have sent unto you these following Meditations upon a Text given unto mee to preach on at the Funerall of Mistrisse Iulian Black well and I desire that they may have the same worke upon you that was wrought upon Elisha's servant that by them you may be enabled to rid your mindes of those base and unbeleeving feares wherewithall you have beene too long and too much assaulted and perplexed and may direct your soules amid your troublesome cogitations and distractions to your onely resting place namely the strong God in whom all safety and security is to be found which is the onely thing aimed at in the publique Preaching and sought for in the private prayers of him that is your daily remembrancer IO SEDGVVICK THE Eye of faith open to GOD. PSAL. 141. VER 8. But mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute GOD was with David in love and David was with God in life and that in every condition of his life the Context doth render David in a very sad calamitous condition and the Text doth report him unto us in an holy and Christian carriage towards his God for his eyes were upon him his confidence in him and his prayer unto him a fit behaviour for all Christians in sorrow and distresse The words containe two parts 1. A beleeving profession laid downe in two choise actions respecting God as their chiefe object and they are 1. The carriage of his eyes from men to God Mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord. 2. The planting or firme placing of his trust or confidence in God the Lord in thee is my trust 2. An hearty petition the undoubted evidence of his beleeving profession a beleeving heart is a praying heart Leave not my soule destitute From the whole we see Note The godly doe know theselves both in their graces anâ— practises that good men do know their owne tempers in grace and speake their owne practises in godlinesse David did not vaunt himselfe out of pride but humbly expresseth himselfe in that carriage which doth belong unto all Christians in their sad and distressed conditions I see no reason why Christians may not speake of their gratious practises so be they doe it sincerely humbly for instruction of others may not all ages learne from David how to compose their affections and dispose their soules in evill times but come wee more closely to the words Mine eyes are unto thee O God the Lord Whence I conclude Doct. That in calamitous and distressefull conditions Christians have or should have their eyes unto God the Lord. When Iehosaphat and the people were in great distresse and the times were full of feares and dangers insomuch that all humane power and policie failed them for the Text saith They knew not what to doe then they had their eyes unto God they say But our 2 Chron. 10. 12. eyes are upon thee When Stephen Acts 7. 5 56. was stoning hee looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the glory of God when David was in danger and the Church in Captivity they did lift up their eyes to the Psa 121. 1 hills from whence came their helpe and had their eyes to God that dwelleth in the Heavens For the opening of 123. 1. the point observe these things First that Gods eyes of mercy and compassion are as surely upon his to behold them for their good as their eyes can be believingly upon him in the expectation of good from him a Christian looketh up to God and God looketh downe on a Christian the Christian saith O Lord mine eyes are unto thee and God saith O Christian mine are upon thee sure I am that eye answereth to eye no man can looke up but God will looke downe upon him hence saith God Surely I have seene the affliction Exod. 3. 7. of my people which are in Egypt they looked up to God in their groanings and cries and God lookes downe upon them in a mercifull regarding and relieving of them Secondly that there are two sorts of eyes by which men doe looke up unto God 1. One are the eyes of the Eyes of tvvo sorts body which wee may call the eyes of sence 2. The other are the eyes of the soule which are called the eyes of Faith The point is true of both though the latter be intended Thirdly that a Christian may have God before his eyes as well as his eyes unto God in times of afflâ—ctions the God before the eyes vvhat former doth note an act of reverentiall and awfull respect begotâ—en in the soule towards Gods Majesty at such times especially for when should men more awe God and reverence before him then when they are in and under trouble the latter doth note the advancings of the soule by the workings of The eyes unto God vvhat Faith to a looking for the promised good from God to a man in and under afflictions and this is the thing I am to speake of which I thus open to you 1. That there are many speciall promises for good unto Christians in all especially their afflicted conditions yea God hath promised to make every condition good according to that of the Apostle All things shall worke Rom. 8. 18. together for good Simile even the crosse going of the wheeles shall further the right going of the clock 2. That the heart of a Christian is much lifted up after the enjoyment of the promised good wee doe naturally feare evill and desire good and though we doe see that a man may doe us hurt yet our eyes are not upon him that he should doe us hurt the Scripture phrase is I looked for Job 30. 26 good and I waited for light 3. That the soule never advanceth it selfe to looke up in a waiting and expecting way untill it is made beleeving unbeleeving men have no God to looke unto nay they are blinde and without eyes towards God it is Faith that is the hand that opens the doore and helpes the eye to looke in and upon God this gives light and sight unto the soule having the command of the body and soule and sences in exercising themselves upon God I say Faith hath her sences it is a grace in the soule that hath feete whereby shee goes to God hands whereby shee doth take hold of God armes wherewith she doth embrace God eares whereby shee doth heare God and eyes whereby shee doth looke up to God in a word it is a soule within the soule and a body within the body not an eye but eyes which is enough for the vision and fruition of God and it 's whole worke is to bring in the soule unto God and to determine it selfe in God it takes much pleasure in God and satisfies it selfe with God at all times the soule by it is cast into this frame of reasoning dependance God hath said that hee will doe mee good in all my conditions
Or they shall fall away 3. Forsake the Lord for their confidence Jer. 2. 11. from the Lord slighting and rejecting his helpe in evill times Saul went to the witch and the Prince would attend no longer upon the Lord and wicked men forsake the fountaine of living water surely such as fall from God doe not depend on God unlesse you will say that hee doth lay himselfe upon the fountaine or rock that casts himselfe from the rocke into the Sea but to leave them to the miserie of miseries and to inherit their folly Vse 2 Secondly this may teach us to sound our owne tempers Examination whether that wee are trusting Christians in evill and dangerous times can we say with David In thee is my trust then these 6. things 6. Signes of men that trust in God in evill times 1. Care to please God will be more or lesse found upon us 1. Our care will bee to please God in all things him upon whom we depend wee will studie to content a child feares to displease his Father and a Tennant feares to displease his Landlord because of their dependance on them and surely if wee doe trust in God we will covet to walke in all well pleasing unto God shunning whatsoever way or course is contrary or grieving to him None but a mad-man would offend his defence shall God defend us and shall we offend Him That soule doth looke for very little good from God that is carelesse of his praise and pleasing 2. We shall make up our 2. Making God a portion to us selves in God in all conditions the heart doth chuse that thing for its portion which it maketh to be its confidence The Lord is my Lam. ◠24 portion therefore will I hope in him saith the Church hereupon is it that the Psalmist saith Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Psal 73. 25 26. Earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever Surely God is heritage and portion enough to that soule that trusteth in him the soule that relies upon him shall finde him to be a full and sutable good unto it selfe and can see that it hath no reason to looke out of God for supplies and sufficiencies 3. We shall use the meanes for safety but leave the issue to God such as trust in God will not tempt God but apply themselves to the wise and carefull use of all those meanes which serve God in his care and providence over them Iacob trusted God for deliverance and so did David and Paul and yet they did not neglect or flie over the meanes for their succour and safety in evill times the one sends presents and marshalls Gen. 32. his family the second abides in strong holds in the wildernesse 1 Sam. 23. and the last staies in the ship and keepes the Marriners Acts 27. with him hee that trusts a Physitions skill will be carefull to observe what is prescribed to him and as meanes are to be used so when meanes are used wee shall trust God with the issue and unto God for the successe it is presumption not trust to sever the meanes from the end it is feare not Faith to use meanes and yet to vexe our soules about the successe such as trust God doe chiefly commit the issue of all the meanes they doe use unto God knowing that it is mans worke to use the meanes and Gods to bring about the successe 4. Living by Faith in the promises whē outward meanes faile 4. Wee shall live by Faith in the promises when outward meanes for comfort and deliverance are wanting a politician will trust as farre as reason can carry him and a naturall man will trust as farre as his sences lead him if either can see reasons for or waies and meanes of deliverance and safety before them they can and will trust in God els they fall downe or fall off whereas such as truly trust in God will and can in some measure rest on the bare word and naked promise of God even then when they can see no meanes before them but that the present face and state of things doe seeme altogether contrary unto them Though the Lord kill Job 15. 13 mee yet will I trust in him Esa 50. 10 saith Iob and the command is when that wee are in darkenesse and can see no light even in such an estate to trust in God a child in the darke takes hold of his Father and a Christian without meanes will trust in his God knowing that God is all meanes in himselfe and that hee can do things for his Churches good and comfort when all outward meanes doth threaten the contrary 5. Wee shall trust God 5. Trusting of God withall they that doe trust in God will also trust God as knowing that the safety and security of all is in God tell mee now doe you trust God with your names estates callings posterities bodies and soules doe you trust your temporall and eternall estate in Gods hand so that you can say I have nothing in mine owne keeping I dare not so much as to trust my selfe with my selfe or any thing I have with any other creature but all is committed by mee to the Lord whom I know to be faithfull this is an argument that the soule doth trust in the Lord I know whom I have beleeved I am 2 Tim. 1. 12. perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him against that day Lastly wee shall have a 6. Quiet and rest of soule ground for rest and quiet unto our soules Trust in God doth 1. Bottome the soule strongly so that there shall be a staying of murmurings and grudgings arising within the Soule 2. Supply the soule with a greater ground of quiet and comfort then there can be causes of feare and troubling God is a Center for rest and a quiet Foundation so that the soule can never be at rest untill that it come to rest upon him It is the worke of trust to cast the soule into a fixing and setling condition I doe not say that the trusting soule is totally freed from stirrings and shakings even in evill times I A trusting soule is a quiet soule and hovv know that our flesh which we carry about us is full of objections and daily troubles us in our quiet but yet know that though feares may materially rise in a trusting heart yet they doe not victoriously worke in that soule that is truly trusting the promise is Thou wilt keepe him in perfect Esa 26. 3. peace whose minde is staied on thee because hee trusteth in thee and againe They that Psal 125. 1 trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be moved and againe He shall 112. 7. not be afraid of evill tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord.
THE EYE OF FAITH open to GOD. Vnfolded in a Sermon Preached at the Funerall of that vertuous and Religious Gentlewoman Mrs JVLIAN BLACKVVELL together with a Narration of her vertuous Life and happy Death By JOHN SEDGVVICK Batchelor of Divinity and Preacher of GODS Word in London Prov 31. 30. Favour is deceitfull and beauty is vaine but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised LONDON Printed by GEORGE MILLER MDCXL TO THE WORSHIPFVLL IOHN BLACKVVELL Esquire his Majesties Grocer comfort and happy imitation of the deceased Sir WHilst Ministers preach Funerall Sermons they find the wind setting in their faces from their auditors some thinke that too little others that too much and most that what is spoken concerning the dead is but formality or flattery They report that the Aethiopians doe picture Angels black and Divels white and I thinke that they Amandus Polanus Syntag. Theol lib. 20 c. 17. justly suffer censure who doe knowingly call evill good and good evill yet I deeme that meete and just praise is a due to Gods Saints departed and Salatia vivorum non suffragia mortuorum Orationes Aug. though they add not to their honour and happinesse being in Heaven yet they may proove both comforts and instructions to the living left upon earth especially to such who forgoe those with griefe whom they for a time enjoyed with love I doe not send the living to the dead with Papists yet let mee tell you that there are these things comfortable to the living from the dead 1. Their holinesse of life and comfort in death grounded evidences for our hope of their future happinesse And 2. That there shall be a time of meeting and enjoying each other againe at the last day such being not lost but gone before us add to this the good of their examples which are of great force for the teaching of posterity who may take them for their patterne and so resemble them in their religious courses that they may seeme to survive in them both these ends are my aime in publishing this Sermon and with it the just testimony which I gave unto your late loving and beloved Wife whom death hath freed from all sinfull and sorrowfull evils and brought to the enjoyment of her God in Heavens happinesse shee well knew that the world could never make her fully happy and that Christians are never in their best condition till that they are in their heavenly condition I desire not to renew your griefe but to shew that I had a share in your losse of that Iewell laid up by God in the highest Heavens whom all your care and cost which did demonstrate you to be a loving Husband could not longer continue on earth whilst shee was yours you did I confesse what could be done for her credit comfort and continuance and thereby deserved from her that praise which often shee gave of you to my selfe and others but being gone there remaines a double monument of her one of her owne for shee hath left with you those in whom shee liveth whom I need not say to you you must love as a Father and a little the more for the Mothers sake another of mine in this Publication wherein her memory is made pretious among the Saints and perpetuated unto all posterity a Worke done by mee upon your owne earnest intreaty and therefore cannot but be welcome unto you You have your desire let mee have mine Thinke of your losse and remember your selfe and place in which God hath set you doing things so that your comfort within and credit without may still be upheld in the Churches of God amongst whom you have obtain'd an excellent name I need to say no more to you but that I am Your much obliged friend Io Sedgvvick From my house in S. Dunstances in the East London To the Reader and in speciall to my worthy good Friends in and a-about the City of London Peace and setling of mind THe shaking of A double temper of men in tâ—mes of danger the water doth not more discover the mudd that 's at the bottome nor the beating of the pulse the distemper of the body then Times of Danger doe bewray men in point of defect or excesse now men appeare 1. To be carelesse either to be carelesse and gracelesly secure having their eyes bound up and their consciences so seared that they neither see or feare any danger or to be over-fearing having their 2. To be over fearefull eyes too open upon or their hearts too much affected with the sadnesse and miseries of the times the first sort I leave to the vanity of their minde and sinfullnesse of their courses assuring them that their continuance in carnall security is to them an evident forerunner of their future misery the latter sort I shall advise to consider of these two things First that the The Springs of over-much fearing over-much fearing of mans heart in evill times doth arise from a false eye or a wrong foundation I meane the eye and the Arme of flesh he that at such time hath no other eye to see withall then that by which he seeth every thing or being able to pierce no deeper or looke no higher then naturall reason or outward objects can helpe him shall be sure to finde that his senses will faile him and his troubles sinke him Besides the Arme of Flesh trusted unto and relied upon will make him to ebb and flow and shall hold his spirit in a course of such constant agitation that in the end he shall flagg and faint Flesh at the best is too weake a prop to stay the soule a certaine impeacher and empairer of mans confidence and comfort and who so doe put it into the place of a god shall undoubtedly find from it the deceivings of a creature Secondly that the best way to quit our selves of an over-fearing heart in the daies of trouble is to get an eye of Faith which alone shuts up the eye of sense and getteth such views of Gods Love Power and providence that God is knowne to be and also made the sole stay and staffe of the soule upon whom whosoever truly trusteth he is in such safety that no malice of men or divels can endanger him My Brethren had we the Angelicall eyes of faith we should feare lesse though times vnto sense are distressefull and almost desperate this alone can see a better issue then carnall reason can apprehend and an higher power to protect and guard then humane helpes are either liekly or able to affoord this will make a man waite till the fifth Scene of the Tragedy is acted knowing that troubles have their turnings as spring-tides have their ebbings This eye David had in his troubles as the following Discourse will shew you and this eye I wish unto you all that your confidences and comforts may abound and though I hope that many of you have this eye yet beholding your dimnesse and weaknesse I
and there is no Christian man or woman but must needs confesse so much and beside the generall calamity we have the time of our particular misery our conditions either are or have beene sad and perplexed tell mee now where are your eyes fixed upon God then it 's well and give mee leave to presse you to this triall upon this one ground because that multitudes of men have no eyes upon God in evill times Surely if our eyes are upon God First we shall make God present with us beholding and regarding us in our miseries the eye doth make the object present to it selfe and faith looking upon God doth make God present to a Christian the truth is that it 's no misery that can divide a Christian and his God for God hath tied his presence and love with his children in the fire and water and prison and dungeon and Esa 43. 2. it is as true that if the eye of faith be once rightly set upon God in times of trouble there is no want of God to such a soule such a one whose eyes are upon God may want the company of neere and deere friends they may be sequeâ—tred and kept from him but â—he company of a God he can â—ever want a Christian is neâ—er without his God so long as hee can keepe up the eye of his Faith upon God Though I walke in the valley of the shadow of death thou art with mee thy rod and thy staffe they comfort mee O sweet comfort and happy condition in times of distresse when the soule can say men are against mee yet God is for mee men are shut out from mee by men but my God they cannot shut out from mee the eye of Faith will bring downe God into a dungeon and see him in a dungeon and maketh a man to see no want of creature-company because he hath divine company Secondly wee shall have some comfortable representation of God unto us it iâ— true in nature that the eye in it selfe hath no colour but all its colour is in the object and I conceive that the glorious discoveries of God are made over unto Faith till the eye of Faith be erected in the soule God is in darknesse to a man let things have a colour Simile and luster in them untill light come to make them cleare they are as if they were not so though there be a glory in God yet to sence and reason God is a God in night and darknesse or such a one as cannot be espied and observed but when Faith comes into the soule now God is a God in the light and the Christian is enabled in some measure to enjoy the blessed reflexe of God to his soule whereby even in his greatest misery he is able to look upon his God with that boldnesse that the very beholding of his God in the way of Faith doth greatly joy and glad his soule making him unspeakeably glorious unto his soule a man that lookes up to God shall see more grounds of comfort seated in God then grounds of sadnesse in his troubles the face of times cannot gather more blacknesse or threaten more misery then Gods face doth promise and assure peace and protection Faith seeth all the worst below and best above in God and with God Thirdly we shall be ravished and greatly affected with the glories and beauties of God vision drawes on affection or things doe affect the soule by sence by looking we come to liking the true cause why a wicked man doth neither joy in God or admire the beauties that are in God is because he wants eyes to look upon God but the man whose eyes are opened open unto God takes notice of such excellency of grace and mercy in God that his soule is taken with God and rapt up into a holy ravishment and admiration Now he cries out who is a God like unto our God O the Majesty and mercy that is in him I see that in him for mee and my necessity that I cannot see in all the creatures put them together the soule doth now begin to feede it selfe and cheere it selfe in and upon God in the midst of all afflictions making this to be its greatest comfort that it hath such a God who is so great a good to enjoy Faith cannot looke up to its God without encreasing of its confidence and comforts Fourthly we shall be set into a longing after God and his comforts the seeing of things stirres up desires in us after them so the looking up to God doth fill the soule with a fervent longing after the Lord the Christian that lookes up hopes the soule in this case is much after the manner of a tender wife who looking for her Husband by such a day or such an hower shee is faint and full of griefe untill that day come and when the day is come shee runnes to the doore and window to see if he be not comming being much troubled that hee is not yet come surely all the sight of God which we have by Faith doth cast us into hope of enjoying God according to his promise and now our soules Psal 119. 81. Rom. 8. 23 Psal 119. 82. doe faint for him and his salvation we sigh in our selves waiting and our eyes doe faile for his Word saying when wilt thou come to us and comfort us O when shall I have my helpe and deliverance from the Lord the eye of Faith doth either actually bring downe God into the soule and is as the setting of the eye of a skilfull fowler upon a bird who if he hold the bird in his eye he will not have him long out of his hand or actually carrie up the soule unto God in strength of desire so that the soule cannot be in any quiet untill God be gotten and gained Fiftly we shall not be overwhelmed by the sight of any calamities troubles beheld without a God doe exceedingly damp and daunt the spirits of men till Elishaes servant had his eyes opened to see the strength of Heaven his heart was much dismayed by the hoste of the Syrians but to have an eye to God in times of trouble will prove the great upholdment of the soule it is no miserable estate that can distresse that man whose eyes are the eyes of Faith say that troopes of troubles come and that we are to encounter with contrarieties and crosses even the ruffling rage of wicked meÌ„ whose power in some degree might equall their malice yet such a soule stands and his heart is staied within him for he sees more with him then against him O the wisedome and power which Faith doth see in God for the preservation of those that are his I reade of a Generall who Antigonus finding his souldiers dismaied by the smalenesse of their company and the multitudes of their enemies asked them but how many do you reckon mee at who am your Commander and Leader this Generall is Faith in the soule which takes
off all the disquietments of our hearts under trouble by making men to be creatures and setting God ruling in the midst of his enemies surely it was this eye of Faith that wrought Luther to such confidence of heart in times of dread for when he was told of great troubles that were like to befall him and the rest in Germany he made this answer come come no matter for them all let us sing the forty sixt Psalme and let them do their worst so faith the beleevers soule let men combine and conspire to do me and the Church all the mischiefe they can and let things go how they will and dangers be what they will yet I see a God with me and for me and unto him will I looke for by him I am sure to be safe The Lord wil be a refuge for the oppressed Psal 9. 9. yea a refuge in time of trouble The Marriner is not quite dejected Simile though he seeth all his Sailes torne and gone so long as his Anchor holds the Souldier is not vanquished so soone as his out-workes are taken if he be in a Castle or Towne of strength neither is a Christian quite out of comfort and hope so long as Zach. 9. 12. he sees his God remaining but is a prisoner of hope turning to his strong hold Sixtly we shall be fearefull of sinning in times of calamities God seene by Faith is acknowledged by duty and a mans eyes cannot be upon God at any time but he shall walke with God and tremble to sinne against him times of affliction should be times of praying and of holy walking can a man look upon God but he shall observe that God hath an eye upon him and should not Gods sight be the great awer of the soule from sinning to looke upon a Judge looking upon us and to cut a purse is the aggravation of a felonie and to have an eye upon God in trouble and to mingle sinne with our sorrow is an argument of a false and faithlesse heart Vse 3 Thirdly this may exhort us to imitate David O let us have our eyes to God in all our extremities God saith Looke unto mee and be saved where Isa 45. 22. wee see that wee can never be safe till we looke unto God I know it is a very difficult but yet it is a very usefull and comfortable thing to have our eyes upon God in times of danger and death the eye upon God maketh the burthen easie and heart lightsome It is said of the Governour of a ship that he is Oculus ad coelum for though in a storme he hath his hand on the sterne yet his eye is to the pole-star it must be said of a Christiā that he is Oculus ad Deum an eye upon or unto God O that our eyes in these evill times were lesse upon the creature and more upon God O looke up look up unto God the Lord. Now that wee may with comfort practise this duty I shall desire you First to get those eyes which David had wee shall never practise Davids duties without Davids graces how can a man see who wants his eyes and is it possible that the soule should ascend to God that wants Faith set in for these eyes a man must be more then nature and reason and sence that hath his eyes towards God in evill times Secondly to get that God which David had I tell you that David had gotten God in his acquaintance and by way of speciall interest and this made him to looke upon him in an evill time if God and wee are strangers or there remaine strangenesse twixt God and us we shall never turne the eye of Faith unto him in any condition of our life I look for help from my friend not from a stranger O acquaint your selves with God and then you may have your eyes upon Him Thirdly close not with Satan in his temptations it is the maine worke of the Divell to keepe men off from the fight of God it is noted that he it is that doth blinde or cast dust into the eyes of men 2 Cor. 4. 4 interrupting and intercepting the soule in all its recourses unto God I am certaine of this as at all times so especially in times of trouble Satan is most in his darkning workes unto Christians then hee is raising up clouds and mists to hinder the cleare sights of God now hee labours to keep downe the eye from looking Satan keepes Christians from looking up to God three vvaies up to God O 't is his most malitious work to rob a Christian of his God in point of comfort and confidence and this he doth many waies 1. Sometimes by disgracing and disabling God unto a Christians Faith as if that God were not able enough for supplies or answerable to exigencies of which if the soule be once perswaded it will never be drawne to look towards God in an expecting or depending way for who will goe to an empty conduit to fetch water 2. Sometimes by disgracing and disabling a Christians Faith unto God for what though God be able to doe him good that lookes up unto him in evill times yet saith hee where are thine eyes and what is thy Faith which is so weake and poore that it should be able to become thine eyes to look unto God can any man see that wanteth eyes or looke so farre whose eyes are dimme 3. Sometimes hee doth over-greaten the danger and makes men beleeve that deliverance thence is impossible which despaires the heart from expecting helpe from God Now let the Divell come which way he will we must not beleeve him against God or follow him in his suggestions against a duty but still hold this conclusion that God is never so darke to sence but Faith can see him and the eyes of Faith are never so weake but that they can thorough the darkest cloud and in the greatest storme see an All-seeing and an All-helping God whose comforts are ready and sutable for miserable and suffering Christians Fourthly dust not your selves with the dust of the world If men looke downe too much upon Earth they shall never looke up to God in Faith for the eye cannot at once looke both waies a worldly heart is a darke heart if the riches and honours and pleasures of the world once get into the eye of the soule it is not possible for the soule to looke up unto God can the bird flie upwards if you tie a weight upon its legg then is it possible for an earthly heart to looke upon God in evill daies I have read of Duke of Alva to Henry the fourth one that was asked if hee had not observed the eclipses and his answer was that hee had so much to doe upon Earth that he had no leasure to looke up to Heaven and this I am sure of that an heart idolizing the creature can never be truely depending on God can the eye see its
more darke then the leaving the soule destitute in divine respects doth make the soule sad and miserable 'T is misery to be under misery but in times of misery to be left unto misery by Gods withdrawing of himselfe from a man makes the misery overmiserable For a lame man to fall it's misery but when hee is downe to have his crutches taken from him and all to forsake him it 's the leaving of him in misery It is a mercy to finde divine succour in misery Obser 3 Thirdly That it is a great mercy to bee followed with spirituall succours and divine supplies in times of misery this is easing to the spirit and the burthen will be the better borne and endured this is chearing and reviving the spirit will not soone sinke and faint under any trouble whilst God is with it and all its comforts are about it the woe is to him that is alone Obser 4 Fourthly that the instant and constant desire of a Christian Divine assistance presence is to be sought should bee after divine assistance in troubles 1. A man shall never need a God more in company and comfort then when he is in and under trouble if all the creatures leave us as they may yet till God leave us wee shall never be destitute for God is all in all for the reliefe of that soule with whom hee is present besides 2. the soule hath many pretious promises for divine supply and succour in evills and therefore hee may be the more bold to put up his request to God Leave not my soule destitute To conclude the whole Vse 1 First I pitty such men who are forsaken and destitute men such whom Sathan hath bereaved of their comforts God denies his grace unto or withdrawes the influence of his comfort from A desolate Widdow forsaken of friends a brave Commander destitute of men and munition and a soule left by God in misery are equally miserable Vse 2 Secondly We learne that men destitute of God are the most helpelesse creatures under Heaven such shall doe God the King and the Country little good service that have Feathers in their hatts Armour on their backs and Weapons in their hands wanting Grace in their hearts though their oathes may be many and violence great yet their strength is small for they are destitute and deserted persons Vse 3 Thirdly In the middest of our dangers let us labour to keepe God with us and about us if we make him our friend wee need not feare who is our enemy and God supplying us wee have strength enough and shall finde comfort enough in the midst of dangers and death it selfe * ⎠* The Narration of the vertuous Life and happy Death of Mistrisse Iulian Blackwell WEE are this day The Application to the occasion met according to the practise of the Saints in Scripture to performe a duty and pay a debt to the remainder of our Christian Sister Mistrisse Iulian Blackwell which is now to be laid with honour in her grave as into a house of safe custody and bed of rest to remaine there untill the resurrection And finding this to be the practise of venerable Cent. Mag. 4. c. 6. p. 45 5. antiquity to celebrate the Funerals of Christians with the mentioning of their just praises you must give mee leave treading in Testimonium dabo veritati non amicitiae Ber. their paths to give testimony unto the truth in speaking of her gratious disposition and vertuous conversation onely take two things along Securius sinceerius visa solent quam audita narrari Goff vit Bern. lib 1. pre ces with you First that I intend to speake no more of her then what mine owne knowledge and observation doth leade mee unto Secondly that my aime in this Worke is to moderate the grieving spirits of those that were neere unto her whose losse is great and to yeeld unto you all matter of good instruction and Christian imitation seeing you know not how soone her condition may be yours And here passing over her descent leaving that to the Heralds I might begin with her curtesie modestie and gravity in her outward course and carriage in which shee did so shine that shee wonne much love from all such who well knew her and were themselves lovers of a courteous and sober conversation Next I might lay downe before you her fidelity and love to her loving Husband with whom shee lived in an unspotted way avoiding that lightnesse and loosenesse which is too too notorious and shamefull in many of her Sexe I might also further discourse of her tendernesse and love unto her children to whom shee shewed her selfe a Mother indeed by seeking their good in the best things and furthering them to her power in the waies of holinesse But leaving these there 10. Things in her are ten things which I observe as notable in her and worthy all our imitation First God had made her 1. Tendernesse of heart seene in foure things a Christian of a very tender heart and sensible spirit as her naturall disposition was softly so shee had a spirituall disposition of softnesse there were foure waies by which her tendernesse of Spirit did appeare 1. Shee was apprehensive 1. Sense of sin and feeling of sins working and burden the body of sinne which shee did beare about her as a body within her body shee made such a body of death unto her that with teares shee would often complaine to my selfe and others of her wretchednesse and wearisomenesse under the same a blessed temper and arguing spirituall life to find and feele the contrary workings of sinfull corruption unto the workings of grace within the soule 2. Shee was sensible of Satans 2. Acquaintance with tēptations temptations and his strong workings against her graces and her comforts Satan was her adversary and shee knew what it was to have Satan to be her adversary surely if God be a mans friend Satan will be his enemy and who so have tender and gratious spirits they cannot but be more or lesse sensible of Satans workings against them Satan did so often and sensibly disquiet her that shee feared least shee should at the last be overcome by him 3. Shee had a sympathizing 3. Sympathy spirit feeling the present conditions of the members of the mysticall body whether in misery or in comfort if the Church and Christians did rejoyce shee rejoyced also if they were in sadnesse shee was in heavinesse in which practise shee shewed her selfe a right living member and I could wish that there were not the failing of bowels this way amongst too too many of us What a shame is it unto us that Churches abroad are bleeding and many Christians at home in misery and dying and yet none in comparison do regard or feele the same 4. Shee had an undigesting 4 Risings against sinfull vanities spirit I meane a spirit that was full of painefull gratings at the
Simile water till he finde no ground for his feete to fasten upon so that there is a great deale of necessity for a man to denie himselfe and to give over himselfe if ever he intend a dependance upon his God at any time for any thing Fiftly cast off the way and 5. The relinquishing of the vvay of sin Iob 22. 24 25. course of sinne and prophanesse by timely and serious repentance If thou returne to the Almighty thou shalt bee built up thou shalt put away in iquity farre from thy tabernacle then shalt thou lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brookes yea the Almighty shall be thy defence how can a man expect safety from God when hee walkes in a course contrary unto God can such imagine God will be the protection of their persons who are the provocation of his eyes sure I am this is the fruite of a life led in sinne to keepe off the soule from comming in unto God by way of duty and dependance I say that the love and life of sinne doth dead and damp the heart in all motions and actions unto God and therefore it must be your worke to purge your heart from all the love of sinne and study the way of giving over the slavish service of sinne and then the way is open to God the God on whom we stay our selves is an holy God and wee must resolve to be holy and reformed persons they shall call themselves Isa 48. 2. the holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel 6. Lastly settle all supplies 6. Setting all supplies an◠succours in God upon God what wee trust upon we must make all-sufficient unto us now if wee have this skill to make God answerable to all our exigencies and if wee can see that wee cannot need or desire that thing that is not to be found in him in an overflowing abundance it would mightily enable us to make him our trust such who attribute too much to the streame and take from the fullnesse of the fountaine will never make their recourses to the fountaine Oh we have a full God who is Sun and shield and exceeding great reward unto all those that come in unto Him and will never leave the soule destitute which doth depend upon Him which is the thing David desireth and is the last part Leave not my soule destitute Here is the true consequent of beleeving confidence it makes a man to flie to God by prayer notwithstanding all troubles surely wee cannot 1. Trust in God praying to God are undivided cōpanions Psal 62. 8 well divide the act of Faith from the exercise of Prayer David in one Psalme by way of counsell faith trust in him alwayes ye people and powre out your hearts before him and here he is upon the practise of his owne Doctrine In thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute intimating unto us a true triall of our trusting in God it is then right and sound when it puts on the soule to prayer he doth trust best in God that doth pray most to God a praying heart is an evidence of a trusting heart 2. We must not divide the 2. Times of trouble ought to be times of prayer practise of prayer from times of troubles troublous times are praying times then or never should Christians beset the Lord with requests and powre out their soules unto Him 1. the command is Call Ps 50. 15. upon me in the day of trouble and Jam. 5. 13 is any man afflicted let him pray 2. David under his feares and in the midst of his troubles besought the Lord. 3. And the promise is that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Joel 2. 32. Lord shall be delivered I am sure that Iacob applied himselfe to this practise and it prooved prevailing Vse Christians must learne to pray as well as to trust in God or else their trust will faile them I conceive we doe put forth our confidence in praying O that we were more in praying and that wee would lift up our hearts in praying unto our God this should shelter us and chase away feared dangers a volley of Prayers sent up morning and evening to Heaven will doe a Kingdome and Citie more good then all the munition in the world A praying people have beene the terrour of enemies and the safeguard of Nations Prayers is the most efficatious engine making way for the good and safety of the Church in all Ages when all policies and power have beene at a stand this hath made way for peace and safety This this is the little great thing that hath overturned all plots blasted all conspiracies and withstood all oppositions it weaknes enemies and encreaseth friends by ruling God and over-ruling men hee wants not Armour of proofe in his house that hath a praying spirit in his brest I conceive did we pray more wee should feare lesse for that which is our victory with God shall be our conquest over men Thou hast Gen. 32. 28. prevailed with God thou shalt also prevaile with men saith God to Iacob I beseech Job 15. 4. you that you would be so Iob 15. 4. farre from restraining Prayer before God that you make it your daily worke to remember the name of the Lord still crying unto Him and calling upon Him adding this to your practise which was the Iames 5. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commendation of Elias that you pray in your praying But come wee now more narrowly to the matter of Davids prayer Leave not my soule destitute 4. Observations in the words 1. The possibility of having a soule left destitute That is bare and forsaken of divine helpe and comfort Whence we Whence we learne first The possibility of having the soule of a Christian left naked and bare of divine grace comfort and assistance there may not onely be a withdrawing of an outwardly supplying and upholding good but of an inwardly comforting and gratious presence though the Lord doth not totally destitute and finally desert the soules of his yet comforts and supports may for a long time and in a great degree be withdrawne Sion said The Esa 49. 14. Lord hath forgotten mee David Psal 70. 5. 25. 16. is poore and needy in one Psalme and desolate and afflicted in another Alas how many of Gods deare ones doe find this to be true that to their seeming their God is gone and comfort gone and there is none to owne them and stand by them There is none to helpe Psal 22. 11 saith David Secondly the misery of a 2. It is a misery to be left destitute divinely destitute and deserted soule such a soule is a miserable soule and the misery of this condition makes David to deprecate it the absence of a good temper doth not make the body more miserable nor the withdrawing of the Sunne the night to be