farther by a riotous life and if hee spare our bodies wee must not destroy our soules his louing correction should make vs whole not more sinfull if God remoue a plague the plague of sin shold goe with it and if God spare vs from death we must not make a couenant with death Esa 28.15 Nor sinne against him because he beares with sin in vs rather we should search our wayes and turne to the Lord. Lament 3.40 But are all troubles for the good of Gods children Vse 2. let Gods children next learne not to be too much cast downe with those things that should rather raise them For shall afflictions bee iudged euill that do vs so much good or if they were euill as naturall men say why doth S. Iames wish vs to count it all ioy to fall into them Indeed to be fed with the bread of teares and to bee so sick and so to languish that the soule abhorreth all manner of meat Psal 107.18 What taste can it haue in the palate of flesh If wee measure things by the carnall line it cannot But the naturall man is no competent iudg in these matters and that that is borne of flesh is flesh for what naturall man perceiueth the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 therefore wee must goe another way to worke and measure by future things not by present sense Hebr. 12.11 The onely fit Iudge is the spirituall man which if it may be Iudge will make vs to reioyce in tribulation and with Paul and Silas in prison Act. 16.25 The wicked man in affliction like a dogge in a coard doth nothing but houle and bite the coard with his teeth the godly man is patient in tribulation because of his hope Rom. 12 12. takes all quietly and contentedly without murmuring and without reasoning and as a young bird in a cage sings sweetely and in the musick of the holy Ghost diuinely to God where the other like an old bird is sullen in his troubles beates himselfe to death in them without comfort for the present or hope for the future Further notwithstanding that this Womans young daughter had an vncleane Spirit that is a deuill in her with which she was grieuously vexed yet did she not send neither goe to the Idols of the land for help or to the deuill in them though her country people so did but she comes directly to Christ her faith setting her in the way to him and to no other For religion if right knowes no other way Where we thirdly learne that religion will not bee beholden to the Deuill for ease in any trouble Doct. 3. therfore Micaiah a true Prophet of the Lord would not humor the King as the foure hundred false had done to gaine his freedom by it 1 King 22.14 nor Daniel shut the window which hee opened to the true God in prayer thrice a day though he trie Masterie with the hungrie Lions for it Dan. 6.10 Nor his three godly companions the three faithfull Seruants of God Shadrach Meshach and Abednego giue a knee to the golden Image that Nabuchodonezer had set vp in the plaine of Dura though they should bake for it in a firie ouen Dan. 3.16.17.18 Nehemiah that noble Leader would not flie to the reproch of God and religion though to saue his life Nehem. 6.11 And when Peter tooke Christ aside in sad counsel perswading him not to goe to Ierusalem where he was to suffer did Christ thanke him for his great good will rather did hee not tell him that he was a Satan vnto him that would offer vpon any respects in flesh to draw him from doing his fathers will in giuing himselfe an offering for sinne Matth. 16.21.22.23 the reosons Reas It cannot bee without treachery and wrong to religion for this were for a subiect of Iehoua to turne Pensioner to Satan and what subiect to a King can hold intelligence with another King his enemie about affaires of State and not bee traitor to him Secondly the Deuill is Gods enemie and if wee belong to God ours Now what good seruant will bee beholden to his Masters enemie for the hauing of that which had cannot but iustly displease the Master and can a Christian seruant be beholden to the deuill by dependence and not griâ—ue his proper all sufficient Lord from whom he departs by such distrust of his help when he should cast himselfe vp◠〈◊〉 him wholly for allthings Thirdly Gods corrections are al for our good and in loue to reclaime vs from some way of sin wherein wee walke displeasingly to him and can wee take way from him to the deuill for auoiding if so we could so profitable discipline and not greatly offend God can a child runne out of his Fathers house to his Fathers enemie when he takes vp the rod not greatly displease or wil it not prouoke him more that he should runne to an enemie to saue him from blowes necessarie the application is easie the vse is next And that is for instruction Vse teaching that they faile much in religion who if a tooth do but ake must seek a charme for it if some lose any thing the deuill by a Witch must bring it againe or if they be sick some wise man that is wizard must bee dealt with for their health if one deuill bewitch them another must be hired it is the deuils wages to vnwitch them as if one deuill should be sought vnto to cast out another of such we may truely say that God is not in all their wayes It was the sinne of Saul 1 Chr. 10.13 and of Ahaziah 2 King 1.2 two Kings and two runne-awayes from God that they lest the path to him and walked in by-paths to graues deuils and can men follow in such an ill leading way and not sinne the same may bee spoken of those who though secrete things belong to God Deut. 29.29 yet by a curious and oâ—erbold enquirie at the starres will force them to speake where God will say nothing is not this to go from the liuing to the dead Esa 8.19 And do starre-gazers better and they that calculate natiuities some are indeede more tolerable then some but they hang all vpon one string all are alike forbidden as an abomination to God Dâ—nter 18.10.11.12.13.15 For here a Prophet is opposed to a Witch and all such Witches children God speaking in the one and the deuill whispering in the other when God hath closed vp a thing with his seale of secretle is it not impious curiositie to offer to open it by an extraordinarie enquirie not at his mouth such arts deserue to be sacrificed wher books of such arts were Act. 19 19. The other occasion of the conference followeth Heard of him came and fell at his feete THE further occasion of this conference was the same that went of Christ which this woman receiued not as matter of talke or of ordinarie newes but as a word of Gospell or glad tidings
and great power as God which teacheth that Christ is an absolute Lord Doct. 2. or Lord of all the Lord that hath the heauen for his inheritance and the ends of the earth for his possession Psal 2.8 The Lord Christ that sitteth at the right hand of God till all his enemies be made his foote-stoole to tread vpon Psal 110. 1 Cor. 15.25 the Lord of life Act. 3 15 and the Lord of glorie 1 Cor. 2.8 also the King of Kings Lord of Lords 1. Tim. 8 15. and this name is written vpon his garment and vpon his thigh for a lasting memoriall Apoc. 19.16 the reasons Christ is one with his Father in title of power and effect of doing and therefore Almightie as he is Ioh. 5.19 10.30 and doing as he who is Almightie doth He is our Michael our strong God Apoc. 12.17 and who so strong but hee that is God Secondly his power appeareth to be aboue all powers created for asmuch as hee made vs of nothing Hebr. 1.2 and redeemed vs being worse then nothing Apoc. 5.9 He that buies a commoditie is owner of it and shall not he haue vs that bought vs so he that makes a work hath the praise of it if it hee praise worthy And shall not hee bee praised in vs and for vs that made vs And if so who is so worthy as Christ and what God among all the Gods like him Thirdly He is the law giuer and ludge of conscience Iam 4.12 and what man what Angel is so and who but he who is Lord of men and Angels The vse is for admonition For is Christ the Lord ouer all Vse 1. wee must acknowledge and vse him as our Lord. Hee offered a price when he offered himselfe 1 Cor. 6.20 and doth not this binde vs to offer our seruice and selues to him This will not be in the generall denied but then in the particular we must obey his word Ioh. 15.14 and be are his correction Hebr. 12.5 we must thinke and speake of him reâ— erently bring gaine and glory to him in the place hee hath set vs. Good Seruants will bee for their Masters lawfull profit and not discredit those whom they serue Christs seruants must be no other to him By their receipts in the power of godlines they must make others better so bring him gaine that way Ministers must put a stock of good people vpon his grounds by attending their charges and Masters of families must not bee gainâ—rs where Christ is a looser they must not keepe in house a bad workeman for the Lord because good for themselues though a swearer a scorner a foul mouth'd talker a prophane person like Esau for practise of religion a meere Atheist all must seeke his kingdom in their places not their own greatnes seuered from it Magistrates must drawe for him and set the point of authoritie to the brest of offenders against his lawes Christians generally must lock their dores against all the prophane fellowship of wicked men against it they must shut the windowes of their senses and the dores of their hearts and not shame the calling whereof Christ is Lord and Maker we say Lord Lord Matth. 7.21 we must not therefore cary the key of our selues at our owne girdles but resigne vp all to the Lord of all wee professe we know Christ and therefore confessing him in word wee must not in our liues denie him Tit. 1.16 Is Christ the absolute Lord Vse 2. or Lord of all this is for much comfort to true Christians all things are subiect to him who hath subdued all things to them he hath troden vpon Satan that they might tread vpon him who else would ride ouer their backes Rom. 16.20 He that is their head is head ouer all and what cause to feare any aduersarie fearing him Queens on earth so long as they please need not care for the displeasure of any subiect Christians by marriage with Christ are his spouse and Queens to him who hath an absolute Souâ—raignty in heauen and earth and therefore need not to feare what men can doe to them the be vnder Christ the royall husband of this wife and so vnder his frouns in all they intend to doe against his Church which is his spouse and Queene vnited to him in a most neere tye He that chained the deuills and can binde men and Tyrants to his pleasure saith to them touch not mine annointed Psal 105.15 Also hee that can raise the countrie and draw the world after him commanding in all the earth saith those mine enemies that will not haue mee to reigne ouer them by mine ordinances and seruants bring hither and slay them before me Luc. 19.27 They that smite the apple of his eye in these shall finde they haue striken him in the eye Zach. 2.8 who will be auenged of them for both eyes Iudg. 16.28 Another vse is for instruction Vse 3. teaching Christians for as much as Christ is the Lord of all to suffer him to dispose of all 〈◊〉 waies whatsoeuer shall befall them here they must remember that all is from him and neuer forget to beare patiently what their Lord hath done Psal 39.9 whether they winne or lose they must with Iob giue thankes and blesse his name that giues and takes away Iob 1 21. with like consideration we must strengthen our patience when strange iudgements come for first we haue deserued worse by our sins and secondly they are sent from him that is Lord of men and angels and hath power as hee sent them so to take them away wee may and should feare when they are toward or vpon vs Psal 119.20 but murmure we may not lest we bee found fighters against God A second vse of instruction is to teach vs to vse no creature seeing we haue all in Christs right and all from him as Lord of all without prayer as by leaue from him 1 Tim. 4.5 wee are here but stewards Luke 16.2 and such as haue all good parts of minde and bodie vpon a reckoning if wee haue learning wit honour wealth the Princes fauour or other good thing besiede they are our masters goods which we haue in an inuentorie from him and therefore to him wee must accompt for them one day he will know to what vse wee haue put them A third vse of instruction is to teach those that are Lords ouer others to remember that they haue a Lord aboue them therefore as fellow seruants in Christ what they command must bee iust and what they impose no other than what the supreme master of both would haue to bee done Eph. 6.9 They must not command nor cause them to breake the sabbath to liâ— to say that euill is good for their pleasure or gaine for the Lord aboue will punish such commanders and hold them guiltlesse that so obey It is necessary therefore in such case for the greatest on earth to looke vp to a greater in heauen In the second
that must perswade in such cases or else when will we beleeue the virginitie of the mother of Christ the three distinct persons in one entire God head the rising againe of the same bodies long ago consumed to dust and nothing and the like sacred mysteries of our most holy faith Some that professe to beleeue in Gods power and goodnesse will yet beleeue no further then they see They will trust God vpon a good pawne as if hee fill their barnes with corne and their purses with money otherwayes they will trust him no more then men will bankrupts Hee hath giuen his faithfull word that they who seeke him in faith Psal 34.10 and serue him in righteousnesse vers 15. shall want no good thing But doe they take him at his word who lie and cosen vse violence and draw bloud to bee rich And do they trust him for their prouision who being poore fall to practises against good conscience steale and take his name in vaine Prou. 30.9 these can skill of nothing but what they haue in hand Where the faithfull beleeue without meanes and against them Dan. 3.17 When they haue nothing they know God hath enough and they sufficient in his store-house of prouidence They will beleeue in his power for their safetie though they should haue all the world against them Psal 3.5 6. and though they be drunken with gall and wormwood they will not doubt to be made sober againe with the sweet mercies of the God of their saluation A direction for Gods mourners Vse 2. when with Isaac readie to be offered vp they see the fearfull knife and wood but not the Lambe for sacrifice Gen. 22.7 that is see their fearfull changes but not the issues of them In this case they are here taught with Abraham to say in their faith that God will prouide that is worke though they see not how ver 8. Indeed when the fauour of God is in the eclipse God darkeneth for that time all the lights of his children they cannot see his loue and they feele a great measure of his wrath in the best things they do Hence they iudge themselues to bee cast-awayes from the life of Christ which is the case of Gods best Saints It was the case of Iob Dauid Hezekâ—ah Ieremiah and other of the Lords worthies Iob 13.26 Psal 77.7 8 9. Isa 38.10 11 12. c. Ier. 20.14 15 But their darknesse brake vp after a while and their Sunne returned as after a recouery out of some great eclipse or losse of light Therefore meane while and so long as thou feelest such an eclipse of thy lights remember the yeares of the right hand of the most high Psalm 77.10 his former mercie and truth toward thee which are in him without repentance Rom. 11.29 And when thou hast greatest temptations to despaire labour most against them Though thou canst see no reason to beleeue yet beleeue with all thy heart If Gods fauour seeme to be gone in the eye of thy reason looke abroad with the better eye of thy faith the eye that seeth euen those things that are not and it will giue that a being which reason giues for lost The obiect of faith is the promise of God not things vnder sight And therefore when all things seeme to go one way and when heauen and earth the Sunne Moone starres and all the elements go against vs here is iust matter for our faith a grace that is able to draw some thing out of nothing Here let vs beleeue and wrestle against hope vnder hope and vnder the darke cloud against hell and deuils that enuy our saluation If they say ye haue lost Gods fauour let vs say and with the voyce of faith say it is lost to our feeling but not to our faith for we beleeue and we will beleeue though the Lord should kill vs Iob 13.15 And thus the doctrine of faiths obiect in things not visible or not presently seene will be a good cloke for the weather when rainy dayes come And what storme can stay vs in our spirituall course being so well prouided against what may come hereafter The third vse is for conuiction Vse 3 And here desperate is all the Religion of Poperie which standeth altogether vpon sense for worshipping and vpon sense for saluation They cannot pray but before a Crucifixe nor worship deuoutly but before an Image And for their saluation it is in works that are visible not in grace that saueth vs. Ephes 2.8 Beyond the eye of reason and further then the care of sense they will not haue the Ignorants that follow them to go for assurance that they shall be saued They must not beleeue their owne saluation a thing they cannot see onely they must hold it in a slippery hope or certaintie vncertaine But the old saying is here true As good neuer a whit as neuer the better To allow a certaintie that may faile and they allow no better is in a seeming to build and in true substance to pull downe Looke Rom. 8 15. Mark 11.24 1. Ioh. 3.23 Rom. 5.5 Luk. 10 20. 2. Cor. 13.5 The particular effect followeth The Deuil is gone out of thy daughter WE haue heard of the generall issue now followeth the particular subsequent effect or successe of this conserence The deuill that did go into this womans daughter is now gone out compelled by Christs authoritie and soueraigntie Where wee may consider what Christ said to the woman in these words and what followed vpon it in the next Christ tells her that the deuill is gone we must thinke against his will and dispossessed by a stronger euen Christ that had cast him out And here obserue That Christ is the Soueraigue Lord of the deuils Doctr. The Author to the Hebrews saith that hee had destroyed him that had the power of death to wit the deuill Hebr. 2.14 the effects shew it For he commanded the foule spirits and they came out Luk. 4.36 Now to command and get obedience is to haue dominion The deuils confesse as much who therefore cry out at his approach toward them Matth. 8.29 Also how may deuils being entred into men did he cast out with his onely word Mark 5.8 9 10. and 9.25 26. The seuentie when then returned said to Christ Lord euen the deuils were subdued vnto vs through thy Name Luk. 10.17 And how then can he but haue authoritie ouer the deuils of whom this is spoken and by whom so much is done Reasons The reasons So much was promised to Christ the feed of Mary Genes 3.15 and Gods promises neuer faile can neuer for if hee say the word it is done Psalm 33.9 Secondly this was the end for which God his Father sent him 1 Iohn 3.8 and what shall crosse the way of his ends Mens ends haue a superiour disposer Pro. 26.33 and commonly are ill set but who can say so of Gods ends that they haue a superiour and that they are not well set and what then