say but such n 1. Cor. 5.1 iniquitie as is not heard of no not among the Gentiles that one shoulde haue his Fathers wyfe Concerning which facte and reconciliation vppon repentaunce for the same the Apostle saieth els where o 2. Cor. 6.72 It is sufficient for the same man that hee was rebuked of manie so that nowe contrariwise you ought rather to forgiue him and to comfort him leaste the same shoulde be swallowed vppe with ouer much heauinesse wherefore I praye you that you would confirme your loue towardes hym In the holie scriptures or woorde of God we haue infinit store of examples Examples of Gods mercie and bee compassed about on euerie side as it were p Heb. 12.1 with a thick cloude of witnesses which both for their multitude and for their faithfulnesse are greater then al expectation and to whom for theÌ„selues and in whom for others God hath bene pleased plentifullie to declare as the riches of his mercie generallie so particularly that he q Deut. 7.9 2 Chron. 6.5 hath kept faith and trueth with them and will doe so for euer with al those that succeed them in faith and a Iame. 1.17 good conscience that so our hope and harte might relie vppon him alone with whom is no variablenesse neither shall neuer turne Let two verie woorthy and plaine one wherof is in the olde and the other in the newe Testament serue for all s Psal 32.5 Psal 1â— 3.3 Dauid from an vnfeigned heart acknowledgeth it and that more then once that the Lord in the multitude of his mercies forgaue both the punishment of his sinne and all his iniquitie whatsoeuer And Paule with a franke and free mouth openlie confesseth and that others might heare it and beleeue it saith t 1. Timoh 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and woorthy by all meanes to be receiued that Ieâ—us Chrâ—st came into the world to saue â—â—â—ers of whom I am chiefe And if wee respect their persons â—â—ey were men notwithstanding their â—â—â—â—s dearelie beloued of God the one taken t Psal 8 7â— by the Lord from the shâ—pâ—â—â—d and following the ewes with yong to â—eed his people in Iacob the other pulled from persecuting the church to preach to cary the Lords name among the gentilâ—s u Act. 9.15 If we consider the sins that they speak of we shall find them no lesse x 2. Sam â—1 than adulterie murther y 2 Sam 24. pride z â— Tâ—â— 1 1â— blasphemy persecutioÌ„ oppression suâ—dry such like If we regard the souâ—dnes sinceritie of their hearâ—s they speaking deliuering that as withouâ— a mind doubtlesse to deceiue otâ—eâ—s so without partialitie and respect as in regard of themselues and euen as they feâ—t Goâ—s fauour for themselues for others we cannot choose but beleeue it that we haue our part portion in it the rathâ—r because God hath geuen vs thâ—se and 〈◊〉 like holy examples to be as it wer seals set vnto the promises for the more strong establishing of the same in our hearts we perswading our selues that as we may and ought to profit by the presidents of gods a 1. Cor. 10.11 iudgement to work in vs vnfeigned feare reuerence of his maiesty and care of a better course theÌ„ euer we haue practised b Rom. 15.4 so we shal make vse of exaÌ„ples of his mercy to styr vs vp to make in vs a holy feeling of all spirituall coÌ„fort heauenly ioy And that the graces of Gods holy spirite Tâ—e â—â—â—ces of â—ods â—pirit which hee himselfe in Christ hath bin pleased plentifully to bestow vpon vs moâ—e particularly that our c Iude. 20. precious holy fa th together with the sâ—uâ—rall fruâ—ts efâ—â—cts that flow froÌ„ the samâ— shold pledge vnto vs this great fauour of God in the forgiuenes of our siâ—s thorow the death obedience of his sonne it â—s as cleare as the sunne in his glorie and brightnesse and that not onlie becaâ—se if that which is from sinne and from our selues may iustlie discourage vs and beat vs downe then that which proceedeth from God who is d greater than all and e onely good can not choose but being liuely felt and sensiblie perceiued but raise vs vp againe also because the scripture it self in terms that will admit no darke or doubtfull interpretation aduoucheth that God f 2 Cor 8.12 accepteth vs according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not For fayth wee haue amongst others that comfortablâ— promise of holie writte Oâ— Fayth g Habaâ— 2.4 Rom 1.17 The iust shall liue by faâ—th which cannot be vnderstood of life here as well because it speaketh of the tune to come as also because as in respect of breaâ—â— and being in this world the wicked haue â—t as well as the godly and we knowe that it was the Lords purpose by his spâ—râ—â— in that speach to discerne betweene h Ezâ—ch 22.26 the pretious and the vile If we well consider Vnfained lâ—ue either the loue that God hath wrought in our heartes towards his saintes or the vâ—â—â—ygned mind that thorow his great goodnes we find in our selues to forget and forgeue other mens trespasses wee shall finde that to the one the other may giue vs firme hope assured comfort of the forgiuenes of our own sins the holy ghost affirming of the former that by this we i 1. Iohn 3.14 know wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren for the other our sauiour himselfe not only teaching vs to say k Math. 6.12 forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespas against vs but also declaring in plain tearmes that except wee forgiue from our heartes each one to his brother his trespasses l Math. 18 3i ther is no forgiuenes of ours before God declaring withal that wher that is the other cannot bee wanting because God is not onelye much more readye but infinitely much more able to shewe sinners that notable fauour then men are so manifest it one to another Wherein it shall not bee amisse for vs to marke this further Of merits that howsoeuer all the good things we are enabled to no cannot as they come froÌ„ vs nor yet of theÌ„selues in that respect merâ—te Gods mercie because m Esay 64.6 al our righteousnesses are as filthie and stained cloutes before him n Luke 17.10 when we haue done al that we can wee are yet vnprofitable seruants much lesse any one of theÌ„ seperated from the rest the weaknes whereof arising not from the good things themselues in their owne nature as they come from God for so they are and must be verie strong exceeding good but by reason of our corruption the imperfection the thorow the same cleaueth therto yet all of them together and euery one of them selues may bee
like to the saints seruants of God who haue gone before you in the flesh in the faith yea euen to Iesus christ him selfe the eternal sonne of the eternall father Dauid was a k 2. Sam. 13.14 man according to Gods own hart vpon whoÌ„ the Lord had set his eie delight for much good and yet who more afflicted this way theÌ„ he he conceiuing of God as of one that was in vtter displeasure with him and that had cleane forgotten him and quite takeÌ„ his mercy from him Of which if you doubt may it please you to peruse Psal l Psal 6. 38. 42. 77. 88. 102. 6.38.42.77.88.102 whither also for shortnes sake I do referre you I doubt not but you shal be thorowly perswaded therof m Act. 9.15 26.18 Paul was an elect chosen vessel and that not onely to carry Christs name among the gentiles but euen vnto eternal life and yet n 2. Cor. 12.7 least he should be exalted out of measure thorow the abundaÌ„ce of reuelations there was giuen vnto him a prick in the fleshe and the Angell Satan to buffet him which least we should imagine to be peculiar vnto him he doth in another place affirme of him selfe and the faythfull together o Heb. 2.17 4.15 Though wee doubt yet we despaire not But what stand we repeating these petie examples which though they be pregnant for the purpose whereunto they are produced are not yet matchable with that that followeth sith we may most liuely see it in him who though hee was compassed about with our fleshe was yet free from the taint or staine of anie corruption and though he had naturall passions was vtterly voyd of extremitie or sinne in them or any thing els whatsoeuer being the very true and naturall sonne of God and equall with the father was so farre humbled and brought lowe that hee did yet notwithstanding through fearefull feeling of Gods wrath and extreme anguishe in himselfe demand of his father p Mat. 27.46 whie hee had forsaken him Of whome also the Apostle witnesseth by the spirit q Heb. 3.7 that in the daies of his flesh he did offer vp his prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was heard also in that which hee feared Nowe if the strength of temptations coulde bring our sauiour to so lowe an estate and hard condition as a man would saie so that he seemed not onely to be at the verie brinke but to be plunged into the pit not of feare alone but of doubting and distrustfulnesse as it might seeme who yet notwithstanding was the onely beloued of God and had receiued all the graces of the Spirite generallie and therefore no doubt the spirite of fortitude and power particularlie in moste absolute and full measure shall wee thinke it strange that the sonnes and daughters of God who during the time of their mortalitie vpon earth haue sinne dwelling in their brittle bodies who also howsoeuer they be beloued of God are not affected for their owne sakes but for his sake alone and who notwithstanding many gifts they haue receiued for the gathering together and building vp of theÌ„selues and of the fellowship of saintes haue yet not so much as a sparke or crum of grace compared with the infinite and incomprehensible treasures of Gods goodnesse in Christ be greatly assaulted and daily beaten on euerie side yea as seemeth vnto them selues and others sometimes ouerwhelmed Neyther herein alone standeth your comfort good sir yea our comfort that we are r Rom. 8.19 conformed and made like vnto the seruantes of God yea the only begotten sonne of God in his and their sufferinges but that as hee caused his almightie Å¿ 2. Cor. 12 9. strength to appeare in their poore weakenesse making t 1. Cor. 10.13 an issue out of their temptations for them that they might escape that the lâ—ke mercie fauour and strength hee will shew vnto vs and in vs notwithstanding our infirmities because that as the v Esay 59.1 Arme of God is not thorowe length of time or working of wonders anie maner of waie shortned so is the fatherly affection that hee setteth vppon his children vtterly vnchangeable Whereof yet wee may be the better assured because hee hath performed these great workes not onely in some of his excellent seruauntes through his grace strength alone but in Iesus Christ our heade and Captaine whose victorie as in other respectes so in this particularlie is in such sorte become ours that we cannot chuse but in him become more x Rom. 8 37 than conquerours as the Apostle sayth For if his absolute obedience be sufficient to take awaie our sinnes and the imputation of his righteousnes powerfull inough to make vs stand as righteous and innocent in the presence of our heauenly father why shoulde not his vanquishing both of death and y Heb 2 14 him that had the power of death that is the deuill be an assured pledge also of our ouercomming sith we know and beleeue that hee conquered not for hymselfe but for vs that wee in hym might bee as was euen nowe sayd a little before more than conquerours Of great impatience or waywardnes The second point that you complain of as in regard of your selfe is the great impatience and waywardnesse that you finde at home in your owne soule the same sometimes breaking out so farre that it is not onely made manifest vnto God and men thorow disquiet behauiour and vnsauorie words but manie times also breaketh forth into better cursinges Answere This I cannot chuse buâ— acknowledge to be hard and heauie as in respect of your selfe and the iniquitie high and great as in respect of God Howbeit euen against this also you shal well perceiue and finde A Comfort that the Lord hath prouided comfort for you yea comfort in his hoâ—y worde which word of his as it farre exceedeth all humaine speach and writing that euer haue bin are or shal be and is indeede to speake propeperly the onely trueth so doubtlesse the comfortes therein conteined infinitely surmount all worldly consolations whatsoeuer and are indeede onelie to be taken for the true ioyes In which respect I wou d haue you not to be afraid for the magnifying of Gods singular mercies and for the extolling of the comfortes of the word to your spirituall ioy to vrge and prâ—â—â—e against your selâ—e as hard as you can and as farre as anie maner of way you may with trueth your owne sinne and yet I am sure you shall neuer find it to reache further than to blaspheme against the father or the sonne to which depth of iniquitie for anie thing I know it hath not atteined But suppose it had ascended so high doth not yet our sauiour being trueth it selfe in the word of all trueth assure vs 2 Math. 12.32
1.17 as wauering as mutable man and then to be subiect to alteration change when they idessie fantasie or imagine the same Yea they speake contrarie to common sense and reason for if the sins that are from our selues may as they ought indeede iustly cast vs down shall not the graces that are in vs from god be much more mightie to raise vs vp What is God become lesse than man or are his mercies inferiour to mans transgressions But we will put the case that we failed in those good workes that that hitherto hath bin put downe that out of the very word of trueth concerning the fruites of our faith were false yet see what euen in such a case also if it wer so the holy Ghost saith for our full perswasion and resolute comfort e It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth The whole worke of sâ—luation dependeth altogether on Gods mercie in Iesus Christ but in God that sheweth mercy that so the whole worke of our saluation and euerie part and peece of it bee ascribed onely and wholie to his free fauour towardes vs in Iesus Christ For as this is sure that God saueth not vs for our good workes be they neuer so manie or excellent because hee shall haue alwaies some thing for matter or maner or ende and all to saie against them and vs for their sakes and to holde that were indeede to euamate Gods free mercie and to annihilate Christes sufferings and to puffe vp fleshe and bloud beyond all measure and trueth so he will not condemne vs vs I saie and not men because of our euâ—ll woorkes though they be neuer so manie and grieuous alwayes prouided that no man abuse this doctrine of trueth and comforte to licenciousnesse and carnalitie nor extend it beyond the persons of whome we meane it namely the elect and faithfull who as they haue receiued this sweete promise from God f 8. â— that to them that are in Christ there is no condemnation so they haue this giuen vnto them that they walke not after the flâ—she but after the spirite g Exod. 33.19 Rom 9. â— For hee will haue mercie on him to whome he will shewe mercie and he wil haue compassion on him on whome hâ—e will shewe compassion And this is it that the Lorde hym selfe sayth in Esaiah h Isa 43 25. I euen I am hee that putteth awaie thâ—ir iniquities for myne owne sake and will not remember theyr sinnes And in Ieremiah establishiâ—g as â—t were a newe contract with hys Seruauntes hee make Iesus a principall part of the couenaunt i Iâ—re 31.34 Heâ— 8.12 That hee will forgiue all theyr iniquities and remember theyr sinnes no more or as it is alâ—eadged by the holie Ghost in the eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrues I will be mercifull to theyr vnrighteousnesse and I will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more vsing all these wordes of vnrighteousnesse sinnes iniquities c. to assure vs that neyther the heynousnesse nor the multitude of our transgressions shall for euer separate betweene the Lord vs but that of his infinite mercie he will receiue vs though we had not offended A comparison or similitude Of which wee may be the better assured by this that if we would giue credit vnto the worde of an earthly man speciallie if wee had some experience of his fidelitie and that in matter of greaâ— importance and yet we know meÌ„ to be but men that is fraile inconstant we should much more beleeue the trueth of the eternal our God confirmed vnto vs by the deathe and bloudsheding of hys sonne the best pledge of immutabilâ—â—â— that can be and that in causes of greatest weight concerning vs who alwais k Mala 3.6 remaineth like vnto himselfe and who rather than he will fayle vs in hys promise or falter with vs in the performance of the same giuing vs lesse thâ— hee hath said will inlarge himselfe I cannot saie beyond his word and trueth for that remaineth alwaies as large as himselfe and God the God of trueth shall neuer bee found a lier but beyond our heart and hope I am sure And surely for your selfe in my mind this is one point that much perswadeth me and may yeeld you comfort that neuer can be vtterly taken awaie howsoeuer it may for the time be somewhat lessened that you belong vnto the election of God are as it were l Isa 49.16 grauen vpon the palme of his right hand that you haue not onely patiently susteined which is a rare vertue but mightely vanquished and subdued which is a greater grace doubtlesse in him that is the God of your strength many and the same long and bitter temptations which had you not belonged to God and hee himselfe had not reserued you for daies and times not onely of comfort in this life but of eternall ioy you coulde not haue indured much lesse ouercome for as this is a certaine trueth that m Psal 34 19â— manie are the miseries of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all and that hâ—s children are conquerours ouer many assaults by the strength and power that they haue receiued from n Iohn â—6 33. Rom 8.37 him lo our onely temptation and the same as short and small as may be is able to quaile the strongest Giaâ—t amongst the reprobate and to throw him downe headlong into the bottomlesse pit of hell as experience of the wicked who in this respect to withstand aâ—t weaker then waâ—er and sundrie particular examples of former ages and of our present time doe playnely pâ—oue vnto vs if I thought it conuenient to alleadge them Thus you see my minde and poore iudgement concerning your scruples in such measure and maner deliâ—â—red as God hath inabled me Where also I must confesse I woulde gladly end as beeing almost wearie in my selfe and tedious I feare me vnto you sauing that the dutie of holie loue that I beare you will not suffer mee to let slippe a neceâ—sarie admonition that euen nowe commeth to minde and sauing also that your present distressed estate as I feare calleth for the inlarging of my selfe so farre as I may accomplishe some more particular course of comforte than as yet I haue deliuered Touching the former of these two An admonition let mee intreate you I beseeche you as the trueth is not to imagine as I knowe some doe that there are alwayes like effectes and fruites of Gods grace in the heartes and conuersation of hys people I meane eyther as in regard of feeling or action for wee knowe by that that we haue noted in others and obserued in our selues if euer God gaue vs grace to marke the one or the other that there is euerie day yea almost euery houre in a daye an entercourse of the same God by hys spirite manie tymes mouing vs to good thinges and ouerruling in the strength thereof
LARGE LETTERS Three in number containing much necessarie matter for the instruction and comfort of such as are distressed in conscience by feeling of sinne and feare of Gods wrath WRITTEN HEERETOfore by T. W. for some deare friends of his and now published and printed for the raising vp of such as labor vnder the heauie burthen of an afflicted Spirite PSAL. 42.11 â—â—y art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquieted within me wait on God for I will yet giue him thanks hee is my present hâ—lpe and my God AT LONDON Printed by Roger warde for Thomas Man 1589. TO HIS FAITHFVLL friends and verie deare brethren in Christ Mast Roger Ofield Robert Washborne George Smith Thomas Shipton Iohn Field Robert Iones Iohn Harper Iohn Hounsell and all the rest of his Christian acquaintaunce in London as well as though they were particularlie named together with all those that els where in the land vnfaignedly feare the Lord and looke for the glorious appearing of his sonne and our sauiour T. W. wisheth all spirituall goodnes heauenly comfort in this life and in the end the eternall glorification of their bodies and soules in euerlasting blisse through Christ MY loue in the Lorde and the affectioÌ„s of my hart in him haue bin in some measure of soundnes I humbly thanke God for it in Christ strongly carried generallie tovvardes all the Israell of GOD wheresoeuer and more particularlye tovvardes you my good Breethren vvhereof ouer and besides the assured testimony of mine owne soule I haue for faithful witnesses the Lord himselfe in heauen and many of his saints vppon earth and amongst others you your selues Causes leading me hereto are manye but as in respect of God none more powerfull than his grace and holy spirite shed abroad into my heart and as in regard of you none more effectuall than sundry sincere fruites of your faith and the comfortable feeling of the communion of saints in which holy fellowship standeth not onely the spiritual felicity and good of the whole bodie but the very ioy and contentment also of euerie sounde member therein For outward kindnesses that I haue receiued from you I must will euerie where acknowledge my selfe much beholding vnto you And yet this I may vvith all boldnes professe that as that is not the onâ—ly or principall cause moueing me to affect you so though I haue beene beholding to you all yet not to all alike but to some more than to other some Which also I rehearse not now either to breed anie disdaine or emulation in you one of you towards another for that vvere to breake the bond of charity and vnitie of the spirit or to lessâ—n any fauour though neuer so small that I haue receiued from you for that wer to depriue you of your praise and to declare my selfe ingratfull nor craftilie clavving after the maner of the vvorld to craue newe benefiâ—es for that vvere nothing els but deceit and flatterie to procure mine own good from all vvhich corruptions I haue hitherto as in respect of my selfe and you through Gods goodnesse beene graciouslie freed But to let you vnderstand that your benefits haue not bene bestowed vpon an vnskilfull or an thankefull person but vpon such a one as by the light that he hath receiued from God hath vveighing them in an equal ballance esteemed of them according to the goodnes of the gift and the christian affection of the Partie giuing The thinges indeede which haue most speciallye lincked mee fast in the Lorde vnto you are your precious faith towards God vnfaigned loue to the saints christian consciences amongest your selues and holie praiers in presence and absence one of you for an other and all of you I am assured for the holy causes and faithfull members of the whole Church and amongest the rest euen for me pore and wretched man that I am In which duties of yours as my heart hath greatly reioiced in the lord for the graces that in great mercy he hath bin pleased to vouchsafe vnto you I my selfe haue as in some sort though not to the ful in regard of your spirituall fauours performed to me by reson of weaknesse and wants in my selfe aunswered them again with the like I write not as a vaine glorious boaster so I doubt not but that therby God him selfe hath receiued glorie at your hands his childreÌ„ goten much good and you your selues reaped a gracyous measure and increase of religyous knowledge and dutifull obedience As for the worldly fauours that you haue shewed me and bodily benefites that vvay I confesse my selfe to be far behind hand with you and much indebted in deed though not in affection surely and readinesse of good vvill for so my heart is verie large in humilitie I speake it neyther will I wish better witnesses of it than your selues yet in regard of action vvherein still my griefe groweth great and increaseth daily vpon me as vvell by the feare that I haue of my future wants as by the feeling of my former and present disabilities Hovvbeit sith thys is the Lords doing and that he is pleased thereby to sift me and to sound you mee for my patience and comfortable induring of these necessities and you for your faithfull obedience and vnfaigned loue I can not but vvith some measure of spirituall ioy vndergoe mine owne lacks and againe recomfort my spirites because hauing to deale vvith God and his seruaunts vvho haue learned from his holie example greater than all exception to accept of men according to that they haue and not according to that they haue not I rest resolued my good vvill shall bee accounted as a deed specially sith I am ready euery vvhere vvithout flatterie in my self or favvning vpon you to acknovveledge to the glorie of God and the good of his people the great good turnes that by you I haue receiued euen from the Lords ovvne handes And yet gladly vvould I if I could tell hovve some vvay recompence though not all yet som part peece thereof And in that respect indeede haue I long looked vvished for as some good occasion from you wherin it might haue pleased you all or any of you to haue imployed and vsed me to my pore vttermost So some sufficiencie in my selfe at the leastwise in some mean measure to haue requited that ouerflowing heape of your kindnes and holy loue But hitherto I deliuer it with my griefe of heart as a man sensiblie seeing and feeling gods hand vpon my selfe both that and other waies also my expectation and hope hath bene frustrat and my power very short and skant A small thing the Lorde vvas pleased some years ago to inable me in two or three Letters to performe for the comfort of some of my christian acquaintance whose conflicts in conscience vvere great and many which lying by mee vvith some other simple thinges that I haue done and I beeing earnestly requested to make that coÌ„mon to many which was written for
any but of all not men alone but fathers and mothers in the worlde though lincked neuer so straitly vnto vs is no maner of way matchable nor so much as meete to be thought or spoken of with it at the selfe same time Obiection answered by example Your troubles in the soule and youâ— dangers that way cannot seeme in any equall or vpright iudgment to be more greeuous or further past recouery than q Ionas 2.2 c. Ionas his were when he was in the Whales belly and yet the Lord commaunded that great fish to deliuer him vp againe whose absolute authoritie he coulde not withstand but as a man that hath his stomacke surcharged vomited him out And is Gods r Esay 59.1 hand streitened now or his power shortned Å¿ Psal 77.8.9 or his mercy abated that he can not or will not performe as much for you Or rather doth not God worke then moste mightily and mercifully both when in mens eyes the way is stopped vp not onely agaynst a deed but against hope or hart to conceiue it To what ende tend these comfortable promises both of the olde and the new testament t Isay 42.16 I will bring the blinde by a waie that they knowe not and lead them by pathes that they haue not knowne I will make darknesse light before them and crooked thinges streight these thinges will I doe vnto them and not forsake theÌ„ and againe v Math. 16.18 the gates of hell shall not preuaile against you but to confirme vs more and more A singular comfort farre beyond expectation in the vnchangeablenesse and certaintie of hys goodnesse towardes vs and to let vs vnderstand though there bee infinite barres and lets betweene him and vs so that his mercy cannot seeme to haue anie passage vnto vs that yet hee will breake them all to peeces and ouerthrowe x 2. Cor. 10.5 euerie high thing that so we may plainly perceiue and effectually comfortablie feele the incomprehensible treasure of his fauour towardes vs If this be not comfortable I know not what is in which poynt of special consolation The cause mouing to write more largely of this poynt I write nowe both the more willingly and largely vnto you because I perceiue by your last though long since sent vnto me vnto which also I then shaped a short aunswere supposing because I heard not from you that that had satisfied you and by some report of sundrie that loue vs both in the Lord to which for the further stirring of me vp thereto I adde the dayly thoughts and feares of mine own hart concerning your case that you haue not onely bene terrible shaken for the time but y and 12.7 sore buffeted and that not with some one meane temptation but with many great and grieuous assaultes the consideration whereof raised vp such a thicke mist before your vnderstanding whilest you dwelt too much and ouerlong in the minding thereof and in the beholding of your owne both vnworthinesse and weakenesse that as the comfortable sight of Gods grace and goodnes towards you in Iesus Christ seemed for the time to be vanished from before you yea altogether lost so you thought in your selfe and would haue perswaded others that you were vtterly condemned and cast away But be not anie whit at all dismaied A reason or meane to respect this temtation with the violence and rage of this tempest but rather comfort your selfe yea assure your selfe of this that Sathan dealeth herein no otherwise with you A similitude than a cruel and bloud-thirstie captaine besieging aninuincible and irrepugnable hold who at the first beginneth temperately and coldly as you would say as well for the sparing of his owne forces and charge as to gaine some little credite with those that are beset but when he seeth that preuayleth not hee dooth by little and little increase the fiercenesse of his batterie and the bitternesse of his assault but not gayning that way neyther he putteth it al at once vpon the last pushe wherein hauing taken the foyle hee is glad also to betake himselfe to a shamefull flight And what though the cannons roare yea the double cannons thunder in such sorte that they make heauen and earth to shake as it were and would seeme to iumble them altogether yet in trueth they are nothing els but sure pledges of the wasting and wearing of your aduersaries forces and dishonourable running awaie on the one side and moste comfortable messengers on the other side of your happie and ioyfull deliuerance approching and euen at the dores which as it plainely appeareth by this A similitude that euen as a little before day breake the darkenesse is greatest and then afterwardes commeth moste comfortable light steppe by steppe and degree by degree the Sunne with his brightnesse and heate chasing away all those thicke mistes and strong smelling fogs so may we be certainly assured of it by the manifold examples of the word and particularly of him that was possessed z Mar. 9.25.26 with a dumbe and deafe deuil out of whome when our sauiour charged him to come and to enter no more into him he cried and rent him sore and left him for dead taking as we say his peâ—worthes then vppon him because he knewe that as his time was but short so hee should neuer after molest or vexe him For your sinnes which you complaine of Accusation of conscience for the sight and giltinesse of sinne I suppose verely that they are more in your owne iudgement than in the sight of all the worlde beside before whom notwithstanding your hard accusing of your self you haue through Gods goodnesse liued an vpright and vnblamable life and that not onely in the testimonie of them that feare God but in the witnesse also of them that a 1. Tim 3.7 are without which ought notwithstanding the greatnesse of your assault in your selfe to yeeld you no small comfort that in the viewe not onely of those that can iudge rightly such as Gods children are who haue their eyes inlightened by the knowledge of his trueth you haue caried your selfe christianly and yet if you had failed would in the b Prou. 10.12 1. Pet. 4. â— multitude of loue according to their duetie haue couered a multitude of transgressions but in the iudgement of those that are led with prying and malicious eyes who manie times obserue in Gods seruantes more than they should Of the accusation of a tender conscience or iustly can and the rather for their profession and troubles sake haue lead a harmelesse and irreproueable conuersation But let vs graunt that your owne heart accuseth you much What then Accusation implieth not conuictioÌ„ much lesse condemnation speciallie in such a height as we imagine And yet withall giue me â—eaue to councell you not to beleeue it further then it bringeth the euidence of truth with it The wicked haue no profitable feeling of
their sins This I am sure you cannot be ignorant of that as the wicked want with profite continuance that sting of hart with profit I say because though they haue it it doth theÌ„ no good and with continuance because it is but as a flashe of lightning in them raysed vp for their greater iudgement as soone vanishing as it doth appeare so the godly looking too much vppon themselues The feeling of the godly and their sinnes and secluding both from sight and sense the viewe and memorie of Gods mercies lay to hard and heauie burthens vppon their owne soules Me thinketh this rather woulde be stood vppon that sith euen from that that woundeth them most I meane the continuall charging and accusing of themselues men that haue their minds inlightned from God may reape singular consolations they should labour euen from thence to gather strong comfortes vnto themselues against their temptations which they may doe by this holy consideration that the heart wounded with the dailie sight and sense of sinne that is past is pushed forward thereby to speedy and vnfeigned repentance God to that end setting the same before them that so in the lothsomnesse thereof they might make haste vnto him which otherwise as in the want thereof it could not so much as thinke vpon much lesse performe is strengthned also against sinne that is to come because hardly haue anie bene found to fall into that which they haue with vpright and dayly iudgement misliked in themselues principally and in others secondarily the fear of the former causing them to keepe a good watche ouer themselues in the latter and is prouoked in and by themselues tenderly to pitie earnestly to pray for such whose state that waie foorth they knowe and feel by experience in themselues to be as lamentable and as much to be regarded as their owne All which bringing with them the glory of God their own benefite and other mens good that euen in the least thinges cannot but yeeld them comfort that seriously thinke thereupon vnlesse they will deeme Gods honour light or their owne comfort base or the loue of the faâ—thfull and their welfare a meane yea a vilde thing But we will put the case that your sinnes were as huge and as high as your selfe take them to be yea let vs imagine that they had spread theÌ„selues throughout both heauen and earth and did reach from the one end of the world to the other yet who can will or dare denie but that as God himselfe so his mercies towardes vs in Iesus Christ c Co. 3.20 The mercy of God in this life chiefly appeareth in the forgiuenesse of sinne ouer reacheth them euery way and the rather sith his meanes are no waie in this life more euidently manifested than in the forgiuenesse of the sinnes of his seruantes Concerning which trueth we may and ought to be certainly perswaded not onely by reason A reason taken of Gods nature which is infinite taken from the infinitnesse of Gods owne nature who beeing infinite himselfe can haue nothing in him but that which is infinite and therefore his mercie beeing in him must also be infinite with whom howsoeuer our sins be in numerable as in respect of our selues d Psal 19.12 for who vnderstandeth his iniquitie or is able to account his transgressions yet they are finite and certaine as in regard of himselfe that e 147.4 counteth the number of the stars and calleth them all by their names but also from the large and moste faithfull promises Of Gods promises that in euerie place almost of his word for the vnderpropping of our weake fayth hee hath plainly and plentifully propounded vnto vs amongest which euen these most sweete sayinges seeme not of the least reckoning f 103.12 As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoued our sinnes from vs. Againe in another place g Isa 1.18 Though our sinnes were as Crimsin they shal be made white as Snow though they were red as Skarlet they shall be as wooll And again h Rom. 5.20 Where sinne hath abounded there grace hath more than abounded with sundrie suche like with which I knowe you are acquainted as hauing laid them vp in your heart for the peace of the same and hauing expressed them with your mouth for the testification of your ioy Hitherto I haue laboured neither vnsoundly as in regard of Gods trueth propounded nor vnprofitably as in respect of you afflicted nor vndutifully as inconsideration of my selfe trauailing generally to deliuer generall comfortes against generall transgressions Now it remaineth that I come to applie particular consolations as if it were speciall medicines and plaisters to those peculiar offences griefes that you saie are in your selfe and it hath pleased you to acquaint me withall to this end as I take it verily that of my poore store and penurie indeede you might yet receiue some spirituall reliefe and comfort What measure of mercie I haue receiued that way hee that hath bene pleased freely to giue the same vnto me best knoweth Howbeit howe small or great soeuer it be this doth not a little incourage me to a liberall vse of the same that I knowe certainly I shall not decrease mine owne by that I bestow vpon others but rather increase the same much it seruing me as the widdowes i 2 King 4 2. c. pitcher of oyle did in the dayes of Elisha being miraculously increased not onely to inable me in some sort to pay my debts though it be but fiue shillinges in the pound as we saie but the rest being sufficient for my selfe and my children to liue vpon But to those thinges which you obiect against your selfe and to that first which you first put downe Obiections answered You saie you are greatly troubled with manifold feares much doubting I beleeue it to be true And who would not be of that minde if they considered you but as a man howe much more then if they behold you as a godly man in whom such things are better seen because naturall blindnesse is somewhat remoued and more felt because hardnesse of hart and benummednesse is in some measure taken away yea I am so farre of from thinking these thinges to be discomfortable to you though as feare doubting are in you I cannot approoue them because they are in vs tainted thorow the corruption of nature that froÌ„ the same as I take it you may reape and receiue singular consolation not onely in this respect that they bring forth in you good and gracious effects of hartie praier to almightie God carefull watching ouer your selfe tender pitie and compassion towards others c. and all these in a greater measure than you feel wil confesse yet herein me thinketh you should do wel to giue glory to God and according to grace receiued yeeld his children a notable portion of comfort but whilest you are herein become
k Iame. 5.11 yee haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue knowne what ende the Lord made for the Lord is verie pitifull and mercifull Where marke I pray you that hee notwithstanding all his frowardnesse against his friends who came no doubt with a minde to visit and comfort him howsoeuer either thorowe his own corruption or their euill he was prouoked to saie l â— b 16.2 miserable comforts are you all the sorte of you notwithstanding his horrible execration of the good creatures of god which neuer did him hurt but manie waiâ—s tended to profite and pleasure hâ—m for ease comfort health and strength notwithstanding all his inward impatience and fretting against God and outward furie and open charging of him to doe him iniurie and wrong is yet set before vs as a worthie paterne of patience and a mirror of a milde and quiet spirite These thinges perhaps maie seeme straunge to you and you in your imagination may suppose that they can hardly agree well together The worke of regeneration oâ— reformation But if you will labour wisely to discerne the worke of reformation and regeneration that God hath in his children from the remaynders of their owne corruption that beeing alwaies good and excellent in it selfe and thâ—s naught and abhominable yea manie times also much darkenening the other and consider that notwithstanding our sinnes God is mercifully pleased in Iesus Christ to cure and to couer them all and to receiue vs vnto himselfe in him not onely as though we had neuer sinned but as if wee had actually and really fulfilled all righteousnesse and haue receiued thorow the holie ministerie of the worde and the gracious working of of the spirite the eie of faith to see and the hand of faith to lay holde of and to apply this particularlie vnto your owne selfe in the state and condition wherein you are you shall easilie knowe in your vnderstanding faithfullie feele in your soule stedfastlie beleeue in your heart and francklie confesse with your mouth this woorthie difference and most comfortable point wherein also for the better instruction or perswasion of you or both I will by your good patience spend a line or two Of ioy and feare in one person and at one time Ioy and feare doubtlesse in humaine iudgement seeme one of them to be set against another and yet in the holy gospell it is reported of the women which went to see Christes sepulchre that vpon the glorious apparition of Gods angell at that place and the declaration of Christes resurrection m Math. 28.8 they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great ioy feare as I take it at the strangenesse of the sight and much ioy for the comfortable and gladsome tidinges that they had heard And what I pray you is indeede more contrarie one vnto another than beliefe and vnbeliefe The like of beliefe and vnbeliefe And yet the father of the sicke childe in the Gospell hauing receiued this comfortable speache from our Sauiour himselfe n Marke 23.24 that all thinges are possible vnto him that beleeueth cryed out with teares and that when he prayed Lorde I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe calling and counting that beginning of fayth that God had wrought in him beliefe and the doubtfulnesse and distrust of hys owne hart vnbeliefe And if it haue beene so in hym and others and wee stedfastâ—y beleeue the same because wee see it is reuealed vnto vs in the written worde of God why shoulde wee not perswade our selues that the lyke is and may bee in vs because Gods workes are this waie nowe as then all alike But wee are hyndered from the comfortable sight and the ioyfull feeling heereof one while by suffering of oure myndes to bee whollie taken vp with the beholding of our owne sinnes onely forgetting in the meane while the graces and fauours that God hath bene pleased freely to bestow vpon vs for his glorie and our good and an other while by imagining that whilest we haue not perfection of mercie and goodnesse here we haue receiued no acceptable measure of grace and loue the former of these beâ—ing dangerous vtterly to ouerwhelme vs with distrust and the latter prest and readie to cause vs to deface Gods mercies in vs but both of them powerfull to deteyne and withhold vs from yeelding due glorie to God whilest which way soeuer wee looke wee thinke we haue nothing hauing yet receiued something so yeeld him not holie praise and thankes o Psal 50.14.23 69.32 11.16.12.13 the best and onely sacrifice that he requireth at our handes for all his fauours As for that which seemeth heerein most to wound you namely your blasphemie against God as you call it or speaking euill of him I woulde pray you ouer and besides that that hath bin said alreadie to weigh this following and see whether it may not satisfie you concerning that great doubt yea or no. A comparison or similitude Put the case that some one that had borne you singular good will not onely for worldly considerations but in the trueth also and as a sound testimonie thereof had euerie where as occasion had bene offered giuen you a due and iust commendation for the good partes that be in you and yet afterwardes puffed vp in a haughtie imagination of hâ—s owne heart or forgetting your great fauours shewed him or his own former friendship professed and practised or mislead by some lewd and hypocriticall companie as al and euerie one of these thinges are strong and mightie no doubt to carrie men awaie should eyther by himselfe or together with them in companie either thinke or speake euill of you Tell me I pray you howe you would behaue your selfe towardes such a one speciallie if hee should vnfeinedly confesse his offence and protest sincere sorrowfulnesse of heart for his sinne surely I doubt not but the p Rom. 5.5 loue of God shedde abroad into your heart would make you ready willing with a sound affectioÌ„ to forget and to forgiue and to reciue him euen as though he had not fallen And shal or can you which in respect of Gods infinite fauor towardes you haue not so much as a crum of loue towardes men shewe yet notwithstanding such a larges of the same and god q 1. Ioh. 4.8 who is loue it selfe as the Apostle saith be skant and pinching as in this respect for mine own part rather than I would thinke or say so I would hold and affirme that the bottomlesse depths of the huge and great Ocean might be dried vp want water before the ponds and the cesternes that in a parched land men haue digged vnto theÌ„selues or anie thing that is more absurd vnreasonable than this if anie such can be found Doubting of his election to eternal life The last but yet that not of the least importance wherewith your heart is troubled is that you cannot feele your selfe to be one
of those whome God hath marked out to eternall life Wherein I would first haue you to know and perswade your heart of this that as the miseries of the reprobate The reprobate cannot truely conceiue much lesse feele their condemnation and their condemnation also is more I will not say than is well felt for feeling they haue little or none but well conceiued their harts not beeing fit to thinke either of their sinne or iudgement due vnto them for the same so many times the fauour of God is certaynly muche more towardes and in his seruantes than eyther they themselues or others for them can well perceiue For as it is most true that naturall blindnesse and benummednesse of heart with a sensual delight the wicked take in sinne pursuing all maner of iniquitie with pleasure wil not suffer theÌ„ to see their damnable estate at the least wise to dwell vpon the contemplation of it with fruite because thorowe impenitencie of heart they bee r 2. Tim. 2.26 held captiues of Satan at his pleasure so it is as certaine that by reason of the remaynders of a darke minde which resteth euen in the godly as yet in parte vnreformed they be sometimes as farre off from conceiuing spirituall fauours from God And no marueile because beeing spirituall things they must be s 1. Cor. 2.14 spiritually discerued and we knowe that as other graces so that of a discâ—â—â—ing spirite is not onely in vs in part but maâ—â—e times seemeth to be quenched in vs and hidden from others thorowe the ashes of our corruption And what reason can be shewed to the contrarie but that if want of sight and feeling in the wicked can for the time though not for euer put out feare and paâ—ne and all sense of the same but also that the reliques of sinne in the righteous and the sight they haue of it and the â—eare and griefe of heart that they conceiue for it should for the time though not alwaies bleare and deface the hope and the ioy that God would haâ—â— them to conceiue Satan also in his makeâ— working no doubt in all these tempâ—ations of the wicked and the godly that â—o he might if he coulde tâ—â—l how preuaile vpon all both good and bad By which you may well perceiue that in this most high What the godly in such a case ought to doe yet moste comfortable point you are to goe beyond your owne reache and feeling yea to depart from your selfe who by reason sometimes of blindnesse and soâ—etimes of partialitie are vnfit to bee a iudge in thâ—s cause that so being spoiled oâ— trust and donfidence in your selâ—e oâ— in the t Iere. 17.5 arme of flesh and bloud â—ls where you may repaire vnto him thâ—â— alone is the God of all strength both ouâ—ward and inward and who will indeede for you and all his effect that which shal be most meete for his glorie and your eternall comforts And this is the second thing that I would pray you well to weigh namely that as according to the trueth of the holie scriptures God hath pleased thorowe the infinite multâ—tude of his mercies in Iesus Christ to elect you to liâ—e euerlasting t Ephâ—s 1 4 before the foundaâ—ions of the world were laid so hath he in time plainly manifested vnto you and by you vnto others that his great grace of your eternall etettion first in vouchsafing you though vnworthie of your selfe yet for Christ Iesus his sake thorowe the ministerie of his holy worde and by the powerfull working of his blessed spirite an effectual calling so that he t Act. 13.48 16.14 no sooner spake vnto you but withal pearsed your eares and boared your heart to vnderstand and beleeue he working in you also this readinesse with vnfeigned affection to saie v 1. Sam 3.10 speake Lord for thy seruant heareth God dealing with you heerein for your soule The spirituall meanes of Gods mercie as hee hath done alwaies with you for your body that is bestowing vppon you the spirituall meanes of his mercie and making them mightie in you to worke his will not vnto iudgement as in the wicked but to eternall saluation as in his saintes and seruantes And this I take to be that which the Apostle saith Roman 8. x Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinate them also he called Secondly by giuing you care and conscience to adorne these excellent graces of his eternall election from before all times and effectuall vocation in time with the fruites of faith and the deedes of blessed obedience and that both in the seruices of pietie towards his maiestie The duties of pietie you hauing a minde to be often and earnest with him in prayer and thankesgiuing adioyning thereto for your better direction therein dayly reading of the word deepe meditation and christian confeference therein and also in the duties of charitie towardes men Of charitie you not onely not deteming from anie that which belongeth vnto them but rendring vnto euerie one that which is right equall and specially hauing care of the coÌ„munion of saints y Rom. 12.15 vveeping there with them that weep and reioycing with theÌ„ that teioyce And this is that that the Apostle saith in another place that z Ephes 1.4 God hath chosen vs in Christ that we should be holy without blame before him in loue And againe a 2. Tim 2.19 The strong foundatioÌ„ of God remaineth sure hath this seal the lord knoweth who are his let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie In which respect also it is that Peter admonisheth vs b peter 1.10 Why these duties are propounded to vs in the word to giue diligence to make our calling and election sure by good vvorkes Not that eyther the one or the other either as in respect of God are vncertaine c Rom. 11.29 for his giftes and calling are such as he repent him not thereof are vnsure as in regard of our selues because we haue fouÌ„d thorow his goodnesse in vs though not that that wee should yet a minde bowable and ready to harken vnto to loue and obey the fatherly voyce and calling of our gracious God But therefore are these thinges propounded vnto vs in the word on the one side to stop the mouthes of carelesse blasphemers who in the vaine imagination of their owne heartes feare not to affirme that if they he elected they may liue as they list and on the other side to lift vp the weakned spirites of many of Gods deare seruantes who finding eyther the faith of their election or the fruites following the same fewe and skant in them beginne to call their election into question wherein ouer and besides the discomfortes and discouragementes that causelesly they cast vpon themselues they doe great iniurie to God whilest they make him that is certaine in his purposes and acts to be d Num. 23.29 Isa 51.8 Iâ—a
I confesse we shall see that we haue singular and speciall consolations and that not fewe in number alone and these weake and feeble also but manie and the same verie mightie yea euerie one of them strong and sufficient it selfe to beate backe this assault though it were muche more powerfull and forcible then it is that so being compassed about and as it were backed with such a r Heb. 12.1 cloud of witnesses our hartes might be the more stedfastly vp held not onely in present comfort but in hope of all good thinges to come I say therefore that whether we respect the father himselfe who otherwise s 1 Tim. 6 16 dwelling in light that no man can come vnto hath yet notwithstanding plentifullie and plainely reuealed himselfe vnto vs in his word or by the eye of a stedfast faith looke vppon Iesus Christ his son and our sauior who is also the brightnesse of the glory and the t Hebrew i. 3. ingrauen forme of his person or regard the blessed word of almightie God in all the parts and peeces of it but specially in the promises thereof propounded for our coÌ„fort or consider as we should and are bound The Sacramente 1 Cor. 10.1.2.3 c. Rom 4.11 the holy sacraments that he hath giuen vs in this world as pledges of his goodnes toward vs seales of the faithe that hee hath wrought in vs or might well as wee ought that right order of discipline gouernment Discipline of the Church that he hath established in his Churche for the repressing of euill or maintenance of all well dooing or diligently marke the singular fauors that hee hath plentifullie shedde out vpon those that haue gone before vs in the fleshe and in the faith or see and feele the great graces that hee of his owne good will hath bestowed vppon vs our selues poore and miserable wretches that wee are or behold with a sound iudgement sin it selfe specially as in regard of the good that God maketh to flowe from it howsoeuer it be odious and vglie in it selfe we shall certainely finde that from all and euerie one of these wee may without doubt gather strong argumentes and forcible reasons assured and continuall comfort for the forgiuenesse of all our sins by consequent also for the sound and Christian peace of our own hearts Nowe to the ende that that which hath bene generallie spoken and shortly deliuered may yet appeare to bee as true and certaine so plentiful and large let vs come more particularly and at length as it were yet without tediousnesse to deduct and laie out these poyntes For the first we haue the verie mercifull nature Of the nature of God himselfe and readie inclination of almighty God in himselfe to shew pitie and compassion to those that are humbled who howsoeuer he declare himsâ—lf in word and deede armed and that with iustice against the proud Pharisee or benummed and senselesse professor as he hath good cause indeede for their continuance in sinne and want of a trembling spirite standeth yet notwithstanding in his fatherly compassion and loue moste graciously affected to such as quake and sloupe before him Which that we might be the better perswaded of he hath bene pleased plainly to tel vs and that in his holie worde also that hee hath no desire that u Ezech. 18 23 the wicked shoulde die but rather that hee should liue and againe that hee is the x Exod. 34 6 7 Lord strong mercifull and gracious slowe to anger and aboundant to goodnesse and trueth reseruing mercie for thousandes forgiuing iniquittes and transgressions c. and that he wil giue to such as y Isaiah 61.3 mourne in Sion bewtie for ashes and the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse or as it is in the prophet Ezechiell z Ezek. 9 4 c. a marke by which they shal be known and freed from the common calamitie and destruction of the wicked Of the trueth of all which wee may bee the better assured because it is the worde not of a mortall man who will in the hypocrisie and corruption of hys heart doubt and dissemble but of the eternall God who as he is not deceiued so doth hee not deceiue and who beeing of an vnchaungeable nature remayneth fast and sure and the same with a cleare voyce and in wordes of muche euidencie published and proclaymed not once and awaie for then perhaps in the distrustfulnesse of our owne heartes wee might quickly call it into question a Psal 86 5 â—â— Psal 103.8.9 The sonne of God and mediator but sundrie times and in manie places of his holy word Secondly who seeth not that euen in Iesus Christ wee haue a mercifull measure of spirituall comfort pressed downe and running euer against this sharpe temptation and sore assault and that not onâ—ly because as he is God he is b Math. 9.5 able to forgiue sinnes and as man being c Heb. 2 17 made like vnto his brethren hee is pitifull and readie for that and all other good workes but also because in him dwelleth d Colloss 2 9 al the fulnesse of the godhead bodily we hauing in him e Colloss 1 14 redemption thorowe his bloud that as the forgiuenesse of sinnes in whome likewise f 2 Cor â— 20 all the promises of God are yea and amen hee himselfe being made of God vnto vs g 1 Cor 1 30 wisdom righteousnesse and sanctification redemption who alone was h Isaiah 53 5 wouÌ„ded for our transgressions brokeÌ„ for our iniquitie bearing the chastisment of our peace healing vs thorowe his stripes he himselfe and nowe other 63.3 treading the wine presse of gods wrath agaynst vs for our sinnes whome sith God hath bene pleased to k Rom. 8.32 giue vnto death for vs all howe shall he not together with him giue vs all thinges also If all things why not then the free pardon and ful forgiuenesse of all our sins Shal you imagine that God wil say al giue vs but some that were to make him a lier who is not Rom. 3.4 onely true but truth it selfe Or shall we deeme that for the testification of the largenesse of hys liberality he wil vouchsafe vs some pety fauours and withhold graces of muche greater excellencie that were to make god deale worse with his dear children then earthlie princes do with their dutifull seruants I say therfore againe if all things why not remission of sinnes speciallie sith in him are hidde yet so as they daylie are plainelie and in good time shall bee plentifullie displaied and aboundantlie yea perfectlie communicated vnto his people m Colloss 2 3 all the treasures of wisedome knowledge mercy and whatsoeuer els is excellent in God as in respect of himselfe or comfortable and profitable as in regard of vs. Thirdlie the blessed booke of God it selfe doeth in