there is just occasion Ioel 1. 13. and hath commended it in such as have rightly done it 2 Chro. 34. 27. yea and hath expresly recorded the passion of him that is the wisdome of God Mar. 3. 5. and taxed the contrary in obdurate persons Isa 22. 12 13. it cannot but seeme a more then Heathenish and brutish conceipt 2. Be not too censorious of others passionate manifestation of their griefe especially when there is just cause and a Christian meane is not exceeded All that Sathan could doe against Iob did not so deeply pierce to his soule as his friends unfriendly censure of him 3. Have compassion of such as having cause are in passion Weepe with them that weepe Let us shew our selves to be fellow-members of one and the same body by a Christian Sympathy and fellow feeling of one anothers sorrowes 4. As for such as take occasion from the signes and effects of others sorrowes to insult over them let them well weigh the fearefull imprecations made against them and withall know that propheticall imprecations are divine denounciations of judgement It much provokes the righteous Lord to give them just matter of sorrow who laugh at others sorrowes §. 54. Of Gods turning sorrow into solace V. GOD can remove all matter of mourning He here delivered this Prophets eyes from teares he tooke away all occasion of weeping in which sense he is said to wipe away all tears from mens eys Isa 25. 8. Rev. 7. 17. and to bid them refraine their voice from weeping and eyes from teares Ier. 31. 16. Luk. 7. 13. Pertinent to this purpose are these proverbes They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Psal 126. 5. weeping may endure for a night but joy commeth in the morning Psal 30. 5. Answerable hereunto have beene Saints prayers Gods promises and performances For instance of prayers take these Make me to heare joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Make us glad according to the yeares wherein thou hast afflicted us Of promises these I will turne their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoyce for their sorrow Their fasts shal be joy and gladnesse and chearefull feasts Thou shalt weepe no more Of performances these Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladnesse When the Lord turned againe the captivity of Zion then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Were not the eyes of that woman which so wept as with her teares she washed the feet of Iesus delivered from teares when Christ said to her Thy sinnes are forgiven When Hezekiah heard this doome Thou shalt die and not live he wept with great weeping But this second message from the Lord I have seene thy teares behold I will adde unto thy daies fifteene yeares did questionlesse wipe away all his teares Most pregnant for the point in hand is the end of the commission given to Christ thus expressed The Lord hath annointed me to preach good tidings to comfort all that mourne to give unto them beauty for ashes the oile of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse That which God said to Hezekiah I have seene thy teares giveth the true and just reason of Gods removing all matter of mourning For the Lord being full of pity the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort his bowels are moved at the sight of his childrens teares as it is noted of Christ When he saw Mary weeping and the Iewes also weeping he groaned in the spirit and was troubled and wept And againe when he saw a widow weepe he had compassion on her Vpon that compassion he tooke away the occasion of her weeping When God came to deliver Israel from the Egyptian bondage he renders this reason of his purpose I have surely seene the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their crie by reason of their task masters for I know their sorrowes Yea further to demonstrate the notice which the Lord taketh of his Saints teares there is in Scripture mention made of a bottle wherein they are put as a liquor most precious in Gods account and of a booke wherein they are registred as things to be reviewed and not forgotten Learne hereby to set a meane to mourning Sorrow not as others which have no hope Know that God taketh notice of thy teares believe that God can and will wipe them away Believe this when sense and smart of affliction makes thee weepe and waile but especially when with a deepe apprehension of thy sinnes against God and of his displeasure against thee thou doest as Peter did weepe bitterly In these and other like cases thou maist and must pray as the Psalmist did and say O Lord give eare unto my cry hold not thy peace at my teares For assuredly he that putteth teares into his bottle and registreth them will wipe all tears from thine eyes What he hath done to others thou being like to them in like cases maist expect For God ever remaineth like himselfe §. 55. Of Saints fallings by affliction VI. GReat afflictions may 〈◊〉 Saints Though they be not utterly overthrowne thereby they may be as a man in a quagmire out of which he hath much adoe to come much foiled In such a case was he who said My feet were almost gone my steps had well nigh slipt My foot slippeth I am ready to halt My flesh and my heart faileth My strength faileth My spirit was overwhelmed My life is spent with griefe and my yeares with sighing How it falls out that this thus befalls the Saints is shewed before on vers 7 § 44. The Apostle giveth a seasonable exhortation for preventing or redressing the danger of this infirmity which is this Lift up the hands which hang downe and the feeble knees and make strait paths for your feet lest that which is lame be turned out of the way but let it rather be healed Hanging hands and feeble knees are the signes of a fainting spirit and here put for that whereof they are signes To lift up these is to rouse up our spirits and to quicken them The danger which otherwise may follow upon fainting much enforceth the exhortation For these words least that which is lame be turned out of the way imply that upon fainting may follow a falling away A fresh-water-souldier once fainting soone falls to the enemy Let us therefore well looke to our standing and well prepare our selves before hand The Apostle giveth an excellent direction to this purpose Eph. 6. 10 11 c. For particular directions to keepe from fainting read The Whole Armour of God Treat 2. Part. 5. § 22. Is the forementioned weaknesse of Saints and
be pleaâ—'d to take it at my hands Bestow a richer gift to which compar'd These are but drosse and rubbish Caric. Ha ha ha Sysim Why laugh you Sir Caric. Is 't not a matter which Deserveth laughter when you promise things Of such a prise and yet assure me more You cannot meane uprightly Sysim Ttrust me but sweare That you will use this gift as I shall teach you And I 'll performe my promise of the other Nebul. Accept it Sir if you be wise 't is not good nor religious to refuse any mans courtesie Caric. You tempt me shrewdly Sir Sysim Let me prevaile And bind me still your servant Caric. You have won me To what you would Sysim Then take an oath and sweare To follow my direâ—tions so confirme it Caric. By great Apollo then whose Minister I was at Delphos I shall not digresse From what you shall instruct me touching this Sysim It is sufficient and I build upon Your faith your trust and your religion Here fellow take this bag and keepe it for Your honoured Master Nebul. But more honoured bag Would I might keepe thee for my selfe I then Should make an Idoll of thee aside Caric. What 's your pleasure That I should doe in lieu of this reward Sysim I cannot now acquaint you for some reasons Best knowne unto my selfe give me your hand To meet me without faile to morow morning At Isis Temple thence I shall conduct you Unto my lodging and in secret tell The summe of my request Carie. I shall not faile you Sysim Adieu untill we meet Exit Sysimethres Caric. Apollo keepe thee In his safe custodie I marvell much Whence this unlook'd for kindnesse should proceed I 'll see the issue on 't what e'r betide me It may be that the gods have pre-ordain'd I shall once more be happy and in lieu Of all my passed sorrowes reape the fruit Of long expected comfort sure my mind Is much illuminated with the thought Of some good fortune and refresh'd as if The spirit of Pitho were infus'd into me By heavenly inspiration I 'll obey My Genius for oftentimes the gods by signes Will have that mortalls understand their mindes Exit Actus primi Scena secunda Enter Demeneta and young Cnemon her sonne in Law Demen. MY pretty boy how dost thou where hast thou beene so long absent from my imbraces come hither let mee solace my selfe a little with thee let mee kisse thee my sweet heart my heire my owne life Cnem. Had ever any one a kinder stepmother aside Mother you make too much of mee I am not able to deserve your love in so high a straine my duty cannot countervaile it Demen. How prettily hee speakes I cannot chuse but kisse thee for it Cnem. What a close and hot kisse was that I like not this behaviour would I were delivered hence please you give mee leave to goe about my exercises Dem. What exercises Cnem. My bookes and studies at the Schoole I shall be shent else by my Tutor Dem. Come thou shalt not leave me Cnem. Will you have me prove a truant then Dem. No but a student in a better art hast thou ever read Ovidde arte amandi or Ovids amorous Epistles Cnem. Never Dem. O I would have thee study that booke above all other there are very good rules and worth the observation truly if thou errest in any thing therein written I will be thy Mistresse to instruct thee follow my rudiments good sonne Cnem. But I have heard 't is a ribaldrous booke and corrupteth youth to all wantonnesse Dem. That is but a fantasie a mere untruth it was made by the Poet for youthfull recreation and pastime none but Stoicall old men will invey against them who envio that in others which they cannot enjoy in themselves Cnem. I understand not your Philosophie Dem. Would thou didst and wert well entred in my books and science but where is thy father and my husband Aristippus Enter Aristippus O my deare husband where have you lingred so long you are too blame indeed to leave me so solitary I must chide you for it truly had you tarried never so little longer I should have died for sorrow Arist My sweet wife Demeneta I have a jewell of thee thy extreme love to me is confirmed in thy affection to my sonne Cnemon vertuous woman Demen. I love him I must confesse as well as if he were mine owne sonne or better Arist I know thou dost my love never was a man happier in his choice I thinke Demen. Cnemon sit on my lap pretty boy Cnem. No I know my duty better Demen. I will have it so the very picture of his father Cnem. Pray mother excuse me this is no fit place for me Demen. There is not a prettier or wittier boy in Athens but 't is no wonder that old men beget alwaies the finest children 't is most commonly seene Arist I know your vertue and therefore will dispute with you a little upon this subject and aske you this question how could you a young woman affect me an old man Demen. How could I not Sir your wisdome stayednesse and understanding were such motives to my affection as I would not change my old man for the youthfull'st cavalere of all Gr eâ—â— I hope for all your age to have a hopefull off-spring from you such another as Cnemon you can doe it i'faith old Aristippus Arist My girle how thou dost revive my decayed spirits to heare thee talke thus I will straine hard for this but I will answer thy expectation Demen. Thankes sweet husband let me hang upon your necke pretty gravity how well it becomes him who could chuse but love such a man intirely pox upon smooth faces and young lusty gallants there 's more trouble with them a beâ— when a gentlewoman would sleep and take her rest they are alwaies disturbing of her when by a man of some yeeres and experience we may lie as quiet as we will would all womeâ— were of my opinion we should cut the combes then of thesâ— lustie gamesters Arist Indeed young men are very inconstant in their love and changing from one unto another whereas an old man perseveres to the end in his devotions Dem. True true my love your words are oracles Were I now as I seeme how should I wrong Youth beautie nature and rebell against them aside Arist My dearest love though loth I am inforc'd To leave you for some houres the state of Athens Sent for me to repaire unto the Senate At ten a clocke about affaires of weight 'T is now about the time farewell my sweetest Dem. You shall not goe come come you doe not love me Else could you not be so unkind my deare To kill your loving wife with your departure I doubt I shall not live till your returne Arist Come prethee leave this off and be assur'd I will not stay two houres Dem. On that assurance I doe dismisse you but if you exceed The time you 're like to
in Scripture would God have suffered such relations to be betwixt him and us They are not complementall and meere titular phrases but expressions of true reall unions and communions Take notice here of the ground of true holy boldnesse and confidence Wisely and diligently observe how God offers himselfe unto thee what bond of relation hee suffereth to passe betwixt him and thee As Saints in former times have done do thou in thy time Plead them before God Confidently plead them to sharpen thy prayer to strengthen thy faith Say to God Thou art O Lord truly thou art my God my King my Father my Master my Maker my Shepheard c. And on the other side I am of thy people of thy flock thy child thy servant the worke of thy hands Behold thy people which have of old beene called thy people These sure grounds of faith will enlarge thine heart and open thy mouth and embolden thee both to pray to God and to expect from God what thou prayest for That thou maist doe this with the more stedfastnesse of faith search thine heart examine thy disposition try how thou standest affected towards God If thou have the mind of a child a servant a creature a sheepe towards God thou maist rest upon it God hath an answerable mind to thee Yea because God hath the minde of a father and master to thee thou hast an answerable mind to him The reflection of his respect to thee on thy heart worketh respect in thee towards him §. 101. Of Saints earnestnesse in pressing their interest in God III. COnfidence in the interest which Saints have in God maketh them earnest in pressing it It maketh them againe and againe to presse the same thing which is an undoubted evidence of great ardency Did not the fire of a zealous spirit even flame out of the mouth of him that doth thus redouble a like relation before God Doubtlesse thou art our father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer The like is manifested by the multiplication of severall words to the same sense thus Behold and visit this vine and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted and the branch which thou mad'st strong for thy selfe Vine vineyard branch import one and the same thing Such confidence as is rightly grounded on an assured interest in God perswadeth a mans heart that God cannot suffer him to call and cry upon him and not heare him Therefore if God at first heare not he will not presently give over but rather cry the more earnestly and instantly till the Lord doe heare him Indeed they that know no title that they can make to God nor believe any interest they have in him may soone be driven away as Saul who when the Lord answered him not presently enquired after a witch But they that well knew their interest in God tooke another course When God seemed to be angry against their prayer they humbly expostulate the case with God they presse the former favours that God shewed to them and that title which they had in him and thereupon once and againe most earnestly they pray that God would cause his face to shine upon them resting on this that they shal be saved By that ground of faith whereof in the former § labour to bee strengthened in faith Get confidence in God and that by considering as what he is in himselfe a potent prudent faithfull mercifull God so what he is to thee Thy God thy King thy Father c. And give evidence of this thy confidence by stirring up thy spirit to depend on him who gives so just cause to make thee depend on him Oft and seriously meditate on those grounds and when thou art before God whether it be in humiliation or gratulation call them to mind presse them againe and againe Imitate the worthy patternes that in this case are prescribed unto us in Gods Word If thus with understanding we doe inwardly in our soules or outwardly with our tongues inculcate our right title and interest in Gods Word urging the same againe and againe thereby our dull spirits 〈◊〉 much quickned our blunt prayers much sharpened and our weake faith much strengthened especially if with patience we can rest upon God Saints of old by their patient expectation and stedfast confidence attained what was promised If therefore to trust confidently be the way to receive we also may so receive §. 102. Of the vigour which is preserved in faith by the constancy of Gods favour IIII. FAith is much strengthened by constant evidences of Gods favour Herewith did hee support his faith that said to God Thou art he that tooke mee out of the wombe thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breast I was cast upon thee from the wombe thou art my God from my mothers bellie Thou art my trust from my youth by thee have I beene holden up from the wombe thou art he that took me on t from my mothers bowels It was not only the disposition of Obadiah towards God but also the evidence that thereby he had of Gods affection towards him that made him with confidence say to Eliah I feare the Lord from my youth By long continuance of ancient favour many demonstrations are given of a fast fixed and unremoveable affection So as if by reason of temptations one or more evidences should be questioned yet others would remaine to uphold faith and to keep it from an utter languishing and a totall falling away As when an house is supported by many pillars though some be taken away yet by the support of them which remaine the house will stand 1 Be admonished hereby O Parents to initiate your children betimes and from the cradle yea from the wombe to dedicate them to the Lord and to bring them up in the nurtuoe and admonition of the Lord so soone as they are capable of instruction that when they are growne even unto manhood thâ—â— may on all occasions with much comfort and strong confidence say in the same sense that the Prophet here doth I am the sonne of thine hand maid being borne under the covenant and having in their infancy received the seale of the covenant and from their child-hood knowne the holy Scriptures being taught when they were tender and thereby brought from their youth to feare the Lord. It is a glorious and blessed prerogative to be borne a servant in Gods house This is no slavish condition but the best freedome and most happy immunity that possibly can be Such as are borne servants in Gods house are by vertue of that their birth sons and free from the instant of that their birth Christs servant and the Lords freeman are reciprocall terms either may bee said of the other Christs servant is the Lords freeman and the Lords freeman is Christs servant 1 Cor. 7. 22.