stampt upon His Soule by an Almighty hand A worke for wonder and power answerable if not transcendent to the Creation of the World To the production whereof the infinite mercies of the Father of all mercy the warmest hearts-blood of His onely Sonne the mightiest Moouing of the blessed Spirit were required Now what an indignity and disparagement is offered unto so glorious a Workeman and blessed a worke to assent and subscribe unto the Divell a knowne Liar that there is no such Thing 4. To double and aggravate upon the Christian the grievous sinne of unbeliefe Not to believe the Promises as they lie in His Booke is an unworthy and wicked wrong unto the Truth of God But for a Man to draw backe and deny when they are all made good upon His Soule makes Him worse then Thomas the Apostle For when He had thrust His hand into Christs side Hee believed But in the present Case a Man is ready to renounce and disclaime Tho Hee have already graspt in the armes of His Faith the crucified bleeding Body of His blessed Redeemer The sacred and saving vertue whereof hath inspired into the whole Man a new spirituall sanctifying life and a sensible un-deniable change from what it was 5. To discontinue or detaine the heart lock't up as it were in a perpetuall barrennes from giving of thanks which is one of the noblest and most acceptable Sacrifice and service that is offered unto God Now what a mischiefe is this that an upright heart should bee laced up and His Tong tied by the Divels temptation from magnifying heartily the glory of Gods free grace for such a worke I meane the New-Creation at which Heaven and Earth Angels and Men and all Creatures may stand everlastingly amazed So sweet it is and admirable and makes an immortall Soule for ever But to keepe my selfe to the Point Those who complaine as I have said That because the pangs of their New-birth were not in that proportion they desire answerable to the hainousnesse of their former pestilent courses and abominablenesse of their beastly life before many times suspect themselves and are much troubled about the truth of their conversion may have their doubts and scruples encreased by taking notice of such propositions as these which Divines both ancient and moderne let fall sometimes in their Penitentiall Discourses Ordinarily men are wounded in their Consciences at their conversion answerably to the wickednesse of their former conversation Contrition in true Converts is for the most part proportionable to the hainousnesse of Their former courses The more wicked that thy former life hath been the more fervent and earnest let thy Repentance or returning bee Sorrow must bee proportionable to our sinnes The greater our sinne the fuller must bee our sorrow According to the waight of sinne upon the conscience ought penitent sorrow to bee waighty He that hath exceeded in sinne let Him exceede also in sorrow Looke how great our sinnes are let us so greatly lament them Let the minde of every One drinke up so much of the teares of penitent compunction as Hee remembers Himselfe to have withered from God by wickednesse Grievous sinnes require most grievous lamentations The measure of your mourning must bee agreeable and proportionable to the sinne And wee may see these rules represented unto us in the practise of Manasses who beeing a most grievous sinner 2. Chron. 33.6 Humbled Himselfe greatly before the God of His Fathers vers 12. In the Woman who is called a Sinner Luk. 7.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they say by a kinde of singularity and therefore takes on extraordinarily vers 38. So that she wipes Christs feete with teares In the idolatrous Israelites upon their turning unto the Lord 1. Sam. 7.4.6 who drew water and poured it out before the Lord. In the Hearers of Peter who having their consciences all bloody with the horrible guilt of crucifying the Lord of life Act 2.33.36 were pricked in their hearts vers 37. with such horrour and raging angvish as tho so many empoisoned daggers and Scorpions stings stucke and were fastned in them punctually In Paul who having been an hainous offender a grievous Persecuter Act. 9. whereas the other Apostles as One sayes had been honest and sober fisher-men tasted deeper of this cup then they For Hee tells us Rom. 7.11 That the Law slew Him Hee was strangely amazed with a voyce from Heaven strucke downe to the earth and starke blinde He trembled and was astonished For three daies Hee did neither eate nor drink c. Act. 9. And there is good reason for it For ordinarily the newly-illightened eye of a fresh-bleeding Conscience is very sharpe and cleare piercing and sightfull greedy to discover every staine and spot of the Soule To dive even to the heart-roote to the blackest bottome and ougliest nooke of a Mans former Hellish courses to looke backe with a curious survay thorow the pure Perspective of Gods righteous Law over his whole life to His very Birth-sinne and Adams rebellion And in this sad and heavy search it is very inquisitive after and apprehensive of all circumstances which may adde to the hainousnesse of sin and horrour to his heart It is quick-sighted into all aggravating considerations and quickly learnes and lookes upon all those wayes degrees and circumstances by which sins are made more notorious and hatefull And what the spirit of bondage in a fearefull heart may inferre hereupon you may easily iudge Now to the Case proposed I say first 1. That betweene sinne and sorrow wee cannot expect a precise adequation not an Arithmeticall but a Geometricall proportion Great sinnes should bee greatly lamented yet no sinne can bee sufficiently sorrowed for Tho it may bee savingly When wee say the pangs of the New-birth must bee answerable to our former sinnefull provocations wee meane not that wee can mourne for sinne according to it's merit that is impossible But great sinnes require a great deale of sorrow Wee must not thinke that wee have sorrowed enough for any sinne tho wee can never sorrow sufficiently Before I proceede to a further and fuller satisfaction in the Point let mee tell you by the way how discomfortable and doubtfull the Popish doctrine is here about that the truth of our Tenet may appeare the more pretious and taste more sweet Their Attrition and Contrition as I take it differ as our Legall and Evangelicall repentance 1. In respect of the object Contrition as they say is sorrow for sinne as an offence to God Attrition is a griefe for sinne as liable to punishment 2. In respect of the cause Contrition ariseth from sonne-like Attrition from servile feare See Valent. Disp. 7. Q. 8. De contrit punct 2. This Contrition is the cause of the remission of sinnes Bellar. lib. 2. de poenit cap. 12. Arb. At Catholici alij passim Well then thou art a Papist and troubled inconscience Thou knowest well that without
slippery Place tho you stand in the presence of the mightiest Defender of the true Religion of any Monarch under Heaven For altho Satan bee most solicitous and stirring in all Places and now more then ever the long Day of Mankind drawing fast towards an evening and the Worlds troubles and time neere at an end to doe all the mischiefe Hee can possibly yet you may bee assured Hee reserves his most desperate services ambushments surprises practises and Powder-plots for Kings Courts Because Hee findes there an extraordinary Confiâ—ence of Greatnesse Power Wit Policy noblest Parts and other mighty engines the edge and excellency whereof if Hee shall bee any waies able by improovement of the utmost skill in his old Trade of tempting to turne the Wrong way Hee gaines farre more then if He should win to His side some millions of private Men. If Hee prevailes there Hee knowes himselfe in a faire way to make foule worke and is often woont thereupon to empoison and plagve even a whole kingdome For your support therefore and surer standing in such a Case and that you may trample upon with an holy contempt and noble disdaine the false durelesse pestilent sweetnesse of worldly pleasures and vanishing glister of all earthly glory there is no way in the world but to embrace the Lord Iesus in the armes of your â—umbled Soule fallen out for ever with every sinne and fallen in love unfainedly with all Gods blessed waies For by Faith and Faith alone which how it is brought into the heart by the Holy Ghost you have in the Body of the Booke wee overcome the world And that in all respects Not onely in regard of the furious enticements and keene baites of carnall delights riches and rising but also of comminations of cruelty and torture Nay of the stinging provocations of contumelies and cruell mockings May you please to take notice of the power and property of it this way and in what manner this glorious Princesse conquers and sets her triumphant foote upon the necke of the World as upon Her vanquished Vassall in two or three passages 1. First While as yet the Soule tho never so admirably and universally endowed with rarest illuminations of humane wisedome naturall morall metaphysicall learning Mysteries of State is wholly gvided by the eies of sense and carnall reason it lookes upon the world and worldly things as upon the onely Paradise of sweetest contentments choicest pleasures and chiefest Good of the favour and fruition whereof it would rather bee damned then dispossest But upon the Kingdome of Christ and it 's spirituall glory as upon a thing not worthy searching into and seeking after a sower strict and uncomfortable condition fit onely for some few precise fooles and those scorned contemptible underlings who understand not the world but want Wit and Art to grow rich and rise to render themselves remarkeable to the eies of men and greaten their posterity But let that glorious eie of Faith be once planted in the Soule and the Case is quite altered Those former fading Lights of sense and reason are obscured by the presence of this heavenly Sunne and vanish with all their vanities For now this new beautifull Lampe shining in the face of the Soule doth represent to it's apprehension the World set out in greatest brauery and to the utmost worth as worth nothing as a dead rotten Carion a very Dunghill full of all loathsomenesse deformity and filth Which heated by the fire of mens furious lusts sends up continually such fumes of vanity and he lish Mists which unhappily hide their sight from any glimpse at all of all that incomparable beauty which shineth in the countenance of Christ or glory of the joyes above which last eternally But it now lookes upon the Kingdome of grace as upon a Rock of Diamonds or Crystall Mountaine thicke beset and glistering full faire with variety of richest Pearles and truly orient I meane as upon the most amiable and admirable Object under the Sunne as the best and blessedest thing to bee loved and looked after in this life 2. Secondly Every man is naturally and notoriously greedy of hearts-ease and joy in one kinde or other of which rather then they will misse they doe not sticke many times to light a candle at the Divell himselfe for some joviall lightsom-nesse and mirth such as it is a madnesse above admiration and followed with infinite miseries And therefore untill they lay certainely hold upon and really possesse somthing more pretious surer comforts sounder ioyes which may out-balance the weight of all wordly treasures and over-top the height of all humane happinesses both in excellency and sweetnesse they will by no meanes upon no termes suffer their hearts to bee drawne and divorced from possession of the present and the Bird in hand as they say I meane from that poore little leane imaginary nothing of contentment which they seeme to extract with much adoe and most certaine losse of eternall blisse from earthly things They will in the meane time sticke to the world as fast as Pherecides the Athenian to the ship who held it on the shore with his hands and one of them cut off Hee held it with the other and both beeing cut off Hee held it with His teeth But let once the weary Soules of these former Worldings truly wounded and broken in peeces with weight of sinne and sense of wrath leane upon and lay downe themselves in the bosome of the Lord Iesus bleeding upon the Crosse prizing his purity as well as His Passion and so taking Him upon Gods termes And then reflecting with a sensible and serious contemplation upon that Pearle of great price of which they now stand possest by the worth whereof they have sealed and made sure unto them a full discharge from the endlesnesse of Hellish torments and a most undoubted right to eternitie of Heavenly ioyes Nay possession given them of the thrice glorious and ever-blessed Deitie and all His perfections excellencies felicities so farre as an infinite God-head is conceiveable and a Creature capable I say then and never before will they easily and willingly leave their Hold-fast of the World and bee content for ever after to settle their dearest love seeke their truest comfort and have their heartiest conversation above 3. Thirdly Faith hath many pretious Effects It justifies pacifies purifies mortifies rectifies in all troublesome turnings of our life and also satisfies the heart As the Soule of Man is immortall by nature so it is immeasurable in it's appetite and aspirations edged with an infinite desire The boundlesse capacity whereof can never bee filled untill it apprehend and enjoy as it 's owne an object infinite as well in eminency of good as durability of time And therefore except Faith by bringing the Lord Christ into the Soule give us the infinite God himself and make Him our Portion the heart of Man never will or can possibly bee satisfied in
compassionately over us or purchase pardon and acceptation at his hands Tender therefore unto that poore troubled soule who beeing sorely crushed and languishing under the burden of his sinnes refuses to bee raised and refreshed endlesly pleading and disputing against himselfe out of a strong fearefull apprehension of his owne vilenesse and unworthinesse putting off all comfort by this mis-conceit that no Seaes of sorrow no measure of mourning will serve the turne to come comfortably unto Iesus Christ I say presse upon such an One this true Principle in the high and heavenly Art of rightly comforting afflicted consciences So soone as a Man is truly and heartily humbled for all his sinnes and weary of their waight tho the degree of his sorrow bee not answerable to his owne desire yet Hee shall most certainely bee welcome unto Iesus Christ. It is not so much the muchnesse and measure of our sorrow as the truth and heartinesse which fits us for the promises and comforts of mercy Tho I must say this also Hee that thinkes Hee hath sorrowed enough for His sinnes never sorrowed savingly 2. For the second which is more properly and specially pertinent to our purpose Take notice That the blood of Christ beeing seasonably and savingly applyed to thine humbled Soule for the pardon and purgation of sinne must by no meanes damne and dry up thy well-spring of weeping but onely asswage and heale thy wound of horrour That pretious Balme hath this heavenly property and power that it rather melts softneth and makes the heart a great deale more weeping-ripe If these bee truly the pangs of the New-birth wherewith thou art now afflicted Thou shalt find that thy now cleaving with assurance of acceptation unto the Lord Iesus will not so much lessen hinder or cease thy sorrow as rectifie season and sweeten it If thy right unto that Soule-saving Passion bee reall and thou cast thine eye with a beleeving hopefull heart upon Him whom thou hast therein pierced with thy sins and those sinnes alone are said properly to have pierced Christ which at length are pardoned by his blood Thou canst not possibly containe but excesse of love unto thy crucified Lord and sense of Gods mercy shed into thy Soule thorow his merits will make thee weepe againe and faâ—ely force thine heart to burst out abundantly into fresh and filiall teares See how freshly Davids heart bled with repentant sorrow upon His assurance by Nathan of the pardon of His sinne Psal. 51 Thou canst not chuse but mourne more heartily Evangelically and that which should passingly please Thee and sweetely perpetuate the spring of thy godly sorrow more pleasingly unto God Take therefore speciall notice and heede of these two depths of the Divell that I have now disclosed unto thee 1. When thou art truly wrought upon by the Ministry of the Word and now fitted for comfort Beleeve the Prophets those Ones of a thousand learned in the right handling of afflicted consciences and thou shalt prosper As soone as thy Soule is soundly humbled for sinne open and enlarge it joyfully like the thirsty ground that the refreshing dew and Doctrine of the Gospell may drop and distill upon it as the small raine upon the parched grasse Otherwise 1. Thou offers dishonour and disparagement as it were to the dearenesse and tendernesse of Gods mercy who is ever infinitely more ready and forward to bind up a broken heart then it to bleed before Him Consider for this purpose the Parable of the prodigall Sonne Luk. 15. Hee is there said to goe but the Father ran 2. Thou maist by the unsettlednesse of thy heavy heart unnecessarily unsit and dis-able thy selfe for the duties and discharge of both thy Callings 3. Thou shalt gratifie the Divell who will labour mightily by his lying suggestions if thou wilt not bee counselled and comforted when there is cause to detaine thee in perpetuall horrour here and in an eternall Hell hereafter Some find him 〈◊〉 furiously and maliâ—iously busie to keepe them from comfort when they are fitted as from fitnesse for comfort 4. Thou art extremely un-advised nay very cruell to thine owne Soule For whereas it might now be filled with unspeakable and glorious ioy with peace that passeth all understanding with Evangelicall pleasures which are such as neither eye hath seene nor eare heard neither have entred into the heart of Man by taking Christ To which thou hast a strong and manifold Calling Isai. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters c. Matth. 11.28 Come unto mee all yee that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Ioh. 7.37 If any man thirst let him come unto mee and drinke Revel 22.17 And let him that is a thirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Yea a Commandement 1. Ioh. 3.23 And this is his commandement that wee should beleeve on the Name of his Sonne Iesus Christ And yet for all this Thou as it were wilfully stand'st out wilt not beleeve the Prophets forsak'st thine owne comfort and liest still upon the Racke of thy unreconcilement unto God 2. On the other hand when the angvish of thy guilted Conscience is upon sure ground something allayed and suppled with the oyle of comfort and thy â—â—unded heart warrantably revived with the sweetnesse of the Promises as with marrow and fatnesse Thou must not then either shut up thine eyes from further search into thy sins or dry them up from any more mourning But comfort of remission must serve as a pretious Eye-salve both to cleare their sight that they may see moe and with more detestation and to enlarge their Sluces as it were to poure out repentant teares more plentifully Thou must continue ripping up and ransacking that hellish Heape of thy former rebellions and pollutions of youth still dive and digge into that Body of death thou bearest about thee for the finding out and furnishing thy selfe with as much matter of sound humiliation as may bee that thou mayst still grow viler and viler in thine owne eyes and bee more and more humble untill thy dying Day But yet so That as thou holdest out in the one hand the cleare Cristall of Gods pure Law to discover the vilenesse and variety of thy sinnes all the spots and staines of thy Soule so thou hold out in the other hand or rather with the hand of Faith lay hold upon the Lord Iesus hanging bleeding and dying upon the Crosse for thy sake The one is soveraigne to save from flavish stings of conscience bitternesse of horrour and venome of despaire The other mingled with faith will serve as a quickning preservative to keepe in thy bosome aâ— humble soft and lowly spirit which doth ever excellently fit to live by Faith more chearefully to enjoy God more neerely to apply Iesus Christ more feelingly and to long for his comming more earnestly In a word to climbe up more merrily those staires of joy which are
prejudice against the power of godlinesse and pestilent perswasions of Pillow-sowers under their elbowes that in so doing they shal bee utterly undone and never have good day afterward But to speake in their owne language fall presently into the hands of the Puritanes into the strict tortures and Hypocriticall miseries of precisenesse into fowrenesse vnsociablenesse dumps of Melancholy and indeede into a state not past a step short of distraction and madnesse And these therefore cast about to get out of trouble of minde and sense of divine terrour with as great impatiency and precipitation as the former onely more plausibly and with seemingly fairer but truly false satisfaction to their owne Soules For the former rush with furious indignation out of these spirituall dejections of Conscience as unmanly feares not fit for worthy spirits and men of Ioviall resolution into greater excesse and variety of worldly delights and sensuall loosenesse and so ordinarily become afterward very notorious and more desperate enemies to the Kingdome of Christ Because the power of the Word hath once stung their carnall hearts with some remorsefull terrour they ever after heartily hate the sound and searching Ministry and managers thereof the Inflicters of their smart for no other reason in the world but that they tell them the truth and thereupon torment them before their time that so if they be not wanting unto themselves they may escape the torments of eternity hereafter And they set themselves against godly Christians with incompatible estrangement and implacable spite onely because they are Professours of Selfe-deniall holy strictnesse inconformity to the world repentance mortification c. the entertainement and exercise whereof they furiously more detest and flie from then the death of their Bodies and damnation of their Soules But these latter passe more plausibly out of trouble of conscience and take a fairer course of the two tho it proove but an imaginary and counterfeite Cure For they labour to close up their spirituall wound with comfort out of the Word and promise peace to their troubled hearts from the promises of life But herein they faile and fearefully deceive themselves in that they conceive the first fits and qualmes as it were of Legall terrour to bee saving repentance a generall speculative apprehension of Christ's Passion to procure a speciall pardon for all their sinnes fruitlesse speculations of Faith to prevent and secure them from the wrath that is come a meere verball profession to be forwardnesse enough except a Man would bee too precise Vpon the first fright and feeling the smart of a confused remorse and horrour for sinne without any further penitent wading into Particulars or thorow-search into their hearts lives consciences and Callings without suffering the worke of the spirit of Bondage to drive them to Christ and a resolution to sell all c. They presently hand over-head apply by the strong delusion of their owne idle groundlesse conceite all the gracious promises and priviledges of Gods Childe to their un-humbled Soules and enforce their understandings by a violent greedy error to think they are justified by such an artificiall heartles Notion which they falsely call Faith and so resting in a counterfeite perswasion that they are true Converts ordinarily turne carnall Professours Who are a kind of people who have no more spirituall life then a dead Faith can infuse into them No more comfort in the communion of Saints then an outward correspondence in Profession speculative Discourses of religion and meetings at the Meanes can yeeld No more interest or right to Heaven then a bold presumptuous confidence built first upon their owne wilfull fancy and seconded with Satans lying suggestion can give them Whose sorrow for sinne at the most is commonly no more then afflicting their Soules for a Day and bowing downe their heads like a Bul-rush without loosing the bands of wickednesse or departing from iniquity Whose conversion is nothing but onely a speculative Passage from a confused apprehension of sinne to a generall application of Christ without any sensible or saving alteration in their waies Whose New-obedience consists onely in a formall conformity to outward exercises of Religion without all true Zeale life heartinesse holinesse or indeed honest dealing with their Brethren But these men are to know that Christs blood never pardoned any mans Soule from sinne whose spirit the power thereof did not purge from guile It never saves any one from Hell whom it doth not first in some good measure season with holinesse and heavenly life In vaine doe they build comfort upon his Passion who doe not conscionably conforme to the practise of his Word And let them further bee informed for a more cleare discovery of their grosse and damnable Selfe-deceit that howsoever a dead Faith according to it's name and nature enters if it hath any entitie at all into the understanding without any remarke-able motion sense and alteration yet that Faith which truly justifies pacifies purifies mortifies sanctifies and saves is evidently discernable by first Many stirring Preparatives Sight and sense of a Mans miserable state by nature of his sinfulnesse and cursednesse Humbling himselfe in the sight of the Lord fearefull apprehensions wrought by the spirit of bondage Illumination conviction Legall terrours c. Secondly Violent affections about the infusing of it which are wont to bee raised in the humbled heart by the Holy Ghost extreme thirst inflamed desires vehement longings un-utter-able groanings of spirit prizing and preferring the Person and Passion of Christ before the Possession of infinite Worlds willingnesse to sell all to part with any thing for Him tho neuer so deare or so much doted upon heretofore with pleasure riches preferments a right hand a right eye liberty life c. Nay if in such a Case if even Hell it selfe should stand betweene Iesus Christ and a poore Soule He would most willingly passe thorow the very flames thereof to embrace His blessed crucified Lord in the armes of a lively Faith Thirdly inseparable consequents and companions first an hearty and everlasting falling-out with all sinne secondly sanctification thorowout in Body Soule Spirit and Calling and in every power part and passage thereof tho not in perfection of degrees as they say yet in truth and effectually thirdly A set and solmne course of New-obedience spent principally in Selfe-sobriety righteousnesse towards our Brethren and holinesse towards God Many unfaithfull men in the Ministry both in their publike teaching and private visitations of the sicke have much to answer-for in this Point who for want of skill in that highest Art of saving soules of familiarity with God and secret workings of his Spirit of experience in their owne change and of the spirit of discerning c. many times concurre with such miserable men to marre all in stife-ling the very first stirrings of Legall remorse by healing the wounds of their conscience with sweet words before they be searcht and sounded to the bottome and by an unseasonable and
from sinking cast thine eie upon Aaron David Peter who returning with sound and hearty repentance were mercifully entertayned into as great favour as they were before But God forbid that any professour of religion should ever fall so fowly especially in this glorious mid-day of Evangelicall light Art thou langvishing under the heauy desolations of a spirituall desertion and deprived of thy former comfortable feelings of Gods favourable countenance Looke upon David Psal. 77. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed I am so troubled that I can not speake My soule refused to bee comforted Nay upon Iesus Christ himselfe Mat. 27.46 crying My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Art thou haunted with some of Satans most hatefull and horrible injections grissely to the eie even of corrupted nature Thoughts framed by himself immediately and put into thee perhaps tending to Atheisme or to the dishonour of God in the highest degree or of his blessed word to self-destruction or the like Thoughts which thou canst not remember without horrour and darest not reveale or name for their strange and prodigious monstrousnesse If it bee thus with thee consider how this malicious Feind dealt with the Sonne of God himselfe He offered to his most holy and unspotted imagination these propositions First Murder and make away thy selfe Matth. 4.6 Secondly Fall downe and worship the Divell Vers. 9. Then which a fouler thought I thinke was never injected that Iesus Christ blessed for ever in whom the God head dwelt bodily should fall downe and worship the Divell the vilest of Creatures And yet this was suggested to our blessed Saviour To which his purest heart infinitely uncapeable of sinne was as a brasse wall to an arrow beating it backe presently with infinite contempt And himselfe did utterly conquer and confound the tempter and that for thee and thy sake too And therefore if thy humbled soule doe abominate and abandon them from the heart-roote to the pit of Hell they shall never be laid to thy charge but set on Satans score Extremely then doe those wrong themselves and gratifie the Divell to the height who suffer such injections which they heartily hate and stand against with all their strength to hold their hearts still upon the racke of extraordinary astonishment and distraction whereby they are unnecessarily discouraged and disabled for a chearefull discharge of both their callings Which is the thing Satan specially aimes at in vexing so many of Gods dearest servants with this fieri'st dart It may bee that many yeares after thy new-birth when thou thinkest the worst is past thou maist bee revisited and afflicted afresh with perhaps sorer spirituall pangs and more horrour then at the first And what then Heare how David a man after Gods owne heart cries out My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long For day and night thy hand was heavie upon mee My moisture is turned into the drought of summer Selah And Iob. a God-fearing man and most upright Wherefore hidest thou thy face and holdest mee for thine enemie Wilt thou breake a leafe driven to and fro And wilt thou pursue the drie stubble For thou writest bitter things against mee and makest mee to possesse the iniquities of my youth The arrowes of the Almighty are within mee the poison thereof drinkes up my spirit The terrours of God doe set themselves in array against mee Hezekiah that walked before God in truth and with a perfect heart I reckoned till morning that as a Lion so will he breake all my bones from day even to night wilt thou make an end of mee Like a Crane or a Swallow so did I chatter I did mourne as a Dove mine eyes fayle with looking upward O Lord I am opprest undertake for mee Doest thou day after day poure out thy soule in prayer before The Throne of Grace with all the earnestnesse and instancy thy poore dead heart as thou callest it can possibly and do'st thou still rise up dull heavy-hearted and uncomfortable without any sensible answer from God or comfortable sense of his favour and love shed into thy heart Be it so yet for all this pray still in obedience unto thy God against all discouragements and oppositions whatsoever Presse hard unto still and ply Gods Mercy-Seate if it be but with sighes and groanings Assuredly at length and in the fittest time thou shalt bee gloriously refreshed and registred in the remembrance of God for a Christian of excellent Faith See a patterne of rare and extraordinary patience this way Mat. 15.23 There that Woman of Canaan having received many grievous repulses cuting discouragements the Solicited was silent the Disciples grumble she was not of the Fold she was a Dog yet for all this by her constancy in crying after Christ her petition at last was not only granted but her self also crowned with a singular and admirable Eulogie from the Lords owne mouth O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt What an honour and comfort was this to bee thus commended by Iesus Christ and that with an admiration O Woman Hath thy Faith lost it's feeling Doest thou for the present feele nothing but anger wrath and great indignation Is Gods face and favour wherein is life turned away from thee and quite hid from thy sight Nay hath hee broken thee aâ—under taken thee by the necke and shaken thee to pieces and set thee up for his marke Yet for all this let thy truly humbled soule bee so farre from loosing or leaving it's hold-fast and sure repose upon the Person Passion and Promises of Iesus Christ that in such a Case it cleave and cling faster to that blessed Rocke and farre more immoveablely For therein specially is the strength and glory of Faith improved and made illustrious It is one of the most noble and heroicall acts of Faith to beleeve without feeling He who beleeveth most and feeleth least is hee who glorifieth God most It is nothing to swimme in a warme Bath but to endure the surges and tumbling billowes of the Sea that 's the man To beleeve when God doth fairely and sensibly shine upon the soule with the love and light of his countenance is no great matter But to rest invincibly upon his mercy thorow Christ when he grinds thee to powder that 's the Faith Thou hast before thee for this purpose a matchlesse precedent Thus cries holy Iob vexed not onely with an unparalleld variety and extremity of outward afflictions but also with the venome of the Almighties arrowes drinking up his spirit Thâ— hee slay mee yet will I trust in him Cap. 13.15 So Abraham Rom. 4.18 Hast thou given thy name stoutely to Religion and do'st thou stand on Gods side with resolution And art thou therefore villanously traduced with slanderous odious nick-names of Puritan Precisian Hypocrite Humorist Dissembler c Consider then for thy comfort that gracelesse wretches when
senselesse and soulelesse earth upon which wee tread may teach us to rest and depend upon God in such a Case It is a mighty and massy body planted in the middest of the thinne aire and hangs upon just nothing in the world but only upon Gods Word By that alone it is there established unmooveably keepes his place most steadily never stirs an ynch from it It hath no props or pillars to uphold it no barres or beames to fasten it nothing to stay and support it but the bare Word of God alone Hee upholdeth all things by the Word of his power saith the Apostle Heb. 1.3 And yet not all the creatures in the world can shake it or make it tremble Bee it so then that thy Faith hath lost it's hold-fast that for the present thou findest no feeling no encouragements of joy and peace in beleeving no sensible pawnes and pledges of Gods wonted favour c. Yet for all this cast thy selfe upon the sure Word of that mighty God who hath established all the ends of the earth and reared such a great and goodly building where there was no foundation and questionlesse thou shalt bee more then infinitely everlastingly safe and setled like mount Zion which cannot bee removed but abideth for ever 3. In failings of new-obedience Thou puts thy sonne into imploiment sets him about thy businesses He improves the utmost of his skil strength and indeavour to doe thee the best service hee can and please thee if it were possible to perfection But yet comes short of what thou desires and failes in many particulars and therefore he weepes and takes-on and is much troubled that hee can give no better contentment Now tell mee thou whose heart is warmed with the tendernesse of a Fathers affection whether thou wouldest not bee most ready and willing to pardon and passe-by all defects and failings in this kinde Nay I know thou wouldest rejoyce and blesse God that hee had given thee a Child so obedient willing and affectionate Proportionably thy heavenly Father sets thee on worke To beleeve repent pray read the Scriptures heare the Word conferre meditate love the Brethren sanctifie his Sabbaths humble thy selfe in daies of fasting and praier poure out thy soule day and night as the times require in compassion fellow-feeling and strong cries for the Afflictions of Ioseph the destruction of the Churches and those Bretheren of thine which have so long laine in blood and teares to bee industrious and serious in all workes of justice mercy truth c. And thou goest about these blessed businesses with an upright heart and in obedience unto God but the several performances comes far short of what his Word requires and thy heart desires and thereupon thou mournes and grieves and afflicts thy soule in secret because thou canst not come-off with more power and life nor bring that glory unto God in thy Christian walking which so many mercies meanes and such a ministery may exact at thy hands In this case now of these involuntary failings and humble disposition of thy heart therefore bee most assured thy All-sufficient Father will spare thee as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Nay and with so much more kindnesse and love as the heavens are higher then the earth and God greater then man 4. In case of a spirituall Desertion A Father solacing himselfe with his little Child and delighting in it's pretty and pleasing behaviour is woont sometimes to step aside into a corner or behind a dore upon purpose to quicken yet more it 's love and longing after him and try the impatiency and eagernesse of it's affection In the meane time hee heares it cry run about and call upon him and yet hee stirres not but forbeares to appeare not for want of compassion and kindnesse which the more it takes-on the more abounds but that it may dearelier prize the Fathers presence that they may meete more merrily and rejoyce in the enjoyment of each other more heartily Conceive then and consider to thine owne exceeding comfort that thy heavenly Father deales just so with thee in a spiritual desertion He sometimes hides his face from thee and withdrawes his quickning and refreshing presence for a time not for want of loue for hee loves thee freely He loves thee with an everlasting love hee loves thee with the very same love with which He loves Iesus Christ And that deare Son of his loves thee with the same love his Father loves him But to put more heate and life into thine affections towards him and heavenly things To cause thee to relish communion with Iesus Christ when thou enjoyest it more sweetely to preserve it more carefully to joy in it more thankefully and to shunne more watchfully whatsoever might rob thee of it To stirre up all the powers of thy soule and all the graces of God in thee to seeke his face and favour againe with more extraordinary and universall seriousnesse and industry For we finde with pleasure possesse with singular contentment and keepe with speciall care what we have sought with paine Wee may see this in the Spouse Cantic 3.1 c. under the pressure of a grievous Desertion Ponder every particular By night on my bed I sought him whom my soule loveth I sought him but I found him not I will rise now and goe about the Citty in the streetes and in the broad wayes I will seeke him whom my soule loveth I sought him but I found him not The Watchmen that goe about the city found mee to whom I said Saw yee him whom my soule loveth It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my soule loveth I held him and would not let him goe untill I had brought him to my mothers house and into the chamber of her that conceived mee I charge yee O yee daughters of Ierusalem by the Roes and by the Hindes of the field that yee stirre not up nor awake my Love till hee please And lastly that when the comfortable beames of Gods lightsome countenance shall break out againe upon thy soule and thy Beloved is returned thou maist sing that triumphant song of Faith most joyfully I am my Beloveds my Beloved is mine Desertions then delaies of this nature are fruites of thy heavenly Fathers love and ought to bee no discouragements unto thee at all holding thy integrity His love thereby is intended towards thee by the restraint of the influence as it were and sense of it from thy soule as a Brooke growes big by damming it up for a while And thy love is more enflamed towards him when thou now feeles by the want of it what an heaven upon earth it is to have his face shine upon thee with it's quickning refreshing presence and that a sensible embracement of Iesus Christ in the armes of thy Faith is the very life of the soule as the Soule is the life of the Body the Crowne of all sweet
confidence as it was woont So that for a time Thou mayst lie under the torture of an heavy heart uncheerfullnesse in all thy waies and some degree of horrour because thou canst get no better hold-fast But more is thy fault For never did dearest Father so lovingly entertaine into His greedy armes a penitent Sonne returning from going astray then our mercifull God upon thy renewed humiliation is willing to shine upon thee againe with the refreshing beames and blessings of his woonted favour Yet tell mee true deare Heart Tho for the present that precious and happy prayer of Paul for the Romanes The God of hope fill you with all ioy and peace in beleeving be not fulfilled upon thy Soule Tho thy former joyfull feelings bee turned into distrustfull feares yet doth not that heavy heart of thine desire farre more to bee re-comforted with the presence and pleased face of thy Beloved then crowned with the glory and pleasures of many worlds Wouldest thou not much rather feele the hand of thy Faith fastned againe with peace and full perswasion upon the Person Passion and promises of the Lord Iesus then graspe in thy bodily hand the richest Imperiall Crowne that ever sate upon any Caesars head If Satans spitefull craft taking a cruell advantage of thy present dejection of spirit doe not hinder thy trembling heart from telling the truth I know thou canst not deny this And then I must tell Thee These hearty longings and longing desires in the meane time untill God give more strength be right deare to that tender-hearted Father of thine which doth infinitely more esteeme one groane or sigh from a broken spirit then a thousand rammes or tenne thousand rivers of oyle and are most pretious and piercing to that compassionate heart that poured out it's warmest and dearest blood to purchase the salvation and refresh the sadnesse of every truly-humbled Soule Ground upon it then and bee of good cheere If thy troubled spirit fild with the sense of the want of it's former sweet and joyfull feelings finde in it selfe a true and hearty longing after the supply of that want a constant and conscionable pursuite of all holy meanes for the procurement of that supply I can assure Thee in the Word of life and truth in Gods season Thou shalt bee satisfyed Hee will fullfill the desires of them that feare Him Hee also will heare their cry and will save them And this blessed promise for the accomplishment of thy desire is as surely thine as the breath in thy Body Hee must sooner cease to bee God and deny Himselfe which is more then infinitely impossible and prodigious blasphemy to imagine then faile in the least circumstance or syllable of all His love and promises of life to any One that heartily loves Him All the sacred Sayings in His holy Booke and all those promises of salvation are signed with the hand of Truth it selfe and sealed with the blood of His beloved Sonne And so are farre surer then the Pillars of the Earth or Poles of Heaven For Heaven and Earth must passe away before any title of His Word fall unto the ground And therefore as Hee will most certainly poure upon the hairy Pate of every One which hates to bee reformed all the plagues and curses threatned there even to the least sparke of the flames of Hell and the last drop of the full vials of His infinite endlesse unquenchable wrath so will Hee abundantly make good to every upright Soule syncerely thirsting after Iesus Christ in the best time all the promised good in His blessed Booke and that aboue all expectation expression conceit 4. Fourthly Thou mayst bee diversly distressed upon thy Bed of death 1. Casting thine eye backe upon thy whole life all thy sinnes from Adam to that houre and willing as thou must now take thy farewell so to take thy fill of repentance They appeare to the eie of thy conscience farre moe in number and more ougly then ever before And no marvaile for beeing now sequestred for ever from all worldly comforts and company distractions and diversions and the cloudes of naturall feare raised by the dreadfull circumstances of approaching dissolution uniting as it were and collecting the sight of thy Soule which imploiments in the world commerce amongst men and Sunne-shine of outward prosperity did before too much disperse dazle and divert they are represented farre more to the life and in their true colours Whereupon comparing the poore weake nothingnesse as thou now apprehends of thy godly sorrow hatred and opposition against them with thy present apprehension of their hainousnesse hatefulnesse and horrible number Thou begins to bee dejected and knowest not well what to thinke of thy Selfe I say then for thy comfort consult with thy sanctified heart and thou shalt finde and feele an infinite hearty desire that thy repentance for them detestatiō of them and heart-rising against them had been and now were as thorow sound and resolute as ever was in any penitent Soule that breathed the life of grace upon earth 2. Secondly Revising now thy whole Christian conversation spending of Sabbaths pouring out prayers reading Scriptures hearing the Word love of the Brethren dayes of humiliation workes of mercy receiving the Sacrament godly conference living by Faith in all estates c. Thou mayst see them in this last impartiall cleare retired examination of thy conscience to have been pestered with so many failings imperfections deadnesse of spirit distractions distempers that thou begins to feare and conceive As well never a whit as never the better as they say c. In this case also reflect upon the holy habituall disposition of thy heart and thou shalt feele it thirsting and longing unfainedly that all the holy duties and good deeds that ever passed thorow thy heart and hands had been done in answerable exactnesse to the rules of divine Truth and if it had so pleased God with absolute freedome from all infirmities 3. Thirdly Thou mayst bee troubled at that time because beeing perhaps as yet but of little standing in Profession thou hast done God so little service and in that short time hast not stood on Gods side with that courage and life nor walked in his holy wayes with that watchfulnesse and Zeale as thou mightest And it cuts thy heart the more because thou spent so much of thy time in serving thy selfe and Satan and expectest now to enjoy immortall joyes and a Crowne of endlesse blisse But here is thy comfort It is the unfained desire and resolution of thine heart If the Lord would bee pleased to allow Thee a longer time in this life and adde many moe yeeres unto it Thou wouldest double thy diligence and improove all oportunities to doe thy God every way farre more glorious service then heretofore all the daies of thine appointed time Oh! then thou wouldest doe so and so c. Assure now thy selfe in these three cases and troubles upon thy last Bed this syncere desire of thine
this World or the World to come But here bee tossed continually and torne in peeces like the raging Sea with restlesse distractions carking discontent And hereafter roare everlastingly in Hell with unknowne horrours and for the irrevocable exclusion from the supreme and soveraign Good the ever-springing Fountaine of all peace and pleasure and His glorious presence even for ever ever If the Soule of man saith Hooker did serve onely to give Him Beeing in this life then things appertaining unto this life would content Him as wee see they doe other Creatures Which Creatures inioying what they live by seeke no further but in this contentation doe shew a kinde of acknowledgement that there is no higher Good which doe any way belong unto them With us it is otherwise For altho the beauties riches honours sciences vertues and perfections of all men living were in the present possession of One yet somewhat beyond and above all this would still bee sought and earnestly thirsted for It is no marvell saith Greenâ—ham if riches fill not the Soule for they were all made for man His Soule for God Whatsoever is capable of God that can never bee satisfied with any thing else All riches all preferments can not satisfie one soule But when God is come it is full whatsoever is added more it runneth over These and the like are the mighty Works of Faith And even so let this Princely and victorious Grace attended with all Her heavenly traine tread down triumphantly before you still the painted Bables and Babels of al transitory glory and ungodly greatnesse hold still fresh and flourishing in your â—ie the immortality and blisse of a never-fading Crowne and shine faire and fruitfully in your Soule untill it set you downe safe in the midst of the most glorious and ever-during Kingdome of Heaven and having there finished her blessed Task resigne you up and leave you for ever to the Beatificall vision and full fruition of Iehovah everlastingly blessed and to the endlesse enioyment of fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at His right hand even thorow all eternity Your servant for the salvation of your Soule ROBERT BOLTON SOME INSTRVCTIONS FOR A RIGHT COMFORTING AFFLICTED Consciences with Antidotes against some speciall temptations PROV 18.14 The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmitie but a wounded spirit who can beare MY Text lies as you see in a sacred Cabinet of richest Iewels I meane the most selected and wisest Aphorismes or Proverbs that ever issued out of mortall braine Every one of them for the most part especially from the tenth Chapter independant entire and absolute in themselues cleare and manifest by their owne native brightnesse not needing such reciprocall light and lustre for each others mutuall discouery and interpretation And therefore they are naturally not capable of any coherent Logicall Analysis and other circumstantiall expositions ordinarily incident to other parts of Scripture Whence it is that this Booke of Proverbs is compared to a great heape of gold rings rich and orient severally and every one shining with a distinct sense by it selfe but other contexts of holy Writ to gould chaines so interwoven and enlinked together that they must upon necessity for the rendring unto us aright and fully their severall senses be illightened and receive mutuall illustration one from another This present Proverbe doth represent unto us the extremest Hell upon earth the greatest misery and most un-supportable that can possibly befall a Man in this life I meane the horror of a guilty and enraged conscience Which is set out First by the excellency of it's opposite the invincible ability and mighty strength of that truly stoute and heroicall heart which is happily upholden with the heavenly refreshing influence of grace Gods favour and a good conscience The spirit of a man will sustaine his â—firmity Whence take this first note Doctr. The spirit of a man furnished with grace and fortified with the sense of Gods favour is able to passe thorow the pikes and conquer all commers Reas. 1. For what and why should that man feare or faint on whose side the mighty Lord of heaven and earth doth stand If God be for us who can be against us Whose mercy to his is without all stint and limit like himselfe infinite so immeasurable that it reacheth from everlasting to everlasting so tender that it suâ—passeth incomprehensibly the compassionate meltings of the lovingest mother and spared not the dearest blood of his onely Sonne Who hath ever in a readinesse for the recovery of his children out of the most desperate danger and to rescue them out of the hands of the deadliest enemy besides his owne omnipotent arme the least finger whereof can beate the greatest mountaine to powder and â—end the hardest rocke in peeces innumerable hosts of Angels one of which killed an hundred foure score and five thousand in one night charets of fire even a thousand charets in the whirlewind that faire glorious Giant which with incredible sâ—iftnesse runs post as it were thorow the skye to stand still or râ—tore the impetuous current of the raging Sea to recoyle the merciles slames of the hungry fire to become a soft and refreshing aire the â—â—placable fury of the most enraged Lions to couch at first word for his servants sake and safety Nay if need bee hee hath Caterpillers and Frogges Wormes and Lice even the most impotent and vilest vermiâ—e to fetch blood and take downe the heart of the proudest Tyrant upon earth carry he his head neveâ— so high to eate out the bowels of the bloodiest Nimâ—od or mightiest Monarch that weares a crowne upon his head if hee oppose his people He hath the very hands and consciences of all that rise up against them to bring their owne blood upon theâ—r owne heads and even Hell and extreamest horror upon their hearts in this life What then so dreadfull a face of present confusions or fore-imagined formes of future troubles aâ—e able or ought slavishly to deâ—ect and terrifie that holy heart which with a sweet and safe repose is happily and everlastingly hid under the wings of that mighty God who for the deliverance of his can worke 1. By weake meanes See Iud. 7. 1. Sam. 14. Genes 14. 1. Sam. 17. Iud. 4.21 and 9.53 2. Without meanes See 2. Chron. 20. Exod. 14. Iosu. 6. 2. Kings 19. 2. Chron. 14. 3. Contrary to meanes See Dan. 6.22 Ios. 3.16 Dan. 3.25.26 Ionah 2.6 Iosu. 10.12 13 14. 2. When the heavenly beames of Gods pleased countenance begin to breake out upon a man thorow the darke and Hellish mist of his manifold and hainous sinnes the unquenchable heate of His everlasting love thorow Christ dissolving them into nothing and fairely shine with a comfortable aspect upon His humbled Soule ipso facto as they say Heaven and Earth and all the Hosts of both are everlastingly reconciled unto him and become his friends the stormes and
was annointed to preach the Gospell to the poore to heale the broken hearted c. Ob. Many have believed who never grieved for their misery as Lidia c. Answ. Who can tell that these greeved not It followeth not that they had no greife because none is recorded All particular actions and circumstances of Actions are not recorded It is enough that the greefe of some as of the Iewes of the Iaylour of the woman that washed Christs feete with Her teares and of others is recorded Lidia might bee prepared before she heard Paul For shâ—e accompanied them which went out to pray and shee worshipped God Or else Her heart might be then touched when she heard Paul preach The like may bee said of those which heard Peter when Her preached to Cornelius And of others Certaine it is that a man must both see and feele Hiâ— wretchednesse and bee wounded in Soule for it before Faith can be wrought in Him Yet I deny not but there may be great difference in the manner and measure of greeving c. The heart is prepared for faith and not by faith Iustifiâ—ation beeing the worke of God is perfect in it selfe but our hearts are not fit to apply it untill God have humbled us brought us to despaire in our selves The whole preparation beeing legall wrought by the Spirits of bondage to bring us to the Spirit of Adoption leaves us in despaire of all helpe either of our selves or the whole world that so beeing in this wofull plight wee might now submit our selves to God who infusing a lively faith into our hearts gives us His Son and our iustification with Him None ever had conscience truly pacifyed that first felt not conscience wounded The preparation to repentance Hee meanes Evangelicall are those legall sits of feare and terrour which are both in nature and time too before Faith As there can bee no birth without the paines of the travell going before so neither no true repentance without some terrours of the Law and streights of Conscience The reason is plaine None can have repentance but such as Christ cals to Repentance Now Hee cals only sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 even sinners heavy laden with the sense of Gods wrath against sinne Mat. 11.28 Hee comes onely to save the lost sheepe that is such sheepe as feele themselves lost in themselves and know not how to finde the way to the fold It is said Rom. 8.15 Yee have not received the spirit of bondage againe to feare which shewes that once they did receive it namely in the very first preparation vnto conversion that then the spirit of God in the Law did so beare witnes unto theÌ„ of their bondage and miserable slavery that it made them to tremble Now there vnder the person of the Romans the Apostle speakes to all Beleevers and so shewes that it is every Christians common case the law hath His use to worke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poenitentiam The Gospell His force to worke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 resipiscentiam and both are needfull for Christians even at this Present as formerly they have ever bin Gods mercy may not bee such whereby His Truth in any sort should bee impeached As it should if it be prostituted indifferently and promiscuously to all as well the insolent and impenitent as the poore humble and broken hearted sinner For unto these latter onely is the promise of mercy made And if to others the gate of mercy should bee set open Gods mercies as Solomon saies of the wicked's that they are cruell mercies should be false and uniust mercies But God never yet learned so to bee mercifull as to make Himselfe false and unfaithfull The first thing that drawes unto Christ is to consider our miserable estate without Him Therefore wee see that the Law drives men to Christ And the Law doth it by shewing a Man His sin and the curse due unto the same Wee must know that nothing performed of us can give satisfaction in this matter of humiliation Yet it is such a thing without which wee cannot come to Christ. It is as much as if a man should say the Physitian is ready to heale Thee but then it is required that Thou must have a sense of the disease c No Man will come to Christ except He bee hungry Onely those that are troubled receive the Gospell No Man will take Christ for his Husband till Hee come to know feele the Waight of Satans yoke Till that time Hee will never come to take upon Him the yoke of Christ. To all you I speake that are humbled Others that minde not this Doctrine regard not the things of this nature But you that mourne in Zion that are broken-hearted you that know the bitternesse of sin to you is the salvation sent Vnder the causes I comprehend all that worke of God whereby Hee worketh Faith in any which standeth especially in these three things 1. That God by His word and Spirit first illightneth the understanding truly to conceive the Doctrine of Mans misery and of His full recovery by Christ. 2. Secondly by the same meanes Hee worketh in His heart both such sound sorrow for His misery and fervent desire after Christ the remedy that Hee can never bee at quiet till Hee enioy Christ 3. Thirdly God so manifesteth His love in freely offering Christ with all His benefits to Him a poore sinner that thereby hee drawes Him so to giue credit to God therein that Hee gladly accepts Christ offered vnto Him These three works of God whosoever findeth to have bin wrought in Himselfe Hee may thereby know certainly Hee hath Faith But without these what change of life soever may bee conceived there can bee no certainty of Faith The Law first breakes us and kills us with the sight and guilt of sin before Christ cures us and binds us up The holy Ghost worketh and maketh Faith effectuall by these three Acts 1. First it puts an efficacy into the Law and makes that powerfull to worke on the heart to make a man poore in spirit so that hee may bee fit to receive the Gospell The Spirit of bondage must make the Law effectuall as the Spirit of adoption doth the Gospell c. 2. The second worke is to reveale Christ when the heart is prepared by the spirit in the first worke then in the next place Hee shewes the unsearchable riches of Christ what is the hope of His calling and the glorious inheritance prepared for the Saints what is the exceeding greatnesse of His power in them that beleeve I say wee neede the Spirit to shew these things c. 3. The third Act of the Spirit is The testimony which hee gives to our spirit in telling us that these things are ours When the heart is prepared by the Law and when these things are so shewed unto us that wee prize them and long after them yet
anguish as tho many fiery Scorpions stings stuck fast in them Either lead us to the sight of that blessed Anti-type of the Brazen Serpent to coole and allay the boyling rage of our guilty wounds or we are vtterly undone Either bring us to the Blood of that just and holy One which with execrable villany wee have spilt as water upon the ground that it may bind up our broken hearts or they will presently burst with despaire and bleed to eternall death Give us to drinke of that soueraigne Fountaine opened by the hand of mercy for all thirsty Soules or else wee dye There is nothing you can prescribe and appoint but wee will most willingly doe Wee will with all our hearts pluckâ— out our right eyes cut off our right hands We meane part with our beloved lusts and dearest sinfull pleasures abominate and abandon them all for ever from the heart root to the Pit of Hell If wee can bee rid of the Devills setteâ—â— welcome shall bee Christs sweete and easy yoke In a word wee will sell all even all our Sinnes to the last â—ilthy ragge of our heretofore doted vpon minion delight So that wee may injoy our blessed Iesus whom you have told us and wee now beleeve God hath made both Lord and Christ c. Now when wee shall see and find in some measure the hearts of our Hearers and spirituall Patients thus prepared both by legall dejections and terrours from the spirit of bondage and also possessed with such melting and eager affections wrought by the light of the Gospell and Offer of Christ When their Soules once begin to feele all sins even their best beloved One heauy and burdensome to prize Iesus Christ far before all the world to thirst for Him infinitely more then for riches pleasures honours or any earthly thing to resolue to take him as their husband and to obey Him as their Lord for ever and all this in truth I say then and in this case wee may haue comfort to minister comfort Then upon good ground wee may goe about our Masters command Isa. 40.1 which man-pleasers many times pittifully abuse Comfort yee Comfort yee my people I meane in respect of spirituall bondage Speake yee comfortably to Ierusalem and cry unto Her that Her warre is accomplished that Her iniquity is pardoned Wee may tell them with what a compassionate Pang and deare compellation God Himselfe labours to refresh them Isa. 54.11 Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempest that hast no comfort behold I will lay thy stones with faire colours and lay thy foundations with Saphirs c. Wee may assure them in the word of life and Truth that Iesus Christ is theirs and they are His And compell them as it were by an holy violence not without a great deale of just indignation against their lothnesse to beleeue and holding off in this case to take his Person His merit His blood all His Spirituall riches priviledges excellencies And with Him possession of all things even of the most glorious Deity it selfe blessed for ever See 1. Cor. 3.21.22.23 Ioh. 17.21 But now in the meane time untill sense of Spirituall misery and poverty raise an hunger and thirst after Iesus Christ before such like preparations and precedent affections as have been spoke of be wrought in the hearts of men by pressing the Law and proclaiming the Gospell and that in Sincerity for the degree and measure wee leave it to God as a most free Agent in some they may bee stronger in some weaker the preaching or promising of mercy as already belonging unto them is farre more unseasonable and unseemely then Snow in Summer raine in harvest or honour for a foole It is upon the matter the very Sealing them up with the Spirit of delusion that they may never so much as thinke of taking the right course to bee converted What sottish and sacrilegious audaciousnesse then is it in any Dawber to thrust his prophane hand into the treasury of Gods mercy and there hand over head without any allowance from his highest Lord to scatter His dearest and most orient pearles amongst Swine To warrant salvaon to any unhumbled Sinner To strengthen the hands of the wicked who never yet tooke sinne to heart to any purpose and thirst farre more such true Gadarens are they after gold satisfying their owne lusts and perking above their brethren then for the blood of Christ by promising them life To assure meere civill men and Pharises who are so farre from the sense of any spirituall poverty that they are already swolne as full as the skin will hold with a selfe-conceit of their owne rotten righteousnesse that they shall bee saved as well as the most puling precisian Especially sith there is such a cloud of witnesses to the contrary as you have heard before Besides all which upon this occasion take two or three moe Heare a most faithfull and fruitfull workman in the Lords harvest of great skill experience and successe in the most glorious Art of converting Soules which makes mee more willing to vrge his authority and esteeme His judgement in Points of this nature None saith hee can prove or shew president that faith was wrought in an instant at first without any preparation going before Nor can it bee conceived how a man should beleeve in Christ for salvation that felt not himselfe before in a miserable estate and wearied with it and desired to get out of it into a better As the needle goes before to pierce the cloth and makes way for the threed to sew it So is it in this case Afterward Hee tells us how and in what manner order these predispositions and preparative Acts required for the plantation of faith and so securing us of the right season and a comfortable calling to assure men of Spirituall safety are wrought in such as God is drawing unto Iesus Christ. Hee requires from the law First Illumination Secondly Conviction Thirdly Legall terrour From the Gospell by the helpe of the Spirit First Revealing the remedy Secondly Beliefe of it in generall Thirdly Support in the meane time from sinking under the burthen and falling into despaire Fourthly Contrition Which is attended with some kind of First Desire Secondly request Thirdly Care Fourthly Hope Fiftly Ioy. Sixthly Hungring and thirsting after mercy and after Christ. Seventhly Resolution to sell all to wit all sins not to leave an hoofe behind c. And thus saith hee God brings along the man that Hee purposeth to make His. And when he is at this passe God seales it up to him inables him to beleeue And saith Sith thou wilt haue no Nay Bee it unto thee according to thy desire And God seales him up by the Spirit of promise as surely as any writing is made sure by sealing of it Then he beleeves the word of God and rests and casts himselfe vpon it And thus hee finds himselfe discharged of
judgement Nay why not more Proportionably to that which Divines hold That the privation and losse of heavenly joyes and beatificall presence of God is far bitterer then the torments of sense and positive paines of Hell But to tell you their true meaning and their very hearts Their aime in so complaining and calling for mercy from our Ministry is to have it so and in such a manner proposed and preached that they may thence collect and conceive that they are in state good enough to goe to Heaven as they are though in truth they bee meere strangers to the life of God and holy strictnesse of the Saints were never truly humbled with sight of sinne and sense of wrath nor experimentally acquainted at all with the Mysterie of the New birth That they may conclude and say within themselves Howsoever some Ministers of the purer and preciser streine fright us continually with nothing but judgement terrour damnation and will not suffer us to bee quiet no not so much as in One sinne yet it is our good hap sometimes to meet with some mercifull men who will help us to Heaven without so much adoe and upon easier termes c. In a word they would upon the matter have just so much mercy as might assure and warrant them to carry securely their sinnes in their bosome to Heaven with them to live as they list in this life and to dye the death of the righteous Which is a conceit most ridiculous absurd and more then utterly impossible What a hatefull tricke then is this and horrible imposture which they suffer Sathan to put them upon In proposing of Christ Let the Man of God set out as much as Hee can possibly the excellency of His Person the unvaluable pretiousnesse of His blood the riches of His heavenly purchases the gracious sweetnesse of His invitations the generality and freenesse of His offers the glorious Priviledges Hee brings with Him reconciliation to God Adoption forgivenesse of sins justification righteousnesse wisedome sanctification redemption c. Possession of all things For all things are yours Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come All are yours And yee are Christs and Christ is Gods 1. Cor. 3.22.23 Let Him tell His Hearers that the blood of Christ is called the blood of God Act. 20.28 and therfore of infinite merit and unvaluable price It sprang out of His humane nature and therefore finite in it's owne nature and lost upon the ground But the Person that shed it being the Sonne of God did set upon it such an excellency and eternity of vertue and value that the infinitenesse of its merit and inestimablenesse of its worth lasts everlastingly It will bee as fresh orient and effectuall to wash away the sinnes of the last man that shall bee called upon earth as it was those of the Penitent Thiefe who saw it with His bodily eies gushing out of his blessed side upon the crosse or the first man who did first savingly apprehend that first Promise The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head Let him assure them it is so soveraigne That in a truly broken humbled and thirsty soule it turneth the most Scarlet and Crimson sinnes into snow and wooll That upon compunction and comming in it washed away that horrible and bloody guilt from the soules of them that spilt it Act. 2. Let them know also in how high a degree and hainously they offend from time to time who refuse to take Iesus Christ offered most freely without exception of any person every Sabbath every sermon either in plaine and direct termes or implyedly at the least Oh! Litle doe people thinke who sit under our Ministry unwrought upon by the word what a grievous and fearefull sinne they commit and carry home from the House of God day after day in neglecting so great salvation in forsaking their owne mercy and in judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life I meane by chusing upon a free Offer of his Soule-saving blood to cleave rather to a Lust Horrible indignity then to Iesus Christ blessed for ever rather to wallow in the mire and mudde of earthly pelfe in the filth and froth of swinish pleasures In idlenesse pride worldlinesse whoredome drunkennesse strange fashions scorning Professours contempt of the power of godlinesse railing against religion revelling Selfe-uncleannesse c. then abandoning these filthy harlots to take the Sonne of God for their deare and everlasting Husband This not Beleeving This refusing Christ This not taking Him in the manner and sense as I have said is such a sinne though not so thought upon and taken to heart that Divines speake of it as of a most transcendent sinne the greatest sinne the sinne of sinnes the onely sinne as it were from such Places as these But when the King heard thereof Hee was wroth and Hee sent foorth His armies and destroyed those murderers and burnt up their City Mat. 22.7 Hee meanes those who were invited to the Sons marriage and made light of it Hee that beleeveth not is condemned already because hee hath not beleeved in the Name of the onely begotten Sonne of God Ioh. 3.18 When the Comforter is come Hee will convince the world of sinne because they beleeve not on mee Hee meanes this sinne alone saith Austin As though not beleeving on the Sonne of God were the onely sinne It is indeed the maine and master sinne because as the same Father speakes truly This remaining the guilt of all other sinnes abides upon the soule this removed all other sinnes are remitted Nay and besides the horriblenes and hainousnes of the sin what height and perfection of madnesse is it That whereas a Man but renouncing his base rotten transitory sinfull pleasures dogged continually at the heeles with vengeance and horror And only taking Iesus Christ in whom are hidden and heaped up the fulnes of grace and treasures of all perfection might have therevpon to say nothing of the excellency of his person purchases of his passion and possessiō of the most blessed Deity a full free discharge thereby at the hands of so happy an Husband from every moment of the everlastingnesse of Hellish torments and a Deed presently sealed with His owne hearts-blood for an undoubted right to every minute of the eternity of heavenly joyes yet should in cold blood most wickedly and willingly after so many intreaties invitations importunity onely for the good of His poore immortall Soule refuse the change Heaven and earth may be astonished Angels and all Creatures may justly stand amazed at this prodigious sottishnes and monstrous madnesse of such miserable men The world is wont to call Gods people precise fooles because they are willing to sell all they have for that One pearle of great price to part with profits pleasures preferments their right hand their right eye every thing any thing rather then to leave
bee tho I hope better things of Thee The truth as I said both of thy heart and these affectionate promises will appeare when the storme is over and this dismall tempest which hath over-cast and shaken thy spirit with extraordinary feare and astonishment is overblowne Thy course of life to come will proove a true Touch-stone to try whether this bee the kindly travaile of the New-birth or onely a temporary taking-on during the fit by reason of the uncouthnesse and exquisitenesse of this invisible spirituall torture without true turning to Iesus Christ. If when the now-troubled powers of thy soule which the wound of thy conscience hath cast into much distracted and uncomfortable confusion shall recover their wonted calmenes and quiet thou turne unto thine old bias humour company and conversation it will then bee more then manifest that this Furnace of terrour and temptation wherein thou now lies and languishes was so far from working thine heart to heavenlinesse and grace that it hath hammered it to more hardnesse and ungraciousnesse from purging and refining that it hath occasioned more earthlinesse epicurisme and raging affections in sensuality and sinfull pleasures But if when thou art up againe and raised by Gods mercifull hand out of the Depth of this spirituall distresse into which the horrible sight and heavy waight of thy sinnes have sunke thee if then thou expresse and testifie thy true-heartednesse in these present solemne protestations made now as it were in thy hot blood I meane of thy hatred against sinne by an earnest opposition watchfulnesse and striving against all especially that which in thine unregenerate time stucke closest to thy bosome of thine hunger and thirst after a comfortable fruition of Gods face and favour by a conscionable and constant pursuit and exercise of all good meanes and opportunities of all his blessed ordinances appointed and sanctified for groath in grace and bringing us nearer unto Him of thy future New-obedience and Christian walking by plying industriously and fruitfully with thy best endeavour and utmost ability those three glorious workes of Christianity Preservation of purity in thine owne Soule and Body righteous dealing with all thou hast to doe-with Holy carriage towards God in all religious duties In a word by denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and living soberly righteously and godlily in this present world of which the grace of God teacheth every true Convert to make Conscience I say if upon thy recovery this bee thy course Thou art certainely New-created Such blessed behaviour as this will infallibly evidence these present terrours to have been the Pangs of thy New-birth and thy happy translation from death to life from the vanity and folly of sin into the light and liberty of Gods Children 2. Secondly say unto Him When once that blessed Fountaine of Soule-saving blood is opened upon thy Soule in the side of the Sonne of God by the hand of Faith for sinne and for uncleannesse then also must a Counter-spring as it were of repentant teares bee opened in thine humbled heart which must not be dried up untill thy dying Day This is my meaning for every Christian hath not teares at command the heart sometimes may bleed when the eyes are dry Thou must bee content to continue the current of thy godly sorrow upon that abominable Sinke and Sodom of all the lusts vanities and villanies of thy darke and damned time and also upon those frailties infirmities imperfections defects relapses back-slidings which may accompany thy regenerate state even untill that body of sinne which thou carries about Thee bee dissolved by the stroke of death As concerning thine old sinnes and those that are past it is not enough that now the fresh horrour of them and those grissely affrighting formes wherein they have appeared to the eye of thy wounded conscience have wrought upon thy heart by Gods blessing some softnesse heart-rising remorse and hatred But thou must many and many a time hereafter in the extraordinary exercises of renued repentance presse thy penitent spirit to bleede afresh within thee and draw water againe out of the bottome of thy broken heart with those Israelites and poure it out before the Lord in abundāce of bitter teares for thy never sufficiently sorrowed-for abominations and rebellions against so blessed and bountifull a God Now the solemne times and occasions when wee are called to this renued Repentance are such as these 1. When wee are to performe some speciall services unto God because then out of a godly jealousie wee may feare lest the face and favour of God the love and light of His countenance may not lie so open unto us by reason of the cloudy interposition of our former sinnes 2. When wee seeke for any speciall blessing at Gods mercifull hands because then out of a gracious feare we may suspect that our old sinnes may intrude and labour to intercept and divert from our longing Soules the sweet and comfortable influences of the Throne of grace It may seeme that David in the current of his prayer saw His old sinnes charge upon Him and therefore cries out by the way Remember not the sinnes of my youth 3. In the time of some great affliction and remarkeable Crosse when upon a new search and strict examination of our hearts and lives we humbling our selves more solemnely againe in the sight of the Lord and mourning afresh over Him whom wee have pierced with our youthly pollutions and provoke daily with many wofull failings are wont to seeke Gods pleased face and our former peace sanctification of it unto us in the meane time and the remoovall of it from us in due time in the name of Iesus Christ. 4. After relapse into some old secret lust or fall into some new scandalous sinne Davids remorse for adultery and murder brought his heart to bleede over his birth-sinne Psal. 51.5 Above all upon all those mighty Dayes of humiliation by prayer and fasting publike private or secret wherein Gods people wrastle with God by the omnipotency of prayer and worke so many wonders from time to time 6. Some there are also who setting apart some speciall times to conferre with God in secret lay together before Him the glorious Catalogue of the riches of His mercy reaching from everlasting to everlasting all his favours preservations deliverances protections c. from their first beeing to that time and the abhorred Catalogue of all their sinnes from Adam to that houre Originall both imputed and inherent actuall both before and since their calling and this they doe with hearty desire of such different affections as they severally require A serious and sensible comparing of which two together makes sinne a great deale more loathsome and the mercies of God more illustrious and so prooves effectuall many times by the helpe of the Holy Ghost to soften their hearts extraordinarily to make them weepe heartily and fils their Soules with much joyfull sorrow and humble thankefulnesse 7. Vpon our Beds
refreshing which sprung out of that promise upon her forlorne and fearefull soule or the excesse of that love which shee bore ever after to those blessed lines to the mercy that made them and to the blood that sealed them An other terrified in conscience for sinne resolves to turne on Gods side but the crie of his good-fellow companions strength of corruption and cunning of Satan carrie him backe to his former courses A good number of yeares after hee was so throughly wounded that whatsoever came of him he would never returne againe unto folly Then comes into his minde the first of the Proverbes whence hee thus reasoned against himselfe So many yeares agoe God called and stretched out his hand in mercy but I refused and therefore now thâ— I call upon him hee will not answer though I seeke him early I shall not finde him Whereupon was his heart filled with much griefe terrour and slavish feare But the Spirit of God leading him at length to that place Luke 17.4 If thy brother trespasse against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turne againe to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgiue him He thence happily argued thus for himselfe Must I a silly sinnefull man forgive my brother as often as hee repents and will not then the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort entertaine mee seeking againe in truth his face and â—avour God forbid From which hee blessedly drew such a deale of divine sweetnesse and secret sense of Gods love that his trembling heart at first received some good satisfaction and afterward was setled in a sure and glorious peace An other godly man passing through his lâ—st sicknesse with such extraordinary calmâ—nesse of conscience and absolute freedome from temptation that some of his Christian friends observing and admiring the singularity of his soules quiet at that time especially questioned him aboue it He answered that he had stedfastly fixed his heart upon that sweetest promise Isa. 26.3 Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because hee trusteth in thee And his God had graciously made it fully good unto his soule And so must every Saint doe who would sound the sweetnesse of a promise to the bottome make it the arme of God unto him for sound thorow-comfort Even settle his heart fixedly upon it and set his Faith on worke to broode it as it were with it's spirituall heate that quickenesse and life may thence come into the soule indeed For God is woont to make good his promises unto his children proportionably to their trust in them and dependance upon his truth and goodnesse for a seasonable performance of them Now all these promises in Gods blessed Booke which addes infinitely to their sweetnesse and certainty are sealed with the blood of Iesus Christ Heb. 9.16 and confirmed with the Oath of Almighty God Heb. 6.17.18 God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heires of promise the immutability of his counsell confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie wee might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Oh what a mighty and pretious invitation is this to beleeve perfectly The speciall Aime of Gods oath whereas his promise had been more then infinitely sufficient was to strengthen our consolation And therefore every heart true unto Christ ought hence to hold fast not a faint wavering inconstant but a strong stedfast and unconquerable comfort Otherwise it sacrilegiously as it were robs God of the glorious end for which hee swore 5. The free love of God Which how rich and glorious how bottomlesse and boundlesse a treasure it is of all gracious sweetnesse abundant comfort and endlesse bounty appeares in this that Iesus Christ blessed for ever that unvalew-able incomparable Iewell came out of it For God so loved the World that hee gave his onely begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3.16 And therefore every syncere servant of Christ when upon a serious and sad survay of his Christian waies finds himself to come so far short of that which God requires and himselfe desires That his prayers are very faint his sorrow for sinne very scant his love unto the brethren too cold His spending the Sabbaths very unfruitfull His spirituall growth since he gave his name to Christ very poore His profiting by the meanes hee enjoyes most unanswerable to the power and excellency thereof His New-obedience almost nothing c. For so hee is wont to vilifie himselfe Whereupon hee is much cast downe and out of this apprehension of his manifold unworthinesse concludes against himselfe that hee hath little cause to bee confident in the promises of life or to presume of any part and interest in Iesus Christ and so begins to retire the trembling hand of his already very-weake Faith from any more laying-hold of comfort I say in such a Case being true-hearted he may safely and upon sure ground have recourse to this ever-springing Fountaine of immeasurable mercy and raise up his drooping soule against all contrary oppositions with unspeake-able and glorious refreshing from such places as these Hos. 14.4 I will love thee freely Isai. 55. Ho every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and hee that hath no money come yâ—e buy and eate yea come buy wine and milke without money and without price And Chap. 43.25 I even I am hee that blotteth one thy transgressions for my owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes Revel 21.6 I will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountaine of the water of life freely c. God never set the Promises on sale or will ever sell his Sonne to any Hee never said Iust so much sorrow so much sanctitie so much service or no Christ But Hee ever gives Him freely Every truly humbled heart which will take him at the hands of Gods free love as an Husband to bee saved by him and to serve him in truth may have him for nothing Yet I must adde this there was never any who received the Lord Iesus savingly but hee laboured syncerely to sorrow as much for sinne to bee as holy to doe him as much service as hee could possibly And when hee reflected upon his best hee ever desired it had been infinitely better 6. The sweete Name of the Lord. Which hee proclaimes Exod. 34.6.7 wherein he first expresseth his essence in one word The Lord The Lord. Which doubled is effectuall to stirre up Moses attention Secondly three Attributes first His power in one word Strong Secondly His justice in two formes of speech not making the wicked innocent visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon childrens children unto the third and fourth generation Thirdly but his speciall goodnesse and good affection towards repentant and beleeving sinners in seven
affected and deale with thee in hearing helping and shewing mercy when all thy strength of praier is gone but onely groanes and sighes Nay with incomparably more affectionatenesse For looke how farre God is higher then Man in Majestie and greatnesse which is by an infinite distance and disproportion so far doth he passe him in tender-heartednesse and love See Isai. 55. 8.9 Or be it so That thou art able to speak unto God and in some measure to utter thy mind yet in thy conceit it is so weakly coldly and confusedly that thou thinkes As well never a whit as never the better c. Take notice here that Gods Child is able First sometimes to poure out his soule unto his God with life and power Secondly sometimes to say something but with much coldnesse deadnesse of heart and distractednesse as he complaines without his woonted feeling and freedome of spirit Thirdly At other times he can say just nothing but groane and sigh and only desire hee could pray For this last looke upon the last passage For the second to wit when the Christian is troubled that hee can say something and speake words unto God yet it is without that order efficacy fit phrase and comming-off so comfortably as he thinks is to bee found in other Professours c. I say in this Case consider that as a Father is more delighted with the stammering stuttering as it were with the in-articulate and imperfect talke of his owne little Childe when it first begins to speake then with the exactest eloquence of the most famous Oratour upon earth so assuredly our heavenly Father is infinitely better pleased with the broken interrupted passages and periods of prayer in an upright heart heartily grieved that hee can doe no better nor offer up a more lively hearty and orderly sacrifice then with the excellently-composed fine-phrased and most methodicall petitions of the learned'st Pharisee Nay his soule extremely loathes the one and graciously accepts the other in Iesus Christ. As concerning the complaint of coldnesse bee assured that tho thy prayers proceede out of thy mouth faint and feeble cold and uncomfortable yet springing from a syncere heart purified by Faith truly humbled under Gods mighty hand for sinne seconded with groanes and griefe with an holy anger and selfe-indignation that they be not more fervent and piercing and offered in obedience unto God are most certainely as it were by the way fortified and enlived with the pacifying perfections and intercessory spirit of Iesus Christ sweetly perfumed with the precious Odours of his fresh-bleeding Merits and blessed Mediation so that they strike the eares of the Almighty with farre greater strength and irresistable importunity then is ordinarily imagined And are as sweet-smelling sacrifices in his nostrils The very sight of whose crucified Sonne at his right hand tendering the suite can calme his most angry countenance and convert by a sacred meritorious attonement his displeasures and wrath into compassions and peace Now blessed bee God that the weake prayers and broken sighes of tempted and troubled spirits have this happy promise and prerogative That before they presse as it were into the presence of God the Father they are mingled in the meane time with the soveraigne and satisfactory incense in the golden censer whence evaporating out of the Angels hand I meane the Angel of the Covenant for so the truest Interpreters understand the place they ascend into the sight of our gracious Father incorporated and enwoven as it were into that pretious and pleasing fume And that it pleaseth the blessed Spirit in the needefull time of spirituall extremities to draw the petitions of our sometimes speechlesse heavy and distracted hearts Iesus Christ the great Angell of the Covenant to perfect perfume and present them Hee that by an excellency and title of highest honour is stiled the Hearer of praiers to receive them into his mercifull hand and bosome of compassionate acceptation Goe on then poore soule Thou that sorely â—roopes under the sensible waight of thy manifold weakenesses and unworthinesse this way and thereupon sometimes sinfully drawes back with some thoughts of giving-over quite which is that the Divel desires and would utterly undoe thee forever presse forward in the name of Christ unto the Throne of Grace with a lighter heart then thou art wont Shall the Lord Iesus call and cry for a Pardon for those who put him to death who were so farre from seeking unto him that like so may Evening Wolves they sought and suckt his blood and will hee shut his eares thinkes thou from thy complaints and groanes who values one drop of his blood to quench thy spirituall thirst at an higher price then the worth of many Worlds Comfort thy selfe invincibly It cannot bee 2. In the faintnesse of Faith and want of feeling Thou beholdest sometimes a Father holding a little Childe in his armes now whether dost thou thinke is the Child safe by it's owne or by the Fathers hold It claspes about the Father with it's little weake hands as well as it can but the strength of it's safety is in the Fathers arme Nay and the Father holds the faster when at any time hee perceives the Child to have left it's hold Thou art tied as it were unto Christ by a double bond first of the Spirit and secondly of Faith Thou layest hold on Christ by Faith and hee holds thee by his Spirit Now thy Infant Faith or after some good standing in Christianity weakened and sorely wounded in thy present feeling hath lost it's hold-fast And therefore thou thinkes all is gone and walkes dejectedly and uncomfortably as tho not any promise in Gods Booke or drop of Christs Blood were thine c. But assure thy selfe being sound at the heart roote and walking in the light as God is in the light thy heavenly Father in this Case holds thee so fast by his Spirit that no Man or Divell not all the powers of darkenesse or gates of hell can possibly plucke thee out of his hand Nay the excellency of his power is most gloriously improoved and made more illustrious in thy greatest extremities and extremest spirituall weakenesse And hee holds it his highest honour to hold thee the fastest when thy hold is gone Heere then and upon this ground thou hast a Calling and maâ—st comfortably for hee is ever most loving and tender hearted in times of temptation to all that are true of heart exercise that most excellent act of faith To beleeve without feeling To beleeve when the face of God doth shine upon thee with sensible refreshing and when thou enjoyest plentifull and pregnant proofes of his favour is no great matter no such maistery But then to beleeue when all sense of Gods love is gone and the light of his countenance hid from thee when all goe quite crosse and contrary in the apprehension of carnall reason then is the highest praise this is the perfection of faith The very dull
heavenly Father deale withal that are upright-hearted in all their troubles trials and temptations For the dearest love of the most affectionate Father or Mother to their Childe is nothing to that which hee beares to those that feare him Isa. 49.15 Psal. 103.13 Deut. 8.5 3. Thirdly there is a pretious Principle in the mysterie of salvation which as a comforting Cordiall-water serves to quicken and revive in the sownings and faintings of the Body defection of the spirits and sinking of the heart So it may bee soveraigne to support and succour in afflictions and dejections of Soule and weakenesses of our spirituall state It is thus delivered by Divines A constant and earnest desire to bee reconciled to God to believe and to repent if it bee in a touched heart is in acceptation with God as reconciliation Faith repentance it selfe A weake faith shewes it selfe by this grace of God namely an unfained desire not onely of salvation for that the wicked and gracelesse man may have But of reconciliation with God in Christ. This is a sure signe of Faith in every touched and humbled heart and it is peculiar to the elect Those are blessed who are displeased with their owne doubting and unbeliefe if they have a true earnest desire to bee purged from this distrust and to believe in God through Christ. Our desire of grace faith and repentance are the graces themselves which wee desire at least in Gods acceptation who accepteth of the will for the deede and of our affections for the actions Hungring and thirsting desires are evidences of a repenting heart True desire argues the presence of things desired and yet argues not the feeling of it It may not bee dissembled that there are in the world many definitions or descriptions of faith such as doe not comprehend in them that onely thing which is the chiefe stay of thousands of the deare servants of God and that is desires which may not bee denyed to bee of the nature of Faith I expresse my meaning thus That when a Man or woman is so farre exercisâ—d in the spirituall seeking of the Lord his God That hee would bee willing to part with the world and all things thereof if hee had them in his owne possession so that by the Spirit and Promises of God hee might bee assured that the sinnes of his former life and such as presently doe burthen his Soule were forgiven him and that hee might believe that God were now become his God in Christ I would not doubt to pronounce that this Person thus prising remission of sinnes at this rate that hee would sell all to buy this pearle did undoubtedly believe Not onely because it is a truth though a Paradoxe that the Desire to believe is Faith But also because our Saviour Christ doth not doubt to affirme that they are blessed that hunger and thirst after righteousnesse because they shall bee satisfied And to him that is a thirst I will give to drinke of the water of life freely And David doubted not to say The Lord heareth the desire of the humble I thinke whensoever the humbled sinner sees an infinite excellency in Christ and the savour of God by him that it is more worth then all the world and so sets his heart upon it that hee is resolved to seeke it without ceasing and to part withall for the obtaining it now I take it is Faith begun What graces thou unfainedly desirest and constantly vsest the meanes to attaine Thou hast There is no rocke more sure then this truth of God That the heart that complaineth of the want of grace desireth above all things the supply of that want useth all holy meanes for the procurement of that supply cannot be destitute of saving grace Such are wee by imputation as wee bee in affection And he is now no sinner who for the love he beareth to righteousnesse would bee no sinner Such as we be in desire and purpose such we be in reckoning and account with God who giveth that true desire and holy purpose to none but to his Children whom hee justifieth We must remember that God accepts affecting for effecting willing for working desires for deedes purposes for performances pence for pounds and unto such as doe their endeavour hath promised His grace enabling them every day to doe more and more If there be in thee a sorrow for thine unbeliefe a will and desire to believe and a care to increase in Faith by the use of good meanes there is a measure of true Faith in thee and by it thou maist assure thy selfe that thou art the Child of God It is a great grace of God to feele the want of Gods graces in thy selfe and to hunger and thirst after them If you desire healing of your nature groane in desire to grace perceive your foulenesse unto a loathing of your selfe feare not sinne hath no dominion over you Sense of Want of grace complaint and mourning from that sense desire setled and earnest with such mourning to have the want supplyed vse of good meanes with attending upon Him therein for this supply is surely of grace What graces thou unfainedly desirest and constantly usest the meanes to attaine Thou hast Take it in short from mee thus A true desire of grace argues a saving and comfortable estate The truth of which appeares clearely By Scriptures Reasons Both ancient and moderne Deuines Proofes Mat. 5.6 Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnâ—sse for they shall bee filled Here to a desire of grace is annexed a Promise of Blessednesse which comprehends all the glory and pleasures of Christs Kingdome here and all heavenly joyes and everlasting blisse hereafter Ioh. 7.37 If any man thirst let him come unto mee and drinke Psal. 10.17 The Lord heareth the desire of the humble Psal. 145.19 Hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare Him Luk. 1.53 The Lord filleth the hungry with good things Reu. 22.17 Let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let Him take the water of life freely Isa. 55.1 Hâ— every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters c. And Cap. 44. vers 3. I will poure water upon Him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground O Lord I beseech thee saith Nehemiah let now thine eare bee attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to feare thy Name Here those who desire to feare the Lord are stiled His servants and proposed as men qualified and in a fit disposition to have their praiers heard their petitions granted their distresses relieved their affaires blessed with successe And no doubt thâ—s Man of God would make speciall choise of such Attributes and affections which might proove powerfull and pleasing Arguments to draw from God compassion favour and protection And therefore a true-hearted desire to feare the Lord is a signe of His servant
refresht with that pretious blood of His c. 6. It is growing from appetite to endeavour from endeavour to action from action to habite from habite to some comfortable perfection and tallnesse in Christ. If it bee quite quencht and extingvished when the spirituall angvish and agony is over or stand at a stay never transcending the nature of a naked wish it is to bee reputed rootelesse heartlesse gracelesse There are Christians that lie as yet as it were strugling in the wombe of the Church who for a time at the least live spiritually onely by grievings and groanes by hearty desires eager longings affectionate stirrings of spirit c. There are also Babes in Christ young men in Christ strong men in Christ old Christians A perpetuall infancy argues a nullity of sound and saving Christianity The Childe that never passeth the stature and state of an Infant will proove a Monster Hee that growes not by the syncere milke of the Word is a true Changeling not truly changed Hee that rests with contentment upon a desire onely of good things never desired them savingly But here lest any tender conscience bee unnecessarily troubled I must confesse It is not so growing as I have said or not so sensibly at certaine times as while the pangs of the New-birth are upon us in times of desertion temptation c. Tho even then it growes in an holy impatiency restlesnesse longing c. Which is well-pleasing unto the Father of mercies in the meane time and which Hee accepts graciously untill Hee give more strength The Point thus cleared is very sweet and soveraigne but so that no carnall Man must come neere it no stranger meddle with it much lesse Swine trample upon it It is a Iewell for the true-hearted Nathanaels wearing alone Nay the Christian himselfe in the time of his Soules health height of feeling and flourishing of His Faith must hold off His hand Onely let Him keepe it fresh and orient in the Cabinet of His memory as a very rich Pearle against the Day of spirituall distresse As pretious and cordiall waters are to bee given onely in swounings faintings and defection of the spirits so this delicious Manna is to bee ministred specially and to bee made use of in the straits and extremities of the Soule At such times and in such Cases as these In 1. The strugglings of the New-birth 2. Spirituall Desertions 3. Strong temptations 4. Extraordinary troubles upon our last Bed 1. For the first When thou art once come so farre as I intimated before To wit that after a thorow conviction of sinne and sound humiliation under Gods mighty hand upon a timely and seasonable revelation of the glorious Mystery of Christ His excellencies invitations His truth tender-heartednesse c. For the desire I speake of is an effect and affection wrought ever immediately by the Gospell alone I say when in this Case thine heart is filled with vehement longings after the Lord of life If thou bee able to say with David My soule thirsteth after thee as a thirstie Land If thou feele in thy selfe an hearty hunger and thirst after the favour of God that Fountaine opened for sinne and for uncleannesse and fellow-ship with Christ Assuredly then the Well of life is already opened unto thee by the hand of thy faithfull Redeemer and in due time thou shalt drink thy fill He that is Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the eternall and unchangeable God hath promised it And amid the sorrowes of thy trembling heart and longings of thy thirsty soule thou mayst even challenge it at His hands with an humble sober and zealous confidence As did that Scottish Penitent a little before his Execution Hee freely confessed his fault to the shame as Hee said of Himselfe and to the shame of the Divell but to the glory of God Hee acknowledged it to bee so hainous and horrible that had hee a thousand lives and could he die ten thousand deaths Hee could not make satisfaction Notwithstanding said hee Lord thou hast left mee this comfort in thy Word that thou hast said Come unto mee all ye that are weary and laden and I will refresh you Lord I am weary Lord I am heavily laden with my sinnes which are innumerable I am ready to sinke Lord even to Hell without thou in thy mercy put to thine hand and deliver mee Lord thou hast promised by thine owne word out of thine owne mouth that thou wilt refresh the weary soule And with that Hee thrusts out one of his hands and reaching as high as Hee could with a louder voyce and a strained cryed I challenge thee Lord by that Word and by that Promise which thou hast made that thou performe and make it good unto mee that call for ease and mercy at thine hands c. Proportionably when heavy-heartednesse for sinne hath so dryed up thy bones and the angry countenance of God so parched thine heart that thy poore soule begins to gaspe for grace as the thirsty Land for drops of raine thou mayst tho dust and ashes with an holy humility thus speake unto thy gracious God O mercifull Lord God thou art Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end Thou sayest It is done of things that are yet to come so faithfull and true are thy decrees and promises And thou hast promised by thine owne word out of thine owne mouth that unto Him that is athirst thou wilt give of the Fountaine of the water of life freely O Lord I thirst I faint I langvish I long for one drop of mercy As the Hart panteth for the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God and after the yerning bowels of thy woonted compassions Had I now in possession the glory the wealth and the pleasures of the whole World Nay had I ten thousand lives ioyfully would I lay them all downe and part with them to have this poore trembling soule of mine received into the bleeding armes of my blessed Redeemer O Lord and thou onely knowest it my spirit within me is melted into teares of blood my heart is shivered into peeces Out of the very place of Dragons and shaddow of death doe I lift up my thoughts heavy and sad before Thee the remembrance of my former vanities and pollutions is a very vomite to my soule and it is full sorely wounded with the grievous representation thereof The very flames of Hell Lord the fury of thy just wrath the scorchings of mine owne conscience have so wasted and parched mine heart that my thirst is insatiable My bowels are hot within mee my desire after Iesus Christ pardon and grace is greedy as the grave the coles thereof are coles of fire which hath a most vehement flame And Lord in thy blessed Booke thou calls and cries Ho every One that thirsteth come yee to the waters c. In that great day of the Feast Thou stood'st and cryed'st with thine owne mouth saying
If any man thirst Let Him come unto mee and drinke And these are thine owne words Those who hunger and thirst after righteousnesse shall be filled I challenge thee Lord in this my extremest thirst after thine owne blessed Selfe and spirituall life in Thee by that Word and by that Promise which thou hast made that thou performe and make it good unto mee that lies groveling in the dust and trembling at thy feet Oh! Open now that promised Well of life For I must drinke or els I die Heare then and in a word is thy comfort In these hungrings and thirstings of the soule there is as it were the spawne of Faith semen fidei there is aliquid fidei in them as excellent Divines both for learning and holinesse doe affirme Howsoever or in what phrase soever it bee exprest sure I am such desires so qualified as before shall bee fulfilled satisfied accomplished possessed of the Well of life and that is abundant to put the thirsting Partie into a comfortable and saving-state as I said at first The words of Scripture are punctuall and down-right for this which I say Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall bee filled Mat. 5.6 If any man thirst let him come unto mee and drinke Ioh. 7.37 The Lord heareth the desire of the humble Psal. 10.17 Hee will fullfill the desire of them that feare Him Psal. 145.19 The Lord filleth the hungry with good things Luk. 1.53 Let Him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Rev. 22.17 Hâ— every One that thirsteth come yee to the waters c. Isa. 55.1 I will poure water upon him that is thirsty flouds upon the dry ground Cap. 44.3 These longings and desires this hunger and thirst before a sensible apprehension and enjoyment of Christ arise from a sense of the necessity and want of His blessed Person and pretious bloodshed which the afflicted Soule now prizeth before tenne thousand Worlds and for whose sake is most willing to sell all and to abandon wholly the Devils service for ever Those after a full entrance into the holy Path and joyfull grasping of the Lord Iesus in the armes of our Faith arise partly from the former taste of unutterable sweetnesse we found in Him partly from the want of a more full and further fruition of Him especially when He is departed in respect of present feeling as in times of desertion extraordinary temptation c. In the Passage that is past I understand the former in those that follow the latter 2. Secondly Concerning desertions I intend a larger and more particular discourse and therefore I passe by them here 3. Thirdly Wee may have recourse for comfort to this pretious Point in some speciall temptations of doubtfullnesse and feare about our spirituall state When spirituall life is runne as it were into the roote in some particulars and actuall abilities to exercise some graces and discharge some duties are returned to nothing for the present but groanes desires and longings to doe as God would have us For instance Thou art much afflicted because thou feeles the spirit of prayer not to stirre and worke in Thee with that life and vigour as it was woont but beginnes to langvish in the inward man for lacke of that vitall heate and feeling in the mutuall entercourse and commerce betweene God and thine owne Soule which heretofore hath many times warmed thine heart with many sweet refreshings springing from a comfortable correspondence between thy holy eiaculations and his heavenly inspirations betweene thine humble complaints at the Throne of Grace and his gracious answers Nay it may bee thou throwes downe thy selfe before His Seate of mercy in much bitternesse of spirit and for the time can say little or nothing the present dullnesse and indisposition of thine heart stopping all passage to thy woonted prayers and damming up as it were the ordinary course of thy most blessed heart-ravishing conference with thy God in secret But tell mee true poore Soule Tho at such a time and in such an uncomfortable Damqe and spiritual deadnesse thou feeles not thine heart enabled and enlarged for the present to poure out it selfe with accustomed fervency and freedome yet doth not that heart of thine with an unutterable thirst and desire long to offer up unto his Throne of Grace thy suites and Sacrifices of prayers and praises with that heartinesse and feeling with al those broken and bleeding affections which a grieved sense of sinne that hangs so fast on and an holy greedinesse after pardon grace and nearer communion with his heavenly Highnesse are wonâ— to beget in truly-humbled Soules If so Assure thy selâ—â— this very desire is a prayer of extraordinary strength dearenesse and acceptation with thy God I say with that thy mercifull Lord God who is as farre more compassionately and lovingly affected to his Childe then the kindest Father to his dearliest beloved Sonne as the infinite love of a tender-hearted God doth surpasse the faint affection of a fraile and mortall man Suppose thy dearest Childe were in great extremity and should at last grow so low and weake that it were not able to speake but onely groane and sigh and cast it's eye upon Thee as One from whom alone it look't for helpe Would not thine heart melt over thy Child a great deale more in that misery then ever before when it was able to expresse it's minde I am sure it would It is just so in the present Point For like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare Him Nay and much more if wee consider the muchnesse and quantity For looke how farre God is higher then man in Majesty and greatnesse which is with an infinite distance and disproportion so farre doth Hee passe him in tender-heartednesse and mercy See Isa. 55.8.9 Thou mayst sometimes upon the awakening illumination and search of thy conscience after some drouzy repose and deeper sleep upon the bed of security some fouler ensâ—arement and longer abode in some knowne scandaloâ—s sinne after the Canker of earthly cares and teeth of worldly-mindednesse have ere thou bee well-aware with an insensible pleasing consumption eaten too farre into the heart of thy Zeale and other graces In the apprehension of some present terrour arising from a more serious and sensible survay of the now abhorred villanies and abominations of thine unregenerate time or from the grieved remembrance of thy falls and failings of thy sins and unservice-ablenes since thy conversion which I am perswaded trouble the Christian most and goe nearest to his heart c. I say in such Cases as these Thou maist feele such a fearefulnesse and faintnesse to have surprised the hand of thy Faith that it cannot so presently and easily recover it 's former hold nor claspe about the glorious justice and meritorious blood of Christ with that fastnesse and firmenesse of assent with that comfort and
I think in such a Case it may be convenient and that such an One hath thereupon some cause and Calling seriously and impartially to search and trie His spirituall state For which purpose ponder seriously upon such considerations as these some of which may discover unsoundnesse Others His unadvisednesse 1. It may bee the Party is not yet come in truth to that sound humiliation contrition spirituall thirsting resolution to sell all c. required by the reverend Author in that most profitable and piercing Doctrine of Faith quoted before but onely hath passed over them overly not soundly superficially not syncerely and then no marvell tho no true and reall comfort come Informe thy selfe further in this Point and that thou mayst more fully know my meaning in it and be guided aright in a marter of so great waight Ibid. Cap. 2. Of the Author and meanes of Faith And Cap. 5. Of the difficulty of Faith pag. 284 c. 2. Or it may bee howsoever Hee protest otherwise and for all His partiall Legall terrour and trouble of minde His deceitfull heart may still secretly harbour and hanker after some sweet sinne as Pride Revenge strange Fashions Worldlinesse Lust Playes Gaming Good-fellowship as it is call'd c. From which it doth not heartily yeeld resolve and endeavour to make an utter and finall cessation and divorce And assuredly that false heart which regards and allowes any wickednesse in it selfe howsoever it may be deluded with some Anabaptisticall flashes yet shall never bee truly refreshed with ioy in the holy Ghost 3. It may bee tho there was some probable and plausible shewes that the Party was principally cast downe and affected with the heavy waight of sin and horrour of Gods wrath for it yet the true predominant cause of His heavinesse harts-griefe and bitterest complaint was some secret earthly discontentment the restlesse biting of some worldly sting And in such Cases remove this and you remove His paine Comfort Him about his Crosse and you set Him where Hee was And therefore as in all this He continues a meere stranger in affection to the sweetnesse amiablenesse and excellency of Iesus Christ so it is impossible that Hee should bee acquainted with any sound spirituall comfort But I will suppose all to bee syncere and as it should bee Let mee advise Thee then to take notice of thine unadvisednesse 1. Thou art perhaps so full of the want of feeling such a stranger to so much expected and desired ioy and peace in believing and by consequent so drowned in the unnecessary distractions and distempers of a sad heart that thou utterly forgets to give thankes and magnifie Gods singular and incomprehensible mercy for illightening convincing and terrifying thy conscience offering his Sonne raising in thine heart an insatiable thirst after Him and giving Thee spirituall abilitie to rest thy weary Soule upon Him And who knowes not that unthankfulnesse keepes many good things from us and is an unhappy blocke in the way to intercept and hinder the comfortable influence and current of God favours and mercies from being showred downe so frankly and plentifully upon His people And Hee is more likely to bee the more provoked in this Case because thou suffers thine heart to bee lockt up and thy Tongue tied by Satans cunning and cruell malice from praysing the glory of Gods free grace for such a worke of wonder I meane that mighty Change of thine from nature to grace in extolling of which were all the hearts and tongues of all the Men and Angels in Heaven and Earth set on worke industriously thorow all eternitie they would still come infinitely short of that which is due and deserved 2. Or it may be when some One of a thousand upon thy complaint that no comfort comes doth seriously labour to settle thine heart in peace pressing upon Thee for that purpose invincible and unanswer-able Arguments out of the Word of Truth to open it wide that over-flowing Rivers of Evangelicall joyes which may spring to Him that is advised and believes the Prophets abundantly even from the weakest Faith to refresh and comfort it Telling thee that as thine humbled Soule learning upon Christ drawes much heavenly vertue mortifying power and sanctifying grace from him so it may and ought also to draw abundance of spirituall lightsomnesse from that ever-springing Fountaine of life c. Yet notwithstanding all this thou suffers some malicious counter-blasts and contrary suggestions of the Divell to disperse and frustrate all these well-grounded and glorious Messages And therefore it is just with God that thou fare the worse at his hands and fall short of thine expectation because thou gives more credit to the Father of Lyes then the Lord of Truth Sith thou spills all the Cordials that are tendered unto thee in the Name of Christ by His faithfull Physicions thou art deservedly destitute of comfort still Many in such Cases while Gods Messenger who can rightly declare His wayes unto them stands by opening and applying the rich treasures of Gods free mercy in the mysterie of the Gospell and with present replies repelling Satans cavils are reasonably well cheared and revived But when Hee is gone they very weakely and unworthily give way againe to that foule lying Fiend to cast a dis-comfortable mist over the tender eye of their weake Faith and to domineere as Hee did before Tell mee true If thou wert in doubt and distresse about thy temporall state Tenure of thy Lands soundnesse of thy evidence Wouldest thou advise with and take counsell from a Foole a Knaue and an enemy or wouldest Thou make choise of an honest wise understanding Friend I doubt not of thine Answer And wilt thou then so farre disparage divne truth gratifie Hell and hurt thine owne heart as in that waightiest Point of thy spirituall state to consult and resolve with the Divell a Liar a Murtherer and sworne enemy to Gods glory and thy Soules good And neglect God Himselfe blessed for ever speaking unto Thee out of His Word by that Minister which in such a Case durst not falsify or flatter Thee for a World of gold Shall many thousands of worldly-wise men give credit very readily and roundly to Dawbers with untempered morter upon a false and rotten foundation to the most certaine and eternall ruine of their Soules And shall not an humble and upright-hearted Man believe the Prophet upon good ground that the bones which the heavy burden of sinne hath broken may reioyce God forbid 3. Nay but suppose the Party bee truly humbled very thankefull resolute against all sinne labour to believe the Prophets c. And yet no comfort come I say then there is an other Duty expected at thy hands right pretious and pleasing unto God And that is waiting By which God would 1. Set yet a sharper edge and eagernesse more hungring and thirsting greater longing and panting after the ravishing sweetnesse of His comfortable presence with which melting earnest crying dispositions Hee
is very much delighted 2. Cause us with peace and patience to submit unto and depend upon His mercifull wisedome in disposing and appointing times and seasons for our deliverances and refreshings For Hee well knowes that very Point and Period of time first when His mercy shall bee most magnifyed secondly His childrens hearts most seasonably comforted and kindlily enlarged to poure out themselves in praisefulnesse thirdly His and our spirituall enemies most gloriously confounded 3. Quicken and set on worke with extraordinary fervency the spirit of prayer fright us further from sinne for the time to come fit us for a more fruitfull improovement of all Offers and opportunities to doe our Soules good to make more of ioy and peace in believing when we enioy it And to declare to others in like extremity Gods dealing with us for their support c. Wee must learne then to expect and bee content with Gods season And hold up our hearts in the meane time with such considerations as these first we performe a very acceptable service and a Christian Duty right pleasing unto and much prevailing with God by waiting See Isa. 40.31 and 64.4 And 49.23 Lam 3.25 Secondly By our patient dependance upon God in this kinde wee may mightily encrease and multiply our comfort when His time is come For He is woont to recompence abundantly at last His longer tarrying with excesse of ioy and over-flowing expressions of His love Thirdly wee must ever remember that all the while Hee exerciseth us with waiting that season is not yet come which in His mercifull wisedome Hee holds the meetest to magnify the glory of His mercy most and wiseliest to advance our spirituall good Fourthly And that which is best of all If the true Convert resting His weary Soule upon the Lord Iesus and Promises of life should bee taken away before Hee attaine His desired comfort Hee shall bee certainely saved and undoubtedly crowned with everlasting blessednesse For Blessed are all they that waite for Him Isa. 30.18 A Man is saved by Believing and not by ioy and peace in Believing Salvation is an inseparable companion of Faith But ioy and peace accompany it as a separable accident As that which may be remooved from it yea there is cause why it should bee remooved The light would never bee so acceptable were it not for that usuall entercourse of darkenesse c. Take here notice upon this occasion That as a truly humbled Soule receiving Christ in the sense I have said hath power given Him thereby to become the Sonne of God so Hee doth draw also from that glorious obiect of Faith so full of all amiablenesse excellency and sweetnesse 1. Sometimes by the mercy of God a very sensible stirring and ravishing ioy unspeakeable and full of glory which tho it be many times very short yet is unutterably sweet 2. If not so yet an habituall calmenesse of conscience if I may so call it Which tho wee doe not marke it so much or magnifie Gods mercy for it as we ought yet it makes us differ as far by a comfortable freedome from many slavish guilty twitches an universall contentednesse in all our courses and Passages thorow this vale of teares from the worlds dearest Minion and most admired Favourite as the highest region of the Aire from the restlesse and raging Sea Especially if that unhappily happie wretch have a waking conscience 3. Or at least ever a secret heavenlie vigour whereby the Soule is savingly supported in what state soever though it be under the continued pressures of most hideous temptations The tyth of the terrour whereof would make many a wordling make away Himselfe because Hee wants this stay And suppose they should last unto the last gaspe even unto thine ending houre Nay entrance into Heaven yet notwithstanding thy spirituall state is not thereby prejudiced but thy salvation is still most sure and thy first taste of those eternall ioyes shal bee the sweeter by how much thy former temptations and trials have been the sorer For wee must ever hold fast this blessed Truth That wee are justified by casting our selves upon Christ not by comfort by Faith not by feeling by trusting the sure Word of God not by assurance But I desire to come yet neerer to thy Conscience and to presse comfort upon thee with such strong and unresistable Arguments which all the subtilety of the infernall powers will never bee able to dissolve Thou sayest and I suppose so That thou art weary of all thy sinnes hungers and thirsts after the righteousnesse of Christ prizes Him before all the world hast cast thy selfe upon His Truth and tender-heartednesse for everlasting safty And yet Thou feeles no speciall sensible joy in thine heart thereupon Bee it so yet upon this occasion Take my counsell and at my request addresse thy Selfe again and have recourse afresh unto the Promises Settle thy Soule upon them seriously with fixed meditation and fervent prayer Set thy selfe purposely with earnestnesse and industry to sucke from them their heavenly sweetnesse And then how is it possible that thine humble upright heart should make resistance to those mighty torrents of spirituall joyes and refreshings which by a natural and necessary consequence spring abundantly from the ensuing comfortable Conclusions grounded upon the sure Word of God and thine owne inward sense and most certaine un-deniable experience Whosoever hungers and thirsts after righteousnesse is blessed from Christs owne mouth Mat. 5.6 And this blessednesse compriseth an absolute and universall confluence of all excellencies perfections pleasures and felicities in this World and in the World to come begun in some measure in the Kingdome of Grace and made compleate in the Kingdome of Glory thorow all eternity But I mayst thou say out of evident feeling and experience finde my selfe to hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Therefore I am most certainely blessed and inter-essed in all the rich purchases of Christs dearest blood and merit which is the full price of the Kingdome of Heaven and all the glory thereof c. Whosoever is athirst hath his Part in the Fountaine of the water of life Rev. 21.6 and 22.17 Ioh. 7.37 Isa. 55.1 But I mayst thou say cannot deny dare not belie my selfe but that my poore heart thirsts unfainedly to bee bathed in the heavenly streames of Gods free favour and Christs soveraigne blood Therefore undoubtedly I have my part in the Well of life everlastingly Whence what delicious streames of dearest joy doe sweetly flow Whosoever labours and is heavy laden may justly chalenge at the hands of Christ rest and refreshing Mat. 11.28 But I feele all my sinnes an intolerable burden upon my wounded Soule and most willingly take Him as a Saviour and a Lord Therefore I have my portion in His spirituall and eternall rest The High and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity whose Name is Holy and who dwells in the High and holy Place dwelleth also in every humble and contrite spirit
as in a royall Throne Hee hath as it were two Thrones One in the Empyrean Heaven the other in a broken heart Isa. 57.15 But my heart lies groveling in the dust humbled under the mighty hand of God and trembling at his feete c. Therefore it is the mansion of Iehova blessed for ever Whosoever confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes shall have mercy Prov. 28.13 But I confesse and abominate all sinne resolved never to turne againe to folly Therefore mercy is most certainely mine Hee in whose heart the holy Ghost hath enkindled a kindly heate of affection to the Brethren hath passed from death to life 1. Ioh. 3.14 But by the mercy of God my heart is wholy set upon the Brother-hood which I heartily hated heeretofore Therefore I have passed from death to life These and the like Conclusions are in themselves as full of sound joy and true comfort as the Sunne of light or Sea of waters Open but the eye of thine humbled soule and thou maist see many glorious things in them Crush them but a little with the hand of Faith and much delicious sweetnesse of spirituall peace may distill upon thy Soule Lastly such considerations as these may contribute some matter of comfort and support to Him of weakest apprehension in this Case 1. If Hee consult with His owne Conscience Hee shall happily finde in His present syncere resolution an impossibility to turne backe againe to His former sinnefull life pleasures goodfellow-ship sensuall courses company Hee sayes and thinkes it that Hee will rather die then lie sweare prophane the Sabbaths put to usury doe wrong keepe any ill-gotten goods in his hands Haunt Ale-houses Play-houses Gaming-houses or willingly put His heart or hand to any kind of iniquity as Hee was formerly wont And doth nature thinke you keepe Him backe or grace and Gods Spirit 2. If Hee should now heare and have his eares fill'd with oathes blasphemies ribald talke rotten speeches filthy songs railing at Gods people scoffing at religion jesting out of Scriptures c. His heart would rise Hee would either reproove them or bee rid of them as soone as Hee could whereas heretofore Hee hath been perhaps a delightfull Hearer of them if not a notorious Actour Himselfe And whence doe you thinke doth this arise but from the seede of God remaining in Him 3. Thirdly If when you heare Him complaine That howsoever Hee hath cast Himselfe upon Christ as the Prophets have counselled Him yet sith thereupon Hee feeles no such comfort and peace in Believing as other Christians doe Hee begins to doubt whether Hee hath done well or no and to conceive that Hee hath layd hold upon the Promises too soone Nay and it may bee upon this discontent doth thus further enlarge His complaint Alas my sinnes have formerly been so great my heart is at this present so hard my sorrow so scant my failings so many c. that I know not what to say to my Selfe Mee thinkes I can neither pray conferre love the Brethren sanctifie the Sabbath rejoyce in the Lord c. as I see other of Gods Children doe And therefore I am affraid all is naught What heart can I have to hold on I say if to such a speech thou shouldest for triall give this reply Well then if it bee so even give over all strive no more against the streame trouble thy selfe no longer with reading prayer following sermons forbearing good fellowship and thine old companions And sith no comfort comes by casting thy selfe upon Christ cast thy selfe againe into the current of the times course of the world and merry company For there yet is there some little poore pleasure to bee had at least Oh! No No No would Hee say That will I never doe whatsoever comes of mee I will trust in my Christ tho Hee should kill mee for all these discouragements I will by no meanes cast away my confidence I have been so freshly stung with their guilt that I will rather be pull'd in peeces with wild horses then plunge againe into carnall pleasures I will put my hand to all holy duties in obedience to God tho I performe them never so weakely I will by the mercy of God keepe my face towards Heaven and backe to Sodome so long as I breath come what come will c. And whence doe you thinke springs this resolution but from a secret saving power supporting Him in the most desperate temptations and assaults of distrust Now this first secret saving power by which an humble Soule leaning upon Christ is supported when it is at the lowest secondly The seed of God and thirdly presence of grace doe every one of them argue a blessed state in which thou shalt bee certainely saved and therefore thou mayst lift up thine heart and head with comfort unspeakeable and glorious 3. Thirdly Many there are who much complaine of the great disproportion betweene the notorious wickednesse of their former life and their lamentable weakenesse of an answerable be wailing it Betweene the number of their sinnes and fewnesse of their teares the hainousnesse of their rebellions and little measure of their humiliation And thereupon because they did not finde and feele those terrours and extraordinary troubles of mind in their turning unto God those violent passions and pangs in their New-birth which they have seene heard or read of or knowne in others perhaps farre lesse sinners then themselves they are much troubled with distractions and doubts about the truth and soundnesse of their conversion Whereby they receive a great deale of hurt and hindrance in their spirituall state For Satan gaines very much by such a suggestion and grounds many times a manifold mischiefe upon it For by keeping this temptation on foot these doubts and troubles in their mindes whether they bee truly converted or no Hee labours and too often prevailes 1. To hinder the Christian in His spirituall Building With what heart can Hee hold on who doubts of the soundnesse and sure-laying of the foundation What progresse is Hee like to make in Christianity who continually terrifies Himselfe with fearefull exceptions and oppositions about the truth of His conversion A man in a long journey would jogge on but very heavily if Hee doubted whether Hee were in the right way or no. 2. To abate lessen and abridge His courage in standing on Gods side patience under the Crosse spirituall mirth in good company To keepe Him in dulnesse of heart deadnesse of affections distractions at holy exercises and under the raigne of almost a continuall sadnesse and uncomfortable walking To make Him quite neglect and never looke towards those sweete commands of the blessed Spirit Reioyce evermore Reioyce and I say againe Reioyce Bee glad in the Lord reioyce and shout for ioy all yee that are upright in heart 3. To fasten a great deale of dishonour upon God when He can make the Christian dis-avow as it were and nullifie in conceit so great a worke of mercy and grace
humour doth naturally give extraordinary entertainement and edge to terrours and sorrowes 2. The crabbednesse and crookednesse of His naturall disposition which must be tamed and taken downe with more adoe with much violence and renting An hard and knotty Block must have an hard wedge An angry word or frowne will worke more with some dispositions then many sore blowes upon a crosse and sturdy spirit God is here woont sweetly and wisely to apply Himself to the severall natures conditions and dispositions of His Children 3. Height of Place and Happinesse to have for this life â—hat heart can wish Whereby it comes to passe that men are so deepely drowned in sensuality Epicurisme and earthly mindednesse that for a thorow Change they have need many times to be taken down thorowly with a deepe sense of legall terrours 4. Excellency of naturall or acquired Parts and endowments as wit learning courage wisedome c. wretchedly abused and long mis-imploied upon wrong and wicked Objects Much adoe many times and a great measure of humiliation will hardly fright such vaine over-valewers of themselves and Idolizers of their owne sufficiencies from their admired follies And here also Satan interposeth most furiously and hinders this happy worke all Hee can possibly For Hee well knowes That if such noble and worthy Parts should bee sanctified to the Owners and turned the right way His Kingdome would fare the worse and Hee should bee a great looser Suppose a Christian Prince should with his Army breake into the Turkes dominion Would not the Turkes fortifie those Castles best out of which beeing wonne the enemy might doe Him most harme So whom the Divell seeth to bee the likeliest Instruments for the overthrow of his kingdom if once they become Temples of the Holy Ghost those Hee is lothest to loose and labours mightily â—o keepe in His slavery still And therefore He opposes with all His power and policy raysing as many tempests of terrour as Hee is able that Hee might either drive them backe in their Passage to the holy Path or swallow them up into the abhorred gulphe of despaire by the way 5. A more searching and piercing Ministry which is ordinarily woont to awake the conscience with more terrour to irradiate and fill it with more universall and clearer light to quicken it with more apprehension and so proportionably to affect and afflict it with a more feeling and fearefull sense of Gods most just and holy wrath against sinne Whereupon they become excellent and everlasting Christians 6. Byting it in as they say and not opening the wound of Conscience betime to some skillfull Soule-Physition may bee an unhappy meanes much to enlarge both the continuance and extremity of a Mans spirituall trouble Shame bashfulnesse pretence of want of opportunity hope to get thorow by Himselfe c. are ordinary keies to lock up his tongue at such a time But sure I am Satan hath a chiefe stroke and principall part to perswade concealement For alas Hee winnes by it wofully All the while Hee plies with great advantage and much subtilty his hideous temptations to Selfe-killing despaire of mercy returning againe to folly c. And it is to bee feared which is a most grievous thing that sometimes by this cruell silence Hee conquers casts some poore soules upon the bloody and most abhorred villany of Selfe-perishing Let such an One then be ever sure most resolutely to break thorow the Divels accursed snare in this kinde and to powre out His Soule-secrets betime into some faith full holy bosome I have heard many after they have escaped tell what strange tricks and variety of devises Hee practised to discourage divert and dis-able them to discover their mindes as they purposed even when they were come with much adoe into the presence of the spirituall Physition 3. The ends to which God prepares and fits some by their sore travaile in the New-birth and longer langvishing under His visiting hand in this kinde God may purpose sometimes in such cases 1. To imploy them as Christs most resolute and undanted Champions in more worthy services In managing whereof remembrance of their having beene once as it were in the mouth of Hell and scorched with flames of terrour serves as a continuall spurre and incentive unto them to doe nobly and to supply them from time to time with mightinesse of courage height of resolution and eminency of Zeale in those glorious waies As wee may see in those renowned pillars of the Church Austin Luther c. The higher and greater the building is the deeper must the foundation be laid in the earth 2. To make them afterwards of excellent use and speciall dexterity out of their former experience to speake unto the hearts of their Brethren ready to sinke into the same gulphe of horrour and danger of despaire out of which the good hand of Gods gracious providence hath by such and such meanes so mercifulLy pulled and preserved them The same keyes which dip open the locks and loose the fetters which Satan hung upon their heavy hearts may happily undoe those also which Hee hath fastned upon the Soules of others 3. To render them to the Church as remarkeable Precedents and Mirrours of mortification Selfe-denial heavenly mindednesse and holy walking with God for others to looke upon and imitate Mindfulnesse of their former wrastling with the wrath of God despaire and the horrours of Hell makes them for ever after more mindlesse of earthly things weaned from the world startling at every appearance of evill greedy of godlinesse conversing in Heaven excellent Christians indeede Master Iohn Glover after five yeeres horrible afflictions of Soule was framed thereby saith Master Foxe to such mortification of life as the like lightly hath not been seene in such sort as Hee beeing like one placed in Heaven already and dead in this World led a life altogether celestiall c. See Acts and Monuments pag. 1885. 3. In sound contrition and saving Repentance let us for the present take notice Of first a sensible smart and angvish of the heart Secondly a dislike hatred and aversion in the Will Thirdly a change of the minde illightened and now enabled to give stronger reasons out of Gods Booke love of Christ c. against any sinne then carnall reason the Divell Himselfe or the drunken eloquence of His old Good fellow companions can suggest to the contrary Fourthly an universall opposition and constant endeavour against all manner of iniquity Fifthly an hearty sorrow that wee are not more sorrowfull Now say I If thou shouldest not feele in thine heart that stirring griefe and violent renting for those many rebellions and horrible filth of thy naughtie heart and former wicked life which thou heartily desires their hamousnesse exacts at thine hands and many lesser sinners then thy selfe have endured yet if thou findest an unfained hatred and displeasednesse in thy Will a settled resolution in thy minde a watchfull striving in all thy wayes
on Persecutors c. Acts and Monumen page 2298. c. h Ruth 2.12 Psalm 91.4 i Thus spake blessed Bainbam in the midst of the fire O ye Papists behold ye looke for miracles and here now you may see a miracle for in this fire I feele no no more paine then if I were in a bed of Doune but it is to me as sweet as a bed of Roses Acts and Monuments page 1030. k His Maiestie was mooved to interpret and conster the latter sentence in the Letter alleaged by the Earle of Salisbury against all ordinary sense and construction in Grammar as if by these words For the danger is past as soone as you have burned the Letter should be closely understood the suddainty and quickenesse of the danger which should be as quickely performed and at an end as that paper should be of blazing up in the fire turning that word of as soone to the sense of as quickely Discourse of the manner of the discovery of a late intended Treason c. Heare King Iames his own words I did upon the instant interpret and apprehend some darke phrases in the Letter contrary to the ordinary grammar construction of them and in another sort then I am sure any Diuine or Lawyer in any Vniversitie would have taken them to be meant of this horrible for me of blowing us up all by Powder His Maiesties speech in the last Session of Parliament printed 1605. l A vertuous Gentlewoman in this Land doubting very often of her Salvation made her case knowne unto a worthy Minister of God who often counselled her to take heed of inquiries further then Gods word and trust assuredly that she might conclude her Salvation out of Gods word without any further revelations yet still did the temptation grow upon her in so much that having a Venice Glasse in her hand and the selfe-same Minister sitting by her presently breakes forth into lamentable words you have often told me that I must seeke no further then Gods word but I have bin long without comfort and can endure no longer Therefore it I must be saved let this glasse be kept from breaking and so she threw it against the walls Here might the Lords hand for this tempting of his Maiestie have left her to the everlasting woes of her distrustfull heart yet the Lord that is rich in mercy having stamped her with the seale of his Election was content to satisfie the languishing Soule with a miracle the Glasse rebounds againe and comes safe unto the ground which the Minister having gotten into his hands faith Oh repent of this sinne blesse God for his mercy and never distrust him more of his promise for now you have His voyce from Heaven in a miracle telling you plainely of your estate This was curiositie and might have brought despaire yet it was the Lords mercy to remit the fault and grant extraordinary confirmation of her Faith Yates Gods arraignement of Hypocrites page 357. m Deprecatio Ecclesiae murus qui rumpi non possit munimentum inconcussum daemonibus quidem formidabile Chrysost. De orando Deum lib. 2. Deprecatio armatura est inexpugnabilis ac â—utissimum nec unquam fallens munimentum pari facilitate vel unum repellens militem vel innumerabilia hostium millia Ibid. lib. 1 n Tantarum virâ—um est precatio ut in hominis potestatem creaturas ad unam omnes quod mirêris ipsum creaturarum Dominum redigat Scâ—lâ— De precat cap. 29. Non in homines tantum est ista precationis vis sed etiam in belluaâ— in daemones in mundi elementa in coeli sydera in deum ipsum Ibid. * Feriendi licentiam quarit à Mose qui fecit Mosen Bern. o Honos miscendi sermonem cum Deo Angelorum superat maiestatem De precat lib. 2. Ios. 10.12 13. Ion. 2.1 c. 10. Iud. 15.18 Iam. 5.17 18. 2. Kings 19.15.35 2. Kings 6.17 2 Chron 20.5 6 c. 23 Acts 12.5.7.10 * Upon intelligence of the Spanish invasion a publike Fast was proclaimed and observed Anno 1588. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 5.17 Ionah 4 9. p Faith is onely able to performe fulnesse of ioy and constancy of content in the midst of the changes wanes eclipses and fuls of all externall things and that one day as well as another throughout the course of a mans life in that latitude extent whereof this life is capable Ward q Credenti mundus cum principe diabolo mors infernus peccatumque mera ludibria sâ—nt ut dicere possit cum Paulo Vbi tuus ó mors aculeus ubi tua inferne victoria 1. Cor 15.55 Habet enim ipse contra omnia haec quae caeteris â—orribilia â—nsuperabilia sunt victoriam per Dominum Iesum Christum in quem credit cui adhâ—ret innititur Naogeor r 1. Ioh. 5.4 s Matth. 16 18. t Eph. 6.16 u Heb. 11.34 x Heb. 11.33 y Heb. 11.37 z Heb. 11.36 * Heb. 11.30 a Heb. 11.34 b Heb. 11.33 c Psal. 23.4 Da mihi pulchram iustitiam da mihi Fidei pulchritudinem Procâ—dat in medium ostendat se oculis cordis inspiret servorem amatoribus suis Iam tibi dicitur Frui me vis Contemne quicquid te aliud delectat contemne pro me Eâ—ce contempsisâ—i Parum est illi Parum est vt contemnas quicquid te dilectabat contemne quicquiud te terrebat contemne carceres contemne vincula contemne equuleum contemne tormenta contemme mortem Haec vicisti me invenisti Amat ardet servet calâ—at omnia quae delectant c transit venit ad aspera horrenda truculenâ—a minacia calâ—at frangit transit August De verbis Apostoli Serm. 17. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 luminum non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 luminis Q. d. Omnis luminis elementaris aetherei spiritualis coelestis Par. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 luminum non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 luminis Q. d. Omnis luminis elementaris aetherei spiritualis coelestis Par. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Ioh. 2.5 e Lux citò coelum terras maria illuminat momento temporis sine ullâ comprehensione relectis surgentis diei splendore regionibus nostro se circumsundit aspectui Ambros. Hâ—x Lib. 1. Cap. â— f Fides est in Christianâ animâ fandamentum omnium virtutum Bern li. De ordine vitae Stell 〈◊〉 dixisse virtutes non me poenitet considerantem congruâ—â—tiam similitudinis Quo modo nempe stellae in nâ—ctâ— lucent sic vera vâ—rtus quae saepe in prosperis non apparet eminet in adversis Ergo virtus est sidus homâ— virtutum coelum Idem super Cont. Serm. 27. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph 5.8 h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Ioh 1.7 i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Tim. 6.16 k Nemo quisquam in ullà Historiâ tot tamque gravibus arumnis simul adobrutus fuisse legitur Par. l Divitijs dediti non paupertem tantum contremâ—sâ—unâ—
True some one or two of a thousand and ten thousand that have How then Shall wee not therefore follow our instruction and seeke Him before Some going a journey have sound a Purse by the way It were mad counsell to advise us to leave oâ—â— money behind upon hope of like hap in ours c. Winchesters Serm. pag. 180. Si mille homines perussent ex cibi aliâ—uius â—enenali perceptione uno duntoxat miraculose servito 〈◊〉 cibum illum gustares Harmon Evang. cap. 15. pag. 18â— d We digest not them that call on us for the seeking of God but seek our selves as the Apostle speakes Magistros secundum desideria that may entertaine us with speculations of what may be done by Miracle at the houre of death that may give us daies elbow-roome enough to seek other things and to shrinke up his seeking into a narrow time at our End and tell us time enough then Winchesters Sermons pag. 179. e Dyke upon Repentance cap. 17. f Inebriatus es Ventri indulsisti Rapuisti Siste iam gradum verte te in diversum conficere Deo gratiam quòd non in medijs peccatis te abstulit ne quaere aliud privilegium ut malè opereris Multi quum iam alijs dimnum fraudulentèr facerent subitò periérunt ad manifestum iudicium abiérunt Time ne in hoc patiare inexcusabilis Sed multis inquis dedit Deus hoc privelegium ut in ultimâ senectâ consiterentur Quid igitur An tibi quoque concedet Concedet fortasse inquis Quidais sortasse interdum c. Cogita quòd dâ— animâ deliberas proinde etiam de contrario cogita dic Quid autem si non det c. Tuni bellum egressus non dicis non est opus ut testamentum condam fortassis redibo Neque de nuptijs deliberans dices uxorem egentem accipiam multi enim sic praeter spem ditati sunt Neque domum extruens subijciam fundamenta putria multae enim sic constitére domus De anima autem agens apprehendis magis putria dicens fortassis sapiùs â—venit contingit aliquando téque incertis tradis Chrysost. Hom. 22. in 2. ad Cor. 10. g Tempore mortes sâ—euiùs maiorÃque dolo â—entat consligit sâ—â—ens si tunc defecerit penitùs se frustratum Gerson de temptationibus diver h Iob 14.14 i Repentinam insperatam corum mortem quâ opprimantur innuit Merc. in Loc. Elevati sunt ad modicum non subsistent Iniquorum potentia â—oeni â—loribus comparatur quia nimirùm carnalis gloria dum nitet cadit dum apudse extollitur repentino intercepta sine terminatur Sic aurarum statu in altum stipula rapitur sed casu concito adima revocatur Sic ad nubila sumus attollitur sed repentè in nihilum tumâ—scendo dissipatur Sic ab insimis nebula descendendo se erigit sed exortus hanc solis radius ac si non suerit abstergit Sic in herbarum supersicie noctâ—rni roris humor aspergitur sed diurni luminis subito calore siâ—catur Sic spumosae aquarum bullae inchoantibus pluvijs excitaâ—ae abintimis certatim prodeunt sedeò celeruis diruptae depereunt quò instatae citiùs extenduntur cumque excrescunt ut appareant cresâ—endo peragunt ne subsistant Gregor Ibid. k Nemo nec post centum peccata nec post misle crimina de misericordiâ divinâ desperet Sic tamen non desperet ut sinc ullâ morâ Deum sibi repropitiari festinet ne fortè si consuetudinem fecerit etiam sivelit de Diabolilaqueis liberari non possit August de tâ—mpore Serm. 58. l Viste de dubio liberare vis quod incertum est evadere Age pâ—â—nitentiam dum sanus es Sienimagis veram poenitentiam dum sanuses invenerit te novissimus dies securus es Ergo curre ut reconcilieris si sic agâ—s securus es Quare securus es Quâ—â— egisti poenitentiameo tempore quo peccare potuisti Sâ— autem vis agere poenitentiam ipsam tunc quando peccare non potes peccata te dimiserunt non tu illa August Tom. 10. De vere Poenitentibus Hom. 41. ex 50. Ambros Exhort ad Porniâ—ent m This time is the time when all Hypocrites Atheists tagge and ragge come in and seeke Him in a sort And shall not wee bee confounded to see our selves in their number Winchesters Serm. pag. 181. n What is our seeking theÌ„ Is it not to lie still on our Beds and suffer a few words to bee spoken in our eares Have a little opiate Divinitie ministred to our Soules and so sent away Winchesters Sermons pag. 181. Is this it Would wee then seeke Him when wee are not in case to seeke any thing else Would wee turne to Him then when wee are not able to turne our selves in our Bed Or rise early to seeke Him when we are not able to rise at all Or enquire after Him when our breath faileth us and wee are not able to speake three words together No houre but the houre of death No time but when Hee taketh time from us Idem Ibid. pag. 180. o Oportet Dei sacerdotem non obsequijs decipientibus faâ—ere sed remedijs salutaribus providere Imperitus est medicus qui tumentes vulnerum sinus manu parcente contrectaâ— in altis recessibus viscerum virus inclusum dum servat exaggerat Aperâ—endum vulnus est secandum putaminibus amputatis mâ—delâ sortiore curandum Vociseretur clamet licâ—t conqueratur aeger impatiens per dolorem gratias agit postmodum cum senserit sanitatem Cyprian de Lapsis Medicus crudelit est qui exaudit hominem parcit vulneri putredini August in Psal. 34. Soothing Preachers are like unskilfull chirurgions who softly touch the wound on the outside thereby making it to fester the more dangerously in the inside Who observeth not that the smooth tongue of the Preacher maketh an impostumed heart of the Hearer Squire in his Assize Sermon pag. 12. out of Cyprian p The true Ministers of Christ never cure and comfort the sicke hastily as Wizards and Impostors doe Greenham having to deale with divers humbled Consciences Hee would mislike them that would not abide to tarry the Lords leisure but they must needs bee helped at once even by and by as soone as they heard Him speake or else they would then thinke farre worse of Him then ever before notwithstanding the good opinion conceived of Him For besides Hee that beleeveth maketh not hast This is a comming rather as it were to a Magitian who by an incantation of words makes silly soules looke for health then to a Minister of God c. In His grave Counsels and godly observations pag. 5. q Greenham in His Treatise for an afflicted Conscience pag. 136. r For mine owne part saith Hooker I thinke Calvin incomparably the wisest man that ever the French Church did
aut aegrotant morbis cùm animi tuÌ„ corporis fracti nunquam sanè convenâ—t Pastores ecclesiarum saluti suae gregis invigilare accuratiùs quà m in huiusmodi morbis infirmitatibus Harmon conf pa. 1. Helvet Conf. cap. 25. pag. 80. q Vpon Psal 22. pag. 5. r Voisin said unto Him that hee had too much care of his Body which was no more his owne Hee turned to Him in choller with an oath saying I will not have him meaning the Executioner touch mee so long as I shall bee living if they put mee into choller I will strangle half the company that is here and will force the rest to kill me I will leape downe if you thrust mee into despaire History of France pag. 1049. Sicut autem per omnem calamitatem protervè se atque impatientèr gesserat sic vel tum maximè aspecta truci ac pene sâ—â—ente vâ—ce verbis deniqâ—e totogestu animi in pocentiamindicans 〈◊〉 ad praestandam accincturo sese operam accedere volentem minis ne se tangeret absterâ—â—tt circumspiciens undique tanquam gladium si vidisset arrepturus Specul Tragiâ— pag. 187.188 s Siquidem multis presbyteratus committitur dispensatio seâ— ron omnes pariter commissae dispensationis inserviâ—nt Ministerio Alius eâ—uidem commodis praesentibus que sâ—a sunc non quae Iesu Christi exquirens inexplebiliter inbiatâ— alius praepeâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 suffocatur ex ignorantiâ tamen ignorans ignorabitur alius ve 〈…〉 tempâ—s explorat respondet que probati vita 〈…〉 Ministery Ex his vocandi sunt si noveris peritiores cuâ—â—â—â—ores Si 〈◊〉 morbis corporum Medici probatiores exquiruntur quantò magis spiritalibus animarum putredinibus adhibendi sunt Medici subtiliores si dici liceat spiritaliores August Tom. 9. p. 2. De visitatione infirmorum lib. 2. cap. 7. An hundred to one then These Ones of a thousand are never to bee found amongst worldly-minded and ambitious Ministers negligent Ministers or those that are ignorant But amongst the most skilfull searching and spirituall of such as are faithfull As appeares by this ancient Passage in Austin u Spiritualis benedictio duplex est una imperfecta manca aliera perfecta plena omniáque spiritualia dona compleâ—iens Illâ—i priori multi etiam reprobi donantur Talis enim benedictio est Fides temporaria aliqua vera Dei cognitio gustus aliquis Spiritus Sancti aliquod initium honestae vitae id genus alia Dei dona De quibus Apostolus scripsit ad Heb 6. Zanchius in 1. ad Eph. v. 3. Some Temporaries besides profession are mooved at the Word affected with some kindes of griefe at such Doctrines as serve to moove griefe and joy in that that mooves joy yea also reforme many things cut away outward evils take up many good duties publike yea and private yet fall short Men may have great knowledge assent Profession yea excellent gifts and shewes of every grace and goe a great way to the deceiving of themselves and many others and yet for want of particular apprehension of Christ they are not planted into Him have no sap of grace and sanctification Master Rogers of Dedham in His Doctrine of Faith cap. 1. pag. 8.9 x Matth. 13.20 y Heb. 6.5 z Thousands lose their Soules by thinking lesse will serve the turne then wil. If One would buy a Iewell of five hundred pounds and will give but foure hundred for it hee might as well bid nothing Nay the doing something in Christianity and not going thorow-stitch hardens a Man by accident Where were there nothing but notoriousnesse it might serve to humble us Because Satan cannot keepe us quite from Religion Hee deales with us as wee with our children when they cry for pieces of gold wee still them with Counters and Rattles DIP. Many a man loseth a great deale of labour and his soule too for want of a little more added A small thing parts God and them Many a time they lose heaven for one lust as Iudas for his covetousnesse God hath set downe that hee will not abate a haires breadth of his price and they thinke they offer faire and will goe no further if this will doe it they will goe on with their bargaine else not c. Tho the Temporary offer faire yet hee will not come up to the Lords price O bee not so unwise lose not all this labour you have taken in hearing reading praying professing and it may bee have been called Puritan and been hated for your well-doing and yet lose your soule for a little more Master Rogers of Dedham Doctrine of Faith cap. 1. pag. 13.14 How neere come some that yet shall never have Christ and salvation They lose Heaven for some lust If they could but yeeld up that One thing that was wanting it might have been a bargaine Ibid. cap. 2. pag. 188. Exod. 10.26 a As Divines affirme that an Hypocrite may have shewes of every grace See Master Rogers of Dedham Doctr. of Faith cap. 2. pag. 8. And doe outwardly all things which true Christians doe See Perkins in his Treatise How farre a Reprobate may goe and feigne whatsoever Gods children doe faithfully Novimus hypocritas ea fingere comnia quae fideles verè efficiunt Chamier Tom. 3. lib. 13. cap. 20. sect 5. So I doubt not but Hee may represent outwardly even the dejections complaints and sad behaviours of One truly troubled in Conscience And that so cunningly that He may for a while deceive judicious Ministers Some Painters have had such a gift in the lively expressing of the formes of Birds and other Beasts that true Birds and living Beasts have been deceived in taking them for their Mates But the Hypocrite puts downe the Painter for by his glozing and glistering shewes in all outward workes hee doth so perfectly resemble the true Christian that hee deceiveth not as the Painter silly Birds but reasonable Men yea learned and experienced Christians Dike in his Discovery of the deceitfulnesse of Mans heart cap. 2 pag. 29. Nay may hee not therein out-goe them As false gold in glistering goes beyond true and hired mourners in lamentation beyond the deceased Parties owne friends and fawning flatterers in outward complements of friendship beyond true friends themselves So may Hypocrites in outward workes seeme to carry it away from the soundest Christians Ibid. b Revel 12.9 c Hypoc iâ—a hoc est histrio vocatur is qui in Theatro aâ—enam personam sumit sic in hac vitâ ad suos mores orchestras atque theatrum exercâ—nt 〈◊〉 qui alia corde gerentes alia exirmsecùs hominibus prae seâ—serunt Basil. Serm. 2. De â—e junio d For peccare de Dei creatoris clementiâ praesumere pelago iustitiae eius exponi est Gregor in 1. Reg. c. 3. Nec putent satis sibi esse ut sua peccata displiceant nisi etiam vigilantissimâ deinceps intentione vitentur nec in eis vitandis vires
cusâ—odiam 〈◊〉 nammos ob dâ—â—edâ—â—entem conijciaâ— neque â—osum solum sed cum illa propter illum simâ—lâ—â—orem liberos fâ—mâ—los vâ—mâ—is verò aliuâ— qui â—ptam qui non solu solâ—at dicem illos nummâ—â— sâ—â—t iâ—â—â—mera 〈◊〉 talenta largiatur vinctâ—mque in regâ—lem auâ—am inducat in 〈…〉 honoâ—â—◠〈…〉 is â—â—eneâ—ator 〈…〉 â—â—gere iâ—a 〈◊〉 factum 〈…〉 siquiten 〈…〉 debeamus Christus pronobis solvit tantoque plura quanto guttâ—hâ—m exigâ—am pâ—lâ—gus excilli â—m ensum Noli itaque dissidere O homo cùm 〈◊〉 honorum aâ—râ—â—ias vtaeâ—s nâ—que solâ—â—tas inquiras quomodò scintillula illa mortis atque peccati toâ—tosit donorum sâ—perinducto maâ—i soluta extincia Chrys. Hom. â—1 in 5. and Rom. Satanta inaequalitus prelij redempâ—â— quanta immensi maris umus guttulae quorsùm supplemtatum meritorum c Chamiâ—â— Tom. 3. pag. 249. i Concedimus satisfactionis dignitatemoriâ—i à Personá satisfaciente ideo â—ue satisfactionem Christi maximae imò infinitae dignitatis esse Idem Ibid. pa. 245. Philip. 4.7 1. Pet. 1.8 1. Cor. 2.9 * Master Rogers of Dedham k Sed videte qualis debet esse poenitentia quia multi assidâ—è se duâ—nt esse peccatores tamen adhuc illos delectat peccare Professio est non emendatio Accusatur anima non sanatur Pronunciatur Offensa non tollitur Poetentiam certam non facit nisi odium peccati amor Dei. Quandosiâ— poeâ—â—tes ut tibi amarum sapiat in animo quod ante dulâ—e fuit in vitâ quod te prius oblectabaâ— in corpore ipsum te cruciat in mente c. August de Temp. Serm. 7. * QuantuÌ„ inter tranquillissimuÌ„ interest portum mare tempestuosum atque incommodum Chrysost. ** Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voyce of His servant that walketh in darkenesse and hath no light Let Him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Isai. 50.10 Here it appeares that one which truly feares God may walk in darkenesse and have no light of coâ—fort And that such an One may bee certainely saved by staying upon â—is God By leaning upon Him as One leanes upon a staâ—fe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 niti inniti incumbere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Incumbebat hastae suae nitebatur super hastam suam 2 Sam. 1.6 Bâ—xtor l Those that are afflicted in conference because they want assuâ—rance of salvation have no cause of despaire or of discouragement as long as with an heavy loaden soule hungring for mercy they trust in Christ and cast themselves wholly upon His merits for salvation according to the Gospell For the condition of the Gospell required of sinners to salvation is not a comfort but a Duty not an assurance that they are saved but a trust in Christ that they shall be saved So that as long as they rest on Christs merits seeke to no other meanes but with such an heart as hath been said to seeke to Christ for salvation as soone as they have believed in Christ they are justified sinners tho they doe not presently feele by the witnesse of the Spirit a full assurance that they are saved Chibald in his Triall of Faith lib. 2. cap. 4. pag. 185 Wherefore comfort yourselves O ye that are tender-hearted and troubled-minded Christians because you feele not the assurance of your salvation in as much as the condition of the Gospell is not That Hee that believes in Christ shall bee assured of salvation but that Hee shall bee saved so that though thou never have in thine owne Soule a feeling of assured perswasion that thou art saved yet as long as with a heart mourning after Christ and gasping for Him as the barren Land for water thou casts thy selfe upon Him and hangs on Him still for salvation with trust unto the merits of His death and obedience thou shalt in the end and event certainely bee saved Idem Ibid. pag 187. There bee that doe truly believe in Christ and that to salvation if they should then die that yet are not come to bee perswaded that Christ is theirs c. Rogers of Dedham in His Epistle to the Reader pag. penult m Exultemus in Domino gaudeamus cum fletu Memores simus dignationis divinae captivitatis nostrae August de temp Serm. 3. * See the Properties of a saving Thirst beâ—â—â—e pa. 377. lin 31 c. a In desiderio illo pij animi suspiria inenarâ—abilia gaudium ineffabile mirisiâ—è coadunantur suspiria inquam gaudium quae ne ipse quidem qui ea sentit potest plenè enarrare Rolloc in Iohan. cap. 8. pag. 556. 1. Pet. 2.17 d Many are still questioning of their beginnings and though they came to Faith and comfort by these steps yet are still fearing that they have not begun in truth or that they are not in the right way or took comfort ere it belonged unto them And this because their corruptions bee so strong and that they cannot doe as they would But corruptions felt hated and striven against are no Markes that wee are not the Lords but the contrary It is the subtilty of Satan to keepe them ever at the beginning that they may never get forward True it is good to bee very carefull in laying the foundation of our house But if we be ever pulling up after it is laide wee shall never finish the Building Moster Rogers of Dedham Doctr. of Faith cap. 2. pag. 177. For a true Christian to denie the work of Gods grace in Himselfe doth no good to Him But interrupts His prayers hinders his humiliation estrangeth Him from God and turneth godly sorrow for His sinne into desperate sorrow for the punishment of sinne Master Whately Gods Husbandry cap. 12. e Take heed of false reasoning As because our fire doth not blaze out as others therefore we have no fire at all and by false Conclusions to sinne against the Commandement in bearing false witnesse against our selves The Prodigall would not say Hee was no sonne but that hee was nâ—t worthy to bee called a Sonne Wee must neither trust to false evidence nor deny true for so wee should dishonour the Worke of Gods Spirit in us and lose the helpe of that evidence which wâ—uld cherish our love to Christ and arme us against Satans discouragements Some are so faulty this way as if they had been hired by Satan the Accuser of the Brethren to pleade for Him in accusing themselves Doctor Sibbes Bruised Reed pag. 94. f Homil. of Repentance pag. 1. g Dike of Repentance cap. 4. h Secundum conscientiae molem exhibenda est poenitentiae magnitudo Ambr. ad Virg. â—orr cap. 8. i Qui culpam exaggeraverit exaggeret etiam poenitentiam Idem de Poenit. lib. 1. cap. 2. k Quà m magna deliquimus tam graviter desâ—eamus Cypr. de Lapsis ad sin l Vniuscuiusque mens tantum poenitendo coÌ„punctionis suae bibat lachrymas
Poenit cap. 8. Art Respondeo si admit teremus o Id. Ibid. p Argumentum rectè probat â—os qui timorem servilem habent inor dinatos malos esse c. Id. Ibid. Art Respondeo argumentum q I grant the Lord who is the most free Agent takes liberty and workes as it pleaseth Him and there is oddes and difference for time measure and such things But for the generall alwayes the same By humbling first then comforting c. Master Rogers of Dedham Of Faito cap. 2. pag. 67. r David Psal. 38. beeing put in minde by His sicknesse of Gods wrath against sinne was full sorely afflicted in Soule So that Hee cries There is no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne For mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden they are too heavy for mee I am troubled I am bowed downe greatly I goe mourning all the day long I am seeble and sore broken I have roared by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart My sorrow is continually before mee s But how may this reâ—â—â—siâ—ation with as great if not greater 〈◊〉 than at first turâ—ing unto God 〈◊〉 which â— Rom. 8.15 〈…〉 received the 〈◊〉 it of Boâ—dage againe to â—â—arâ— which seemes to iâ—port thus much that Gods Childâ— receiâ—eâ— the spirit of bondage no more after Hee hath once received the spirit of adoption revealing and evidencing â—nto Him that Hee is a Sonne and that God is His Father In answer The same Spirit produceth these contrary effects By the 〈◊〉 feare and terrour By the Gospell peace and prayer â—acit duâ—s spiritus 〈…〉 adoptionis his contraria tribuit effecta ùon quò tâ—â—t 〈◊〉 Spirits 〈◊〉 â—â—quod â—iasâ—em spiritus diversa contraria sint effecta per Legem per Evangelium â—er Lege◠〈◊〉 Spiritus sanitus arguit mundum de peccaâ—o de iâ—â Dei malediâ—â—â—oce aterâ—â—â— c. Par. in â—oc Now at the first taking a Man in hand to turne Him unto the 〈◊〉 the spirit of bondage by the worke of the Law doth testifâ—e unto the Soule that it is in a wretched and lamnable state bound over in the guilt of it's owne sinne and Godâ—â—â—ry wrath to dâ—â—th and Hell and damnation for ever that so it may bee driven to Iesus Christ for release and pardon But after the plantation of Faith and presence of the 〈…〉 â— never testifies so againe because it would be an untruth It may afterward workâ— an apprehension that God is angry but not that He is not a Father The hiding of Gods face which may often befall His Childe the darknesse of our owne spirits 〈◊〉 which may revive all the old guilt againe and the Divels cruell pressing 〈…〉 â—pon such advantages raise these hideous mists of horror I have in hand 〈…〉 after-tempests which are so terrible Of which our Onely-wise and All-power 〈…〉 makes excellent use both for our selves and others and attaines thereby His owne most glorious secret and sacred end as appeares in the following Passage t 〈…〉 est â—word diâ—â—re 〈…〉 qui patâ—â—batur non ut puniretur sed ut â—robaretur August Tom. 9. p. 1. pag. 1487. a 1. Prima generalior causa afflictionum sunt peccata vel nostra vel aliena 2. Altera ut exerceamur probemur ne peccemus cauti reddamur 3. Tertia ut declaretur in nobis gloria potentiae ac bonitatic Dei Musc. in Ioan. cap. 9. Docet Christus ut maximè omnes homines peceatores sint non tamen omnes afflictiones propter peccatorum merita contingere Nam Deus habet in homines quos affligit diversos respectus alterum impeccata alterum in suam gloriam Si gloriam suam respiciat affligit non propter peccatum sed ad gloriam manifestandam Sic afflixit Iosephum Israelitas in Aegypto c. Brentius Ibid. b Now whether a MaÌ„ after Hee is in state of grace may feele this wound bleed afresh is a question with some through their weakenesse Tho if we consult with Scripture and experience the question is out of question Loe all these things saith Elihu truly worketh God oftentimes with a Man that Hee may turne backe His Soule from the Pit Examples are frequent c. Sclater in hâ—â— S.S.S. * 1. Cor. 2.12 c It is not unknowne in Lancashire what Horses and Cattell of her Husbands were killed upon His grounds in the night most barbarously at two severall times by Seminary Priests no question and Recusants that lurked there abouts And what a losse and hindrance it was unto Him being all the stocke He had on His grounds to any purpose In the story of the holy life and Christian death of Mistris Katherin Bretteâ—gh pag. 6. d Ibid. in Mast. Leyghs Postscript to Papists c Et sipeccatum in quibuscunque calamitatibus causae locum semper habeat nempe efficientis originalis tamen non semper peccati poena finis est is quem intuetur Deus c. f Si Deus peccata respiciat iniquitatis merita nullam est adeò ingens supplicium quo non merito affligamur omnes quotquot originâ—m nostram ex Adamo ducimus Si enim Deus iniquitatem observauerit quis sustinebit Psal. 130.3 Brent In Iohan. Cap. 9. 2. Chron. 33.11 g Gods Children are bruised Reeds befâ—re their conversion and often times after Before Conversion all except such as being bred up in the Church God hath delighted to shew himselfe gracious unto from their Child hood yet in different degrees as God seeth meet and as a difference is in regard of temper parts manner of life so Gods intendment of imployment for the time to come For usually hee empties such of themselves and makes them nothing before Hee will use them in any great services Doctor Sibbes Bruised Reed pag. 10. h Quan vis resipiscentia dolorem semper secum adferat de peccatu â—raeteritis praesentibus non tam proprie tamen aut â—ssentialiter consistit in dolore atque in aversatione odio peccati in firmo proposito hom prosequendi Amos 5.14.15 Odio habete malum amate bonum Amesius Medull Theol. lib. 1. cap. 26. Sect. 32. i Nâ—n nocent peccata praeâ—eâ—â—ta si non plaâ— câ—t prâ—sentia August De temper Serm. 1â—1 cap. 10. Peccata non nâ—cent si non placent Ideâ— k It thou be truly and unfainedly gâ—ievâ—d for this that thou canst not â—ee grieved thy humiliation shall bee accepted Perkins Case of Conscience 〈◊〉 cap. 5. Scit 2. Case Dulcat quâ— quia peccavit quia Deum offâ—ndit aut salâ—e doleat quia 〈…〉 doleâ—cisae 〈…〉 â—it ut Deo magis placeat homini utiliuâ— sit velle esse 〈…〉 sâ—atire contritionem aut deâ—otionem quta velle habere non habere general afflictunen â—oâ—dis Itaâ—â— dot trascere tibi ipsi atque damnabilem te iudica quò 〈…〉 non deleaâ— quanâ—â—â—
gratiae sensus evanescit laetitia Interim Deus peccantes filios non penitùs abijcit non odit non abdicat electionis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed castigationibus in viam revocat corrigil reconciliationis sensum laetitiam paulatim reddit procantibus Si enim nemo Pater terrenus hoc facit ut filium gravitèr delinquentem mox domo eliminet exhaeredem faciat quantò minus id Pater coelestis facit filijs quos anto iacia mundi fundamenta in Christo elegit adoptavit Par. Ibid. Sect. Ad tertium a Creating to speake properly is to make of nothing But is used here improperly the Prophet speaketh according to His owne feeling and present iudgement of Himselfe as tho Hee had lost all and had no goodnesse in Himselfe No doubt the Prophets heart was in part cleane tho not so much as Hee desired Estey Ibid. b Et Spiritum fanctum tuum ne auferas à me Est enim Spiritus sanctus in confitente Nam ad donum Spiritus sancti pertinet quâ—al bi displicet quod fecisti Immundo spiritui peccata placent Sancto displicent Quamvâ—â— ergò adhuc venam depreceris tamen ex aliá parte quâ tibi displicet malum quod commisisti Deo coniungeris Hoc enim tibi displicet quod illi Nec ait Spiritum sanctum tuum da mibi sed ne auseras à me August in Psal. 50. c Renati prorsùs non excidunt à sanctitate adoptione Suffra Colleg. de Art 5. Thes. 6.7 Vâ—de Syn. Dorâ—â—echt But what say you then to â—rt 16 Answ. When the Article saith wee may depart â—â—em grâ—ce the meaning of it is that the elect of God called according to purpose may swerve fâ—om the directions of graâ—e in some particular things and fall into grievous sinnes out of which they are to be raysed by Repentance and not that they totally fall from it Doctor Field Append. p. 1. Ad fin pag 131.132 In fidei Articulis in Hybernâ—â—e regno authoritate regiâ promulgatis expâ—nitur neque totalâ—er neque finaliter posse fiers Epise Sarisburiens In Thoms Diatribam cap. 27. d About the same time one Bertius a Scholeâ— of the late Armimus who was the first in our age that iâ—â—ected â—eyâ—en with Heresie was so impudent as to send a letter to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury with a Booke intituled De Apostasiâ Sanctorum The title whereof onely were enough to make it worthy the fiâ—e King Iames in his declaration against Vorstius And a little after thus What need wee make any question of the arrogancy of these Heretikes or rather Atheisticall Sectariâ—â— amongst you when one of them at this present remaining in your Towne of Leyden hath not onely presumed to publish of late a blasphemous Booke Of the Apostasie of the Saints but hath besides been so impudent as to send the other day a Copy thereof as a goodly present to our Archbishop of Canterbury together with a Letter wherein he is not ashamed as also in his Booke to lie so grossely as to avow that His Heresies contained in the said Booke are agreeable with the Religion and Profession of our Church of England Ibid. e Spiritus Sanctus deâ—ituit in Davide cum admisit adulterium homicidium sicut vita in plantâ tempore hyemali Et si suas vires non exeruit nec tamen prorsus fâ—it oâ—iosâ—s impedijt enim quò minus David toto aniâ—i studio in haec incumberet horrenda slagitia Doctor Holland Divinity Professour in Oxford moderating in this question holden negatively Anâ—usti fides potest ad tempus amiâ—â—i aut finaliter desincre The Lords chosen may fall from their outward prerogatives and from the fruites but that divine nature still abideth in them And it is onely with their grace as it is with the â—inde in distempers of Melancholy and Phrensie with the Sunne in Ecclipses with the tree when leaves and fruites fâ—ils its with the naturall life when it mooveth not ne yet breatheth sensibly which in diseases of the Mother is often discerned Their â—aith iâ— a never-failing Faith their life an eternall life their seede a seede abiding in them P. Baine Triall of a Christians state pag. 4. f Petrus cum peccavit charitatem non amisit quta peccavit potâ—us in veritatem quà m in charitatem Sic David cum peccavit charitatem non peratdit sed obstupuit quodammodò in eo charitas ad vehementem tentationis ictum Et charitatis in eo nequaquam facta est abolitio sed quasi quaedam soporatio quae mox ut ad vocem arguentâ—s Prophetae â—v gilavit continuò in illam ardentissimae charitatis confessionem â—rupit Peccavi Domino De nat dignit Amoris divini cap. 6. h Vna causa cur de peccatis suae pueritiae loquatur est quòd in illâ aetate vehementiores sint cupiditates propterea dicitur in Psalmo Quinam diriget adolescens viam suam Si custodiat verbum tuun Cur de iuvenibus potiùs quà m de alijs sit mentio nempe quia natura humanâ— quae semper est vistosa prava tunc maxime ebullit c. Calv. Conc. 52. in Iob. * Psal. 25.7 i He meaning Christ makes as tho Hee heard not to wit the Woman of Canaan that the precious graces lockt up in the Cabinet of Her heart might bee brought forth to light Doctor Worship in his Sermon upon Mat. 15.22 c. pag. 18. k Iam. 5.11 * Iob 13.15 Isaâ— 50 1â— If Christians had not somtimes dead harts they would have proud hearts Hart. pag. 64. Iam. 5.16 Cant 5.2 Vers. 3. * Let no Christian then afflict his Soule with any catking or vexing fore-thought of fiery times Assure thy selfe if God call thee to suffer in that kinde Hee will graciously give unto Thee a Martyrs Faith a Martyrs patience and a Crowne of Martyrdome Act 7 55.56 a In hac cogitatione non dubium est primum 〈…〉 qui suo 〈…〉 critatem 〈…〉 mortem 〈…〉 tâ—â—tm conâ—â—â—â—â—at tamen receptus est ille ia gratiam restitutuâ— Posteà reliqua etiam exempla liâ—erationum conquirebat uâ— quod solus Noc cum suà familià servatur in diluvio quòd pâ—pulus Israeliticus ingenti miraculo educitur ex-Aegypto servatâ—â— in marirubro quòd Aaron autor horrendae Idololatriae non aâ—ijcitur nec absorbetur ab irâ livinà quòd populus Israeliticus morae impatiens fremens in dâ—serto adversus Deum et eius ministros non totus consumitur in deserto sed tandem introducitur in terram promissam Postremò suas quoque liberationes in quibus antehaec praesentiam amorem Dei erga se conspexerat meâ—oriâ repetivit Moller In Psal. 77. Recogitavi diâ—s antiquos Priorum tuorum inquit beneficiorum memoriam renotavi cogitavìque quan ta sint à te maiores nostri beneficia consequnti quomodò è servitute Aegyptiacâ liberati sint quomodò mare rubrum