being obtained And be he never so rich he is not high minded neither does he trust in uncertaine riches but in the living God For in his prosperity he forgetteth not his former low estate but is ever meditating upon and admiring the Lords goodnesse towards him Yea he sets a Memorandum upon every remarkable mercy that he may not forget it and admires that God should set his delight and love upon him and chose him above many others and this makes him strive to surpasse others in his love and service to God againe Whereas unbeleevers when they are waxed fat with the good blessings of God they will spurne with the heel and forsake God that made them not once regarding the strong God of their salvation but provoke him with strange gods and other abominations but it fares not so with the Beleever neither doth he so requite the Lord. And as he is thankfull to the Author so likewise to any that he shall make instrumentall for his good thinking himselfe bound to remember and requite good turnes 12. § Secondly if he falls into adversity or any kinde of distresse he knowes it is sent of the Lord in love and to doe him good and to give him occasion of rejoycing afterwards He well considers that scarfe any thing more proves us his then his stripes that stripes from the Almighty are so farre from arguing his displeasure that contrarily there are few better tokens and pledges of his adoption and love and that they are bastards and not sonnes who are without correction And so it is that as many as God loves he rebukes and chastens And as it is sent for his good so it doth him good crosses in his estate diseases in his body maladies in his minde are medicines to his soule the impairing of the one is the repairing of the other His sinne dyes with his fame or with his health or with his peace or with his outward estate Yea it both lessons his sins and increaseth his graces for God sends him affliction both for his instruction and reformation to scoure away the rust of corruption and to try the truth of his sanctification for the increase of his patience and the exercise of his faith and the improvement of his zeale and to provoke his importunity and to double his obligation to greaten each other grace and to augment his glory Againe he inflicts a lesse punishment to avoyd a greater and by smarting in his body state or name he is saved from smarting in his soule He is chastned that he may be converted not confounded his worser part to wit his Body state or name is impoverisht that his better part that is his soule may be saved in the day of Judgement But see it in some particulars as first how it makes him humble and thankfull for he not only calls to minde his owne unworthinesse of the least mercy he still injoyes and how he hath provoked the Giver for he is ever meditating of what Christ hath done and suffered for him and how he hath provoked Christ But he also compares what he suffers with what he might have suffered arguing thus with himselfe he that hath taken this from me might have taken more he that afflicts me for a time could have held me longer he that hath touched me in part could have stricken me in whole he that laid this upon my body hath power to lay a greater Rod both upon my body and soule without doing me the least wrong And so goes on I was borne a childe of wrath and whereas God might have left me in that perishing condition and chosen others he hath of his free grace adopted me and left others And this makes him cry out O the depth as a mercy beyond all expression saying further O my soule thou hast not roome enough for thankfulnesse And the truth is if we could but seriously thinke upon our deliverance from Hell fire it alone would be thought cause enough to make us both patient and thankfull though the things we now delight in be taken from us And sure I am nothing can be too much to endure for those pleasures in Heaven which shall endure for ever O that we could keepe fast in our memories but these two things and upon all occasions make use of them and consider withall that the least mercy is beyond our best merit And no better remedy for impatience then to cast up our receits and compare them with our deservings But secondly Gods corrections are his instructions his lashes lessons his scourges school-masters his chastisements advertisements to him by feeling of smart he learnes to decline the cause Yea this hath taught him to fly from the workes of darknesse at a great distance and to consider as well the bitternesse of what will follow as the sweetnesse of a momentary pleasure and so cleared his sight that he can now discerne sinne in all he thinkes and speakes and does for he is ever bewailing his wants and weaknesses the hardnesse of his heart want of faith c. Thirdly it abundantly increaseth his joy and comfort for admit Satan and the world should deprive him of all outward comforts at once yet God at the same time will supply the want of these with comforts farre surpassing and transcending them as first the assurance of the pardon of sinne alone is able to cleare all stormes of the minde it teacheth misery as sicknesse poverty famine imprisonment infamy c. even to laugh for then let death happen it matters not when a Malefactor hath sued out his pardon let the Assizes come when they will the sooner the better But to this is added the peace of conscience the marrow of all comforts otherwise called the peace of God which passeth all understanding and surpasseth all commending for never did man finde pleasure upon earth like the sweet testimony of an appeased conscience reconciled unto God cleansed by the blood of the Lambe and quieted by the presence of the Holy Ghost As the Martyrs felt who even clapt their hands for joy in the midst of the flames and were even ravisht before they were permitted to dye so great and so passing all expressing is the peace and comfort of a good conscience Againe thirdly affliction bringeth with it the company of God himselfe I will be with you in tribulation saith God Psal 91.15 As when those three were cast into the fiery Furnace Dan. 3. there was presently a fourth came to beare them company and that was God himselfe ver 23. to 27. and his presence makes any condition comfortable were a man even in Hell it selfe See more Acts 13.52 And as his sufferings abound so his consolation also aboundeth 2 Cor. 1.5 Indeed the unbeleever laughs more but that laughter is onely the hypocrisie of mirth they rejoyce in the face onely and not in the heart nor can it be solid comfort except it hath his issue from a good conscience whereas Gods Word teacheth and a
grieved for the abominations that are done by others to the dishonour of God and slander of religion or the ruine of mens soules § 14. Nor does he only abhorre and depart from evill but he cleaves unto that which is good he is not only dead to and made free from sinne but as he hath once been the servant of sinne so he becomes the servant of righteousnesse and as he hath been instrumentall to Satan so he will now be as active to serve Christ and be as fruitfull in good workes as he hath formerly been in evill workes § 15. He is conformed to the image of Christ and is led by the Spirit walkes in newnesse of life lives holily justly and unblameably for now he walkes not after the flesh but after the Spirit and brings forth the fruits of the Spirit mentioned Gal. 5.22 so that he is changed and renewed in every part power and faculty his understanding is enlightened his minde renewed his will changed his affections sanctified c. and he who thinkes he beleeves and findes not a palpable change in his judgement affections and actions does but deceive himselfe § 16. He goes often and upon all occasions to God in prayer in which lyes all his strength yet not as his but as it is the intercession of Gods owne Spirit in him poured out in the name of Christ and according to his Will for being truly sensible of his sins and wants he chiefly prayes for the pardon of sinne the effusion of grace and for the assistance of Gods Spirit that he may more firmely beleeve more soundly repent more zealously doe more patiently suffer and more constantly persevere in the practice and profession of every duty Nor does he for the most part fall into prayer without meditation and preparation nor utter words without devotion and affection nor without some assurance and perswasion that God will heare and grant his requests yea he mostly takes notice of his enlargements in prayer and of the successe afterwards and is accordingly thankfull or humbled not that he measureth Gods hearing his suit by his present answer or his present answer by his owne sence he will pray at least in some poore measure at all times striving against deadnesse of spirit and distractions as an heavie burthen § 17. He heares the Word with attention mindes observes and remembers it carefully receives and applyes whatsoever precept or promise is spoken out of the Word as spoken by God to himselfe in particular is astonished at the deepnesse of Gods wisedome power and goodnesse seriously meditating upon the Nature Attributes Word and Workes of God he layes it up in his heart ponders on it in his mind and practiseth it in his life neither will he approach unto the Lords Table without due examination and preparation § 18. He loves and longs after a powerfull and searching Ministry above all earthly treasures as finding a greater necessity of Spirituall then Corporall food and therefore will take any paines or be at any cost or suffer any disgrace to injoy it § 19. He is never offended at any wholsome truth be it never so untoothsome but affects that Ministery most which most layes open and rebukes his owne sinne even therefore comming to the light that his deeds may be made manifest When he heares his owne sins spoken against he does not apply the same unto others as is the mannor of too many nor is he wise to defend the evill he does but loves to be admonished nor will he after warning and conviction from the Word goe on in an evill way because his principall care is to be saved § 20. He will not plead against God nor aske a reason of his actions if he meets with hard Scriptures he runs not into error nor is offended but suspends his judgement and blames his owne blindnesse you may know him from an unbeleever by this he is wise to defend the truth when he heares it spoken against but never argues against it whereas the unbeleever being prompt by Satan can most subtilly argue against the truth though he hath not a word to speake for it yea he thinkes it religion enough if he can but dispute against the religious which is a manifest signe of a wicked man Briefly he neither carpes nor frets against a faithfull Minister nor seekes to intrap him or pervert what he delivers but prayes for him and is ready to speake in his defence § 21. He hath an high estimation of the Ministers and meanes by which he was converted and findes more sweetnesse in the Gospell then in any thing else in the world § 22. Spirituall judgements as a famine of the Word the blindnesse of mens mindes hardnesse of their hearts c. he accounts more wofull then any judgement the world can be sensible of § 23. He is enlightened with the saving knowledge and hid things of the Gospell and to see truth from error good from evill together with his owne wretchednesse by sinne and the riches of Gods free grace and mercy in Christ towards his owne soule he is not ignorant of the principles of Religion as most aged people are but is able and ready to give a reason of the hope that is in him § 24. He prayes for the enlargement and rejoyces at the progresse of the Gospell and in the common good of the Church and so at the graces or good successe of any member in particular and will be some way instrumentall for Christ praying for and earnestly desiring the salvation of others and likewise endeavouring to win all he can to Christ rejoycing no lesse when any good thing is done by others then if himselfe did it He highly respects all such as any way promote the Gospell and is thankfull to them § 25. He is willing to be at cost to serve the Lord will freely administer carnall things where he partaketh of spirituall things and counts the same as a due not as a benevolence yea he thinkes it most just that they who preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell and that as freely as men of other Callings which signe or character shewes a world of men that professe themselves Christians to be but counterfeits § 26. He beleeves impartially the whole Word of God threats and precepts as well as promises and things above the reach of reason as well as what experience hath made plaine to him he feeles the power and efficacie of Gods Word and Spirit perswading his conscience that his sinnes are pardoned in Christ and he in favour with God so that he can truly apply Christ and all his benefits and promises unto his owne soule trusting in him and casting himselfe only upon him for pardon and salvation § 27. He hath a sweet and sanctified peace in his conscience arising from the assured forgivenesse of his sinnes a sound and strong joy in the Lord and in his Word through beleeving not seldome the Holy Ghost inwardly setting too Gods privie
who had divers and those no small faults yet with one breath doth God report both these the high places were not removed and neverthelesse Asahs heart was perfect so our faylings be not wilfull though they be many and great yet they cannot hinder our interest in the promises of God an honest and sincere heart beares out many errors in the eye of mercy God will not see weaknesses where he sees truth yea if we hate our corruptions and strive against them they shall not be counted ours It is not I saith Paul but the sinne that dwelleth in me Rom. 7.20 And indeed were it not so what would become of us for the worke of grace though it doth not suffer Christians to live as they list yet it doth not inable them to live as they would it is not so broad as to allow of corruption nor so narrow but it will permit of corruption § 72. But fifthly least the former considerations should not serve answer me ingeniously to these questions Dost thou not sinde that the Word and Spirit hath wrought an apparant change in thy judgement affections and actions to what they were formerly Is not Christ thy greatest joy sin thy greatest sorrow and grace the prime object of thy desires Art thou not carefull in the use of the means to attaine faith in the promise of Gods mercy made in Christ Dost thou not love God and the people of God yea art thou not prone to speake in their defence when thou hearest them reviled and contemned by wicked and ungodly men Dost thou not rejoyce when the righteous are exalted and grieve when the wicked beare rule Dost thou not desire and pray for the salvation of others Is it not grievous to thee to heare God blasphemed and dishonoured Dost thou not make conscience of sanctifying his Sabbaths Art thou not as conscienscious alone and in private where God onely sees thee as if thy greatest enemy or all the world did behold thee Dost thou not make conscience of evill thoughts grieve for thy unprofitablenesse under the meanes of grace for the evill which cleaves to thy best actions and for sins of omision When thou dost any thing amisse dost thou not accuse thy selfe if any thing well dost thou not give all the praise to God Whatever thou injoyest on this side Hell dost thou not thinke thy selfe unworthy of it Dost thou not more feare the want of grace then confide in what thou hast Art thou not evill spoken of for well doing Dost thou not love zeale and devotion in others Thou art not of a reprobate judgement touching things actions and persons accounting good evill and evill good nor dost thou think the worse of a man for having of a tender conscience Thou art not so offended when offences come as to thinke the worse of the way of truth yea when strange things happen dost thou not make an wholsome construction thereof If so my soule for thine thou art a true Beleever and not an hypocrite whatever thy failings be yea if thou shouldest finde but a few of these signes in thy selfe thou needest not much feare thine estate for a few Grapes will shew that the plant is a Vine and not a Thorne yea where there is any one grace in truth there is every one in their measure if thou art sure thou hast love I am sure thou hast faith for they are as inseparable as fire and heat life and motion and so of other graces § 73. But sixthly for I will goe yet further with thee suppose nothing that I have hitherto said will satisfie thee and that thou wilt not auknowledge any of these graces to be in thee yet still thy case may be good enough for a Christian in times of spirituall distemper and desersion is as one in a sound in which case the soule doth not exercise her functions he neither heares nor sees nor feeles yet she is still in the body Christ is as the Sunne to our soules and we are like Elementary bodies which lighten and darken coole and warme dye and revive as the Sun presents or absents it selfe from them Whence it comes to passe that we have so much crying out in horrour of conscience I am damned I am damned yea it is a wonder to see how many truly humbled sinners who have so tender consciences that they dare not yeeld to the least evill for the worlds goods and refuse no meanes of being made better turne every probation into reprobation every dejection into rejection and if they be cast downe they cry out they are cast away but in such distempers a man is not a competent Judge in his owne case as in humane Lawes there is anullity held of words and actions extorted and wrong from men by feare because in such cases a man is held not to have power or command in some sort of himselfe A troubled soule is like troubled water we can discerne nothing cleerly in it wherefore in such cases a man must call to remembrance the times past and how it hath been with him formerly as David did Psal 77.2 to 12. and likewise Job chap. 31. And his must thou doe and then if ever thou hadst true faith wrought in thy heart it can never be cleane extinguished and so of love and godly sorrow for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance as it is Rom. 11.29 I the Lord change not Mal. 3 6. And the weakest faith if true though it be not the like strong yet it is the like precious faith to that of Abrahams whereby to lay hold and put on the perfect righteousnesse of Christ yea the truth of grace be the measure never so small is alwaies blest with perseverance and if grace but conquer us first we by it shall conquer all things else whether it be corruptions within us or temptations without us yea to speake rightly thou art the better to be thought of and the lesse to be feared for this thy feare for no man so truly loves as he that feares to offend and good is that feare which keepes us from evill acts yea as a bleeding wound is better then that which bleeds not so thy very complaint of sinne springing from a displeasure against it shewes that there is something in thee opposite to sinne viz. that thou art penitent in affection though not in action even as a Childe is rationall in power though not in act neither was the Centurian ever so worthy as when he thought himselfe most unworthy for all our worthinesse is in a capable misery § 74. But here by the way observe one caution as the Playster must not be lesse then the sore so the tem must not be bigger then the wound Though the grievousnesse of our sins should increase our repentance yet they should not diminish our faith and assurance of pardon and forgivenesse Because the Law is not more a Glasse to shew us our sins then the Gospell is a Fountaine to wash them
A Touch-Stone To try by our knowledge belief and life whether we be Christians in name onely or Christians in deed OR The Character of a true Beleever that walks in some measure answerable to the Gospell his Christian profession and the millions of mercies he hath received By R. Y. of Roxwell in Essex 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your owne selves Know ye not your owne selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Printed at London and are to be sold by Andrew Crooke at the signe of the Greene Dragon in Pauls Church-yard 1648. I Have perused this Treatise and approving it to be very pithy pious and profitable I allow it to be printed and published Iohn Downame THe Reader may think it strange that the Proofes are not alleadged but they were found to be so many in number that the very pointing to them would have taken up neere as much roome as the matter it selfe and so have doubled the charge which in that they are mostly to be given away could not be afforded Besides few use to turn to every Scripture and every sanctified heart is a Comment upon all that is herein delivered The CHARACTER of a true Beleever c. in reading whereof reflect upon your selves and see what comparison there is between that you are and what you should be and then with blessing from above it will much further you in your way to Heaven for therefore are we Christians in name onely because we think our selves Christians indeed and already good enough § 1. A True Beleever is one that God of his free grace and good pleasure hath chosen and elected to eternall life before the foundation of the World and whom Christ hath redeemed with his precious bloud § 2. He is effectually called and become a new Creature by regeneration being both begotten and borne a new of God by the immortall seed of the Word and the Spirits powerfull working with it And without this new Birth there is no being saved as our Saviour himselfe affirmes John 3.5 § 3. He is industrious after the meanes of Grace loves to heare Christs voyce and delights in it as finding a sweet relish therein is able to know when he speaketh and when the tempter he receives the Word not as the word of men but as it is in deed the Word of God with all readinesse for he resists not as the wicked doe but obeyes Christs call which worketh in him mightily for he findes it by experience quick and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and to the discerning of the very thoughts and the most secret intents of the heart § 4. His heart is circumcised or rather God takes away the stony heart out of his flesh and gives him a new heart in which he writes his Law and puts a new spirit into him even his owne Spirit causing him to walke in his statutes and keep his ordinances so as to doe them § 5. He sheds his love abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost who witnesseth to his conscience that he is become the childe of God whereby he hath union and communion with Christ partakes of the Divine Nature and becomes like God in holinesse § 6. He is brought out of darknesse into marvellous light hath his eyes opened to see the wonders of Gods Law and that vayle or curtaine which before was drawne over his heart 2 Cor. 3.15 16. taken away and is turned from the power of Satan unto God § 7. He is ashamed of his former conversation bewayles and mournes bitterly for all his sins actuall and originall of omission and commission secret as well as knowne lesser as well as greater yea as well for the evill which cleaves to his best workes as for his evill workes being more grieved for offending so good a God then for that it doth or might bring him shame or punishment in this life or in Hell § 8. He now findes that the Law is spirituall binding the heart as well as the hands to which holy and just rule he brings all his thoughts words and actions and so sees himselfe out of measure sinfull as being guilty of all manner of concupiscence having broken every one of those righteous precepts Exodus 20 more times and wayes then he hath haires on his head not being able of himselfe to thinke a good thought for that all the powers of his soule and members of his body are wholly and originally corrupted § 9. He sees himselfe as guilty of Adams sinne being in his loynes as any Heire is liable to his Fathers debt and esteemes it the Mother and Nurse of all finding it like the great wheele in a Clocke that sets all the wheeles on moving while it seemes to move slowest and therefore hates and bewailes it as the most soule hatefull secret deceitfull and powerfull evill § 10. Whereupon finding himselfe in a lost condition and confessing that he hath deserved all the plagues of this life and of that which is to come and groaning under the burthen of sinne utterly dispairing of all helpe in himselfe he is solicitously carefull in the use of the meanes to attaine faith in the promise of Gods mercy made in Christ finding no rest untill he get some assurance vehemently hungering and thirsting after and earnestly praying for the pardon of sinne waiting on the Lord with patience § 11. He humbly unfainedly and freely confesseth all his sins so farre as he is able with the severall circumstances which aggravate the same to his owne shame and Gods glory § 12. He will take an holy revenge on himselfe even to the denying of his owne reason and affections his credit carnall friends profits pleasures and whatever else might hinder and by restoring goods or monies evill gotten though it were long since and when he was a servant in case he be able § 13. He unfainedly desires to forsake all sinne as being in some measure dead to it Christ by his Spirit having freed him from the power and dominion thereof and in part abolished it at least he so parts from all iniquity and hates every false way that no one sinne doth raigne in him for when he doth commit any evill it is full sore against his will as being led captive to it by the strength of Satans temptations and his owne corruptions for he never commits it freely and willingly and with full consent he allowes not of the evill he does no he will not premeditately and in times not utterly deserted doe the least evill that the greatest good may come of it neither is there any sinne he knowes by himselfe were it formerly never so pleasing to him but he desires as heartily that he might never commit it as that God should never impute it He likewise hates sinne throughly and universally and therefore is truly
seale by sudden refreshings falling like the dew upon his heart and establishing his soule before the Lord especially after holy duties yea his hope as being built upon Gods Word and promises fills him with such joy unspeakeable that it makes him rejoyce even in tribulation § 28. He sometimes loseth the efficacie feeling and comfort of faith but the seed and habit of faith alwaies remaineth He is often and grievously assaulted with feares and doubtings but in the issue he alwaies gets the conquest and is the more assured for having been so much assaulted and does so much the more strive to make his Calling and Election sure and to be assured of future happinesse after this his earthly pilgrimage § 29. Or if he hath but a weake faith yet it is sound against which the very gates of Hell shall never prevaile for he never utterly falls away from the grace of God but perseveres in the truth and in well doing to the end and therein findes also a blessed thriving and gracious progresse in true holinesse § 30. He is perfectly justified by the bloud of Christ freed from the rigour of the Law and in some good measure from the spirit of bondage is often in combate between the flesh and the Spirit but the Spirit in the end ever gets the upper hand § 31. And as he beleeves in his heart so he is not ashamed of the Crosse of Christ but will professe the truth boldly in all estates and in times of suffering and publish what Christ hath done for his soule to Gods glory and the comfort of others yea if called to it he will God assisting him lay downe his life for Christ and the Gospell and rejoyce also that he is counted worthy § 32. Neither is he high-minded but more feares the want of grace then confides in what he hath for he workes out his salvation with feare and trembling and trusts not in the least to his owne strength but is ever jealous and suspicious least his heart should deceive him but he resolves by Gods grace not to use any unlawfull meanes nor yeeld to any thing against the truth for the avoyding of what he feares be it burning at a stake as knowing and being fully perswaded that all things shall worke together for the best unto him And indeed the feare of God which is his continuall guardion keepes him in some measure from the feare of death and terrour of the world for he feares not them that can onely kill the body in any degree like him that after he hath killed can cast both body and soule into Hell Nor does he grutch to lose a temporall life when in lieu thereof he shall obtaine an eternall Crowne of glory § 33. He is wonderfully inflamed with the love and estimation of God and of Christ especially upon the returne of his prayers or the obtaining of some mercy the which he shewes by his hating of evill and by his constant obedience and the delight he hath in keeping of Gods Commandements and by his willingnesse to be at cost or suffer for him Neither is he so in love with the world or any thing in it as that it shall diminish his love to God yea he so loves and longs for Christs appearing that he may be united to him and enjoy his presence that his daily prayer is Come Lord Jesus come quickly § 34. Againe he intirely loves and highly esteemes Gods people not out of any carnall or selfe ends but for their graces the truths sake and because they are borne of God more loving and honouring the poore that walke uprightly then they that pervert their wayes though they be rich and loving them best that serve God most He is prone to justifie them and speake in their defence when he heares them reviled slandered or contemned by wicked and ungodly men though he incur their displeasure by it § 35. He does not estrange himselfe from the people of God in their misery but is ready to minister unto them when they stand in need and use any meanes for their reliefe He will solicite great ones in their behalfe and in Christs cause though he indanger himselfe thereby and can be as earnest a Suitor at the Throne of Grace for others that are in distresse as for himselfe even thursting and studying how he may doe them most good as participating and being touched with compassion and having a fellow-feeling both of the misery and felicity of others as one member hath of another especially of the Churches as a member hath of the whole body Neither can he rejoyce in his owne peace and welfare while the Church and people of God are in distresse whose welfare he preferres before his owne § 36. He delights in the Saints company above all others as finding an heavenly sweetnesse in their conference and society where every ones words doe savour of grace and wisedome and when in every company he shall either doe good or receive good § 37. And as he loves and delights in holy company so he loathes evill company neither will he have any fellowship with the workers of iniquity or be in league with the wicked as Swearers Drunkards Whooremongers Scoffers c. but avoyd all needlesse society with them Place these 25. Sections next after page 10. § 37. Such other signes or properties of A true Beleever as offered themselves while the second sheet was by a providence somewhat long in printing 1. § HE will neither back-bite others nor give eare to back-biters of others Neither lend Satan his tougue to utter nor his eares to heare nor his heart to beleeve lyes and slanders He will not lessen his owne credit by traducing one that wrongs him he will not lessen his owne shame and blame by traducing one he hath wronged as too many doe He wonders not so much at anothers ingratitude to him as at his owne unthankfulnesse to God He will pardon many things in others which he will not tolerate in himselfe He will neither arrogate to himselfe nor derogate from another neither villifie other mens doings nor over highly prize his owne He will not condemne censure or slight that which he understands not To finde gall in a Pidgion a knot in a Bulrush where is none is none of his humour In relating an enemies words he will neither adde to them nor diminish from them The faults of a few shall not make him uncharitable to all nor the goodnesse of many make him credulous of the rest He envies none for doing or faring or being better esteemed then himself 2. § His graces and goodnesse gaines him more enemies and breeds him more danger then vice and wickednesse does another man but he is more pleased then displeased at it for he knowes by the worlds hating of him that he is not of the world but that Christ hath chosen him out of the world and that he some way discovers the worlds treasons and deceits He knowes also that
to be the worlds friend is to be Gods enemy yea he esteemes it an honour to be evill spoken of by evill men because when a thing is best they will like it least and a grace to be disgraced for Christ who was farre more disgraced for him Besides the single approbation of one wise experimentall Christian is enough with him to countervaile the disdaine and dislike of a whole Parish of sensualists and an ounce of credit with God more worth then a tallent of mens praises And how little is that man hurt whom malice condemnes on earth and God commends in Heaven If he cannot avoyd their malice and evill words he will be sure not to deserve them which is much at one upon the matter for as the best confutation of their slanders is not by our great words but by our good works so his conscience knowing him innocent like a constant friend takes him by the hand and cheeres him against all his miseries However he will not in the least wrong his conscience to avoyd the imputation of singularity The scoffes of Atheists shall not beat him off from his Profession No if he does well hath Gods Word for his warrant and glory for his aime nothing can daunt or discourage him Neither the threatnings of fire nor the faire and large promises of cunning and cruell adversaries neither paine nor losse can make him shrinke from Christ much lesse the censures and scoffes of lewd persons The conscience of good intentions let their successe be what it will is both a sufficient discharge and comfort to his generous minde 3. § Through the studdy of vertue and Christian prudence he makes the servile passions of his minde feare and anger subject to the more noble faculties of his soule reason and understanding As appeares in the provocation of an enemy for let him be injured he will both forbeare and forgive well considering that it is the glory of a man to passe by an offence and that it is greater fortitude to overcome his owne passions then to vanquish a City Wherefore in stead of returning like for like he will pacifie his enemy with milde words and gentle behaviour which may be resembled to Milke that quencheth Wild-fire or Oyle that quenches Lime which by water is kindled and thinkes it enough for one to be angry at a time He is not like our Ruffians and sonnes of Beliall who when they are displeased with others will fly in their Makers face and teare the name of their Saviour in peeces even swearing away their part in that Blood which must save them if ever they be saved Nor like our Gallants whom the Devill hath so blinded and bewitched that they will contend for the way and strive for the wall even to the death and kill one another as though either of their honours were of more worth then both their soules Or admit one get the victory miserable is that victory wherein thou overcomest thine enemy and thy passions yea the Devill in the meane time overcomes thee perhaps thou slayest his body but the Devill slayes thy soule Nor like those sooles you see walking in Westminster Hall that like two Cockes of the Game peck out one anothers eyes to make the Lawyers sport No sayes he why should I vexe my selfe because another hath vexed me Or why should I doe my selfe a shrewd turne because another would And admit carnall reason shall alleadge to him that his enemy is unworthy to be forgiven rectified reason will answer but Christ is worthy to be obeyed who hath commanded me to forgive him And well may I beare with him when his Maker beares with me and forgive him when Christ hath forgiven me much more Nor can any repute him a coward for this his humble patience the true coward is your Hot-spur that feares the blasts of mens breath and not the fire of Gods wrath that trembles at the thought of a Prison and yet feares not Hell fire But the Beleever is as bold as a Lion if his cause be good yea to speake rightly there is no such coward none so valliant as the Beleever without Gods warrant he dares doe nothing with it any thing He feares none but the displeasure of the highest and runs away from nothing but sinne Indeed he more feares the least sinne then the greatest torment as may be seene in the Martyrs that noble Army But he is so farre from fearing an impotent enemy that he feares not death it selfe no not the Day of Judgement 1 Joh. 4.17 Luke 21.25 to 29. yea he is so strong withall that he is able to prevaile with God Gen. 32.26.28 Exod. 32.10 And overcome the world the flesh and the Devill 1 John 2.14 and 5.4 Gal. 5.24 and all this by his faith and prayer and not seldome does he overcome his enemy too by well-doing for he lives so well that his back-biting adversaries are either put to silence or constrained to praise God and speake well of him 4. § He is more knowing then the men of the world for as he hath the light of the Spirit and the eye of saith above them so the Word of Christ dwelleth in him plentifully in all wisedome and spirituall understanding and he increaseth daily in the knowledge of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ because God reveales himselfe to him in a great measure as to his friend Besides his knowledge is about the best things and one drop of soule wisedome and saving knowledge guided by the feare of God is more worth then all humane learning And to this knowledge unbeleevers are meere strangers Yea be they never so wise and learned in other things they have onely the theory of this wisedome they can prattle of it by roate but they know not what it is by effect and experience Yea if a man want faith holinesse the love of God and the Spirit of God to be his teacher he shall not be able really and by his owne experience to know the chiefe points of Christian Religion such as are faith repentance regeneration the love of God the presence of the Spirit the remission of sinnes the effusion of grace the possession of heavenly comforts not what the peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost is nor what the communion of Saints meanes when every one of these are easie and familiar to the meanest and simplest Beleever And the reason is the Beleever digests his knowledge into practise and imployes it to the glory of the Giver his neighbours good and the furthering of his owne salvation He is neither ungrounded in the Principles of Religion nor unconcionable in the practice Each Booke or Sermon both increaseth his knowledge and lessens his vices Yea he will pick something out of every thing and gather honey from the selfe same thing that others will poyson Anothers hating the truth shall make him love it the more for he is instructed both by similitude and contrariety Whereas let the
life of his life and soule of his soule And his love to sinners also for his zeale against them is a sweet compound of love and anger for though he hates the vices of a wicked man yet he loves his person he can chide him sharply and yet at the same time pray for him heartily Whereby he not seldome saves his brother for he findes favour in the sight of God and prevailes with him for things hard to be obtained As when Stevens prayer prevailed for persecuting Paul and our Saviours prayer for his murtherers 7. § He is not sordedly covetous nor given to filthy lucre for the covetous person is an Idolator and hath no inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God And therefore cannot possibly be a Beleever nor doe we read of one godly person in the whole Bible that was covetous He is contented with things necessary and desires not great matters for if he have food and raiment he will therewith be content considering how they that will needs be rich fall into temptations and snares and into many foolish and noysome lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction And that the desire of mony is the root of all evill which while some lusted after they erred from the faith and peirced themselves through with many sorrowes He will neither defraud nor oppresse his brother in any matter he will not deale unjustly in line in weight or in measure He lusteth not after forbidden fruit nor coveteth that which is anothers He will not remove his neighbours Land marke nor conceale any Deeds or Writings that make for his neighbours advantage If his neighbour suffer prejudice or loffe in any thing belonging to him through his or his servants meanes he will make him recompence to the full In case his Cattell breake into his neighbours ground and eat his Corne or Grasse he will willingly and without compulsion satisfie for the damage He will not detaine the poore Workmans hire untill the morning least his family should want Bread for the present He loves Justice in the least things and desires rather to buy what he would have then that it be given him Chusing to eat his owne bread and to drinke water out of his owne Cesterne He hateth gifts least they should corrupt his judgement and make him partiall Nor is he legally just or conscionable according to the statute only but piously just If his conscience tells him that he hath any way prejudiced his neighbour though there be noue to witnesse against him though it be unknowne to the party himselfe that suffers the damage he will make him satisfaction and never thinke he merits by it If he finde any thing he both desires and indeavours to finde out the owner that he may restote it He will not take advantege from his neighbours poverty or simplicity to oppresse or cousen him He will not compound with Creditors for ten shillings in the pound when he is able to pay all He will not take an enemies goods or the goods of an Heathen though it be beyond the Line without making satisfaction or returning a valuable consideration although the Lawes of the Land wil beare him out in it yea although he have Letters of Markq for his warrant unlesse there be some other cause If he make an oath or promise though to his and Gods enemy and to his great disadvantage he will faithfully performe it and not violate the same Before he useth the extremity either of Law or of Armes he offers conditions of peace and before he will fall to blowes he will try what reason will doe soundly examine the cause and heare what the party can say for himselfe and after that he will rather suffer and yeeld some part of his right then doe wrong contend or goe to Law For he will not doe all he may least evill men speake ill of him or insult as they are very prone to doe by reason of their spight at Religion Lastly he seldome but gets the victory yea it is rare if he be vanquisht either in going to Law or making War because he never undertakes War or Suit without just cause and to a good intent Yea it is rare also if this be not the issue the lesse he covets the more he hath and the lesse he thirsts after these temporall things the more he covets spirituall things 8. § Neither love nor hatred shall rob him of his judgement or make him partiall He will neither esteeme Father nor Mother nor Wife nor Childe so as to disobey God in the least for their sakes He will not wrong his Children by a former Wife to give that which is due unto them unto the Children of a second Wife but he will make his first borne Heire and give him a double portion of all that he hath If his Sonne be stubborne and disobedient a Riater and a Drunkard he will not nourish him in it but inflict due punishment upon him according to his demerits He will not seek to save a Murtherer from death least he make the whole Land guilty of blood No be it his owne Sonne least in saving him from a temporall shame and punishment he should bring upon him an eternall and in liew of saving his body he should destroy his soule Besides he will rather his owne Childe shall be destroyed then God dishonoured and his Law not executed It matters not to him what others would doe nor what all the world sayes if they bring not a written word they prevaile nothing he will goe on in his uprightnesse and not shame to be singular as more fearing Gods anger then the worlds scornes Neither custome nor example of his fore-fathers will he follow without or against the written Word No he will not follow Panl himselfe any further then he followes Christ He remembers how vaine ignorant and sinfull his former conversation which he received by the traditions of his Fathers was and thinkes it too much to continue still therein Nor will he take incouragement from the Saints falls to doe the like but they shall serve him as Sea-markes to make him beware Indeed when things are of a doubtfull nature he will take the surest not the strongest fide and which draws nearest to probability and where the Law written doth cease he will observe that which is allowed by the practise and custom of the godly and religious 9. § He honours and obeyes his Parents and God accordingly prospereth him and prolongeth his dayes If they stand in need he will nourish and maintaine them as they did him in his need If a servant he serves his Master with singlenesse of heart as unto Christ not with eye-service but out of conscience And the Lord is with him and prospereth all he takes in hand gives him such favour in his Masters sight that he trusteth him with all he hath Yea the Lord blesseth his Master and all the family fares the better for his sake He will not be
winnow him as he would have done Peter it is that he may not be exalted his malice shall prove the occasion of much good to him as it did to the incestious Corinthian or if God lets him loose upon him as he did upon Job it shall but advance the glory of God manifest this Beleevets patience occasion his owne shame c. so the Devill shall be over-shot in his owne Bow and wounded with his owne Weapon And so it is that to all whom God hath any interest in this Scorpion shall prove a Medecine against the sting of the Scorpion For though he ayme at despaire and destruction yet God aymes at humiliation and conversion yea at consolation and salvation and when the Sinner is sufficiently humbled Satan shall be cashiered that Horse-leach shall be taken off when he hath sufficiently abated the viscous and superfluous blood so that he shall be healed by wounding exalted by humbling Satan shall helpe him to the destruction of his flesh his corruption and the edification of his soule 23. § Eleventhly Death the last and strongest enemy of all shall doe him the greatest good of all He may be killed but he cannot be hurt nor conquered for even Death that Fiend is to him a friend like the Red Sea to the Israelites that put them over to the Land of Promise whiles it drowned their enemies It is his bridge from woe to glory for dying he sleepes and sleeping he rests from all the travailes of a toylesome life to live in joy and blisse for evermore It is to him the end of all sorrowes and the beginning of his everlasting joyes The cessation of all trouble a supersedias for all diseases the extinction of sinne the deliverance from enemies a rescue from Satan the quiet rest of the body and infranchisement of the soule 24. § Thus as the unbeleever and disobedient is cursed in every thing and where ever he goes and in whatsoever he does cursed in the City and cursed also in the Field cursed in the fruit of his body and in the fruit of his ground and in the fruit of his Cattell cursed when he commeth in and cursed also when he goeth out cursed in this life and cursed in the life to come as is at large exprest Deut. 28. So the Beleever that obeyes the voyce of the Lord shall be blessed in every thing he does where ever he goes and in whatsoever befalls him As God promiseth in the former part of the same Chapter and as I have proved in the eleaven foregoing Sections Yea God will blesse all that belong unto him for his Children and posterity yea many generations after him shall fare the better for his sake yea the very place where he dwells perhaps the whole Kingdome he lives in Where as many yea multitudes even an whole Army yea his Childrens Children unto the third and fourth generation farre the worse for a wicked man and an unbeleever Besides his prayers shall profit many for he is more prevalent with God to take away a Judgement from a People or a Nation then a thousand others And he counts it a sinne to cease praying for his greatest and most malitious enemies though they like fooles would if they durst or were permitted cut him off and all the race of Gods people which is as if one with his hatchet should cut off the bough of a Tree upon which he standeth For they are beholding to Beleevers for their very lives yea it is for their sakes and because the number of Christs Church is not yet accomplisht that they are out of Hell But to goe on as all things viz. poverty imprisonment slander persecution sicknesse death temporall Judgements spirituall dissertions yea even sinne and Satan himselfe shall turne together for the best unto those that love God as you have seene So all things shall turne together for the worst unto them that hate God as all unbeleevers doe Rom. 1.30 John 15.18 even the mercy of God and the meanes of grace shall prove their bane and inhance their damnation yea Christ himselfe that only summum bonum who is a Saviour to all beleevers shall be a just revenger to all unbeleevers and bid the one Depart yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angells while he shall say unto the other Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome c. Which being so how doth it concerne all to see that they are Beleevers Wouldest thou then have it fare so with thee Wouldest thou have thy very poysons turned into cordialls thy terrors changed into pleasures and thy greatest evills made beneficiall unto thee Wouldest thou be loosed from the chaines of thy sinnes and delivered from the chaines of plagues Wouldest thou have the same Corist with his precious Blood to free thee that shall with his word sentence others As who would not except Satan hath strangely bewitcht him If thou wouldest I say then learne of this Beleever imitate him in what hath been declared and what I shall further rehearse touching his knowledge beleefe and life for I have onely brake the thread of my Discourse to let in this use in way of a Parenthasis which otherwise comming too late must have been left out and now I returne to finish or compleat the fore-going Character for thereunto may be added as followeth 25. § He loves and feares and beleeves and serves the Lord and seekes his glory and the good of others in every thing at least he desires and endeavours so to doe He will omit no opportunity of doing good nor doe evill though he hath opportunity He remembers his vow in Baptisme and is carefull to performe what he then promised and so farre as he comes short of his duty so farre forth he will be humbled He tempteth not to evill but draweth all he can to goodnesse He will behave himselfe honestly and unblameably before those among whom he lives that he may not dishonour God nor offend either those that are within or those that are without He will never suffer base thoughts of God to finde harbour in his heart deale he never so harshly with him being more prone to complaine of his sinne then of his punishment for he will turne his eyes inward and read his sinne in his punishment and instead of murmuring for the few things he wants be thankfull for the many things he enjoyes Whereas others that are unbeleevers will doe something for God when it makes for their owne ends he will suffer for him and hold out in his workes where Satan dwells and keeps his throne And what they doe for feare of the Law he does for love of the Gospell As who are Beleever indeed is onely knowne where the power of godlinesse is in contempt where a Christian in name onely will scoffe at a Christian indeed for in such times many will superstitiously adore the Crucifix that are enemies to the Crosse of Christ and worship the dead
willingly and premeditately either lye or equivocate much lesse will he allow himselfe in it or seeke to defend it for such as will doe so have not as yet past the second Birth § 49. In bearing witnesse he will speake the whole truth impartially without fearing or favouring either Party that is as well what makes for the Defendant though an enemy as for the Plaintiffe being his friend or Master neither will he conceale a wicked device when by revealing the same it may be prevented § 50 If a Magistrate he will not be partiall in any cause nor will he either for feare or favour doe any thing against the truth or give sentence against his Conscience or use his power in favour of the wicked but be just in shewing mercy severe to the evill cherishing and protecting the good § 51. He is not implacable nor will he revenge himselfe on an enemy though he hath power in his hand to doe it but shut his eares and heart in this and other cases against Satans temptations yea upon the least change he can forgive him as heartily as he defires God should forgive him yea he loves and wishes well and can willingly doe good to them that doe evill to him even desiring his greatest enemies conversion together with his prosperity He rejoyceth not at anothers fall but is grieved both for their sins and miseries nor is he grieved at any ones good especially at his gifts and the graces of Gods Spirit in him § 52. He hath learnt from Gods dealing with him to be mercifull as his heavenly Father is mercifull even to his Beast Nor doe any that resemble God or Christ but Satan and Antichrist as partaking of the Devills nature sport themselves in Beare-baiting Dogge or Cock-fighting hunting of tame Ducks and the like or if so they are not well verst in Christianity as for such as are cruell to their servants I marvaile how they can expect that their master in Heaven should be mercifull to them and certainely should they be deprived from ever having the helpe or benefit of servants as good Queene Elizabeth once served a Butcher and his Wife for their cruelty to a poore Girle they kept they would in a short time learne to be both wiser and better § 53. Whereas many love peace but regard not truth and others are all for truth without caring for peace he together with truth loves and studies and labours to have a lawfull peace with all men and so seekes it that he will suffer rather then doe wrong and to avoyd offence he will be over-ruled in indifferent things As Christ gave him an example when he paid Pole-money § 54. He is not glad of pretences against obeying the Magistrates command but will obey authority as the ordinance of God and be subject more out of conscience then feare as placed by God over him and to all their Lawes if they crosse not Gods Law for otherwise he will lose his liberty part with the right hand of profit and the right eye of pleasure yea lose his life rather then a good conscience and sinne against God for he will not disobey God to obey great ones § 55. He is not the worse or prouder for prosperity or outward blestings but the better and more thankfull for them he is bettered also by affliction and makes a gaine of his losses and being in distresse as he prayes for deliverance so he is accordingly thankfull when delivered yea he will make vowes and so promise amendment that he is as carefull to performe the same when he is delivered which a wicked man never does § 56. He seekes God in all he does and acknowledges him in all he either receives or suffers he observes the severall passages of his Providence ac-acknowledging all things to be ordered thereby and that it extendeth to the least haire on his head hath a comfortable experience of his disposing all to worke for the best unto him admires the same and his goodnesse therein and is accordingly thankfull for it yea he keepes a Record or Register of Gods speciall mercies and deliverances and of his owne often and great provocations and not seldome meditates thereon neither does he murmure when he wants any thing as most of our ignorant poore doe whose whole life language and religion is nought elfe but a continued act of muttering and murmuring perhaps they want many things for their bodies because they slight whatsoever is offered to their soules and because God the Giver is not in all their thoughts except to blaspheame him and to spend his Day in the Devills service for they never minde how God hath appointed it his Market-day for their soules now these brutish Animals are very sensible if they want never so little and for that they murmure but they injoy millions of mercies which they never cordially give thankes for and I wish they were often put in minde how many thousand Israelites were destroyed in the Wildernesse onely for that grievous sinne of murmuring though their straites and extreamities were farre greater but as good blow in the dust as speake to these and as they have no reason so they will heare none onely such as truly feare God know that he owes them nothing yea what ever they injoy on this side Hell they thinke themselves unworthy of it § 57. He is not rashly censorious but judgeth of things actions and persons not as they are in the worlds repure but as they are in Gods account and as he in his Word allowes or condemnes them he censures none for things indifferent but you must be able to alleadge the violation of some Law much lesse will he mocke or despise a man for his poverty or any naturall defect as for judging anothers thoughts to be evill when he cannot tax his life or making ill constructions of good actions or sleighting and disparaging them or thinking the vorse of a man for having of a tender conscience he utterly abhorres He is not easily suspicions without just cause neither will he willingly wrest mens words or misconster their meanings but take their sayings and doings in the best sence He will not hearken to tale-beaters nor is he apt to beleeve an evill report without good ground neither will he condemne a man without hearing him speake He never determines of any ones finall estate be he never so wicked well knowing that God may change his heart in a moment neither will he conclude one to be a wicked man or an hypocrite for appearances or moates or some suddaine eruptions or common infirmities or for sinnes before conversion or for this or that single act of grosse impiety when the maine tenor and course of his life besides is a continuall current of honesty and goodnesse though he may suspend his good opinion in case of some unexpected misdemeanour or for lesser evills either affected or oftea repeated He is tender hearted and can beare with the infirmities of the weake
good conscience findeth that even the teares of those that pray are sweeter then the joyes of the Theater But this is not all for according to the tribulations laid upon him and borne by him shall the retribution of glory be proportioned I might goe on and shew how it makes him pittifull and compassionate to others evills hath taught him to bemone all that affliction makes to groane and sundry the like which I may not here stand upon And this is enough to shew that affliction in generall makes much for his advantage now see how he is a great gainer by each particular crosse As 13. § First let him fall into poverty or have his goods and lands confiscate this shall not hurt but doe him good also for he will not by sinne releeve his wants poverty shall not constraine him to steale He will not tell a lye God assisting him though you would give him an house full of gold Whereas let unbeleevers fall into the like condition that they may maintaine themselves they will lye deceive steale prostitute their chastity sell their consciences and what not Nor will he murmure or repine against his Maker but beare it patiently and cheerefully whereas unbeleevers will not onely murmure and grievously complaine but if God doe not answer them in every thing they will take pleasure in nothing yea they will sleight all his blessings because in one thing he crosseth them And as he will not be the worse so he will be much the better for it for as he growes poore in temporalls he will grow rich in spiritualls his wants kill his wantonnesse his poverty checks his pride c. It shall stir him up to prayer weane him from the love of the world approve his sincerity increase his faith spirituall wisedome patience and the like so that let his enemies take all so long as they cannot take Christ and Gods fatherly providence from him he is well enough But that 's not all for whatsoever he parts withall be it House or Land or any thing else 't is but as seed cast into the ground for he shall receive for it an hundreth fold more even in this world and in the world to come life everlasting Marke 10.29.30 But 14. § Secondly let him be cast into Prison and Bonds God will doe him good by this also even the Prison shall prove a meanes of his spirituall inlargement and he shall more freely injoy the presence of his God It shall make him with Paul and Sylas sing Psalmes for joy at midnight yea he shall with that Seottish King in Mortimers hole learne more of Christ in a short time then abroad he could in many yeares And lastly it shall teach him for ever after to remember them that are in Bonds as if he were bound with them and them which suffer adversity as if he suffered the same things with them 15. § Thirdly let his enemies slander him God will cleare his innocency let them curse him the Lord will doe him good even for their cursing let them despise and disparage him the Lord will so much the more honour him before the people yea the same men that formerly slighted and rejected him shall be forced to seeke and sue unto him Let an enemy scoffe at him for a fault he will be the better for it to his dying day His very scoffes bring him both to the knowledge and likewise to the amendment of his faults His being slighted shall quell his ambition and vaine glory and likewise exercise and improve his other graces In fine his enemies by their evill tongues shall beget in him a good and holy life 16. § Fourthly let there be never so many plots laid to destroy him he is in perpetuall safety for the Lord not onely gives his Angells a charge over him to keepe him in all his waies but himselfe is ever at hand to deliver him and keepe him as the apple of his eye so that all his enemies are not able to doe him hurt for God is his helpe and strength and deliverer yea God by his providence disposeth of things so that what in appearance and what they contrived to be the meanes of his hurt turnes to his great good and what they intended for his destruction becomes the only meanes of his preservation Againe the Lord is more specially present with him when he is in the greatest danger that he may fight for him against his enemies and give him victory over them that he may sustaine him when he faints and crowne him when he overcomes that he may be exact in taking notice of his sufferings count his wanderings put his teares into his bottle and enter all into his Register Nor is the Beleever more patient to put up wrongs then God is ready to revenge them and right him and the reason is Christ takes what is done to him or any one of his members as done to himself And indeed he that despiseth traduceth or any way wrongs him for his goodnesse his envie strikes at the Image of God in him by whose Spirit he both speakes and acts And to murmure against any of Gods Messengers as thou art apt enough to doe is to murmure against God himselfe that sent them take notice of this you that carry an aking tooth against every godly man you know Neither shall Sorcery or Witchcraft have the least power to doe him hurt In a word there cannot so much as an haire fall from his head without the speciall appointment of his heavenly Father who will suffer nothing to befall him but what shall make for his servants benefit and his owne glory for admit God gives his enemy leave and power to kill him he shall not hurt but pleasure him as I shall shew when I come unto it 17. § Fifthly neither sicknesse nor old age can hurt him his fingers paine makes him not forget the health of his whole body one dayes or weeks sicknes makes him not forget many yeares health He is not so sensible of a present distresse nor so ingratefull for favours past as not to remember many yeares injoyments more then one weekes misery Yea he considers that it is in great love that God thus visits him that he dealeth mercifully with him least he should fall from him and dispaire that he beateth him least he should grow proud and forget him and so perish Besides he findes by experience that as every other affliction rubs off some rust melts off some drosse straines out some corruption c. so also that sicknesse cuts the very throat of all his vices be it pride lust covetousnesse or the like for the very worst Feavour can come does not more burne up his blood then his lust and together with sweating out the surfits of Nature at the poares of the body he weepes out the sinfull corruption of his nature at the poares of his conscience And indeed God scourgeth his flesh to this end only that his spirit may be saved
in the day of Jesus Christ And the like of old age his soule waxeth as his body waineth and he is wisest to prescribe when his bones and sinewes are weakest to execute 18. § Sixthly suppose he is in distresse of conscience and at the very brinke of despaire expecting nothing but Hell and Damnation suppose God hides his face and seemes to have utterly forsaken him and to reject his prayers yea suppose the terrours of God fight against him and the Arrowes of the Almighty stick so fast in him that the venome thereof hath drunke up his spirit so that in his owne apprehension God is become his mortall enemy as it fared with Job yet all this is for his good and shall doe him good yea this extreame severity of God argues favour for nothing more usuall then for God to worke joy out of feare light out of darknesse and to bring to the Kingdome of Heaven by the gates of Hell and thus he deales with his dearest darlings When he meant to blesse Jacob he wrestles with him as an adversary even till he lamed him when he meant to preferre Joseph to the Throne he threw him downe into the Dungeon and to the Golden chaine about his neck he laded him with Iron ones about his leggs Nor would Christ cure Lazarus till after he was dead buried and stunke againe no question to teach us that we must be cast downe by the Law before we can be raised up by the Gospell and become fooles before we can be truly wise Nor hath he cause to feare be his case never so desperate for God will measure his patience and make it proportionable to his suffering and equall his strength to his temptations his grace shall be sufficient for him at the least 2 Cor. 12.9 Phil. 1.29 and he that made the Vessell knowes her burden and how to ballast her The Bush which was a tipe of the Church consumed not all the while it burned with fire because God was in the midst of it The Anchor lyeth deepe and is not seene yet is the stay of all The Bladder blowne may float upon the floud but cannot sinke nor stick in filthy mud Sinne Satan and the world may disturbe him but they can never destroy him his head Christ being above he cannot be drowned there can be no disjunction unlesse he could be pluckt from his armes that is Almighty for his life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Besides if he suffers much it shall not be long if he suffers long it shall not be much if his sorrowes be skarpe they are the shorter Grievous and sore trialls last but for a season 1 Pet. 1.6 a little while John 16.16 yea but a moment 2 Cor. 4.17 For a moment in mine anger saith God I hid my face from thee for a little season but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee Isay 54.8 weeping may abide for a night but joy commeth in the morning Psal 30.5 And it is ever seene that his joy both succeeds and exceeds his sorrow that his sadnesse ends in gladnesse and his sorrow in singing And the more greivous his exigent the more glorious his advancement But the last which is the best gaine of all he growes more holy then ever for like the Vine he bringeth forth the more and better fruit for paring and proyning and bleeding and though his outward man perish yet his inward man is renewed daily even as a Lambe is much more lively and nimble for shearing these very tempestuous showers bring forth Spirituall flowers and herbs in abundance 19. § Seventhly let Judgements be inflicted upon the whole Land they shall not touch him nor his family he shall be singled out for mercy Or if they doe they shall be so sanctified that they shall rather pleasure then hurt him As if the Corn be cut down with the weeds the one shall be carried into Gods Barne as Lazarus was the other cast into the fire like Dives yea every stroake in the Judgement shall be as a Monitor and serve as a Sermon to him when he sees another struck he takes warning For he will be put unto duty even by the shadow of the wande 20. § Eighthly the strictest and severest Lawes if they be not contrary to Gods Law have not power to smite him for he does those things unbidden which others can scarse doe being compelled Yea the Law protects him against his enemies who feare the Jayle more then they feare Hell and stand more upon their silver or their sides smarting then upon their soules Good Magistratas also are the breath of his nostrills and protect him while they take vengeance on them that doe ill Yea they are the Ministers of God for his welth and bound to see him righted when he receives wrong in his person goods or good name 21. § Ninthly his very sinnes and infirmities by Gods grace doe worke his good and he is by much the better for them for he will from hence grow more holy Yea he gaines strength by every fall for hence issues deeper humiliation stronger hatred of sinne fresh indignation against himselfe more experience of his hearts deceitfulnesse renewed resolutions untill sinne be brought under it makes him more earnest with God by prayer to keepe a more carefull watch over himselfe to pitty others more and censure them lesse when they offend or are over-taken to rest wholly upon the assistance of Gods Spirit and to ascribe all glory to him of whom whatsoever he hath he holds True his offending God brings much misery upon him and God seemes to have left him and to reject his prayers and humiliation but at length and so soone as the poore soule ceaseth to doe evill and learnes to doe well the Lord repenteth him of the evill and not only delivers him but returnes with the greater interest of joy and felicity Indeed the Lord lets him know what it is to lose his favour and makes him tugg hard by prayer and to persevere a long time in knocking and asking but at length he will be sure to give him what he desires or that which is better for him for the prayer of faith from the knees of humility and a broken heart will conquer even the Conqueror Indeed the case may be such that he cannot pray or not to purpose as in time of sicknesse by reason of the extremity of paine but then he can send to the Congregations and intreat them to pray for him Besides all his former prayers and meditations doe serve to ayde him in his last straits and meet together in the center of his extremity yeelding though not sensible reliefe yet secret benefit to his soule Yea which is best of all he hath the benefit of Christs intercession in Heaven and of the prayers of all the Saints on earth 22. § Tenthly the malice of Satan shall make much for his good for if Satan be sent to buffet him as he did Paul or to