Elkanahs wife being in bitternesse of soule to bee drunke grounding his conjecture upon some signes he had observed in her misperswading himselfe This conjecture notwithstanding is sometimes true whereof Amon is an example who when hee had an intention to commit incest with his sister was vexed insomuch that he fell sick by reason of anguish of heart How Ahab was overwhelmed with sorrow when hee could not enjoy another mans goods Naboths vineyard How heavy was Antiochus the Tyrant when his sacrilegious will could not put into execution the devastation of Jerusalem And was not Herod sorry because of the rash oath hee made to that infamous Herodias which beheaded John Baptist It is a symptome oftentimes of hypocrisie which our Saviour intimates when he saith Be not as the Hypocrites with a sad countenance Mat. 9.16 Further experience teacheth that those that are more naturally prone thereunto are proud and cruell What hath been said doth manifest its deformity and shew that it out-strips in filthinesse and uglinesse even those cruell beasts which superstitions Aegypt did adore and now seeing thou art one of the number of Gods children beware thou givest it an habitation in thy soule the temple of the Holy Ghost but rather let thy mind abound in all godly mirth which is as befitting thy eminent condition as sorrow is unbeseeming He that rejoyceth according to Gods commandment receives adversity at his hands as thankfully as prosperity He patiently submits his neck to the yoake Hee knowes the crosse to be the cognizance of Gods love and a most soveraigne cure for his spirituall disease the end of his conflict victory the crowne of the lambe and eternall glory He confides in God and resteth upon his promises committing his care unto him to provide all necessaries Hee payes his vowes he offers daily the sacrifice of prosperity and with the calves of his lips his morning and evening oblation he serves God cheerfully and with fervent zeale he is at peace with his neighbour and meekly covers his failings he knowes this world to be a place of pilgrimage heaven to bee his countrey whither hee steeres with cheerfulnesse not suffering himselfe to be misled out of the way thither by any occasion though seeming weighty to flesh and bloud He placeth his happinesse in God he makes a difference betwixt such grievous afflictions as come of their owne accord and those whereinto hee plunges him-himselfe The former as being unavoidable he patiently endures the latter hee warily eschews Hee knows that his soule is not a slave or vassall to his body but Gods servant He resisteth adversitie with an unconquerable courage he is of such an heroicall mind as beseemes him who is the Prince of the creatures his countenance void of hypocrisie and pride speaks the happinesse and majestie appropriated onely to Gods children yea his countenance and all his gestures intimate his mirth and integrity which resteth in his bosome and evidently shew he is in no wise given to this world And howsoever his body being his viler and ignobler part is here upon earth yet his soule being the nobler and diviner hath its conversation in heaven like Jacobs ladder whose lower part was set upon the earth the top reaching to heaven He obeyes the advice of the wise man who saith A cheerfull and good heart will have care of his meat and diet Eccl. 30.27 that is will rid it selfe of impieties and sorrow which as they are exceeding unbecomming so they are as hereafter shall bee declared pernicious and hurtfull Here thou seest a briefe character of such a one as rejoyceth in the Lord judge then whether thou dost not amisse in preferring vice before vertue filthinesse before honesty monstrous deformity before heavenly beauty the representation or Idaea of hell where there is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth before the resembance of God and heavenly felicity CHAP. II. The second ground or reason is drawne from the pernicious effects thereof HItherto thou hast seen one only table now thou shalt behold another more deformed than the former for the vitiosity of sorrow consisteth not onely in filthinesse and deformity but in a greater measure of evill it being not onely monstrous to be lookt upon but very dangerous and pernicious which is so much the more difficult to bee discerned by how much it shrowds it selfe under hypocriticall love and while it beguiles us under the mask of friendship promising I know not what comfort and profit But if thou wilt prie more narrowly into it thou shalt discover it to be no lesse traiterous unto thee than was Joab unto Amasa who under the vizard of friendship sheathed his sword in his bowels Thou shalt perceive it to be thy malicious enemy and so much the more to bee feared by how much it bee more familiar with thee Thou shalt discover it to be a serpent that thou nourishest in thy bosome and a viper that thou engendrest for thy owne destruction And I beseech thee what profit and comfort canst thou purchase thereby seeing it is but vanity Heare the spirit of God saying What hath a man of all his labours and of the vexation of his heart wherein hee hath laboured under the sunne For all his dayes are sorrowes and his travell griefe yea his heart taketh not rest in the night time This is also vanity Eccles 2.22,23 Heare the wife man also who saith that therein there is no profit Eccl. 30.25 It is conducible then neither to thy soule nor body neither furthereth it thy affaires unlesse thou enjoyest some peculiar privilege not afforded any one living Will it restore unto thee thy countrey which is now in the power of thy enemies will it rid thee of thy miseries will it deliver thee from injuries and molestations will it performe thy businesse will it provide or care for thy family will it pay thy debts will it prosperously discharge thee from thy law sutes will it extoll thee to honours and dignities shalt thou thereby obtain more health more strength more knowledg more esteeme more love No verily for future things are not within thy power and what is past cannot be recalled Go to then thou little miserable caytiffe hide thy selfe in some corner or other labour with might and maine search out all the meanes and occasions to diminish it Weigh a thousand and a thousand times with thy selfe the high stature of Goliah afflict thy selfe as being of a little stature thou wilt never attaine to his In short all worldly sorrow is vaine and unprofitable and would it were onely so thou shalt find it grievous and most pernicious unlesse with speed thou dischargest thy selfe there from Know this it drawes after it a numerous swarme of evils aswell corporall as spirituall as touching temporall evils it makes mans life altogether miserable infinitly increasing the miseries that are the ordinary concomitants thereof whether thou considerest his businesses and counsells the calamities themselves or at last his whole person As
therefore who seeth not that these honours and spirituall riches infinitly surpasse all the riches and glory of this world This is thy present condition as long as thou art in this world as for thy future thou art indeed as all men are subject to death whereby thou obtainest more excellent things than thou couldst injoy in thy life time so that not without cause it is said precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116.15 for death will put a period unto all thy adversities and will be the beginning or rather the fulfilling of all good things By death thou ceasest to sinne and provoke God thy father to anger and to commit such things as are unworthy thy eminent condition as long as thou art clothed with the mantle of flesh the concupiscence thereof will vexe and solicite thee with that unchaste woman saying lie with me But when thy mantle as that of Elias when he ascended into heaven shall fall from thee it shall never trouble nor molest thee By death thy last enemy all the rest of thy enemies shall be put to flight They shall be never able to hurt and entrap thee Thou shalt be freed from the feare of all dangers which in this life abide thee It will rid thee from all molestations milteries afflictions cares and griefes Thy foule being severed from thy body will escape as a bird out of the snare of the fouler the snare is broken and wee are escaped Psal 124.7 Being then freed from innumerable torments and troubles she shall enter into rest insomuch that when the last houre shall make the neerest approach thou mayest say unto her Return unto thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116.7 Departing this world she shall enter into heaven to injoy eternall happinesse and rejoyce at the beatificall vision of her heavenly bridegoome Then shee goeth forth to behold King Solomon with the Crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Cant. 3.11 As for thy body it shall returne into dust but it shall not long remain in that state It is sown verily in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour it is raised in power it is a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body 1 Cor. 15.42,43,44 so that the death of the body is nothing else but as feed cast into the earth producing in its time most plentifull fruit Then being reunited to the soule shall bee brought into the Kings chambers where it will bee glad and rejoyce for ever and enjoy plenary possession of ineffable happinesse which eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 Goe to then if thy condition hath beene so miserable and will bee so happy hast not thou sufficient cause to rejoyce Now thou art sorrowfull and despairest and sufferest molestations which thou canst not repell or drive away from thee repeating these words to thy selfe Alas when will that day appeare wherein I shall have cause of rejoycing and rendring thanks to God Know this that the meditation of spirituall benefits were there no other occasion moving thee to rejoyce should bee a most weighty motive inducing thee thereunto and even without intermission to praise God amidst the most grievous calamities How would that wretched Captive rejoyce being set at liberty from the darke and noysome dungeon with what exultation did that lame man restored to his feet by Peter praise God Act. 3.8 The guilty person being certified of his Princes pardon even at the very nick hee is to suffer for joy is as it were wrapt out of himself Judge thou whether all the miseries of this world may bee compared to that out of which God hath rid thee Canst thou be so sencelesse and dull as not to rejoyce from the bottome of thy heart in that he hath delivered thee from those infinite calamities those everlasting burnings and darknesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Thou art really possessed thou hast a most just cause to be sorrowfull and conclude thy condition to bee miserable and unhappy Then verily thou shouldst have cause to complaine of thy miseries if God had left thee in the state of corruption and misery Alas how many miserable Infants are there and will bee in hell who have knowne neither good nor evill And how many are damned who though they lived in this world without the feare of God yet committed not such grievous sinnes as thou didst and thought they worshipped God aright But since they lived without faith neither made Gods will revealed in his word a rule to square their actions by were sons of perdition And could not God leave thee in the very same misery hee left them in by his just judgement Consider then how much happier thou art then so many Miriads of men who are eternally damned Consider further how farre happier thou art than innumerable wicked men who whilest they lived in this world were seemingly blessed in regard of honours riches pleasures powers estimation and authority How infinitly and without comparison is thy condition happier than their state in that they persisting in their sinnes are reserved to horrible punishments and unutterable torments God forbid then thou shouldst envy their varnishing happinesse and deceitfull prosperity and that thou wilt not consider how much happier thou art than those as being not liable to the same condemnation And if thou canst not find in thy heart to be joyfull in that hee hath not left thee in that miserable plight Behold thou hast a more weighty motive thereunto in that hee hath translated thee into a most happy condition vouchsafing to receive thee into the number of his children for he is not onely satisfied to deliver thee from so many evils but he sends thee as many benefits That speech of Christ unto his Disciples concerns thee Rejoyce that your names are written in heaven Luk. 10.20 Thou wouldst really rejoyce if thou wert now in the state of innocency wherein Adam was in that earthly paradise but assure thy selfe there is greater than paradise here For thou receivest more blessings and honours in Christ than thou hast lost in Adam Then man was Gods creature now thou art his sonne in Christ The first man was formed out of earthly matter thou art borne of heavenly and incorruptible seed Gods word In thy former state thou couldst sin as that dolefull experience witnesseth In this thou canst not sinne In that thou wert subject to die whereas the life prepared for thee in Christ hath neither end nor consummation Lastly doth not the consideration of thy future condition move thee to rejoyce The time will shortly appeare wherein all thy adversities and miseries shall be brought to a period and thou shalt possesse all those things which God hath prepared
AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST SORROVV IN Order to the obtaining of sanctified joy An excellent treatise first written in French by N. Vedelius then translated into Latine by Gallus Pareus and now into English By Cadwallader Winne M. A. London Printed for George Lathum and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Bishops head in Pauls Church-yard 1650. The Authors Preface TO The most Noble and Renowned Iames Micheley Nicholas Vedelius wisheth Grace Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ Most Noble Sir THere is no mortal man but is subject to sorrow which so disordereth the sweetnesse of his life if it hath any that it turnes it altogether into bitternesse and wearisomnesse It spares none neither Kings nor Princes nor such as are placed in higher and more eminent auhority yea the higher in dignity they bee the more violently it sets upon them like waves which dash against the highest rocks in the sea with most vehement motion The weapons which this most prevalent mischiefe useth against us are as manifold as the afflictions themselves whereunto we are exposed in this life wherein are all manner of molestations and miseries some more grievous than others not unlike to greater and lesser living Creatures that are found in the vast Ocean and to divers and innumerable creeping things on the earth for one while one sorroweth as feeling some spirituall evill and assaulted by some grievous and stinging temptation which gives him most vehement blowes and shakes him insomuch as it hurles him well-nigh into hell that is desperation otherwhile some temporall miseries assault him in regard whereof hee is of a heavy drooping countenance his sounder senses disordred and his whole person depressed and cast downe And what Christian is there whom the miserable and calamitous face of the Church afflicts not what house holder is there that is not afflicted with the afflictions accompanying marriage Look how holier the state is and the more excellent be the blessings therof the more grievous afflictions it sustaines It happens that desparity in nature betwixt man and wife afflicts the mind as when an Abigail is married to Baball or a Moses is conjoyned with Zephorah that is so contrary to him A barren bed afflicts others untoward disposition of children torment others which at last brings them to a tragicall end others lament the untimely death of their children who for the present were their joy and comfort and hopefull for the time to come and their cutting off by some strange and extraordinary mischace heightens their griefe Hither may be referred the death of one of the married persons and decease of our beneficiall kinsfolke and allies Neither is the state of single life free divers nay innumerable molestations attend it to wit perfidiousnesse crafty wiles of enemies dishonesty ignominy contempt poverty losse of goods imprisonment banishment imperfections both in body and soule diseases and at last after the chaine of so many evils death it selfe which either feare preconceived or present invasion presents to his view Moreover neither doth that which is really calamitous only breed in us sorrow but even joy it selfe carries with it this inseparable companion as the body the shadow either in respect those things which thou wishest fall not out so as thou desirest they should or because all manner of joy is as it were a certaine forerunner of sorrow wherein it ends To say nothing here that in that very time that prosperity on the one side cheers up thy spirit some sinister thing on the other side is annexed moving thee to be sorrowfull and as there is none that is not subject to this passion so none can be found that is so bluntish that wisheth not to bee discharged therefrom To which end divers use divers meanes for there be some that use meanes altogether unlawfull to be rid thereof but are successelesse and more than that are oftentimes worser than the disease as Ahab did following his wife Iezabells counsell whom when she saw so heavy that he would eat no bread shee came unto him and said unto him why is thy spirit so sad that thou eatest no bread let thy heart be merry and I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth 1 K. 21.5.7 for which purpose she subornes false witnesse against the innocent and with the wine and blood of Naboth makes the King merry and joyfull others think to withstand this evil by other means which are indeed in themselves indifferent the use whereof is not able to drive it away and the abuse ignominious and opprobrious unto him that applieth them to wit when strong drink is given to him who is ready to perish and wine to those that be of heavy hearts that hee may drink and forget his poverty and remember his miserie no more Pro. 3.6,7 There are great many drinkers an unhappy crue who would suffocate and drown their sorrowes in wine which will at last bite like a serpent and sting like an adder and cause thee to crie out woe is me woe is mee Prov. 23.29,32 Meat and musick are of like nature being abused and turned into carnall pleasure whereby many doe endeavour to put farre from them the day of calamity as the Holy Ghost speaks Am. 4.5,6,7 Hither may be referred those speeches and discourses which are framed by humane reason to expell it and to minister comfort to the afflicted but they cannot doe him any good for they leave him at last in perplexity of mind discourses I say which are not onely able to drive away this evill but are sometimes frivolous idle foolish yea evill and pernicious Such consolation did Absalon suggest sometimes to his sister Thamar who fell into desperation by reason of the violent incest wherewith Amon deflowred her Hath Amon thy brother said hee been with thee but hold now thy peace my sister hee is thy brother regard not this thing 2 Sam. 13.19 A fair spoken speech if credible and good comfort forsooth which was that she should patiently beare with that ignominious and execrable infamy for that she was deflowred not by any other but by her owne brother But his words wrought nothing upon miserable Thamar for the Holy Ghost saith that she remained desolate in her brother Absalons house Further those books which are forced I know not with what fables trifles toies or other narratives whether true or feigned are of the same bran wherewith sorrowfull men use to drive away the time and melancholy Hither may be referred the exercises of the body as hunting and the like lawful recreations whereby the sorrowfull man strives to rid his mind of cares wherein there is not only that defect found comon with other insufficient meanes in that when these recreations are finished heavinesse waxeth fresh againe but there is also this discommodity therein that they are not answerable to the nature of his disease as being ill applied these excercises working directly upon the body but upon the mind indirectly and accidentally onely
his promise It robs God of his fatherly care he hath of us infringing that hope which should be reposed in him Hence the Apostle joynes it with diffidence saying That yee sorrow not as others which have no hope 1 Thes 4,13 It makes him ungratefull blotting out his remembrance so many corporal and spirituall blessings whereof hee hath had experience by Gods goodnesse which if hee would thinke upon he would not suffer himselfe to bee carried headlong thereby And because his mind is fixed upon evill his affliction also being either real or imaginary he makes little or no reckoning of Gods benefits but buries them in oblivion not without an execrable brand of ingratitude It makes him not to imploy all the faculties both of his body and soule in Gods service with such a measure of zeale as is meete Serve the Lord saith the Prophet David with gladnesse and come before his presence with a song Psal 100.2 Thou shalt rejoyce in thy feast c. Seven dayes shalt thou keep a solemne feast unto thy Lord thy God and therefore shalt thou surely rejoyce Deut. 16.14,15 This alacrity in serving God cannot even in the least degree be performed by him nay hee is as remisse in all the actions of his life as he is negligent in Gods service And thus thou seest how hainously he offends God In relation to his neighbour hee is suspicious unaffable unmannerly testy contentious whereby hee renders himselfe vitiously deformed hatefull and odious In relation to himselfe it makes him to incurre no lesse reproach and ignominy than filthinesse for generally it argues the weaknesse of his understanding joyned with foolishnesse yea beastlinesse and declares him to be besides himselfe whereby it happens that hee judgeth foolishly of the cause of his sorrow and embraceth falsehood instead of truth Hence the Apostle joynes it with false opinion saying No sorrow for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous Heb. 12.11 where wrong judgement is taxed which accompanieth it particularly it makes him ignorant of his owne condition and to take at least for a time no consideration of himselfe for being call'd hereunto to wit to be a joyfull heire of the Kingdome of Heaven by the right of Adoption coheire with Jesus Christ and Lord of all the Creatures he ought not to make his firme aboad in this world neither to place his happinesse therein but as a sojourner to travell to his heavenly Countrey Wherefore he should alwayes go forward not stand still much lesse retreat backe but despising the world and all the concupiscences thereof couragiously to remove all obstacles hindring him thither and to place his happinesse in God of whose love whosoever is once perswaded doubts not but hee will lead him by his fatherly providence in this desart and pilgrimage Wherefore he should carry with him a high generous and undaunted spirit which is altogether becomming the sonnes of the King of Kings This he should have continually before his eyes and diligently and seriously consider thereupon how wisely then would hee order his life and conversation with what happinesse would hee live in this world But sorrow as a deadly phrensy buries all these things in oblivion so that it makes one forget his originall and estate his owne name nay himselfe It makes him wholy bent upon this world miserably torturing himselfe for the losse which hee either sustaines or feares to be of honours riches pleasures or the like as may be seene in that young man who when he had heard he should sustaine the losse of his riches went away sorrowfull leaving Jesus Mat. 9.22 which discovered him to be desperately enamoured of this world and to seek his abode and solace therein whereas hee should seek for tranquillity in Heaven and felicitie in God It comes to passe that he is pensive upon any occasion disordering afflicting macerating and suffering himselfe to be easily missed out of the way to his heavenly countrey In a word he is like a foolish traveller who being given over to commit innumerable fooleries can never attain to his journeyes end And there is another sort of foolishnesse discernable in him for after he hath once wandred out of the King of heavens high-way hee so misgoverns himselfe as that without any circumspection he takes hold of every thing which even at the first blush offers it selfe to his view He is not contented to bee exercised with more waighty occasions and afflictions but as if his life were not miserable enough of it selfe he fabricates to himselfe daily new miseries so that he will be sorrowfull upon any ridiculous vile and slight matter whereof if hee bee questioned by a certain Jonadab a faithfull friend Thou being the Kings sonne why art thou leane from day to day 2 Sam. 13.4 Certainly he will not be lesse ashamed to confesse the cause of his sorrow than Amon was of the intended detestable incest Hee is vexed at one small word though well spoken yet taken by him in ill part or if one speak amisse hee will interpret it to be worser He will be so farre moved by an oblique aspect by a vaine and counterfeit Messenger by a slight fault of his Maid-servant and man-servant as to forget all the benefits he possesseth in heaven and earth which is a thing unbefitting him who is the sonne of the King of Kings and heire of the Kingdome of heaven Besides sorrow discovers in him another kind of foolishnesse in that hee reduceth thereby the soule in subjection to the body which should governe the body and it onely be ruled by a diviner spirit And wereas hee should rather oftentimes suffer set light by and in some measure concoct it he out of a kind of brutish selfe-love had rather be miserable than happy of a crazed than found mind Moreover it shewes him to be abject and destitute of a generous and heroicall spirit which resides in the hearts of the children of God neither endeavours he with such a courage as is fit to remove the obstacles which in this life hinder him from the attainment of the kingdome of heaven but stoopeth to the difficulties that withstand him he is of a vile abject spirit and as much as in him lyeth renounceth his owne right thereunto Further the deformity thereof shewes it selfe by externall symptomes It makes him to be of a heavy countenance poring upon the earth oftentimes to weep not unlike a silly foole or soft woman otherwhile his speech failes him or his tongue faultereth yea by his silence he speaks his infamy He abandons the societie of men hiding himselfe in corners even as the malefactor to escape the sight of the magistrate It impaires his good name or reputation and especially when the cause inducing him thereunto is unknowne or of no reckoning thereupon he renders himselfe suspicious that hee hath committed or is about to perpetrate some heynous sinne but this suspicion is oftentimes false as may appeare by Ely the Priest who thought Anna
body shall be re-united to the soule and the whole man tormented with the devill with horrible unspeakable and eternall torments The state of that man for misery surpasseth infinitly the condition of dogs swine and serpents for these beasts are reduced to nothing affoon as they expire Whereas when he is dead his torments begin to act their parts so that what hee suffered or could endure in this world is onely a forerunner or tast of those torments he must undergo after this life Behold thy first genuine naturall state wherein God verily might have left thee and then thou shouldest most miserably and eternally perish but hee would not deale so severely but according to the multitude of his mercies had compassion upon thee translating thee into a farre happier condition wherein now thou art Consider with me what will afford thee joy and comfort how happy is thy condition that whereas God passed by many myriads of men who miserably perish for ever hee hath chosen thee out of his free grace and mercy in Christ Jesus for which purpose it was his pleasure that God should be made man that the word should bee clothed with an infants nature and that that heavenly bread as one of the fathers stiles him should bee made grasse for all flesh is grasse Hee would have him first to be conceived and inclosed within the wombe of a woman ere his vertue and power should be dispersed throughout the whole universe by the preaching of the Gospell like Gideons fleece which was first bedewed ere the dew came downe to the plaines And that through his holinesse and innocency hee might cover before Gods face our impurity and uncleannesse hee would bee borne of a virgin and that great with child not by man but by the Holy Ghost for the Arke was overlayed with pure gold within and without Exod. 25.11 And the high priest was not to defile himselfe for his father or for his mother Levit. 21.11 Further it behoved him not onely to be borne but live and die for thee that thou mightedst obtaine everlasting life remission of sinnes and righteousnesse And that this might not be fruitlesse unto thee hee is risen from the dead ascended into the heavens and sitteth on the right of God his heavenly father And that this also might tend to thy good and salvation he hath called thee unto his Church made thee a denison of that citie that is set upon the hill and saith unto thee as he did once unto Soul arise and go to the city and it shall be told thee what thou must doe Act. 9.6 He found thee in a desart land and in the waste howling wildernesse he made thee ride on the high places of the earth Deut. 30.10.13 and placed thee in the land of uprighteousnesse Esay 26.10 hee hath given for food and sustenance his word that angelicall bread when others are fed but with the chasse and straw of that darkesome Aegypt whereunto they are most miserably enslaved and that thou mightest assuredly bee perswaded that what Christ did and suffered concerned thee hee ordained sacraments as certaine assurances or pledges of his grace Further he hath communicated with thee his spirit which sanctifieth thy heart with faith openeth the eyes of thy understanding wherby thou mayest not onely with Adam behold thy nakednesse but contemplate his grace changeth thy will purifieth thy affections so that not without a miracle thou art renewed into his image much like that King of Israel who was changed into another man restrains thee from committing such sins as the unregenerate perpretate consequently preserveth thee from horrible judgements and punishments due unto the same There redounds unto thee being in the state of grace honour felicity and profit for what great honour is it to thee to have God for thyfather what advancement is it for thee to be partaker of the divine nature in Christ and therein superiour to the Angels themselves Hee took not upon him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.13 And that heavenly Joseph had in such esteeme the worme-eaten sack of our flesh that he vouchsafed to put into it the inestimable treasure of our salvation On the other side Angels are but ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1.14 and consequently for thee in particular Moreover what honour is it to be a Prophet Priest and Prince over all the creatures which soveraignty thou hast purchased by Christ so that all things are thine 1 Cor. 3.22 and appertaine unto thee which in due time thou shalt enjoy after thou hast fought in this world the good fight a plenary possession of The commodities accrewing unto thee in the state of grace are innumerable for thereby thou art shot free from the thunderbolt of the Law there being no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 And howsoever there be some remainder of infirmities in thee which the flesh sinfully puts in practife yet they are covered with the robe of thy eldest brother the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ yea thine owne sins conduce to thy salvation thine own experience and the sense of the deformity thereof provoking thee to hate them working in thee sincere humility and inducing thee to behave thy selfe for the future more wisely and warily Being in the state of grace thou hast freer accesse unto the throne of grace in all thy necessities so as thou mayest plentifully pour teares into his bosome hee perswades thee with precepts and allures thee with promises His providence leads and preserves thee as a cloud by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night Esay 4.5 He provides thee all necessaries that relate to this life and that which is to come his Angels are a brazen wall to defend thee Adde hereunto that the afflictions themselves are not signes of his wrath but pledges of his grace and markes of his fatherly care to thy triall and spirituall exercise yielding the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse Heb. 12.38 Hee is present with thee in all temptations and conflicts strengthning thee by the power of his spirit by whom hee ascertaines thee of thy eternall salvation perswading thee that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers not things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the love of God in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.37,38 Whereupon he plants in thy heart such a firme hope of eternall happinesse as if thou hadst already a plenary possession thereof for hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given us Rom. 5.5 These spirituall benefits are of that nature that they will never diminish nor faile Nay look how much the faithfull man affects them so much the more they increase like to the nurses milke which the more it is suck'd the more it abounds And
for thee and enter into that joy which cannot be taken from thee The consideration I say of thy present past and future condition should induce thee to bee contented with that state and station which God hath allotted thee Let others rejoyce that they are rid and recovered from some dangerous disease poverty or some other adversity wherewith thou art now possessed Thou hast through Gods grace escaped thousand dangers and miseries which without comparison surpasse all the calamities of this world Let others boast in the multitude of their riches others wax proud of their gay apparell and dignities what are all these things compared with the Majesty of the child of God and coheire with Jesus Christ Let others feed themselves with vaine hopes that of glory and future happinesse will never give thee the lurch wherefore take heed of murmuring against God beware thou sayest at any time that hee deales severely with thee Doth he deale severely with thee who hath conferred upon thee such honours who heapeth upon thee so many benefits doth hee deale roughly with thee who reserves for thee for the time to come such ample felicitie Let that speech therefore of our Saviour to Saint Paul sound continually in thy eares or rather in thy heart my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 and in all adversities which daily happen in this world seeke ease refreshment and comfort by contemplating Gods grace for a Kings favour I say the King of Kings favour is as dew upon the ground Prov. 19.12 CHAP. IV. The fourth ground or reason consists in the corporall benefits conferred by God THe ineffable dignity of spirituall grace as hath been said should bee just cause to remove from thee sorrow wherewith thou art possessed But wee have not as yet mentioned all Gods benefits bestowed upon thee his grace and goodnesse resting not in the above-mentioned benefits but tending and extending themselves further for with his right hand of spirituall benefits he imbraceth thee his left of temporall being under thy head so that thou hast experience of what the spouse of Christ wisheth to her selfe saying His left hand should bee under my head and his right hand should embrace mee Cant. 8.3 Neither is hee satisfied to quicken thee with spirituall life and provide thee food and rayment as also communicate with thee unspeakable benefits and honours but hee goeth further he deales with thee as a loving earthly father doth with his children in their minority suffering them to play and use all manner of ratles that they may with more pleasure passe away their infancy Thy heavenly father deales no otherwise with thee for he bestows upon thee so many temporall benefits the sweetnesse whereof should exhilarate thee and overcome that bitternesse of spirit which now pines thee away The benefits that thou enjoyest are of two sorts some particular strictly so called which howsoever many doe enjoy yet they are not conferred upon each singular person and some common which concern all that can read this little book so that none hath cause to complain or cast an envious eye upon his brother Hath God I beseech thee more especially honored thee than an infinite multitude of men Art thou perchance through his grace sprouted out of a royall illustrious famous noble stock or at least of an honest family or neerly allied thereunto As for thy calling and state God perchance hath singled thee out to be a leader and King over his people and subjected to thy empire and power nations and chosen thee to bee his vicegerent and assistant here on earth or art in the number of the Gods that is to say a magistrate to distribute judgement and justice to those that are committed to thy charge to protect the innocent defend the widow orphan and stranger to condemne the guilty and punish the evill doer In briefe or perchance hee hath given thee that honour whereby many are become subject unto thee But if thy function bee not politicall God perchance hath constituted thee to be Christs steward in his house the Church to distribute to his family heavenly food to preach his word to be an overseer of his flock a very eminent honour and good work as the Apostle speaks or art perhaps of some other honest calling as employed in merchandise factorship or some other lawfull occupation or art of good odour through Gods favour not onely amongst thy owne Countrey-men but amongst forreiners in respect of magnanimity strength vertue wisdome or learning for a good report maketh the bones fat Prov. 15.30 Because he that is in good esteeme reapeth pleasure and profit And therefore a good name is father to bee chosen than great riches Prov. 21.1 Or hath hee over above these things bestow'd upon thee the goods of this world commonly so called to wit riches commodities lands possessions vineyards fields houses or the like blessings which continually hee poures upon thee And if thy yearly revenues be not answerable to thy will God like that good Caleb deales with thee for after he hath given thee barren land hee gives thee the upper and nether springs Judg. 1.15 hee blesseth thy labours and employments for thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be Psal 128.2 And hee filleth thee with the finest wheat Psal 147.14 Hee gives thee not onely so much as sufficed the Apostle to wit food and rayment which will nourish thee and thy family but hee bestowes upon thee more than thy necessities require yea oftentimes in abundance so that he deales graciously with thee so as thou mayest not onely live without penury and want but succour thy poore brethren with almes proportionable to thy power aswell to the advancement of Gods glory as to the good of thy countrey Hee communicates with thee riches and meanes whereby thou mayest not onely bring up thy children in good and honest discipline and sciences but especially in the feare of God advancing them to bee thy equalls in dignity or to a higher pitch of honour leaving them after thy decease in such sort as they bee not constrained to depend upon other mens mercies or compelled by poverty to want education and so become miserable men Or hath hee blessed thee in a happy matrimony by joyning thee to a meet helpe I mean thy bedfellow no lesse fruitfull than honourable inriched with divers endowments of the body but especially those of the soule vertue wisdome stayednesse and modesty Or hath hee made thee a father or mother to a family so that thy wife is as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy table Psal 128.3 Or are they strong in body and sound in understanding increasing in stature dayly before thy eyes but especially in the feare of God as tender plants of Gods garden And doe they profit by thy instructions chastisements and corrections yeelding thee comfortable hope for the future Or are they
that side He especially sends upon him such chastisements as are correspondent to his faults and crimes that so he may earnestly be moved returne to himselfe and amend his life for if he hath been unmercifull and hard hearted to his neighbour God so disposeth it that hee shall also feele iron hearts which will not be moved with compassion towards him who so stoppeth his eare at the cry of the poore he shall cry himselfe and shall not be heard Prov. 21.13 and God saith by the Prophet Jeremy yee have not hearkened unto me in proclaming liberty every one to his neighbour behold I proclame a liberty for you to the sword to the pestilence to the famine Jer. 34.17 or if hee hath committed adultery murder he is oftentimes punished after the same manner either in his owne person or in such as belong unto him witnesse herein King David if for the feare of men hee is ashamed of Christ Jesus and forsaketh the profession of the Gospell to addict himselfe to Idolatry God will send his punishment upon him in this world for ye shall be ashamed of the oakes which yee have desired and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen for ye shall be as an oake whose leafe fadeth and as a garden that hath no water Esay 9.29,30 Briefely if hee hath walked perversely with God and as the Scripture speaks followed his owne wayes God knowes how to recompence him in like manner If yee walke contrary unto me saith God then I will walke contrary unto you also in fury and I even I will chastise you seven times for your sinnes Levit 29.30 and againe they have chosen their owne wayes and their soule delighted in their abominations I will also chuse their delusions and bring their feares upon them Esay 66.34 not that God hath pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and live Ezech. 33.11 for wee are chastened of the Lord that wee should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.32 When God therefore chastiseth his elect they reap profit thereby for they returne unto themselves bethinke what they have hitherto done heartily detesting their evill deeds no otherwise than Joseph's brethren whom when they could not perswade being as yet unknowne unto them with intreaties wee are verily guilty say they concerning our brother in that wee saw the anguish of his soule when hee besought us and we would not heare therefore is this distresse come upon us Gen. 42.21 They sue unto God for the pardon of thâ—… sinnes they flie unto his mercy renounce sinne for the future keep themselves warily from falling againe into the like sins they shake off spirituall drowsinesse bid adien to pride renounce the love of this world and daily strive more and more to devest themselves of that coat of skinne I meane sinne which Adam left them as a legacy In the time of adversity the lampe of faith is kindled and shines with brighter rayes and shooteth them further as also trust in God which raiseth the dead 2 Cor. 1.9 Then doth patience and hope increase because tribulation worketh patience and patience experience experience hope that maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.3,4 thence proceed fervent prayers serious loathing of this world and longing for eternall life so that the faithfull crieth out with David my soule crieth out for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God Psah 42.3 Hence also it followeth that the afflictions of this nature are so necessary that none can bee saved without them God's children being like good corne which is not put in the garner ere it be threshed Man's heart is naturally so stony that it cannot be fitted to make up the eternall temple of our heavenly Solomon unlesse it bee hewed and polished with the stroakes of afflictions which I confesse are irkesome to flesh and bloud yet exceeding necessary thereunto no otherwise than the Sunne and fire which is very necessary for us though sometimes intollerable wee conclude therefore as to what especially concerns chastisements and say that they containe in them inestimable good things fince they are singular and very necessary meanes to the attainment of eternall happinesse If the ends of chastisements be so glorious and happy much more the end of trials which are incident onely to such as are converted unto God by chastisements preaching of the word and the efficacy of the Holy Ghost doe live diligently in the feare of God and are heedfull as farre forth as the impersection of grace in this life gives them scope not to offend him They are called trials not that God by them would be certified of the faith and sincerity of his children which hee most perfectly knowes neither chiefely thereby because hee would make knowne unto them their owne weaknesse or infirmities which they themselves know to bee in the highest degree but they are so called because such a thing happens therein as falls out when one trieth or maketh proofe of the ability or strength of another for hee not onely that makes proofe but he that is tried and set upon laboureth with might and maine that hee bee not foiled or vanquished The case is no otherwise in these trials which God layeth upon his children which live in his feare and conforme themselves to his holy will for God on his part makes a vehement assault upon them by some notable calamity but they on the other side by the efficacy of the Holy Ghost dwelling in them resist valiantly through faith patience perseverance till they obtaine the victory so that they will not yeeld unto temptation nor commit any sinne or wickednesse wherein Satan the world and the flesh shall strive to entangle them by meanes of that affliction and that for the most part under this pretence that there is no way for them to escape and to be rid thereof but by committing this or that heinous sinne In adversity all the Christian vertues doe most wonderfully increase and without comparison more clearly appeare than in the time of prosperity not unlike the starres which are not visible at noon day yet appeare in the night time with wonderfull rayes or Gideons fire-brands which were in his souldiers pitchers not appearing or giving any light til their pitchers were broken Then other faithfull men are edified and God glorified insomuch that afflictions resemble that precious ointment powred upon Christs head which filled the house with its odour but all this comes wholly from Gods grace whose strength is perfected in weaknesse so that the faithfull may say with Paul when I am weak then am I strong 2 Cor. 12.10 salvation and everlasting glory of necessity followeth this conflict and victory for the triall of your faith saith Saint Peter being much more precious than gold that perisheth though it be tried by fire might be found unto praise glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.7 as wee find a notable example
Orthodox Religion rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Mat. 5.12 but rejoyce inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed yee may be glad also with exceeding joy if ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are yee for the spirit of glory and God resteth upon you on their part he is evill spoken of but on your part he is glorified 1 Pet. 4.13,14 shew thy selfe to be a Disciple of the Apostles who being for the confession of Jesus Christ beaten with rods went away rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name Act. 5.13,14 and by Saint Pauls testimony did glory in tribulations Rom. 5.3 Imitate the Saints among the Hebrewes who did take joyfully the spoiling of their goods knowing in themselves they had in heaven a better and more enduring substance Heb. 10.34 Neither doth it only become thee in afflictions to be joyfull but thankfull unto God who by this means offers thee many good things and acts the part of a Physician or Benefactor Say therefore with Job who had exactly learned this lesson and wherfore he gave God thanks in the midst of his afflictions when thou art deprived of some earthly commodity The Lord gave the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1.21 To the end thou mayest be joyfull and thankfull unto thy heavenly father consider forthwith those most excellent and unspeakable good things that are in afflictions and thereby redound unto thee view their consummation and glorious end and say to thy selfe O what gracious benefits through afflictions I have obtained which God sends upon mee by means whereof ones outward man perisheth yet the inward is renew'd day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 Say therefore for example God deprives me of my child thereby to make me tread more constantly the path of Gods children hee hath taken away my father or mother that instead of him he may be my father for ever and be more carefull of mee than awoman can be of the fruit of her wombe hee is willing I should have experience of the perfidiousnesse of my friends that I may enjoy his eternall love It is his pleasure I should be deprived of authorities dignities and honors that I may obtaine the honour to Lord it over all the creatures I am driven to poverty that I may possesse that heavenly inheritance I am detained in prison that I may obtaine that freedome that the son of God hath purchased for me I am banished that I come to my heavenly countrey I am deformed and maimed in body that I may grow to a perfect man according to the stature of Christ and that this corruptible body may be cloathed with incorruption I die now to live eternally And what are all the afflictions that thou sufferest or couldst endure if either thou considerest their quality or duration compared with those inestimable good things which they carry with them Consider and meditate diligently thou devout soule upon these things being in affliction which now affects thee with sorrow in so doing thy water shall be turned into nuptiall wine thy sorrow into mirth and joy so thou shalt taste how sweet the Lord is though hee seemes to thee at the first blush or appearance rigid yet thou shalt discerne the rod of our heavenly Jonathan who wrought so great salvation in Israel to bee dipped at the end therof in an hony combe which will enlighten our eyes refresh our hearts teach our hands to warre and make us more than Conquerours so that thou shalt find that Saint Paul said not without cause Rejoyce evermore 1 Thess 5.16 forasmuch as not only the time of prosperity but of adversity yieldeth matter of rejoycing CHAP. VII The seventh and last ground or reason is drawne from the condition of the faithfull man in this world which consisteth herein that hee is a traveller journeying into his countrey IT is manifest by the third reason above-mentioned that even as sinne expelled thee out of Paradise and banished thee from heaven thy countrey and first place of abode so thou art solely by Gods grace called back from banishment and invited to returne to thy Countrey Hence it followeth that during this life thou art in a continuall pilgrimage whose limit or end is heaven and eternall happinesse This world then is not thy dwelling place and countrey but a place of pilgrimage and banishment so that thou mayest say with David I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were Psal 39.12 And againe I am a stranger in the earth Psal 119.19 why art thou then so sorely troubled and of a dejected mind whensoever thou art smitten with adversity it grieves thee that all things fall not out according to thy mind but art thou ignorant thou art a travelling so that it cannot be that all things should happen as thy heart could wish for either thou must endure the discommodities of the way or not enter into it and consequently never come to thy countrey One of these conditions thou must chuse there is not a third I say againe thou must endure them or obstain wholly from travelling If thou beest a traveller as verily thou art be of a couragious spirit in afflictions for that which thou now endurest shall not be perpetuall nor shall last longer than thy journey What traveller is there which will not endure the discommodities of his way and asswage them with these or the like meditations that upon the accomplishment of his journey they shall cease and hee be freed of them as soone as hee comes home Consider further that howsoever thy journey be grievous it is but short If the dayes of thy pilgrimage will be as many as the dayes of Iacob's the Patriarch to wit a 130 years yet neverthelesse thou mayest say with him The dayes of the years of my pilgrimage are few and evill and have not attained unto the dayes of the yeares of the life of my fathers in the dayes of their pilgrimage Gen. 47.9 And when thou hast finished thy course which will shortly come to passe all afflictions and the matter of all sorrow shall cease thou hunger no more neither shall the Sun light on thee nor any heat for the Lambe which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed thee and shall lead thee unto living founâ—aines of waters and God shall wipe away all teares from thine eyes Rom. 7.16,17 Since thou â—rt a traveller in this world and â—hat thy countrey is not here beâ—ow there is no place therefore in â—his world whence if thou beest â—riven thou mayest say thou art in â—anishment Neither doe thy riâ—hes by the same reason consist in â—ome earthly glebe in houses fields â—r some other possession how small or ample soever it be yea if a Kingdome or Kingdomes happen unto thee Neither doth thy honour likewise consist in the dignities and preferments of this world
world Joh. 5.4 But what is it to overcome it It is not for one to make himselfe a slave thereunto neither to stoop to adversities on the one side nor to place his felicity therein on the other Hee that doth this may assuredly perswade himselfe to be borne of God and to enjoy Gods benevolence and grace whereby the world is vanquished Contrarily one by being sorrowfull plainly testifieth that he is desperately in love with this world Moreover it openeth a gap to the devill to assault him with divers temptations and bring him into thousand evills and hainous sinnes The murtherer Cain may serve for an example whose anger was not onely kindled but his countenance fell assoone as God disrespected his sacrifice which moved him to kill his brother It induces him to become an Apostate or revolter from the true Religion subscribing and consenting to the lies of Satan when calamity is set before his view as Poverty banishment imprisonment and death which hee is bound to suffer for the confession of truth It makes him dispaire and to lay violent hands upon himselfe and ministreth an opportunity to the devill to set aside his proper shape and appear unto such as give themselves thereunto visibly as it hapned to the Egyptians in times past which were as the wise man witnesseth scattered under a darke vaile of forgetfulnesse being horribly astonished and troubled with strange apparitions Wisd 7.3 It gives way to the envious man the devill to perswade him to make a covenant with him and renounce his baptisme as witches are wont to doe which being done hee possesseth vexeth and tormenteth him after a wonderfull manner Behold the mischiefes thereof behold the off-spring the sorrowfull man breedeth in his bosome who seeth not that the grievousest plague is that of the heart Eecl 25.13 And it cannot be but it should produce the greatest miâ—fortune and misery it being the grievousest punishment and curse which God threatneth to the transgressors of his Law The Lord shall give thee a trembling heart and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind Deut. 28.65 I will distresse Jerusalem and there shall be heavinesse and sorrow it shall be unto me as Ariel Esay 29.2 Thus saith the Lord of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel they shall eat their bread with carefulnesse Ez. 12.19 Remove farre from thee this most dangerous disease and embrace Godly mirth which as hath been said doth not onely become Gods children but affords excellent commodities It represents to the joyfull mans view the happy successe of future things causing him to beare all things patiently and to follow his businesses or employments or forgoe them having regard to time and other circumstances And howsoever all things fall not out according to his mind yet he is contented with his condition Hee handles worldly things as they are in their owne nature fading and indifferent and being not clogg'd by them he goes on lustily in the way of life till hee hath prosperously finished his journey Hee leads his life as quietly as hee can in this world neither aggravates it with new miseries being burthensome enough of it selfe His understanding is sound and perfect in that hee judgeth not according to his affection but as reason directeth him his body is recreated and refreshed thereby Hee knowes experimentally what Solomon speakes of a merry heart doth good like a medicine Prov. 17.22 A merry heart hath a continuall feast Prov. 15.15 and againe The gladnesse of the heart is the life of man and the joyfulnesse of a man prolongeth his dayes Eccl. 30.22 Moreover one endued with this sanctified joy is most assured of Gods love and throughly furnished against Satan so as he cannot exercise his power and force upon him In briefe the blessing of the heavenly father resteth upon him and in that hee rejoyceth it is the worke of grace and because he rejoyceth in God it is an infallible signe that God hath pleasure in him Wherefore be not sorry for the joy of the Lord is our strength Neh. 8.11 and say I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyfull in my God Esay 61.10 CHAP. III. The third ground or reason why the faithfull man should abandon it and be joyfull is drawn from Gods spirituall grace in Iesus Christ THere is nothing which should beget a greater measure of joy in the faithfull man than the contemplation and enjoyment of spirituall benefits which God hath conferred upon him for thereby he is freed from the grievousnesse of his misery and translated into a most happy condition which thou faithfull soule being in misery and sorrow which now boils within thee and is fixed in thy breast shouldst especially take into consideration That thou maist cleerly perceive as thou oughtest Gods grace and judge more rightly of the excellency of his benefits Consider with me I beseech thee these three things to wit thy state past present and to come What is man in respect of his past estate but naturally the child of wrath and eternall condemnation for whereas he was originally created after the image of God now hee is deprived thereof by his incredulity and rebellion which is the cause that by the most just sentence of God hee is adjudged to death that is to all manner of miseries spirituall and corporall temporall and eternall wherein hee involved all his posterity Hence it is that man is conceived and borne in sin and so being deprived of righteousnesse he inclines to all vice his understanding darkned his will maliciously bent all his affections depraved and out of order Out of this corrupt fountaine it cannot be but an infectious and corrupt streame should flow to wit perverse abominable thoughts words answerable to the abundance depravation of his heart actions altogether unsavory to Gods will Briefely he is dead in sinnes and so cursed in the sight of God unto whom that speech of Martha may be applied Lord by this time he stinketh for he hath beene dead foure dayes Jo. 11.39 for whereas once hee was the temple of God how he is become a noisome den and sinke whereinto that infernall soule disburthens his filth Nay hee rebells against God and enters into acts of hostility the wrath of God is thereupon revealed from heaven against all his unrighteousnesse and ungodlinesse Rom. 1.17 Being left then to himselfe by Gods judgement he followes his own wayes he is given to a reprobate sense whereupon he feeles divers curses inflicted by God who either punisheth him in his goods in his body in his honours or in such as are deere unto him one while hee armes the heaven to be his enemy otherwhile the Elements otherwhile beasts otherwhile he makes men to fall out amongst themselves At length he cuts him off from the land of the living whom vengeance dogges no lesse than before for his soule no sooner forsakes the body but it endureth infernall paines untill the resurrection at what time the