Lord though thou hast already whipt mee diuers wayes yet will I neuer forget to meete thee with my repentant teares well knowing thou esteemest nothing when Reformation of heart and life is wanting Iudgements come eftsoones from God for our sinnes yet layeth hee no more crosses vpon vs then hee in mercy will make vs well able to beare granting such an issue as wee shall gaine more in the Spirit then wee shall loose in the flesh Content your selfe my Brethren the Crosse in GODS due time shall bee your aduantage and leaue a sure blessing behinde it GOD imposing no punishments vpon vs but for our sinnes the tryall of our Faith Patience c. For our Heauenly Father doth afflict vs with light affliction to make vs runne vnto him and kisse his rod he afflicting vs for our good the reformation of our liues and the saluation of our soules I deny not but the best of Gods children may be afflicted with sicknes and wounds with troubled Consciences Gods rod being good both to purge our corrupt and cankered hearts and for the humbling of them throughly to the exercise of faith patience and prayer Hee knowes little that knowes not this how the poore Members of CHRIST must bee afflicted and liue in sorrow sicknesse and griefe of minde yet granteth the Lord patience to endure all By teares sorrowes and grieuous sicknesse doth God fyle away the cankered rust of our Rebellions that wee might bee more feruent in Prayer hunger more after Heauen and the more eagerly depend of his fatherly goodnesse and diuine graces When wee doe aske one thing hee giueth vs another that 's better for vs that wee might learne wholy to depend of his goodnesse all the dayes of our liues Are you in distresse fling your selfe into the blessed Armes of the LORDS mercy so will hee vndoubtedly giue you euerlasting rest vnto your soules such is the loue of GOD that hee neuer failes nor forsakes his Children Neuer despaire for any troubles but perswade your soule this that the God of peace will shortly treade downe Sathan vnder your feete hee is faithfull that haue made vs this promise Rom. 16.20 Rom. 16.20 Affliction being our portion on earth wee must labour to get faith and patience in our soules that so wee may hold out vnto the end As wee are Gods Children we finde no promise in the Word of God to be freed from temptations and trials pouerty sicknesse c. Howbeit as wee are Gods Children wee haue this promise that these things shall neuer hurt vs because the Lord will so sanctifie them vnto vs as they will surely leaue a blessing behinde them In time of danger and death nought in the world should more comfort vs then this to remember that wee haue walked before GOD in truth and with an vpright heart Esay 28.3 This cheered Ezechiah when hee was going the way of all flesh that hee had vndertaken much paines to know the LORDS Will. The best Christian is the most couetous in all heauenly knowledge of God and our saluation by Iesus Christ the Childe of God is no sooner in perill but the Lord putteth vnder his owne hand to deliuer him from death and danger Forget not God who sayth Esay 54.17.8 For a little time haue I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee Psal 34.17 18. Psal 34.17.18 The Lord is neere vnto all those that are of a contrite heart and will saue such as are afflicted in spirit Doth not our Sauiour comfort his Disciples thus Iohn 14.18 I will not leaue you comfortlesse but I will come vnto you euen I and I am with you to the end of the world Doubt not but there is comming a time of refreshing that will breake out as the rising of the Sunne and the bright beames of the Morning
leaue his father and mother house and home Country and friends and to seeke for seruices in the world abroad Remember still Gods spye your conscience in your bosome see you and we are his secret intelligencer our conscience that wil be vndoubtedly most true and faithfull vnto God and intelligencer against Achitophell Haman Shebnah and others yea against thine owne selfe if thy soule bee vnsanctified you must hunger after Heauen ere it will be had Our heauenly Fathers correcting still whom he loueth and liketh teacheth vs not to dispayre of his fatherly fauours and friendly affections but rather that hee nurtureth vs for our Saluation fining vs as the Siluer and choosing vs in the fire as the purest gold Mark Christs dealing with his chosen members by conuincing their faultes when hee chastneth vs to breake vs of our euill wayes and thereby he bringeth vs to reformation correcting all of vs according to the quality of our offence The hardlier wee are broken from our sinnes the heauier iudgements will he lay on vs to work our deeper humiliation and repentance Feares shal make vs to vnderstand that which exhortations and gentlenesse could not bring vs vnto VVe must be first humbled ere we can be aduanced and haue fainting soules on earth before we can feele the high Holy and helping hand of GOD from on high to stay and heaue vs out of our distresses Relye wee still on God and he will not forsake vs in our daungers But giue vs still such pledges of his neuer failing mercies as may assure our hearts of greater in Heauen where more ioyes are prepared then we can either aske or once thinke of It is well that you thinke sin to be the ground of your afflictions and your offences the cause of Gods displeasure wherfore he sendeth crosses and curses vpon sinners Consider wee first how wee haue falne by wantonnesse of life and vngodly conuersation our neglecting Gods word and will hath brought the cup of Gods indignation vppon vs to reclaime our feete from folly and our soules from sinne Not to acknowledge our selues to haue deserued Gods iudgements because we yet feele them not is Pride of heart and a state most perillous vntill we be humbled God therefore pulled Dauid down though hee were a chosen Vessell when he saw him walke awry God corrects vs to reforme vs making his iudgements as messengers to recall vs from sinne before he enter into iudgement with vs. Beware of grudging at thy crosses or afflictions for our Heauenly father vseth them to amend vs beeing vnwilling the death of any sinner VVee hauing all sinned stand in neede of this Physicke of correction to reclaime vs from straying from our heauenly fathers dwelling beware of being ashamed of our fathers visitation neyther loue we the pleasures of this VVorld more then the ioyes of heauen Be we neuer ashamed of GODS rod for Dauid confesseth and sayth thy Rod thy Staffe doth comfort mee Psalme 23. the rod to correct when I am out of the way and the staffe to comfort and vphold me when I am in the way But intertain we his correction as a benefit and blessing sent from on high profitable for our soules and no way hurtfull to our hearts and still more and more fit you for the company of Gods Children The more sorrowful and sicke you are the more like you are vnto our elder brother Christ Iesus who finished our Redemption through the Crosse and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through tribulations VVhich way whosoeuer is a shamed to follow can neither come to his Kingdome nor set foot in the pallace of Gods most ioyful inheritance If you are now wounded without in your body be carefull to see to the soares of your soules I feare not but that the seedes of Faith lyes still in your heart although the fruite thereof doe not yet plainely appeare I doe perswade my heart that though your eyes waxe dimme yet the Holy Ghost will still giue vnto you the true illumination of your heart soule and seuerall sences If our Sonnes and Daughters haue beene deare vnto vs how much more dearely hath Christ our Redeemer once bought with his blood both our soules and our bodies I beseech you hold it a ioy to dye and to bee out of this sinfull World and to bee deliuered from the thraldome of this sorrowfull life Death is our refuge the helpe of our soules to Heauen there wee liue eternally where is no paine but all pleasure no sorrow but solace no sighing but singing no feare of death but assurance of euerlasting Life It is good for your children to bee afflicted that they may not stray from Gods house but keepe his Word and to learne and obserue his Diuine statutes Though we haue beene long chastned of the Lord but it is that wee should not bee condemned of the Lord. Gods punishing vs doeth with-hold vs from Hell stirring vs daily and earnestly to desire to be dissolued and to bee with Christ our Sauiour in glory Consider I beseech you that when the earthly House of this Tabernacle shal be dissolued we haue a building of GOD an house not made with hands but eternall in the Heauens which who so inheriteth shal be eternally saued I intreate and aduise euery one to be more carefull of their soules then of their bodies still comforting their hearts in their afflictions knowing that the sender thereof is God and the causer thereof our sinnes the longer we be and languish in sinne the more appeareth Gods loue in our sicknes for the which thinke God to bee the sender and likewise our deliuerer in danger and aduersity As the Husband-man doth not put the sickle into the Corne vntill it bee ripe So doeth not God inflict his grieuous iudgements vpon vs vntill our sinnes doe call downe vengeance for the same Art thou desirous to auoide contagious diseases see thou feare more thy sinne then the infected Citty Canst thou remoue thy transgressions from the face of the Lord The Citties contagion shall not hurt thee but if our sinnes remayne vnrepented all the wholesome ayre in all the Countrey cannot helpe thee or comfort thee In this world we can see but Gods backe-parts as Moses did that is but a little of the fauour of God but after this Life is ended we shall see God face to face hauing the ful fruition of him as we therfore wish the saluation of our soules let vs all beware of security or to deferre our repentance least we be cast into Hell fire hauing no lease of our vncertayne liues Labour we all to haue the Candle of Faith burne in the Lampes of our hearts still nourished with the oyle of loue and good workes It may not a little comfort vs in the time of our afflictions and troubles that our heauenly Father hath shewed such loue vnto vs that we should be called the sons and Daughters of God O what a comfort it is to my heart and soule
Thy Seruant Esdras hath told vs of an eternall Paradise whose fruit remaineth incorruptible wherein is safety and health if wee will enter into it verse 53. Draw wee neere therefore vnto the Lord for an Inheritance because wee walke in great pride in these latter dayes of this world therefore doe many miseries meete vs and sundry calamities ouertake vs But the wise must with-hold sorrowes in themselues to allow Gods purpose and receiue his Corrections in patience if they looke to bee commended of him and allowed by him Be of good comfort O Israel and bee thou not heauy-hearted O thou house of Iacob 2. Esdras 12.46 For the most High hath you in remembrance and the Almighty hath not forgotten you in temptation 1.12.47 Neither will hee leaue Syon desolate but still mercifully remembreth the low estate of his distressed Sanctuary The Lord giueth vs all good things so doth hee enable vs when hee will and as hee will Remember wee therefore his Commandements neither let wee them at any time bee put out of our mindes but feare wee the Lord as wee flee from each sinne still doing the things which are acceptable to the Lord our God As the Lord doth scourge so doth he pitty hee leadeth to Hell and bringeth vp neither is there any that can auoide his hand Our Heauenly father scourgeth vs for our iniquities but againe gathers vs out of all Nations amongst whom wee shall bee scattered Waite yee for Saluation from God call vpon him to helpe you and hee will heare your voice if it please him God hath not tryed you as hee did the Patriarkes to the examination of your very hearts neither doth hee take vengeance on you but punisheth you for Instruction to bring you nearer to himselfe God seeing vs to bee vnruly Children doth therefore swing vs that wee may bee come quiet and goe from vnder his fingers as tame Lambes seeking for no other rest or peace then is found in Iesus Christ Know you not this that hee which offereth the most blowes is Crowned Whither should we resort but vnto the Lord in the times of our dangers and there cry most earnestly death being still before vs in our owne sight humble wee our bodies with fasting and desire the Lord to helpe vs being desolate Praise God in your misery and magnifie him for his mercy the soules of the righteous are in the hands of God where no torment can touch them the departure from vs may seeme as it were destruction howbeit they were in peace What though you now suffer paines before men yet is your hope full of immortality although you bee preuented with Death yet shall you be in rest God taketh away his least wickednesse should beguile the minde It is a matter of endlesse comfort to the poore members of Christ to see how vppon earth none are more ful of wofull paines in body and soules then Gods children who so full of soares as Iob Lazarus euen from the top to the toe Some are maimed in their bodies Iob 5. The Poole called Bethesda with her fiue porches was filled with multitudes of sicke folke blind halte and withered wayting for the moouing of the Waters after the Angels stirring whereof whosoeuer first stepped in was made whole whatsoeuer disease hee did languish of It is a comfort very cordiall to all Gods children to remember their former miseries now turned into felicity ioy and happinesse what though you rest poore yet may you possesse a Kingdome Are you here hungry and thirsty you shall assuredly taste of the Tree of Life Are you now wretched and naked you shal bee cloathed with the Roabes of Christs Righteousnesse and in the stead of the rags of infamy and Reproach on earth you shall bee crowned with the Dyadem of immortall glory in the highest heauens Be not sad eyther for the sickenes of your selfe or your friends for you cannot perish neyther shal you be cast away for your soules shall be presently in ioy and your bodies buried in the Graue as in a Bed of Doune to take a sweete sleepe till the day of Iudgement and then you shall rise to glory And according to your Religion Faith and good deedes in feeding and cloathing Christ Iesus in his members he will pitty you in mercy and now prouide comfort for you in the time of your Troubles Assure your heart and perswade your owne soule that Christ Iesus resteth the most true and absolute Sheepheard who feedeth his sheepe with most wholesome pasture not suffering vs to Rot vpon earth but assuring our soules to sing with Angels in Heauen We must not forget in the middest of our miseries that Christ our Redeemer was wounded for our transgressions broken for our iniquities the chastisment of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed Esay 53.5 Wee are saued by comming vnto God by Christ Heb. 7. he euerliuing that maketh intercession for vs. Hebr. 7 And by none other name can wee be saued Acts 4. Acts 4. Remember and forget not how wee are made partakers of Christ and his benefits euen by beeing of an humble spirit by Faith apprehending and applying Iesus Christ with all his merits vnto our selues Thus are we iustified before God and sanctified for Christs sake and therefore wee must all be content to vndergoe shame disgrace trouble persecution and bonds yea death it selfe for Christ his sake The Remembrance of Christs comming to Iudgement must cheare vp your heauy soules So labour now your heart as you may crye with the Spouse of Christ Come Lord Iesus come quickely Hope wee to liue with Christ in the Church Tryumphant then must wee dye with him in the Church Militant None shall liue with Christ aboue vnlesse they suffer with him here below nor none shall haue their teares wiped from them in Heauen vnlesse they haue first shed them on Earth It is the Lords vsuall dealing after long time of peace to bring some tryals that the Elect and true Christians may be discerned It is knowne to vs all how a Christian mans life rests a war-fare so that there is no dreaming of a Victory before wee fight It is our lot to suffer and our comfort still to stay vpon Christ who will so dispose of vs and our seuerall troubles as they shall leaue a blessing behind them and we shall gayne more in the Spirit then we can loose in the flesh Which GOD grant we may Tuesday Meditations THis rests a Maxime in Religion that God wil haue his owne true Church and Children to be tryed and vndergoe the heate of persecution Wee must learne therefore to be wise and not to thinke our selues out of Gods fauour when wee are tryed nor deeme worse of the Gospell because the Crosse still goeth with it and wicked people still hate it But still let vs all learne to looke at Christ Iesus remembring that we Seruants may not looke for any larger priuiledge then had our Lord and Maister
wicked Faint not in trouble and you shall assuredly finde helpe let mee intreate you to remember that God requireth two things at your hands and of all his Children in the world First that you detest vice secondly that you put your trust in God for your deliuerance which though they appeare not suddenly yet rest they most sure and are all layd vp in store for you I feare not Bee you in neuer so great misery yet is there euer left place for your prayers see therefore that you labour to haue a liuely feeling of that which you desire stedfastly beleeuing to obtaine it Despaire not of Gods mercies for as great as the World is yet is it fraught with the signes of his fauour his mercies remoouing sinnes as the blast of windes doe the dust You haue nothing in your selfe to mooue God to mercy but onely the Confession of your infirmities and misery and though you be naturally flow to praise God yet stirre vp your selues to the performance of all the seuerall duties of godlinesse Bee not carefull for those you leaue behinde you for God which prouideth for bruite beasts will much more extend his prouident care vnto the Children of his sonnes and seruants there being no part of the world so barren but that most euident signes of Gods blessings appeare therein God prouideth not onely Hearbs and things necessary for vs but also things to reioyce and comfort our hearts as Wine Oyle and oyntments Doubt â—ou not of GODS prouidence iâ— caring for your Wife and Children knowing that hee prouideth euen for the bruite Beasts he prouideth for all Creatures their dayly food and hee with-drawing his blessings from vs wee all perish As Gods mercifull face giueth strength vnto the earth so doth his seuere countenance burne vp the Mountaines wee sinners doe so infect the world that GOD our heauenly Father cannot so reioyce in his workes as hee would Prayse I pray you for his benefits passed and bee you throughly strengthned and encouraged against all present and future sorrowes whatsoeuer So inestimable is Gods goodnesse that hee would rather change the order of Nature then that his people should not bee deliuered Exo. 14.27 Exodus 14.27 although they were wicked Not any one of Gods Elect but earely or late shall feele Gods helpe in their necessity neyther rests there any afflictions so grieuous out of which God will not deliuer his whereof wee must learne to bee mindefull all the dayes of our life Not once forgetting this that God doth punish and correct vs seldome extreamely but because wee cannot bee brought vnto him by any other meanes When in mans Iudgement there seemeth in sicknesse no recouery but all things are brought to despaire then GOD chiefly sheweth his mighty Power and brings vs by sharpe and heauy rods to call mightily vppon him vntill wee finde mercy and compassion So by healing and helping vs when all secondary Causes and meanes of Physicke fayled vs it causeth vs with praise and glory to confesse Gods benefits yeelding vnto him the sacrifices of our owne soules When Humane artes faile then doth Gods prouidence preserue and bring vnto the Hauen where wee would bee Such loue did GOD beare vnto his Church that hee changed the order of nature for their commodities euen at the Red Sea where the Israelites went through the middest of the Sea vpon the drye Land The water being a Wall vnto them on their right hand Exod. 14. and on their left Exod. 14. It is Gods manner sometimes to exalt vs and then agayne to humble vs by afflictions that we may know our selues Know that you belonging to the Lord all things shal turne to your profite trust still fully on the Lord and hee will finally free you from your troubles and sorrows Care not for your outward sorrowes assayling you so the Spirit within comfort you Shew your selfe a faithfull seruant of the Lord God In this your present aduersity still remembring that as the Lord is a a iust God so resteth hee a most mercifull father and when wee are in distresse then is it our time to seeke him and his helpe when wee rest destitute of ayde succour counsell and comfort God hath a care ouer vs disposing of our Death and taking account of our Life yet rests our best payment but thankes laud and prayses for his mercies Refuse you not to be tried with temptations but intreate the Lord so to succour you in time as you faint not through infirmity Know this that with out the maintenance of Gods word our life droppeth away like water Doubt not of Gods power yet of each lawfull meanes and neuer abuse his graces and so shortly you shal be comforted GOD will not suffer such as haue set foorth his glory to groane ouer-long in griefe and to bee ouer-come with misery but with sound Doctrine will comfort our corrupting flesh and languishing desires with the society of Saints and melody of Angels in Heauen Vnderstand this I pray that wee which are not yet punished for our transgressions haue no cause to reioyce at others which are afflicted but rather to feare that the dilation of our punishment wil be more grieuous for though our God doeth come with leaden heeles hee striketh with iron hands recompencing the tardity of his stroake with the grauity of the wound Do not grieue to depart out of the miserable cottage of this World in-into Heauen the Citty of Saints where possessing Christ wee shall enioy all things with him Rom. 8.32 Rom. 8.32 Farwell Riches that are vanity pleasures that are hurtfull and sin which is damnable Come to mee O my God for thou art Truth and thou O Christ my Redeemer with thy merrits and thou Holy Spirit my Guide and Comforter Regard no earthly things for they are of short continuance make the ioyes of Heauen the obiects of your soule which are eternall Desire God eyther mercifully to preuent the plagues or else to grant you patience to sustaine them when they come It was Paules aduantage to haue Agabus Prophesie of his Chaynes that so by his flight hee might eyther defeate the Iewes or by premeditated Resolution lighten or preuent his bonds Although no Repentancs can alter the Almighties decree yet resolued patience may the better endure it the safest shelter in all our afflictions is our faithfull relying vppon Gods assistance And our best improouements of Gods power is by our infirmity No stronger instigation of mercy then our acknowledgement of misery as the priuiledge of greatnesse is to relieue the impotency of distressed supplicants We must labour to gayne by faith and not to loose by infidelity well knowing prosperous issues daily to attend the liuing images of the Deity your faithfull weaknesse becommeth not any disaduantage for glorious tryumphes No Martyre insulted vppon by the furious tyranny of his inraged aduersity but hath faith for his Aduocate naked Truth for his Guardian and the Holy Ghost to keepe him farre from
after a tempestuous Night which of all things will bee then most ioyfull and comfortable When deliuerance shall bee most welcome then will shee breake forth Howsoeuer the hope that is deferred may for a time bee the fainting of the heart yet when the desire commeth it is as a Tree of Life Prouerbs 13.12 The Children of God learne by Aduersitie to come home to their heauenly Fathers house For when neyther preaching nor praying blessings nor threatning will cause them to come then come the Plague and Pestilence Famine and Warre of themselues meere crosses but sanctified by God vnto vs if we make right vse of them wherefore the state of affliction is safer then the estate of prosperity The Philistines could not vnderstand Sampsons Riddle how sweete came out of sower and meate out of the eater No more can the worldly minded vnderstand that tribulation bringeth out patience and momentary afflictions a most excellent waight of eternall glory Crosses for the present it 's true they are not pleasant but afterwards they bring the quiet fruite of Righteousnesse vnto them which are thereby exercised Esay 26.16 Luke 15.18 See Esay 26.16 Psal 1.17 Luke 15.18 Know this all yee people that there is more sollid Ioy in suffering rebuke with Christ our Maister then in all the pleasures of sinne which are but for a season Why doth God oft thus visite our English Nation and as it were the very Citty and Seate of our Soueraigne with the famous Academies of Oxford and Cambridge but to this end that troubles visiting vs wee euen this whole Nation might powre out our prayers whilest his chastening is vpon vs or our brethren as Hager prayed while Ismael cryed The Israelites in time of their prosperity forgat God and all the mighty workes which hee had done for them Psalme 119.71 Therefore suffered he them to wander in the Wildernes Psalm 119 where they found no Citty to dwell in then cryed they vnto the Lord in their troubles and he deliuered them out of their distresses Did the Prodigall sonne euer intend to returne home agayne to his Father till the Famine Pinched him No no it was the Famine that met him and pinching him at the heart made him to resolue to packe home to his Father acknowledge his fault and intreate him for pardon Ionas slept in the ship but he both watched and prayed in the Whale It is good sayth Ieremy Lam. 3.27 Lam 3 27 for a man to beare the yoake in his youth And Dauid acknowledgeth it good for him to be afflicted And our Sauiour Christ telleth vs that our heauenly Fathers manner is to purge euery branch that it may bring foorth more fruite Afflictions are of singular vse to turne vs vnto God Suffer wee them therefore to turne vs and to bring vs home to our Heauenly Fathers house and presence Truely there is nothing better for any of vs all young or old man or Woman then afflictions if God sanctifie them vnto vs and giue vs the true vse of it it will make vs search our hearts and call our liues to account yea compell vs to runne vnto God by earnest and hearty Repentance and prayer denying our selues and relying on the mercies of God in Christ True it is that no Visitation for the present is sweet but afterwards it bringeth the Fruite of Righteousnesse to such as are thereby exercised more sollid ioyes in suffering with Christ then rest in Worldly pleasures that endure but for a season Whatsoeuer befals vs looke wee alwayes to the hands of God and obserue we his angry Countenance towards vs by reason of our sinnes and horrible impieties Labour wee to reforme our faultes and marke we from whose hands our punishments come This obseruation will bee a good meanes to bridle vs and keepe vs from impatience murmuring and muttering agaynst the Lord Thinke this of Gods Iudgements that they come not by chance vnto vs but looke we vnto the hand of GOD Who sayth I draw my sword I kill and make aliue I send the plague and pestilence to consume and to Destroy In all this let vs say with the Psalmist 119.75 I know O Lord that thy Iudgements are right and that thou hast afflicted me iustly laying no more vpon me then thou enablest me to beare The Spirit of GOD teacheth vs wholy to relye depend and waite duely vppon his gracious promise whose Countenance is still towards vs Weigh well what true comfort and happinesse it is vnto a poore distressed soule to heare come thou hither I am thy Saluation It is the manner of me the God of all flesh neuer to strike with my iudgements but first to giue warning so as if men wil be wise to beleeue my Word and amend their liues they may auoyde my Iudgements or going on in Vice and folly be most worthily plagued and punished It is the Lords mercy to admonish before hee correct vs Hee speakes sometimes vnto vs by himselfe and sometimes by Christ Iesus the wisedome of the Father crying and calling vs to heare his voyce and to receiue Instruction vsing fayre meanes to win vs rather then threatnings to fright vs. Let vs all I beseech you be reclaymed by his Word and gentle Voyce before his Wand shewing Wrath and the prepared rod both Wrath and Displeasure Are we weake they are meanes to Repentance and Reconciliation looke wee backe therefore vnto our former Race of yeares crauing his Maiesty to deale mercifully with vs. Let vs take heed that wee accuse not God of any hard dealing but rather accuse the hardnesse of our owne hearts that are so vnwilling to be warned by his Word and Iudgements The Lord doth often humble vs to bring vs home to himselfe by his Word and by his Iudgements yea his mercies the motions of his spirit doth our heauenly Father vse to humble vs. So plagues and iudgments woes and miseries doth the Lord cause to light vpon vs mealting euen away as it were our corruptions in the boyling Caldron of common Calamities God by sicknesse teacheth vs not to trust in our strength for wee are as a staffe in a mans hand except the Lord hold vs vp wee cannot stand but downe wee fall one way or another as Peter had into hell if Christ had not held out his helping hand Wee are all the Lords Seruants hired to labour in his Vineyard and therein to perseuer vnto the very euening of our dayes dedicating vnto him both Cure Soules and Substances Liues and Labours Lay hold betimes of the mercies of God in Christ Iesus and let neyther sorrowes nor sicknesses make vs to shrinke from him Afflictions are of excellent vse to turne vs vnto God both the Church of God in generall and the seruants of God in particuler When they do not profitably vse prosperity nor behaue them selues thankefully in the day of peace they must bee touched with Crosses and Troubles sicknesses and sorrowes which will cause vs all to call our
euill wayes to remembrance and turne our feete to Gods Testimonies It is the Promise of God 2. Samu. 7.14.15 To Dauid and his Posterity 2. Sam. 7.14.15 that hee will be his Father and the Father of his Seede and sinning he will chasten vs with the rod of men and with the plagues of the Children of men That is gently as Fathers chastise their Children but neuer take his mercies from vs. Why are wee often scourged of our heauenly Father but because we are frozen in the dregs of corruptions wee spend our dayes in carelesse security without an holy feare of his Name Therefore commeth his holy hand to change our estates to awaken vs from wickednesse to chasten vs with his rods and to purge vs with fire Turne wee our hearts towards our heauenly home cease wee neuer vntill wee get fast hold of his most holy hand that can powerfully draw vs thorough Hell to Heauen It is Gods fauour to call vs from Hell by afflictions and thereby to breake in vs the power of sinne and to let out such corrupt blood as else would much hinder the thriuing of the best graces of our most mercifull Father more soules and this is oftentimes one cause why wee are eftsoones held long in the Cabin of Care and bedd of Afflictions and woes by reason that through wilfull wantonnesse wee abuse our strength and to the great dishonour of God and ruine of our soules Did not the sufferings of our Sauiour shield vs from damnation Seeke yee euer to bee bettered in Obedience reformed in the whole man humbled vnder Gods hands examining your hearts what sinnefull actions haue passed from you that the Lord should thus strike and visite you After sight of your sinnes bee sorrowfull in soule and humbled in heart marking well what God doth still aime at Not by sorrowfull sicknesse to destroy you or to confound you but to enforce you to call your owne soule to sigh and your very heart so to see your owne sinnes as in a sanctified course you may come home to your selfe and say from your soule this surely resteth the correcting hand of God which now striketh me for my sinnes I will now therefore returne vnto my heauenly Father by true repentance for hee that now striketh mee will both heale mee and helpe mee or perceiuing of Gods anger and feeling of his Iudgements vpon vs should cause vs to sigh and sobbe and goe softly yea to seeke the Lord earely who in Iudgement remembreth Mercy and howsoeuer God whip and scourge vs that are his Children yet his mercies will he neuer take from vs. Be you sure that God humbleth you no otherwise in the world then hee handled his onely Sonne who hath begun to drinke to you this bitter potion not onely assaying it but drinking to you a full draught It 's not onely a comfort but a glory to bee partner and fellow-sufferer with CHRIST who delighteth to see in vs some representation of himselfe Wee are no members of Christ if wee participate not with him of the persecutions and iniuries of this life Our heauenly Father will neuer hold backe his mercies from those whom our Sauiour entreateth mercies wee can not bee ouercharged who are charged with Christ who from euery crosse hath now taken away both the Infamy and the Curse and hath made it a Tribunall and a Throne of Iudgement for for all the World Christ hath now made the action of bearing the Crosse both inblameable and honourable Are you afflicted in Conscience get you vnto Christ that good Samaritane who will powre Wine and Oyle into our wounds Christ suffered all had all against him for vs and will wee contentedly suffer nothing for him did euer any trust in God and was not deliuered Or did God euer finally forsake those whom hee fauoured Or is deliuerance from temporall calamities an assured signe of Gods fauors Surely no for the Iudgements of God are both secret and vnsearchable nothing making vs miserable or happy but that which is eternall Cry wee therefore Lord so sanctifie our griefes as thou communicate therewith thy Graces vnto vs. Let euery calamity and crosse admonish vs of our Disobedience that first brought into this world sicknesses and sorrowes molestations and miseries diseases and death O let vs be glad to suffer troubles and trauels in this world esteeming our whole time of life as the forty yeares trauell into the Land of promise or as the sixe dayes of labour which goe before the Sabbath of rest O Lord we are all but as Lamps of Clay and as vnpolished peeces of Wood yet doe wee humbly present our selues vnto thee make of vs what it pleaseth thee Wee offer our selues wholy vnto thee desiring to depend altogether vppon thee This World Iere. 30.7 is a time of Iacobs trauell yet shall hee be defrom it The Lord of Hostes will breake the enemies yoake from off his owne peoples necke so that Strangers shal no more serue thēselues of Iacob This is the comfort of Gods people that howsoeuer God punisheth yet it is to saue them though hee correcteth vs by his Iudgements yet wil he not vtterly cut vs off in his anger If our bruisings were incurable then were our wounds dolourous if no Plaister or Medicine could helpe vs then were our case most desperate But wee haue a Sauiour and most kinde Samaritane restoring our soules both from death and danger yet as the Iron must bee well heated in the fire ere it can be wrought with the Hammer and driuen out on the Anvile So may wee not passe to the Pallace of Paradise till first wee suffer many stroakes of holy temptations and passe thorough the fire of piercing tryals The holy Saints and blessed Martyrs haue thus passed through this world of woe and come to the Crowne of glory God is eftsoones sending troubles and afflictions to such as hee best loueth because they should not busie their thoughts with worldly occasions but still be labouring and hasting on their Iourney towards Heauen It is the wisedome of God to deale roughly with his chosen Children making their liues both painefull and labourious to them to cause them to make the more haste to finish their Iourney without loytering in the shadow of this world and so to loose the day-light and goe on stumbling in the darke Nothing is more honourable for any Knight or Souldier then to beare the Armes of his King and Captaine neyther to any true Christian then for to suffer trauell and persecution as his forgiuer and keeper Iesus Christ hath done Learne wee all to wade thorough calamities after our Captaine looking for that Day which may enrich vs with eternall happinesse I beseech you make benefit of your present tribulation Gods people must remember that it is safer sayling through the bitter stormy seas of afflictions then dancing at pleasure vppon the calme streames of Vanities But who flyes from Prosperity as from the Pestilence Or thinke themselues safest when
it is farthest from them Our way to Heauen is not by prosperity or high lookes treading on our Neighbours neckes and contemning of the poore but through persecutions and crosses reuilings scoffings and all ignominies of the world which patiently wee must indure and suffer for our Sauiours sake Shall the Estrich digest hard Iron to preserue her health The Souldier indure hardnesse to achieue the Conquest the sicke Patient swallow bitter pils to be eased of his griefe and shall we neyther abide soares nor sicknesses stormes nor tempests to get into the place of blisse and Kingdome of Glory As Iacob thought his seauen yeares seruice short for the great Loue that he bare to Rachell So should all the tribulations of this World for the Kingdome of Heauen The Lord will surely saue the soules of his Seruants that put their trust in him Psal 86.2 and call dayly vpon him Hee would not bid vs call and cry vnto him vnlesse hee ment to ponder our humble desires let vs truely worship him on earth and he will surely glorifie vs in Heauen If wee but once heartily desire to walke in the truth God will so knit our hearts vnto him that we shall surely finde deliuerance from the nethermost Hell God wil not finally faile to strengthen his Seruants to shew some token vpon you for good so as you shall bee both holpen and comforted Psal 86. Though the Lord our God sometimes turnes his face from vs yet will hee at last satisfie vs with his mercies and being his seruants shew vs his glory Psal 90.16 Yea Psal 90.16 the glorious Maiesty of the Lord our God shall be vpon vs verse 17. O perswade your selfe to be vnder the defence of the Lord and to abide vnder the shaddow of the Almighty so shall you be safe vnder the Wings of God his faithfulnesse and Trueth shal be your shielde and buckler So high hath God set an house of defence for all his Children Psa 91.15 as hee will deliuer them from horrour and bring them to honour Psalme 91.15 Oh happy and thrice happy are you when for the voice of your groaning your very bones will scarse cleaue to your skinne and when you doe now and then mingle your drinke with Weeping and washing your bed with brinish teares wayling for your sinnes neuer thinke but that God which hath cast you downe will vndoubtedly take you vp Ps 101.10 Psalme 102.10 What though your Spirit bee vexed within you and that your heart within you be desolate and gasping yet lift your soules to God flye vnto him to hide you so shall he lead you into the Land of Righteousnes keepe you from trouble and guide you into the Celestiall chamber of Presence where as no enemies shall vexe you because you are his Seruants O the mercies of our most gracious God and Heauenly father who whilest in Iustice hee might consume you for sinne Hee sanctifieth vnto you your present visitation that your flesh being wounded with feare you might possesse your soules by dreading the mighty power of God and escape his Wrath neyther strucken with terrour nor once tasting his iudgements Looke you neuer Despaire because God which smiteth healeth Hosea 6. Hosea 6. And tendereth his pardon before that wee perish Ionas 3. Desire wee should still to haue our Heauenly Father to correct vs in mercies to amendment but not to plague vs to our destruction Iudith 8. Iob. Iob. 11. 11. Wis 11. You cannot call faithfully vppon God but he helpeth Nor trust truly in him and be confounded Iob 5. The Lord bringeth backe from the gates of Death and restoreth the sicke to their former health yet vse wee must the Physition and medicinable potions for the procuring and maintayning of our health As King Hezekiah being sicke he prayed and wept vsing these meanes to pacifie Gods anger And though GOD could haue healed Hezekiah without meanes yet God directed his Prophet to apply a playster of Figges to his soare to ripen and heale it Thus are wee taught how to behaue our selues in times of our sickenesse First to pray to our heauenly Father for health and that with troubled teares and penitentiall cryes And then to vse profitable meanes and not to neglect them If at any time men thinke to prepare themselues to dye especially when they are in the greatest dangers sicke and in the way to the Graue and so to iudgement now see you haue a charitable heart towards all men Dauid was carelesse in Gods seruice before he was afflicted Psalme 119. Ieremiah neuer thinketh it too soone to suffer the Crosse Luke 9.23 Our Sauiour sayth that we must take vp the Crosse dayly although nothing did better befit vs then afflictions There is nothing better then it so God doeth vouchsafe to sanctifie it vnto you and giue you the true vse of it For it will make you search your heart and call your former Life to account sicknesse humbleth makes you see your weakenesse compels you to runne to God by most earnest and hearty prayer Inforceth you to deny your selfe and to put your trust and confidence in GODS mercies through the merits of Iesus Christ The Lords bringing any calamities vppon vs or vpon our family is to seeke him early that hee may remooue his Iudgements from vs the sooner All chastisements and afflictions yea all Iudgements and corrections come from the Lord alone hee sendeth them he imposeth them and layes them on vs he moderates them at his pleasure his quiuer rests full of such Arrowes to hit hurt and consume vs or in his Fatherly kindnesse to correct and better vs in our courses Remember wee euer that Sathan who could not enter into the heard of Swine without Christs leaue he hath his power bounded and limitted by God so as he cannot eyther touch vs or torment any of Gods people without his leaue and permission Gods prouidence being ouer the Sparowes in the Field and haires of our head will neuer neglect the Saluation of our Soules being a matter of much more weighty worth and moment This being cleare that all our Afflictions come from God vnto vs we must needes learne patience vnder the crosse knowing that the times thereof are still determined by God and how they will leaue a blessing behind them giuing vs farre more in spirit then we loose in the flesh Assoone as wee are afflicted by the hands of God we should presently labour to haue our Soules and Consciences disburdened of sinne Yea we should learne to bee bettered by our afflictions confesse our sinnes and bewaile them with teares and not with Pharaoh to harden our hearts but to Remember with Trembling that the Righteous themselues shall scarcely be saued We may not measure Gods fauour towards vs by our outward blessings or crosses Eccle. 9.2 All things come a like to all to the Iust as to the wicked Nay afflictions are tokens of the Lords loue the Childe is corrected the seruant cashiered
perceiue his Election and Saluation The saying is as true as ancient We must goe by the gates of Hell to Heauen we must after a sort be in Hell before euer we can be capable of Heauen aboue That is in the Hell of an ashamed countenance and a confounded conscience before euer the Lord will say vnto our soules that he is our Saluation and Redemption Our humiliation by the Law must first preceed the saluation of the Gospell so then they are not conuerted that more or lesse are neuer humbled To be troubled and amazed for our sinnes is to be fitted for Heauen and first we must be lost ere we can be found and must be condemned before wee can be reprieued or saued We must be ashamed of our sinnes affrighted at our follies and confounded in our consciences before the Lord wil once say to our soules I am thy Redemption Are you amazed at your sins be not disparaged so farre you are in this your Hell from Hell as you are composed thereby and made fitter for Heauen which is the throne of the Euer-liuing Lord GOD. Againe we must labour to haue the spirit of Bondage become the Spirit of Adoption to our soules and we must acknowledge our seuerall diseases before Christ will heale vs. As euery one can rest content to haue Cstrist our Iesus so must we rest content to haue him our Lord and be conformable vnto him in bearing the Crosse if euer we meane or looke to be glorified with him in Heauen We must needs feele our sicknesse ere wee befit for Righteousnesse soule afflictions must not fright you from Almighty God but make you rather runne vnto him for defence as the Chickens do from the Kite to their Hen 2 Cor. 12.17 18. The more you trust in God the sooner will he support you and the more earnestly you cry and craue for iustice the sweeter will be your end and the more ioyfull your deliuerance Forget not to be thankfull for the least measure of Faith and Grace wel knowing that the want of these soone worketh mans ouer-throw Vnderstand I beseech you that though Death be the deliuerer of euery faithfull man and woman from the body and prison of sinne to Eternall Felicity Our Sauiour by his Death and Passion hauing killed the sting of death in vs and a though Paul once rauished with an high Contemplation Wished to be dissolued and to be with Christ. Philip. 1.23 Yet haue we no warrant euery man to pray for the hasting of his owne death being to euery Faithfull particular man the same thing that the generall transmutation wil be at the latter day to the whole body of the iust and Elect except that the Elect after the generall dissolution attayne to a greater degree of Glory Christ came not to Call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance To seeke the lost Sheepe to finde the lost Greate and reclayme the lost Sonne or meet with the lost treasure Submit your desires to GODS will and leaue your indeauours with patience to be ordered by the Lords prouidence earnestly desiring preseruation from Death you patiently submitting your selfe vnto GODS pleasure eyther for Life or Death For the best and surest way to finde Fauour in the Eyes of the LORD Almighty is to desire him to doe with vs what hee seemeth or thinketh good for referring our selues to his Diuine prouidence hee will euer deale most graciously and louingly with vs. God is our GOD willing to shew vs grace and mercy he will turne to vs and be fauourable 〈◊〉 he takes away our manifold iniquities and cast our sinnes in the depth of the Sea Agayne Psalme 103.8.9.10 The Lord is full of Compassion and mercy long suffering and of great goodnes He will not be alwayes chiding neyther keepeth he his anger for euer He hath not dealt with vs after our sins nor rewards according to our iniquities But looke how high the Heauen is in comparison of the Earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him Looke how wide also the East is from the West so farre hath he set our sinnes from vs. Yea like as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so is the Lord pittifull to them that feare him For he knoweth whereof we be made hee remembreth that we are but dust Psal 145.8 Ioel. 2.13 Mat. 26.11 2. Cor. 1.3 Ephe 2.4 2 Tim. 1.13 Of the great mercies of God towards vs sinners read at your leasure Psalme 145.8.9.147.8.10 and in Ioel 2.13 Math. 26.11 2 Cor. 1.3 Ephes 2.4 1 Tim. 1.13 vnto 18. verse All these places yeelde words of rare comfort pronounced by the Eternall Verity it selfe and therefore not to be mistrusted or dispayred of Let vs not abuse GODS mercies making them a cloake to couer our sinnes presume we not saying Eccles 5.6 Eccle. 5.6 The mercie of our God is great he will forgiue my manifold sins for mercy and wrath come from him Forget not that golden saying of St. Paule Rom. 8.28 All things worke together for the best to them which feare God Rom. 5.4 Yea the afflictions and troubles of Gods children are so sanctified vnto them by Gods spirit that by the same they are made partakers of Gods holinesse Hebr. 1.12 Heb. 1.12 By the same they inioy the quiet Fruite of Righteousnesse by it likewise they attaine to a greater measure of ioy in the Holy Ghost Agayne Hereby is the world crucified vnto you and you vnto it Rom. 8.8 Hereby are we made conformable to the death of Christ by this are we kept from the condemnation of this World and by the same likewise learn we experience patience Hope c. I beseech you all to ponder weigh and consider how your crosses are mercy your losses gaines your afflictions schooling and each aduersity as a Lesson receiue your Crosses as comming from Christ written both for thy Learning and Comfort manifesting by these tokens that he loueth you meaning thereby to draw you euen into his Bosome hereby we are assured of our heauenly Fathers good will towards vs. We may not in our miseries still looke for Gods but likewise at his ineffable mercie our Parents disobedience in eating the forbidden Fruite did banish them out of the most pleasant place of the World yet shewed GOD his fatherly Kindnesse vnto them before he droue them out for he made them Coates to arme them against all weather More then that hee comforted them with the promise of the blessed Seed Iesus Christ which should restore that Saluation vnto mankinde which they had lost by yeelding to the Serpents intisements Loe here the most louing and Kind dealing of GOD with Man hee will make vs smart a little for our sinnes here is his Iustice but yet so that he will not vtterly forsake vs or giue vs ouer for euer here is louing mercy Auoyde therefore Sathan once I say agayne auoyde cease to suggest or ingest into any mans heart that he should thinke because that God
and mercy shall embrace you on euery side Psal 31.11 Let this true comfort raise you and me vp as wee are the members of Christ that in our deepest misery and afflictions the Lord is able first to free vs from it or else to deliuer out of it There is neither panges nor any one fit in your sicknesse but it is from God the manner of it the measure of it the time of it the matter of it is of God which giueth vs good assurance and affiance that God will be mercifull and gracious vnto vs seeing hee striketh vs that is our Father and in the stroake be it neuer so sharpe he neuer forgets his former compassion but maketh each thing fall out to our future saluation puts our teares in his bottle and most louingly layes his hand vnder our head that aketh Seeke wee therefore to God for health who as hee smiteth mee so hee will heale me and as he wounds mee so likewise he restoreth me God therefore bringeth downe to the graue that he may raise vs vp againe and puts vs in mind of death by Gods Sergeant aresting vs to bring vs before him God of his goodnesse behold your teares hearken vnto your prayers and mercifully remoue your heauy affliction from you It pleaseth the wisedome of God now and then to confound your pride by weaknesse and to free vs from former sinnes by furnishing vs with most delectable seruices of assured sanctification Afflictions change their nature when they befall the man endued with Gods Spirit all things working together for the best for the loue of all such as feare the God and are called according to his purpose Let none of vs so forget the safety of our soules as not euermore still to remember Christ Iesus how he went as willingly to the Desart to be humbled as vnto Iordan to be exalted Thinke not your selfe to be forsaken of God when you are tempted of Sathan for herein you are resembled to the Sonne of God who being baptised was presently tempted by Sathans subtilties Afflictions soften our hearts when we apprehend Gods mercies in them and can receiue them as the wounds of a friend with the melting of our hearts sent in loue vnto vs to better our behauiours Know I beseech thee thou languishing person that the deeper the sence of misery is the sweeter is the sence of mercy It 's the saying of St. Bernard Deus non infundit oleum misericordiae nisi in vas contritum God powres not the oyle of his mercies saue into a broken vessell For indeed whole vessels are full enough and would run ouer if powred into them and so be spilt on the ground The Lord scourgeth vs to make vs more pliable to his holy will an vnhumbled sinner is vnfit for Gods Instruction and like an vnbroken Colte for the Saddle The deeper your discent in humiliation the higher your ascent in consolation Therefore doth now euen rottennesse enter into your bones that hauing a while trembled you may henceforth rest in the day of trouble remembring how after greatest tempests come the stillest calmes sanctified windes making the trees of Gods Garden to take the deeper rooting It is the manner of our heauenly Father to gaine glory to himselfe by working by contraries when he bringeth ioy out of feares light out of darknesse and Heauen out of Hell God wrestled with Iacob and lamed him ere he blessed him Iosephs leggs were laden with irons and bolts in Pharaohs Dungeon ere hee could weare a golden Chaine and haue dominion in Aegypt The wounds that our God giueth are not mortall but medicinable our God is such a Chyrurgeon that he first woundeth but then heales It is Gods accustomed manner to bring first downe to Hell and then vp againe into the bosome of Abraham Feare not to fall into the Lords Dungeon which will rebound you safely into Heauen his Pallace of priuiledge forget not how repenting Ionas was throwne into the Sea and humbled Glut not your selues with any pleasures of this life neither spend your precious time in fleeting vanities keepe rather your best dainties in the vineger of godly sorrow allay your strong wine with water eate your meate as the Iewes did their Passeouer with sower hearbs Imitate godly King Dauid who caused his bed euery night to swim oftentimes watering his Couch with his teares Psal 6.6 Forget not good Bradford that vsually at his dinner shed teares on his trencher art thou sicke and sinfull stand not reasoning with thine owne distrustfull heart but heare what God sayth by Esay 1.18 If you will wash and cleanse your selues by repentance though your sins were as red as Crimson yet then shall they be as white as Snow Oh but my sins passe the sinnes of all others in greatnesse so much the more haste to repent the more dangerous thy disease is the more physicke must thou vse if thy sinnes be so great as thou complainest why meanest thou to make it greater by thy not repenting Repentance makes sin lesse Impenitency is the condemning sinne Remember that Christ is our Physitian and Repentance is his Phisick Math. 9. In death Sathans temptations and our Consciences accusations will be strongest therefore our preparation against them should be more then ordinary We may not once despaire of our heauenly Fathers prouidence but call to minde how louingly the father entertained his sonne after hee had misbehaued himselfe in rude and riotous courses As our heauenly Father is often shewing vs many fauours so now and then he pincheth vs with too too heauy crosses because we should not be ouer-ioyed with any of Gods fauours but prepare for some following after-claps being as content to endure the one as cheerefully to receiue the other with him shall we raigne wee shall hereafter for euer liue with him in glory with whom now wee are in misery if we now take vp our crosse following him with sanctified contentation wee rest then assuredly happy when we beare each affliction with ioy in the Spirit submitting our selues to the yoake of our God then contented with our states then wee weare our chaines and weepe shedding many teares Our sufferings are no arguments of Righteousnesse but our Righteousnesse an ornament vnto our sufferings Are we in troubles lye wee in troubles flye we vnto Christ our Lord and Master for ayde who in mercy will heare vs and deliuer vs by the strength of his mighty power be our state neuer so desperate he can helpe it and we are neuer past helpe so long as we desire to be holpen The greatnesse of our perill can be no stop to our deliuerance because the power of our deliuerance is infinite Tribulations are the way to the kingdome of Heauen through stormy tempests are we brought to the Kingdome of Heauen being the Hauen that all hunger for Be of good courage for al the diuels in hell cannot damne vp the way betweene vs and the Kingdome of Heauen Through the straite way haue all