they here take and that which wee must take in the like distresse according to the measure of the affliction and as it is more publike or priuate so must be the measure of our lamentation To this there is a promise made in the prophesie of Isaiah c. That when our hands cannot help our selues nor our tongues preuaile with others yet then wee may relieue our selues by our prayers vnto God Isaiah 61. 12. c. for in that place the Lord vndertaketh that mourners shal be comforted c. God the Father sends his owne sonne and the Father and the Sonne doe send the holy Ghost that when men are mourning and seele their pouertie so as it breakes their hearts the spirit which is the comforter may minister comfort vnto them that when they feele their captiuitie and imprisonment as it were Christ Iesus may set them at libertie be they neuer so weake neuer so meane neuer so miserable neuer so sinfull if once they come thus to mourne they shall haue their hearts comforted though they bee couered with ashes God will giue them beautie for ashes and put on them the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heauines bestowing vpon them that which shall make them cheerefull euen the oyle of ioy not an earthly but an heauenly oyle And there is great cause why God should deale so with such kinde of persons for Reasons 1 1 Hee is full of pitie and compassion and therefore the prophet Ioel in his 2. Chap. vers 13. biddeth vs rent our hearts and not our garments Ioel. 2.13 that is bring inward sorrow that may crush and breake the heart and then turne vnto the Lord which if we doe wee shal be sure of reliefe and why the Lord is mercifull saith hee and our God is very readie to forgiue When wee see our children mourning and confessing their faults wee cannot but haue our bowels of compassion earning towards them If Iacob had stood by and heard his sonne Iosephs pitifull moane that in the anguish of his soule hee made vnto his brethren when they dealt so vnnaturallie with him would hee not haue pitied him and by strong hand haue rescued him from his cruell sonnes What shall wee then thinke of God he is farre more mercifull than Iacob was and wee are neerer vnto him than euer Ioseph was vnto his father And therefore when wee mourne in a holy manner certainely hee will arise and haue mercy vpon vs. Hee cannot slay when he sees our hearts full of sorrow and our eyes full of teares for the sighs and groanes of his people doe giue him no rest in heauen Secondly this godly mourning must needs be a speciall remedie in all manner of afflictions because it makes our prayers very forcible it sets an edge vpon our petitions and makes vs pray heartily feruently and strongly When Iacob wept in his prayer it was so effectuall that hee preuailed Genesis 32.11 When Gods people ioyned together to powre forth buckets full of teares drawne from the bottome of their hearts before the Lord they were marueilously helped 1. Sam. 7.6 for the great measure of their teares made their supplications more feruent and therefore it is said of Christ Iesus himselfe that in the dayes of his flesh hee did offer vp prayers with strong crying Heb. 5.7 and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death When our Sauiour was about the principal point of his mediatorship then did he gather strength vnto himselfe by this meanes Thirdly this must needs be very effectuall because it is exceeding forcible against sinne for when sorrow comes into the heart sinne goes out it will not lodge there vnlesse it bee cockered and made much of When euery one laments his iniquitie and mournes ouer Christ Iesus whom hee hath pierced by his sinnes then there is a fountaine opened to wash them from all euen from sins that made a separation betwixt God and vs. Zacharie 12. 13. Seeing then that this godly and holy sorrow is a means to make God pitie vs to make vs call earnestly vpon him and to expell sinne which might hinder vs from preuailing with him it must needes follow that of all remedies in times of distresse this is the best and surest Vse 1 This serues for instruction vnto vs to vse all meanes and furtherances whereby wee may attaine vnto this There are many afflictions abroad many neerer home in our owne townes and families nay there are many things amisse in our owne hearts here is a medicine for euetie one of our maladies let vs get it and vse it and all arguments and helps that may continue and increase it as the Nineuites hauing direction by the spirit of God as many of them as were his did when Ionah threatned destruction against their citie within fortie dayes they abased themselues and fell to mourning and vsed fasting to helpe it onward the people must shew it in their countenances the lowing of the beasts and crying of the infants must further them to this holy remorse and griefe for their great and haynous transgressions They had grieued the Lord by their iniquities and therefore now they would grieue themselues with godly contrition for them Hence it was that Gods people amongst the Iewes vsed to weare sack-cloth to lie on the ground and to put dust vpon their heads which were then meanes to further them in the worke of humiliation Therefore now that wee feare danger is neere vs let vs betake our selues to this holy mourning if wee refuse to doe it and still continue to be hard-hearted if the pestilence come into our families wee are likelie to be taken away with the first and to haue not only our bodies but our soules in danger and that of Gods wrath and euerlasting displeasure Therefore let vs seeke to haue our hearts mollified by this excellent meanes of God and for this end consider of the blessings of God plentifully powred downe vpon our nation Nehemi 9. and vpon out selues in particular as they did in the day of their humiliation of whom Nehemiah maketh mention Let vs seriously recount how many mercies wee haue enioyed and how much they haue beene abused how many afflictions wee haue felt and how little wee haue beene bettered how many deliuerances wee haue found and yet how carelesse nay how rebellious we haue beene notwithstanding them all Let vs weigh with our selues what hurt our sins haue done vnto vs how many good thinges they haue turned from vs and how many euils they haue puld vpon vs and aboue all let vs remember what a huge weight and multitude of miseries they haue brought vpon our Sauiour namely debasement and humiliation sorrowes and sufferings assaults and temptations the heauie burden of our guiltines and the greeuous punishment due for our deserts the rage and violence of most malicious men and the wrath and displeasure of the most righteous God torments of bodie and terrors
three supplications to the Iudge we would aske him presently But what answere receiued you If he should tell vs nay I neuer lookt to that we would not thinke hee should speed much the better for all his supplications Such is the case of hypocrites that draw neere vnto God with their lips but not with their hearts though they thinke themselues the safer and better for that yet in truth they are not because they had neuer in their liues any signe of Gods loue towards them for good vpon the making of their suites knowne vnto him And therefore let them get some of this store for that is it that will stand them more in stead than all the goods in the world Vse 2 Secondly here is a vse of comfort for them that haue lost the sight and feeling of Gods fauor Had they it euer at all Then they shall bee sure to haue it againe Psal 77.3.4.5.6 For this was Dauids case Hee did thinke on God and was more troubled hee prayed and his spirit was full of anguish and all seemed to make against him What then I considered saith hee the daies of old and the yeeres of ancient time I called to remembrance my song in the night I communed with mine owne heart and my spirit searched diligently c. He recounts with himselfe how faithfull hee had beene vnto God how mercifull God had beene vnto him and then his little sparke of hope and comfort became a great flame If a man haue old prouision he will doe well enough in the hardest times If one can say frō an humble and sincere heart Lord thou knowest that I haue shed many a bitter teare in secret for my sinnes I haue often with ioy praised thee for thy mercies and powred out my heart in singing Psalmes in priuate I haue sought thee in the night when no bodie was by when no eye was priuie vnto it and at such times thou hast vouchsafed to looke downe from heauen with a mercifull eye vpon me and hast filled my soule with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious c. If I say one haue these and the like euidences from former experience hee may assure his heart that God will still be found of him in goodnesse till the shutting vp of his daies and neuer withdraw his louing kindnesse from him Obiect Oh but now God frownes vpon mee and withholds his louing countenance from me Answer What then Hath there not beene a time when you could say God drew neere vnto you and beheld you with a fauourable eye Yes they cannot denie that why then neuer feare he will returne againe though hee hide his face for a time Albeit heauinesse may indure for a night Psal 30.5 yet ioy shall come in the morning For if God bee once ours hee is euer ours And this should bee the staffe and stay of Christians when they haue lost their feeling Vers 56. Stop not thine eare from my sigh and from my cry Here is shewed what seruice they brought vnto God they did not pray alone but sigh nor sigh alone but cry That is they drew forth their prayers from a feruent heart which was as a thirstie land that gapes for the raine and is euen readie to eate vp and to deuoure the clouds Which words afford vs this doctrine Doct. 5 That they that would not haue God to shut his eares against their prayers Feruencie in prayer requisite Ioel 2.13 must bee sure that they sigh and crie and that their petitions proceede from a broken heart and from an humble spirit So the Prophet Ioel bids them rend your hearts and not your garments c. For till the heart be euen puld in pieces by godly sorrow sinne and lust will not out and then there can bee no acceptance looked for with God either of vs or of our seruices Psal 51.17 Therefore Dauid saith the sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Mark 7.34 1. Sam. 1.15 Therefore did Christ grone in his spirit when he prayed for that poore man in the Gospell So did Hannah sigh and weepe sore and powred out her soule before God Reason And there is good reason to moue vs to labor thus inwardly to bee touched For till wee haue the sense and feeling of our wants wee may well speake but wee can neuer pray till the heart be pained with sinne and corruption it is impossible to be feruent for the pardon of it as it is for one that hath no feeling of pouertie earnestly to intreat for a supply of his necessities and for one that hath no sense of his sicknesse to be an instant suter for the meanes of health Vse 1 First this serues for the reproofe of those that come with drowsie and verball prayers who deale like corrupt and naughtie Lawyers that looke for a fee and yet when they are at the barre tell a drowsie and idle tale without any feeling of their clients cause So many there are that come with words of course to intreat God to pardon their sins and strengthen their faith but neuer powre out their soules before God but onelie spend a little breath And they speed accordingly for their cold prayers bring but cold successe And this is true not onelie of the wicked Psal 32. but euen of the godly Dauid rored and cried but hee was neuer the better till hee confessed his sinne being inwardly grieued for the same but then both sinne and punishment were remoued at once This may teach vs to striue with the Lord in our prayers and supplications laboring for this crying and sighing that is so needefull and then dooing as here the Church did wee shall speed as they did Many there are that sigh in their troubles Iam. 5.9 But how Iames telles vs They sigh one against another and not vnder the burden of their sinnes nor through an earnest desire of Gods mercie They sigh vnder the waight of vnkindnesses that lie vpon them and clamor against men but haue little feeling of their owne vnkindnesses against God to bee humbled for them But these are sighs of the flesh and not of the spirit Let vs grone from a broken heart and the Lord will giue vs life Isa 57.15 when wee are troubled in spirit and the longer we waite and crie the greater measure of comfort we shall haue and the longer it shall tarrie with vs. Vers 57. Thou drewest neere Not in his essence for so is hee alwaies alike neere but in his mercifull presence and with gratious deliuerance Which words thus vnderstood doe yeeld vs this point of doctrine Doct. 6 That in the day that wee draw neere to God in prayer God will draw neere to vs in mercie God is as readie to heare as vve to pray when we send vp our petitions vnto him he will send downe speedie and comfortable helpe vnto vs. Those that are suters vnto God shall bee alwaies
of soule and death it selfe a painefull death a shamefull death and a cursed death Vse 2 Secondly hereby may those bee confuted that thinke it dangerous to meditate on such things as will discomfort them and bring them to desperation as they speake and therefore they would haue no man to tell them of their sinnes but let them heare of the mercies of God in Christ that they are likely to escape Gods hand when the pestilence comes neere them though others escape not but bee swept away on euery side of them beeing notwithstanding as good or better than themselues Farre bee it from vs that any here present should haue such thoughts or giue such eare to such carnall counsell There is no danger in Christian sorrow but the more of it the better And therefore the Apostle Iames saith Iam. 4.9 Suffer affliction or afflict your selues and sorrow and weepe and if any thing keepe you from mourning away with it let goe laughter and let carnall mirth be turned into mourning and your ioy into heauinesse O then you cannot cast downe your selues so lowe but God will raise you vp againe Obiection Obiect Oh but to weepe and lament it is not manhood it argues that men want courage and fortitude and is altogether vnbeseeming the person of a man they will trust in God they say and neuer mourne for the matter Solution Doth it argue want of courage to lament Nay it argues want of faith not to lament for sinne What doe they thinke of Iacob was he a coward They cannot say so for the holy Ghost giues him that commendation that he had strength and courage not onely to preuaile against men but with the Angell of the couenant And what was his conflict Hosea 12.3.4 Hee wept and prayed as the Prophet Hosea witnesseth Was this cowardlines Nothing lesse for the scripture commends it for notable strength And further what doe they thinke of Dauid was hee a coward they will not so disgrace that renowned king and worthy captaine of the Lords host as to lay vpon him the imputation of cowardise yet hee makes mention of his teares and that often Psal 6.6 Psal 9.136 as in the Psalmes where he saith that hee watered his couch with teares that his eves did gush forth with riuers of teares because men kept not Gods lawe and such like And what will they say to all Gods people of whom it is said Zacharie 12 that they should mourne as they did for Iosiah in the valley of Itadadrimmon where hee was slaine whose death all Israell did bitterly bewaile and as one mourneth for his first borne the only heire and hope of the familie What will they answere to this will they condemne all Gods people for a generation of cowards Nay this is so farre from bewraying want of fortitude that wee may boldly say that when men are fullest of such teares they are fullest of fortitude For what shall wee thinke of the Lord Iesus Christ had hee no heart was hee destitute of courage that could not possibly bee Nay when hee was to exercise the fulnesse of his power to vndertake such a worke as no creature durst attempt when hee was to offer vp himselfe to his father as a sacrifice for the sinnes of the Elect when hee was to encounter the Lords wrath and his iustice Sathan and death heil and damnation and all the power of darkenes that same time hee wept and that abundantly Heb. 5. And I hope none will say that then our Sauiours strength failed him notwithstanding his bitter teares and cries In trueth those that doe not weepe when there is cause they are without heart and vtterly voide of true fortitude subiect to marueilous feares and violent distempers which arise from a base minde for what is the reason they are so affraide of death but because they haue not mourned for their sinnes and so remoued the sting of death which if they had done they would triumph ouer death and say with S. Paul 1. Cor. 15. O Death where is thy sting their hearts would then stand fast as the strong mountaines and not bee affraide of any ill tidings Psal 112. Psal 91.6 Not not of the pestilence that walketh in the darke nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone day Vse 3 3 Thirdly this makes exceedingly for the comfort of those that are mourners in Sion they are in fauor with God and out of the reach of al danger so that nothing can befall them for hurt Blessed are those that mourne Math. 5.4 for they shall bee comforted more happie is the poore man that weepes for his sinne than the greatest potentate that reioyceth in the flesh Vers 18. For the destruction of the daughter of my people Here is the cause of their lamentation it was the ruines and calamities of Gods Church and poore distressed seruants whence this doctrine may be gathered Doct. 2. What afflictions doe go neerest the hearts of the Saints That the greatest affliction that shoulde touch the hearts of Gods people is the affliction of the Church as is euident out of this text For when Gods inheritance was spoiled some put to the sword others led captiue the temple of God razed and the exercises of religion abolished this made them to grieue exceedingly this was it that wrought vpon Ieremie and made him breake forth into those wishes Oh that mine head were full of water Ieremy 9.1 and that mine eyes were a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people As if hee could not haue his fill nor weepe enough for the desolations of Sion and the miserable ouerthrow thereof which he foresawe This was it that went neere the heart of good Nehemiah who beeing in great prosperitie Nehem. 1.4 2.1.2.3 cup-bearer to the mightiest Monarch that was then in the world and in speciall fauour with him yet for the affliction and reproch wherein the Church of God was hee conceiued such inward sorrow that he was sad in the kings presence which yet was a thing that he must and would haue forborne if possibly hee could Moses goes further hee does not onely mourne but is content to lay downe his prosperitie and to expose his estate to a manifest ouerthrow so that hee might helpe forward the deliuerance of the afflicted Israelites Heb. 11.24.25.26 Act. 7. and saue them from the hands of their oppressors For he knew he could not be in fauor with Pharoah if he should ioyne with them whom hee so cruelly handled but hee chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter Hester seemes to goe somewhat beyond him for she resolues with her selfe for the cause of the Iewes who were then all destinated to slaughter to aduenture her life in going to the king in their behalfe Hester 4.16 I will goe saith shee though it be
their manner of dealing and this is the propertie of all such wicked Moabites they cannot speake of the calamities of the faithfull but they are wonderfully affected with ioy so that they cannot sit still in their places they are so moued with mirth and laughter These haue cruell hearts and shal be met withall accordingly as Moab was 5 But especially are those here to be condemned that doe not onelie reioyce at the troubles but at the sinnes of those that are religoiously affected if they slippe through infirmitie and fall into any sinne if they bee ouergone with worldlines which is greatly to be taken heede of if they be lifted vp with pride and manifest the same by violence of words or actions or be stained with any the like vices presently they exclaime against them and take on beyond measure â—ot you what say they the great professor hath spoken or done this or that and so they are as glad together as if they had gotten a kingdome and came home in triumph Herein they shew themselues to bee right Satans who takes pleasure in nothing so much as in sinne 6 And yet there is one higher degree of sinne contrarie to the practise of these holy ones which is when men are so farre from grieuing that it goes ill with Gods seruants that if they be somewhat amisse they will make them worse and help forward their misery and for that end misinforme and incense such against them as they know will inflict punishments vpon them These are inspired by the spirit of Satan as those who are mentioned in this text are inspired by the spirit of God Vse 2 2 This is for great comfort vnto them that can mourne for the calamities of the church This is a notable testimonie that they are feeling members and haue in them the life of christianitie when others troubles are theirs others losses theirs others reproches theirs and any distresses and straites of others are made theirs They that lament for Sion Isa 66.10 shal be comforted with Sion God hath promised them singular consolation it is their portion and they may confidently expect it Vers 49. Mine eye droppeth without stay From which words this doctrine may bee gathered Doct. 3. How long humiliation must be continued That wee must neuer cease our humiliation till God giue consolation When the Lord ministreth vnto vs occasion of griefe wee should neuer surcease vntill he reuine our hearts We must not begin in the spirit and end in the flesh but hauing a good entrance wee must goe on with our worke and bring it to perfection and if God giue vs a heart to mourne set to it and neuer giue ouer till hee set vs free Lament 2. vers 18.19 So they are exhorted in an other chapter of this booke Let teares runne downe like a riuer day and night take thee no rest neither let the apple of thine eye cease arise cry in the night powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord c. And iust it is that we should neuer make an ende of mourning till God make an ende of afflicting accordnig to their example who are mentioned in Nehemiah that wept at the hearing of the Law Mehemi 8.9 till they were bid to reioyce It was a notable commendation of that people that they would not leaue off till they had warrant to leaue off So Mordecai when Queene Hester sent him garments to cloath him and would haue had his sackoloth to be taken from him hee would not receiue them Hester 4.4 but humbled himselfe so long till hee was assured of deliuerance So Iacob would neuer let goe his holde Gen. 32.26 but stil wrestles with the Angell and continues weeping and praying till hee obtained a blessing so the woman of Canaan stickes close to it Math. 15.22 c. and is importunate with Christ for her daughter and would neuer desist nor let her suite fall till shee had preuailed with our Sauiour And there are reasons why wee must neuer breake off but still continue our humiliation and feruencie till God shew by good effect that he hath mercifully respected vs and our supplications Reason 1 1 For first what is the ground of true humiliation Is it not sinceritie Now wheresoeuer there is sinceritie there is faith and faith will neuer make an ende till it conquer it neuer giues the onset but it obtaines the victorie For it hath to deale with God and hee neuer bids it make an ende vnlesse it be by way of triall as hee dealt with Iacob and with the woman of Canaan till it haue gotten the desired successe 2 A second reason may be that Gods children haue hope as well as faith now hope neuer makes ashamed Rom. 5.5 because it is neuer disappointed of the thing hoped for 3 Thirdly they haue loue which makes vp a threefolde corde euery twist whereof is stronger than all the cords of the world for loue is strong as death c the coales thereof are fierie coales Cant. 8.6.7 and a vehement flame Much water cannot quench loue neither can the floods drowne it c. In regard of all these it is impossible that those that foundly begin the worke of humiliation should bee put backe vntill they haue obtained their purpose Which may be further seene in the spouse Canticles 3. who neuer giues ouer seeking till shee had found him whom her soule loued Vse 1 1 This therefore is to encourage men to godly constancie and importunitie when any distresse lies vpon the people of God If they be earnest for their deliuerance they shall not misse of their marke but those that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy in the due time of the Lord. Whether they bee futers for the church or commonwealth or for themselues in regard of crosses on their bodies anguishes in their soules or afflictions in their estate the Lord will looke downe from his holy place in heauen vpon them and heare and helpe them at length if they perseuere without fainting This is liuely and notably expressed vnto vs in the parable of the vnrighteous Iudge who though hee feared not God Iub 18.12 nor reuerenced man yet heard the poore widow and in the end did her right against her aduersarie because of her importunitie Oh then what shall wee thinke of God will a man will a wicked man will a mercilesse man bee moued by importunitie and wil not God will not the gratious God will not the God that is full of compassion be moued to auenge his seruants and to minister iustice vnto theÌ„ I tell you saith Christ I that am the wisedome of the Father Luk 18.8 and know all things euen I tell you that he will do it He will auenge them and that quickly It is as possible that God should bee without ease as that they should be without helpe Vse 2 2 Secondly they come iustly here to be reproued that will
set vpon Gods seruices only by fits and starts If they haue not present helpe from God they will seeke vnto the world and vnto Satan and to carnall meanes If they cannot mend their estate by prayer they will patch it vp by odde shifts if their hearts haue not present comfort from Gods spirit they will seeke comfort from iesters and leaud companions Commonly such people grow of all other most bitter against those holy exercises which they haue profaned and therefore could haue no benefit by them Such were they of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh who are so impudent and shamelesse that they dare expostulate the matter with God himselfe VVherefore haue wee fasted say they wee haue punished our selues and thou regardest it not Isa 48.3 c See what bragges they make of their seruices they that doe least and worst commonly brag most But what saies the Prophet Behold in the day of your fast yee will seeke your owne will and require all your debts 4. Beholde yee fast to strife and debate c. 5. Is it such a fast that I haue chosen that a man should afflict his soule for a day and bow downe his head like a bull-rush c. Thus wee see what reckoning God makes of their fasting what account so euer they themselues make of it and yet if they faile of their expectation they will quarrell with the Ministers of God with the word of God and with God himselfe because vsing such exercises carnally they receiued no benefit by them Vse 3 3 This must be an instruction vnto vs whē we are to deale with those that are afflicted in their soules that we handle the matter warilie and circumspectly when their hearts are wrought vpon we should not help them too soone out of their sorrow but exhort them to waite for comfort frō heauen for all cannot be presently well with the soule and therefore it is good wisedome to aduise such still to hold on their course Haue they begun to examine their hearts let them rifle yet further into them Haue they begunne to dislike their sinnes and themselues for their sinnes let them get a more thorow detestation and holy indignation against them It is not good for one that takes physicke to giue vp the potion forthwith as soone as it begins to worke Peter as a wise physition gaue other counsell to his hearers that began to bee moued by his doctrine They had beene mockers and scoffers they had crucified the Lord of life and so exceedingly endangered their owne soules wherewith beeing charged by Peter and being pricked and stung in their hearts and consciences they aske the Apostles Men and brethren Act. 2.37.38 what shall wee doe He doth not tell them as some vnskillfull Ministers would your case is good bee not discomforted my soule for yours you shall doe well but hee bids them amend their liues repent and get sound and heartie sorrow for their sinnes that so beeing throughly humbled they might afterwards bee soundly comforted Doct. 4. The eye must affect the heart Vers 51. Mine eye breaketh mine heart The meaning of which words is that his heart was marueilously moued with the things that his eye did behold Whence this doctrine offreth it selfe for our learning That good men must vse their eyes to stirre vp their hearts to pitie and compassion that so they may be pierced with griefe and sorrow This wee haue proued vnto vs in the example of Christ Iesus the most absolute paterne of all holinesse Mark 6.34 For it is said of him by the Euangelist Marke That when he lifted vp his eyes and sawe the multitude which had no faithfull Ministers to instruct them his very bowels were moued with commiseration towards them because they were as sheepe without a shepheard In this regard it is that Salomon describing a good man Pro. 22.9 calls him a man of a good eye and saies of such an one That hee will bestow his bread vpon the poore hee seeth the faces of some pale and of others blacke by reason of long want and forbearance of foode Others hee beholdeth naked and colde and exposed to the iniurie of the ayre and of all sorts of vnseasonable weather Now hauing a good eye hee will not onely take a view of them but bee inwardly affected with the sight of them and from a tender and pitifull heart minister reliefe vnto them Hence was it Act. 7.23 Exod. 2.11 that Moses did not content himselfe to know of the miseries of his poore brethren the Israelites by heare-say but hee would goe out to see their burdens and how they spent their paines and their strength and after all were recompenced with stripes from their taske-masters which did so worke vpon him that it made him stretch forth his hand to auenge some of them So likewise in the Gospell of Matthew it is set downe as the propertie of all holy and religious persons Mat. 25.36 that they will goe to the prison to see and to the house to visit the distressed members of Christ and take all occasions to bring their owne hearts to pitie their poore brethren and will euen compell their inward parts to beare a burden with them that they may bee more helpfull vnto them Vse 1 Which makes greatly for the reproofe of those whose eyes and eares are as filthy sinkes to conuey all vncleanenesse into them who haue eyes full of adulterie 1. An adulterous eye that they cannot looke about them but they are stirred vp to beastly and vile lusts Who haue eyes full of enuie 2. An enuious eye that they cannot beholde their brethren that are equall vnto them or goe before them or come neere vnto them but presently they fret against them and others welfare is their woe and miserie Others haue a wicked eye 3. A couetous eye that they cannot looke vpon their neighbors cattle houses possessions and the like but forthwith their hearts are poisoned with a couetous desire of them and then they cast about how they may make them theirs and if they cannot they eate vp their hearts with discontentment as Ahab did Pro. 28.22 Agreeable to this is the place of Salomon where hee saith A man of a wicked eye lusteth after riches but hee shews there that God meetes with him for hee shal be so farre from getting more that hee shall not keepe that which hee hath but the more he runnes after riches the faster pouertie shall pursue him Another kinde of ill eye is a niggardly eye 4. A niggardly eye spoken of by the wise man in the Prouerbs Pro. 23.6 where hee giueth this counsell Eate not the bread of him that hath an euill eye c. that thinkes all lost that goes from him and all taken out of his stomacke that goes into other mens bowels hee will giue men a welcome for fashion sake but all that eate of his meate are a vexation vnto him and
sure of good successe euen aboue that that they can aske or thinke Whether their requests bee that their enemies may bee repressed or that their owne corruptions may be subdued or whatsoeuer els they shall bee sure to speed well Math. 7.8 So saith our Sauiour VVhosoeuer asketh receiueth and hee that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall bee opened Let one knocke at the chamber of Presence of an earthly King if he be poore and base he shall be bid to stand backe and if he make not the more hast hee may chance to haue a rappe to send him backward but let one knocke at Gods presence chamber how meane and contemptible so euer hee bee hee shall haue no repulse Ps 145.18.19 As Dauid testifieth God is neere to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in truth hee will fulfill the desires of those that feare him Though their hearts bee so oppressed that they can bring no words that is no matter God will haue respect to their verie desires Men will not heare such many times as haue beene good and faithfull seruants vnto them but God will heare such as haue beene rebels against him if once his feare be planted in their hearts This wee see in the booke of Chronicles where it is said 2 Chron. 13.3 that the Israelites liued many yeares without the true God And why because they had no preaching nor powerfull ministerie no Priest to teach them as there it is said yet whosoeuer returned in his miserie and sought God Ast. 2. hee was found of him according to that saying VVhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued An example of Gods goodnesse in this regard we haue in Ionah who albeit hee had dealt foolishly and was cast into the sea for it Luke 23.42.43 yet God heard him out of the bellie of the fish and set him vpon the dry land againe So the theefe on the crosse had beene a notable malefactor yet hee no sooner opened his mouth for mercie but Christ though in great extremitie at that time respected him and his suite neuer casting him in the teeth with his old sinnes 2. Chron. 33. So Manasses had beene a wofull and miserable sinner yet when hee cried to the Lord in his distresse hee heard him set him free and restored him againe to his kingdome Hee had done euill in the sight of the Lord like the abominations of the heathen hee reuiued Idolatrie which his father had abolished worshipped the host of heauen defiled the Temple of God caused his sonnes to passe thorow the fire gaue himselfe to witchcraft and charming and sorcerie and did very much euill in the sight of the Lord and that to anger him After all this God admonished him by his Prophets but hee would not heare Then the Lord brought vpon him the captaines of the host of Ashur which put him in fetters and bound him in chaines and caried him to Babell Now being in sore tribulation he prayed vnto the Lord his God who was intreated by him and heard his prayer And to shut vp all whatsoeuer our case bee in Psalme 107. it is shewed that if wee seeke to the Lord wee shal haue helpe Psal 107.10 c. Some are rebels and care not for the word of God but despise the counsels of the most high then he casts them in prison and binds them in brasse and iron so that all their hope is gone at length they lay about them to cry vnto the Lord which they can no sooner doe but hee breakes the gates of brasse and the barres of iron a sunder and sets them at libertie so that an humble and feruent prayer wee see draws vs out of bondage and sets vs at large and in stead of mourning and heauinesse giues vs matter of reioycing and praising of God Another is cast into the sea euery foote readie to bee swallowed vp the Pilot hath neither skill nor will to helpe yet when their prayers ascend vnto heauen God rebukes the sea and the winds and they are quickly at the hauen where they would be And so for famine and euerie other miserie God hath a medicine for euerie sicknesse and a salue for euery sore and when men crie vnto him hee is readie to help them in all extremities as is there more particularlie and at large specified Vse 1 1 Which serues to reprooue our miserable blindnesse and hardnesse who notwithstanding Gods sufficiencie and readines to helpe yet will seeke vnto vaine helps digging to our selues cesterns that will hold no water If the Lord had euer failed vs or any other that rested on him there had beene some reason to doe so but seeing God would haue vs beholding vnto him and he hath neuer failed any that waited vpon him why should we not turne to God rather than goe to any other Obiect Oh but the times are hard and the world is naught Ansvver It is so to you because you are so to God and iust it is that you should not finde reliefe because you seeke it not where it might bee found Vse 2 Secondly this makes for singular consolation would wee know how it shall goe with vs for bodie and soule for name and state and all then let vs looke what course wee take Doe wee call vpon the name of God Then help and comfort is at hand God is neere vnto all them that call vpon him in truth though not with that strength of faith as they should If wee seeke him hee will be found of vs. Math. 7 8. Hee limiteth vs not for time nor things and therefore we may looke for helpe at all times and in all things and when wee haue most neede then wee shall bee sure of the best helpe But if wee would be certaine of this comfort wee must withall obserue these rules Rules to be obserued Iob 11.14 1 That wee put all wickednesse out of our hearts and out of our hands that wee humble our selues and turne from our wicked waies Let vs remoue our sinnes 2. Chron. 7.14 Jam. 4 8. and God will remoue our crosses So Iames exhorts them Purge your hands yee sinners and your hearts yee hypocrites that is it that they must doe if they would haue God to draw neere vnto them For God loues not to dwell in a heart defiled with sinne he will turne his eyes and eares from vs if we continue in our euill waies because when our tongues crie for mercie our sinnes crie for vengeance Obiect But will some man say who can looke for hearing from God if the case stand thus for who can come to him without iniquitie Answer Though wee cannot come without iniquitie yet wee may come without the loue and liking of iniquitie and with sorrow and shame for our iniquitie and then it neuer hinders our prayers as wee see in the examples before alleaged 2 An other rule is Cant. 3.1
c. that wee must seeke God by all his meanes as in that place of the Canticles before alleged when the Church had lost Christ that is the feeling of his loue and the sense of that communion which formerlie she had had with him she vseth all priuate and publike meanes and at length commeth to conference with Gods seruants which few will doe till they be driuen to it of necessitie and then hauing waited a while she finds him whom her soule loued The same must bee our practise if one medicine will not serue the turne vse another Pray fast meditate conferre and then at last the Lord will be found in mercie But as we are slacke in vsing any of the meanes so shall wee faile in our comfortable expectation of fauor from God 3 The last rule is that we must vse the meanes diligentlie and in good earnest for if wee haue a base account of Gods mercies Iam. 5.16 Psal 72.12 it is iust wee should goe without them The prayer of the righteous auailes much but with this condition if it bee feruent God deliuereth the poore when he crieth If they would haue hearing there must bee crying God powres forth floods of grace Isa 44.3 but vpon whom On the thirstie ground Hence is it that a number reade and heare and pray and yet preuaile not because they doe it so drowsilie and carelesselie The Lord deferres to helpe them because they are not fit for helpe and doe not striue and wrestle in their prayers as Iacob did Hosea 12.3 Let vs therefore vse all the meanes and that with constancie and carefulnesse and then wee shall obtaine our hearts desire in mercie Vers 57. Thou saiedst Feare not Not that there came any such voice vnto their eares or that God vsed any extraordinarie meanes to speake vnto them but when they drew neere to God and cast their cares vpon him and laid open their sorrowes vnto him God did so comfort them as if hee had spoken vnto them they were content to make him their stay and to trust him with their soule and state and all and then hee pacified their hearts and gaue them an expected answere to their prayers Now in that God said Feare not the point is Doct. 7. God onelie frees the heart from feares That God onelie cancure the heart of feares If ten thousand Prophets had said vnto them feare not if God had not said so by his spirit they would haue feared for al that Reasons 1 For first men cannot remoue the cause of feare which God can Thence it is that the wicked flee when none pursueth them Pro. 28.1 whereas the righteous are bold as a Lion Because their sinnes are remoued and they reconciled to God through Christ who hath made a sufficient paiment for them to satisfie his fathers iustice 2 Secondly God onelie can giue saith which rids the heart of feare in which regard Christ saith Math. 8. why did you feare O yee of little faith Implying thereby that all our troublesome distempers proceede from want of faith Now because none can giue that but the liuing God therefore none can heale the heart of feares but onelie God 3 A third reason is because God onelie can put his true feare into our hearts Ieremy 31. Ezekiel 3.6 which is a mightie defence against false feares Godly sorrow is a strong fortresse against worldly sorrow and godlie ioy a strong bulwarke against carnall ioy Therefore it is said Psal 102.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord c. Hee shall not bee afraide of ill tidings Vse 1 First this confutes their follie and error that thinke if they goe two or three miles from the place where the sicknesse is and there haue their gates shut and all things carefullie looked vnto then they should not bee so fearfull as they are as if that outward meanes could cure the heart of feares nay that must bee the Lords worke If they carrie with them the pestilence of an ill conscience an heart full of couetousnesse full of pride and of worldly lusts death will enter into the window if it cannot at the doore and will finde them out and set vpon them at midnight as well as at midday For God hath a quarrell against their sinnes and hee will pursue them whithersoeuer they goe and how can they stand when the curse of God hath them in chase Will you feare the plague sore vpon the bodie and will you not much more feare it vpon your soules Will you fly from that that is but a medicine vnto the godlie and not from that which is the verie bane of the whole man In truth those that carrie with them a heart full of pride and lust and such iniquities as God abhors wheresoeuer they liue are in greater danger than the godly that liue in the pest-house it selfe hauing their hearts purified by faith and their hope setled vpon Iesus Christ And therefore thinke not to put away such feares by gaming and companie-keeping by eating and drinking and laughing for they will returne againe though they may be smothered for a time and an ill conscience will be a fearefull conscience Vse 2 Secondly this doctrine ministreth vnto vs this instruction that if we would be disburdened of feares we should go to God that can worke in vs a thorow cure Not as if the meanes of seruing Gods prouidence were to be neglected or as if wee should not walke circumspectlie and auoide the occasions of danger But when wee doe so we should not rest on the meanes nor thinke I am out of the place where the plague is therefore I am free from Gods stroke If one should say I cannot die till God haue appointed and therefore I may goe into places of infection this were a tempting of God but it were worse for a wicked sinner to thinke I am not neere places of infection therefore I am safe If then wee would bee soundly cured of feares Helps against feares 1. Prayer first let vs goe vnto the Lord with a broken heart and beseech him to put courage into vs and to giue vs assurance of eternall life and the ioy of the holy Ghost then come life or death wee shall not bee much dismayed This is one speciall meanes to free our hearts from vnnecessarie feares euen faithfull prayer as the Apostle shews where hee saies Phil. 4.6 In nothing bee carefull but in all things let your requests be made knowne to God c. He bids them not take away the occasions without but heale the heart within for then they shall bee safe enough The peace of God that passeth all vnderstanding shall keepe their hearts and minds in Christ Iesus that is in a blessed communion with Christ Iesus whereby they shall bee possessed with such peace as none knoweth what it meanes but those that haue tasted of it which quiets and sets downe the heart and minde and settles the same in the assurance
of a happie issue out of all straites and difficulties as wee see in Dauid who hauing committed himselfe to God Psal 3. who was able and had promised to helpe him hee triumphs ouer all his enemies and saith he will not feare though ten thousand should compasse him round about That was some oddes and one would thinke he had little neede to vse such speeches but rather to runne away as fast as hee could at least hee should take little sleepe in the night so long as hee was in such danger or if hee did lie downe and sleepe hee should haue little hope to rise againe in the morning yet wee see vers 5. that hee laid him downe and slept and rose againe because the Lord sustained him and this he got by calling vpon God as it is vers 4. 2 Secondly if we would not be oppressed with feares labor to be righteous for wickednesse makes men dastardlie whereas righteousnesse makes men stout as Lyons 2. Righteousnes Pro. 28.1 that will not looke ouer the shoulder for the barking of euery dogge but walke on without all feare Indeede the child of God will not bee presumptuous neither will hee bee timorous though his enemies sinne Satan and the world bee strong yet hee knows God is stronger and that none euill can come vnto him without the Lord. Which if wee can thorowly meditate vpon and take this receite euerie morning to season our hearts with the feare of God and to wash our hearts and hands from vnrepented sins walke where wee will so it be in our waies nothing shall be able to hurt vs. Vers 58. Thou hast maintained the cause of my soule That is thou hast stood on my part and freed mee from death that was intended against mee For though my name and libertie and riches bee taken from mee yet my life is redeemed and that is thy mercie that bodie and soule are not yet parted Whence the doctrine is Doct. 8. God vpholds his Isa 44.23 That God is the maintainer and vpholder of his people Howsoeuer Kings and Princes bee nursing fathers vnto Gods Church yet that is not because hee needs them but because he would doe them a good turne in imploying them in his seruice And therefore may God be called the vpholder of his people because he saues them frō their firmes and from the punishments due to their sins which no man can doe He watches ouer them night and day and waters them euerie moment Jsa 27.3 and hee will contend with them that contend against his people This should strike a terror into the hearts of those that are iniurious vnto Gods seruants they are bold where the hedge is lowest euerie dwarfe aduentures to leape ouer But let them know that God is as a wall of fire about his Church and hee will maintaine the right of his children Indeede their props are and still haue beene so weake their enemies so strong the standers against them so shamefull and the oppositions so continuall that it is a miracle the Church stands to this day but God hath beene and euer will bee the vpholder of it and therefore it must needs goe ill with those that lift vp themselues against it Vse 2 Secondly here is a notable consolation for the afflicted people of God Howsoeuer they haue fewe meanes and few friends and where they should haue most helpe they haue least where they looked for comfort they finde discomfort and where they thought to bee enriched they are impouerished yet if they can pray all shall bee well If money and friends and large reuenues and the like had beene the vpholders of the Church it would haue gone to the ground long ere this But what saith the Church here O Lord thou hast maintained the cause of my soule There is our stay let vs bee sure wee haue a good cause and lay it before Gods iudgement seate and then though wee be ouerborne God will not bee ouerborne but hee will stand on our side euen hee that loues goodnesse and hates wickednesse and will be auenged on those that bend themselues and their endeuors to do mischiefe vnto his people Wee would willinglie haue him to bee our Iudge who is most iust who carries the greatest loue to vs and our cause and the hardest mind against our aduersaries such an one is God And therefore seeing we haue a good cause to stand in euen the matter of our saluation and enemies whom God hates with a deadly hatred the diuell the world and the flesh c. this should put life and heart into vs to goe vnto Christ Iesus our Iudge who hath so dearely loued vs as to lay downe his life for vs and for the destruction of all our enemies When wee are ouercharged with burdens and temptations let vs lay them vpon him and say Lord thou hast vndertaken to comfort thy children I am not able to vndergoe this that is vpon mee therefore doe thou maintaine my cause and helpe and deliuer mee from my miserie Vers 59. Thou hast seene my wrong From these words this doctrine may be collected Doct. 9. All vvrōgs knovvne to God That there is nothing done spoken or thought against any Christian but God takes knowledge of it there is not one practise slander or deuice of cruell beasts against the sheepe of Christ but God sees it and markes it And this must needs be so Reason 1 1 First because they are his flocke and therefore hee loues to looke vnto them especiallie sith hee hath paide so deerely for them 2 Secondly it is his nature to behold all things Psal 94. Eph. 4.6 For he that made the eye shall not he see c. He is aboue vs all and through vs all and in vs all Yea wee are as it were the apple of his eye Now it is a hard matter for one to come with thornes to put out anothers eye and he not take notice of it and 3 Thirdly God doth the rather obserue the indignities that are offered vnto his children because their profane aduersaries doe hate his image in them For when they were as bad as themselues they could liue with them twentie or thirtie yeares and be good friends with them but when once they renounce the seruice of Satan and of their owne lusts vnto which they are in bondage still then they oppose with might and maine against them Psal 69.7 and therefore it is said for thy sake haue we suffred rebuke shame hath couered our face 4 The fourth and last reason why God must needs take notice of the wrongs done vnto his seruants is because it belongs to him to reward euerie one according to their workes Reuel 20.12 Hee must and will giue them full pay and therefore hee keeps all vpon iust and due record As the workes of the righteous shall stand for them so shall the workes of reprobates be written in great capitall letters against them that all the world may take notice of them at the last day Vse This offers vnto vs matter of singular comfort Howsoeuer the aduersaries be busie and watchful to plot and procure the hurt of Gods Church they cannot be so vigilant for the hurt of it as God is watchfull for the good of it and therefore they may bee sure they shall haue a happie issue out of all their troubles if so be they can make their mone to God and waite patientlie for his mercie Obiection But what neede wee lay open our griefes before him seeing that hee knows them all before hand Answere Though he doe know them yet he would haue you to preferre your bill of complaint and that will be for the increase of your comfort and further experience of his loue and howsoeuer hee purpose to destroy the wicked yet would he haue you to go on in your suite against them still Neither is this to bee restrained onelie to corporall enemies but it holds much more strongly for spirituall enemies Say a man bee surcharged with sinne and Satan let him bemone his case before the Lord and it will be a marueilous ease vnto him If one of our children should but say father or mother I am exceeding sicke readie to saint vnder my paines c. hee neede say no more this would set their hearts and hands a worke to doe him good And is there not far more loue in our heauenly Father Yes surely and therefore in all such extremities let God be our refuge and let vs cast all our cares and sorrows vpon him who is able and willing to beare them and in due season to free vs from them and in the end to make vs gainers by them FINIS
doth not gouerne the world righteously Magistrates looke not to their dutie well That those that are men of place and authoritie haue not courage for the truth and so the righteous are wronged and the Church ouer-runne by the vngodly of the world Ansvver Nay saith Moses hee holds not the wicked innocent let them take their swinge Not holding the wicked innocent Nahum 1.2.3 and make hauocke for a time God may spare them long yet will visit them at the last According to that of Nahum God is iealous and the Lord reuengeth The Lord reuengeth euen the Lord of anger the Lord will take vengeance on his aduersaries and he reserueth wrath for his enemies The Lord is slow to anger but hee is great in power and will not surely cleere the wicked c. For as Habakkuk saith Hab. 1.12 hee hath ordained them for iudgement and established them for correction Obiect Yet wee see they goe to their graues in peace and are not in trouble like other men Psal 73.5 Answer Say they doe yet God will meete with them in their children and punish their sinnes in their posteritie as it is said in the text 11. Visiting Visiting the iniquities of the parents vpon their children and vpon their childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation They shall tast of the bitter cup of Gods wrath here as their fathers doe in hell Obiect Oh but who shall doe this There is none to curbe them Yes God himselfe will doe it Answer hee will visit them for their sinnes Here wee see what a number of temptations are swept away by the right vnderstanding and applying of the name of God Now for that other place Isaiah 9.6 Christ is there said to bee a counseller Christ a counseller the prince of peace c. Such a counseller as is alwaies at hand to aduise vs for hee walkes in the mids of vs. Such a one as is furnished with wisedome sufficient to counsell vs Reuel 1. for hee is the ancient of daies and the verie wisedome of the father Such a one as will giue vs his aduice freely And lastly such a one as can and will make his counsell effectuall for hee is the mighty God and can do what hee will Therefore what should a Christian trouble himselfe Hath hee craftie enemies Goe to Christ for direction whose wisedome is infinitely beyond their policie Hath hee strong enemies Goe to him who is mightier than they all In a word hath he any out ward affliction or inward corruption that doth annoy and trouble him Let him haue recourse to this name of God and there he shall finde a remedie for all which beeing so many waies profitable and helpfull to a Christian that must needes follow which was at first set downe to wit that the knowledge of the name of God is a most effectuall meanes to draw vs vnto feruent and faithfull prayer Vse 1 This therefore serues first to confute ignorant persons and to shew that their prayers are but the exercising of their tongues and of their lips because they are not acquainted with Gods name and thence it is that they giue ouer praying in time of miserie When they haue money and friends health and strength and the like Psal 30. they beginne to thinke and speake with Dauid That their mount is so strong that they shall neuer be cast downe and conclude with the rich man in the Gospell that they haue riches laid vp for many yeares and therefore bid their soules take their rest But what saith God thou foole c. These are ignorant fooles indeede Psal 62. for doe they not know that power belongs vnto God Is it not his name to bee called the mightie God Riches haue no power at all in them they cannot make a man liue one houre longer or happier When Dauid boasted of his subiects and souldiers and of the arme of flesh that hee had gotten what became of it God withdrew his face a little and his sonne and subiects and all were against him And as riches haue no power in them so neither doe they procure any iot of kindnes for kindnesse belongs vnto God Psal â— it is his name to be abundant in kindnesse And therefore wee must goe to him for these things and not to the world and it is Gods mercie that men should sometimes deceiue vs that so we might learne to trust in God and to seeke to God for these things and not so much vnto outward meanes Carnall men in their prosperitie will bragge that they can call vpon God as well as the best of them But this is sure if Gods name be not as an ointment powred out and spread vpon their hearts in time of distresse they will seeke vnto any rather than vnto God And thence it is that when outward things faile them they are altogether hartlesse and comfortlesse They complaine that they want many things and so they doe indeede but all is for that they want the knowledge of Gods name which whosoeuer knows he will not distrust God though hee haue no meanes nor trust in them though they haue all meanes Vse 2 Secondly this is for instruction if we would haue comfortable hearing in heauen in all our wants and miseries wee must labor to know Gods name as it is reuealed in his worde that so wee may bee able to reioyce in all distresses and to quiet our hearts in all distempers And when we find more than ordinarie discomforts let vs take occasion thereby to condemne our selues for our ignorance of Gods name Many that are accounted wise men are too much cast downe in the time of miserie which is an euident signe that how excellent so euer they be for worldly policie yet they want this heauenly wisedome For if they were acquainted with Gods name they should be able comfortably to powre out their hearts before God knowing that the Lord which created all things of nothing is able to saue without meanes and against meanes Vse 3 Thirdly this is for fingular consolation to those that by many wofull miseries and sore temptations haue gotten some experimentall knowledge of Gods name not a verball but a working knowledge They haue felt his power and tasted of his mercie and grace and kindnesse c. Such haue enough yea more than all the world to stay vpon As Salomon saith Pro. 18.10 the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth vnto it and is exalted Here is a refuge and a hiding place for all iust men and for none els Others may make a kinde of offer to goe towards that Tower but if they faile in righteousnesse they will bee so farre from running that they will goe limping nay halt downe right and neuer come thither but all that are vpright in heart may haue free accesse and sufficient shelter when they come thither not onelie from the inuasions of men but from the wrath of God and
from the stroakes of God as the pestilence or the like yea from the furie of Satan and from the assaults of sinne All other towers are but poore weake cotages Let men dwell where they will whither can they goe but death wil finde them out They may flie from the Plague but God will pursue them for he is not an archer that hath but one arrow or such arrowes onelie as will reach those that are neere but though they should runne to the end of the world hee is able to shoote at them and the arrowes of his vengeance will finde them out No strength can defend them when he comes against them with his strength nay all the power of men is but a broken reede and all meanes of no force in themselues If wee onelie vse them in obedience they will bee as a staffe to leane vpon if wee rest on them they will be as a broken staffe that will deceiue vs and giue vs a fall Vers 56. Thou hast heard my voice stop not thine eares 57. Thou drewest neere c. Whence this doctrine ariseth Doct. 3 That Gods children in their prayers and seruices doe marke and know how they speed VVe must obserue how we speed in religious exercises so that they cannot onlie say I thanke God at such and such a time I prayed but O Lord thou diddest then heare my voice then diddest thou draw neere vnto mee at such a time I was put to it and thou deliueredst mee out of great danger This wee see in the spouse who when her beloued was departed from her saith In my bed night by night I sought him Cant. 3.1.2 whom my soule loueth and found him not Shee had not that ioy and refreshing as she was wont to haue from the vse of the priuate meanes and shee knew it and obserued it full well Then she went abroad and there found as little successe Afterwards shee comes to conferre with Gods Ministers how she might recouer her loue to Christ and the feeling of Christs loue vnto her and yet there shee had not that full successe as she expected Then she goes a little further that is as was before shewed waits patiently vpon God and then she found him whom her soule loued and tooke hold of him that is faster hold then euer she had done before She had paid so dearely for her negligence that she would be warie how she failed in her dutie any more So that when she sped well or ill she knew how it went with her This point is further proued vnto vs out of another verse of this Chapter of the Lamentation Lament 3.8 where these words are vsed VVhen I cry and shoute hee shutteth out my prayer Not but that God tooke notice of it and had a time to reward it but for the present he gaue them no answere They had hard hearts and God saw that one crie and shoute would not be sufficient to mollifie and soften them and therefore he lets them pray and cry againe and againe and yet still they had the repulse and they obserued to their great griefe Psal 66.18.19 Answerable to this is that in the Psalme where Dauid saith If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not heare me But God hath heard me and considered the voice of my prayer Reason And there is reason why as they did marke how they sped so should wee also For vnlesse wee doe so it is impossible that wee should euer bee thankfull for that wee receiue or lay vp any store of comfort against the time to come If wee speed ill wee shall goe away without any care or studie to grow better if wee speed well wee shall depart without any desire of glorifying God or of confirming our hearts for afterwards Whereas diligent obseruation how God deales with vs would worke in vs great experience both for our humiliation and consolation For sometimes Gods seruants haue a comfortable answere to their sutes and then they come away as fresh and nimble and ioyfull as if their hearts had beene made glad by sweet and pleasant wine Ps 109.15 At another time they come limping and fainting away as if they had beene strucke on the head So for the Sermon now and then they depart from it as from some notable feast so merrie and comfortable as if they had made the best bargaine that euer they did in their liues at some other times they come out of the church hanging downe their heads and full of pensiuenesse as if they had receiued the sentence of death What is the cause hereof Profane persons thinke they are the melancholiest and vnconstantest people in the world But will not they themselues looke heauilie on the matter when they are crossed in things that are most deere vnto them And why then should they blame Gods seruants if they be sometimes merrie and sometimes heauie according as they are crossed or comforted in the worde of life which is more deare vnto them then all the treasures of the earth Howsoeuer they may charge them to be vnconstant yet indeede they themselues are more vnconstant For let them haue to deale with some great Iudge about matters of their estate and let them be told this day that they are likely to haue good and fauourable hearing that the Iudge likes well of them and of their cause how ioyfull and iocund will they be How will they talke of it and in a sort boast of it But let them come to the Iudge themselues the next day and let him frowne vpon them and tell them I vnderstand you are a leaud fellow I know your practises well inough looke to your selfe and acquite you well lest I strip you of your lands and life together Will not such a salutation cast them into their dumps and make them looke heauie and sad as if they were halfe dead And if one should aske them why are you so variable They would wonder why he should make such a question Haue wee not iust cause to bee cast downe would they say when the Iudge that gaue mee such good hopes before doth now looke and speake so wrathfullie against mee And wherefore then will you finde fault with Gods seruants who deale with the King and Iudge of heauen and earth in the matter of their saluation whose fauor they esteeme more than all things in the world and whose displeasure they feare more then all the mens in the world yea then death it selfe Why I say doe you finde fault with them if their comforts ebbe and flow as matters goe better or worse betwixt God and them Vse 1 This is for cōfutation of carnall hearers who are affected at all times alike They haue heard many hundred sermons but they were neuer more comforted at one than at another They are none of these changelings but the same men still But let such know that hee that doth neuer feele himselfe sicke it is greatly to bee doubted hee